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American Morning

Search for Dru

Aired December 04, 2003 - 09:03   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It has been 12 days since University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin was last seen. Law enforcement officials are resuming the search for the 22-year-old, and the man who was suspected of kidnapping her will appear at a bond hearing today. For more the case, Sergeant Mike Headland of Grand Forks North Dakota Police Department. He joins us from there.
Good morning to you. It's nice to see you again. And thanks for joining us again.

And I know there is not a lot that you can talk about as far as the investigation goes, but I want to throw some questions about any leads you might have. And if you're still hopeful that you're going to find Dru alive.

SGT. MIKE HEDLUND, GRAND FORKS, N.D. POLICE: Sure. We're certainly hoping that we'll still be able to find Dru. We're continuing to follow up every possible lead that we have available to us. We'll have a variety of law enforcement personnel out today, checking a number of different areas, areas that for whatever reason, we have hope that we might be able to find some evidence regarding Dru, and we're hoping that is going to lead us to her still at this point in time.

O'BRIEN: You've been asking for help. Have you gotten any good, solid leads that you feel confident about?

HEDLUND: We've gotten, I believe, now close to 1300 different call-ins to the tip line. And we're following up on those leads with actually a very large law enforcement contingent. The support from the community, and actually throughout a very large region has been tremendous. We're still hoping that some of those tips, and leads and assistance is going to become fruitful, and that we will be able to find Dru. That's our primary goal, and the one thing we're really working for right now.

O'BRIEN: You have a suspect in custody. Is he being helpful to you? Could you describe him or characterize him as cooperative at this point?

HEDLUND: We are having discussions with him. Our investigators have spoken to him, and I'm sure they will continue to have further discussions with him. At this point in time, we have not developed anything that has led us to Dru, obviously. And we're still hopeful. But at this point in time, that's -- I guess, I can't say anything more about the nature of those discussions. O'BRIEN: Seventeen hundred volunteers came out to search, we're told, yesterday. Also word now that the weather is not going to be particularly cooperative, some snow in the forecast. What are your plans for today?

HEDLUND: Today the law enforcement officials will be going out again and resuming their search in a variety of areas. We're hoping that that will come to fruition. We're keeping our fingers crossed as far as the weather goes. For the most part, it has been relatively cooperative. It's been cold, of course, but the snowfall has been very limited during the course of the time. As we've been searching for Dru, we're hoping that's going to stay with us.

O'BRIEN: Sergeant Mike Hedland, of the Grand Forks Police Department, thanks for your time. As always, we appreciate it. Dru Sjodin's family has been outspoken in their belief that Dru is still alive. Dru Sjodin's mother is calling on the suspect Alfonso Rodriguez to give up Dru, and she says she just wants her daughter back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDA WALKER, MOTHER OF DRU SJODIN: We're very steadfast in the fact that Dru has a very strong spirit, a kind soul, and we know that she has the strength overall to survive the situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: More on the story now, we're joined by two of Dru's sorority sisters. They were among those who took part in that massive search yesterday. Paulette Pommrehn and Laura Boche join us from Grand Forks this morning.

Ladies, good morning. Thanks for spending your time with us. We really appreciate it.

How did the search go yesterday? It's got to be very difficult to take part in a search when you're looking for someone of your closest friends?

PAULETTE POMMREHN, SJODIN'S SORORITY SISTER: Yes, it was very difficult, actually, to be honest. Right when we got there, you had to turn in your I.D., and then they gave you a little tag to put on your coat, and a part of the procedure was to show a display of what she could be wearing. Then it really hit that my friend's really gone, and I need to find her, desperately.

O'BRIEN: Laura, there have been no new leads. We just talked to the sergeant a moment ago, and he was saying they've had lots of calls, and there's some hope, but no actual solid leads that they're following at this point. Are you still hopeful that you're going to be able to find your girlfriend alive?

LAURA BOCHE, SJODIN'S SORORITY SISTER: Yes, I'm very hopeful. We just pray and try to remain optimistic, and to stay positive, to send out good energy to Dru, so when we find her, then she'll know that we've been praying and thinking about her this whole time.

O'BRIEN: Paulette, when they had to come out to the search and you mentioned handing over your I.D. and things like that, what do they describe that you're supposed to be looking for?

POMMREHN: Just anything out of the ordinary. They weren't specific. They just had us all line up, and followed the strict rules of staying right by each other and going at the same pace, and just being really observant of our surroundings. So, just anything out of the ordinary that wasn't really supposed to be out there in nature.

O'BRIEN: I'd like both of you to answer this question if you can. When you heard the word of the arrest of Alfonso Rodriguez, a class three sex offender, what was your reaction?

BOCHE: My reaction was that it gives us hope that we can figure out where she is, and that they have something to go from.

O'BRIEN: And, Paulette, you?

POMMREHN: For me, it was, overall, it's an advance toward finding her, and that's all that's important. So it was a good thing.

O'BRIEN: Well, are you going to be out there again today, ladies, helping in the search? What are your plans?

BOCHE: Today is just family, and real close friends, so we won't be out there today.

O'BRIEN: Well I know you'll be keeping your fingers crossed, as you have been over the last men days. So thanks for talking with us, sorority sisters of Dru. Thanks, ladies.

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 December 4, 2003 - 09:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It has been 12 days since University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin was last seen. Law enforcement officials are resuming the search for the 22-year-old, and the man who was suspected of kidnapping her will appear at a bond hearing today. For more the case, Sergeant Mike Headland of Grand Forks North Dakota Police Department. He joins us from there.
Good morning to you. It's nice to see you again. And thanks for joining us again.

And I know there is not a lot that you can talk about as far as the investigation goes, but I want to throw some questions about any leads you might have. And if you're still hopeful that you're going to find Dru alive.

SGT. MIKE HEDLUND, GRAND FORKS, N.D. POLICE: Sure. We're certainly hoping that we'll still be able to find Dru. We're continuing to follow up every possible lead that we have available to us. We'll have a variety of law enforcement personnel out today, checking a number of different areas, areas that for whatever reason, we have hope that we might be able to find some evidence regarding Dru, and we're hoping that is going to lead us to her still at this point in time.

O'BRIEN: You've been asking for help. Have you gotten any good, solid leads that you feel confident about?

HEDLUND: We've gotten, I believe, now close to 1300 different call-ins to the tip line. And we're following up on those leads with actually a very large law enforcement contingent. The support from the community, and actually throughout a very large region has been tremendous. We're still hoping that some of those tips, and leads and assistance is going to become fruitful, and that we will be able to find Dru. That's our primary goal, and the one thing we're really working for right now.

O'BRIEN: You have a suspect in custody. Is he being helpful to you? Could you describe him or characterize him as cooperative at this point?

HEDLUND: We are having discussions with him. Our investigators have spoken to him, and I'm sure they will continue to have further discussions with him. At this point in time, we have not developed anything that has led us to Dru, obviously. And we're still hopeful. But at this point in time, that's -- I guess, I can't say anything more about the nature of those discussions. O'BRIEN: Seventeen hundred volunteers came out to search, we're told, yesterday. Also word now that the weather is not going to be particularly cooperative, some snow in the forecast. What are your plans for today?

HEDLUND: Today the law enforcement officials will be going out again and resuming their search in a variety of areas. We're hoping that that will come to fruition. We're keeping our fingers crossed as far as the weather goes. For the most part, it has been relatively cooperative. It's been cold, of course, but the snowfall has been very limited during the course of the time. As we've been searching for Dru, we're hoping that's going to stay with us.

O'BRIEN: Sergeant Mike Hedland, of the Grand Forks Police Department, thanks for your time. As always, we appreciate it. Dru Sjodin's family has been outspoken in their belief that Dru is still alive. Dru Sjodin's mother is calling on the suspect Alfonso Rodriguez to give up Dru, and she says she just wants her daughter back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDA WALKER, MOTHER OF DRU SJODIN: We're very steadfast in the fact that Dru has a very strong spirit, a kind soul, and we know that she has the strength overall to survive the situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: More on the story now, we're joined by two of Dru's sorority sisters. They were among those who took part in that massive search yesterday. Paulette Pommrehn and Laura Boche join us from Grand Forks this morning.

Ladies, good morning. Thanks for spending your time with us. We really appreciate it.

How did the search go yesterday? It's got to be very difficult to take part in a search when you're looking for someone of your closest friends?

PAULETTE POMMREHN, SJODIN'S SORORITY SISTER: Yes, it was very difficult, actually, to be honest. Right when we got there, you had to turn in your I.D., and then they gave you a little tag to put on your coat, and a part of the procedure was to show a display of what she could be wearing. Then it really hit that my friend's really gone, and I need to find her, desperately.

O'BRIEN: Laura, there have been no new leads. We just talked to the sergeant a moment ago, and he was saying they've had lots of calls, and there's some hope, but no actual solid leads that they're following at this point. Are you still hopeful that you're going to be able to find your girlfriend alive?

LAURA BOCHE, SJODIN'S SORORITY SISTER: Yes, I'm very hopeful. We just pray and try to remain optimistic, and to stay positive, to send out good energy to Dru, so when we find her, then she'll know that we've been praying and thinking about her this whole time.

O'BRIEN: Paulette, when they had to come out to the search and you mentioned handing over your I.D. and things like that, what do they describe that you're supposed to be looking for?

POMMREHN: Just anything out of the ordinary. They weren't specific. They just had us all line up, and followed the strict rules of staying right by each other and going at the same pace, and just being really observant of our surroundings. So, just anything out of the ordinary that wasn't really supposed to be out there in nature.

O'BRIEN: I'd like both of you to answer this question if you can. When you heard the word of the arrest of Alfonso Rodriguez, a class three sex offender, what was your reaction?

BOCHE: My reaction was that it gives us hope that we can figure out where she is, and that they have something to go from.

O'BRIEN: And, Paulette, you?

POMMREHN: For me, it was, overall, it's an advance toward finding her, and that's all that's important. So it was a good thing.

O'BRIEN: Well, are you going to be out there again today, ladies, helping in the search? What are your plans?

BOCHE: Today is just family, and real close friends, so we won't be out there today.

O'BRIEN: Well I know you'll be keeping your fingers crossed, as you have been over the last men days. So thanks for talking with us, sorority sisters of Dru. Thanks, ladies.

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