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CNN Live Today

Search Continues for Elizabeth Smart

Aired June 13, 2002 - 12:52   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get an update on the search for that mission teenager in Utah.

Police say they are getting flooded with tips of a man wanted for questioning in the disappearance of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. The man was spotted near the Smart home just days before Elizabeth disappeared last week.

Our national correspondent James Hattori is in Salt Lake City. And he has got the latest -- hi there, James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yes, in fact, yesterday, there was a sighting of Bret Michael Edmunds in an area called West Valley, south of the Salt Lake City area -- a flurry activity, but no sign of him this morning. We are awaiting a briefing from police officials. You can see behind me there a gathering for the regular briefing.

Bret Michael Edmunds is described as a transient who was seen in the area where the kidnapping occurred a couple of days before by a milkman. Now, the milkman says Mr. Edmunds was driving in a suspicious manner, perhaps up and down the block. We talked with the milkman earlier today on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLIE MILLER, MILKMAN: For me, if someone is following me, I get suspicious. And it's just information that I would take in case something does happen. And I've had people that have actually followed me and have actually done that. And so I didn't -- so I took this information. And then the following Thursday, when I was going by, and then I read the story about the little girl's sister's description of the gentleman, it actually fit the description of the man that I saw. And so I passed it on to the authorities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HATTORI: Now, Edmunds is wanted just for questioning. He is not considered a suspect at this time. He may have some information which investigators hope will shed some light on the case, however.

One of the other items that is likely to be discussed at the press briefing coming up is a report in one of the local papers saying that the investigation is looking at family members and the possibility that the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart was some sort of inside job.

I spoke with a police spokesman just a little while ago who says that, from the beginning -- and if you have listened to the police reports all along, they have never excluded anyone. In fact, Ed Smart, the father, has undergone a polygraph test. Officials say that other family members could take a polygraph test as well. Statistically, when you look at these kinds of kidnapping cases or abduction cases, family members are involved in a significant number of them. That is another reason why investigators are looking.

One other thing to consider is that, just a couple of days prior to the kidnapping, there was a family gathering at the house. And so a number of the family members would have been in that crime scene just beforehand. So, that is one other reason why investigators would be interested in looking at family members. But that is not to say that that is focus of the case. It very well could be a family member was involved, but investigators at this point are not willing or able to say who a suspect is or what the motive was -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, James, the Smart home was on the market, up for sale. Are police investigators saying anything further now about whether they have already started to question or if they are going to question some people who may have been prospective buyers of that home?

HATTORI: They have looked at those people. And, initially, they questioned them all and said that they were satisfied with the answers.

At this point, they are going back a second time and questioning anybody who would might have had proximity or access to the house. And that includes people who might have gone through for an open house. That also includes some workers who might have been doing some remodeling work at the house.

They're redoubling their efforts and, again, searching the area immediately surrounding the kidnapping location.

WHITFIELD: All right, James Hattori, thanks very much.

And, of course, we will be returning back to Salt Lake City when the press conference begins involving Salt Lake City police.

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