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CNN Live Today

Nationwide Search For 9-Year-Old Virginia Girl

Aired August 16, 2002 - 13:32   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now we want it move on to another serious matter. This a nationwide search that is currently under way for 9-year-old Virginia girl who is believed to have been kidnapped by whoever killed her parents apparently. Jennifer Short has been missing since her parents were found shot dead yesterday in their own home.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve is following the developments from Bessett, Virginia.

Hi there, Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Nine-year-old Jennifer Short still missing and presumed abducted. The county sheriff's office says there have been a number of tips that have come in, thanks to the Amber Alert and also the nationwide publicity. But as of yet, none of those leads panned out.

Autopsies are being conducted today on Jennifer's parents, Mary and Michael Short. They were each found shot once in the head in the house behind me. We are expecting the autopsy results later today. Authorities are hoping that they will get a time of death. That might help them construct a timeline, which indicates who was doing what when, something that could be of great help in this investigation.

Meanwhile, you probably can see behind me a couple of big vans, crime scene units here, which are gathering forensic evidence. But at this point we're not told much about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. KIMMY NESTER, HENRY. CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: The forensic evidence that we've collected, we're not releasing any of that, nor details about the inside crime scene, for the very fact that if we are dealing with someone that is a suspect or key witness, we will know whether they had firsthand information or whether they got it from news media or rumor mill off the street.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: This scene is being called a major massive investigation, but it has a couple of disadvantages. First, authorities don't know when Jennifer may have been abducted. They don't know what she was wearing at the time. At this point, they don't have a suspect, they don't have a suspect vehicle. Another big disadvantage may be this highway. If I move over here, you can see it. This is a major road, runs north and south. What authorities says this means that Jennifer and the individual or individuals who may have taken her could be almost anywhere -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Jeanne, the Amber Alert system that is being used, which has brought success in recent days on other missing person cases, but can you give us a better description perhaps of little Jennifer? We have seen the photograph. She's brunette, but what more can you tell us about some of the qualities people need to be looking for at the nation now searches for her.

MESERVE: We are told that she is 4'3" tall. I believe the weight is 98 pounds. As I mention, they don not have any idea what this young girl was wearing at the time that she was taken. We are told that she is a sweet kid, a shy kid. I spoke to a convenience score owner just a couple of feet away from where I'm standing. She said she was just a delightful kid, a very typical 9-year-old -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jeanne Meserve, from Bessett, Virginia. thank you very much.

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