Reward for information on missing journalist increased

Claudia Kirschhoch

WESTERN BUREAU: THE REWARD for information on missing American journalist Claudia Kirschhoch has been increased from J$50,000 to $250,000 as efforts to locate her intensify.

The increase was announced yesterday at a press conference at the Sangster International Airport and attended by her parents Fred and Mary-Ann as well as Mike Springer, a representative of Frommer's Travel Guides, the company for which she works.

The Kirschhochs who along with Springer arrived in the island yesterday and said there was no limit on their stay as they were hoping to find their daughter alive and well soon.

Mr. Kirschhoch said that it was "distressing" being separated from their child and that it was "uncharacteristic for her to be away and not being in touch" with them for so long.

He said that posters with her photograph had been airmailed to Jamaica earlier this week and were being distributed.

The 29-year-old Ms Kirschhoch arrived in Jamaica on May 21 on assignment in Negril and was expected to leave on June 1 but was last seen on May 27.

Superintendent Ionie Ramsay-Lewis, the Tourism Liaison Officer with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, who also spoke at the press conference, told journalists that there were "unconfirmed reports" that Ms Kirschhoch was seen on May 28.

Ms. Kirschhoch was a part of a group of travel journalists who had intended to travel to Cuba on assignment but were denied entry by that government and ended up staying in Jamaica instead.

She did not check out of her room at the Negril hotel on June 1 as expected and an employee found her luggage and travel documents intact in the room.

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