What Happened to Chong Chapman, the Spa Owner?
Palm Harbor, Fl (United States):
In the search for a 40-year-old Palm Harbor woman, every clue seems to raise questions - not answer them.
Chong Chapman was last seen Sept. 20 leaving a Red Roof Inn about 35 miles south of Atlanta. As she checked out that morning, she tried to give her dog to hotel employees.
"She was acting peculiar," Henry County, Ga., police Lt. Jason Bolton said. "She didn't seem to know what was going on or where she was going."
The next clue came Tuesday. A police officer pulled up to Chapman's 2002 silver Mercedes, which was parked on the side of Interstate 75 a short distance from the hotel. The car's windows were rolled down. Inside was a suitcase, a tote bag, Red Roof Inn paperwork, everything appearing to be intact and undisturbed.
The only thing missing was the key.
Near the car, at the edge of some woods, police later found Chapman's purse, with money and identification still inside. They also found her dog, which ran onto I-75 and was killed as officers tried to capture it, Bolton said.
Investigators searched deeper into the woods on Wednesday and again Thursday, combing the area by foot, horseback and helicopter, Bolton said.
They found no trace of Chapman. "It's certainly strange," he said. "We have her vehicle, her purse, her dog, everything seemingly untouched, but it's a mystery right now as to where she has gone to." Investigators believe the Mercedes had sat on the side of the highway at least since Saturday, if not before, Bolton said. Someone reported seeing it on Sept. 20, though that could not be confirmed.
The car appeared to be in good shape, but without the key, detectives couldn't start it or determine how much fuel it has, Bolton said. "Still, there's no signs of foul play, so we're considering it a missing person case," Bolton said.
Back in Pinellas County, after police in Georgia called, a sheriff's deputy went to Chapman's apartment on Katherine Boulevard on Tuesday night and left a business card asking her to call authorities. A deputy returned the next morning and went inside the apartment, sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen said. The deputy found no signs of forced entry, only a "very orderly apartment," McMullen said. The deputy also reviewed Chapman's lease agreement, hoping for the name of a relative. No next of kin was listed. Deputies then visited her business, Suki Spa at 37542 U.S. 19 N, and spoke with property manager Lee Prosser.
"She ran what appeared to be a very good, successful business," Prosser said. "It was never a problem. She paid on time. I can't say enough good things about her. ... She was a very intelligent business person."
Sept 30, 2005
Jacob H. Fries, Sptimes.com
Palm Harbor, Fl (United States):
In the search for a 40-year-old Palm Harbor woman, every clue seems to raise questions - not answer them.
Chong Chapman was last seen Sept. 20 leaving a Red Roof Inn about 35 miles south of Atlanta. As she checked out that morning, she tried to give her dog to hotel employees.
"She was acting peculiar," Henry County, Ga., police Lt. Jason Bolton said. "She didn't seem to know what was going on or where she was going."
The next clue came Tuesday. A police officer pulled up to Chapman's 2002 silver Mercedes, which was parked on the side of Interstate 75 a short distance from the hotel. The car's windows were rolled down. Inside was a suitcase, a tote bag, Red Roof Inn paperwork, everything appearing to be intact and undisturbed.
The only thing missing was the key.
Near the car, at the edge of some woods, police later found Chapman's purse, with money and identification still inside. They also found her dog, which ran onto I-75 and was killed as officers tried to capture it, Bolton said.
Investigators searched deeper into the woods on Wednesday and again Thursday, combing the area by foot, horseback and helicopter, Bolton said.
They found no trace of Chapman. "It's certainly strange," he said. "We have her vehicle, her purse, her dog, everything seemingly untouched, but it's a mystery right now as to where she has gone to." Investigators believe the Mercedes had sat on the side of the highway at least since Saturday, if not before, Bolton said. Someone reported seeing it on Sept. 20, though that could not be confirmed.
The car appeared to be in good shape, but without the key, detectives couldn't start it or determine how much fuel it has, Bolton said. "Still, there's no signs of foul play, so we're considering it a missing person case," Bolton said.
Back in Pinellas County, after police in Georgia called, a sheriff's deputy went to Chapman's apartment on Katherine Boulevard on Tuesday night and left a business card asking her to call authorities. A deputy returned the next morning and went inside the apartment, sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen said. The deputy found no signs of forced entry, only a "very orderly apartment," McMullen said. The deputy also reviewed Chapman's lease agreement, hoping for the name of a relative. No next of kin was listed. Deputies then visited her business, Suki Spa at 37542 U.S. 19 N, and spoke with property manager Lee Prosser.
"She ran what appeared to be a very good, successful business," Prosser said. "It was never a problem. She paid on time. I can't say enough good things about her. ... She was a very intelligent business person."
Sept 30, 2005
Jacob H. Fries, Sptimes.com
