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Arrest Warrant Issued in Missing Girl Case

Aired July 30, 2003 - 12:36   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: This news just in to CNN. I don't know if you've been following the story, but a 6-year-old girl in Indiana, who has been missing for 17 years, well, police have new clues. In fact, an arrest warrant has been issued in the case right now.
On the phone live with us right now from Thorntown, Indiana, is CNN's correspondent, David Mattingly.

David -- what's happening?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we have confirmed that an arrest warrant has been issued in the case of the missing Shannon Sherrill. But neither the Boone County prosecutor's office nor the Indiana state police at this time will offer any more information about who is named in that warrant. We expect to find that out at a news conference that's been called for 3:00 Eastern Time this afternoon.

Now, state police have been tight-lipped in this case since it erupted on Saturday, and said they would speak publicly only when they had solid and confirmed information to share. Obviously, they have that now. That's why they've called this news conference.

We do know that the investigation has extended from Indiana into Virginia Beach, Virginia. Authorities there told me yesterday they were asked to check out names and addresses provided by the young woman, who surprised everyone last week when she called Shannon's mother and said, "I think I'm Shannon." There has been no comment all along about the credibility of her claim, but the fact that an arrest warrant has erupted from this case now suggests there is some credibility to her claims, and we hope to find out more about that as well when authorities talk to us at 3:00 Eastern -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, there is a news conference scheduled for that time, 3:00 Eastern. DNA tests are being performed, too, aren't they?

MATTINGLY: We haven't been able to confirm that the DNA tests have actually been conducted. We do know that the mother and father submitted DNA samples a couple of years ago, so that's been on file. But at this point, the police have not been willing to say if they've obtained any kind of DNA sample for testing from this young woman. Of course, that DNA sample is the slam dunk that would give everybody proof positive that she is indeed Shannon. But, at this point, they have not been willing to say that.

COSTELLO: An amazing story. David Mattingly live from Thorntown, Indiana. And, of course, when that news conference happens, we're going to carry it live. That's 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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 July 30, 2003 - 12:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: This news just in to CNN. I don't know if you've been following the story, but a 6-year-old girl in Indiana, who has been missing for 17 years, well, police have new clues. In fact, an arrest warrant has been issued in the case right now.
On the phone live with us right now from Thorntown, Indiana, is CNN's correspondent, David Mattingly.

David -- what's happening?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we have confirmed that an arrest warrant has been issued in the case of the missing Shannon Sherrill. But neither the Boone County prosecutor's office nor the Indiana state police at this time will offer any more information about who is named in that warrant. We expect to find that out at a news conference that's been called for 3:00 Eastern Time this afternoon.

Now, state police have been tight-lipped in this case since it erupted on Saturday, and said they would speak publicly only when they had solid and confirmed information to share. Obviously, they have that now. That's why they've called this news conference.

We do know that the investigation has extended from Indiana into Virginia Beach, Virginia. Authorities there told me yesterday they were asked to check out names and addresses provided by the young woman, who surprised everyone last week when she called Shannon's mother and said, "I think I'm Shannon." There has been no comment all along about the credibility of her claim, but the fact that an arrest warrant has erupted from this case now suggests there is some credibility to her claims, and we hope to find out more about that as well when authorities talk to us at 3:00 Eastern -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, there is a news conference scheduled for that time, 3:00 Eastern. DNA tests are being performed, too, aren't they?

MATTINGLY: We haven't been able to confirm that the DNA tests have actually been conducted. We do know that the mother and father submitted DNA samples a couple of years ago, so that's been on file. But at this point, the police have not been willing to say if they've obtained any kind of DNA sample for testing from this young woman. Of course, that DNA sample is the slam dunk that would give everybody proof positive that she is indeed Shannon. But, at this point, they have not been willing to say that.

COSTELLO: An amazing story. David Mattingly live from Thorntown, Indiana. And, of course, when that news conference happens, we're going to carry it live. That's 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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