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CNN Live At Daybreak

Suspect Not Cooperating in Missing Girl Case

Aired February 05, 2004 - 06:09   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: We've been talking about the search for 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. It's entered its fourth day now. Police have a suspect in custody. You've probably heard about that. But that suspect is not cooperating.
Bay News 9 reporter Chris O'Connell joins us live from the suspect's home in Sarasota, Florida.

Chris -- bring us up-to-date.

CHRIS O'CONNELL, CNN AFFILIATE BAY NEWS 9 REPORTER: Well, Carol, as you said, the search continues for little Carlie Brucia this morning, but Sarasota deputies say they have a major break in the case. As you reported, they have a suspect in custody, a suspect they say they have strong enough evidence to believe that 37-year-old Joseph Smith is the man who abducted the 11-year-old.

Take a look behind me. This is the home where the investigation is the focus right now. This is where Smith was staying and where he was arrested on Tuesday. This is the home of a friend of his.

Now, deputies say they've been combing over this home to find any clues as to the whereabouts of Carlie. They do tell us the girl was not inside this home. However, they are not telling us what was found inside the home.

Now, a major focus of the investigation is also the car Smith was driving in the days following Carlie's disappearance, a Buick Century station wagon. We have also learned that deputies have removed hair samples and carpet fibers, both from the car and from the home where Carlie was staying the day she disappeared.

And another important note to all of this: Carlie's stepfather was called to this scene last night, and he was seen running away in hysterics after talking with police detectives and investigators here, but so far no word yet on her disappearance and where she might be.

Once again, Joseph Smith is in the Sarasota County jail. He is under arrest for a violation of probation on a drug possession charge, but he is a strong, if not the strongest, suspect in this case. And we are told, as you said, Carol, he is not cooperating with authorities.

We should find out much more on this case. Later on, there is a media briefing at 9:00 this morning. We should find out much more on this case. COSTELLO: Oh, and hopefully we will, Chris. You know, I'm holding the arrest records of this suspect, and it is a long one. What more can you tell us about this man?

O'CONNELL: Well, he was -- apparently he has a wife, three children. He lives about a couple of miles from here, but he was staying at a friend's house. Apparently, he must have had some sort of disturbance at home.

He does have an arrest record. Apparently, he was released from prison back in January, but just a few days later rearrested on drug charges. So, he does have a long criminal history. We're also looking into that.

So, he's the main suspect right now with a long rap sheet.

COSTELLO: Well, we'll await that news conference. Chris O'Connell from Bay News 9, our CNN affiliate, live from Sarasota, Florida, this morning.

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 February 5, 2004 - 06:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We've been talking about the search for 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. It's entered its fourth day now. Police have a suspect in custody. You've probably heard about that. But that suspect is not cooperating.
Bay News 9 reporter Chris O'Connell joins us live from the suspect's home in Sarasota, Florida.

Chris -- bring us up-to-date.

CHRIS O'CONNELL, CNN AFFILIATE BAY NEWS 9 REPORTER: Well, Carol, as you said, the search continues for little Carlie Brucia this morning, but Sarasota deputies say they have a major break in the case. As you reported, they have a suspect in custody, a suspect they say they have strong enough evidence to believe that 37-year-old Joseph Smith is the man who abducted the 11-year-old.

Take a look behind me. This is the home where the investigation is the focus right now. This is where Smith was staying and where he was arrested on Tuesday. This is the home of a friend of his.

Now, deputies say they've been combing over this home to find any clues as to the whereabouts of Carlie. They do tell us the girl was not inside this home. However, they are not telling us what was found inside the home.

Now, a major focus of the investigation is also the car Smith was driving in the days following Carlie's disappearance, a Buick Century station wagon. We have also learned that deputies have removed hair samples and carpet fibers, both from the car and from the home where Carlie was staying the day she disappeared.

And another important note to all of this: Carlie's stepfather was called to this scene last night, and he was seen running away in hysterics after talking with police detectives and investigators here, but so far no word yet on her disappearance and where she might be.

Once again, Joseph Smith is in the Sarasota County jail. He is under arrest for a violation of probation on a drug possession charge, but he is a strong, if not the strongest, suspect in this case. And we are told, as you said, Carol, he is not cooperating with authorities.

We should find out much more on this case. Later on, there is a media briefing at 9:00 this morning. We should find out much more on this case. COSTELLO: Oh, and hopefully we will, Chris. You know, I'm holding the arrest records of this suspect, and it is a long one. What more can you tell us about this man?

O'CONNELL: Well, he was -- apparently he has a wife, three children. He lives about a couple of miles from here, but he was staying at a friend's house. Apparently, he must have had some sort of disturbance at home.

He does have an arrest record. Apparently, he was released from prison back in January, but just a few days later rearrested on drug charges. So, he does have a long criminal history. We're also looking into that.

So, he's the main suspect right now with a long rap sheet.

COSTELLO: Well, we'll await that news conference. Chris O'Connell from Bay News 9, our CNN affiliate, live from Sarasota, Florida, this morning.

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