Timeline
27 November 2009
David has finally left Costa Rica and has returned home to the UK. Unfortunately, there have been no confirmed leads in Michael's disappearance. The search for Michael continues!
18 November 2009
The search and rescue team, 1SRG, along with Chuck and the search dog, Axel, left Costa Rica today. While they did a great job, there are still no strong leads in Michael's disappearance. Doug and Jason showed David things to do while they're gone and will keep in touch on his progress.
This weekend David will gather more volunteers and organize another search in areas not yet covered.
17 November 2009
The OIJ agents are actively investigating Michael's disappearance. They have visited places where Michael stopped on his travels and they are still interviewing potential witnesses.
16 November 2009
Following a meeting with the head of the OIJ for Guanacaste on Friday, two top inspectors have been assigned to Michael's case.
15 November 2009
Chuck and Axel, the SAR Dog, pick up Michael's scent at the 'Beach Front Hotel and Bar' in Tamarindo.
14 November 2009
Doug Alvey and Jason Flesher from the 1st Special Response Group (California, USA) arrives in Tamarindo.
http://www.1SRG.org
Chuck Melvin arrives with search dog, Axel.
13 November 2009
Press briefing in London. Michael's parents, joined by several family and friends, attended a press conference to bring awareness to Michael's disappearance. Her Excellency, Ambassador Pilar Saborío de Rocafort from the Costa Rican Embassy, and Tim Blackman were also present. The event was widely covered by British media.
11 November 2009
The following bank account can now be used for donations anywhere in the world, please reference ‘Find Michael Dixon’ on the transfer:
BANK: BARCLAYS
SORT CODE: 20-60-55
ACCOUNT: 70814113
NAME: MISSING ABROAD
IBAN: GB33 BARC 2060 5570 8141 13
SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22
3 November 2009
Many of you have asked about how you can donate money to help with the search effort for Michael. We have set up a fund to collect money and you can find the details here:
http://fundraisers.everyclick.com/info.xq?id=1131350&fundraiser-name=Lucie-Blackman-Trust&tb=1
(click the pink 'sponsor us' button)
The money raised will be used by Michael's family to help fund the ongoing search -- including things like a private investigator, translator, search dogs, additional help on the ground, etc etc. Please do not feel obliged to donate, but any money that you do give will directly help to get more information on Michael's whereabouts.
In order to set this up quickly and easily, we have had help from the Lucie Blackman Trust. As we are not a charity it is difficult to collect money online without a registered charity number, so the Lucie Blackman Trust is lending a hand with this and has also set up a special hotline for people to call with information about Michael -- along with giving useful advice to Michael's family on all aspects of the search.
For those of you who are not familiar with this organization, the Lucie Blackman Trust advances personal safety through existing and emerging technologies. Through its "Missing Abroad" campaign it helps families with loved ones Missing Abroad - offering practical help in the most unthinkable of situations.
We thank you in advance for your support!
1 November 2009
Update from David, "We have searched in the air, we have searched by foot and we have searched by boat. Still no sign of Micheal. The search continues."
31 October 2009
David does an air search in the morning. They fly over the coast and other areas. They got a good look at the area and will be going out again tomorrow, or Monday. They are now going to local establishments and asking questions.
The press release is being finalized this afternoon, so we expect the media campaign to begin soon.
30 October 2009
David is in Costa Rica now. He is having a meeting with the UK Embassy this morning and then has a meeting in Santa Cruz with the inspector in charge of the case. He has a lawyer with him to liaise.
29 October 2009
Michael's family arrive in Costa Rica. We should hear more news soon...
Keep positive!!
28 October 2009
Members of Michael's family head to Costa Rica in the morning. They will visit the Embassy in San Jose and then make their way to Tamarindo.
26 October 2009
Michael does not show up for work as scheduled. The local police finally inspect the hotel room that Michael occupied. They said there was no indication of robbery or force in the room; his suitcase, toiletries and valuables (cell phone, camera, wallet, etc.), were still there and perfectly organized.
21 October 2009
Villas Macondo hotel becomes suspicious that Michael has not returned. They notify the local police, the British Embassy and two local hospitals in the area (Hospital La Anexion de Nicoya and Hospital de Liberia), they did not find any patient under Michael’s name.
18 October 2009
Michael arrives in Tamarindo. He checks into the hotel Villas Macondo at 3pm. He was last seen by hotel staff a short time later.
16 October 2009
Michael took a Jeep-Boat-Jeep Tour to Monteverde, www.eagletours.net. Angie called Eagle Tours and they said that Micheal was picked up at Hotel Montereal but they didn't remember where the drop off was in Monteverde.
Email from Michael: 1) "Off now for a jeep-boat-jeep ride to Monteverde.", 2) "Off now to Monteverde on a jeep-boat-jeep combo!!"
Facebook update: "Costa Rica, Day 4- Never again will I do a Canopy Tour following a night out with some Finns... It's a no win situation for all concerned."
Michael checks into La Pension hotel in Santa Elena for 2 nights.
15 October 2009
Email from Michael: "Day 2 and unfortunately I hag my bad stollen why traveling on a bus. It all happened so fast, I'm not sure myself what happened. I'm now in the towm of La Fortuna and the weather is rather lovely. Going to lounge pool side this morning before heading off to climb a volcano this afternoon. On the document front, I lost my Belgian ID card, but that shouldn't be too hard to replace…"
Michael visits the Baldi Hot Springs in La Fortuna.
14 October 2009
Michael arrives in Costa Rica. Stayed 2 nights at the Montereal Hotel in Fortuna, info@monterealhotel.com, +50624799357
Email from Michael: "3:21 PM - I'm currently on holiday in Costa Rica after spending a few days in New York. First time here and so far, so good."
Angie from Villas Macondo Hotel sent the Montreal Hotel photos of Michael in hopes they might remember him. According to the receptionist, Michael booked the room by telephone.
