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CNN Live Saturday
Elizabeth Smart Might Undergo Police Questioning
Aired March 15, 2003 - 18:22 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: Now that her nine-month kidnapping ordeal is over, Elizabeth Smart may have to undergo some questioning about the self-styled profit and his wife, who police say abducted her.
Ed Lavandera joins us from Salt Lake City with an update -- Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Renay.
Well, law enforcement source here in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells CNN that what is happening this weekend are a lot of meetings among the various law enforcement authorities that have been working this case over the last nine months.
And what they're talking about is determining strategy and timing as to how this case will go forward. How it will be prosecuted and how these charges will be brought against Brian David Mitchell and his wife.
Now, one of the things that they're using, and doing, to exactly figure out what they want to do next is they're paying very close attention to this 27-page religious manifesto that Brian David Mitchell wrote. And in it he alludes to and talks about the issue of polygamy and in it he says:
"And thou shalt take into thy heart and home seven times seven sisters to love and care for; forty-nine precious jewels in thy crown, and thou art the jubilee of them all, first and last...for all are given unto thee for thy glory and honor."
They're paying very close attention to this. In fact, we're told, the law enforcement source tells CNN that they have sent this religious manifesto off to FBI profilers in Virginia, where they're looking at it, trying to get to know Brian David Mitchell, his thinking and if they might be able to glean some sort of motive within these pages. So, they're also paying very close attention to that as well.
We're also told by sources here in Salt Lake City, Utah, that any physical evidence that has been found so far, either here in the Salt Lake City area, or in San Diego, is being sent off to the state crime lab here in Salt Lake City, for further analysis.
And we're also told, that the search efforts that have gone on in the campsite just behind the Smart family home here in Salt Lake City and the campsite in San Diego as well, that searches in those areas have been "productive and fruitful" so far. But at this point they're also taking very close precautions and taking - being very measured in what law enforcement here says publicly.
If you remember, there was supposed to have been a press conference scheduled for Friday afternoon but that was canceled. We are told by U.S. attorney official here in Salt Lake City that they're being very careful, very wary of what exactly is said publicly. They're very concerned at this point that anything that they might say might jeopardize how this case moves forward. So it is something that they're paying very close attention, how they handle this in the next couple of days and the next few weeks -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: All right, Ed Lavandera in Salt Lake City. Thanks, Ed.
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 - 18:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Now that her nine-month kidnapping ordeal is over, Elizabeth Smart may have to undergo some questioning about the self-styled profit and his wife, who police say abducted her.
Ed Lavandera joins us from Salt Lake City with an update -- Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Renay.
Well, law enforcement source here in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells CNN that what is happening this weekend are a lot of meetings among the various law enforcement authorities that have been working this case over the last nine months.
And what they're talking about is determining strategy and timing as to how this case will go forward. How it will be prosecuted and how these charges will be brought against Brian David Mitchell and his wife.
Now, one of the things that they're using, and doing, to exactly figure out what they want to do next is they're paying very close attention to this 27-page religious manifesto that Brian David Mitchell wrote. And in it he alludes to and talks about the issue of polygamy and in it he says:
"And thou shalt take into thy heart and home seven times seven sisters to love and care for; forty-nine precious jewels in thy crown, and thou art the jubilee of them all, first and last...for all are given unto thee for thy glory and honor."
They're paying very close attention to this. In fact, we're told, the law enforcement source tells CNN that they have sent this religious manifesto off to FBI profilers in Virginia, where they're looking at it, trying to get to know Brian David Mitchell, his thinking and if they might be able to glean some sort of motive within these pages. So, they're also paying very close attention to that as well.
We're also told by sources here in Salt Lake City, Utah, that any physical evidence that has been found so far, either here in the Salt Lake City area, or in San Diego, is being sent off to the state crime lab here in Salt Lake City, for further analysis.
And we're also told, that the search efforts that have gone on in the campsite just behind the Smart family home here in Salt Lake City and the campsite in San Diego as well, that searches in those areas have been "productive and fruitful" so far. But at this point they're also taking very close precautions and taking - being very measured in what law enforcement here says publicly.
If you remember, there was supposed to have been a press conference scheduled for Friday afternoon but that was canceled. We are told by U.S. attorney official here in Salt Lake City that they're being very careful, very wary of what exactly is said publicly. They're very concerned at this point that anything that they might say might jeopardize how this case moves forward. So it is something that they're paying very close attention, how they handle this in the next couple of days and the next few weeks -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: All right, Ed Lavandera in Salt Lake City. Thanks, Ed.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
