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CNN Live Today

Probe Into Smart's Disappearance Focuses on Ricci

Aired June 28, 2002 - 12:08   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: In Utah, the probe into Elizabeth Smart's disappearance is focusing more and more on handyman Richard Ricci. The FBI has taken items from the mobile home of Ricci and his father-in-law. And our Jeanne Meserve is in Salt Lake City with the very latest on that development. Hi there, Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. You will remember the description of the abductor. He was said to be wearing a tan golf hat, a white polo shirt, and tan pants. While law enforcement officials and in-laws of Richard Ricci say that investigators removed from a closet in Richard Ricci's trailer, a white polo shirt and tan pants. They also, removed some items from the in-laws, trailer which is right next door to Ricci's.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: They described a guy in a polo shirt and tan pants (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ...

ROXIE MORSE, RICCI'S MOTHER-IN-LAW: What in the hell else do you wear? They go in her closet, and pull out a polo shirt. Does a 9- year-old tries to describe a pair of tan pants?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I ...

MORSE: You got tan pants? Have you got tan pants?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MORSE: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Now, let me explain that the items taken from the in- laws' home included a machete that was in the shed. Investigators say they don't know if that has anything to do from the investigation, but, from the kitchen, they took a tan golf hat which appears to match the description of the one worn by the abductor.

A mechanic now saying that Ricci came and took his white Jeep out of the mechanic's garage for several days, bracketing the date of the abduction. When Ricci brought it back, the Jeep was very dirty, and 1,000 additional miles had been put on the odometer. And the mechanic says he saw Ricci take items from that vehicle. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NETH MOUL, MECHANIC: He put that seat cover -- I saw him (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because I look at it and he got the seat cover in a big plastic bag. OK, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and then he tied it up. He carried the plastic bag out along with what we call a post deacon (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: The mechanic says Ricci said he was waiting for a friend and waved to a man across the street. Law enforcement sources saying today that one of their top priorities is to find out who that individual might be. They are also taking a closer look at Richard Albert, Ricci's alibi. A neighbor was on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE" last night, and he asked her whether -- she said, rather, that Angela had come to her and to other neighbors and asked whether they had seen Richard leave the house on the night of the abduction. Larry King followed up, asking she might have been asleep, and he might have left. The neighbor, Carma Tolman, responds, "Yes. He may have."

Police sources say that Angela Ricci was known to use prescription drugs to help her sleep. Police also saying, this morning, that one of their top priorities is to look into the marriage of Angela and Richard to make sure it is legal. The reason they're looking at that. That could affect the kind of protections the get in front of court. Protections that would prevent them from testifying against one another.

Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: Wow. A lot of information. Thanks a lot. Jeanne Meserve. Appreciate it. From Salt Lake.

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