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CNN Live Today

Missing Girl Found, But Case Not Closed

Aired August 14, 2002 - 10:01   ET

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

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And speaking of that one in L.A., we turn to that one now. A happy ending there for a little girl and her family. For detectives it's an open case with some unanswered questions. Police say 4-year-old Jessica Cortez is unharmed and kidnapping charges have now been filed against the woman who police say tried to sneak her into a health clinic.
CNN's Rusty Dornin is tracking this developing story. Let's check in right now with her and get the very latest details.

Hello, Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, a very placid scene here at Echo Park Lake, very unlike the scene yesterday when there were some 300 officers and crews searching the lake because initially they thought little 4-year-old Jessica Cortez might have drowned in the lake. It was only yesterday afternoon when they received word that she was safely found at a clinic. She was tearfully reunited, of course, with her parents. Apparently she is in great shape. She was not sexually assaulted. She did have her hair chopped off, apparently by the kidnapper who may have been tried to alter her appearance.

From what we know, the woman -- a woman brought the girl to the clinic when she was complaining of a sore throat. Now the workers recognized little Jessica. And when the woman left the room, they asked her her name. She said my name is Jessica. They called police who responded quickly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN POMEROY, INTERIM CHIEF L.A.P.D.: We believe she is the sole suspect. And our detectives will be going to the district attorney today or tomorrow to seek a filing against this individual.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: They are still -- the suspect, they are not sure the motive in this particular case for this kidnapping. She is the mother of four, including a little girl who is 4 years old.

Now police are still looking for a man they initially thought was a suspect who had been sighted by a few witnesses with Jessica. They just want to talk to him, find out any other information, because it's very unclear, as I said, about the motive and also what the little girl was doing for the past few days.

Meantime here in the neighborhood, it's been a joyful celebration here. This is the heart of the Latino community in Los Angeles. People were really out in crowds trying to look for little Jessica yesterday; and when it was announced, they were chanting and praying and it was -- it was a big party here -- Leon.

HARRIS: And, Rusty, there still remains a lot of questions about that other man you mentioned that the police are looking for. Do they believe there's a link between him and this woman they are holding now as the -- as the person they're calling now the only suspect?

DORNIN: They're not sure if there is a link. It might be that this man might have even seen something. At this point they are not trying to link the two. They are not saying he's a suspect, but there is the possibility that he may have seen something that happened. So that's why they want to talk to him.

HARRIS: All right. Did this woman ever say anything about why she cut the -- cut the girl's hair and why she was taking her into the clinic in the first place?

DORNIN: Well the reason why she took her into the clinic from -- initially was she told the workers that the little girl was complaining of a sore throat. We don't know otherwise, perhaps if she was feeling pressured, if she knew, you know, that the -- that the pictures were out there, that the -- you know there was such a manhunt going on whether that also prompted her to go in. They're just saying that the reason that she brought her in initially was she was complaining of a sore throat.

HARRIS: Got you. Rusty Dornin reporting live for us this morning. Thanks, Rusty.

Daryn, over to you.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And how about the little girl telling nurses that that's not my mommy.

HARRIS: Yes.

KAGAN: And those smart-thinking clinic workers coming up with a very long list of an examination they had to do...

HARRIS: There you go.

KAGAN: ... to keep that little girl and that woman in the building until police could get there.

HARRIS: Don't you think all this talk about the AMBER system basically now is getting people's attention peaked...

KAGAN: And gets some attention.

HARRIS: ... and it's paying off like that?

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