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Police Unclear of Motive in California Kidnapping

Aired August 14, 2002 - 14:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, once again, the Amber Alert system seems to have paid off in California. This time yesterday, we were telling you about a missing 4-year-old. And medical workers say because her picture was on television, they recognized her when she was brought into their clinic.
CNN's Rusty Dornin has more from Los Angeles -- Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, here at Echo Park Lake -- this is actually where Jessica Cortez was taken while she played with her little brother on Sunday afternoon. Now police are trying to piece together the details from Sunday night until Tuesday night when, apparently, 34-year-old Patricia Cornejo took the little girl into a medical clinic. Now, we can see the little girl reunited with her parents. It was a very tearful reunion. Apparently she was not harmed in any way. There was no sexual abuse. Also -- but her hair was cut, and she -- the little girl was very dirty, but police are not saying any more about what they know about what happened to her. Now, the workers, of course, saw the pictures plastered all over the television, all over flyers, all over Los Angeles, and they knew, when she was brought in and complained of a sore throat, they were suspicious.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

INTERIM CHIEF MARTIN POMEROY, LOS ANGELES POLICE: There had been such tremendous public exposure here in Southern California that the workers, as I understand it, at the clinic immediately recognized this might be Jessica, so they delayed somewhat in their treatment, and called the police.

At one point, the woman stepped out of the room, and they asked young Jessica what her name was, and she confirmed who she was. And this was a different name than had been provided by that woman when Jessica was brought to the clinic. The clinic called us back, and let us know in fact it was Jessica, and we immediately turned the red lights and sirens on, and responded quickly thereafter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now 34-year-old Patricia Cornejo, being seen taken into custody by police, is being held on a half million dollars bail. Apparently, she is the mother of four, including two young children, a 10-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl. From what we understand now, it looks like she may be arraigned as early as tomorrow. But, still so many unanswered questions. Police say they have no idea. They had a press conference just a short time ago. And Carol, they just have no idea why this woman took this child, or they are not saying yet.

LIN: Yes, well, hopefully we will find out soon. Thank you very much. Rusty Dornin in Echo Park in Los Angeles.

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