GUILTY Spain - Denise Thiem, 40, U.S. traveler, Astorga, 4 April 2015

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Spain police seeks for help in search of missing american woman. Denise Pikka Thiem was making the route of Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) and nobody knows anything about her since April 4.

Police link:

http://www.interior.gob.es/web/inte...set_publisher/GHU8Ap6ztgsg/content/id/3787278

A link in English:

http://caminosantiago2.blogspot.com.es/2015/04/a-missing-pilgrim.html

More links:

http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2015/04/27/553e6e7f268e3ef0568b4575.html

http://www.leonoticias.com/frontend...Ha-Ido-Por-Su-Propia-Voluntad-vn173301-vst218
 
Spanish National Police are looking for a 40-year-old American woman who has disappeared in the town of Astorga, in northern León province.

Denise Pikka Thiem had been walking the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route and until 20 days ago had always kept in close contact with her brother by email and text message.

After being unable to contact her for several days, her brother traveled to Spain to report her missing.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/04/28/inenglish/1430211888_079005.html
 
Denise Theim - https://www.facebook.com/helpdenisenow
7627467_G.jpg

Valley woman missing in Spain
LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ (KPHO/KTVK) - It's a story now making international news: the disappearance of a Valley woman who was traveling alone in Spain. Denise Theim, 40, hasn't been heard from in nearly a month.
Theim quit her job with PetSmart last year to travel the world.

Kellie Kreiser went to college with Theim at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

"She's an internationally minded person, grounded, friendly, kind, nothing wild, nothing that you would think that she would do anything crazy," Kreiser said.

Last month, Theim's travels took her to northern Spain, where she planned to walk the Camino De Santiago trail, a famous religious and spiritual pilgrimage route which runs through France.

According to friends, Theim was always good about posting updates on social media about her journey and sending emails to family and friends.

But all of that suddenly stopped on April 4.

Theim hasn't been heard from since -- no emails and no activity on her credit cards.

Read more: http://www.kpho.com/story/28948006/valley-woman-missing-in-spain#ixzz3YsVa9gpU
 
I have a particular emotional attachment to this case, and to Denise, as a year ago this time period I was a woman alone on the Camino.

The Camino is generally thought to be quite safe; probably safer than the places most come from. Most common are thefts of valuables left unattended and the occasional "indecent exposure."

Health issues and accidents and weather changes have typically presented more danger than foul play.

But, do we let our guards down? Trust too much as we enjoy the camaraderie of the Camino?

Desperately hoping Denise is safe somewhere, enjoying a personal time of reflection and solitude.

But in my heart I know a month is a long time, and if she had walked much past Astorga, certainly someone would have seen or there would be a record of where she stayed. Did she leave the Camino there to travel elsewhere?

It is most common to carry cash, getting more from ATMs as needed. Credit cards are not widely accepted in the kinds of places pilgrims usually frequent or stay. For transportation or better accomodation for rest days, credit cards would be more commonly used. But that there is no record of either is scary.

Buen Camino, Denise. Praying for your health and safety.
 
It has been established that Denise arrived in Astorga in the afternoon of April 4.
She spent the night in the hostal San Javier.
The next morning, April 5, Denise was seen near the Cathedral of Astorga by two German women.
She was in the company of an Italian man named George.
The four of them had breakfast on a terrace.
April 5 was Easter Sunday, the town of Astorga was loaded with people.
Denise planned to go to mass in a church near the Cathedral. After that, she wanted to continue to El Ganso, a village at 13 kms from Astorga.
No trace of her has been found after 12.30 hrs.

http://www.elnortedecastilla.es/leon/201505/02/trece-kilometros-esconden-enigma-20150502103853.html

The police have located the Italian man 'George'.
Giorgio Candoni finished the Camino and returned to italy on April 15.
He remembers Denise and their conversation, and that is all.
He was unable to offer new information.
He kept a diary on the internet (*), there are no pictures with Denise in them.
(* I saw the diary but unfortunately, I lost the link. I believe that his daughter posted his reports of the trip.)

http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/sociedad/201505/03/donde-esta-denise-20150501110626.html
Por las calles de la capital de la Maragatería acompañó a la mujer Giorgio Candoni, un peregrino italiano sesentón y barba cana. Su testimonio era una de las grandes esperanzas de los investigadores. Candoni siguió su ruta en solitario, llegó a la capital gallega y regreso a Italia. Fue localizado el pasado miércoles. Recordaba a Denise. También publicaba un diario digital de su ruta en el que no aparecen referencias ni foto alguna de la desaparecida. Pero poco más ha podido aportar.

The same publication states about Denise that she took 50 euros from a cash machine each week: Metódica, sacaba 50 euros de algún cajero cada semana
IMHO 50 euros taken from a cash machine per week is very little, even if it was only pocket money and she paid the rest by credit card or bank card.
The albergue San Javier costs 9 euros per night. If prices in other hostales are similar, this would leave her with no money for anything else even if she did her own cooking.

A lot of searching has been done between Astorga and el Ganso. Denise still has not been located and there are no sightings of her after Astorga, 12.30 hrs on April 5.

On the forum of El Camino and other places it is claimed that the Camino is safe. Sadly, the comments next to the publications in the newspaper tell a different story and so do some women who walked the track:

http://www.elnortedecastilla.es/leon/201505/02/trece-kilometros-esconden-enigma-20150502103853.html

May 2
In the last hours there have been several women who warned security forces that they were surprised by a man who harassed them in that stretch. And the police have taken very seriously this information. A sketch has been made of the man and his features as part of the search performed by agents in the area.

Could the same man who harassed the pilgrims have met with Denise? Nobody knows. Just like no one knows if the "heart problems" suffered by the woman may have contributed the lack of news during the last three weeks.



:please:
 
From the FB-page Help Us Find Denise:

https://www.facebook.com/helpdenisenow

"After spending 3 weeks in Spain searching for Denise and trying to raise as much awareness as possible, Cedric has returned to the U.S. to take care of his worried parents."


Still no trace of Denise, the search in Spain continues.
 
Search for Denise goed on

ElCorreoGallego.es 08.05.2015
http://www.elcorreogallego.es/santi...-thiem/idEdicion-2015-05-08/idNoticia-930702/


Santiago. The government delegate in Galicia, Santiago Villanueva, explained yesterday that "the search efforts continue" for the US pilgrim who disappeared in the province of Leon. He said that it is not known if she made it to Ponferrada(*) and beyond to Santiago.

Denise Pikka Thiem was in Hospital de Órbigo on April 4 and then headed Astorga, the section where the National Police and Civil Guard focused their search initially. Villanueva said that after an evaluation of data on crime during the first quarter of 2015 in Galicia, "the protocol for missing persons" is already operational and " the efforts to find her continue".



* Ponferrada (population 70.000) is located +/- 55 km west of Astorga and El Ganso.
 
Investigators believe that today Denise Thiem is untraceable


LeonNoticias (in Spanish)
http://www.leonoticias.com/frontend...dera-quot-ilocalizable-quot-A-vn174620-vst216


"The searches are ongoing," according to a source from the investigation. However, the chances of locating alive the northamerican pilgrim who disappeared 35 days ago in Astorga are "scarce".

This is admitted in this case that is full of questions and in which for the moment the important efforts made have not yielded any results.

Denise Pikka Thiem, the pilgrim missing since last May when she was hiking the Camino de Santiago, has left no clue that one might follow. No one has seen her, nobody knows anything about her, there has not been found any trace either in Astorga or on the unlikely track made to the town of El Ganso, her scheduled stop after [Astorga] the capital of the Maragata region.

This American woman whom her brother described as "prudent" and unlikely to "commit follies" was lodged in the pilgrims' shelter of San Javier, in Astorga, but from the doorstep on the way out her trail vanishes.

"Bad business"

Police and Guardia Civil, along with volunteers and groups linked to the Camino, have scoured the track in an area of 200 meters on the right and left. Result: nothing.

Incredibly nobody seems to have seen this woman of Indo-Asian features, 1.60 meters high, between 50 and 53 kilos of weight and long straight hair.

"Investigations will not be stopped" the source informs. The police officers hope to discover a blunder by someone who might be involved in this case. Otherwise, "bad thing".


BBM



:thinking:
 
It has been established that Denise arrived in Astorga in the afternoon of April 4.
She spent the night in the hostal San Javier.

The next morning, April 5, Denise was seen near the Cathedral of Astorga by two German women.
She was in the company of an Italian man named George.
The four of them had breakfast on a terrace.


April 5 was Easter Sunday, the town of Astorga was loaded with people.
Denise planned to go to mass in a church near the Cathedral. After that, she wanted to continue to El Ganso, a village at 13 kms from Astorga.
No trace of her has been found after 12.30 hrs.

http://www.elnortedecastilla.es/leon/201505/02/trece-kilometros-esconden-enigma-20150502103853.html

The police have located the Italian man 'George'.
Giorgio Candoni finished the Camino and returned to italy on April 15.
He remembers Denise and their conversation, and that is all.
He was unable to offer new information.
He kept a diary on the internet (*), there are no pictures with Denise in them.

(* I saw the diary but unfortunately, I lost the link. I believe that his daughter posted his reports of the trip.)

http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/sociedad/201505/03/donde-esta-denise-20150501110626.html


The same publication states about Denise that she took 50 euros from a cash machine each week: Metódica, sacaba 50 euros de algún cajero cada semana
IMHO 50 euros taken from a cash machine per week is very little, even if it was only pocket money and she paid the rest by credit card or bank card.
The albergue San Javier costs 9 euros per night. If prices in other hostales are similar, this would leave her with no money for anything else even if she did her own cooking.

A lot of searching has been done between Astorga and el Ganso. Denise still has not been located and there are no sightings of her after Astorga, 12.30 hrs on April 5.

On the forum of El Camino and other places it is claimed that the Camino is safe. Sadly, the comments next to the publications in the newspaper tell a different story and so do some women who walked the track:

http://www.elnortedecastilla.es/leon/201505/02/trece-kilometros-esconden-enigma-20150502103853.html

May 2
In the last hours there have been several women who warned security forces that they were surprised by a man who harassed them in that stretch. And the police have taken very seriously this information. A sketch has been made of the man and his features as part of the search performed by agents in the area.

Could the same man who harassed the pilgrims have met with Denise? Nobody knows. Just like no one knows if the "heart problems" suffered by the woman may have contributed the lack of news during the last three weeks.



:please:


BBM

So Giorgio was the last male seen with the missing woman and he is not considered a POI or suspect. So can we not say that the last male is not ALWAYS the suspect/perp. (?) FWIW, in other cases I tried to bring up the possibility of this point and was met with derision. (Not here)

I hope she is OK, but I'm very worried.
 
VANISHING ON EL CAMINO

The mystery of the whereabouts of Denise: "No evidence, no proof, no clue; absolutely nothing "



Diaro de León 12/05/2015
http://www.diariodeleon.es/noticias...-ninguna-pista-absolutamente-nada_978123.html


The strange disappearance of Denise Thiem, the American pilgrim of whom all tracks were lost on April 5 in Astorga, remains a series of unknowns. Almost forty days after she stopped giving signs of life, the investigation has managed to turn up "absolutely nothing" as was admitted yesterday by sources from Subdelegación. "Not one clue, no indication and no evidence" they asserted, though all lines of enquiry and assumptions remain open trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle.

While the security forces, who are conducting a relentless work, comb over and over again around Astorga and the route of the Camino de Santiago from maragata capital in order to find something on the ground, the relatives of the disappeared woman have launched a new campaign of mobilization on Facebook, with the purpose of organizing groups of volunteers who can lead the search for Denise in their home towns, under the supervision of a responsible in charge in each town. Volunteers from the Association Camino de Santiago, Astorga, the Moto Club of the town, the Club La Salle, and Civil Protection have already joined as volunteers in this undertaking, but now it is proposed to extend it beyond Astorga, involving the entire Northwest. "For most, Denise is a stranger but we learned that the pilgrims feel that she is part of their family", states the message on the social network, appealing to those who want to work to make known their location and possibilities in the mail help .denise.now @ gmail.com.

Friends and family propose that searches, always coordinated, take place during the weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the next two weeks. So far nothing has brought any results, but they remain hopeful. "It is overwhelming to see so many good people ready to bring Denise home," they explain in the same message with new posters to be placed in bars, shops and offices of the towns and villages and on the Camino.


BBM


I translated this text from Spanish to English and did not cross check with the original entries on FB that may have been translated earlier from English to Spanish. This may account for some (slight, I hope)) differences.
 
Official press release in English (prepared by Josh F, Denise's friend):

Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Astorga, Leon, Spain.

The family and friends of the missing American, Denise Pikka Thiem, continue their search for the peregrina from Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Thiem, age 41, disappeared mysteriously at around 12:00 on Easter Sunday, April 5. She was last seen at that time in the town of Astorga, near the church of Santa Marta, preparing to leave on the next stage of el Camino de Santiago. The Chinese-American woman was continuing a journey that had already carried her nearly 20,000 kilometers across 3 continents in a search for adventure, discovery, and human connection.

In a twist of fate, the young woman went missing just as she was preparing to return home, according to her brother, Cedric Thiem. Also from Phoenix, Arizona, Cedric recently left Spain - after nearly a month of tirelessly searching for his sister and trying to raise awareness of her situation - in order to be able to support their parents as they go through this difficult time.

The National Police and Civil Guard continue to work tirelessly to find Denise. Cedric has expressed his deep faith in and great respect for the local and national authorities as they go through the difficult process of unraveling the enigma of his sister’s disappearance.

BBM


https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...my-sister-is-missing-please-help.32874/page-4


Picture of one tower of the cathedral of Santa María of Astorga, the church of Santa Marta is on the right:

Astorga-050_r50_q50.jpg

Church of Santa Marta is the small building in front of the Cathedral:

Cathedral-and-Iglesia-de-Santa-Marta-Astorga-Spain-Camino-de-Santiago.jpg


From the albergue San Javier where Denise spent the night, the small street leads straigt to the front of the Cathedral and the church of Santa Marta.

2011-camino-spain-leon-to-camino-duro-175_sanjavieralberguesign.jpg
 
The family of Denise Thiem calls upon their friends to contact their congressmen and senators to let them know that they are concerned and that they want them to act now.

The template letter states the following:
https://www.facebook.com/helpdenisenow/posts/1438221106494568


I am writing to you about an Arizona resident who has gone missing overseas in Astorga, Leon, Spain. Denise Thiem was hiking a trail called el Camino de Santiago and was last seen on Sunday, April 5th around noon. Based on what we know, Denise was either kidnapped by an individual or for the purposes of Human Trafficking.

The citizens that support The El Camino Trail and local authorities are doing all they can to help find Denise, but I believe that since Denise is a U.S. citizen that we should also support the cause in finding her and bringing her home to her family.



BBM


I'm not sure what to make of this. It is certainly one of several options that Denise met with foul play, but since no traces were left or found, how can anyone know this with a reasonable degree of certainty?
IMHO the idea that she was not only kidnapped but kidnapped for the purpose of human trafficking is even more farfetched. Denise hardly fits the profile, she wasn't a tramp that no one would miss, and why would traffickers prey on pilgrims on the Camino that is under constant police surveillance?
I assume that this was written to get the congressmen and senators involved ..... however, I am not sure if this is a wise stamentent about the Camino. If indeed there is knowledge, or even suspicion based on clear indications, that pilgrims run the risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking then this alert should go out to everyone.


:notgood: :notgood:
 
INVESTIGATORS INCLINED TOWARDS SEXUAL MOTIVE IN DISAPPEARANCE OF DENISE THIEM

ElBierzoDigital
http://www.elbierzodigital.com/los-...xual-en-la-desaparicion-de-denise-thiem/89180


A woman from of Santa Catalina de Somoza was the victim of an assault yesterday on a stretch of road passing through the vicinity of this village near Astorga. This woman had gone out for jogging and near a rest area for pilgrims, she was approached by a man, while another man was waiting in a car. She fled after the man tried to retain her by grabbing her by the arm, causing bruises. Security forces are investigating whether it was an attempted abduction, sexual assault or robbery.

This fact, together with reports of several pilgrims, who had declared to have been harassed by unidentified men in this area, provides further strength to the main hypothesis that the investigators are inclined to in the case of Denise Thiem, the American woman missing on the Camino de Santiago near Astorga since April 5, and of whom there has been no news since: the sexual motive, as confirmed by unofficial sources near the investigation.

After the Camino has been combed up to el Acebo en el Bierzo, over and over again without any trace of Denise, the hypothesis of an accident has practically been ruled out. In any case, Civil Protection Astorga Las Encinas continues with the searches - for which they have also requested bikes, not only to cover more ground but also for security.

Neither came any clue from the exhaustive interrogation of the Italian pilgrim, the last man with whom the pilgrim was seen. Apart from the fact that the Italian police has made clear that the man does not have any kind of relationship with the facts, his interrogations have failed to provide any clue that can help find the woman.

Voluntary disappearance, another hypothesis, was always very weak, mainly due to the statements of the family and the people who were in Denise's company during their pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, after yesterday's happenings, neighbors are "very alarmed and concerned," as a group of them told this newspaper. "We begin to feel real fear; this is not normal," a woman of Santa Catalina says.


BBM


This does not look good at all.....

Whisked away in a car, they may have taken her anywhere.
Yet I have a feeling that these guys are locals, even if it is only for the time being. But it surprises me that they would go on doing this while everyone is alerted by Denise's disappearance.

Denise Thiem, where are you???

I do hope this woman was able to give a good description of the men and the car.


:please:
 
TWO MEN TRIED TO GRAB A WOMAN NEAR A TRACK OF THE CAMINO

Happened in the same area where a female north-american pilgrim disappeared a month and a half ago


Diario de León
http://www.diariodeleon.es/noticias...n-raptar-mujer-junto-tramo-camino_979812.html

All alarms rang once again on Saturday afternoon when two men tried to kidnap a woman walking through an area near the Camino de Santiago as it passes through Santa Catalina de Somoza, in the municipality of Astorga. Local residents explained to this newspaper that it is not the first time that similar events happen in the area, declaring themselves on certain occasions unsafe in this area. In fact, this is the same section in which supposedly more than month and a half ago all traces were lost of Denise Thiem, an American pilgrim of whom no news has been received since April 5, when she sent an email to an friend and greeted 'from Astorga' and also telling the friend that she intended to continue to El Ganso. To do so, there is no alternative but to follow the Camino de Santiago, where you have to pass through Santa Catalina if the usual route is followed.

In connection with the investigations to find the whereabouts of this pilgrim, of whom still absolutely nothing is known, it emerged that one of the lines that the security forces have been following was to analyze the testimony of other women who reported having been "harassed" and "disturbed "in this same area.

Nothin seems to be accidental, although at the moment they are trying to find out whether or not a link exists between these cases. In the last case, that happened on Saturday at about five in the afternoon, the victim is not a pilgrim but a local from the village who had gone for a walk and do exercise as usual. It was then, while she was walking near an area of the Camino de Santiago, near the rest area for pilgrims, when C.A.F. saw two men who were sitting in a small car of a dark color. The men beckoned her "as if they had a question and would like to ask me something," the victim tells. She choose not to approach the individuals too near. That's when she saw how one of them got out of the car while the other kept his face partially covered. She remained at all times at a safe distance that allowed her to run away as soon as she noticed something strange in the intentions of the two men. However, when she started to flee, the man who was out of the vehicle and closer to the victim managed to take her arm, causing bruises. Still, the local woman from Santa Catalina managed to escape and ran on until she was able to hide in nearby bushes. She lost sight of the two individuals, but she was aware that one of them tried to follow her. The other man did not get out of the car.

It was only after she managed to escape and hide that she was able raise alarm, calling and asking for help. According to sources from the neighborhood, police officers and Civil Guard drove to the spot in order to collect evidence and try to find the two men.

Now, in addition, they are trying to clarify whether these events have any connection with the previous events or with the case of the missing pilgrim. Although this stretch of the Camino has been scoured exhaustively, clues about her whereabouts have not been found.



BBM
 
KIDNAPPING ATTEMPT ON THE STRETCH OF ROAD WHERE THE AMERICAN PILGRIM THIEM DISAPPEARED

A woman reported to the Guardia Civil that she managed to escape and hide in some bushes, where she was able to call the police

El Correo Gallego .es
http://www.elcorreogallego.es/santi...32539/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

The Guardia Civil is looking for two men for an alleged attempted abduction following a complaint from a woman of about 50 years, who said that last Saturday they tried to force her into a vehicle in Santa Catalina de Somoza, in the municipality of Astorga (León), through which the Camino de Santiago passes.

According to the complaint, the two individuals aboard a "black, untidy and old" vehicle, tried to make her enter the car by force, grabbing her by the arm when she was in this area doing exercise, close to a stretch of the Camino de Santiago, the Prefectures of León reported to press agency EFE.

The woman managed to escape and hid in some bushes, where she was able to call the police.

The area in which this event occurred is close to the place where Denise Thiem, an American pilgrim with Asian features, was last seen. She disappeared last April 5 and if she followed the usual track of the Camino de Santiago she would have continued her journey through this very spot.

The same sources, however, indicated that both investigations are being developed separately with, for now, no hint of a connection.


BBM


Hmmm .... small, old and dirty car. That would reek more of robbery, or at least also of robbery.
 

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