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American Morning

The Search for Chandra: Gary Condit Expected to Appear at the Capitol; Police Comb Through Rock Creek Park

Aired July 17, 2001 - 10:30   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: We want to show you a live picture now from Washington, D.C. from Capitol Hill. The House Agriculture Committee that is set to meet any minute, we're waiting to see if Congressman Gary Condit, who is very involved in that committee, if, indeed, he does show up. There is that live picture. If, indeed, he does show up for this meeting. Some key legislation that they will be undertaking today that the congressman has been very involved in.

Of course, the congressman's name becoming well known across the country because of his alleged involvement with Chandra Levy, the missing intern, and the search does continue for Chandra Levy at this hour not too far from where the House Agriculture Committee will be meeting in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., and our Eileen O'Connor is standing by with more on that search -- Eileen?

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, about 28 police recruits have continued their search now through Rock Creek Park. This is along Piney Branch Parkway and where they are is they've been going through this creek bed and they're searching even amongst the rocks there all along the roadway. They're looking for any evidence of a body, also any clothing that may have been left behind, anything like that. They have indicated they could bring in dogs and they have, in fact, found something already this morning, a set of blue running shoes that like to have been used and also a box cutting knife was found in an area just a few feet away from me.

The search, the evidence team came in here and collected it. Police say they will be expecting more of these kinds of items found in this huge park.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. BOB PANIZARI, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: As I said, is every time, every time we find something, it's not going to be feasible for us to stop, come out here and let you all know exactly what it is that we've found. I'm going to keep our public information officer informed on what it is we find and hopefully at the end of the day he can give you one briefing on what it was that we recovered.

QUESTION: I'm sorry, can you just describe what it was...

PANIZARI: There was one pair of blue Nike tennis shoes and a box cutter knife. QUESTION: And your recruits found it, right?

PANIZARI: Right, the recruits found it during the search.

QUESTION: Men's or women's?

(CROSSTALK)

PANIZARI: That's -- thank you. Thank you. Thanks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: Now, the reason that police are interested in this area is that Chandra Levy was also interested in this area. On the morning of her disappearance, according to a check on her computer that police did, she drew up several maps, brought up several maps on the computer of this area of Rock Creek Park. It is a huge park, nearly 2,000 acres. They are, though, concentrating on this area, which is roughly two miles north of her apartment -- Daryn?

KAGAN: And Eileen, I understand in addition to looking at that park, didn't they also look at Fort Dupont Park and what did they find there?

O'CONNOR: Well, they are looking at Fort Dupont and we haven't had any reports of any findings. Yesterday they did find two sets of bones in this park but police say that all indications are those were animal bones -- Daryn?

KAGAN: Eileen O'Connor, Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. Eileen, thank you. We will definitely be checking back with you.

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