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American Morning

Investigators Remove Items from Ricci's Home

Aired June 28, 2002 - 07:00   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: First up this morning in our "Up Front" segment, new information, as we mentioned, in the disappearance of Elizabeth Smart, investigators discovering items of clothing belonging to the handyman, Richard Ricci, and removing them from both his and his father-in-law's homes. They match the description of items reportedly worn by Smart's abductor back on the 5th of June.

Jeanne Meserve, the first to report this yesterday, she is up early again this morning live in Salt Lake -- Jeanne, good morning.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Richard Ricci's father-in-law and law enforcement sources say that a white Polo shirt and tan pants were taken from the closet in Richard Ricci's trailer by investigators. In addition, the father-in-law, David Morse, says some items were taken from his trailer as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MORSE, RICCI'S FATHER-IN-LAW: I gave them the machete blade that I used to trim these tree limbs off and a golf hat I had that matched the descriptions. It has been hanging in my kitchen. And that's all -- that's all they took from here.

MESERVE (on camera): Did Richard ever use either of those items?

MORSE: No, no, no.

MESERVE: You sure he wasn't using either one of them the night of the abduction?

MORSE: Oh, I am positive, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Now, law enforcement sources tell me they are not at all sure that the machete is relevant to their investigation, and Richard Ricci's mother-in-law, Roxie (ph) Morse, points out that many American men would have white Polo shirts and tan pants in their closet, but the abductor has been described by Mary Catherine, Elizabeth's younger sister, as wearing a tan golf hat, tan pants and a white Polo shirt.

Now, in addition, there is new information coming out about Richard Ricci's white Jeep. A mechanic says that Ricci took that Jeep out of his shop in the days before the abduction, and when he returned the Jeep a few days after the abduction, Ricci was in a bad mood, the Jeep was very dirty, and there was an additional 1,000 miles on the odometer. The mechanic says Ricci then took a seat cover and a post hole digger out of the vehicle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NETH MOUL, MECHANIC: He put that seat cover, because I saw it, because I looked at him and he kept the seat cover in a big plastic bag. OK, one, and then he tied it up, he carried that plastic bag out along with what they call a post digger. You know, he goes for the front of the shop, but -- and then, you know, he came back. I saw him, he was taking another bag. So he came in tied together and put on, you know, the post digger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: Now, Ricci's in-laws say they don't think the Jeep even had seat covers. And one addition to this story, the mechanic said when he asked Ricci how he was getting home, Ricci said he had a friend waiting, and he waved to a man across the street. The pertinent investigator would seem to be -- the pertinent question for investigators at this point would seem to be if the mechanic story is accurate, who is that second man -- Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Fascinating developments. Jeanne, as you well know, we will see if indeed they lead anywhere -- Jeanne Meserve again early today in Salt Lake City.

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