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CNN Live Today

Still No Motive Behind Cortez Abduction

Aired August 14, 2002 - 12:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In California, a little girl is home safe, her suspected kidnapper behind bars. But the story does not end there. Well, there are still a lot of questions to be asked, including why was Jessica Cortez taken?
CNN's Rusty Dornin is in Los Angeles and on the case -- Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Carol, as you said, there are a lot of unanswered questions, and details are just beginning to emerge about the suspect, 34-year-old Patricia Cornejo. She apparently is the mother of four, two older children, and we know she does have two younger children, 10-years-old and even a little 4-year- old girl, which is surprising because in many of these cases, it is often that the mother has lost a child or something and kidnaps trying to replace that child.

Now, apparently, she did go to a health clinic -- take Jessica to a health clinic in L.A., and brought the child in when the child was complaining of a sore throat.

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INTERIM CHIEF MARTIN POMEROY, LOS ANGELES POLICE: There had been such tremendous public exposure here in Southern California that the workers, as I understand it, at the clinic immediately recognized this might be Jessica, so they delayed somewhat in their treatment, and called the police.

At one point, the woman stepped out of the room, and they asked young Jessica what her name was, and she confirmed who she was. And this was a different name than had been provided by that woman when Jessica was brought to the clinic. The clinic called us back, and let us know in fact it was Jessica, and we immediately turned the red lights and sirens on, and responded quickly thereafter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now, Jessica was reunited, of course, tearfully with her parents last night. Apparently she was not sexually assaulted, appears physically unharmed except for the fact that the kidnapper chopped her hair off, perhaps to change her appearance.

Now here at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, it is very peaceful today but last night, there was great cause for celebration, a rather loud celebration.

About a thousand people showed up to celebrate the fact that the little girl had been found. People were praying, the local church bells were ringing, there was even a procession down the street nearby. The folks here just very happy, it is very peaceful here right now. There are a few joggers, a few fishermen, but people that we have talked to that have been walking by just say they are very happy that the little girl was reunited with her parents, and that it did have a happy ending -- Carol.

LIN: Happy ending indeed. Thanks so much for bringing that to us, Rusty. Rusty Dornin live in Echo Park in Los Angeles.

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