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American Morning
Story of Missing Boy
Aired June 13, 2003 - 09:02 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we want to get to California right now and the story of this missing boy. They call him Mateo, the 2-year-old found abandoned on the streets of Bakersfield last month. Police have released the recording of a telephone call from a woman who says she is the boy's mother. Authorities hope the tape could help solve the Mateo mystery.
Thelma Gutierrez tracking the latest now in Bakersfield.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They call him Mateo. No one knows his real name or even how old he is. All police know is that he was found three and a half weeks ago abandoned in Bakersfield, California.
(on camera): It was late at night. Mateo was found right here in the middle of this intersection all alone. Police aren't sure how he got here or even who his parents are. And now they've exhausted all leads except for an anonymous telephone call.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I left him because we are being mistreated by my husband. After all, if something happens to me, I don't want anything to happen to my baby. If he could be adopted, I would appreciate it, because I'm sick with cancer and I can die any minute.
GUTIERREZ: The woman claiming to be the mother also said the boy's name is not Mateo, but Jesus Peres Flores. Investigators have checked databases for the name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you seen this baby in the neighborhood at all?
GUTIERREZ: And they've hung fliers all over town. And they've made countless appeals to the Spanish speaking public.
Still, no luck.
Now, the Bakersfield public defender, who is Mateo's legal representative, hopes to speed up the adoption process, and that means severing the parents' rights. Dozens of people have expressed interest in adopting Mateo.
Elizabeth Moreno is one of them. She says his story has touched her heart. ELIZABETH MORENO, CONCERNED CITIZEN: Adoption crossed my mind simply because if you've seen him, he is such a loveable little boy. I mean he is so warm.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: Detectives working this case tell us they believe that tape may be credible. They say the caller talked about details about what the boy was wearing. Those were details that were not released to the public -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Thelma Gutierrez live in Bakersfield, thanks for that.
We're going to continue our discussion here now, especially the whole issue of adoption. The public defender in charge is Mark Arnold. He's Mateo's legal representative. He is our guest now live in Bakersfield.
And, sir, good morning to you out there.
Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING.
MARK ARNOLD, KERN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER: Well, good morning.
Glad to be here.
HEMMER: You've moved up this adoption date from six months to four months. Tell us why you made that move.
ARNOLD: Well, as time seems to pass, it becomes more evident that the parents are not going to step forward and it's our obligation to provide for a more permanent setting for this child and that's what we're going to do.
HEMMER: Do you believe that voice was his mother or not?
ARNOLD: Well, I have my doubts. I think it's difficult to assess the credibility of an anonymous tape and I think the tape raises as many questions as it really answers.
HEMMER: Yes, why put that tape public then, if that's the case?
ARNOLD: I'm not sure of the value of that tape. In that it's anonymous, I think it's difficult to attach a lot of credibility to it.
HEMMER: Yes. Do you think, or maybe you can tell us, have you gotten many calls similar to this one?
ARNOLD: Many? I'm sorry, many calls?
HEMMER: Have you gotten other calls similar to this one?
ARNOLD: Oh, that is the only call that we have from the public. We have a lot of calls from families who are willing to adopt this little fellow, that's for sure. HEMMER: Have you, well the caller on the tape, anyway, whoever this woman is, claims abuse of her and also this young boy.
Do you note signs of him being abused?
ARNOLD: None at all. In fact, we've had him examined. He doesn't appear to be abused, neglected, neurotic. He seems to be a normal child. In fact, he's a very pleasant fellow, I'm very happy to report that part.
HEMMER: Yes, how will the adoption process unfold then, if it's going to be moved up several months and you've got a number of people, I understand, who have already contacted, they're interested.
What do you do from here?
ARNOLD: Well, the statutory provisions govern the procedures of an adoption in California. We have a 120 minimum waiting period before we can begin severing paternal rights. In that it becomes less and less obvious that the parents are going to come forward, we have an obligation to move forward in finding a permanent setting for the little fellow.
HEMMER: If someone does have information or if someone's interested, is there a number they can call?
ARNOLD: Yes. I think the number is through Bakersfield Police Department or the Department of Human Services in Kern County.
HEMMER: All right, we're looking at the number now. 661-327- 7111 is the number put out through the police department there if, indeed, you have information.
Mark Arnold, thanks.
Talking for us in Bakersfield, California.
ARNOLD: My pleasure.
Thank you.
HEMMER: 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 June 13, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we want to get to California right now and the story of this missing boy. They call him Mateo, the 2-year-old found abandoned on the streets of Bakersfield last month. Police have released the recording of a telephone call from a woman who says she is the boy's mother. Authorities hope the tape could help solve the Mateo mystery.
Thelma Gutierrez tracking the latest now in Bakersfield.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They call him Mateo. No one knows his real name or even how old he is. All police know is that he was found three and a half weeks ago abandoned in Bakersfield, California.
(on camera): It was late at night. Mateo was found right here in the middle of this intersection all alone. Police aren't sure how he got here or even who his parents are. And now they've exhausted all leads except for an anonymous telephone call.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I left him because we are being mistreated by my husband. After all, if something happens to me, I don't want anything to happen to my baby. If he could be adopted, I would appreciate it, because I'm sick with cancer and I can die any minute.
GUTIERREZ: The woman claiming to be the mother also said the boy's name is not Mateo, but Jesus Peres Flores. Investigators have checked databases for the name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you seen this baby in the neighborhood at all?
GUTIERREZ: And they've hung fliers all over town. And they've made countless appeals to the Spanish speaking public.
Still, no luck.
Now, the Bakersfield public defender, who is Mateo's legal representative, hopes to speed up the adoption process, and that means severing the parents' rights. Dozens of people have expressed interest in adopting Mateo.
Elizabeth Moreno is one of them. She says his story has touched her heart. ELIZABETH MORENO, CONCERNED CITIZEN: Adoption crossed my mind simply because if you've seen him, he is such a loveable little boy. I mean he is so warm.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: Detectives working this case tell us they believe that tape may be credible. They say the caller talked about details about what the boy was wearing. Those were details that were not released to the public -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Thelma Gutierrez live in Bakersfield, thanks for that.
We're going to continue our discussion here now, especially the whole issue of adoption. The public defender in charge is Mark Arnold. He's Mateo's legal representative. He is our guest now live in Bakersfield.
And, sir, good morning to you out there.
Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING.
MARK ARNOLD, KERN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER: Well, good morning.
Glad to be here.
HEMMER: You've moved up this adoption date from six months to four months. Tell us why you made that move.
ARNOLD: Well, as time seems to pass, it becomes more evident that the parents are not going to step forward and it's our obligation to provide for a more permanent setting for this child and that's what we're going to do.
HEMMER: Do you believe that voice was his mother or not?
ARNOLD: Well, I have my doubts. I think it's difficult to assess the credibility of an anonymous tape and I think the tape raises as many questions as it really answers.
HEMMER: Yes, why put that tape public then, if that's the case?
ARNOLD: I'm not sure of the value of that tape. In that it's anonymous, I think it's difficult to attach a lot of credibility to it.
HEMMER: Yes. Do you think, or maybe you can tell us, have you gotten many calls similar to this one?
ARNOLD: Many? I'm sorry, many calls?
HEMMER: Have you gotten other calls similar to this one?
ARNOLD: Oh, that is the only call that we have from the public. We have a lot of calls from families who are willing to adopt this little fellow, that's for sure. HEMMER: Have you, well the caller on the tape, anyway, whoever this woman is, claims abuse of her and also this young boy.
Do you note signs of him being abused?
ARNOLD: None at all. In fact, we've had him examined. He doesn't appear to be abused, neglected, neurotic. He seems to be a normal child. In fact, he's a very pleasant fellow, I'm very happy to report that part.
HEMMER: Yes, how will the adoption process unfold then, if it's going to be moved up several months and you've got a number of people, I understand, who have already contacted, they're interested.
What do you do from here?
ARNOLD: Well, the statutory provisions govern the procedures of an adoption in California. We have a 120 minimum waiting period before we can begin severing paternal rights. In that it becomes less and less obvious that the parents are going to come forward, we have an obligation to move forward in finding a permanent setting for the little fellow.
HEMMER: If someone does have information or if someone's interested, is there a number they can call?
ARNOLD: Yes. I think the number is through Bakersfield Police Department or the Department of Human Services in Kern County.
HEMMER: All right, we're looking at the number now. 661-327- 7111 is the number put out through the police department there if, indeed, you have information.
Mark Arnold, thanks.
Talking for us in Bakersfield, California.
ARNOLD: My pleasure.
Thank you.
HEMMER: 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
