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Search Continues for Two Teenagers Abducted in California
Aired August 01, 2002 - 12:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The search continues for these two teenagers, Jacqueline Marris and Tamera Brooks. The two girls were abducted at gunpoint in Lancaster, California, and authorities say they are using helicopters now to search for these girls and the suspect's car. What do we know about the suspect? That's a good question. We know he started in Las Vegas, with a carjacking and he ended up in the Lancaster area took one of these girls boyfriend's car, a white Bronco, and now he is on the run with both girls inside.
On the phone now, Darren Borst, FBI special agent in Las Vegas to tell us more about that initial hijacking.
Thank you for being with us. Darren, what can you tell bus that.
DARREN BORST, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, the carjacking in Las Vegas occurred on the 18th of July, at approximately 9:20 in the morning. The suspect approached an elderly female, ordered out of the car, armed with a handgun. He was described as Hispanic male, 5'8, 165 pounds, approximately 35 years of age, with dark hair. She was not hurt during this crime.
PHILLIPS: So this carjacking didn't happen today?
BORST: No, it has been sometime ago.
PHILLIPS: He has been on the loose with this initial Saturn he took if this woman on the 18th?
BORST: Correct.
PHILLIPS: Have you gotten close to him? Have you been able to possibly ID this man in any way?
BORST: No, the ID is incomplete. And at this point, we are not even ready to say it's the same person who committed the kidnappings in California. We are still working to firm that up.
PHILLIPS: Is this person been connected to any other crimes?
BORST: It's too early to say right now.
PHILLIPS: Well, what do you think about the situation happening in Lancaster, California? A lot of similarities here. What's your gut feeling?
BORST: We don't deal with gut feelings in the FBI; we deal with facts. PHILLIPS: Well, the facts lay it out pretty clear there with the cars. Are you saying there is absolutely no connection?
BORST: No, that's not what I said; I said it's too early to make that connection.
PHILLIPS: How do you think the progress has come thus far with what police are telling us now out of Lancaster?
BORST: I'm not in contact with the police in Lancaster. I have agents on the ground there, a command post, coordinating that investigation.
PHILLIPS: So you are talking to FBI agents there in Lancaster?
BORST: Correct.
PHILLIPS: Do they believe there is a possible connection?
BORST: I'm not prepared to speak about what they believe. There are similarities. Obviously, the car is the same. The suspect description has similarities. But again, it's too early in the investigation to make that connection.
PHILLIPS: If indeed there is a connection, do you believe that this man is armed and dangerous.
BORST: He is definitely armed and dangerous, at least the person we are looking for based out of the kidnappings in Lancaster.
PHILLIPS: Now, the man did the carjacking in Las Vegas that could possibly be the same man that has taken these two teenagers, and at the very beginning, did you say he did have a weapon? You said the woman was not hurt, but did he have a weapon?
BORST: Yes, he did have a weapon.
PHILLIPS: What type of weapon.
BORST: A handgun.
PHILLIPS: Did he take it with him or leave it at the scene?
BORST: No, he took it with him.
PHILLIPS: The woman that lost her car, the Saturn, the woman that was carjacked, what did she tell but this man? Did he threaten her at all? What exactly did he say to her?
BORST: Agents are interviewing her now. The original report was taken by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and I do not have a copy of that in front of me.
PHILLIPS: You don't know what that original police report says.
BORST: No, I don't. PHILLIPS: Wouldn't that help with your investigation?
BORST: Well, the agents that are doing that investigation have that report. I'm the spokesperson. I'm talking to you while they're out investigating.
PHILLIPS: Darren Borst, FBI special agent there in Las Vegas, thank you.
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