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CNN Live Saturday

Police Attempt to Give Food to Kids in Standoff

Aired June 02, 2001 - 13:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Back here in the United States, authorities are hopeful that a police standoff with five children may end soon. The youngsters are holed up in a rural home in northern Idaho. And we have a live report for you from CNN's Eileen O'Connor. She's in Garfield Bay, Idaho for the latest efforts to end the standoff -- Eileen.

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Donna.

Well, it's a windy day here. There's been a lot of movement of police vehicles in and out, but not anything that is unusual. They have been trying to go in and give food to the children. There was a little bit of movement though last night. Things seemed to be progressing. We were getting police vehicles in and out also.

We had several -- a telephone van going in, trying to establish communications, as well as a vehicle taking in the lawyer of the mother, Joanne McGuckin, who's been accused of abusing the children by not providing basic necessities. He says himself that progress is being made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Are they coming out soon?

BRYCE POWELL, MOTHER'S ATTORNEY: We don't know, but at least we have communication established with the children.

QUESTION: Phones been turned up?

POWELL: We have communication. People have talked to the children. We have a means of communicating with them now.

QUESTION: Through a telephone?

POWELL: And first through people. And again, that is progress. Things are looking better, but we've got a lot to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: Now two of the cars that went in had people huddled in the seats. One of them looked like a young teenage boy. And we do know that 15 year old Benjamin McGuckin has been helping authorities. And prosecutors say that by his information, they are pretty sure that those 5 children remaining are very frightened and mistrustful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHIL ROBINSON, PROSECUTOR: The children are very frightened he's sure by now. They don't know where he is. They don't know where their mother is. They've had no communication with anyone. There are very few people they've ever trusted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: Now the five children have been in there since Tuesday when the standoff began. It began after their mother, Joanna McGuckin was arrested for child abuse and neglect. She, they said, had not been providing basic necessities for the children. Their father had died a couple weeks ago from Multiple Sclerosis and complications. They say dehydration and malnutrition.

The mother had cut the children and the family off from the community. As her husband's condition had worsened over the years, she had said she was fearful that the authorities would take their home and the land because of a tax debt.

So again, these children, when the authorities came to try to put them into protective custody, they let loose some vicious dogs that they have on the property. And Benjamin has confirmed, according to law enforcement officials, that there are guns on the property. So again, law enforcement says it's still volatile -- Donna.

KELLEY: From Garfield Bay, Idaho, our Eileen O'Connor. Thanks very much.

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