Unexpected Crashes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

27 AUGUST 2000

Lodging World Rocked by Death of Four in Plane Crash

Black Box Data May Provide Clues

Sun Valley, ID – The American Association of Hotels and Hoteliers (AAHH) announced today the sad news that four innkeeping titans are presumed dead in an unexpected plane crash. JoJo Bramer and Harriet Ford, founding mothers of AAHH, were two of the four passengers identified by local police.

Two male passengers have yet to be identified. They are believed to be Niel Hardy and Steve Ort, co-authors of “Niel’s Inn Ratings: An Unbiased Guide to the Information Superhighway.” Niel was from Missouri and active in Civil War reenactment. Steve, believed to be sitting next to Niel, was a lawyer turned website guru and business expert.

“JoJo and Harriet were not just two peas in a pod,” said Beth Granger, AAHH executive assistant. “They were two kernels who popped with ideas constantly.”

The American Association of Hotels and Hoteliers was founded in 1990 to help innkeepers, hotel managers and bed & breakfast owners increase their reservations and compete with larger hotel chains. The AAHH motto is “More Heads in Beds!”

For More Information

AAHH executive board can be reached at 801-555-AAHH

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FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FBI/NTSB Joint Task Force

FBI Salt Lake City

28 August 2000

2746-DT-3734783-INTEL

Executive Summary: FBI Salt Lake City, working in conjunction with the NTSB, has provided an initial assessment of the Sun Valley, Idaho plane crash that killed four passengers and three flight crew. The four passengers were executives with the American Association of Hotels and Hoteliers (AAHH).

Local law enforcement officers will continue to assist NTSB officers as they collect data and analyze evidence to ascertain the underlying nature of the crash. Several factors indicate the possibility of foul play.

On AAHH employee expressed concerns that the Federal Trade Commission had opened an investigation into the business practices of the lodging trade group.

Jackson Hole News

Jackson, Wyoming August 29th, 2000 50 cents

Plane Crash Has People Puzzling

Sun Valley, ID – The crash of a small plane last week outside of Sun Valley has been ruled as ‘suspicious.’ Blaine County Sheriff’s Detective Steve Harkins confirmed that the data from the black box recovered from the smoldering wreckage indicated a heated argument.

“We are aware that the four passengers worked together in the same industry and that there had been some disagreements in the past week.” Det. Harkins said local authorities are cooperating with the investigation.

“We do have a couple of people that are of interest to us, but at this point we can’t say more than that during this active investigation.”

********************** FAX TRANSMISSION****************************

FROM Richard Tucker TO Samantha Franklin

DATE 30 August RE Are you okay?

I know you are mad. And you should be. I’ve known you long enough to know that when you are this mad, you unplug. But … did you know that the AAHH assholes are presumed dead in a plane crash? All four of them? Sheriff has been trying to reach you. I gave him your number.

At least fax me back and tell me what flight you are coming home on. I’m happy to be your chauffeur. You are too precious to suffer through the indignity of public transport.

Also, you were right, okay? I’ll get one of those Blackberry things. This radio silence is killing me.

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WALL STREET JOURNAL

Former Market Maven Person of Interest in Plane Crash

By Svea Herbst

Sep. 2, 2000 8:47 am ET

SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Former Bear Stearns stock market guru, and right-hand man to Bear’s Ace Greenberg, Samantha Franklin is wanted for questioning by the FBI in relation to a plane crash last week that killed seven people Idaho. Four of the deceased have been identified as members of the executive board of the American Association of Hotels and Hoteliers (AAHH).

According to an unnamed source, law enforcement teams have been on a nationwide hunt for Franklin after she was reportedly heard using threatening language during a disagreement with AAHH president JoJo Bramer.

“Our interest in finding Ms. Franklin is twofold. One, there were reports that she may have been a passenger on the AAHH plane. And two, if she’s not dead, then where is she?” said FBI spokesman Dean Vogel.

Franklin gained financial infamy for the 1997 stock market plunge that occurred after Franklin cautioned investors to avoid overpriced equities. Traders often refer the 27% drop in the Dow Jones as the “Franklin Freefall.”

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FROMSamantha Franklin TO Richard Tucker

DATE 2 September RE I’m fine

Got your fax.

Impressive detective work, you finding me when I do not want – or need– to be found.

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********************** FAX TRANSMISSION ****************************

FROMRichard Tucker TOSamantha Franklin

DATE 2 September RE What’s up buttercup?

Remember, before we got married, you’d send me a fax every day with a drawing? I miss that. I miss those versions of us.

So, I’m guessing that drawing-free fax means you haven’t forgiven my little mishap in July.

Can we at least find some time to talk, like on the phone, like the good old days?

Did you know? Gibbons mate for life. I always count my blessings that you picked me to monkey around with.

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********************** FAX TRANSMISSION****************************

FROMSamantha Franklin TO Richard Tucker

DATE 3 September RE

Yes, gibbons have been known to bond for life.

You know what gibbons don’t do? They don’t get locked up after a “mishap.”

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

September 5, 2000

Heard on the Street

New York, NY -- BEAR STEARNS CEO Ace Greenberg has a trick up his sleeve. While Greenberg hasn’t yet found a buyer for his firm, he’s already moonlighting. Greenberg will be displaying his magic tricks at Hunter College on Sept. 24.

We’re told Ace will be pulling rabbits out of hats and performing other bits of sorcery. Proceeds of the magic show will benefit the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side.

Sun Valley, IDAHO – Speaking of magic tricks, word on the street is that Ace Greenberg’s former protégé Samantha Franklin is heading to Idaho for questioning regarding her role in the plane crash last week. An anonymous source tells the Daily News that Franklin was seen loudly arguing with three of the plane crash victims.

The former financial foxy lady left a lot of “SamFans” on the sidelines after she left the money biz in 1996 to start an internet-based bed & breakfast reservation system.

Franklin cut her teeth while working next with part-time magician Ace Greenberg at Bear Stearns. The Daily News has learned Franklin’s husband was arrested in July and charged with both DUI and felony possession of marijuana.

Maybe Greenberg could work his magic and make Franklin’s many legal troubles vanish.