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American Morning

Standoff in Idaho Continues

Aired May 31, 2001 - 11:11   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: Now to rural Idaho, where a standoff between a group of children and sheriff's deputies is in its third day today. The six children are holed up in the family's home with a stash of weapons and a pack of vicious dogs.

The standoff was triggered by Tuesday's arrest of the children's mother. Their father has passed away. Authorities say for the last year, the children have been caring for themselves.

Joining us now from Garfield Bay, which is near Sandpoint, Idaho, where the standoff is taking place, is Teresa Luken. She is with our affiliate KXLY -- Teresa.

TERESA LUKEN, KXLY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. That's right, all is quiet here on Garfield Bay this morning as it appeared to be overnight. Authorities still blocking off the road that leads to where the children are holed up in that home.

And, again, authorities are reluctant to call this a standoff. They are calling it a stalemate, if you will. They're just hanging back. They're hoping that the children will come out on their own.

There is a 19-year-old sister who moved out of the home recently into Rathdrum, a nearby town here by Garfield Bay. And they're hoping that she will have some luck in coaxing the children out.

Again, they have no food, no water, and no electricity. They've been existing, we are told, on lake water and lily pads. So, the 15- year-old son who was the son who reportedly said "get the guns" to his siblings and they went back in the home has also been reading survivalist magazines. So there's a little bit of concern there.

But the kids basically very scared. We are told by neighbors that they are a good family. They are just scared.

KAGAN: Teresa, what is the mother's status right now? She is in custody; correct?

LUKEN: She is in custody. She is under arrest. She has asked for a court-appointed attorney at this point. And we're also told that she has some mental problems, that there is mental illness involved. And we're also told that she had become very paranoid in the last few years and basically kept the kids on the property. Some of those children have never left the property. KAGAN: And the specific charge is that she's hurt one of the children?

LUKEN: Felony injury to children are the charges, yes.

KAGAN: All right. Very good, Teresa Luken, thank you very much with our affiliate KXLY.

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