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Louisiana Serial Killer Manhunt Shifts to Atlanta

Aired May 27, 2003 - 15:33   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: A massive manhunt for an accused Louisiana serial killer has moved to Atlanta, Georgia. That's where authorities believe the suspect, Derrick Todd Lee, may be hiding.
Martin Savidge is following this story from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He joins me now with the latest -- Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

It was here just a short while ago that Georgia Bureau of Investigators held a news conference primarily to get the word out on the street in Atlanta that they believe this serial killer suspect is now in Atlanta. In fact, they say there was a sighting of him yesterday and they also believe that as early as this morning he still remained in town.

The suspect is described as 34-year-old Derrick Todd Lee. He is a Louisiana resident coming from the area in which these five murders took place over two years. That is the area around Baton Rouge.

Why would he be here in Atlanta? Well, authorities aren't speculating too much other than perhaps he came to this town believing he could melt away and become somewhat invisible amongst the huge population of the city of Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the search continues not only in Atlanta itself but across the nation, just in case he's decided to move. Louisiana authorities have been talking to his family members down there. And the family members have issued a plea through the sheriff's department. Here's what was said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF AUSTIN DANIEL, W. FELICIANA, LOUISIANA: I have a message for Derrick Todd Lee. If you can hear me, I met with your mother this morning for the help -- for the safety -- for the sake of her health, she has asked me to ask you to please turn yourself in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: How did Lee become a prime suspect?

Well, it happened about two weeks ago on May 5, when a tipster down there in the Louisiana area said, "You ought to be talking to Lee." The authorities there brought him in for question and asked him at that time to submit voluntarily a DNA sample, which he did. Authorities then say immediately after he gave that sample he became very nervous and fled the area.

Meanwhile, they did checking and found that his DNA matched up with DNA that was found at the five murder scenes, linking him directly, they allege, to the murders that were carried out over that two-year span in the Baton Rouge area.

They believe he arrived here in Atlanta about a week ago. Here's what authorities here are saying about what he has been doing and what they also know and do not know. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VERNON KEENAN, DIRECTOR OF GBI: We know he's here now and as the marshal, Mr. Meekham said, we don't know why he's here, what the connection is. But I will say this: this is -- Mr. Lee is very, very dangerous and any member of the public who thinks they have seen him or have had any contact with him should immediately notify law enforcement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Again, this is the man they're looking for: 34-year- old Derrick Todd Lee, who is the prime suspect in the serial killings.

We have another telephone number to pass along to you. This is primarily for people in this area. It is for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's tip line. It's 1-800-597-TIPS. Again, 1-800-597- TIPS.

Authorities here believe they are directly on the trail of Lee. But right now, they haven't got him in custody -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Martin Savidge following the case for us. Thank you so 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 May 27, 2003 - 15:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A massive manhunt for an accused Louisiana serial killer has moved to Atlanta, Georgia. That's where authorities believe the suspect, Derrick Todd Lee, may be hiding.
Martin Savidge is following this story from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He joins me now with the latest -- Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

It was here just a short while ago that Georgia Bureau of Investigators held a news conference primarily to get the word out on the street in Atlanta that they believe this serial killer suspect is now in Atlanta. In fact, they say there was a sighting of him yesterday and they also believe that as early as this morning he still remained in town.

The suspect is described as 34-year-old Derrick Todd Lee. He is a Louisiana resident coming from the area in which these five murders took place over two years. That is the area around Baton Rouge.

Why would he be here in Atlanta? Well, authorities aren't speculating too much other than perhaps he came to this town believing he could melt away and become somewhat invisible amongst the huge population of the city of Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the search continues not only in Atlanta itself but across the nation, just in case he's decided to move. Louisiana authorities have been talking to his family members down there. And the family members have issued a plea through the sheriff's department. Here's what was said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF AUSTIN DANIEL, W. FELICIANA, LOUISIANA: I have a message for Derrick Todd Lee. If you can hear me, I met with your mother this morning for the help -- for the safety -- for the sake of her health, she has asked me to ask you to please turn yourself in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: How did Lee become a prime suspect?

Well, it happened about two weeks ago on May 5, when a tipster down there in the Louisiana area said, "You ought to be talking to Lee." The authorities there brought him in for question and asked him at that time to submit voluntarily a DNA sample, which he did. Authorities then say immediately after he gave that sample he became very nervous and fled the area.

Meanwhile, they did checking and found that his DNA matched up with DNA that was found at the five murder scenes, linking him directly, they allege, to the murders that were carried out over that two-year span in the Baton Rouge area.

They believe he arrived here in Atlanta about a week ago. Here's what authorities here are saying about what he has been doing and what they also know and do not know. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VERNON KEENAN, DIRECTOR OF GBI: We know he's here now and as the marshal, Mr. Meekham said, we don't know why he's here, what the connection is. But I will say this: this is -- Mr. Lee is very, very dangerous and any member of the public who thinks they have seen him or have had any contact with him should immediately notify law enforcement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Again, this is the man they're looking for: 34-year- old Derrick Todd Lee, who is the prime suspect in the serial killings.

We have another telephone number to pass along to you. This is primarily for people in this area. It is for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's tip line. It's 1-800-597-TIPS. Again, 1-800-597- TIPS.

Authorities here believe they are directly on the trail of Lee. But right now, they haven't got him in custody -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Martin Savidge following the case for us. Thank you so 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