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CNN Live Saturday

Progress Being Made in Idaho Standoff

Aired June 02, 2001 - 12:14   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The waiting game in northern Idaho is in its fifth day. Authorities say that five children remain holed up in their rural home. But a lawyer says that communications have been made with the youngsters, and that food and water have been delivered.

CNN's Lillian Kim has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LILLIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two vehicles left the family property. Inside, two people ducking in the back seat; one believed to be Benjamin McGuckin, the 15-year-old brother of the five children holed up inside this Idaho home.

Deputies say they are armed with guns and protected by nearly 30 vicious dogs.

QUESTION: Would you say progress has been made?

BRYCE POWELL, JOANN MCGUCKIN'S ATTORNEY: Yes.

QUESTION: MALE: OK. Are they coming out soon?

POWELL: We don't know, but at least we have communication established with the children.

KIM: The five children, ages 8 to 16, have been barricaded in their home since Tuesday, after refusing to enter protective custody following their mother's arrest.

Seen here in a family photo, JoAnn McGuckin is accused of failing to adequately feed and protect her children.

Authorities are relying on Benjamin to help persuade his brothers and sisters to leave the property.

PHIL ROBINSON, PROSECUTOR: He said the children are very frightened, he's sure by now. They don't know where he is, they don't know where their mother is. They have had no communication with anyone. There are very few people they've ever trusted. And we're trying to make contact with some people that he's given us some names -- and Mrs. McGuckin has -- of people they do trust.

KIM: As the standoff continues, JoAnn McGuckin sits behind bars on $100,000 bail. Her attorney is working to lower the bond in hopes of reuniting her with her children.

Lillian Kim, CNN, Garfield Bay, Idaho.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KELLEY: And we will have the very latest on the standoff in a live report. That's during our 1:00 p.m. Eastern hour.

And you can log onto our Web site at CNN.com for more about the efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

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