Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Salt Lake City Police Have Received Over 6,000 Leads

Aired June 12, 2002 - 10:18   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: Let's move on to the latest in the mystery of the girl who is missing in Utah, the 14-year-old. Salt Lake City's police chief says that his detectives have received more than 6,000 leads, with about 1 in 10 worth following up, and he says the police are now shifting their focus.

Our James Hattori joins us with more now from Salt Lake City -- James, good morning.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

After a week of frustration, investigators now say that based on evidence, leads and FBI forensic study, they have narrowed their focus, as you say. And they have a better idea of who kidnapped 14- year-old Elizabeth Smart. As a result of that, they have sent investigators back out into the field, into the neighborhood surrounding the crime scene, to re-interview residents and others who had access to the house where the kidnapping occurred early last Wednesday.

Now, among those being questioned are contractors who did work on that house and known sex offenders. Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse tells CNN he is encouraged the crime will be solved, but he says there is no timetable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF RICK DINSE, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: I can't set a time limit on this. It may be soon. It might be later. It may be for quite a while. But we believe we have enough information about the suspect, the characteristics of the suspect based on the crime scene, based on all of the investigative leads up until now, including a behavioral science picture of him. So we have narrowed our focus in order to meet those things that we believe will bring us to him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HATTORI: Now even though the police have not identified a suspect, they say they have a very good idea of who it could be, and believe that he may well still be in the area. They may even have talked to him -- Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: James Hattori in Salt Lake City. We will talk with you in a little bit. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com