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D.C. Police Chief Vowing Department Will Find Person Who Killed Levy

Aired May 29, 2002 - 06:06   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: The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police chief is vowing his department will find the person who killed Chandra Levy. The city's medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide, and our national correspondent, Bob Franken, has details for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Less than a week after the remains of Chandra Levy had been found, more than a year after she disappeared, the official announcement that her death was murder was hardly a surprise to investigators, both for what the medical examiner concluded and what he could not.

JONATHAN ARDEN, D.C. MEDICAL EXAMINER: In this case, there was not specific -- excuse me -- sufficient evidence to ascertain conclusively the specific injury that caused her death. However, the circumstances of her disappearance and her body of recovery are indicative that she died through the acts of another person, which is the definition of a homicidal manner of death.

FRANKEN: Now that it's officially a criminal matter, the investigators are plotting new strategy.

CHIEF CHARLES RAMSEY, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: Right now, we have a lot of people that we want to interview or perhaps even re- interview. At this stage of the investigation, it's premature to start labeling people as suspects.

FRANKEN: Investigators are wrapping up the nearly week-long sweep of the isolated section in Rock Creek Park, where Chandra Levy's remains were uncovered, taking a last look for evidence, but adamantly refusing to discuss publicly what they found.

ASST. CHIEF TERRENCE GAINER, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: There are things that should be on a need-to-know basis, and the more that the police can know or the prosecutors can know in the area of interview and interrogation, the more you can test the veracity of the person who is giving you that information.

FRANKEN: As always, the attorney for the Levy family continued to keep the pressure on one of the main figures in this tragedy. BILLY MARTIN, LEVY FAMILY ATTORNEY: We would like to talk to Congressman Condit, and now that this case has been classified as a homicide, I am sure the police will go back and talk with every witness, including the congressman.

FRANKEN: Police say they are still undecided whether they will include Condit among their re-interviews. According to law enforcement sources, the California congressman has admitted that he and Chandra Levy were lovers.

(on camera): Police have never said that they considered him a suspect. In fact, they have never acknowledged they have any suspects. About the strongest declaration from the chief was his assurance the case will be solved, to use his word, eventually.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And all of those developments came in Washington as Chandra Levy's family and friends gathered for her memorial service. Her distraught parents came out of seclusion for the first time since their daughter's remains were found. Robert and Susan Levy were joined at yesterday's ceremony in Modesto, California by more than 1,000 relatives and friends and strangers who were touched by the tragedy. Chandra Levy's uncle spoke abut their loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL KATZ, CHANDRA'S UNCLE: Something like this reaches deep into our heart. It causes us to find that inner strength, to try to understand our purpose, and to understand how important family is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Chandra Levy was remembered as a young woman eager to explore the world.

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