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Hope Fades in Search For Missing North Dakota Woman
Aired December 09, 2003 - 15:00 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: Evidence mounts and hope fades in the search for Dru Sjodin after finding the woman's blood in the suspect's car and her shoe by the river. The Grand Forks county sheriff tells our Jeff Flock -- and we quote -- "It looks like there's no chance we're going to find Dru alive."
Jeff is live from Grand Forks with the latest now -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Kyra, we thought we'd get some more information about the evidence that they might have against Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. today, but we didn't expect to get it in this way.
But today, Sheriff Dan Hill, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, said he was concerned about the leaks that were coming out and the reports he would see. He wanted to make sure that everyone had the straight information, so he decided to put it all on the record.
Let's tick down through what we know. As we do, let's show you the repository of some of that evidence, which is the 2002 Mercury Sable that belonged to Mr. Rodriguez. In that, they found, in the trunk, a four-inch folding knife, according to the sheriff. It was, again, in the trunk. And they found a sheath to that knife in the parking lot where Dru Sjodin disappeared. They believe it was the sheath that belonged to that knife.
Also, in the trunk of the car, as a news account had said earlier, there was cleaning fluid found, which suggested in that report that it had been used to clean the trunk or to clean the knife. According to the sheriff, it wasn't possible for them to determine whether that cleaning fluid, in fact, had been used in that manner or whether in fact it had just spilled, because he noted that the cap was loose. So perhaps it just knocked over in the truck -- at this point, not completely clear.
Another important find that was revealed. That is the shoe, a shoe that has been linked now to Dru Sjodin by means of DNA testing.
We asked the chief, Dan Hill, about the details of that find, where and what.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN HILL, GRAND FORKS SHERIFF: It was somewhat under the bridge, probably two to three feet under the bridge. It could have been tossed. It could have bounced under there. So, actually, how it exactly got there, we don't know, but we felt that it was just thrown over the bridge.
QUESTION: And how close to the river?
HILL: It was several feet from the river.
QUESTION: And besides the shoe and not necessarily in just that location, what other clothing of hers or items of hers have been found?
HILL: None.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: Now, this was found last week. And I want to show you where it was found. We have pictures of divers that went in last week. We weren't sure exactly why they were diving there. Now we know.
This is the location, Highway 75, off Highway 75. As you heard the chief say, it may be that the shoe was just tossed there, that Ms. Sjodin was never there. But, again, it's a DNA match on what they described as a black loafer. Divers did not find anything else when they went into the water there. And the sheriff says he didn't think that it was necessary to go back. They really felt that they had combed that area.
Two other important points, Kyra. One, as regards a surveillance tape, there had been some reports that perhaps they had him on surveillance tape -- that is, Mr. Rodriguez -- at the mall. He says, no, as far as he knows, none of that exists, although there was a surveillance tape of Mr. Rodriguez at a Target, which is near the mall. So that placed him in the area, by their thinking.
And the last point is the very first point you mentioned. And that is, what does this all mean for the search for a live Dru Sjodin? As the chief said -- or, I should say, the sheriff said, Sheriff Hill, has gone farther than any other law enforcement has gone at this point to say, this does not look good. It appears now, in his words, we're in a recovery, as opposed to a search mode -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jeff, any reaction from the family?
FLOCK: No.
We talked to Bob Heales last hour, who is close with the family, hired by them to help them search. Already, he said Allan Sjodin, Dru's dad, was not doing very well, had not talked to him since this information has all come to light.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it's tough news to hear.
Jeff Flock, thank you.
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 December 9, 2003 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Evidence mounts and hope fades in the search for Dru Sjodin after finding the woman's blood in the suspect's car and her shoe by the river. The Grand Forks county sheriff tells our Jeff Flock -- and we quote -- "It looks like there's no chance we're going to find Dru alive."
Jeff is live from Grand Forks with the latest now -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Kyra, we thought we'd get some more information about the evidence that they might have against Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. today, but we didn't expect to get it in this way.
But today, Sheriff Dan Hill, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, said he was concerned about the leaks that were coming out and the reports he would see. He wanted to make sure that everyone had the straight information, so he decided to put it all on the record.
Let's tick down through what we know. As we do, let's show you the repository of some of that evidence, which is the 2002 Mercury Sable that belonged to Mr. Rodriguez. In that, they found, in the trunk, a four-inch folding knife, according to the sheriff. It was, again, in the trunk. And they found a sheath to that knife in the parking lot where Dru Sjodin disappeared. They believe it was the sheath that belonged to that knife.
Also, in the trunk of the car, as a news account had said earlier, there was cleaning fluid found, which suggested in that report that it had been used to clean the trunk or to clean the knife. According to the sheriff, it wasn't possible for them to determine whether that cleaning fluid, in fact, had been used in that manner or whether in fact it had just spilled, because he noted that the cap was loose. So perhaps it just knocked over in the truck -- at this point, not completely clear.
Another important find that was revealed. That is the shoe, a shoe that has been linked now to Dru Sjodin by means of DNA testing.
We asked the chief, Dan Hill, about the details of that find, where and what.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN HILL, GRAND FORKS SHERIFF: It was somewhat under the bridge, probably two to three feet under the bridge. It could have been tossed. It could have bounced under there. So, actually, how it exactly got there, we don't know, but we felt that it was just thrown over the bridge.
QUESTION: And how close to the river?
HILL: It was several feet from the river.
QUESTION: And besides the shoe and not necessarily in just that location, what other clothing of hers or items of hers have been found?
HILL: None.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: Now, this was found last week. And I want to show you where it was found. We have pictures of divers that went in last week. We weren't sure exactly why they were diving there. Now we know.
This is the location, Highway 75, off Highway 75. As you heard the chief say, it may be that the shoe was just tossed there, that Ms. Sjodin was never there. But, again, it's a DNA match on what they described as a black loafer. Divers did not find anything else when they went into the water there. And the sheriff says he didn't think that it was necessary to go back. They really felt that they had combed that area.
Two other important points, Kyra. One, as regards a surveillance tape, there had been some reports that perhaps they had him on surveillance tape -- that is, Mr. Rodriguez -- at the mall. He says, no, as far as he knows, none of that exists, although there was a surveillance tape of Mr. Rodriguez at a Target, which is near the mall. So that placed him in the area, by their thinking.
And the last point is the very first point you mentioned. And that is, what does this all mean for the search for a live Dru Sjodin? As the chief said -- or, I should say, the sheriff said, Sheriff Hill, has gone farther than any other law enforcement has gone at this point to say, this does not look good. It appears now, in his words, we're in a recovery, as opposed to a search mode -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jeff, any reaction from the family?
FLOCK: No.
We talked to Bob Heales last hour, who is close with the family, hired by them to help them search. Already, he said Allan Sjodin, Dru's dad, was not doing very well, had not talked to him since this information has all come to light.
PHILLIPS: Yes, it's tough news to hear.
Jeff Flock, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
