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CNN Live Today

Salt Lake City Police Focus on Contractor

Aired June 24, 2002 - 10:15   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Moving on this morning now. In Utah, police are questioning a former handyman in the disappearance of 14- year-old Elizabeth Smart. Salt Lake's police chief is going to say that the man, who has an extensive criminal history, is -- quote -- "potentially a big piece of the puzzle." That's all they are saying right now.

CNN's Ed Lavandera joins us now. He has got the latest on this developing angle -- good morning, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Police have had this gentleman in custody for about ten days now. His name is Richard Ricci. He was taken into custody on June 14 for a parole violation. But if you look back at his history, apparently he has got a 30-year criminal history with convictions in Utah, Idaho and Arizona, including a 1983 attempted murder conviction of a police officer. He served 15 years for that sentence.

Now, he has been in custody since June 14. We are just now getting word of his arrest. He is not a suspect, police say, at this point, but they are very interested in his story. Police at this point saying that so far what he has been telling police isn't panning out, and that they have reason to be very suspicious.

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CHIEF RICK DINSE, SALT LAKE CITY POLICE: Richard Ricci is somebody that we are looking at very closely. He is somebody that has come to our attention through the investigation. As we speak now, we haven't been able to satisfy ourselves that he is not involved.

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LAVANDERA: Now, as you might imagine, the Smart family paying very close attention to these emerging details. And joining us now to speak more about how the family is reacting to all of this is Chris Thomas, a friend of the family and a spokesperson.

Chris, what do you know of Mr. Ricci, and can you share with us with what police have told them?

CHRIS THOMAS, FAMILY SPOKESMAN: Right. Ricci was a contractor who worked in the home a little more than a year ago. He was there for about a two-month period. He performed mostly painting and handyman-type labors, and they do remember him.

LAVANDERA: He spent a couple of months in the house working?

THOMAS: Off and on, yes.

LAVANDERA: And this is because Ed Smart had done a lot of the work on his house.

THOMAS: That's correct. You know, to put things in perspective, Ed practically built that home himself and had dozens of contractors in there over a period of several years.

LAVANDERA: And when the Smart family sees the picture of Richard Ricci, this is someone they instantly recognize?

THOMAS: I know that Edward is very familiar with him, yes.

LAVANDERA: Well, how does the family react? It's got to be, I think, very disheartening to know that this man spent a couple months in their house. What goes through their mind when they think, you know, if this man is possibly connected to all of this? It's going to be disheartening to say the least.

THOMAS: You know, I don't necessarily know it is disheartening. If this man knows something that can get them closer to bringing their daughter back alive, you know, that's encouraging. You know, as with Edmunds, any type of development that will bring them one step closer gives them a lot of hope.

LAVANDERA: How is the family holding up with all of these details that have emerged, Edmunds on Friday, this gentleman now? How does the family handle all of these developments?

THOMAS: You know, the family is doing very well. They try to maintain kind of an even keel, focusing on the things that they can do, such as the volunteer search and some of the other efforts. They are very hopeful that they are going to get her home alive. It really has not diminished in the least bit.

LAVANDERA: And real quick, we mentioned -- you mentioned the volunteer search effort this weekend. We were told on Friday about 10,000 people expected to be out. How is all of that going?

THOMAS: I know this weekend was absolutely incredible. There is still a great response, and the family is very grateful for the community outreach. In addition, we know that people throughout the country have also been searching, and we are encouraging everybody to be a searcher, no matter where you are. You know, Edmunds was found 2,000 miles from here, which means Elizabeth could be anywhere. So if you see anything even slightly peculiar, please contact the authorities immediately.

LAVANDERA: All right. Chris Thomas, spokesperson for the Smart family. We appreciate your time this morning.

THOMAS: Thank you, Eddie. LAVANDERA: The family paying very close attention to this. And now, I understand that there is a live press conference in West Virginia with an update on Bret Michael Edmunds. Let's toss it to that right now.

And I'm sorry. Bret Michael Edmunds will also be talked about today later on in the press, and police and family will also be attending later on this morning. That's scheduled to happen at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time and 1:00 Eastern -- Leon, back to you.

HARRIS: Got you. Ed Lavandera in Salt Lake City this morning -- thanks, Ed. We'll talk to you later on.

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