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American Morning

Latest on Elizabeth Smart's Abduction Contradicting Earlier Reports

Aired June 19, 2002 - 07:02   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Up front this morning, new information in the story of the missing girl in Utah. The latest now on Elizabeth Smart's abduction contradicting earlier reports revealed only after several follow-up questions and interviews with the girl's younger sister.

Ed Lavandera on the scene, up early this morning in Salt Lake.

Ed, good morning to you.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Police say they have interviewed Mary Catherine Smart, Elizabeth Smart's sister, 9-year-old sister who shares a room with her in the Smart family home. They have interviewed her three times since the abduction. And they tend to suggest that because of all of these interviews, and they say that it is so difficult to get information from a nine-year-old that has seen such a traumatic event, and that's the reason perhaps these stories have been changing.

But the overall picture here now is that we understand that when the abductor entered Elizabeth Smart's room, she did not -- he did not threaten Mary Catherine Smart, as we had originally been suggested to believe. That she had waited two hours to tell her parents about the abduction, because she had heard the threat that the abductor had said to Elizabeth directly.

Now, Mary Catherine, we also understand, saw the abductor in the house two times, once in the room, and a federal law enforcement official tells us that the second sighting was in a hallway.

Now, despite all of these changes, family members say that they are still confident the police are doing a good job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM SMART, ELIZABETH'S UNCLE: We stand 100 percent behind the police, the FBI, the volunteer effort. We stand 100 percent behind them. Have we been frustrated? You bet we have been frustrated, because nobody has a sense of urgency, and nobody wants this to be focused on Elizabeth more than us.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LAVANDERA: Police say that the culprit is a trusted member of perhaps the neighborhood or the community here in Salt Lake City. And a law enforcement official also tells CNN that they are following -- quote -- "fairly good leads in the state of Utah."

Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Ed, thank you. Ed Lavandera in Salt Lake.

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