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CNN Live Today

Interview With Marc Klaas

Aired October 21, 2003 - 11:02   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well the kidnap and murder of Polly Klaas cast a spotlight on Petaluma. And now the town gripped by fear once again. Marc Klaas, the father of Polly Klaas, and he joins us from Chicago to talk about the prowler case in Petaluma. Good morning, Marc. Thanks for being with us.
MARC KLAAS, FATHER OF POLLY KLAAS: Sure thing, Daryn.

KAGAN: I feel like I have to at least acknowledge that we are almost to the day ten years to the anniversary of Polly's abduction. I just want to share our thoughts and our prayers with you on a time like that. I know it's a difficult time, even ten years later.

KLAAS: Indeed it is. And thank you so much for that consideration.

KAGAN: And it was October 1. This clearly though is not Polly's killer. She was caught very soon after her abduction.

KLAAS: He was caught 65 days later and now resides on California's death row, that's correct.

KAGAN: And so this is an entirely different case and yet it's strange that it's striking the small community of Petaluma yet again.

KLAAS: You know it really is. And I wish people would quit calling this character a prowler. In reality, he's a very dangerous and very aggressive sexual predator. And unless he is brought to justice soon, some woman or girl's life is going to be altered forever in very negative ways. This is a very serious situation.

KAGAN: And since Polly's death, you have dedicated your life to trying to prevent things like this, for raising awareness, for trying to shine the spotlight on people trying to victimize especially children. It's got to be frustrating that ten years later you're still fighting the same battle.

KLAAS: You know these are battles that are always going to be fought. There is always going to be evil out there and evil's always be one step ahead of any effort to try to contain it.

But in this particular situation I think that we have to fall back on some very fundamental lessons. No. 1, people should be locking their windows and doors. There's absolutely no question about that.

And secondly, they should be talking to each other about suspicious individuals and activities in their neighborhood. The fact that this guy started this in March, but it took until September or October to bring it to the light and bring to it the attention of the authorities is absolutely mind boggling as far as I can see.

KAGAN: Tell me about this program, Rad Kids.

KLAAS: Well I'm not associated with the Rad Kids program. I'm not associated with the Polly Klaas Foundation. They gave me the boot one year after Polly was kidnapped. But I understand that it's a self-defense program for young children.

KAGAN: And even though you're not associated with the foundation, I would assume that talking with kids, educating kids is something you would definitely support?

KLAAS: It absolutely is. And I think that parents have to talk to their children. And they have to explain to them that, No. 1, they should always be checking with their parents. No. 2, they should always be outside with at least one other person. And No. 3, the windows and doors in their homes will be locked at all times and Mommy and Daddy will be very carefully watching over them so that harm doesn't come their way.

KAGAN: Marc, thanks for joining us from Chicago.

KLAAS: Sure thing.

KAGAN: Always good to see you.

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 October 21, 2003 - 11:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well the kidnap and murder of Polly Klaas cast a spotlight on Petaluma. And now the town gripped by fear once again. Marc Klaas, the father of Polly Klaas, and he joins us from Chicago to talk about the prowler case in Petaluma. Good morning, Marc. Thanks for being with us.
MARC KLAAS, FATHER OF POLLY KLAAS: Sure thing, Daryn.

KAGAN: I feel like I have to at least acknowledge that we are almost to the day ten years to the anniversary of Polly's abduction. I just want to share our thoughts and our prayers with you on a time like that. I know it's a difficult time, even ten years later.

KLAAS: Indeed it is. And thank you so much for that consideration.

KAGAN: And it was October 1. This clearly though is not Polly's killer. She was caught very soon after her abduction.

KLAAS: He was caught 65 days later and now resides on California's death row, that's correct.

KAGAN: And so this is an entirely different case and yet it's strange that it's striking the small community of Petaluma yet again.

KLAAS: You know it really is. And I wish people would quit calling this character a prowler. In reality, he's a very dangerous and very aggressive sexual predator. And unless he is brought to justice soon, some woman or girl's life is going to be altered forever in very negative ways. This is a very serious situation.

KAGAN: And since Polly's death, you have dedicated your life to trying to prevent things like this, for raising awareness, for trying to shine the spotlight on people trying to victimize especially children. It's got to be frustrating that ten years later you're still fighting the same battle.

KLAAS: You know these are battles that are always going to be fought. There is always going to be evil out there and evil's always be one step ahead of any effort to try to contain it.

But in this particular situation I think that we have to fall back on some very fundamental lessons. No. 1, people should be locking their windows and doors. There's absolutely no question about that.

And secondly, they should be talking to each other about suspicious individuals and activities in their neighborhood. The fact that this guy started this in March, but it took until September or October to bring it to the light and bring to it the attention of the authorities is absolutely mind boggling as far as I can see.

KAGAN: Tell me about this program, Rad Kids.

KLAAS: Well I'm not associated with the Rad Kids program. I'm not associated with the Polly Klaas Foundation. They gave me the boot one year after Polly was kidnapped. But I understand that it's a self-defense program for young children.

KAGAN: And even though you're not associated with the foundation, I would assume that talking with kids, educating kids is something you would definitely support?

KLAAS: It absolutely is. And I think that parents have to talk to their children. And they have to explain to them that, No. 1, they should always be checking with their parents. No. 2, they should always be outside with at least one other person. And No. 3, the windows and doors in their homes will be locked at all times and Mommy and Daddy will be very carefully watching over them so that harm doesn't come their way.

KAGAN: Marc, thanks for joining us from Chicago.

KLAAS: Sure thing.

KAGAN: Always good to see you.

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