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CNN Live At Daybreak

DNA Links Serial Killer Suspect to Five Killings in Baton Rouge

Aired May 27, 2003 - 07:03   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: Now to a major breakthrough in the Louisiana serial killer case. A team of investigators was dispatched yesterday to Atlanta, where suspect Derrick Todd Lee was sighted. An arrest warrant was issued for Lee, and he is linked by DNA lab tests to the killings of five women in the Baton Rouge area.
Ed Lavandera filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF PAT ENGLADE, BATON ROUGE POLICE: An arrest warrant has been issued for the arrest of Derrick Todd Lee.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Louisiana authorities believe 34-year-old Derrick Todd Lee is a serial killer still on the loose.

ENGLADE: He is to be considered armed and dangerous, and authorities should be notified immediately.

LAVANDERA: On May 5, investigators say, they took a DNA swab from Lee. Law enforcement sources tell CNN Lee was questioned at the time he provided the oral swab and then he was allowed to leave. Authorities say it wasn't until a few days ago that DNA testing linked Lee to DNA evidence found at the five murder scenes. Lee's last known address led authorities to this abandoned house in St. Francisville, north of Baton Rouge.

SHERIFF AUSTIN DANIEL, WEST FELICIANA PARISH: We didn't find him. We don't really know where he is. We think he's probably skipped out. He took his child out of school about two weeks ago, along about the same time that he was DNA-swabbed, so we feel as though he's on the run.

LAVANDERA: The five murders happened between September of 2001 and March of this year. All the victims were found between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Since there were no break-ins at the murder victims' homes, authorities say the women probably fell into a trap.

In at least three cases, it's believed the killer came to the victim's house and asked to see a phonebook for information. In the same conversation, he would try to figure out if the woman was home alone.

SHERIFF MIKE NEUSTROM, LAFAYETTE PARISH: Disarmingly charming, nice-looking fellow, smooth-talking fellow, non-threatening fellow, gains the confidence of a female, and then, again, attacks.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Investigators say they're doing all they can, and are now focused on finding Derrick Todd Lee. A statewide manhunt has been launched, and federal authorities are helping in a nationwide search for Lee, but they don't know what he might be wearing or how he's moving around.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Now we go live to Baton Rouge, where Art Harris is at task force headquarters. He's got the very latest for us this morning.

Hello -- Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon.

The big news here today in Baton Rouge is that the manhunt is on. They have been living in fear here for almost two years when the first murder began. There have been five women who have died.

And now, here at task force headquarters where we're standing, they have sent a team of investigators to Atlanta, Leon, where they have spotted this man, Derrick Todd Lee, as recently as yesterday.

This is the man they are looking for. He's 34 years old, 6 foot 1, muscular, described by neighbors as polite, charming, and now by police as armed and dangerous. He worked in construction as a truck driver in Baton Rouge. He's married, has two children. They are very young.

The people called his name in after seeing a police sketch that was released after a recent attempted rape. Investigators took his DNA swab, it was given voluntarily. My sources tell me they are confident, because this is a very unusual -- quote -- "highly unusual genetic marker." The chances that it could be someone else, I'm told, Leon, are -- quote -- "1 in 4 trillion."

Again, anyone seeing the man who is believed to be in the Atlanta area right now is urged to call the local FBI.

Leon -- back to you.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thank you, Art. Art Harris reporting live for us this morning from Baton Rouge.

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




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Aired May 27, 2003 - 07:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to a major breakthrough in the Louisiana serial killer case. A team of investigators was dispatched yesterday to Atlanta, where suspect Derrick Todd Lee was sighted. An arrest warrant was issued for Lee, and he is linked by DNA lab tests to the killings of five women in the Baton Rouge area.
Ed Lavandera filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF PAT ENGLADE, BATON ROUGE POLICE: An arrest warrant has been issued for the arrest of Derrick Todd Lee.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Louisiana authorities believe 34-year-old Derrick Todd Lee is a serial killer still on the loose.

ENGLADE: He is to be considered armed and dangerous, and authorities should be notified immediately.

LAVANDERA: On May 5, investigators say, they took a DNA swab from Lee. Law enforcement sources tell CNN Lee was questioned at the time he provided the oral swab and then he was allowed to leave. Authorities say it wasn't until a few days ago that DNA testing linked Lee to DNA evidence found at the five murder scenes. Lee's last known address led authorities to this abandoned house in St. Francisville, north of Baton Rouge.

SHERIFF AUSTIN DANIEL, WEST FELICIANA PARISH: We didn't find him. We don't really know where he is. We think he's probably skipped out. He took his child out of school about two weeks ago, along about the same time that he was DNA-swabbed, so we feel as though he's on the run.

LAVANDERA: The five murders happened between September of 2001 and March of this year. All the victims were found between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Since there were no break-ins at the murder victims' homes, authorities say the women probably fell into a trap.

In at least three cases, it's believed the killer came to the victim's house and asked to see a phonebook for information. In the same conversation, he would try to figure out if the woman was home alone.

SHERIFF MIKE NEUSTROM, LAFAYETTE PARISH: Disarmingly charming, nice-looking fellow, smooth-talking fellow, non-threatening fellow, gains the confidence of a female, and then, again, attacks.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Investigators say they're doing all they can, and are now focused on finding Derrick Todd Lee. A statewide manhunt has been launched, and federal authorities are helping in a nationwide search for Lee, but they don't know what he might be wearing or how he's moving around.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Now we go live to Baton Rouge, where Art Harris is at task force headquarters. He's got the very latest for us this morning.

Hello -- Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon.

The big news here today in Baton Rouge is that the manhunt is on. They have been living in fear here for almost two years when the first murder began. There have been five women who have died.

And now, here at task force headquarters where we're standing, they have sent a team of investigators to Atlanta, Leon, where they have spotted this man, Derrick Todd Lee, as recently as yesterday.

This is the man they are looking for. He's 34 years old, 6 foot 1, muscular, described by neighbors as polite, charming, and now by police as armed and dangerous. He worked in construction as a truck driver in Baton Rouge. He's married, has two children. They are very young.

The people called his name in after seeing a police sketch that was released after a recent attempted rape. Investigators took his DNA swab, it was given voluntarily. My sources tell me they are confident, because this is a very unusual -- quote -- "highly unusual genetic marker." The chances that it could be someone else, I'm told, Leon, are -- quote -- "1 in 4 trillion."

Again, anyone seeing the man who is believed to be in the Atlanta area right now is urged to call the local FBI.

Leon -- back to you.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thank you, Art. Art Harris reporting live for us this morning from Baton Rouge.

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




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