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CNN Live Saturday

Authorities Look for Suspect's Body in Burned-Out House

Aired September 01, 2001 - 13:01   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: We start in California, where authorities are searching the rubble of a burned out house in suburban Los Angeles. Authorities are looking for the body of a man suspected of killing a sheriff's deputy in a shoot-out.

CNN's Hena Cuevas is with us from Santa Clarita with a live report and an update for us -- Hena.

HENA CUEVAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donna, the L.A. County sheriff's department says they still haven't found the remains of 35-year-old James Beck who they presumed died in the fire that consumed his home. The search for the remains began about three hours ago, and they have been using everything from bulldozers to chain saws, going to the painstaking task of hand-sifting of what is left of the home.

So far, authorities say they found various pieces of firearms, including rifles and some handguns, some ammunition and a police I.D. badge. But so far, no sign of Beck.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. CARL DEELEY, L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Yesterday, up until -- even after the fire started, he was still firing rounds at our SWAT team. The house was surrounded by SWAT members. Even though it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could have escaped, we're reasonably sure that he did not and that he perished in the fire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUEVAS: The standoff between Beck and authorities began yesterday morning when ATF officials and sheriff's deputies served -- tried to serve him a search warrant. The search warrant as part of a three-month ongoing investigation into illegal firearms possession. Gunfire erupted, and that's when 40-year-old sheriff's deputy Jake Kuredjian was fatally wound.

At a nearby sheriff's station, there's a makeshift memorial where people have been bringing teddy bears, flowers and notes, all expressing their condolences for the sheriff's deputy's death. The sheriff's department says they are not only looking for signs of Beck, but they are also looking for maybe clues into what caused the fire, and also additional ammunition -- Donna.

KELLEY: Hena Cuevas, thanks very much. The update from Santa Clarita, California.

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