Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Event/Special

News Conference With Family of Missing Michigan Girl

Aired March 04, 2003 - 15:06   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.


ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: I want to go to Jones, Michigan where the sheriff, Joseph Underwood, Cass County, Michigan sheriff is speaking out regarding Lindsay Ryan. It's her father, actually at the podium.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

PATRICK RYAN, FATHER: ... isn't good enough. You need to be one here -- you belong here with us. And it's definitely, we're hoping that you'll just come home. I mean, we're ready. And I think that you'll find this will be a great place for you to come back to because we all love you, and we're ready for you. Please come back.

And, Terry, if you are out there, I really would like you to drop her off. As I said, this is just not going to be a good thing whatsoever. So, Terry, drop her anywhere. Church, police station, anywhere. That's the best thing. Thank you.

CAROL RYAN, MOTHER: Lindsey, I don't know what to say except this is Kathy's (ph) birthday present to me, honey. She wanted to do something but we don't know what to do. We're hopeless, we're helpless, we're scared.

And yet, I will do whatever it takes, I will do whatever it takes to get you home. I will not give up on you. I don't care what people are thinking. I don't care how long you're gone. You're my daughter. I've been with you for 14 years, and I know you better than anyone else. And I know that you love us.

And I pray that you're not afraid, and I pray that you're safe and warm every night when I go to bed, honey. I'm watching, I'm thinking about you. I can't hardly sleep. I want you to be strong. I want you to get away, if you can, and I want you to come home.

All your friends are saying the same thing. They feel terrible for not talking to us sooner or not knowing that there was an issue that they should have said. They love you. Everyone.

Lindsey, I have over 150 friends of yours who have called and I'm listing their names so that one day you can come home and call them and have them over for lunch or something.

I want to thank all the media for the caring. I know I've been a pain to work with. I'm very moody. I've been awful. But I -- you don't know what it's like to go through this unless you've had this. This is an incredible experience. It does not make sense.

I also ask anyone in this nation that sees those people to please don't wait until the morning. You get to a phone within seconds and call so that we can settle this. And bring them home safely.

And lastly, Terry, no matter what, I think of you, I'm just glad that you've kept her alive. Thank you.

DIANA THIELE, GRANDMOTHER: Lindsey, you remembered writing just a little while ago about how much you missed me. And I wanted to tell you that I'm here waiting for you. I know you love me and I love you very much and I'm waiting for you to come home.

QUESTION: Ma'am, are you Grandma?

THIELE: Yes.

QUESTION: Grandma, can we have your name, please?

THIELE: Diana Thiele, T-H-I-E-L-E.

C. RYAN: My parents are waiting to -- they are in Michigan waiting. They'll be here in the morning. They would have been here. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

NEVILLE: OK, we've been listening to a press conference. We heard from the father, Patrick Ryan, the mother, Carol, and the grandmother of missing Lindsey Ryan, abducted from her home by Terry Drake. They apparently met at church and developed a relationship over the Internet. Along with Lindsey Ryan, Drake reportedly took ammunition and guns from the home as well. The 14-year-old little girl has been missing since the weekend.

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 March 4, 2003 - 15:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: I want to go to Jones, Michigan where the sheriff, Joseph Underwood, Cass County, Michigan sheriff is speaking out regarding Lindsay Ryan. It's her father, actually at the podium.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

PATRICK RYAN, FATHER: ... isn't good enough. You need to be one here -- you belong here with us. And it's definitely, we're hoping that you'll just come home. I mean, we're ready. And I think that you'll find this will be a great place for you to come back to because we all love you, and we're ready for you. Please come back.

And, Terry, if you are out there, I really would like you to drop her off. As I said, this is just not going to be a good thing whatsoever. So, Terry, drop her anywhere. Church, police station, anywhere. That's the best thing. Thank you.

CAROL RYAN, MOTHER: Lindsey, I don't know what to say except this is Kathy's (ph) birthday present to me, honey. She wanted to do something but we don't know what to do. We're hopeless, we're helpless, we're scared.

And yet, I will do whatever it takes, I will do whatever it takes to get you home. I will not give up on you. I don't care what people are thinking. I don't care how long you're gone. You're my daughter. I've been with you for 14 years, and I know you better than anyone else. And I know that you love us.

And I pray that you're not afraid, and I pray that you're safe and warm every night when I go to bed, honey. I'm watching, I'm thinking about you. I can't hardly sleep. I want you to be strong. I want you to get away, if you can, and I want you to come home.

All your friends are saying the same thing. They feel terrible for not talking to us sooner or not knowing that there was an issue that they should have said. They love you. Everyone.

Lindsey, I have over 150 friends of yours who have called and I'm listing their names so that one day you can come home and call them and have them over for lunch or something.

I want to thank all the media for the caring. I know I've been a pain to work with. I'm very moody. I've been awful. But I -- you don't know what it's like to go through this unless you've had this. This is an incredible experience. It does not make sense.

I also ask anyone in this nation that sees those people to please don't wait until the morning. You get to a phone within seconds and call so that we can settle this. And bring them home safely.

And lastly, Terry, no matter what, I think of you, I'm just glad that you've kept her alive. Thank you.

DIANA THIELE, GRANDMOTHER: Lindsey, you remembered writing just a little while ago about how much you missed me. And I wanted to tell you that I'm here waiting for you. I know you love me and I love you very much and I'm waiting for you to come home.

QUESTION: Ma'am, are you Grandma?

THIELE: Yes.

QUESTION: Grandma, can we have your name, please?

THIELE: Diana Thiele, T-H-I-E-L-E.

C. RYAN: My parents are waiting to -- they are in Michigan waiting. They'll be here in the morning. They would have been here. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

NEVILLE: OK, we've been listening to a press conference. We heard from the father, Patrick Ryan, the mother, Carol, and the grandmother of missing Lindsey Ryan, abducted from her home by Terry Drake. They apparently met at church and developed a relationship over the Internet. Along with Lindsey Ryan, Drake reportedly took ammunition and guns from the home as well. The 14-year-old little girl has been missing since the weekend.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com