Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Manhunt For Nikolay Soltys Continues

Aired August 22, 2001 - 11:13   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Another story from California. Ukrainian immigrant, now accused of killing his three-year-old son in addition to his pregnant wife and four other family members. The boy's body was found yesterday, one day after the other bodies were discovered. Authorities today are continuing their search for the suspect.

CNN's James Hattori is following the story for us in Sacramento, he joins us now with the very latest. James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon. There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect, 27-year- old Nikolay Soltys. That may be one reason for an influx of tips overnight. The Sacramento County sheriff's office said they received about 140 tips, possible sightings, other information. They are sifting through those today. That's the sole focus of the investigation now, now that they have discovered the body of the last unaccounted for family member, Soltys' son, three-year-old Sergei.

Sergei was found, the body that is, was found in a remote field at the north end of Sacramento County yesterday afternoon, in a cardboard box. The box and the body were covered with blood. Investigators believe he may have been stabbed to death like the other family members in this rampage,

Police were led to that location by a note that was left in the suspect's car in his handwriting, which was confirmed by his mother. His mother, the last one to see the suspect Nikolay Soltys, a Ukrainian immigrant. That was Monday afternoon. A murder warrant now is out for his arrest. Police are asking the community for cooperation in solving this crime.

Soltys, they say one problem is that he does not have distinctive features. That is, he blends easily into the Ukrainian/Russian community here. So they fear that some of the tips they may be getting may be people who think they saw him, but in fact saw somebody who looks like him. Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thank you very much. James Hattori covering this very difficult story for us this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com