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Police Searching Peterson Home Again

Aired February 18, 2003 - 14:06   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: We're going to bring in Suzanne Phan, she's from our affiliate KCRA, she's on the telephone, she's at the house.
Suzanne, we were looking at these live pictures via KGO, someone in the backyard with gloves on doing searching. Can you tell us what that's all about? Or what's going on at this time?

SUZANNE PHAN, KCRA CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, I can tell you this much that, like we said earlier, there ever been dozens of detectives all morning, many of them with gloves on, many of them going through his pick up, the white Dodge Dakota, many of them going through his home, taking pictures, taking video tape, marking items inside of his home with placards.

During all of this, we saw Scott come and go several time times. We did see him speaking to detectives, comparing notes on his personal date books, talking about dates where he was and where he might have been.

And just moments ago, the Modesto Police Department read a statement saying, quote, "Discoveries during the investigation necessitate a second investigation. We know for a fact that they are serving a second search warrant this morning." They served it around 8:10 a.m. Pacific standard time.

Now, they are not releasing any details on this case. Much throughout the case they have been very tight-lipped but they will say today that Mr. Peterson has cooperated with detectives. They also say he has taken some personal and work items from his home, he left his home about half an hour ago; several bags of clothes as well as two or three jackets.

Questions about him leaving; he had left by himself, I saw him leave by himself in another SUV. There were questions about whether or not he had gone to the police department for further questioning. I had asked the Modesto police department public information officer about that and he denied that report. He says that, no, Scott Peterson is not going to Modesto police department for further questioning. There are certainly lots of different answers.

I can also tell you that they are not prepared to call him a suspect, but they have not eliminated him from the investigation either. The police department doesn't really plan another briefing today, but they'll be taking questions as the day continues, of course, and the investigation continues. That's the very latest here in Modesto.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Phan, stay with me.

Suzanne is with our Affiliate KCRA out of Sacramento. She's there at the home of Scott Peterson. You're looking at pictures via KGO out of San Francisco, their Helicopters are getting aerials here as the search goes on.

Suzanne, let me clarify on thing. You're saying that according to Modesto police he was not taken downtown for questioning? Is that what you said?

PHAN: That is correct. Interesting enough, I had heard those reports I went directly up to the public liaison person, asked him point blank where did Scott Peterson go, I saw him leaving, and the Modesto police person said, no, he did not go downtown for further questioning. But I can tell you that Scott Peterson left by himself.

PHILLIPS: So he did leave, he's not at the house.

PHAN: He is no longer at the house.

PHILLIPS: All right, and not with police, as far as you know?

PHAN: You are correct.

PHILLIPS: OK. So, now the search is still going on at this time. Just moments ago, we were looking at live pictures of one of the police officers in the back with gloves on searching the backyard.

What can you see right now? Is the search still going on? Do you see a number of detectives still around the house?

PHAN: Yes. I mean, what I do see detectives inside the house. I don't see them around Scott Peterson's truck anymore; it looks like they're done searching the truck. But, they are in the house.

Some, as you say, are in the backyard. Investigators, once again, aren't saying what they are looking for, but they will say they made some headway and they are following up on new leads. And they're not elaborating what those leads are.

PHILLIPS: Right, right, Of course. In the backyard, we were looking at these pictures and one of the detectives -- couldn't tell exactly what it was. I don't know if it was a Jacuzzi or a storage shed but he was lifting things up, looking inside.

Have you been in the backyard? Do you know what that is or what that could have been that the detective was looking through?

PHAN: No, if have not been back there.

PHILLIPS: OK, Suzanne Phan there at the home of Scott Peterson.

If you're just tuning in, we're following up on this breaking news story. We found out about this within the past hour and a half and we're wondering if indeed a new search that's taking place right now in the lady -- or in the Peterson's home in Modesto could lead to some sort of evidence or information to where Laci Peterson is.

As you know, the home in Modesto has been subject of an intense search. This is the second time around that it's been searched since Laci Peterson disappeared Christmas Eve. Police say they are making progress in the case. Suzanne Phan, affiliate at KCRA, there at the scene, saying police have told her they made headway.

Now one clarification, we were telling you Scott Peterson was taken downtown for questioning; according to Suzanne Phan, who's there at the house, she said she talked to Modesto police, Modesto police said that is not true, that Scott is not in police custody, that he has not been taken downtown for questioning. She said did see him leave, she saw him leave by himself. Meanwhile, detectives once again, searching the home of Laci and Scott Peterson.

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 February 18, 2003 - 14:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to bring in Suzanne Phan, she's from our affiliate KCRA, she's on the telephone, she's at the house.
Suzanne, we were looking at these live pictures via KGO, someone in the backyard with gloves on doing searching. Can you tell us what that's all about? Or what's going on at this time?

SUZANNE PHAN, KCRA CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, I can tell you this much that, like we said earlier, there ever been dozens of detectives all morning, many of them with gloves on, many of them going through his pick up, the white Dodge Dakota, many of them going through his home, taking pictures, taking video tape, marking items inside of his home with placards.

During all of this, we saw Scott come and go several time times. We did see him speaking to detectives, comparing notes on his personal date books, talking about dates where he was and where he might have been.

And just moments ago, the Modesto Police Department read a statement saying, quote, "Discoveries during the investigation necessitate a second investigation. We know for a fact that they are serving a second search warrant this morning." They served it around 8:10 a.m. Pacific standard time.

Now, they are not releasing any details on this case. Much throughout the case they have been very tight-lipped but they will say today that Mr. Peterson has cooperated with detectives. They also say he has taken some personal and work items from his home, he left his home about half an hour ago; several bags of clothes as well as two or three jackets.

Questions about him leaving; he had left by himself, I saw him leave by himself in another SUV. There were questions about whether or not he had gone to the police department for further questioning. I had asked the Modesto police department public information officer about that and he denied that report. He says that, no, Scott Peterson is not going to Modesto police department for further questioning. There are certainly lots of different answers.

I can also tell you that they are not prepared to call him a suspect, but they have not eliminated him from the investigation either. The police department doesn't really plan another briefing today, but they'll be taking questions as the day continues, of course, and the investigation continues. That's the very latest here in Modesto.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Phan, stay with me.

Suzanne is with our Affiliate KCRA out of Sacramento. She's there at the home of Scott Peterson. You're looking at pictures via KGO out of San Francisco, their Helicopters are getting aerials here as the search goes on.

Suzanne, let me clarify on thing. You're saying that according to Modesto police he was not taken downtown for questioning? Is that what you said?

PHAN: That is correct. Interesting enough, I had heard those reports I went directly up to the public liaison person, asked him point blank where did Scott Peterson go, I saw him leaving, and the Modesto police person said, no, he did not go downtown for further questioning. But I can tell you that Scott Peterson left by himself.

PHILLIPS: So he did leave, he's not at the house.

PHAN: He is no longer at the house.

PHILLIPS: All right, and not with police, as far as you know?

PHAN: You are correct.

PHILLIPS: OK. So, now the search is still going on at this time. Just moments ago, we were looking at live pictures of one of the police officers in the back with gloves on searching the backyard.

What can you see right now? Is the search still going on? Do you see a number of detectives still around the house?

PHAN: Yes. I mean, what I do see detectives inside the house. I don't see them around Scott Peterson's truck anymore; it looks like they're done searching the truck. But, they are in the house.

Some, as you say, are in the backyard. Investigators, once again, aren't saying what they are looking for, but they will say they made some headway and they are following up on new leads. And they're not elaborating what those leads are.

PHILLIPS: Right, right, Of course. In the backyard, we were looking at these pictures and one of the detectives -- couldn't tell exactly what it was. I don't know if it was a Jacuzzi or a storage shed but he was lifting things up, looking inside.

Have you been in the backyard? Do you know what that is or what that could have been that the detective was looking through?

PHAN: No, if have not been back there.

PHILLIPS: OK, Suzanne Phan there at the home of Scott Peterson.

If you're just tuning in, we're following up on this breaking news story. We found out about this within the past hour and a half and we're wondering if indeed a new search that's taking place right now in the lady -- or in the Peterson's home in Modesto could lead to some sort of evidence or information to where Laci Peterson is.

As you know, the home in Modesto has been subject of an intense search. This is the second time around that it's been searched since Laci Peterson disappeared Christmas Eve. Police say they are making progress in the case. Suzanne Phan, affiliate at KCRA, there at the scene, saying police have told her they made headway.

Now one clarification, we were telling you Scott Peterson was taken downtown for questioning; according to Suzanne Phan, who's there at the house, she said she talked to Modesto police, Modesto police said that is not true, that Scott is not in police custody, that he has not been taken downtown for questioning. She said did see him leave, she saw him leave by himself. Meanwhile, detectives once again, searching the home of Laci and Scott Peterson.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com