The board has sent condolences, but has not tried to talk with the Maxwell family, she said.

The Maxwell family controls about 70 percent of the stock.

It hit a peak of $:1.27 last spring - right after the Maxwell family made it a public company by selling a 49 percent stake.

"To put it plainly, we need to know whether someone tried to do him harm," said a close associate of the Maxwell family.

The industry regulator also banned two investment management firms controlled by the Maxwell family from soliciting or accepting new business.

Under this set-up, the Maxwell family might be able to wield more influence over the fate of their empire.

Later, during the 18th century, local administrative influence and power passed to the Maxwell family, descendants of The Rt.

It is rumored that the Maxwell family could muster around three thousand men to defend themselves or brutally attack their enemies.

With the Maxwell family crying poverty, Kroll Associates is no longer on the case.

Officially, the Maxwell family owned only 68 percent.