Return to Transcripts main page

Breaking News

Two California Teenagers Kidnapped Early This Morning

Aired August 01, 2002 - 09:56   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: More now on that developing story out of Los Angeles County. Two teenaged girls were abducted at gunpoint early this morning. Police are now issuing a statewide alert for a Hispanic man in his 30s or 40s driving a stolen white Bronco. They believe he may have kidnapped the two girls. Captain Tom Piggot (ph) just gave a news conference. He described what happened.

We are going to try to get that up for you. What police are telling us at this hour -- I am hearing the voice, is that ready to go? What police are telling us at this hour is they believe that the man arrived in a Saturn vehicle that was stolen in Las Vegas during a carjacking. The man apparently came to this point, which is a well- known point where teens come to hang out and make out, and the suspect apparently, according to the two boyfriends, who were tied up by the suspect, came to each car individually, held the couples at gunpoint and then moved from car to car taking the two women, tying the two boyfriends up, covering their mouths in duct tape, and one of the boyfriends somehow was able to break free and called police.

So that area you just saw cordoned off appears to be the area where the suspect abandoned his Saturn and then, according to police, made off with the Bronco vehicle that happened to be owned by one of the boyfriends. So as soon as we have more information coming out of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, we will bring it to you live.

This is just sending shudders up any parent's spine today when they hear this.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I think just reading this piece here. If there is silver lining, it is the fact that they are so familiar with the getaway vehicle, a white 1980 Ford Bronco with a gray shell, oversized tires and a raised suspension designed for off-road use. The boyfriend owned the car, he knows all about it. He has got the license tag, et cetera, and police are looking for something right now. That's at least a jump-start.

But as you mentioned, boy, shivers up your spine if you're a parent.

ZAHN: Well, this a lookout point with these amazing views of the valley, and it's well-known to teenagers and even old folks like me who spent a day or two working in Los Angeles and have gone out there to check the scene. So...

HEMMER: That's what I am talking about.

ZAHN: We will keep you posted on what the L.A. County Sheriff's has to say.

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