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CNN Live Today

Police Question Drivers in Exclusive Neighborhood Where Smart Was Snatched

Aired June 19, 2002 - 12:10   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Overnight in Salt Lake City, police questioned drivers in the exclusive neighborhood where Elizabeth Smart was snatched from her home. Authorities say the kidnapper may have been a person whom Elizabeth thought she had reason to trust.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Salt Lake City with the latest from there -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN DALLAS BUREAU CHIEF: Well Kyra, in about an hour we're expected to hear another press briefing here at the church where the Smart family attends. And the press conference will be led by the chief of police here in Salt Lake City to offer some clarification of the details that have been rather confusing I think for a lot of people here that we've had to release over the last couple of -- the last 24 hours.

And the main point being that the details of the night that Elizabeth Smart was abducted and the details of just how it all transpired in the bedroom. Police had originally said that when the abductor entered the room that he had threatened nine-year-old Mary Catherine Smart, who is Elizabeth Smart's sister. They share the same room. and that the abductor had threatened Mary Catherine not to say anything, not to make any noise, and that's the reason why it had taken so long for her -- it took two hours for her to warn her parents about what had just happened and what she had seen transpire.

But now police say that isn't the case. That the abductor never threatened Mary Catherine; that perhaps she overheard what the abductor was saying to Elizabeth Smart, and that's why she felt threatened.

Police also say that Mary Catherine saw the suspect in two different points in the house. Once inside the bedroom, and a law enforcement source tells CNN that the other one was in the hallway of the house.

Now the police also are offering new descriptions and new details of the man they believe is the suspect in this case. They described him as a white male between the ages of 30 and 40. Stands about five feet eight inches tall and five feet ten inches tall, with a medium build. Has dark hair and also has dark hair on his arms and on the back of his hands. Now police also described his demeanor has he entered the room, and this is based on the details that we understand Mary Catherine has been able to share with police. And they describe the man as soft- spoken, polite, calm and that he dressed nicely.

Now the Smart family and other friends and colleagues here in the city of Salt Lake are offering and urging the community to continue their searches within their own neighborhoods throughout the city and throughout the state. They feel they've covered about a third of this state of this search looking for Elizabeth Smart.

And even last night the FBI was combing the neighborhood here where the Smart family lives and asking again the residents who live here for more information, anything that they might be able to offer. Retracing their steps, perhaps, and just seeing if anyone has been able to remember anything. If they remember seeing anything suspicious that happened about two weeks ago, since it's been that long since Elizabeth Smart was abducted.

So we're waiting for more clarification perhaps on some of the details that have been released in the last 24 hours. That press conference, again Kyra, expected to start about 11:00 Mountain Time, 1:00 Eastern -- Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Ed, you remember yesterday we were talking about how confusing the news conference was yesterday. They were sort of changing stories, different information from what we had been reporting before. I'm just curious, what's the confidence level of everybody there in the Salt Lake City Police Department? How they're handling this investigation, and also since yesterday?

LAVANDERA: Well as soon as the press conference was over yesterday -- and it was by far probably one of the most tense press briefings that they've had here in Salt Lake City since this case was started. But we were asking family members and the folks who gathered for these press briefings every morning, and they remain committed and confident that the police is doing a good job.

And they say that this is just part of the frustration that everyone's going through. But they seem to be steadfastly standing behind with the police department is doing so far.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We'll look forward to that second news conference at 1:00 today.

Ed, thanks so much.

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