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CNN Live Today

Police in San Diego Searching for Missing Toddler

Aired April 29, 2002 - 11:19   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Police in San Diego are searching for a missing toddler, and they are getting some high-profile help. We are going to check in on the case with KFMB reporter, Kathy Chin, joining us live from Southern California this morning.

Kathy, good morning.

KATHY CHIN, KFMB REPORTER: Hello. How are you today, Daryn?

A tribute of support has been set up here, as you can see, and we've got a bunch of stuffed animals, and flowers and candles, and there's little notes that say they offer their prayers.

Now little Jahi Turner has been missing since last Thursday, and he was playing at playground behind me, as you can see, when apparently his stepfather left him to go buy a soda. When he returned, Jahi was gone. Now, Jahi is about 30" tall and weighs 30 pounds. Hundreds of searchers gathered this weekend to go find Jahi.

Included in the search parents of murdered 7-year-old child Danielle Van Dam, Brenda and Damon. Jahi's mother and stepfather have not spoken to media, however, but we know that Brenda and Damon have spoken to the mother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRENDA VAN DAM: I told her that it would probably get harder and that she had to come in front of the camera and ask whoever has him to let him go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHIN: OK, now this is a composite. It's hard for you to see. It's a composite of the women that was last seen in the area playing with her kids, or we think they were her kids. And Jahi was also in the area. Now, apparently there was one witness who said he thinks that he has seen this women. So they're pretty excited about that. That is one small clue that they've got. And apparently, there are not very many clues around here, because nobody has seen Jahi since Thursday afternoon, and everybody obviously asking if anybody has seen him to call the local police.

Right now, the police are considering this an abduction. Hundreds of volunteers have been out searching for him. They searched all weekend, including the Van Dams, as we said. And at this point, there is nothing latest. The police have not talked to us this morning.

Back you, Daryn.

KAGAN: The beginning of this story Kathy, the stepfather went away to get a drink or something and left this little boy unattended. Are there charges pending in that in just simple neglect?

CHIN: We don't know about that; they haven't talked about that yet. What we do know is they are considering this an abduction. Apparently, Jahi was playing with some other children about his own age in this playground behind, and there was a woman nearby. Now, that's what this composite is, of that woman, and they're trying to find her to see if she's got any information about what might have happened. So far, they have very little to go on.

KAGAN: We will keep an eye on that story and keep high hopes for that darling little boy.

Kathy Chin, KFMB, thanks very much.

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