Man unknowingly befriends fugitive
BY JOHN ZICK THE LEADER

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Jeroen Langelaar says he has exchanged e-mails with Anthony Kroeger, above. He says Kroeger owes him money.

BATH - An accused pedophile on the run since mid-October has lied and conned people out of money to stay out of jail, according to a 21-year-old Amsterdam man who has corresponded with the fugitive since last month.

Early this week, Jeroen Langelaar contacted The Leader after learning a man he met in Chicago last month was 48-yearold Anthony Kroeger.

Kroeger is wanted in Steuben County on 16 felonies related to the sexual exploitation of children.

Langelaar, a native of the Netherlands, is interning in New York City. He made a recreational trip to Chicago early last month.

The Leader was able to confirm details of Langelaar's story through independent sources.

Kroeger was arrested in Oct. 2006. He was freed on $25,000 cash bail.

Last month, Kroeger failed to appear in Steuben County Court. Local authorities then turned their attention to Chicago, where Kroeger was purportedly in police custody there.

But Steuben County authorities couldn't find any evidence Kroeger was in custody, although it is possible he was held there briefly.

According to Langelaar, who has remained in contact with Kroeger via e-mail, the fugitive is still in Chicago, likely moving from place to place to avoid detection.

"He called me last week and told me he never left Chicago after we met," Langelaar said. "When I spoke to him, we still had normal contact. He knew that I didn't know who he was."

Langelaar said he met Kroeger while staying at The Arlington House, a hotel in Chicago. He said they went together to sites in the city, including the Ch icago Zoo.

They also spoke of Kroeger's business. He told Langelaar he imported and exported plants and exotic fish, a trait linked to Kroeger by authorities.

"Although he looked like a scrub and stayed at a cheap hotel, he told me he was rich," Langelaar said.

Also while there, Langelaar said Kroeger was involved in an incident at O'Hare International Airport. Local authorities noted it last month.

"His arrest at O'Hare was about illegal import of fish, he told me via e-mail," Langelaar said.

Kroeger also told Langelaar he lived in Tampa, Florida, but was going to New York, then Los Angeles. He told Langelaar he was in Chicago on business.

During his time in Chicago, Langelaar loaned Kroeger money. Kroeger promised to pay him back, but Langelaar has yet to see a dime.

After weeks of non payment, Langelaar used a search engine to find information on Kroeger. An article published in The Leader appeared, at which time Langelaar learned Kroeger's true identity.

"I trusted him because his stories didn't sound like B.S." Langelaar said.

After reading the newspaper story, Langelaar found Kroeger's warrant listing and he man's mug shot on the Steuben County Sheriff's Office Website.

"He looks the same," Langelaar. "He wears glassesnow and has long hair."

Langelaar last had communication with Kroeger on Wednesday, at which time Kroeger asked Langelaar not to contact him again.

Langelaar said he has offered to help police track Kroeger.