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American Morning

Smart Family Receives Anonymous Letter

Aired July 11, 2002 - 10:19   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: We are going to turn now our attention to the search for Elizabeth Smart. She's the 14-year-old who disappeared more than a month ago. Now, an anonymous letter has been sent to her family. Our Mark Potter joins us from Salt Lake City with the latest on this letter. Mark, I would imagine this family has received a number of letters over the last month or so. Why is this one getting so much attention?

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're right. They've actually received thousands of letters, but this one has gotten attention because it's anonymous, and because it gives the family some measure of hope, some feeling that maybe the girl is still alive. But, I must stress, that police and even family members doubt the credibility of this letter.

Now, what happened is that yesterday, Ed Smart, the father of Elizabeth Smart, the missing girl, the missing 14-year-old, said that the family received a letter, an anonymous letter from someone, probably a woman, claiming to have heard from the abductor, and the letter says that the abductor wants to negotiate the release of the young girl. Now, even though Ed Smart questions the credibility of the letter, he is saying just in case it's real, he wants to reach out to the abductor.

ED SMART, ELIZABETH'S FATHER: I don't know how credible it is, and I'm just trying to be very up front with you, with regard to that. So, I don't you know, I don't know what the police feelings are. The real purpose in me coming out isn't saying that I received this letter, that you know I'm corresponding with this perpetrator, but my meaning is that I'm out here to try to address him, to ask him to please you know correspond with me to give me a reason to believe that he truly does have Elizabeth.

POTTER: Now, this unsigned letter contains no details on how the negotiation is to be carried out. There is no ransom demand, no credible information on Elizabeth herself, no proof that she is still alive, no credible proof.

Now, the police have looked at the letter. They have very serious doubts about its credibility. They point out that there have, indeed, been other hoaxes in this case already, including three phony ransom demands, and they are concentrating almost all their efforts now with their investigation on 48-year-old Richard Ricci. He's the former handyman at the Smart home. He's now in prison for alleged parole violations.

Later today, he's going to face some burglary and theft charges, filed by the state. Among the items that he will be accused of stealing are two bracelets and a perfume bottle from the Smart home itself, long before the abduction, some jewelry from a neighbor home, and tools, a pressure cleaner and a welder from a Home Depot. Again, no charges, however, have been filed in the abduction case, and Ricci denies any involvement in that, Daryn back to you.

KAGAN: Mark Potter in Salt Lake City, thank you so much.

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