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NEW UPDATE (March 17th) - Stuart Coleman has set up a way to make donations directly to an Australian bank account to help Brendan's father (now in Costa Rica) fund his search efforts. The email he sent out with all of the information is included below...
Hi Everyone,
A donation has been organised for brendan's father to give him all the financial support he needs in his search to find Brendan. If you wish to donate please deposit money into the following account:
BSB: 063182
Account No: 10207640
Account Name: Stuart M Coleman
(Commonwealth Bank of Australia)
Please put a description of "Brendan" so we can easily identify your contribution. Please remember every cent counts, we need all the support we can get. If you have any queries and concern please don't hesitate in contacting me on 0412 12 66 44 or Lee Rodezno on 0403 622 320. My email address is stucoleman@yahoo.com.
We appreciate any help you can provide.
ANOTHER LINK to an Alligator Article from the 15th of March is provided here:
Alligator15th
A missing persons report compiled by the four Australians remaining in Costa Rica is listed below, followed by subsequent emails sent. News articles on the topic are included to the left (& one directly above this passage).
MISSING PERSONS REPORT - 3/6/05…
MISSING: Brendan Kieran Dobbins
23rd April 1980
AUSTRALIAN
PASSPORT: l3091707
US J1 VISA: 20043497830001
LAST SEEN: Friday 4th March, 4am, Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica
We are a group of five Australian international students studying at the University of Florida, USA. During the Spring Break Period, 26th Feb – 5th March we were visiting Costa Rica. Our Party of five Australians:
• Brendan Dobbins
• Trent Battye
• Peter Nienaber
• Derryn Pagan
• Imogen Wells
And 6 Americans
• Marc McIntee
• David Nolte
• Wade Green
• Nathan Fabrick
• Shaun (last name unknown)
• Bryan (last name unknown)
We all arrived in Tamarindo on Wed 2nd March. On Thursday 3rd March, four members of the party; Peter, Trent, Marc and David, left to travel to Monterverde. Specific plans were made to meet up again at 4pm, Friday 4th March, in San Jose at Payless Car Rentals.
The remaining members of the group, Brendan, Derryn, Imogen, Wade, Nathan, Shaun and Bryan went out to the local bars in the evening of the 3rd March.
Brendan was last seen by Derryn Pagan at approximately 4am, Friday 4th March, who returned to Hotel Portofino where the remaining group were also staying for the night of the 3rd March. Brendan was last seen sitting with Rolando, a local acquaintance, who has allegedly been questioned by the police.
Rollando stated that he last saw Brendan at approximately 7am, walking on his own, on the beach in front of Babylon Bar. It was suggested that Brendan might have been searching for a local Tico girl that he had been talking to earlier in the night. This is the last reported sighting of Brendan, however the last confirmed sighting was at approximately 4am by Derryn Pagan.
All members of the group had planned to leave Hotel Portofino by 10am at the latest. This was to ensure that both parties would meet in San Jose, at Payless Car Rentals to return hired vehicles by 4pm.
Upon failing to arrive by 11am, a small search for Brendan had begun. This progressively grew to the remaining 6 travelers heightening the search to include scouring the beaches and surrounding areas, as well as interviewing locals, including Rolando and informing the local police. Hospitals and emergency services were also checked with no result.
By 6pm Brendan’s immediate traveling companions Derryn Pagan and Imogen Wells remained at Hotel Portofino awaiting Brendan’s late return. The four remaining Americans left for San Jose to ensure that they would get their flights. At this point it was clear that the 6:30am, 5th March, flight would be impossible to make. Peter and Trent were alerted of the seriousness of the situation.
At 8am, Saturday 5th March, with still no sign of Brendan and having missed the return flight to Orlando, Peter and Trent hired a vehicle from San Jose and made the return trip to Tamarindo to continue the search.
Derryn and Imogen were informed by the local Tamarindo Police that they would be able to lodge a missing persons report 24hrs after the last sighting of Brendan, in Santa Cruz. After speaking with the Santa Cruz police they were then sent to Nicoya. In Nicoya they were informed by the uniformed police, that they would have to make the report with the “special” (OIJ) Organismo de Investigacion Judicial, Costa Rican Police.
Denuncia: 008 – 05 – 00177
N. UNICO: 05 – 000146 – 069 - PE
Upon returning to Tamarindo, all avenues were investigated. International and local authorities and embassies were contacted. Liaising has been made with the Canadian Consulate services in San Jose, contact: Serge Clement. Serge Clement has been liaising with Jimi Mendoza, Santa Cruz Police, who is in charge of the investigation, contact - # 506 681 4062. The local Tamarindo police contact is Oscar Rodreguez - # 506 653 0283.
At this stage it should be noted that the only items in Brendan’s possession were:
• 1 x Blue and pink striped polo shirt
• 1 x Dark green khaki shorts
• 1 x Black “Havaiana” pair of flip-flops/thongs
• Small amount of local currency
The remaining four Australians are in possession of Brendan’s:
• Credit cards
• Passport
• Travel Documents
• Money
• Air – ticket
• Luggage
The five Australian travelers have been close friends from Melbourne, Australia, and have been traveling in the USA together for the past 2 ˝ months, studying together at the University of Florida. We find this highly irregular and unexplainable. It is definitely out of character for Brendan. We are greatly concerned for his well-being and safe return.
We feel that the more pressure and support applied by international bodies on local authorities would enhance the success of this investigation.
This report has been compiled by:
• Peter Nienaber
• Trent Battye
• Derryn Pagan
• Imogen Wells
Our contact number is, Cell Phone – 506 364 4129.
We are staying in Room #6 – Hotel Portofino, ph # 506 653 0578
Contact can also be made via email – mogesmail@yahoo.com
EMAIL FROM THE MORNING OF MARCH 7TH…
The people that we have been in contact with:
US Embassy - Firstly refused to help. Even though we explained the fact that we were studying in the US, with US visas. After arriving at the Judiciary Police to make the report we once again had to make contact with the US. After much persuasion I was put through to someone who told me that all they could do was register the disappearance with the local police. Not much help and very disheartening.
Our greatest contact has been Serge Clement # 506 392 1450. He works for the Canadian Embassy. They have been communicating between the police and ourselves. The local police have not once informed us of the movements they are taking so we hang for phone calls from the Canadians. Also got a call from Sylvia, also from the Canadian Embassy this morning, #506 242 4441, sylvia.arceyuph@international.gc.ca . They are communicating with the Ministry of Security and the Australian Embassy in Mexico. They are currently pushing for a boat search.
We have also contacted the AUS Embassy in Mexico - it is our Embassy for the region - contact, Luz Cooper # 52 55 1101 2233. They're starting the ball rolling for a search hopefully as well since it is Monday and they are once again open.
Contact made yesterday with the Costa Rican Embassy in Australia, since it was Monday then. Contact Laura - Consulate General, #612 9281 2983. Email - congenrica@ozemail.com.au . We issued them the attached report. They also required a copy of the police report which we have faxed off this morning.
Out travel Insurance company from Australia has an International SOS helpline, # 61 29273 2781. Spoken with them and they are talking with their security offices in Singapore and today - Philadelphia.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has also been contacted. They have forwarded all info to the Department in Canada, and are aware that the Canadian Embassy is putting some pressure onto the Costa Rican Police.
Obviously all of Brendan's family and our families have been contacted. As well as all UFL and RMIT personnel. They are all doing as much as they can, but like us feel hopeless. It is so frustrating not knowing what to do. What next step to take. As you can see from the list it is quite extensive. However, we get the feeling that we are just putting Brendan's name on numerous databases around the world. Without the ability to communicate with the local police it is difficult to understand what is happening.
Our own investigations have provided hopefully a few more leads. Last night spoke again to the Bartender of Big Bazaar - the last club that we were at. He said that the local tico girl that Brendan was looking for, has also not been seen for the same period of time. This could be of no help though because she is from San Jose and could be making her way back. Unfortunately she is also known to be from the "Ghetto" section of San Jose - apparently very rough.
So at the moment that's about all we can tell you. We're hoping some officials actually get their arses down here rather than calling us, because as you know phone calls in Costa aren't exactly reliable and we also have no direct contact with the police.
But thank you for any help that you may be able to provide. We know that even though the American Embassy doesn't want to hear about us, we do have true friends in America.
Thanks again,
Imogen
EMAIL SENT THE NIGHT OF THE 7TH…
Hey All,
Thought we may just start sending group emails. Most of you, like us, are after every piece of possible information that we are able to get our hands onto about Brendan.
So...over the last 24 hrs:
* Unfortunately still no sign of Bren - but our hopes are still not wavering.
* All embassies - Australian in Mexico, Costa Rican in Sydney and the Canadians in Costa Rica are fully involved
* International Security have been alerted by UFL and are trying to get the only Costa Rican helicopter over here.
* Local fishermen have been alerted by the police to be on the lookout.
* Canadian embassy are trying to get a Red Cross search of the Tamarindo area going this afternoon.
* Local press and Television have been alerted and have photos of Brendan from the last night that he was seen.
* Have also just had a call from the Gainesville press and they are doing all that they can to get the word out as well.
So there is still a lot happening. There were 12 police in Tamarindo yesterday - don't think Tamarindo has ever seen so many. Everyone in town is fully aware of the situation and everyone is talking about it. We are just hoping that all the talk will eventually pay off.
As you are all aware the telephone lines into Costa are not exactly reliable but please do keep trying if you have any suggestions or other questions. If you are calling from Australia the international code is (0011) followed by the country (506) and then the number. Our Cell # 364 4129, or the Hotel # 653 0578, Rm #6.
Also try email, although the internet cafes close fairly early.
So we're all keeping our heads high and continuing to do all that we can to ensure that Bren will be enjoying a beer with us on the beach very, very soon.
Yours kindly,
Imogen
EMAIL FROM THE MORNING OF THE 8TH…
Hey,
Sorry still no good news to report. Actually getting really hard to keep our heads up down here.
Thank you for all your help that you and your family have offered. We were just wondering if you could also put it into the Alligator. Just thought the more students know the greater chance that someone may have a connection down this way.
It is just so frustrating because we know that if this was Australia we would have had 200 people on the beach searching, 3 choppers over head and numerous boats searching the surrounding waters. Instead its the 4 of us trying to instigate an investigation from a cell phone that hardly ever works and only 8 eyes. We understand that it is a different culture over here but we don't understand why one of the Embassies haven't actually got their arses down here. Yes they tell us they are concerned as I'm sure they are, but actions speak louder than words....and we are seeing no action!!!!
We know that UFL is willing to flick the bill for any chopper or marine action, however we have had no word on any of these resources. We feel that we are chasing our own tail.
Thanks Wade,
Imogen
SECOND EMAIL SENT MARCH 8TH…
As we mentioned yesterday we were set to meet the Red Cross this morning. Unfortunately this did not eventuate so we set off on our own scrub/coastline search.
We then came across a group of approximately 14 red-cross, policemen and lifeguards out on a search. We continued our search. I'm sorry to report that nothing was found, however it is good to know that action is taking place. They had been out on a boat today as well.
Tomorrow we are heading out on a boat with them at 7am. Heading up and down the coastline.
Sorry that there is no news to report, wishing that there was.
Imogen
MINOR UPDATE FROM 3/10/05
Diplomat sent to search for Aussie An Australian diplomat was on his way to Costa Rica to help search for a missing Australian man, Prime Minister John Howard says. We are sending our man from Mexico and he's either there now or will be there very shortly and will do everything he can to help," Mr Howard told Melbourne radio 3AW. "There's nothing better than having an Australian representative on the ground, we can't obviously have diplomatic representation in every country." The Canadian Embassy in Costa Rica has been working with local authorities to help coordinate the search for Mr Dobbins, but a Canadian consul said Costa Rica had few resources to devote to the task. "The Canadians under these normal responsibility-sharing arrangeme nts look after our interests and I understand the Canadians have already been trying to help," Mr Howard said. "We hope (the search) turns out to be successful."
EMAIL UPDATE - MARCH 17TH
I just wanted to clear a few things up in relation to the search currently going on for Brendan. This is due to the news reports this morning that said the search had been called off. If you heard this you are understandably anxious, but please ignore this report and read below:
There is actually a lot more happening in the background now. When the investigation moved from the local police to the judicial police this was reported by several news articles as the search being given up. This is true in a land/sea search sense but the criminal investigation is still going. It is frustrating that it is taking a while for the next phase of the investigation to ramp up. We are talking to senior people at DFAT daily and they are a lot more onto it than at the start of week. It is our impression that the consuls are working pretty hard in to influence things in the background and use the contacts they have - in many cases they can't tell the media/us exactly what they are doing because of the sensitivity of the issue (drugs, gangs etc). Things are happening. We all want answers ASAP.
We are in a phase where there is not much info for the media to hold onto and that is why the story has quietened down. We are asking you to stay positive as there is NO evidence to prove otherwise, we are all hoping and praying for Brendan's safe return.
Stuie
