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CNN Live Today

Missing Minnesota Girl

Aired June 25, 2003 - 11:26   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us by phone now with more on the investigation of Leanna Warner's disappearance is Chisholm, Minnesota police chief Scott Erickson.
Chief Erickson, thanks so much for being with us this morning.

I just want to ask you, can you update us on the latest in the investigation? Any leads at all at this point?

CHIEF SCOTT ERICKSON, CHISHOLM, MINNESOTA POLICE CHIEF: Well, we continue to receive leads. We have got around 700 leads in this case as of yesterday. And we have a good team of investigators, a lot of expertise out there, that are looking at these leads, and chasing them down. And of course we're looking for that, just that one little bit of information that is going to lead us in the right direction, or tell us, you know, what happened to Leanna, or where she may have gone or who is responsible.

COLLINS: What would be that piece of information? Are you talking about a description, or vehicle or anything like that?

ERICKSON: Anything at all. You know, as I said yesterday, I believe that somebody has to know something here. For these things to be completely isolated without anybody knowing anything, the chances are slim to none. And you know, we need the cooperation of somebody here, somebody with the guts or heart to give us some information as to what's happened here.

COLLINS: But in your questioning so far, we should remind everyone that apparently what has become such a challenge in this case is that no one was there, no one saw what happened to little Leanna. Now remind me of this as well, she's 5 years old, but apparently walked to the neighbor's home alone. Is that right? Is that something that would normally happen in Chisholm?

ERICKSON: Yes, it is a small community. It's very close-knit, tight, compact community. And you see a lot of that in any community. But bad things happen in small communities. And people tend to take things -- take small communities for granted. In my 23 years here, this is the first case we've had. But it's a tragedy, and people need to take precautions and take measures to help avoid things like this.

This little girl was very -- she wandered. She liked to wander. She was very energetic, very lovable. She had friends in the neighborhood, in the immediate neighborhoods. She had friends in -- you know, out a little bit farther, and she would go see them. But it's not uncommon for kids in this community to do that. COLLINS: Is it my understanding also that the parents and anyone else with a little friend that she was going to visit were not home when she actually tried to go to that house, is that right?

ERICKSON: Yes, that's what we were told, and that's what we believe.

COLLINS: OK, just wondering if you have any idea about what can be done as far as an Amber Alert? Would that be appropriate in this situation?

ERICKSON: No, it would not. And we have taken a lot of heat over it, and I addressed this with just about each conference. You know, an Amber Alert, you need to have some specific information as to who is involved, a description, a vehicle, a description of a vehicle, other than a missing child. And what that does, is it gives the public something to look for to get back to us as soon as possible. We didn't have that. All we simply had was a missing child. If you issued an Amber Alert every time you had a missing child, a runaway is the same thing. A runaway is a missing child. We would be -- law enforcement and the public would be inundated with Amber Alerts, and within a week's time, they'd be ineffective.

Amber Alert was designed for a specific reason, and it works when you follow the criteria for it.

COLLINS: Chief Erickson, have you had a chance to speak with the family? And if so, how are they doing?

ERICKSON: Well, I see the family almost daily, and you know, they're having a real tough time. And as this thing goes out, it just keeps hanging in there. They're going to have a tough time with this until we resolve it and bring Leanna home.

COLLINS: All right. No doubt that, I'm sure. Chisholm, Minnesota police chief Scott Erickson, thanks so much for updating the case for us.

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 25, 2003 - 11:26   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us by phone now with more on the investigation of Leanna Warner's disappearance is Chisholm, Minnesota police chief Scott Erickson.
Chief Erickson, thanks so much for being with us this morning.

I just want to ask you, can you update us on the latest in the investigation? Any leads at all at this point?

CHIEF SCOTT ERICKSON, CHISHOLM, MINNESOTA POLICE CHIEF: Well, we continue to receive leads. We have got around 700 leads in this case as of yesterday. And we have a good team of investigators, a lot of expertise out there, that are looking at these leads, and chasing them down. And of course we're looking for that, just that one little bit of information that is going to lead us in the right direction, or tell us, you know, what happened to Leanna, or where she may have gone or who is responsible.

COLLINS: What would be that piece of information? Are you talking about a description, or vehicle or anything like that?

ERICKSON: Anything at all. You know, as I said yesterday, I believe that somebody has to know something here. For these things to be completely isolated without anybody knowing anything, the chances are slim to none. And you know, we need the cooperation of somebody here, somebody with the guts or heart to give us some information as to what's happened here.

COLLINS: But in your questioning so far, we should remind everyone that apparently what has become such a challenge in this case is that no one was there, no one saw what happened to little Leanna. Now remind me of this as well, she's 5 years old, but apparently walked to the neighbor's home alone. Is that right? Is that something that would normally happen in Chisholm?

ERICKSON: Yes, it is a small community. It's very close-knit, tight, compact community. And you see a lot of that in any community. But bad things happen in small communities. And people tend to take things -- take small communities for granted. In my 23 years here, this is the first case we've had. But it's a tragedy, and people need to take precautions and take measures to help avoid things like this.

This little girl was very -- she wandered. She liked to wander. She was very energetic, very lovable. She had friends in the neighborhood, in the immediate neighborhoods. She had friends in -- you know, out a little bit farther, and she would go see them. But it's not uncommon for kids in this community to do that. COLLINS: Is it my understanding also that the parents and anyone else with a little friend that she was going to visit were not home when she actually tried to go to that house, is that right?

ERICKSON: Yes, that's what we were told, and that's what we believe.

COLLINS: OK, just wondering if you have any idea about what can be done as far as an Amber Alert? Would that be appropriate in this situation?

ERICKSON: No, it would not. And we have taken a lot of heat over it, and I addressed this with just about each conference. You know, an Amber Alert, you need to have some specific information as to who is involved, a description, a vehicle, a description of a vehicle, other than a missing child. And what that does, is it gives the public something to look for to get back to us as soon as possible. We didn't have that. All we simply had was a missing child. If you issued an Amber Alert every time you had a missing child, a runaway is the same thing. A runaway is a missing child. We would be -- law enforcement and the public would be inundated with Amber Alerts, and within a week's time, they'd be ineffective.

Amber Alert was designed for a specific reason, and it works when you follow the criteria for it.

COLLINS: Chief Erickson, have you had a chance to speak with the family? And if so, how are they doing?

ERICKSON: Well, I see the family almost daily, and you know, they're having a real tough time. And as this thing goes out, it just keeps hanging in there. They're going to have a tough time with this until we resolve it and bring Leanna home.

COLLINS: All right. No doubt that, I'm sure. Chisholm, Minnesota police chief Scott Erickson, thanks so much for updating the case for us.

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