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American Morning
Search Continues for Missing Student
Aired May 15, 2001 - 11:09 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI is now involved in the disappearance of a graduate student from the University of Southern California. She was last seen in the nation's capital. She's 24- year-old Chandra Levy.
She's been missing since April 30, 11 days before she was set to receive a masters degree from USC. She was last seen canceling her membership at a health club in Washington.
Her friends have set up this web site. It is simple: findchandra.com. Fliers are being distributed as well. Levy's family has flown to the nation's capital trying to help investigators shed some light on her disappearance.
The latest now on the case from Gary Reals. He's with our Washington, D.C. affiliate WUSA.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY REALS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By all accounts her disappearance is outs of character and doesn't fit given all that awaited here in California this week.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was graduating from University of Southern California on the 11th, as I said. She had big dinner engagement that she was going to on the 9th in California. So they was expecting her in California.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just hope they can find out whatever did happen and get the case solved as quickly as possible.
ARENA: Residents of the Newport tell us there have been no problems and fairly good security on the inside. Levy was last seen just a few blocks away at the Washington Sport Club on Connecticut Avenue the night of April 30 when she canceled membership there. Detective say those forms were found inside her apartment along with her packed luggage, credit cards, and other valuables.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want her home. That's the bottom line. Just come home, be home safe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: For a closer look now at the disappearance of USC student Chandra Levy, we are joined on the phone by Sergeant Joe Gentile. He is with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Sergeant Gentile, hello. Thanks for joining us.
SERGEANT JOE GENTILE, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: Yes, ma'am.
KAGAN: Any new developments on this case you can share with us?
GENTILE: No great new developments. We are following up on some matters, trying to interview people that may know Miss Levy or may know of her whereabouts or may have any information as to her movements. That's our concern right now, trying to identify where she might be or where she might have been to help in our investigation.
KAGAN: WUSA is reporting on its web site that your police department and your detectives have questioned a California congressman in connection with this disappearance. Can you elaborate on that at all?
GENTILE: We have spoken to a number of people. We don't identify those people. We respect the right of privacy. But obviously, we will talk to anybody that knows Miss Levy or may have seen her or may have any information about her.
KAGAN: Was are the strongest leads that you're going on so far?
GENTILE: I can't discuss specifics at this time. But we have actually gone into the apartment again with our mobile crime lab to look for any possible forensic evidence that may be there. We are checking a number of documents of Miss Levy's. Again, we are checking any and all possibilities to try to ascertain where she might be. And we hope she is found safe and sound.
KAGAN: But at this point, does it appear that all signs are pointing to something of a suspicious nature, that this isn't a woman who would have disappeared without contacting her family or friends?
GENTILE: We have not ruled anything out. When is very unusual is when the detective in the case entered the apartment, there appeared to be no sign of anything being disturbed. Her luggage was there packed and ready to go. Her credit cards were there. Money was there. So that makes us very concerned. This is not the usual type of missing person case we normally handle.
KAGAN: And if folks think they have any information that could help you on the case, what should they do?
GENTILE: We please ask them to call our detectives at the second direct at 202-282-0043. And we would appreciate their help.
KAGAN: Very good. Sergeant Joe Gentile from the Washington, D.C. Police Department, thank you very much. Also want to remind you of that web site that we put up for you. Very simple to remember, findchandra.com. Her friends and family monitoring that web site. And news of a reward and I'm sure friends and family would very much want to hear from anybody who has any possible information, even if you think it's something that might not apply. A desperate family out there wanting to know what happened to their daughter.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Sometimes the least little significant piece of information could lead to something big.
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