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CNN Live Saturday
Authorities Investigate Smart's Kidnapping
Aired March 15, 2003 - 14:23 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.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: The Amber Alert system is getting some major recognition after the homecoming of Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted for nine months. Eleven East Coast states and two Canadian provinces are working to establish a regional Amber Alert system to help find abducted children quickly, and spurred by Smart's father, the House Republican leaders say they hope to pass a child abduction bill as early as next week.
Elizabeth Smart undoubtedly went through a lot in the nine months she was kidnapped, and her ordeal is not over. Investigators say they are going to have to ask the 15-year-old some tough questions. CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us now from Salt Lake City with the latest on this story -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Renay, a lot of attention is being given to this, it's a 27-page document which lays out Brian David Mitchell's religious beliefs. There is talk of polygamy in this document, and there's one passage in particular that's drawing interest, this addressed to Hebsaba (ph), which appears to be a name he gave to Wanda Barzee, his wife, who is also in jail in connection with Smart's disappearance. The passage reads like this. It says: "And thou shall take into thy heart and home seven times seven sisters to love and to care for, 49 precious jewels in thy crown and thou art the jubilee of them all first and last." A woman who visited Barzee in jail talked to her about this passage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICKI COTTRELL, EXEC. DIR., NAMI: She said the revelation came Thanksgiving of 2000, that there were supposed to be seven wives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: According to Cottrell, Barzee told her that Elizabeth was to be one of those seven wives.
Now, investigators have gone back and taken another look at an attempt to enter the bedroom of one of Elizabeth's cousins last summer. At the time, they thought it might be neighborhood pranksters, but now the Salt Lake County sheriff says this may have been an attempt by Mitchell and Barzee to kidnap another teenage girl.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON KENNARD, SALT LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF: We have evidence and we are presenting this evidence to the district attorney and the U.S. attorney as we speak, to try and tie the perpetrators of the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping to the attempt burglary that took place on the Virginia Hills in July of 2002.
I believe that we have solid information and solid leads that could connect the two households and the perpetrators of the two households together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Charges may be brought in that case as early as next week.
Meanwhile, a huge celebration here in Salt Lake City last night of Elizabeth's homecoming. She was not there, but she did send a large poster on which she thanked people for their prayers and their support.
And now we have moved onto the next phase. We're told that the family is being inundated with proposals to write books.
Renay, back to you.
SAN MIGUEL: That is as can be expected in this day and age. Jeanne Meserve in Salt Lake City, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 15, 2003 - 14:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: The Amber Alert system is getting some major recognition after the homecoming of Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted for nine months. Eleven East Coast states and two Canadian provinces are working to establish a regional Amber Alert system to help find abducted children quickly, and spurred by Smart's father, the House Republican leaders say they hope to pass a child abduction bill as early as next week.
Elizabeth Smart undoubtedly went through a lot in the nine months she was kidnapped, and her ordeal is not over. Investigators say they are going to have to ask the 15-year-old some tough questions. CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us now from Salt Lake City with the latest on this story -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Renay, a lot of attention is being given to this, it's a 27-page document which lays out Brian David Mitchell's religious beliefs. There is talk of polygamy in this document, and there's one passage in particular that's drawing interest, this addressed to Hebsaba (ph), which appears to be a name he gave to Wanda Barzee, his wife, who is also in jail in connection with Smart's disappearance. The passage reads like this. It says: "And thou shall take into thy heart and home seven times seven sisters to love and to care for, 49 precious jewels in thy crown and thou art the jubilee of them all first and last." A woman who visited Barzee in jail talked to her about this passage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICKI COTTRELL, EXEC. DIR., NAMI: She said the revelation came Thanksgiving of 2000, that there were supposed to be seven wives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: According to Cottrell, Barzee told her that Elizabeth was to be one of those seven wives.
Now, investigators have gone back and taken another look at an attempt to enter the bedroom of one of Elizabeth's cousins last summer. At the time, they thought it might be neighborhood pranksters, but now the Salt Lake County sheriff says this may have been an attempt by Mitchell and Barzee to kidnap another teenage girl.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON KENNARD, SALT LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF: We have evidence and we are presenting this evidence to the district attorney and the U.S. attorney as we speak, to try and tie the perpetrators of the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping to the attempt burglary that took place on the Virginia Hills in July of 2002.
I believe that we have solid information and solid leads that could connect the two households and the perpetrators of the two households together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Charges may be brought in that case as early as next week.
Meanwhile, a huge celebration here in Salt Lake City last night of Elizabeth's homecoming. She was not there, but she did send a large poster on which she thanked people for their prayers and their support.
And now we have moved onto the next phase. We're told that the family is being inundated with proposals to write books.
Renay, back to you.
SAN MIGUEL: That is as can be expected in this day and age. Jeanne Meserve in Salt Lake City, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
