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Breaking News

Philadelphia Police Confirm Two Arrests Made in Kidnapping Case

Aired July 25, 2002 - 07:38   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: And we've got some breaking news to report right now.

Philadelphia police have confirmed that they have made two arrests in the kidnapping of that courageous Philadelphia girl who escaped her captors. Their names are James Burns on the left, Edward Johnson on the right. They were arrested earlier this morning.

Detectives are saying they're investigating the possibility that Erica's abduction was related to a feud between rival drug dealers in her neighborhood. And at this hour, Philadelphia police are essentially saying that Mr. Johnson was on probation stemming from drug problems and that Mr. Burns had previously been charged with weapons violations.

What seized the attention of the nation was the will and the determination young Erica showed. She, they left her abandoned, her eyes covered with duct tape, her feet bound with duct tape in the dark basement of an abandoned home for about, well, 12 miles from her home. And somehow she had the good sense to get out.

So once again, Philadelphia police now saying they believe they have two of the men involved in her kidnapping, James Burns and Edward Johnson.

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