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Former FBI Agent Discusses Kidnapped California Girls

Aired August 01, 2002 - 14:20   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Kidnapping has been in the news a lot lately. But the story we're talking about now definitely does not fit the mold. We're talking about two teenagers kidnapped from a lovers lane in Lancaster, California.

Live from Houston now this hour with his insights on these missing two girls, his expertise, retired FBI special agent Don Clark.

Hi -- Don.

DON CLARK, RETIRED FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Hi, Kyra, how are you?

PHILLIPS: Well, not so good when you look at stories like this. You and I both, a lot of questions to be asked here. Last time we talked, we were talking about the Elizabeth Smart case. Then it was the Samantha Runnion case. Now we're talking about two teens. It's very different.

CLARK: It is, in fact, a bit different. But there is one commonality here, Kyra, and we have kicked this around before. It is summertime. And that's no excuse, but the reality. And we've got to keep looking at those statistics, because they are pretty accurate, that it tends to spike itself up in the summertime. So that means more protection, more safeguards, more tips out there to parents and everything. And particularly the older kids have to be more understanding and more attentive to what they are doing. Because this certainly, from what we have heard at this point, to me, it certainly seems that a person on crime spree who ran upon random victims, but perhaps an random situation -- because I doubt if that person just stumbled upon this lovers lane area.

PHILLIPS: So you think that he had been stalking these couples?

CLARK: I don't necessarily think he had been stalking these particular couples or not, but I think the area. It just appears as if there has to be -- there seems like there's some connection with the carjacking that took place maybe in Las Vegas, moving west towards the Los Angeles County area, where Lancaster is located, and to come upon this area that they call Lovers Lane seems like the person may have been stalking that area before.

PHILLIPS: OK, let's talk about some of the positives here. First of all, they are teenagers -- they're not 4, 5 years old. So they have a chance to fight here. CLARK: Exactly right. You are talking about people that's right on the verge of becoming adults and could possibly do some things that a little 4- or 5-year-old, 7-year-old cannot do. So you would hope that at the appropriate time, if those opportunities come available, that these young ladies would take availability of such times.

PHILLIPS: Also this suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened these two couples. He didn't hurt the young boys. He just taped them up, took the girls, and left. Is that a positive sign that he didn't shoot the boys?

CLARK: It's certainly a plus, and everybody is fortunate that he didn't shoot them. But because he didn't shoot the boys does not mean at all -- and I know you are not saying this -- that he won't use the gun, because if people have a gun in their possession and things happen, to change the course of the situation that they plan to plot, then in all likelihood, they will use that gun.

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about this possible connection between the Saturn from Las Vegas and the Saturn found on this crime scene. We have live pictures of the Saturn, actually, right now, Don. I've talked with an FBI agent in Las Vegas. He was very vague, but maybe since you are a former FBI agent, you can be a little more direct with me. A carjacking took place back on July 18. It was a man with a gun. They have not been able to find that man. Now this Saturn turns up at this scene. What do you think? Possible connection?

CLARK: I got to think, Kyra, that my former counterparts there have to be looking very closely at this connection. There is almost no way that you could walk away interest this and assume that there is not a connection. It has to be that you assume that there may be a connection. And then let your investigation determine whether or not it washes itself out or not.

PHILLIPS: Don Clark, retired FBI special agent. Always a pleasure, Don, thank you.

CLARK: Good to see you, Kyra, thank you.

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