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American Morning

Police, Community Search for Abducted Utah Girl

Aired June 06, 2002 - 08:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Up front this morning, a desperate plea from the parents of a 14-year-old girl abducted at gunpoint yesterday from their home in Utah. The FBI has joined local law enforcement and members of the community in a three-state search now under way.

James Hattori is standing by in Salt Lake City.

He joins us now -- good morning -- James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Preparations are under way for a second day of searching. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of volunteers are expected to mount a grid search throughout this area, looking for any kind of clue in an investigation that so far has yielded no solid leads as to the location of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart.

We have some home video pictures that the family provided us. The girl was abducted at gunpoint 30 hours ago now, taken from the bedroom of her parents' home here in the Federal Heights neighborhood. Now, investigators don't know for sure, but they say it looks like this was not a random kidnapping. So far, though, there have been no legitimate demands for any kind of ransom, no contact from the kidnapper whatsoever.

Earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, Elizabeth's parents told Paula that they have no idea who might have taken her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED SMART, ELIZABETH'S FATHER: We just can't even fathom who it is or why they took her. I mean she was just, I mean, to me she was as near perfect as a daughter could be. She plays the harp. She, you know, she loves everyone. I just -- I don't know of any enemies that she has or any people that would want to harm her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HATTORI: Yesterday, about 100 law enforcement officers, including search and rescue crews and bloodhounds, combed the area, this affluent area east of downtown Salt Lake City. Police don't know, but they're assuming, they have to assume for the moment that the kidnapper might still be in the area. This is still the most intensive part of the investigation, the first 48, 36 hours. They're getting phone calls -- more than 100 so far -- from people who might have seen something or think they saw something. But again, so far, nothing solid in terms of what's happening.

We have a photograph of Elizabeth, if anybody might have seen her. She's described as obviously 14 years old, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, about 105 pounds. She was wearing red pajamas at the time she was abducted.

The suspect is described as a white male, 5 feet 8 inches, slim build, perhaps 18 to 40 years old, wearing a white cap.

We have a couple of phone numbers police want us to get out in case anybody has some information about this case. They can dial 801- 799-3000. That's in Salt Lake City. Or an 800 number would be 800- 932-0190.

So Paula, another day of intensive searching, but so far not a lot of encouragement.

ZAHN: James, it's interesting to note that the Smarts had their home on the market. And I asked Mr. Smart this morning about the possibility that maybe one of those prospective buyers might be involved with this in some way. He didn't think so. What are police telling you about that possibility?

HATTORI: Well, not only did he have the house on the market, he's also been doing some renovation in recent months and has had workers in and out of the property. But as you heard, as he told you, he knows of no one who would have, you know, possibly been involved in that. And obviously they're wracking their brains trying to figure out who might have had a grudge against the family or against this little girl, as hard as that is to imagine. But so far, no one has come up with any information that's been helpful.

ZAHN: We should also add the "Deseret News" is reporting that there was a foiled kidnapped attempt made on a neighbor very close to where the Smart family lived. This was back in the early '90s. Have police investigators given you any indication that they think in any way these two cases could be connected?

HATTORI: Obviously, they're looking at all the past cases that might possibly be related. But so far, what they're saying is that there does not seem to be any connection. And it was an attempted abduction, but this case is very unique. The guy entered with a gun. He went, apparently went, after the 14-year-old, as opposed to the 9- year-old sister, who was in the same room. He told the sister to be quiet, not to say anything or else he would harm Elizabeth.

So this could be a very unique set of circumstances, and that's the premise they're looking at right now.

ZAHN: James, I know you gave out a couple of numbers. Apparently people are having trouble getting through to that 1-800 number, so I'm just going to repeat the 801 number that you shared with us a little bit earlier on: 801-799-3000. That is the number to call if you have any information on the case of Elizabeth Smart.

James Hattori, thanks so much.

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