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CNN Live At Daybreak
Discovery of Chandra Levy's Remains Came 387 Days After She Was Last Seen
Aired May 23, 2002 - 05:02 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In our own country, the discovery of Chandra Levy's remains came 387 days after she was last seen. Her remains were found in the same park search teams had scoured last summer.
CNN's Bob Franken has covered the Levy case from the start.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the moment that the police arrived at the scene shortly before 10:00 a.m. in the morning Eastern time, police officials thought this was the chance that, after more than a year, they would have a break in the Chandra Levy case. A tragic break as it turned out. The news came about 6:00 p.m. from the police chief, who had the sad news that Chandra Levy was the victim who had been discovered here at Rock Creek Park.
CHIEF CHARLES RAMSEY, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: We have received word from Dr. Arden (ph) over at the D.C. medical examiner's office that the remains found earlier today are, in fact, Chandra Levy. The identification was made through dental records. We have notified the family.
BILLY MARTIN, LEVY FAMILY ATTORNEY: Although the discovery of Chandra's body closes one chapter and brings some resolution to this ordeal, it does not, and I repeat, it does not solve the mystery of what happened to Chandra.
FRANKEN (on camera): Ever since her disappearance about a year ago, Chandra Levy's case had been one that had demanded worldwide attention. She was a 24-year-old former intern. It turned out that she had a romantic relationship with Congressman Gary Condit, a Democrat from California. It is a relationship he admitted to investigators, according to law enforcement sources, in his third interview. It was a relationship that ultimately resulted in the defeat of Congressman Condit at the polls.
But in spite of all the interest that only stopped after September 11, in spite of all that interest, nobody had been able to find Chandra Levy, the whereabouts of Chandra Levy, in spite of all the speculation, speculation that she had been killed, speculation that she had not. But now the sad news today, her body was found, confirmed by police officials using their dental records. Now, the next question is not whether she died, but how she died.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If there's obvious trauma to the skeletal remains that are consistent with her being killed in one manner or another, that could be helpful. It would also be helpful to be able to determine from looking at the crime scene whether or not she was dumped there or whether or not she was actually victimized at that location.
FRANKEN: From Congressman Gary Condit, a statement released by his attorney. "Congressman Gary Condit and family want to express their heartfelt sorrow and condolences to the Levy family. The Levy family will remain in our prayers." That the statement from Congressman Gary Condit.
It's important to point out that police have repeatedly said the congressman was not a suspect in the disappearance, but somebody who could provide important information.
Now, the investigation appears now to be heading toward a homicide investigation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That report from CNN national correspondent Bob Franken in Washington.
You know, from the time Chandra Levy's remains were first discovered in Rock Creek Park yesterday morning until they were positively identified late in the day, police kept in contact with her parents in California.
Dr. Robert Levy and his wife Susan were actually videotaping a segment from their home for the "Oprah Winfrey Show." The show's theme, updating major news stories, had been scheduled far in advance.
Later, a family attorney talked about what the Levys were going through now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDY SMITH, LEVY FAMILY ATTORNEY: Two parents have just received the most horrifying news that any parent could ever get, which is that their daughter has died. So it's very emotional. It's very tough. Certainly no parent ever thinks that they would bury their child. You know, usually it's done the other way. It's just, it's very tough, it's very emotional. It's what you would expect, you know, a lot of crying, a lot of disbelief.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Plans for a memorial service have not been finalized.
To find out what's next in the Levy investigation, join us for an interview with D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey. That's just over two hours from now. It will appear on AMERICAN MORNING. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
