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CNN Live Saturday

Search for Danielle van Dam Continues

Aired February 09, 2002 - 17:05   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And now to a threat close to home, and the parents' worst nightmare -- the disappearance of a child. 7-year-old Danielle van Dam has been missing now for a week, gone from her home just outside San Diego, California. CNN's Art Harris is there, and joins us now with the latest on the search. Hi there, Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

At the moment, there is no break in the case. There is no body, there is no child. There are volunteers, about 400 of them, searching within a 25-mile radius of Danielle's home here, and 80 miles to the east in the Imperial Valley Desert, where police were last week.

Her parents have been putting out daily pleas to the media, telling the public how much they would appreciate any tips, any clues that might lead Danielle home. Giving out the police telephone number, and grieving publicly but holding back their perhaps most private moments, and trying not to break down. Today they came out to talk to us, just a little while ago, and spoke about what they have been going through.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRENDA VAN DAM, DANIELLE'S MOTHER: We are trying to stay strong. And I have to keep telling myself that my daughter is still alive. And that's what helps me stay strong, that she is coming home to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: At the center stage of the investigation, however, there is someone, a neighbor who lives about two houses away, an avid camper. Last week, police took 13 containers from his house. They are analyzing them. They have seized a motor home of his, and last Wednesday asked him to retrace his steps on the day that Danielle was reported missing.

The man took them about 80 miles east from here to a camping spot in the Imperial Valley Desert and showed them the spot where he got his motor home stuck. I spoke to the tow truck operator just a little while ago who went to the spot and helped drag him out, towed him out with a bungee cord, which is tied to his Ford pickup, and thought it very unusual for him to be there.

Police will continue searching that area, and will soon, this week, we are told, bring dogs to see what they can find -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Art. And we still must make clear that that neighbor is not considered a suspect; he is only being questioned right now by authorities.

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