Aisenbergs drop suit against sheriff's office

Thursday, September 28, 2006

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Sabrina Aisenberg was 5 months old when she disappeared from her Valrico home.

Steve and Marlene Aisenbergdropped their lawsuit Thursday against the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The suit had sought money for harm caused by a conspiracy by the sheriff's office and federal prosecutors to frame the couple in connection with the 1997 disappearance of their 5-month-old daughter, Sabrina, who has never been found.

A procedural hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon in the case in front of Judge Claudia Isom, but she cancelled the hearing after getting notice of the voluntary dismissal.

The Aisenbergs' attorney, Barry Cohen, says they decided to drop the civil case because the couple would have had to give a deposition that the sheriff's office might have used in its criminal case against them.

"I don't think they are actually looking for Sabrina," said Cohen. "I think they're looking for evidence to try to find evidence that the Aisenbergs are responsible for the disappearance of Sabrina."

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee issues the following written statement about the case: "While we are pleased with the dismissal, which has served as a distraction in this case, our focus always has been

Sabrina, bottom, would be 9 years old if alive today.

and remains on finding out what happened to Sabrina Aisenberg."

Cohen says he met with the family last week in Maryland, and they still have a room for Sabrina because they believe she is alive.

"We refuse to believe and they refuse to believe anyone would have taken that child to harm her," said Cohen. "We believe someone took that child to love her and have her as part of their family."

If Sabrina is alive, she would be 9 years old.

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