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American Morning

Interview With Bob Doyle

Aired August 29, 2002 - 07:15   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A 9-year-old California boy abducted from his home early yesterday is still missing. Now, police say that Nicholas Michael Farber may be a victim of a custody dispute between his parents. The boy was taken by two men, who broke into his home and beat up his father.
Joining us now from Riverside, California with the latest on the case is Sheriff-Elect Bob Doyle.

Sheriff, good morning -- thanks for joining us so early on this Thursday morning.

SHERIFF-ELECT BOB DOYLE, RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Good morning -- my pleasure.

KAGAN: Any leads in this case at this point?

DOYLE: No updates at this time. We are still looking for the gray pickup truck, and we are still pleading for Debra Rose to come forward and speak to us.

KAGAN: We want to get to some of the descriptions of the truck and some of the suspects in a moment. But what about Debra Rose? This is Nicholas' mother. There is something strange here. She has not been heard from since this abduction took place.

Is she a suspect in this case?

DOYLE: At this point in time, we just want to talk to her. She is not listed as a suspect at this time.

KAGAN: Do you find it strange, though, that her child has been kidnapped, and she hasn't even come forward?

DOYLE: We do. We certainly do, and that's why we need to talk to her.

KAGAN: I understand that Nicholas only recently began living with his father in Southern California. Can you tell me about that?

DOYLE: You know, I don't know a lot about that. We have been pretty much focused on Nicholas' safety and concern about that.

KAGAN: Well, so, you have no leads, you have no direction in terms of which direction this car might have taken off?

DOYLE: We, at this time, do not know where Debra Rose is, and we do not know where that car is at.

KAGAN: And why don't you make the next step in calling her a suspect, putting the word out, trying to find her, have law enforcement officials across the country try to look for her, as well as her little boy?

DOYLE: Well, because at this time, she is not a suspect. We have gotten many leads in this case, and this is certainly a strong lead that we are pursuing. But we need to talk to her about Nicholas.

KAGAN: Can you tell us any other leads?

DOYLE: No, not at this time.

KAGAN: All right, let's go ahead and put some of the descriptions up -- first, Nicholas. How would you describe him?

DOYLE: Well, he looks like a healthy 9-year-old boy.

KAGAN: OK, what about the suspects in the case?

DOYLE: Well, we have put out a composite on one of the suspects. The other suspect was masked. We do not have a facial description, although he was described as 6'3, about 240, 250 pounds.

KAGAN: And, Sheriff Doyle, let me ask you this. I think it was earlier this summer that your department used the "Amber Alert" across California for the two missing teenage girls, but you haven't used the "Amber Alert" in this case. Why not?

DOYLE: Well, we did use the "Amber Alert." There was a decision by our personnel and the California Highway Patrol not to use the freeway signs for the vehicle description, because we just did not have enough of a vehicle description. All we had was a white SUV-type vehicle.

KAGAN: So there is an "Amber Alert" out now for Nicholas Farber?

DOYLE: Well, we do not -- we're not using the freeway signs, but all of the law enforcement in California has -- and throughout the western states are aware of the descriptions and the information that we have put out on the suspects and on Debra Rose.

KAGAN: All right, well, we will be following this story. We wish you well in trying to find this little boy and bring him back safely.

Sheriff-Elect Bob Doyle from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department -- thank you, sir.

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