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CNN Live Today
Without a Trace
Aired January 20, 2003 - 10:20 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: For more perspective on how the disappearance of Laci Peterson and how it's playing out in the media, and the questions surrounding her husband as well, we're joined now by FBI former lead investigator Don Clark who's standing by from Houston, Texas, as he always is when he talks with us.
Good to see you again, Don, how are you?
DON CLARK, FMR. FBI LEAD INVESTIGATOR: Good to see you again, Leon. Happy New year.
HARRIS: Same to you. Same to you.
Now let's talk about this investigation now, that comes from before the New Year, this woman disappearing on Christmas Eve. What do you make of the expansion of the search for the Los Angeles area, with this different headquarters being set up by her husband for the search there?
CLARK: Well, I think this is an effort for the husband or whoever may be leading the search, Leon, to try to get information out there, more information out to the public. And not let this search activity sort of dwindle down, and that's what usually happens in these cases.
And, Leon, a little bit of perspective here, you and I talked about kids disappearing oftentimes, and when that happens, as well, you have to eliminate and see what happens., but it's not as difficult as when an adult disappears, and especially one in this situation. The elimination process, which is what's caused a lot of the issues in this investigation, is very, very difficult with adults, because there a lot of other issues that have to been taking place.
So I think this is an opportunity to maybe keep her name in the forefront that maybe somebody will come up with some information.
HARRIS: There have been bits and pieces of information about Scott Peterson, the husband, coming out now. And without going so far as trying him and convicting him in public or the media, I have to ask you about whether or not or seriously he's being considered as a suspect, even though authorities are saying that he is not one.
CLARK: Well, Leon, you're absolutely right about not trying him in public, because we are innocent until proven guilty. However, we have got to keep in mind that the elimination process, as the missing person, the older the person is, and especially if they are an adult is a very difficult process. There are usually issues that are involved with many adults, perhaps maybe all of us, and as people investigate to eliminate, some of these issues come out. I don't know if these are factual or not, but I suppose they are, because they said something about an insurance policy, which may not have anything to do with this, but nonetheless.
HARRIS: Also something about an affair coming out as well.
CLARK: Something as well as affair coming out. But nonetheless, Leon, these issues have to be looked into, because if you're going to be eliminated, then somebody needs to be pretty certain that you were where you say you were at the time of this disappearance.
HARRIS: With that in mind, Don, one of Laci's, I believe it was her sister, quoted in "The Modesto Bee" newspaper saying, if Scott Peterson has nothing to hide, then he has to prove it. How does someone prove to an investigator like you that they've has nothing hide?
CLARK: Leon, whether we think about it or not, most of us, if you look back at our daily activity, can probably be tracked somewhere along the way. And I think to get yourself totally eliminated from a process that cooperation with investigators, and I'm not suggesting that Mr. Peterson has not cooperated, but I'm saying that cooperation with them to the fullest...
HARRIS: How does he show that, though?
CLARK: I'm sorry?
HARRIS: We're going to have to move on. We're against the clock right now.
We're going to talk about this another time.
Don Clark, in Houston, thanks very much.
CLARK: You bet.
HARRIS: All right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 20, 2003 - 10:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: For more perspective on how the disappearance of Laci Peterson and how it's playing out in the media, and the questions surrounding her husband as well, we're joined now by FBI former lead investigator Don Clark who's standing by from Houston, Texas, as he always is when he talks with us.
Good to see you again, Don, how are you?
DON CLARK, FMR. FBI LEAD INVESTIGATOR: Good to see you again, Leon. Happy New year.
HARRIS: Same to you. Same to you.
Now let's talk about this investigation now, that comes from before the New Year, this woman disappearing on Christmas Eve. What do you make of the expansion of the search for the Los Angeles area, with this different headquarters being set up by her husband for the search there?
CLARK: Well, I think this is an effort for the husband or whoever may be leading the search, Leon, to try to get information out there, more information out to the public. And not let this search activity sort of dwindle down, and that's what usually happens in these cases.
And, Leon, a little bit of perspective here, you and I talked about kids disappearing oftentimes, and when that happens, as well, you have to eliminate and see what happens., but it's not as difficult as when an adult disappears, and especially one in this situation. The elimination process, which is what's caused a lot of the issues in this investigation, is very, very difficult with adults, because there a lot of other issues that have to been taking place.
So I think this is an opportunity to maybe keep her name in the forefront that maybe somebody will come up with some information.
HARRIS: There have been bits and pieces of information about Scott Peterson, the husband, coming out now. And without going so far as trying him and convicting him in public or the media, I have to ask you about whether or not or seriously he's being considered as a suspect, even though authorities are saying that he is not one.
CLARK: Well, Leon, you're absolutely right about not trying him in public, because we are innocent until proven guilty. However, we have got to keep in mind that the elimination process, as the missing person, the older the person is, and especially if they are an adult is a very difficult process. There are usually issues that are involved with many adults, perhaps maybe all of us, and as people investigate to eliminate, some of these issues come out. I don't know if these are factual or not, but I suppose they are, because they said something about an insurance policy, which may not have anything to do with this, but nonetheless.
HARRIS: Also something about an affair coming out as well.
CLARK: Something as well as affair coming out. But nonetheless, Leon, these issues have to be looked into, because if you're going to be eliminated, then somebody needs to be pretty certain that you were where you say you were at the time of this disappearance.
HARRIS: With that in mind, Don, one of Laci's, I believe it was her sister, quoted in "The Modesto Bee" newspaper saying, if Scott Peterson has nothing to hide, then he has to prove it. How does someone prove to an investigator like you that they've has nothing hide?
CLARK: Leon, whether we think about it or not, most of us, if you look back at our daily activity, can probably be tracked somewhere along the way. And I think to get yourself totally eliminated from a process that cooperation with investigators, and I'm not suggesting that Mr. Peterson has not cooperated, but I'm saying that cooperation with them to the fullest...
HARRIS: How does he show that, though?
CLARK: I'm sorry?
HARRIS: We're going to have to move on. We're against the clock right now.
We're going to talk about this another time.
Don Clark, in Houston, thanks very much.
CLARK: You bet.
HARRIS: All right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
