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American Morning

Family Outing to Park Ends With Desperate Search For One Young Little Girl

Aired August 13, 2002 - 08:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A family outing to a park ending with a desperate search for one young little girl. LAPD issuing an amber alert for 4-year-old Jessica Cortez.
James Hattori live in Echo Park in Los Angeles with the latest from there -- James, good morning.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

What started out as a pleasant day in the park turned into a nightmare for friends and family of 4-year-old Jessica Cortez. She disappeared here at Echo Park northeast of downtown Los Angeles Sunday evening. Initially, police considered it an abduction. An amber alert was issued. Then her brother told police she may have drowned in the lake. But police last night returned to the kidnapping scenario after talking with witnesses who saw her with a stranger in the park.

Now, police have issued a composite sketch of the man. He's described as an African-American or Hispanic male, 20 to 25 years old, 5'8" to 6' tall, 160 pounds to 180 pounds wearing blue shorts and a white T-shirt and having a tattoo of a cross on his left leg.

Police say they want to talk to him. They have high hopes that they will lead to -- that he will lead to Jessica safe and sound. And he's not, and they're not alone.

Take a look over at the base of this tree here in the park. Someone has set aside a couple of teddy bears and a candle, very symbolic of the vigil Jessica's parents are now keeping -- Bill.

HEMMER: James, thank you.

James Hattori again live in L.A. this morning. We will watch that story and certainly keep our fingers crossed for good news with Jessica Cortez.

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