FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The family of a woman who went missing in Spain is urging a judge not to grant her estranged husband, who was charged with kidnapping in connection to her disappearance, his request for bond.
Forty-year-old Ana Knezevich was in the middle of a contentious divorce with David Knezevich when she went missing from her Madrid apartment on Feb. 2.
Ana’s brother, Felipe Henao, spoke with reporters during a news conference held Thursday in Fort Lauderdale. He said he wants David to remain where he is, in FBI custody.
“What we wanted to express is our fear as a family of him getting out on bail,” he said.
Henao believes David is behind his sister’s disappearance.
“Would I ever think that he would have done this to my sister? I mean, how am I going to think now that nothing is going to happen? You know?” he said.
Ana and David shared a home in Fort Lauderdale during their 13 years of marriage. When things soured, she traveled to Europe.
Shortly after, Ana’s parents received a message claiming to be from their daughter saying she’d met someone and would be out of touch, but that, to them, was suspicious.
Authorities traced David’s rental car to where his wife was staying in Madrid. They believe he spray-painted her security cameras shortly before she was reported missing.
David, 36, was arrested when he returned to the United States and charged with kidnapping. He has been in custody ever since.
Back in May, the FBI convinced a federal judge to deny David bond as his case makes his way through the courts.
According to David’s attorney, the evidence against him is not strong enough to keep him in jail, saying there are holes in the prosecutors’ case.
Henao’s family attorney, Adam Ingber, said the facts are there.
“The case is very, very strong against Mr. Knezevich, and we know that justice will be done,” said Ingber. “There’s a mountain of evidence. No one has ever seen or heard from Ana since the day that her estranged husband secretly drove across the continent and is seen disabling her security.”
Henao said he’s afraid of what could happen if a judge sets David free.
“A fear of retaliation. There’s a lot of anxiety on that end, so it’s just a very difficult time for the family,” he said.
Ana’s family also claims David has at least hundreds of thousands of dollars from real transactions waiting for him if he is granted bond, and that makes him a flight risk.
But Henao said the family is still haunted by one question.
“Where is my sister? It’s been more than six months she’s been missing, more than half a year that she’s been missing, and we all know who knows,” he said.
Mostly, loved ones said, they just miss Ana, and they want the person they believe is responsible for her disappearance held accountable.
“How can you love somebody and then never look for them, never do anything about it?” said Henao.
A judge presided over a bond hearing on the matter and is expected to rule soon on David’s request for bond.
Thursday night, David’s attorneys responded to 7News’ request for comment, saying their client is presumed innocent and they believe there’s no evidence he kidnapped his estranged wife. Moreover, they do not believe the jurisdiction for this alleged crime lies in the U.S.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.