‘Suspects in Manahane’s disappearance identified’

By Ferdie De La Torre
Special to the Saipan Tribune

Agents from the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit have already identified the suspects behind the mysterious disappearance of alleged drug case witness John G. Manahane, according to the victim’s father.

Luis S. Manahane told the Saipan Tribune that AGIU investigators have been eyeing two persons who could have committed the possible murder of his 24-year-old son, John Manahane.

A source from Tinian corroborated yesterday Luis Manahane’s information about the possible involvement of the two suspects. The source said it is very difficult to keep secrets on Tinian because it is such a small community.

When Saipan Tribune contacted the AGIU, an investigator said there are a lot of people that “they are looking at and are still looking at.” He refused to comment further, citing that “it’s an open case.”

No motive has been established in the alleged murder of the victim besides unconfirmed reports that John Manahane was a state witness in a drug case.

Luis Manahane said it was a relative of one of the suspects who approached the AGIU after learning that John Manahane has been allegedly killed and buried at a farm near a cliff line on Tinian.

Luis Manahane, 48, complained that he is becoming impatient with the slow pace of the investigation. He traveled two weeks ago to Saipan from Redding, California, where he works, after he was informed about the disappearance of his son.

“Why have the investigators not taken in the [two suspects] and interrogated them, pressed them, asked them what they did to the body? You see, it was reported to the AGIU that the suspects buried my son near the cliff line. So why are the investigators not pushing hard to find out from these people?” he asked.

Luis Manahane is pleading with the investigators and witnesses to finally wrap up the investigation so he can close this chapter in his life and he can move on and take care of his other children.

John Manahane is the second to the oldest of 10 children. Three are based in Guam, while six others are staying with their mother in Texas.

A relative of John Manahane confirmed with the Saipan Tribune that he also received information that the AGIU had already identified the suspects.

The investigators have to find the body first to build up a strong case against the suspects, the relative said, as he appealed to law enforcement agencies to expedite their probe.

The AGIU reportedly started pursuing aggressively the investigation in Aug. 2005 after receiving tips that John Manahane was murdered and buried somewhere on the island.

Saipan Tribune learned that crime scene technicians had preserved bloodstains that were found splattered at a farmhouse where the body was said to have been buried.

Chief Prosecutor Jeffrey Moots on Monday confirmed that AGIU has been investigating John Manahane’s disappearance. He declined to furnish details and the status of the case.

Investigators had reportedly established that John Manahane did not exit from the CNMI. He is a Guam resident who moved in 1997 to Tinian to stay with his girlfriend.