In a special television broadcast police in the Dutch Antilles island Curacao have appealed for information to help solve the case of the missing US vice consul James Hogan.

It is unclear where the 49-year-old vice consul went after he left his home on foot to go for a walk at about 11 p.m. on Thursday, 24 September. His wife reported him missing the next morning. A passer-by found some of his clothes - a pair of jeans, socks and shoes - neatly folded but covered with blood, on Baya Beach, many kilometres from his home. A large kitchen knife also covered in blood was found nearby. Tests revealed that the blood did in fact belong to Mr Hogan. His mobile telephone was found later in the water.

Few leads
In the TV broadcast police asked the public for any information about events that night. The police appear to have very few leads at the moment. They also wanted general information on Mr Hogan's social life as rumours circulating the island about his private life are contradictory. They range from stories about visits to gay bars to his having a preference for Latin American women. The knife, which was an expensive brand, was shown on the programme and viewers were asked whether they recognised it.

During a reconstruction of events that night, places and times were mentioned regarding the vice consul possible movements. The police are especially keen to get in touch with the driver of a white two-door BMW, although no reason was given as to why.

Huge search
There has been a huge land and sea search for the vice consul, involving many people. Antillean coastguard and US navy helicopters as well as underwater robots have been used to scour the whole island and the sea around it. The water between Baya Beach and Spaans Water (an inland lake with an open passage to the sea) has been dredged. Police had thought the vice consul's body might have been washed into the lake by the strong currents around the lesser Antillean island. Posters have been distributed and local residents have been questioned.

The FBI and US State Department have also involved in the search for the missing man. The Dutch Forensic Institute has also helped with the investigation.