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CNN Live Today

Interview With Capt. Atkinson of Salt Lake City Police

Aired June 13, 2002 - 14:02   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Police say they are not focusing on the family of a missing Utah girl more intensely than as in such cases. That, after today's "Salt Lake Tribune" reported investigators believe Elizabeth Smart may have been abducted by a relative.

CNN national correspondent, Frank Buckley, joins us now from Salt Lake City with more on that -- hi, there Frank. They are downplaying that report in "The Salt Lake Tribune," aren't they?

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are trying to put it in perspective I think, Fredricka. And let me show you what people here in Salt Lake City woke up to this morning. This is the headline in "The Salt Lake Tribune." It says "police eye relatives in probe. One police theory: Abduction of teen was staged to look forced."

We have with us Captain Scott Atkinson, who has just wrapped up a news conference a few moments ago. Let's talk about this article right away. It suggests that was an inside job by the family. Tell us how much weight you are putting on this particular theory?

CAPT. SCOTT ATKINSON, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: I don't think that we are putting any more weight on this particular theory than we have any others. Again, we are not talking specifically about evidence or those kinds of things. Apparently this reporter got his own sources and talked to people, and I believe that this is his theory.

BUCKLEY: And so part of this suggests that there has -- there was someone inside the home who cut a screen window to make it appear as if there was a break-in, and this article suggests that investigators are looking at the idea that maybe that screen was cut from inside. Is that at least something that is being considered?

ATKINSON: Again, I can't talk about the evidence specifically, because we -- that's one of the things that we hold close during the investigation, so we will be able to weed out potential suspects.

BUCKLEY: We know that Ed Smart has been given a polygraph. You were asked over and over again about the idea of polygraphs. Tell us how that tool is used. You wouldn't say who else in the family has been polygraphed. But how is that tool used?

ATKINSON: Again, that's just one of the -- another one of the investigative tools. We use that to, you know, sometimes we look at the reactions, the questions that are asked. Whether or not they pass it or may or may not have an effect on whether we eliminate them as a suspect. It's just one of those things that we use to see if we can get at the truth.

BUCKLEY: There has been talk about Mary Catherine, people who have been following this case, Mary Catherine is the nine-year-old sister of Elizabeth. What has she been able to tell police that has been helpful in the investigation?

ATKINSON: Again, she is the one who provided with us the description of the suspect. She has also clarified some of that in interviews that she had yesterday and again today. She has helped us in walking around the area that she and her sister frequented, those kinds of things.

BUCKLEY: If it was, in fact, a family member, an extended family member, wouldn't she recognize that person? And if so, why wouldn't you be able to quickly make an arrest?

ATKINSON: That's correct. If she had recognized the person and been able to give a name or recognizes them as being a family member, we believe that she probably would have told us that.

BUCKLEY: But doesn't that suggest that the idea that a family member was the abductor doesn't really hold weight?

ATKINSON: Well, it does, but it doesn't mean that they may or may not be involved in the abduction.

BUCKLEY: Yesterday, there was a great deal of attention on Bret Edmunds. You are still looking for him. He is the person who is wanted on a couple of outstanding warrants, was seen in the neighborhood. Tell us -- yesterday, it appeared as though, yes, you wanted him for questioning, but people thought that he might be a suspect. Where is he in your investigation, and have you found him yet?

ATKINSON: No, we haven't found Mr. Edmunds yet. We are still looking for him. Yesterday when we released it, we did mention that he was not in fact a suspect. Whether we made that clearer not, we tried to make that as clear as we can. He is known to frequent this area, is a transient in this area, worked in this area, knows the area very well. And we just want to see if he knows anything about people who might have been here, or he might have even been here the night and seen something that would help us locate this girl.

BUCKLEY: OK. Captain Scott Atkinson, thank you very much for stopping by to chat with us. That's the latest here, Fredricka. And we should say that a family member who appeared at the news conference said, look, we know that one of the boxes that the police have to check is the family box. And we are willing to do anything that they ask to help them move forward in their investigation -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thank you very much -- Frank Buckley from Salt Lake City.

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