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American Morning
Many Questions About Smart Abduction, Past Nine Months Clouded in Mystery
Aired March 13, 2003 - 07:33 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to our top story this morning. While the Smart family celebrates Elizabeth's return, investigators are busy this morning. Two suspects, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Eileen Barzee are in custody. Many questions about the abduction and the past nine months are clouded in mystery. But throughout the ordeal, the family never let their hope fade.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED SMART, ELIZABETH'S FATHER: I still am holding out that hope that Elizabeth is alive. I know the odds aren't in our favor, but I still am.
ZAHN (voice-over): Elizabeth Smart's father nearly three months after his 14-year-old daughter vanished from her Salt Lake City bedroom. Elizabeth's younger sister Mary Katherine, nine years old at the time, witnessed the abduction, said her sister was taken by an armed man. Hundreds of volunteers joined police to search for the missing teen.
Suspicion at first focused on a handyman who had once worked at the Smarts' home and who had criminal record. A week after the kidnapping, police arrested Richard Ricci on a parole violation unrelated to Elizabeth's case. Two months later, Ricci died in jail of a brain hemorrhage.
The search for Elizabeth dragged on through fall with no apparent progress. But last month, the Smart family released a sketch of Brian David Mitchell, described as a drifter and street preacher. After Mary Katherine Smart said a man she knew as Emanuel, who had once done work for the family, resembled the man who had taken her sister.
Then on Wednesday, the incredible news, Elizabeth, now 15, is alive. She was located in Sandy, Utah, less than 20 miles from her home, traveling with Brian David Mitchell and a woman whose relationship to Mitchell is not clear.
When alert residents contacted police, the Smart family's prayers were answered.
ED SMART: They took me to this room and when they opened the door and she was there, I just, I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do miracles still exist? And the answer is yes. And we have Elizabeth back. (END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: And they do.
Coming up in our next hour, we're going to be talking with the police chief of Sandy, Utah, Stephen Chapman, about the arrest of Brian David Mitchell.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Clouded in Mystery>
Aired March 13, 2003 - 07:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to our top story this morning. While the Smart family celebrates Elizabeth's return, investigators are busy this morning. Two suspects, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Eileen Barzee are in custody. Many questions about the abduction and the past nine months are clouded in mystery. But throughout the ordeal, the family never let their hope fade.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED SMART, ELIZABETH'S FATHER: I still am holding out that hope that Elizabeth is alive. I know the odds aren't in our favor, but I still am.
ZAHN (voice-over): Elizabeth Smart's father nearly three months after his 14-year-old daughter vanished from her Salt Lake City bedroom. Elizabeth's younger sister Mary Katherine, nine years old at the time, witnessed the abduction, said her sister was taken by an armed man. Hundreds of volunteers joined police to search for the missing teen.
Suspicion at first focused on a handyman who had once worked at the Smarts' home and who had criminal record. A week after the kidnapping, police arrested Richard Ricci on a parole violation unrelated to Elizabeth's case. Two months later, Ricci died in jail of a brain hemorrhage.
The search for Elizabeth dragged on through fall with no apparent progress. But last month, the Smart family released a sketch of Brian David Mitchell, described as a drifter and street preacher. After Mary Katherine Smart said a man she knew as Emanuel, who had once done work for the family, resembled the man who had taken her sister.
Then on Wednesday, the incredible news, Elizabeth, now 15, is alive. She was located in Sandy, Utah, less than 20 miles from her home, traveling with Brian David Mitchell and a woman whose relationship to Mitchell is not clear.
When alert residents contacted police, the Smart family's prayers were answered.
ED SMART: They took me to this room and when they opened the door and she was there, I just, I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do miracles still exist? And the answer is yes. And we have Elizabeth back. (END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: And they do.
Coming up in our next hour, we're going to be talking with the police chief of Sandy, Utah, Stephen Chapman, about the arrest of Brian David Mitchell.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Clouded in Mystery>
