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American Morning

Family Spokesman, Aunt Discuss Chicago Girls Missing Two Weeks

Aired July 19, 2001 - 10:44   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: So much attention has going to the Chandra Levy investigation, yet another police search has largely languished in the shadow of that investigation. It's the case of two young sisters. who are missing in Chicago. The children disappeared from their apartment nearly two weeks ago.

For more on the case, both where it stands and where it's stalled, we're joined by the Rev. Earthel Fleming, who is serving as the girls' family spokesman. Also, the girls' aunt is joining us, Shelia Smith.

Good morning to both of you, and thank you for joining us.

SHELIA SMITH, MISSING GIRLS' GREAT AUNT: Good morning.

REV. EARTHEL FLEMING, BRADLEY FAMILY SPOKESMAN: Good morning.

KAGAN: Our thoughts are with you and the family as you go through this very difficult time.

Ms. Smith, let's start with you. Tell us about Tionda and Diamond. I know in Chicago it's been getting a lot of publicity, but across the country it really hasn't -- your 10-year-old and your three-year-old nieces.

SMITH: To describe some of the characteristics of Tionda, she's a very happy child. She laughs allot. She walks on her tiptoes at all times. She's a very fast runner. And when talking to Tionda, you wouldn't just believe her to be the average 10-year-old.

KAGAN: She is a smart, mature girl?

SMITH: Yes, at least by the age of -- let's just say she thinks on the age level a 12-year-old.

KAGAN: I know at time they disappeared, Tionda and Diamond were home alone. Is that correct?

SMITH: Yes, that's correct.

KAGAN: A lot of people will question that, but there are some families who feel very comfortable with a mature 10-year-old in charge of a three-year-old. Was that the case here? SMITH: Actually, if you think about it, throughout America, you have what is called the latchkey child, and these are children that sometime have proven to be even younger than Tionda that whether their parents, whether it's in the black or the white community, can give them keys.

KAGAN: I understand. I am seven years older than my sister, and we stayed home. When I was 10 years old, I was watching her when she was three, so I do understand that in certain situations or it's appropriate.

We do have limited time, so let me go to the reverend.

Tell me what you know about the investigation so far? I know it's turned to thousands of abandoned buildings all across Chicago. Why are police looking at those sites?

FLEMING: We are looking in every avenue, every place that we can find. We have not found these children as of yet, so we're expanding the search. First it was just in the immediate vicinity, but we are trying to network across the city to find these children.

KAGAN: Are you still with us, reverend?

FLEMING: Yes, I am.

KAGAN: OK.

Let me, actually, go back to Ms. Smith.

I know there was a note that was left. What did the note say, and are police questioning whether indeed Tionda wrote that note?

SMITH: There was a note that was left that said, me and Tionda are going to the school and to the store. But the investigators have the note in their custody. But I have always maintained that if that note indeed had been written by Tionda, that she was coached to do so.

KAGAN: You think so. What makes you think that?

SMITH: Well, Tionda has acknowledgment of her mom's cell number and her mom's work number, and it was just so unlikely that she would write a note versus just picking up the phone and calling her mom.

KAGAN: She knew to call Mom.

SMITH: Right.

KAGAN: Also, I was thinking back to being a 10-year-old girl and watching my three-year-old sister. If you're responsible enough to do that, she probably is the kind of girl who would not go away with somebody she didn't know.

SMITH: That's correct.

KAGAN: So does that lead you to think that she did leave with somebody that the girls know?

SMITH: Well, we can't even actually be sure that they left from the apartment, because according to the FBI, after interviewing children that had last played with Tionda, later that afternoon, possibly she was taken out of the shopping mall.

KAGAN: But the note was left in the apartment, so at some point, she had to be back in the apartment?

SMITH: Yes, but it hasn't been clarified as to whether or not they went to the shopping mall and came back to the house or they were at the house initially.

KAGAN: Still a lot of questions.

SMITH: That has not yet established.

KAGAN: So many questions. I can only imagine how frustrating and terrifying this has been the two weeks for your family.

Reverend, just tell us really quickly: If people think they do have information and can help, whom should they contact?

FLEMING: They should call the Chicago Police Department. They have a hot line set up. They can receive these calls. We're spreading brochures across the city, a police bulletin with a picture of the children on them.

We're getting great community support from the north, south, east, and west sides of the city. We've got a citywide search for these children.

KAGAN: We wish you the best of luck, and we encourage you, as more information comes about, to come back and talk more with us about the search for Tionda and for Diamond.

Thank you so much for being with us.

FLEMING: Thank you.

SMITH: Thank you.

KAGAN: Shelia Smith and Rev. Fleming, good luck. Thank you so much.

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