SFGATE.COM REPORTS ON THE HANS REISER TRIAL. BERNARD PALMER. Friday, April 28, 2000 A memorial service will be conducted May 6 in Oakland for Bernard Palmer, a former professor of education at San Francisco State University and a violist in the Berkeley Symphony. Professor Palmer, 79, died April 5 of cancer in his Oakland home. A native of Utica, N.Y., and a graduate of Columbia University and the University of California at Berkeley, Professor Palmer was a sergeant and radio operator in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, flying combat missions over Germany. He was a high school teacher in Tennessee before coming to San Francisco State in the 1950s to instruct college students working for their high school teaching credentials. He retired in 1991. As a violist, he was a member of the Berkeley, Prometheus and Kensington symphonys and the Holy Names and Oakland Civic orchestras. Last fall, he won praise for his performance of a Dvorak piece with the Kensington Symphony. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Beverly, of Oakland, and by children Hilary Palmer of Richmond, Hans Reiser of Oakland and Simone Palmer of Waterboro, Maine. A memorial service featuring a performance by the Exeter String Quartet, of which Mr. Palmer was a member, will be held on May 6 at 2 p.m. at the Mills College faculty lounge in Oakland. This article appeared on page D - 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/04/28/MN48689.DTL WOMAN VANISHES AFTER SHE DROPS OFF HER KIDS. Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, September 12, 2006 Oakland police were searching Monday for a woman who disappeared Sept. 3 after dropping off her two young children with her ex-husband. Nina Reiser, 31, was last seen about 2 p.m. Sept. 3 at her ex-husband's home in the Montclair district of Oakland, police said. "She was planning to go shopping at Berkeley Bowl that afternoon," said Anthony Zografos, her boyfriend. "Then she was going to go to her friend's. She never showed up at the friend's house." Police said they found Reiser's tan 2001 Honda Odyssey at an unspecified location, but no trace of her. A police bulletin issued Monday said Reiser is "at risk'' and could be a victim of foul play. "There were groceries inside her car, so we think she went to Berkeley Bowl," Zografos said. Reiser has lived in Oakland since she emigrated from Russia in 2000 with her former husband. They split up about four years ago, and Reiser has lived in the Temescal district in recent years, Zografos said. Reiser was trained as a doctor in Russia and was working to become certified in the United States. She has worked for an accounting office and has held other jobs in the past several years, Zografos said. The mother of a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, Reiser is known to friends as a devoted mother who always attends her children's soccer games. "We're lost. We checked with everyone we can imagine. I have personally crisscrossed the city of Oakland," Zografos said. "She's a really great person, pleasant and pretty and fun. I am really worried. This is not like her at all." Authorities describe Reiser, whose nickname is Nenasha, as 5 foot 5 and 114 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a fair complexion. Police ask anyone with information about Reiser or who may have seen her van to call contact investigators at (510) 777-3333. Callers can also leave information on the Police Department's tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/12/BAGSPL3LIP1.DTL COPS, CADAVER DOG SEARCH HOME OF MISSING MOM'S HUSBAND. Henry K. Lee and Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writers Wednesday, September 13, 2006 (09-13) 13:47 PDT OAKLAND -- Oakland police and a cadaver dog with the Alameda County sheriff's office today are searching the home of a software developer whose estranged wife hasn't been seen for 10 days, police said. Law-enforcement officials received a warrant to search the home of Hans Reiser, 43, on the 6900 block of Exeter Drive in the city's Montclair District, police said. Reiser's wife, Nina "Nenasha" Reiser, 31, was last seen at about 2 p.m. Sept. 3 at his home, where she dropped off their 6-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. A police bulletin issued Monday said the woman is "at risk" and could be a victim of foul play. The children have been placed with Child Protective Services. Hans Reiser has not been termed a suspect in her disappearance, and police have yet to speak to him, authorities said. Hans Reiser wasn't at home today, but his mother, Beverly Palmer, was present during the search and was being cooperative, said Oakland police Lt. Kevin Wiley. "We have not spoken to him yet," Wiley said of Reiser. A cadaver dog searched a crawl space underneath the home, located on a winding street off Shepherd Canyon Road in a steep wooded canyon. Also on scene was an agent with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Reisers frequently traveled to Russia. Meanwhile, concerned friends, neighbors and teachers from the Reiser children's former school, Grand Lake Montessori, have been posting flyers in the Lake Merritt area and other parts of the Montclair district. On the day she disappeared, Nina Reiser was planning to go shopping at Berkeley Bowl before going to a friend's house, said Anthony Zografos, her boyfriend. She never showed up at the house. Police said they found Reiser's tan 2001 Honda Odyssey at an unspecified location, but no trace of her. There were groceries inside the car, authorities said. The couple married in 1999 and separated in 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce in 2004, citing irreconcilable differences, according to Alameda County Superior Court records. She was granted custody of the children. The couple's divorce was never finalized. She said he was out of the country on business for his firm, Namesys, for nine months out of each year, records said. Nina Reiser accused her husband of subjecting their son, then 4, to violent video games and movies. "This is an activity that Hans does almost obsessively to relax," Nina Reiser wrote in her divorce filing. "Hans believes a child should 'know the real world' and sees nothing wrong with this behavior. He doesn't seem to grasp that children are not little adults." Hans Reiser, in turn, denied that movies were to blame and accused his wife of having an extramarital affair and of being mentally unstable and physically abusive to him, court records show. Hans Reiser's court filings touched on Sir Francis Bacon, Aristotle, Ralph Waldo Emerson and the scientific method. He said his son played "more hours of educational games" than those depicting violence and told the court that he was being "scammed" by his wife. He wrote of Nina Reiser, "She is a product of a KGB-dominated society and is the child of someone who works for the KGB." Nina Reiser was granted a temporary restraining order against her husband in December 2004. A year later, she agreed not to seek a permanent order. But earlier this year, Hans Reiser allegedly failed to pay 50 percent medical expenses and child care expenses as ordered by Judge Ronni McLaren, records show. He pleaded not guilty Aug. 25 on a civil contempt charge and is scheduled for trial in October. "I would like to think -- and I hope -- that he had nothing to do with this," Shelley Gordon, Nina's Reiser's divorce attorney, said today. "This has been a very acrimonious divorce, and I'm very fond of Nina and quite heartsick over her disappearance." Nina Reiser, who is trained as an obstetrician/gynecologist in Russia, has lived in the Temescal district in recent years, Zografos said. Authorities describe Reiser, whose nickname is Nenasha, as 5-foot-5 and 114 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a fair complexion. Oakland police homicide investigators have not been called in to assist officers with the missing person's unit, authorities said. Police want to look into the possibility that she could have left the country, said Oakland police Capt. Jeff Loman. "We don't have any evidence of foul play," Loman said Tuesday. Police ask anyone with information about Reiser or who may have seen her van to call contact investigators at (510) 777-3333. Callers can also leave information on the Police Department's tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/13/MNG34L4TIJ109.DTL MAN'S HOME SEARCHED -- WIFE IS MISSING. Henry K. Lee, Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writers Thursday, September 14, 2006 Oakland police and a cadaver dog with the Alameda County sheriff's office searched the home Wednesday of a computer programmer whose estranged wife hasn't been seen for 10 days. Law enforcement officials pored over the home of Hans Reiser, 42, on the 6900 block of Exeter Drive in the city's Montclair district for most of the day in hope of finding clues to the whereabouts of his wife, Nina "Nenasha" Reiser, 31. He wasn't home at the time. She was last seen at about 2 p.m. Sept. 3 at his home, where she dropped off their 6-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. The children have been placed with Child Protective Services. Hans Reiser hasn't been termed a suspect in his wife's disappearance, and police have yet to speak to him, said Deputy Police Chief Howard Jordan. "As far as we know, he was the last person to see her at the home," Jordan said. A dog that can smell a cadaver searched a crawl space underneath the six-room home, located on a winding street off Skyline Boulevard in a steep wooded canyon, as well as the backyard and neighboring yards. Also on scene were agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The Reisers, who acquaintances said met through a Russian dating service, frequently traveled to Russia. On Sept. 3, Nina Reiser dropped off her children and planned to go shopping at the Berkeley Bowl market before going to her friend Ellen Doren's house. She never showed up. Police found Nina Reiser's tan 2001 Honda Odyssey in North Oakland with groceries inside, Jordan said. Doren, who picked up the couple's children from school on Sept. 5, said Wednesday that she plans to apply to become a foster parent to the Reisers' children. "No news is good news," she said. "We'll just keep waiting for Nina no matter what." Nina Reiser's boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, said he wasn't surprised that police were investigating Hans Reiser. "(He) is really the only person I know who dislikes her. They really don't get along." But Jack Clauson, who has lived next door to Hans Reiser for 25 years, said, "I've never seen or heard a bad thing about him in all the time I've known the family." The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he'd be out of the country on business for most of the year, records said. Nina Reiser, who is trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children. The couple's divorce has not been finalized. Nina Reiser accused her husband of subjecting their son, then 4, to violent video games and movies, causing him to have nightmares. "This is an activity that Hans does almost obsessively to relax," Nina Reiser wrote in her divorce filing. "Hans believes a child should 'know the real world' and sees nothing wrong with this behavior. He doesn't seem to grasp that children are not little adults." Hans Reiser, in turn, denied that movies were to blame for their son's nightmares and accused his wife of having an extramarital affair with Sean Sturgeon, a former friend of his, and that Sturgeon was a danger to the children. In an interview Wednesday, Sturgeon, 42, of Oakland denied having been a threat to the kids. Sturgeon said he became romantically involved with Nina Reiser only when her husband made it clear that the couple were through. Sturgeon filed a lawsuit in 2004 against Hans Reiser accusing him of failing to pay back an $84,000 loan. Greg Silva, an attorney for Hans Reiser filed a notice of settlement in the case Wednesday. Silva declined comment. Sturgeon said Hans Reiser had made a lot of "irrational" accusations against him. "He has shown increasing signs of mental instability," Sturgeon said. But Nina Reiser is the one who is mentally unstable and physically abusive, her husband claimed in court filings that touched on Francis Bacon, Aristotle, Ralph Waldo Emerson and the scientific method. He said his son played "more hours of educational games" than those depicting violence and told the court that he was being "scammed" by his wife. He wrote of Nina Reiser, "She is a product of a KGB-dominated society and is the child of someone who works for the KGB." Hans Reiser has prided himself in interviews as having been accepted to UC Berkeley at the age of 15 after dropping out of junior high school. He attended the university off and on before graduating in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in "systematizing," an individualized computer-science major. He operates his own business, Namesys, from his home. Nina Reiser was granted a temporary restraining order against her husband in December 2004 after she reported that he had pushed her and was abusive to her. A year later, she agreed not to seek a permanent order. But earlier this year, Hans Reiser allegedly failed to pay 50 percent medical expenses and child care expenses as ordered by a judge, records show. He pleaded not guilty Aug. 25 to a civil contempt charge and is scheduled for trial in October. "I would like to think -- and I hope -- that he had nothing to do with this," Shelley Gordon, Nina Reiser's divorce attorney, said Wednesday. "This has been a very acrimonious divorce, and I'm very fond of Nina and quite heartsick over her disappearance." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/14/BAGPJL5DHV1.DTL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR MISSING OAKLAND MOTHER. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, September 16, 2006 (09-16) 09:33 PDT -- Dozens of people attended an emotional candlelight vigil Friday evening for an Oakland mother of two who has been missing for nearly two weeks, as police said for the first time that her estranged husband has agreed to be interviewed by investigators. Nina "Nenasha" Reiser, 31, has not been seen since Sept. 3, when she dropped off her 6-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at their father's home in Oakland's Montclair District before stopping by the Berkeley Bowl. Her tan 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan was found in North Oakland with groceries inside, but she failed to meet her best friend Ellen Doren at her house later that evening, authorities said. Friends have blanketed the neighborhood with flyers with her picture, urging anyone with information to call police. This week, investigators searched her home on 49th Street in the city's Temescal District and, along with a cadaver dog, pored over the home of her estranged husband, Hans Reiser, 42, on the 6900 block of Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills. They have found one of two cars associated with him. Police say Hans Reiser is not a suspect in her disappearance. But they noted that he had failed to respond to police phone calls until late this week, when noted Oakland criminal defense attorney William Du Bois said his client would be available "to both the press and the police" for an interview early next week. "I have no information suggesting that he had anything whatsoever to do with the disappearance of his estranged wife," Du Bois said. "He is upset about the whole thing as much as everybody else." Hans Reiser did not attend the candlelight vigil Friday at Montclair Park, which his wife frequents with their children. Authorities said they believe he is in the area because he attended a court hearing in Oakland earlier this week that dealt with the custody of their children, who have been placed with Child Protective Services. Deputy Police Chief Howard Jordan and Officer Roland Holmgren, the department spokesman, made an appearance at the vigil in uniform. Later, a plainclothes police officer was seen holding a yellow carnation among well-wishers, which included the missing woman's boyfriend, Anthony Zografos. All wore pictures of Nina Reiser adorned with yellow ribbons. "I feel happy because of the community that showed up today to give their hopes to Nina and, so in that way, I feel grateful," Doren said. "Otherwise, of course, I feel very sad.I feel empty inside not to have my best friend with me." Asked if she was surprised that Hans Reiser wasn't present at the vigil, Doren said, "I really didn't know him that well. Sure, I thought he would be here." The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he'd be out of the country on business for most of the year, Alameda County court records said. Nina Reiser, who is trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children. The couple's divorce has not been finalized. Police ask anyone with information to contact investigators at (510) 777-3333. Callers can also leave information on the Police Department's tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/16/BAGIAL75A346.DTL $15K REWARD OFFERED FOR INFO ON MISSING OAKLAND MOM. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, September 25, 2006 (09-25) 14:14 PDT -- Authorities announced a $15,000 reward today for information leading to the location of an Oakland mother of two who has been missing for more than three weeks. Nina "Nenasha" Reiser, 31, has not been seen since Sept. 3, when she dropped off her 6-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at their father's home in Oakland's Montclair District before stopping by the Berkeley Bowl. She failed to meet her best friend Ellen Doren at her house later that evening, authorities said. Reiser's tan 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan was found on Sept. 9 in the city's Thornhill district with groceries inside. Neighbors first spotted the minivan parked on Sept. 5, the same day she failed to pick up her children from school, police said today. Over the weekend, volunteers and law-enforcement officials scoured Redwood Regional Park and other parks in the Oakland hills for any signs of Reiser, who is described as a "missing person at risk." On Sunday, her mother, Irina Sharanova, who arrived from Russia, was among those who attended a service at a Berkeley church. The $15,000 reward is being offered by the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation, a nonprofit started on behalf of relatives of two of three slain Yosemite tourists. Doren said today that the reward was "great news." "I hope that it will make people come out and give police information that they're looking for." Two weeks ago, investigators searched Reiser's home on 49th Street in the city's Temescal District. They also brought a cadaver dog to pore over the home of her estranged husband, Hans Reiser, 42, on the 6900 block of Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills. Police say Hans Reiser is not a suspect in her disappearance, but they also said he has failed to respond to police phone calls. His lawyer, noted Oakland criminal defense attorney William Du Bois, had initially said that his client would be available "to both the press and the police." But Du Bois now says Hans Reiser has no plans to talk to police because he is upset about the search of his home and doesn't trust investigators. Hans Reiser did not attend the searches Saturday and Sunday, nor a candlelight vigil Sept. 15 at Montclair Park in the Oakland hills, which his wife frequented with their children. Police believe he's still in the area because he has attended recent court hearings in Oakland that dealt with the custody of their children. At one of the hearings, Oakland police testified before Alameda County commissioner Nancy Lonsdale. The officers said they had evidence they couldn't share, even with the commissioner, that would argue against giving Hans Reiser temporary custody of his children, according to Du Bois. Lonsdale placed the children with Child Protective Services. She is expected to make a final decision over the children's placement at a hearing Wednesday. The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he'd be out of the country on business for most of the year, court records said. Nina Reiser, who is trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children. The couple's divorce has not been finalized. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Oakland police missing persons unit at investigators at (510) 587-2528 or e-mail youthandfamilyservices@oaklandnet.com. Callers can also leave information on the Police Department's tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/25/BAGQQLCDEA37.DTL REWARD OFFERED IN MISSING MOM CASE. Henry K. Lee Tuesday, September 26, 2006 Authorities announced a $15,000 reward Monday for information leading to the location of an Oakland mother of two who has been missing for more than three weeks. Nina "Nenasha" Reiser, 31, has not been seen since Sept. 3, when she dropped off her 6-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at their father's home in Oakland's Montclair District. She failed to meet her best friend, Ellen Doren, at her house later that evening, authorities said. Reiser's tan 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan, with groceries inside, was found Sept. 9 in the city's Thornhill district. Neighbors first spotted the parked minivan Sept. 5, the day she was supposed to pick up her children at school, police said Monday. Police said that her estranged husband, Hans Reiser, 42, is not a suspect in her disappearance but that he's failed to return police phone calls. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Oakland police missing persons unit at (510) 587-2528 or e-mail youthandfamilyservices@oaklandnet.com. Callers may also leave information on the Police Department's tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/26/BABADIGEST4.DTL MISSING WOMAN'S HUSBAND SEES KIDS. Henry K. Lee Friday, September 29, 2006 The estranged husband of an Oakland woman who has been missing for more than three weeks visited his children Thursday but declined to talk about the case with reporters. Hans Reiser, 42, attended an Alameda County Superior Court custody hearing in Oakland regarding his 6-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. He then visited his children, who are under foster care, at a nearby county building. When approached by reporters before the visit, Reiser ran away. His attorney in the custody hearing, Cheryl Hicks, said she couldn't discuss the issue but has previously said Reiser "wants his children back." Reiser's wife, Nina "Nenasha" Reiser, 31, has not been seen since Sept. 3, when she dropped off her children at his home in Oakland's Montclair District. Investigators have searched Hans Reiser's house. Police have sent certified letters to the computer programmer asking him to meet with them, but he has repeatedly declined to do so. Police have not termed him a suspect, but hope he can "give us some information to help us find Nina," police Lt. Kevin Wiley said Thursday. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/29/BABADIGEST2.DTL MISSING WOMAN'S HUSBAND DETAINED FOR DNA SAMPLE. Jim Herron Zamora and Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, September 29, 2006 (09-29) 12:26 PDT -- The estranged husband of a woman who has been missing for nearly four weeks was detained Thursday night for a DNA sample, Oakland police said today. Deputy Chief Howard Jordan said Hans Reiser, 42, has declined to cooperate with the investigation so officers were forced to obtain a search warrant in order to collect a DNA sample. "He has not cooperated, he has not answered questions," Jordan said. "He was released after we received a biological sample." Although police have focused on Hans Reiser and searched his house, his car and his computer, Jordan said he is not a suspect. "We still don't have a crime," he said, adding that Nina "Nenasha" Reiser is considered a missing person because police have no proof of foul play in her disappearance. Reiser has refused to speak to police since the 31-year-old woman went missing after she dropped off her 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at their father's Oakland home on Sept. 3. She failed to meet her best friend later that evening, authorities said. Hans Reiser was detained Thursday by police who followed him after he left a child custody hearing in Alameda County Superior Court, Johnson said. At the time he was stopped, Reiser was carrying a telescope that was birthday present for his son. Both children are in foster care. Alameda County commissioner Nancy Lonsdale declined to grant Reiser's custody request following testimony from Oakland police officers who said they had evidence that would argue against giving Reiser the children. Police said they couldn't share the evidence, not even with the commissioner. Nina Reiser's minivan was found Sept. 9 in Oakland's Thornhill neighborhood. Groceries from Berkeley Bowl were found inside. Neighbors first spotted the minivan on Sept. 5, the same day the mother failed to pick up her children from school, police said. Two weeks ago, investigators searched Nina Reiser's home on 49th Street in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood. They also brought a cadaver dog to pore over Hans Reiser's Montclair district home. His lawyer, noted Oakland criminal defense attorney William Du Bois, had initially said that his client would be available "to both the press and the police." But Du Bois later said the 42-year-old father would not talk to police because he is upset about the search of his home and doesn't trust investigators. Authorities announced a $15,000 reward Monday for information related to Nina Reiser's disappearance. Over the weekend, volunteers and law-enforcement officials scoured Redwood Regional Park and other parks in the Oakland hills for any signs of Nina Reiser. On Sunday, her mother, Irina Sharanova, who arrived from Russia, was among those who attended a service at a Berkeley church. The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he'd be out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. Nina Reiser, who is trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children. The couple's divorce has not been finalized. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Oakland police missing persons unit at investigators at (510) 587-2528 or e-mail youthandfamilyservices@oaklandnet.com. Callers can also leave information on the Police Department's tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/29/BAGUALFDNE22.DTL MISSING WOMAN'S HUSBAND FORCED TO SUBMIT DNA SAMPLE TO POLICE. Jim Herron Zamora, Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writers Saturday, September 30, 2006 The estranged husband of a woman who has been missing for nearly four weeks was detained Thursday night for a DNA sample, Oakland police said Friday. Deputy Chief Howard Jordan said Hans Reiser, 42, had declined to cooperate with the investigation so officers were forced to obtain a search warrant to collect DNA. Jordan said that Reiser did not resist police technicians when they took his biological sample. Although police have focused on Reiser and searched his house, his car and his computer, Jordan said he is not a suspect. "We still don't have a crime," he said, adding that Nina "Nenasha" Reiser is considered a missing person because police have no proof of foul play in her disappearance. Hans Reiser has refused to speak to police since the 31-year-old woman disappeared after dropping off her 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at their father's Oakland home on Sept. 3. She failed to meet her best friend later that evening, authorities said. Hans Reiser was detained Thursday by police, who followed him after he left a child custody hearing in Alameda County Superior Court, Johnson said. At the time he was stopped, Reiser was carrying a telescope that was a birthday present for his son. Both children are in foster care. When confronted by reporters outside the courthouse, Reiser sprinted away. Alameda County Superior Court Commissioner Nancy Lonsdale declined to grant Reiser's custody request after testimony from Oakland police officers who said they had evidence that would argue against giving Reiser the children. Police said they couldn't share the evidence, not even with the commissioner. Nina Reiser's minivan was found Sept. 9 in Oakland's Thornhill neighborhood. Groceries from Berkeley Bowl were found inside. Neighbors first spotted the minivan on Sept. 5, the same day the mother failed to pick up her children from school, police said. Two weeks ago, investigators searched Nina Reiser's home on 49th Street in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood. They also brought a cadaver dog to Hans Reiser's Montclair district home. His lawyer, Oakland criminal defense attorney William Du Bois, had initially said that his client would be available "to both the press and the police." But Du Bois later said Reiser would not talk to police because he is upset about the search of his home and doesn't trust investigators. The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he was out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. Nina Reiser, who was trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children. The couple's divorce has not been finalized. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Oakland police missing persons unit at investigators at (510) 587-2528 or e-mail youthandfamilyservices@oaklandnet.com. Callers can also leave information on the Police Department's tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/30/BAGJNLFTII1.DTL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN HOPES OF FINDING MISSING OAKLAND WOMAN. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, October 6, 2006 (10-06) 08:49 PDT OAKLAND -- Friends of an Oakland woman who has been missing for more than a month have launched a new campaign, including billboards and a Web site, in hopes of generating leads that will help find her. Nina Reiser, 31, disappeared after dropping off her son and daughter at their father's Oakland home on Sept. 3. She failed to meet her best friend, Ellen Doren, later that evening, authorities said. "I have not given up hope, and I'm not going to give up hope until Nina is found," Reiser's boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, said today. Friends launched the Web site, www.ninareiser.com, which offers suggestions to those who want to help find her. It also reminds people of a $15,000 reward for information leading to her location. Beginning Monday, 20 billboards with Reiser's picture and police contact information will be posted throughout Oakland. Clear Channel and CBS Outdoor are covering the cost of the campaign, Zografos said. At noon Sunday, friends will hold a "play date" at Montclair Park at 6300 Moraga Ave. in Oakland for children, who will be given yellow balloons. They will release 35 balloons, one for each day Reiser has been missing. Reiser's minivan was found Sept. 9 in Oakland's Thornhill neighborhood. Groceries from Berkeley Bowl were found inside. Neighbors first spotted the minivan on Sept. 5, the same day the mother failed to pick up her children from school, police said. In mid-September, investigators searched her home on 49th Street in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood. They also brought a cadaver dog to search the Montclair district home of her estranged husband, Hans Reiser. His lawyer, Oakland criminal defense attorney William Du Bois, had initially said that his client would be available "to both the press and the police." But Du Bois later said Hans Reiser would not talk to police because he is upset about the search of his home and doesn't trust investigators. An Alameda County Superior Court commissioner declined to grant Hans Reiser custody of the couple's children after testimony from Oakland police officers who said they had evidence that would argue against giving Hans Reiser the children. Police said they couldn't share the evidence, not even with the commissioner. Although stressing that he was not a suspect in Nina Reiser's disappearance, police used a search warrant to obtain a DNA sample from Hans Reiser on Sept. 28. Hans Reiser has still declined to talk to police, who have sent him and his attorney registered letters urging him to speak to investigators. "You know, I really don't understand his behavior," Zografos said today. "If he can find Nina in any way, I think he needs to come forward with whatever information he has. If he doesn't have anything, I don't know why he's running away." The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he was out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. Nina Reiser, who was trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children after the separation. Her son celebrated his 7th birthday without his mother on Sept. 28. Her daughter is 5. The couple's divorce has not been finalized. Police ask anyone with information to contact the Oakland police missing persons unit at investigators at (510) 587-2528 or e-mail youthandfamilyservices@oaklandnet.com. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/06/BAGK6LKAFK23.DTL BILLBOARDS AND WEB SITE FOR MISSING WOMAN. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, October 7, 2006 Friends of an Oakland woman who has been missing for more than a month are renewing their search for her using billboards and a Web site. Nina Reiser, 31, disappeared after dropping off her son and daughter at their father's Oakland home on Sept. 3. She failed to meet her best friend later that evening, authorities said, and didn't show up on Sept. 5 to pick her children up from school. "I have not given up hope, and I'm not going to give up hope until Nina is found," Reiser's boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, said Friday. Friends launched a Web site, www.ninareiser.com, which reminds visitors of a $15,000 reward for information leading to her location. Beginning Monday, 20 billboards with Reiser's picture and police contact information will be posted throughout Oakland. Clear Channel and CBS Outdoor are covering the cost of the signs, Zografos said. At noon Sunday, friends will hold a "play date" at Montclair Park at 6300 Moraga Ave. in Oakland, where children will be given yellow balloons to release -- 35, one for each day Nina Reiser has been missing. Reiser's minivan, with groceries inside, was found Sept. 9 in Oakland's Thornhill neighborhood. Days later, investigators searched her home on 49th Street in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood. They also brought a cadaver dog to search the Montclair district home of her estranged husband, Hans Reiser. An Alameda County Superior Court commissioner declined to grant Hans Reiser custody of the couple's children but would not disclose why. While stressing that Hans Reiser was not a suspect in her disappearance, police used a search warrant to obtain a DNA sample from him on Sept. 28. Hans Reiser has declined to talk to police, who have sent him and his attorney registered letters urging him to speak to investigators. The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he was out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. The divorce has not been finalized. Nina Reiser, who was trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children after the separation. The Reisers' son celebrated his 7th birthday on Sept. 28. Their daughter is 5. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/07/BAG9ALKU7V1.DTL HOME OF MISSING WOMAN'S HUSBAND IS SEARCHED IN OAKLAND. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, October 9, 2006 (10-09) 23:14 PDT -- Oakland police and FBI officials were searching the home Monday night of the husband of missing Oakland woman Nina Reiser. Reiser, 31, has been missing since Sept. 3 when she dropped off her son and daughter at the Exeter Drive home where her estranged husband, Hans Reiser, was living. The search Monday was the second time authorities have gone to the home. This time, police returned with a homicide investigator and federal officials. It was unclear whether they found anything during the search, which began at 6 p.m. and continued into the night. Reiser's minivan, with groceries inside, was found Sept. 9 in Oakland's Thornhill neighborhood. Hans Reiser has declined to talk to police, who have sent him and his attorney registered letters urging him to speak to investigators. The Reisers married in 1999 and separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he was out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. The divorce was not finalized. Friends have launched a Web site, www.ninareiser.com, which reminds visitors of a $15,000 reward for information leading to her location. Twenty billboards asking for help in finding Nina Reiser were posted throughout Oakland Monday. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/09/BAGMOLM0FB3.DTL HUSBAND OF MISSING OAKLAND MOM ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MURDER. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, October 10, 2006 (10-10) 16:47 PDT OAKLAND -- The estranged husband of an Oakland woman who has been missing for more than a month was arrested today on suspicion of murder. Hans Reiser, 42, was taken into custody at 11 a.m., hours after Oakland police and FBI technicians searched his home in the Oakland hills. His estranged wife, Nina Reiser, 31, has been missing since Sept. 3, when she dropped off the couple's son and daughter at his home on the 6900 block of Exeter Drive. Nina Reiser's minivan, with groceries from Berkeley Bowl inside, was found several miles away Sept. 9 in Oakland's Thornhill neighborhood. "I guess that the police are not expecting to find Nina alive. I'm very sad about that, terribly sad," Shelley Gordon, Nina Reiser's divorce attorney, said today. "I just pray for the children." Anthony Zografos, Reiser's boyfriend, said, "I have no thoughts. Until they find Nina, I don't know what to think." Authorities did not immediately say today why they believe Reiser is dead. Monday's search was the second at Hans Reiser's six-room house, located on a winding street off Skyline Boulevard. In mid-September, police spent several days searching the home where his mother, Beverly Palmer, also lives. They brought in a cadaver dog during that search. On Monday night, police with the missing persons unit returned with a homicide investigator and the FBI's evidence response team. Police removed items from the home, including what appeared to be a door and a rolled-up carpet. Police used a search warrant Sept. 28 to obtain a DNA sample from Hans Reiser, who has declined to talk to police. His lawyer, criminal defense attorney William Du Bois, had initially said Reiser would be available "to both the press and the police." But Du Bois later said Reiser would not talk to police because he was upset about the search of his home and didn't trust investigators. Du Bois complained today that police had not allowed him to meet with his client after the arrest. He said investigators were keeping Reiser in isolation. Police made the arrest based on circumstantial evidence and have not found Nina Reiser's body, Du Bois said. "I have no idea what the circumstantial evidence is," he said. "When I hear what the evidence is against him, I'll make a decision as to whether he'll talk to them." The Reisers were married in 1999 and frequently traveled to Russia, where she was born. They separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he was out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. Nina Reiser, who was trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children. The divorce was not finalized. Hans Reiser has prided himself in interviews on having been accepted to UC Berkeley at the age of 15 after dropping out of junior high school. He attended the university off and on before graduating in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in systematizing, an individualized computer-science major. He operates his own business, Namesys, from his home. Nina Reiser was granted a temporary restraining order against her husband in December 2004 after she reported that he had pushed her and was abusive to her. A year later, she agreed not to seek a permanent order. Hans Reiser was accused earlier this year of failing to pay medical and child-care expenses as ordered by a judge, records show. He pleaded not guilty Aug. 25 to a civil contempt charge and was scheduled for trial in October. Nina Reiser's friends have started a Web site, www.ninareiser.com, which reminds visitors of a $15,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Twenty billboards asking for help in finding her were posted throughout Oakland today. Zografos and Nina Reiser's best friend, Ellen Doren, said they still planned to formally unveil the billboards Wednesday. "I'm very hopeful because that's the only way to get through the day right now, to keep having hope," Doren said. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/BAGERLM3RR15.DTL OAKLAND POLICE ARREST MISSING WOMAN'S ESTRANGED HUSBAND. By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, October 11, 2006 (10-11) 00:01 PDT Oakland, Calif. (AP) -- The estranged husband of a missing mother was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with her disappearance more than a month ago, police said. Hans Thomas Reiser was arrested one day after Oakland police, with the help of the FBI, searched his house a second time for clues in the disappearance of Nina Reiser. Nina Reiser, 31, was last seen Sept. 3 while dropping off her 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at her husband's home in the Oakland hills. She never showed up for a meeting with her best friend that evening. Her Honda minivan was found Sept. 9 with her purse and groceries still inside. Deputy Chief Howard Jordan said on Tuesday that even though police are still looking for Nina Reiser's body they decided to charge Hans Reiser based on biological evidence and statements from friends and relatives of the missing woman. "Our investigation has gone from a search and rescue to a search and recover," Jordan said at a news conference. The Reisers have been embroiled in an acrimonious divorce and child custody fight after separating in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, but it has not been finalized. Jordan said Hans Reiser has remained under surveillance for several weeks. Hans Reiser, who is expected to be charged this week, has refused to speak to authorities. His lawyer, William DuBois, did not immediately return a call Tuesday. Nina "Nenasha" Reiser moved to the U.S. in 1999 from St. Petersburg, Russia where she worked as a medical doctor. Her mother, who still lives in St. Petersburg, said she talked to her daughter the day she disappeared. She said Hans Reiser has ignored her attempts to speak with him. The two children remain in protective custody. Their father has tried to convince authorities they should be reunited with him. Even though Nina Reiser's body has not been found, police believe she is dead and enough circumstantial evidence exists to allow for Hans Reiser to be prosecuted. Police told the Oakland Tribune biological evidence that puts the missing woman in a car her husband had access to is a strong part of the circumstantial case against him. They would not say what the biological evidence is, but the term usually includes blood, hair or other body fluids. The link to the car is important because Nina Reiser's friends have told authorities she would never had voluntarily ridden in a car with him. Last month, police obtained a search warrant to secure a DNA sample from Hans Reiser. A $15,000 reward was offered for information about the missing woman. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/10/10/state/n142844D48.DTL NINA REISER'S BOYFRIEND HAS 'GLIMMER OF HOPE'. Billboards with missing mom's photo unveiled. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, October 11, 2006 (10-11) 12:02 PDT OAKLAND -- The boyfriend and the mother of an Oakland woman presumed killed at the hands of her estranged husband unveiled billboards today with her picture and reward information in hopes of finding her. On Tuesday, Oakland police arrested Hans Reiser, 42, on suspicion of murdering his wife, Nina Reiser, 31, who disappeared Sept. 3. Her body hasn't been found, but police said they had enough circumstantial evidence to take him into custody. "I still hope -- a glimmer of hope -- that Nina is alive and that we'll see her again," said her boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, standing today near the corner of Telegraph and West Grand avenues in Oakland with one of the billboards as a backdrop. "But regardless of whether this is a search-and-rescue or search-and-recovery operation for the police, Nina is still missing -- we've got to find her," said Zografos, his face quivering as he spoke. "What you see on the billboard is a beautiful woman with a beautiful smile, and she's missing and she has kids and she has family," Zografos said. "We just can't give up." Zografos said he was "very surprised that someone may have actually hurt her. I can't understand why anyone would want to hurt Nina." Zografos shook his head after being asked about his reaction to Hans Reiser's arrest. "I don't know," he said. "I'm still numb." He said if Hans Reiser had information as to his estranged wife's whereabouts, "It's not too late," Zografos said. Zografos was joined by Nina Reiser's mother, Irina Sharanova, who also voiced hope that her daughter was still alive. But, Sharanova said, "I wish Nina never met Hans." She said her grandchildren, a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, remain in protective custody and are attending school. "They are healthy and safe," Sharanova said, adding that they would likely need psychotherapy to help deal with the likelihood that their mother was dead and their father was in jail. Zografos said Nina Reiser, whom he had been dating for about a year, never discussed her relationship with her husband. After she disappeared, Zografos said, he reached out to Hans Reiser, inviting him by e-mail to play dates. He never responded, Zografos said. Zografos had planned to have dinner and see a movie with Nina Reiser on Sept. 4, the day after she was last seen. She was supposed to show up at 5:30 p.m. "At 5:31, I knew there was something wrong," he said. Zografos and Sharanova were flanked today by a representative of Clear Channel, which donated eight signs that are in place throughout Oakland. CBS Outdoor donated nine signs in Oakland and one in Berkeley along Interstate 80. Hans Reiser, a computer programmer, is expected to be arraigned on a charge of murder Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland. Nina Reiser was last seen at her husband's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills on Sept. 3, when she dropped off the couple's children. She failed to meet her best friend at her house later that evening, authorities said. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan, with groceries inside, was found Sept. 9 in the city's Thornhill neighborhood. Neighbors first spotted the parked minivan Sept. 5, the day she was supposed to pick up her children at school, police said. The Reisers were married in 1999 and frequently traveled to Russia, where she was born. They separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he was out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. Nina Reiser, who was trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children, whom Oakland Deputy Police Chief Howard Jordan described Tuesday as "basically orphans." The divorce was never finalized. Nina Reiser's friends have started a Web site, www.ninareiser.com, which reminds visitors of a $15,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Police ask anyone with information to contact Oakland homicide Sgt. Bruce Brock at (510) 238-3821 or a police tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/11/BAGQJLNA3U54.DTL HUSBAND ARRESTED AS SUSPECT. Police say they have evidence that missing mother of two is dead. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Capping a monthlong investigation, Oakland police arrested the estranged husband of a missing Oakland woman Tuesday on suspicion of murder. Police said they have evidence to suggest that Nina Reiser, 31, who went missing Sept. 3, is dead. Her body has not been found. "All avenues led us to Mr. Reiser being responsible for the death and disappearance of Ms. Nina Reiser," said homicide Lt. Ersie Joyner. Police arrested Hans Reiser, 42, at 11 a.m. at an acquaintance's home on Simson Street in East Oakland. The computer programmer is expected to be arraigned on murder charges Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland. "We believe that based on circumstantial evidence, as well as statements and other evidence, that Hans Reiser murdered Nina Reiser," Oakland Deputy Police Chief Howard Jordan said at a news conference. Without elaborating, police said they had biological and trace evidence suggesting that Nina Reiser was dead. Her body is believed to be somewhere in the Bay Area, police said. "We have not located her body," Jordan said. "However, we are working diligently to locate the body. Our investigation has gone from a search and rescue to a search and recovery." Jordan added, "We feel very strongly that the D.A. will file charges against him and that we will prosecute him with or without a body." Hans Reiser has "made himself unavailable" to speak with police about what happened on the day his wife dropped off their children at his home, said Oakland police Officer Ryan Gill, a missing persons investigator. The suspect's attorney, William Du Bois of Oakland, said Tuesday, "I have no idea what the circumstantial evidence is. When I hear what the evidence is against him, I'll make a decision as to whether he'll talk to them." Du Bois said police were refusing him access to his client after the arrest. Jordan disputed that, saying Hans Reiser had not requested his attorney. Hans Reiser's arrest came after Oakland police and an FBI evidence response team searched his home on the 6900 block of Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills beginning at about 6 p.m. Monday. Police removed items from the home, including what appeared to be a door and a rolled-up carpet. Police said they had served 15 search warrants during the investigation but declined to detail the material that was seized. The search was the second at the six-room house, located on a winding street off Shepherd Canyon Road. In mid-September, police spent several days searching the home, where his mother also lives, and brought in a cadaver dog. Investigators used a search warrant Sept. 28 to obtain a DNA sample from Hans Reiser. Nina Reiser, who filed for divorce in August 2004, was last seen at her husband's home on Sept. 3, when she dropped off the couple's son and daughter. She failed to meet her best friend, Ellen Doren, at her house later that evening, authorities said. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan, with groceries inside, was found Sept. 9 in the city's Thornhill neighborhood. Neighbors first spotted the parked minivan Sept. 5, the day she was supposed to pick up her children at school, police said. Hans Reiser's mother, Beverly Palmer, and a second person were at the Simson Street home when he was arrested. Both were being interviewed Tuesday, police said. Curtis McDonald, who lives on Simson, said investigators searched the home Tuesday and about two weeks ago. Police said they had tracked the suspect to the home and to points throughout the Bay Area in recent weeks through undercover surveillance. Residents of the home where he was arrested declined comment. Anthony Zografos, Nina Reiser's boyfriend, wept while attending Tuesday's news conference. Then he abruptly left. "I have no thoughts," Zografos said earlier Tuesday. "Until they find Nina, I don't know what to think." Shelley Gordon, Nina Reiser's divorce attorney, said, "I guess that the police are not expecting to find Nina alive. I'm very sad about that, terribly sad. I just pray for the children." The Reisers were married in 1999 and frequently traveled to Russia, where she was born. They separated in May 2004. Nina Reiser filed for divorce three months later, citing irreconcilable differences and saying their children "hardly know their father" because he was out of the country on business for most of the year, according to court records. Nina Reiser, who was trained as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Russia, was granted custody of the children, whom Jordan described Tuesday as "basically orphans." The divorce was not finalized. Nina Reiser's friends have started a Web site, www.ninareiser .com, which reminds visitors of a $15,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Twenty billboards asking for help in finding her were posted throughout Oakland on Tuesday. Zografos and Doren said they still planned to formally unveil the billboards today. "I'm very hopeful, because that's the only way to get through the day right now, to keep having hope," Doren said. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/11/BAGCELMT0D1.DTL MURDER CHARGES LIKELY DESPITE MISSING BODY. Circumstantial evidence may be used against husband. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, October 12, 2006 When Hans Reiser appears in an Oakland courtroom today on charges that he killed his estranged wife, Nina, prosecutors will be moving forward even though her body hasn't been found. The lack of a body in a homicide case is rare, but there have been plenty of instances in which murder defendants have been convicted through circumstantial evidence alone, legal experts said Wednesday. Sources close to the investigation told The Chronicle on Wednesday that police believe Hans Reiser, 42, killed his wife at his Oakland hills home on Sept. 3, the day she dropped off the couple's two children. Nina Reiser's blood, confirmed through DNA testing, was found at his Exeter Drive home and in his car, the sources said. Court records show that Nina Reiser, 31, last lived at the home in March 2001, several years before the couple separated. Hans Reiser, a computer programmer, is expected to be charged today with murder. He refused to speak to police after his wife disappeared, and he declined to make a statement to investigators after being arrested Tuesday at a friend's house in East Oakland, police said. "There is no pool of blood in any location," said his attorney, William Du Bois. "They're talking about traces of biological evidence, and when people live together for years, it's not uncommon for them to deposit trace evidence." Du Bois, who met with his client in jail Wednesday, said, "He's saddened, of course. If you were arrested in connection with the death of your wife when they haven't even found her body, how would that make you feel?" Prosecutors can proceed in a homicide case without many things, including a confession, a motive or a body, said Contra Costa County prosecutor Harold Jewett, who oversees homicide and gang cases. "There's certainly no requirement in the law that a body be present, any more than there's a requirement in the law, for instance, that a murder weapon be produced," Jewett said. But not having a body does present prosecutors with challenges, such as proving to a jury that the supposed victim hasn't run off or somehow faked his or her death to start life anew. "You've got to have evidence to defeat that," said Steve Wagstaffe, San Mateo County chief deputy district attorney. "In a no-body case, you have to convince the jury that the victim is truly dead and not simply a runaway." To do that, investigators often introduce evidence showing that a missing person has stopped making phone calls, sending e-mail, or using his or her credit and ATM cards. "I think more damning would be like a $40,000 bank account that has not been touched, and very close friends and family haven't heard from them," said Oakland criminal defense attorney Deborah Levy. In the case of Nina Reiser, friends and family have insisted that the Russian-born gynecologist would never leave her 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Tom Rogers said, "There have been numerous cases successfully prosecuted throughout the state and in the country where a body has not been recovered." In Contra Costa, prosecutors won a first-degree murder conviction in 1994 against a man who kidnapped and killed a Navy civilian worker whose body was never found. In 1986, a man was convicted in San Mateo County of murdering his former fiancee, whose skeletal remains were found 14 months after the trial ended. In Sacramento County, Mario Garcia is now being tried on murder charges in the October 2005 disappearance of Christie Wilson, 27. The two were caught on videotape leaving a casino in Placer County. Wilson's body hasn't been found. The trial was moved to Sacramento because of pretrial publicity. Nina Reiser's boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, and mother, Irina Sharanova, maintained hope Wednesday that Reiser would be found alive. They unveiled billboards with her picture and reward information in hopes of finding her. "But regardless of whether this is a search-and-rescue or search-and-recovery operation for the police, Nina is still missing," Zografos said. "We've got to find her." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/12/BAG61LNLN21.DTL BLOOD OF MISSING OAKLAND MOTHER FOUND IN EX-HUSBAND'S CAR. By MICHELLE LOCKE, Associated Press Writer Thursday, October 12, 2006 (10-12) 23:08 PDT Oakland, Calif. (AP) -- The estranged husband of a woman who's been missing for more than a month appeared in court Thursday to face a murder charge in the case. Hans Reiser, 42, was arraigned in Alameda County Superior Court, but postponed entering a plea. He was arrested Tuesday, a day after police and FBI found his wife's blood in his home and car, police said. Her body, however, has not been found. Reiser, a computer software engineer, appeared in court for the brief hearing, but didn't say anything. He remained held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. One of Reiser's lawyers, William Du Bois, said outside court the circumstantial case is "relatively flimsy." Nina Reiser, 31, was last seen Sept. 3 when she dropped off their 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at his house in the Oakland hills. She never showed up for a meeting with her best friend that evening. Police believe the couple's children were in the house when Hans Reiser killed his wife that day, according to a probable cause statement filed by investigators Thursday. Interviews with the children revealed that the two were arguing upstairs, while they played downstairs. At one point, the boy went to his parents, and his father told him to leave and "not to come back upstairs, not even to the kitchen area," Officer Ryan Gill wrote in the statement. Nina Reiser's Honda minivan was found Sept. 9 with her purse and groceries inside. Small amounts of her blood were found in Hans Reiser's home and in his 1988 Honda Civic, which was missing its front passenger seat when police seized it Sept. 19, according to the statement. The seat has not been recovered. Another of Reiser's lawyers said the scant genetic evidence is not necessarily proof of a crime. "There's not a lot of forensic evidence at all. Whatever they got is trace," said attorney Daniel Horowitz. "It's not clear whether it's evidence of a crime or evidence of people living together for seven years." Police also found two books about how murders are investigated in Reiser's car, but Horowitz said that does not point to guilt. "He's an intelligent man. He's going to want to know what the police were up to," he said. "What's he supposed to be doing, reading comic books?" The hearing was attended by Hans Reiser's mother, Nina Reiser's mother and the missing woman's best friend. "Now we feel angry and we want justice," said Ellen Doren. Deputy Chief Howard Jordan said Tuesday even though police still are looking for Nina Reiser's body they decided to charge Hans Reiser based on biological evidence and statements from friends and relatives of the missing woman. The Reisers were embroiled in an acrimonious divorce and child custody fight after separating in May 2004. Nina Reiser, a Russian immigrant who was trained as a doctor, filed for divorce three months later. The two children remain in protective custody. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/10/12/state/n164036D62.DTL BLOOD EVIDENCE REVEALED IN REISER CASE. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, October 12, 2006 (10-12) 15:58 PDT -- An Oakland man accused of murdering his estranged wife bought two books dealing with homicide investigations in the days after she disappeared and removed the front passenger seat from a car that investigators say contained traces of her blood, according to a police statement filed in court today. Hans Reiser, 42, had assaulted his wife, Nina Reiser, 31, during the course of their separation in 2004 and had threatened to harm her "for the rest of her life," police said in a statement filed in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland. The statement gave no further details on the alleged assault. Hans Reiser, a computer programmer, was arrested Tuesday at a friend's home in East Oakland. His wife's body has not been found. His hands shackled to his waist, Reiser was arraigned this afternoon on a charge of murder. He spoke only to confirm his name and made brief eye contact with his mother, Beverly Palmer, who declined to comment afterward. Judge Trina Thompson Stanley ordered the defendant held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin pending his next court date of Nov. 28. "We're not numb. Now we're angry, and we want justice," Nina Reiser's best friend, Ellen Doren, said outside court. "We're not going to give up. We're waiting for her to come back." Reiser is being represented by Oakland attorneys William Du Bois and Daniel Horowitz, whose wife was murdered last year in Lafayette by a teenage neighbor of the couple, Scott Dyleski. Outside court today, Du Bois said the case against his client was "relatively flimsy." Nevertheless, Hans Reiser "knows that this is a severe problem and a solemn undertaking," Du Bois said. Horowitz said investigators were "leaking sensational information that may not even be accurate," and that in court the police would have to "put up or shut up." "They're releasing things to the press before the evidence is given to the defense," he said. "It's a cheap tactic. Until the police have the integrity to turn over the evidence to the defense as required by law, we're not going to comment on their spin." Police believe Hans Reiser killed his wife Sept. 3, the day she dropped off their two children at his home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills, sources said. Police found "trace amounts" of her blood in his home as well as in his 1988 Honda CRX, which was missing its front passenger seat when police seized it Sept. 19, Officer Ryan Gill wrote in a statement filed with the court. The seat has not been found. After technicians removed the carpeting from the front seat area, they noticed that the floorboard had been saturated with water, the statement said. Inside the car, police say they found a roll of trash bags, absorbent towels and two books: "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," by David Simon, about the Baltimore police homicide squad, and "Masterpieces of Murder," by Jonathan Goodman, about notorious murder cases. Police believe Reiser bought the books at a store in Berkeley on Sept. 8, based on surveillance camera footage. Horowitz said the books weren't evidence of any wrongdoing. He noted that police had been following Reiser, and that "innocent people might want to know what the police are doing just as well as a guilty person. ... Anybody being pursued and followed around by the police might want to read a book whose focus is on improper police tactics." Gill's statement said Reiser seemed to be aware police were tailing him and at times made apparently evasive maneuvers while driving, such as making numerous turns and abrupt stops. He was driving his mother's car at the time, police said. He told a friend Sept. 6 that the battery in his Honda had died. Two days after that, Reiser picked up the CRX at a location in Berkeley, the police statement said. The passenger seat did not appear to be missing Sept. 12 when Reiser was given a traffic ticket by Redwood City police, the statement said. Nina Reiser was last seen Sept. 3, when she dropped off the couple's two children at Hans Reiser's home after she went shopping at the Berkeley Bowl supermarket. The children heard their parents "possibly involved in an argument," Gill's statement said. One of the children later reported to police that they were using "not nice words," the statement said. At one point, Hans Reiser told his son, then 6, to go downstairs and "not to come back upstairs, not even to the kitchen area," the statement said. The boy turned 7 on Sept. 28. Police have twice searched the home, where Hans Reiser lives with his mother. They have also taken a DNA sample from him. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan was found Sept. 9 on Fernwood Drive, about three miles from Hans Reiser's home and near Highway 13. Groceries were found strewn in the back seat "in such disarray that it appeared that it was a result of the vehicle being driven rapidly and possibly recklessly," the police statement said. Scent-tracking dogs didn't pick up Nina Reiser's odor outside of the vehicle, suggesting that she had never been in the area, the statement said. Her cell phone was found in the minivan with its battery removed, police said. Investigators said the last call had been placed to Hans Reiser's home at 2:02 p.m. Sept. 3. Investigators listened to voice-mail messages on the phone. "Not one call was left by Hans Reiser to express concern, or to inquire about her whereabouts, or even mention that he had the children after picking them up from school on Sept. 6," the police statement said. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/12/BAGR7LO3UI96.DTL WHY HUSBAND WAS ARRESTED. Report tells of overheard argument, missing car seat, books about murder probes. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, October 13, 2006 The young children of an Oakland man accused of killing his estranged wife heard the couple arguing and using "not nice words" the day police believe he killed her, authorities said in court records released Thursday. On a day when Hans Reiser, 42, appeared in an Oakland courtroom on charges that he murdered his wife, Nina Reiser, 31, police painted a portrait of an uncaring, abusive man who bought two books about homicide investigations five days after she disappeared. Hans Reiser assaulted his wife after they separated in 2004 and threatened to harm her "for the rest of her life," Oakland police Officer Ryan Gill wrote in a statement that outlined grounds for Reiser's arrest. The statement didn't elaborate on the alleged assault. Nina Reiser has not been seen since Sept. 3, when she took her children shopping at the Berkeley Bowl supermarket, then dropped them off at her estranged husband's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills, Gill's statement said. It was the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, and the Reisers argued about who was going to have the children -- a 5-year-old girl and a boy who turned 7 on Sept. 28 -- over the rest of the holiday, the children told police. The boy said he had heard his parents talking at a "medium" volume while using "not nice words," the police statement said. At one point, he said, his father told him to go downstairs and "not to come back upstairs, not even to the kitchen area," according to the police statement. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey was found six days later about 3 miles from Hans Reiser's home, the groceries askew in the back seat as if someone had driven the minivan wildly, police said. Police dogs failed to find Nina Reiser's scent in the area, suggesting she was never there, the police statement said. Her body has not been found. On Thursday, two days after he was arrested at a friend's home, Hans Reiser was arraigned on a charge of murder. His hands shackled to his waist, the computer programmer spoke only to confirm his name and made brief eye contact with his mother, Beverly Palmer. He did not enter a plea and was ordered held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin pending his next court date Nov. 28. "We don't feel numb anymore. Now we feel angry and we want justice," Nina Reiser's best friend, Ellen Doren, said outside court while accompanied by Nina Reiser's mother, Irina Sharanova. "Either Hans had something to do with it, or he knows somebody that had something to do with it, and in either case, it's time to come out with the information." Reiser is being represented by Oakland attorneys William Du Bois and Daniel Horowitz, whose wife was murdered last year in Lafayette by a teenage neighbor of the couple, Scott Dyleski. Outside court Thursday, Du Bois said the circumstantial case against his client is "relatively flimsy." Nevertheless, Hans Reiser "knows that this is a severe problem and a solemn undertaking," Du Bois said. Horowitz said investigators were "leaking sensational information that may not even be accurate," and that in court the police would have to "put up or shut up." Police found small amounts of Nina Reiser's blood in her estranged husband's home as well as in his 1988 Honda Civic CRX, which was missing its front passenger seat when police seized it Sept. 19, Gill wrote in the statement filed with the court. The seat has not been found. After technicians removed the carpeting from the front seat area, they noticed that the floorboard had been saturated with water, the statement said. Inside the car, police say they found a roll of trash bags, absorbent towels and two books: "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," by David Simon, about the Baltimore police homicide squad, and "Masterpieces of Murder," by Jonathan Goodman, about notorious murder cases. Police believe Hans Reiser bought the books at a Berkeley bookstore on Sept. 8, based on surveillance camera footage. Horowitz said the books aren't evidence of any wrongdoing. "Anybody being pursued and followed around by the police might want to read a book whose focus is on improper police tactics," Horowitz said. The Civic's passenger seat appeared to be in the car when Redwood City police gave Hans Reiser a traffic ticket Sept. 12, but it was gone when Oakland police seized the car a week later, the police statement said. Nina Reiser's minivan was found Sept. 9 on Fernwood Drive near Highway 13. In addition to the groceries, police found her cell phone, its battery missing. Investigators said the last call had been placed to Hans Reiser's home at 2:02 p.m. Sept. 3. Investigators listened to voice-mail messages on the phone. "Not one call was left by Hans Reiser to express concern, or to inquire about her whereabouts, or even mention that he had the children after picking them up from school on Sept. 6," the police statement said. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/13/BAG2VLOTGM1.DTL REWARD FOR MISSING OAKLAND MOM STANDS AT $25K. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, October 23, 2006 (10-23) 13:07 PDT OAKLAND -- A reward for information leading to the discovery of an Oakland woman who authorities believe was killed by her estranged husband now stands at $25,000, her boyfriend said today. Nina Reiser, 31, disappeared in September. Her body hasn't been found, but on Oct. 10 police arrested her estranged husband, computer programmer Hans Reiser, 42, on suspicion of murdering her. Eighteen billboards are in place in Oakland and Berkeley with pictures of Nina Reiser. In September, authorities announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to her location. That reward has now increased by $10,000, said her boyfriend, Anthony Zografos. "We plead with anyone with information that may help police locate Nina to come forward," Zografos said today. "It is the right thing for the community, Nina's friends and family and most importantly her children, who are faced with the prospect of never finding out where their mother is." Hans Reiser was arraigned Oct. 12 in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland on a charge of murder. He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and is due back in court Nov. 28. "We were all hoping that this was a terrible mistake," Zografos said. "Unfortunately the evidence suggests that this is a terrible tragedy and a heinous crime was committed. Hopefully the increased reward will help find Nina and bring this to a closure." Nina Reiser was last seen at her husband's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills on Sept. 3, when she dropped off the couple's two children. They may have heard their parents arguing and using "not nice words" that day, Oakland police said in court records. She failed to meet her best friend, Ellen Doren, at her house later that evening, authorities said. Her 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan was found Sept. 9 in the city's Thornhill neighborhood. Nina Reiser's friends have started a Web site, www.ninareiser.com. Police ask anyone with information to contact Oakland homicide Sgt. Bruce Brock at (510) 238-3821 or a police tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/23/BAGDBLUGV339.DTL REWARD NOW $25,000 FOR MISSING WOMAN. Henry K. Lee Tuesday, October 24, 2006 A reward for information leading to the discovery of a missing Oakland woman who authorities believe was killed by her estranged husband now stands at $25,000, her boyfriend said Monday. Nina Reiser, 31, disappeared in September. Her body hasn't been found, but on Oct. 10 police arrested her estranged husband, computer programmer Hans Reiser, 42, on suspicion of murdering her. In September, authorities announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to Nina Reiser's location. That reward has now increased by $10,000, said her boyfriend, Anthony Zografos. "We plead with anyone with information that may help police locate Nina to come forward," Zografos said. "It is the right thing for the community, Nina's friends and family and most importantly her children, who are faced with the prospect of never finding out where their mother is." Nina Reiser was last seen at her husband's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills on Sept. 3, when she dropped off the couple's two children. Police ask anyone with information to contact Oakland homicide Sgt. Bruce Brock at (510) 238-3821 or a police tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/24/BAGA7LTLQ11.DTL REISER PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO KILLING ESTRANGED WIFE. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, November 28, 2006 (11-28) 12:11 PST OAKLAND -- An Oakland man pleaded not guilty today to killing his estranged wife, whose body is still missing more than two months after she disappeared. Hans Reiser, 42, entered a not-guilty plea in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland in the slaying of his wife, Nina Reiser, 31. The computer programmer invoked his right to have a preliminary hearing within 10 days of today's court appearance. Judge Trina Thompson Stanley scheduled the hearing for Dec. 11, after which Judge Julie Conger will decide whether there is enough evidence to hold Reiser over for trial. His mother, Beverly Palmer, showed no emotion during the morning hearing, but Nina Reiser's best friend, Ellen Doren, cried as she sat next to the victim's mother, Irina Sharanova. Nina Reiser's friends said they were more focused on the fate of the couple's children and on finding their mother -- who has not been seen since September -- than on Hans Reiser's court appearance. "The plea is not important to me," said Nina Reiser's boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, who accused Oakland police of not doing enough to locate the missing woman. "I think that's unacceptable," he said. Nina Reiser was last seen Sept. 3, when she took the couple's son and daughter shopping at the Berkeley Bowl supermarket, then dropped them off at her estranged husband's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills, police said. The couple's 7-year-old son told police he heard his parents arguing and using "not nice words" the day police believe he killed her, authorities said. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey was found six days later about 3 miles from Hans Reiser's home, the groceries askew in the back seat as if someone had driven the minivan wildly, police said. Today, attorney Daniel Horowitz withdrew from the case, saying Reiser couldn't afford his services. "This is an incredibly complex case," Horowitz said in an interview. "It requires hundreds of hours of intense work and a major amount of staff involvement. He actually can't afford me. There's no money." Reiser's other attorney, William Du Bois, said his client wanted to have the preliminary hearing set sooner rather than later. The attorney said the case against his client was "flimsy." "No case in the history of California, based on circumstantial evidence of murder, has featured an investigation which ran such a short period of time," Du Bois said. "They have to prove not only that she's missing, which we all know, but also that's she dead, which we don't know." Du Bois added that there's no evidence that her death was "caused by a criminal agency." His client had a number of theories of where his wife could be, including "all around the world," Du Bois said. Doren said she wanted to focus on the couple's children. "The people suffering right now are the children," she said, adding that a fund for their education has been established. Contributions can be sent to Education Fund for the Reiser children, 6114 LaSalle Ave. #127, Oakland, CA 94611, she said. There is a $25,000 reward for information leading to the location of Nina Reiser. Police ask anyone with information to contact Oakland homicide Sgt. Bruce Brock at (510) 238-3821 or a police tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/28/BAGERMLCGJ38.DTL HUSBAND OF WOMAN MISSING 3 MONTHS ENTERS NOT-GUILTY PLEA. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, November 29, 2006 An Oakland man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to killing his estranged wife, who is presumed by police to be dead after she disappeared nearly three months ago. Hans Reiser, 42, entered a not-guilty plea in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland to a charge of murdering his wife, Nina Reiser, 31. In an unusual move, the computer programmer invoked his right to have a preliminary hearing within 10 days. Judge Trina Thompson Stanley scheduled the hearing for Dec. 11, after which Judge Julie Conger will decide whether there is enough evidence to hold Reiser over for trial. His mother, Beverly Palmer, showed no emotion during the hearing, while Nina Reiser's best friend, Ellen Doren, cried as she sat next to the victim's mother, Irina Sharanova. Nina Reiser's friends said they were more focused on the fate of the couple's children and on finding their mother -- who has not been seen since September -- than on Hans Reiser's court appearance. "The plea is not important to me," said Nina Reiser's boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, who accused Oakland police of not doing enough to locate the missing woman. "I think that's unacceptable," he said. Nina Reiser was last seen Sept. 3, when she took the couple's son and daughter shopping at the Berkeley Bowl supermarket, then dropped them off at her estranged husband's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills, police said. The couple's 7-year-old son told police he heard his parents arguing and using "not nice words" the day police believe he killed her, authorities said. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey was found six days later about 3 miles from Hans Reiser's home, the groceries askew in the back seat as if someone had driven the minivan wildly, police said. After appearing in court with Reiser on Tuesday, attorney Daniel Horowitz withdrew from the case, saying Reiser couldn't afford his services. "This is an incredibly complex case," Horowitz said in an interview. "It requires hundreds of hours of intense work and a major amount of staff involvement. He actually can't afford me. There's no money." Reiser's other attorney, William Du Bois, said the case against his client was "somewhat flimsy." "No case in the history of California, based on circumstantial evidence of murder, has featured an investigation which ran such a short period of time as this one," Du Bois said. "They have to prove not only that she's missing, which we all know, but also that she is dead, which we don't know." Du Bois added that there's no evidence that her death was "caused by a criminal agency." His client had a number of theories of where his wife could be, including "all around the world," Du Bois said. Doren said she wanted to focus on the couple's children. "The people suffering right now are the children," she said, adding that a fund for their education has been established. Contributions, she said, can be sent to the Reiser children's Education Fund, 6114 LaSalle Ave., No. 127 , Oakland, CA 94611. A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading to the location of Nina Reiser. Police ask anyone with information to contact Oakland homicide Sgt. Bruce Brock at (510) 238-3821 or a police tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/29/BAGUFMLORN1.DTL DEFENDANT SAID WIFE WAS 'NEUROTIC,' MOTHER SAYS. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, December 12, 2006 (12-12) 13:32 PST OAKLAND -- An Oakland man accused of murdering his estranged wife during an acrimonious divorce considered her to be a "very neurotic" liar who placed her two children with a babysitter too often, the defendant's mother testified today. Hans Reiser, 42, also believed that his wife, Nina Reiser, "projected ailments" on their 7-year-old son and used the boy to hurt him, Beverly Palmer testified on the second day of her son's preliminary hearing in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder in the presumed slaying of his wife, whose body hasn't been found since she disappeared on Sept. 3, when she dropped off their children at the home Hans Reiser shared with his mother on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills. In a Sept. 23 telephone conversation that was taped by police, the defendant told his mother that he didn't deserve to be a suspect in her disappearance and that he resented that his son had been placed in foster care. Palmer, an artist, testified that when she returned to Oakland after visiting the Burning Man festival in Nevada during the Labor Day weekend, her son was using her vehicle instead of his own Honda CRX. Police have said they found small amounts of Nina Reiser's blood in the defendant's home as well as in his Honda, which was missing its right front passenger seat when seized by investigators. When it was time for cross-examination, the defendant whispered into the ear of his attorney, William Du Bois, who then asked Palmer if she had ever called her son "an inconsiderate slob" and told him to move out from her home. Palmer laughed and said yes, adding that her son then made an effort to clean the house and their cars. Also today, Nina Reiser's divorce attorney, Shelley Gordon, testified that the couple's divorce proceedings "were extremely hostile and acrimonious." In her career, only a few divorces have been "really, really hostile, and this was one of them," Gordon said. Nina Reiser, who had joint physical custody of her children at the time she disappeared, never missed court dates or appointments, Gordon said. Outside court, Du Bois said a bitter divorce was not evidence of murder. The enmity between Hans and Nina Reiser was "not a secret. It's not new information," Du Bois said. But Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge said in an interview that the fact that there was "no love lost between Hans and Nina" could be a key indicator in pointing to the defendant's state of mind and involvement in the slaying. In an interview today, Reiser's father, Ramon Reiser, 64, said there wasn't enough evidence to try his son. "I have never heard of arresting anybody when you don't have solid evidence of a murder occurring," he said, noting that his grandson had testified Monday that he hugged his mother goodbye on Sept. 3, the day she disappeared. "That sort of just speaks for itself," he said. Nina Reiser was last seen when she took the couple's son and daughter shopping at the Berkeley Bowl supermarket, then dropped them off at her estranged husband's home. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey was found six days later on Fernwood Drive in Oakland's Montclair district, with groceries -- including a tub of sour cream and fruit -- "jumbled" on the floor, testified Chris Bunn, who lives on the street and found the vehicle. The hearing continues into the week, after which Superior Court Judge Julie Conger will determine whether Hans Reiser should be held over for trial. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/12/BAGVLMU8I559.DTL BOY, 7, NOW SAYS HE DIDN'T HEAR PARENTS ARGUING. He testifies at hearing to decide if dad will be tried for murder. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, December 12, 2006 The 7-year-old son of an Oakland computer programmer charged with murdering his wife testified in court Monday that, contrary to an earlier police account, he hadn't heard his parents arguing and that his mother walked out the door the day police believe she was killed. An Oakland police statement in October said the boy, whom The Chronicle is not naming because of his age, had heard his parents arguing and using "not nice words" on the day investigators say Hans Reiser, 42, killed her. The boy's comments came as his mother was alternately portrayed at a preliminary hearing Monday as either a devoted mother of two who would never leave her children willingly or a woman whose family had ties to the former KGB and who once dated someone interested in sadomasochism. After the hearing concludes later this week, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Julie Conger will determine whether there is enough evidence to try Hans Reiser, who has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have voiced confidence that they can prove their case despite the fact that a body hasn't been found. But outside court, Hans Reiser's attorney, William Du Bois, said this was nothing more than an unsolved, missing-person case. "He had nothing to do with her demise," Du Bois said. "There are other factors in her life that may have accounted for her disappearance." Hans Reiser raised his eyebrows in greeting Monday as his son entered the courtroom, but the boy didn't look at him. When he got on the stand, however, he looked at his father at times before answering questions from Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge. At times fidgeting with a plastic cup, the boy told Dolge that he understood the difference between the truth and a lie. The boy told the prosecutor that his mother took him and his 5-year-old sister to his father's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills on Sept. 3, the last day she was seen. He said he hugged his father -- a comment that drew a smile from his father -- before his father told them not to come upstairs. "Did you hear any kind of argument upstairs?" Dolge asked. "No," the boy replied. He said that he later gave his mother a hug and that she left the home through the front door. The boy said his parents had otherwise argued "every time my mom would drop me off at my dad's house." Also Monday, Nina Reiser's best friend, Ellen Doren, and boyfriend, Anthony Zografos, testified that they became concerned when Nina Reiser never responded to phone calls after Sept. 3. When Doren asked Hans Reiser in a phone call where his wife went after stopping by his house, he replied, "I need to talk to my lawyer," Doren said. During cross-examination, Du Bois said his client had been asking for his divorce attorney, and Zografos testified that he believed that Hans Reiser made the comment about a lawyer to a police officer, not Doren. Du Bois also said in his questioning of Doren and Zografos that a former boyfriend of Nina Reiser was involved in sadomasochism, that the word "rage" was "carved" in his arm, and that he was addicted to pain pills. Zografos testified that the former boyfriend had twice entered Nina Reiser's home with a key, unannounced. Du Bois suggested to Doren that she didn't know everything about her friend. "You only go on what you've been told?" Du Bois asked. "Yes," Doren said. Zografos, who wept at one point while on the stand Monday, suggested in his testimony that Nina Reiser's children had been turned against her, sometimes becoming upset with her, calling her a liar, accusing her of lying to the judge (in the divorce case) and saying, "You want to steal our dad's money." Nina Reiser was last seen when she took the couple's son and daughter shopping at the Berkeley Bowl supermarket, then dropped them off at her estranged husband's home. Nina Reiser's 2001 Honda Odyssey was found six days later about 3 miles from Hans Reiser's home, the groceries strewn about the back seat as if someone had driven the minivan wildly, police said. Police have said they found small amounts of Nina Reiser's blood in the defendant's home as well as in his 1988 Honda Civic CRX. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/11/BAGO9MTK9F26.DTL http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/12/BAGMTMTQM21.DTL DEFENDANT'S MOM SAYS HE CALLED WIFE NEUROTIC LIAR. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, December 13, 2006 An Oakland computer programmer accused of murdering his estranged wife considered her a "very neurotic" liar who didn't pay enough attention to her children, his mother testified Tuesday. Hans Reiser, 42, also believed that his wife, Nina Reiser, "projected ailments" on their 7-year-old son -- saying he suffered from sicknesses that he didn't have -- and used the boy to hurt him, Beverly Palmer testified on the second day of her son's preliminary hearing in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland. Reiser has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, who has not been seen since Sept. 3 when she dropped off their son and younger daughter at the home Reiser shared with his mother on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills. Police have not found her body but believe she is dead. Palmer, 63, an artist, testified that when she returned to Oakland after visiting the Burning Man festival in Nevada over the Labor Day weekend, her son was using her vehicle instead of his own Honda CRX. Police have said they found small amounts of Nina Reiser's blood in the defendant's home as well as in his Honda, which was missing its right front passenger seat when investigators seized it. Under questioning by Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge, Palmer said her son thought his estranged wife was "very neurotic." "Hans felt Nina was a liar?" Dolge asked. "Yeah, I would say that's true," Palmer replied. Asked how her son felt about Nina Reiser as a parent, Palmer said, "He felt she didn't give the children enough attention and left them with the babysitter too much." Dolge asked, "Did Hans ever tell you that Nina did not just abuse Hans but looked for every possible way to screw him?" "I don't know if he used those words, but something like that," Palmer said, who agreed with the prosecutor that her son felt that Nina Reiser was using their son to hurt him. Dolge did not press the matter. When it was time for cross-examination, the defendant whispered into the ear of his attorney, William Du Bois, who then asked Palmer if she had called her son "an inconsiderate slob" about a month before Nina Reiser disappeared and told him to move out from her home. Palmer laughed and said yes, adding that her son then made an effort to clean the house and their cars. Also Tuesday, Nina Reiser's divorce attorney, Shelley Gordon, testified that the couple's divorce proceedings "were extremely hostile and acrimonious." In her career, only a few divorces have been "really, really hostile, and this was one of them," she said. Nina Reiser, who had joint physical custody of her children at the time she disappeared, never missed court dates or appointments, Gordon said. Hans Reiser accused her of being a bad mother who cared more about her studies to resume her career as an obstetrician than the children, Gordon said. Nina Reiser was last seen when she took the couple's son and daughter shopping at the Berkeley Bowl supermarket, then dropped them off at her estranged husband's home. Her 2001 Honda Odyssey was found six days later on Fernwood Drive in Oakland's Montclair district, with groceries jumbled on the floor, testified Chris Bunn, who lives on the street and found the vehicle. Police also found Nina Reiser's cell phone, with its battery missing, in her car, Oakland police criminalist Todd Weller and crime-scene technician Bruce Christensen testified. The hearing is expected to last at least until the end of the week, after which Superior Court Judge Julie Conger will determine whether Hans Reiser should be held over for trial. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/13/BAGS0MUMJS1.DTL POLICE SAY OAKLAND MURDER SUSPECT REISER TRIED TO ELUDE THEM. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, December 13, 2006 (12-13) 13:38 PST OAKLAND -- An Oakland computer programmer charged with murdering his wife tried to elude police surveillance in the weeks after she disappeared in September, a police officer assigned to track the defendant testified today. Hans Reiser, 42, laughed numerous times and whispered into his attorney's ear as Oakland police Officer Eugene Guerrero described how 12 officers in unmarked cars and a plane tracked the defendant's movements on Sept. 18, two weeks after his wife disappeared. Reiser repeatedly paced up and down streets in downtown Oakland after leaving a court hearing for his children, Guerrero said. Reiser then got into a BMW driven by a friend, who checked the car as if he was looking for tracking devices, Guerrero said. The friend would routinely make evasive maneuvers while driving through Berkeley, such as making numerous turns off San Pablo Avenue and at one point driving so slowly on Solano Avenue it caused a traffic jam, Guerrero testified. After the two left a restaurant, the friend dropped Reiser off at San Pablo and Ashby avenues in Berkeley, where Reiser again walked back and forth before getting into his Honda CRX, Guerrero said. The defendant parked the Honda on Monterey Boulevard, along Highway 13 in Oakland and, on four occasions, walked away from the car before returning and opening and closing the trunk, Guerrero said. At that point, a taxi pulled up, and police thought he got into it. So they began following the cab as it traveled toward the Oakland International Airport. But as that was happening, another officer saw the defendant running up windy Snake Boulevard toward his house, Guerrero said. Superior Court Judge Julie Conger then flashed a puzzled look. "I'm confused," the judge said. "Was he in the taxi or was he running up Snake?" "We thought he was in the taxi. He was running up Snake," Guerrero said. Conger nodded and said, "A red herring -- a decoy." Reiser's movements and behavior are "evidence of a guilty conscience," Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge said outside court today. But Reiser's attorney, William Du Bois, said in an interview that his client simply didn't like being followed by police and never intended to flee. "It's sort of silly," Du Bois said. "It's an attempt to make a silk purse from a sow's ear." The testimony came on the third day of a preliminary hearing in Oakland, which is expected to continue at least until the end of the week, after which Superior Court Judge Julie Conger will determine whether Reiser should be held over for trial. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, who has not been seen since Sept. 3 when she dropped off their son and daughter at the home her estranged shared with his mother on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills. Police have not found her body but believe Reiser killed her during an acrimonious divorce. Also today, Oakland police Officer Shan Johnson testified that Nina Reiser had accepted a job assisting Russian immigrants in San Francisco two days before she disappeared. She was to have started the job on Sept. 21, Johnson said. She never showed up, nor did she show up Sept. 7 to be fingerprinted, he said. Du Bois, who has suggested in his questioning that Nina Reiser's family had ties to the former KGB, said outside court today that it was possible she didn't want to be fingerprinted so as to avoid a background check. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/13/BAGORMUUN238.DTL MURDER SUSPECT EVADED POLICE, OFFICER TESTIFIES. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, December 14, 2006 An Oakland computer programmer charged with murdering his wife tried to elude police surveillance in the weeks after she disappeared in September, an officer assigned to track him testified Wednesday. Hans Reiser, 42, laughed numerous times and whispered into his attorney's ear as Oakland police Officer Eugene Guerrero described how 12 officers in unmarked cars and a plane had tracked his movements Sept. 18, two weeks after his estranged wife, Nina Reiser, disappeared. Reiser paced up and down streets in downtown Oakland after leaving a custody hearing for his children, Guerrero said. Then he got into a BMW driven by a friend, who checked the car as if he was looking for tracking devices, Guerrero said. The friend made several evasive maneuvers while driving through Berkeley, such as making numerous turns off San Pablo Avenue and at one point driving so slowly on Solano Avenue it caused a traffic jam, Guerrero testified. After the two left a restaurant, the friend dropped Reiser off at San Pablo and Ashby avenues in Berkeley, where Reiser again walked back and forth before getting into his Honda CRX, Guerrero said. Reiser parked the Honda on Monterey Boulevard along Highway 13 in Oakland and, on four occasions, walked away from the car before returning and opening and closing the trunk, Guerrero said. At that point, a taxi pulled up, and police thought he got into it, Guerrero said. They followed the cab as it headed toward Oakland International Airport. But as that was happening, Officer Jim Saleda saw Reiser sprinting up Snake Boulevard toward his house in the Oakland hills, Guerrero said. Superior Court Judge Julie Conger flashed a puzzled look. "I'm confused," the judge said. "Was he in the taxi or was he running up Snake?" "We thought he was in the taxi. He was running up Snake," Guerrero said. Conger nodded and said, "A red herring -- a decoy." Reiser's movements and behavior are evidence of a guilty conscience, prosecutor Greg Dolge said outside court. But Reiser's attorney, William Du Bois, said in an interview that his client simply didn't like being followed by police. "It's sort of silly," Du Bois said of the prosecution's interpretation. "It's an attempt to make a silk purse from a sow's ear." Under questioning by Du Bois, Guerrero said police had never followed Reiser to an airport, a train or bus station or to points beyond the Bay Area. The testimony came on the third day of a preliminary hearing in Oakland. The hearing will continue next Wednesday with testimony from police technicians who analyzed DNA evidence in the case. Police have said they found small amounts of Nina Reiser's blood in her husband's home as well as in his Honda. At the end of the hearing, Conger will determine whether Reiser should be held over for trial. Reiser has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, who has not been seen since Sept. 3 when she dropped off their son and daughter at the home on Exeter Drive where Reiser lived with his mother. Police have not found Nina Reiser's body. Also Wednesday, Oakland police Officer Shan Johnson testified that two days before she disappeared, Nina Reiser had accepted a job assisting Russian immigrants in San Francisco. She was to have started Sept. 21, Johnson said. She never showed up, nor did she show up Sept. 7 to be fingerprinted, he said. Du Bois, who has suggested in his questioning that Nina Reiser's family had ties to the former KGB, said outside court that it was possible she didn't want to be fingerprinted in order to avoid having her background exposed. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/14/BAGHCMVABE1.DTL DNA MATCH OF BLOODSTAINS IN CASE OF MISSING WIFE. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, December 21, 2006 Traces of blood matching that of an Oakland woman presumed dead were found in her estranged husband's car and home, a criminalist testified Wednesday. A bloodstain found on a sleeping bag sack found in Hans Reiser's Honda CRX matched the DNA profile of his missing wife, Nina Reiser, said Oakland police criminalist Shannon Cavness. Bloodstains found on a pillar in the living room of Hans Reiser's home on Exeter Drive in the Oakland hills contained DNA belonging to him and his wife, said Cavness, testifying in Alameda County Superior Court on the fourth day of a preliminary hearing for the computer programmer. Police obtained Nina Reiser's DNA from a contact-lens case, razor and underwear taken from her home on 49th Street in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, Cavness said. The testing linked Nina Reiser's DNA profile with such certainty that only 1 in 45 trillion women would also match, Cavness said under questioning by Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge. On cross-examination, Cavness acknowledged to Reiser's attorney, William Du Bois, that DNA testing can't confirm when bloodstains are deposited. Du Bois suggested in his questioning that the bloodstains could have been degraded over time because of exposure to heat, ultraviolet radiation and moisture in the air. Cavness agreed with the defense attorney that Nina Reiser's DNA could have been deposited on the pillar at a different time than when the defendant's DNA was left there. Du Bois will continue his cross-examination today. Reiser has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, who has not been seen since Sept. 3 when she dropped off their son and daughter at the home where he lived with his mother. Police have not found Nina Reiser's body. Hans Reiser's Honda was missing its front passenger seat when police seized it Sept. 19, Cavness testified in an Oakland courtroom. After technicians removed the carpeting from the front seat area, they noticed that the floorboard had been saturated with water, Cavness said. Inside the car, police found a 40-piece socket set, Cavness said. The tools appeared to have been used to remove four bolts that had been used to attach the passenger seat to the floor, she said. Also found inside the car, according to police, was a roll of trash bags, masking tape, a siphon pump, absorbent towels and two books: "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," by David Simon, about the Baltimore police homicide squad, and "Masterpieces of Murder," by Jonathan Goodman, about notorious murder cases. Police believe Hans Reiser bought the books at a Berkeley bookstore on Sept. 8, based on surveillance camera footage. Cavness testified that police also found a traffic citation in the glove compartment of the defendant's car. When Hans Reiser was ticketed by Redwood City police on Sept. 12, the passenger seat appeared to have been in the car, police have said. Outside court, Du Bois said he intends to call witnesses when the hearing resumes next month after the holidays. After the hearing concludes, Superior Court Judge Julie Conger will determine whether Reiser should be held over for trial. A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading to the location of Nina Reiser. Police ask anyone with information to contact Oakland homicide investigators at (510) 238-3821 or a police tip line at (510) 637-0298. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/21/BAG29N3O5N1.DTL MISSING WOMAN'S HUSBAND NERVOUS, WITNESS SAYS. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, January 3, 2007 An Oakland computer programmer accused of killing his wife appeared nervous and didn't make eye contact with an employee at his children's after-school program two days after his estranged wife was last seen, the employee testified Tuesday. Hans Reiser's wife, Nina Reiser, didn't pick up her children as scheduled Sept. 5, Natalie Potter testified on the sixth day of Hans Reiser's preliminary hearing in Alameda County Superior Court. Instead, Hans Reiser showed up at Adventure Time at Joaquin Miller Elementary School in Oakland, looking "very nervous-like, his head down, his body moving from side to side," Potter said. "No eye contact with me at all." Without providing specifics, Reiser asked if he could set up a meeting to discuss the after-school program's enrollment policies, Potter said. He wrote down a cell phone number as a contact that turned out to be incorrect, she said. Reiser, 43, has pleaded not guilty to murder in the disappearance of his wife, who has not been seen since Sept. 3 when she dropped off their son and daughter at the Oakland hills home where Reiser lived with his mother. Police have not found Nina Reiser's body but say they believe she is a victim of murder. The defense contends that there is no proof she is dead and that the prosecution's case is circumstantial. Under questioning by Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge, Potter said Hans Reiser had told her when he arrived at the after-school program that "he was not there to pick up the children." After Potter asked him if it was all right for Ellen Doren, a friend of Nina Reiser's, to pick them up, he said, "Yeah, yeah, that's fine," with a dismissive wave of his hand, Potter said. "He left without his children," she said. "He seemed really dismissive of the children." Defense attorney William Du Bois objected to that statement, and Judge Julie Conger sustained the objection. On cross-examination, Potter said that when Doren arrived, she told school employees that Nina Reiser, 31, was out of town. But the missing woman's daughter was with Doren at the time, and Doren made the remark "for the benefit of the child," Potter said. Also Tuesday, Du Bois parried with the prosecutor and the judge over whether a book about the Baltimore police homicide squad, found in Hans Reiser's car Sept. 19, could be introduced as evidence. Reiser bought the book, "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets" by David Simon, at a Barnes and Noble store in Berkeley on Sept. 8, Oakland police Officer Jesse Grant testified Tuesday, basing his statements on surveillance camera footage and a receipt. Du Bois objected to the book's admission as evidence, saying that meant the defense lawyer would have to read it. "That doesn't follow," the judge said, shaking her head. After discussing something with his client, Du Bois withdrew his objection and said, "I think we all should read it. There's some good stuff in there." To support his change of heart, Du Bois asked Grant if he knew the book includes a chapter about police planting evidence. Grant said he did not, but he then told the prosecutor that he did know the book discusses the difficulties in disposing of a body. The preliminary hearing resumes Jan. 16, when the judge plans to question the Reisers' 7-year-old son in a closed courtroom. The boy testified last month in open court that, contrary to an earlier police account, he hadn't heard his parents arguing and that his mother walked out the door the day police say they believe she was killed. Du Bois said he plans to call Cheryl Hicks, an attorney representing Hans Reiser in child-custody hearings and, possibly, some relatives of his client. When the hearing concludes, Conger will determine whether Reiser should be held over for trial. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/03/BAG16NC1611.DTL REISER'S SON LIKELY TO STAY IN RUSSIA. News of key witness halts preliminary hearing. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, January 16, 2007 (01-16) 12:56 PST OAKLAND -- The preliminary hearing for an Oakland computer programmer charged with killing his wife came to a halt today when his 7-year-old son, a key witness in the case, failed to return from a planned visit to Russia, and attorneys said the boy may never come back. The surprise revelation -- coupled with reports that Russian courts might now be seeking custody of Hans Reiser's son -- came on the day the boy was to have testified in a closed courtroom before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Julie Conger in Oakland. The boy, who already has testified in open court as a prosecution witness, is under the care of a Russian therapist who recommended that he not return to the United States on the grounds that he is traumatized by the presumed slaying of his mother, Nina Reiser, whose body has not been found, attorneys told Conger today. Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge said the boy's grandmother, Irina Sharanova, had indicated that the boy would be in Russia from Dec. 23 until Sunday. But the prosecutor said he learned on Monday that the boy wouldn't return, citing reports from a therapist that he was having behavioral problems, including crying and not being able to sleep. The defendant's attorney, William Du Bois, said Sharanova could be in violation of a separate family-court judge's order that the boy attend a child-custody hearing in Oakland on Jan. 24. Du Bois said he wasn't sure, however, whether Sharanova could be found in violation of Conger's order that the boy be made available as a witness, as Sharanova wasn't personally told of that order. Now, the judge and attorneys in the case said they are mulling over their options. A hearing will be held Thursday to determine how the case will proceed. "I've never had a witness ignore my order to return," Conger said. Outside court, Dolge said he didn't believe the boy's failure to return would affect his case, saying the youth had already testified in court and that his testimony could be used at trial. The prosecutor added that he didn't know what the judge wanted to ask the boy. The boy's 5-year-old sister also is staying with family members in St. Petersburg, Russia. Reiser wasn't in court today because traffic problems delayed a sheriff's bus from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. But he will "put a hole in the roof" once he learns his children are in Russia, Du Bois said. Reiser, 43, has pleaded not guilty to murder in the disappearance of his estranged wife, who has not been seen since Sept. 3 when she dropped off the couple's son and daughter at the Oakland hills home where Reiser lived with his mother. Police have not found Nina Reiser's body but say they believe she is a victim of murder. The defense contends that there is no proof she is dead and that the prosecution's case is circumstantial. http://cdn.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/16/BAG59NJICG39.DTL REISER BOY MISSES COURT HEARING -- STAYING IN RUSSIA. 7-year-old is a key witness in alleged death of his mother. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, January 17, 2007 The preliminary hearing for an Oakland computer programmer charged with killing his wife came to a halt Tuesday when his 7-year-old son, a key witness in the case, failed to return from a planned visit to Russia, and attorneys said the boy may never come back. The surprise revelation -- coupled with reports that Russian courts might now be seeking custody of Hans Reiser's son -- came on the day the boy was to have testified in a closed courtroom before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Julie Conger in Oakland. The boy is under the care of a Russian therapist who recommended that he not return to the United States on the grounds that he is traumatized by the presumed slaying of his Russian-born mother, Nina Reiser, 31, whose body has not been found, attorneys told Conger. Last month, the boy testified in open court that, contrary to an earlier police account, he hadn't heard his parents arguing and that his mother walked out the door the day police believe she was killed. Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge said the boy's grandmother, Irina Sharanova, had indicated that the boy would be in Russia from Dec. 23 until Sunday. But the prosecutor said he learned on Monday that the boy wouldn't return, citing reports from a therapist that he was having behavioral problems, including crying and not being able to sleep. The defendant's attorney, William Du Bois, said Sharanova could be in violation of a separate family-court judge's order that the boy attend a child-custody hearing in Oakland on Jan. 24. The judge and attorneys in the case said they are mulling over their options. A hearing will be held Thursday to determine how the case will proceed. "I've never had a witness ignore my order to return," Conger said. Outside court, Dolge said he didn't believe the boy's failure to return would affect his case, saying the youth had already testified in court and that his testimony could be used at trial. The prosecutor said he didn't know what the judge wanted to ask the boy. The boy's 5-year-old sister also is staying with family members in St. Petersburg, Russia. Reiser wasn't in court Tuesday because traffic problems delayed a sheriff's bus from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. But he will "put a hole in the roof" once he learns his children are in Russia, Du Bois said. Reiser, 43, has pleaded not guilty to murder in the disappearance of his estranged wife, who has not been seen since Sept. 3 when she dropped off the couple's son and daughter at the Oakland hills home where Reiser lived with his mother. Police have not found Nina Reiser's body but say they believe she is a victim of murder. The defense contends that there is no proof she is dead and that the prosecution's case is circumstantial. When the hearing concludes, Conger will determine whether there is enough evidence to hold Reiser over for trial. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/17/BAGM8NK0C31.DTL JUDGE WON'T ASK 7-YEAR-OLD TO TESTIFY IN REISER MURDER CASE. Boy's father accused in mother's slaying. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, January 18, 2007 (01-18) 11:17 PST OAKLAND -- An Alameda County judge today rescinded her request for the 7-year-old son of an Oakland man charged with murdering his wife to return to testify in court, saying the boy is likely to remain in Russia. Superior Court Judge Julie Conger said the boy's maternal grandmother is seeking custody of him in Russian courts. "I am not inclined to take any action on (the boy's) non-appearance at this time," Conger said, adding that the boy had already testified in open court last month, and nothing further is needed from him unless he returns to the United States voluntarily. Today's hearing was delayed until Feb. 23, at which point attorneys will give closing arguments before Conger decides whether there is enough evidence to hold Hans Reiser, a 43-year-old computer programmer, over for trial. Reiser has pleaded not guilty. On Tuesday, the hearing came to a halt when attorneys told the judge that the boy had failed to return from a planned visit to Russia and might never come back. The boy, whom The Chronicle is not naming because of his age, is under the care of a Russian therapist who recommended that he not return to the United States on the grounds that he is traumatized by the presumed slaying of his Russian-born mother, Nina Reiser, 31, whose body has not been found, attorneys told Conger. The therapist reported that the boy was having behavioral problems, including crying and not being able to sleep, according to Deputy District Attorney Greg Dolge. Last month, the boy testified that, contrary to an earlier police account, he hadn't heard his parents arguing and that he had seen his mother walk out the door of his father's home on Sept. 3, the day police believe that she was killed. Outside court, Reiser's attorney, William Du Bois, said the fact that both the boy and his 5-year-old sister are in St. Petersburg, Russia, could mean that Nina Reiser is alive and with her children. Nina Reiser obtained Russian citizenship for her daughter two years ago and did the same for her son in July, two months before she disappeared, Du Bois said, noting that Russia doesn't recognize dual citizenship. "I think the clear implication is that she might have had something to do with this," Du Bois said. "Maybe she was planning to take the kids to Russia and leave her husband here in jail." Du Bois said he planned to file briefs to the judge arguing that the case against his client is weak because Nina Reiser's body hasn't been found. But the prosecutor maintained that Nina Reiser is the victim of murder -- and that the evidence points to Hans Reiser. "I have absolutely no information, no indication that Nina is alive in Russia," Dolge said. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/18/BAGT7NKU5518.DTL JUDGE LIFTS REQUEST FOR BOY TO TESTIFY IN ALLEGED KILLING. Reiser child's grandmother seeking custody in Russian courts. Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, January 19, 2007 An Alameda County judge on Thursday