Aisenbergs express confidence in Sheriff's Office

By Times Staff
Published August 16, 2005

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TAMPA - Steve and Marlene Aisenberg expressed confidence in the efforts of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office after meeting Monday with detectives who are investigating the case of their missing daughter.

Their attorney, Barry Cohen, apologized for accusing investigators of "sitting on their a--es."

The Aisenbergs and Cohen met with Sheriff David Gee and detectives a month after Gee invited them to discuss the case. On Monday, Cohen and his clients were happy with what they heard.

"I was satisfied that (Gee) genuinely wants to follow the facts ...," Cohen said.

Sabrina Aisenberg vanished in 1997 from her family's Valrico home when she was 5 months old. Her parents were indicted in 1999, accused of lying about her disappearance. The charges were dropped in 2001 after a magistrate judge said audiotapes secretly recorded in their home were mostly unintelligible. The Aisenbergs were also awarded $1.29-million to pay their attorneys.

Cohen said he agreed to submit his clients to "hard questions" without immunity, which means their statements could be used in court. But in exchange, the conversations were recorded and new investigators are on the case, Cohen said.

The couple and Cohen will meet with investigators again today.