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American Morning

Idaho Standoff Continues: One Child Exits House

Aired June 01, 2001 - 10:11   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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: We are monitoring another standoff under way today this one between a group of youngsters and police hoping for a peaceful resolution in Sandpoint, Idaho. And there is word this morning of a new development in this three-day-old standoff.

Our Kristi Paulus from CNN affiliate KCPQ has been watching for us and she joins us now with the latest on this -- Kristi?

KRISTI PAULUS, KCPQ CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Potentially what could be a big break here, the prosecutor's office here in Bonn County says 15-year-old Benjamin McGuckin is in protective custody this morning. Authorities say he probably wasn't in the house over the last three days. He was wandering around in the woods, eventually wondered to a neighbor's house, yesterday about four o'clock in the afternoon. That neighbor called the sheriff's department. The sheriff's department came and picked up McGuckin. Here's what the family's lawyer has to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDGAR STEELE, ATTORNEY: The son Ben, 15 years old a couple of days ago, had left the house and for whatever reason had been able to get back into it across the police lines. And so has for two days now been walking around in the woods.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAULUS: As far as we know, the other five children are still armed with rifles and protected by a pack of dogs. The standoff, as you know, began Tuesday when authorities arrested the children's mother, Joanne McGuckin, on charges of felony injury to a child. When sheriff's deputies tried to take the kids, ages eight to 16, into protective custody, the oldest son Ben ran toward the house yelling, "Get the guns!" Again, that is the child who is in custody this morning.

Today, the children's mother will be in court to try and get her bail reduced. Right now it is at $100,000. Her attorney, Edgar Steele, would like to see that reduced to $10,000 so they can get her out of jail and perhaps she can go talk to the remaining five children still holed up in that house. The prosecutor's office has also indicated that Benjamin may be willing to go to the scene, the 15- year-old, and also try to talk to his brothers and sisters. Reporting live in Sandpoint, Idaho, I'm Kristi Paulus. Back to you in Atlanta.

FRAZIER: Kristi, one question before we go, in addition to that possibility that the 15-year-old may be brought to the scene, are police changing their tactics in any way? We know it's been very low key until now.

PAULUS: Actually, and it's gotten perhaps even a little lower key. Up until yesterday evening, the authorities had been using a bullhorn to try and talk to the children. They have stopped even that. They really want to calm the situation. Really their strategy right now is patience. They are dealing with children.

FRAZIER: From Sandpoint, Idaho, Kristi Paulus. Kristi, thank you.

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