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American Morning
Today Marks One Month Since Smart Abduction
Aired July 05, 2002 - 08:31 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: It is a month to the day since Elizabeth Smart disappeared from her Salt Lake City home in the middle of the night, reportedly abducted at gunpoint. Authorities are still trying to find out who took her.
Here now is our Mark Potter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A month after the abduction, police and FBI investigators are still searching for that critical piece of evidence, that one big break that will solve the case, and help find 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. A law enforcement source tells CNN the case is frustrating and disappointing, but not hopeless.
The focus of the investigation continues to be 48-year-old Richard Ricci, the handyman who once worked for Elizabeth Smart's parents. Ricci is in the Utah State Prison for alleged parole violations. His 29-year police record includes jail time for burglary, and the attempted murder of a police officer. He denies any involvement in the abduction of the young girl, a claim supported by his wife.
Much of the investigation centers now on the reported activities at this auto repair shop near Salt Lake City. The owner, Neth Moul, has told authorities Ricci picked up his Jeep here before the June 5 abduction, and then returned it afterward. Moul said the vehicle was dirty, and had 500 to 1,000 more miles on the odometer. He says he wrote much of it in his log book.
(on camera): You finished the work on the fuel pump on May 28, and then he picked it up it says here on May 30.
NETH MOUL, SHOP OWNER: Yes. And he -- the car returned.
POTTER: Returned on June 8.
MOUL: Yes.
POTTER (voice-over): Moul says upon removing the Jeep, Ricci removed two Indian-style seat covers, a bag of unidentified items, and a post hole digger. He then carried them across the street, where he joined another man. (on camera): So you saw Ricci looking at that man...
MOUL: Yes.
POTTER: ... and then the man came over and waved to Ricci...
MOUL: Yes.
POTTER: ... and then Ricci joined him...
MOUL: Yes.
POTTER: ...and they walked away. And you didn't see the car they got in?
MOUL: No, no, I did not. I did not.
POTTER (voice-over): Moul says the second man used this pay phone at the convenience store across the street. Investigators believe identifying and finding that man, along with the materials taken from Ricci's Jeep are critically important. Law enforcement sources say Ricci denies ever taking the Jeep from the shop. Investigators consider that discrepancy disturbing, and say it has helped sharpen their focus on Ricci. His home has been searched, and his neighbors questioned.
One of the officers talked to Miriam Hester.
MIRIAM HESTER, NEIGHBOR: Well, he asked me if I had ever -- if I had seen that day anybody carrying a body out of a car, and I said no, because I would question that.
POTTER: Investigators here are also talking to people in and out of prison who knew Ricci, and a new $25,000 reward for information has been offered as investigators struggle for that one big break.
Mark Potter, CNN, Salt Lake City, Utah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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