Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Father of Elizabeth Smart Makes Tearful Plea to Abductor

Aired June 21, 2002 - 14:16   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: Now for the first time in two weeks, a tearful public plea today from the father of Elizabeth Smart, urging her alleged abductor out in Salt Lake City to bring his daughter home.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Salt Lake City and he's got the latest -- hi, there, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

It's the most emotional we've seen Ed Smart pretty much all week as he realizes that this weekend, he hopes will be a, bring an end to all of this for him. He's urging people all over the state of Utah and the surrounding states to, as they're going out on their weekend excursions, to take a moment and look for his 14-year-old daughter, who was abducted from the Smart family's home here in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 5. It's not been 16 days since she's been missing.

Ed Smart pleading with people just to keep an eye open and pleading directly to the man who abducted his daughter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED SMART, ELIZABETH'S FATHER: I'm asking and I'm pleading with whoever has her that I would do anything to have her back in my arms. And please realize how much she's missed. She's missed tremendously.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Now, the investigation continues throughout the state. The family members say that they've got about 70 percent of the state covered with search teams and groups that have volunteered to help in the search effort for Elizabeth Smart. Police also tell us that they're following strong leads in the state as they continue to do their work. There's evidence being analyzed in laboratories here in the state that has been sent off. There's videotape analysis going on in Virginia. So several different things that have been taking place.

And family members say they're confident and still are happy with the kind of work the police here in Salt Lake City are doing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAVID FRANCOM, ELIZABETH'S UNCLE: We have all wracked our brains to figure out why this could have happened to such a wonderful family, to such a sweet girl. And we have no answer as to why or how this could have happened. And we are leaving that in the hands of the police to determine that. We do have confidence that they will find out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Now, almost every day since Elizabeth Smart was abducted on June 5, the family has come out and held morning press briefings. Every day the police had also been taking part in those. The police is no longer attending these press briefings until something major is ready to be announced and also for the family says they will take the weekend off and relax and rest and continue helping out in the search efforts, as well. So we won't be able to hear from them, it appears, until next Monday -- Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Ed.

Ed Lavandera from Salt Lake City.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com