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American Morning

Interview with Ed Smart

Aired September 02, 2002 - 08:16   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The family of Elizabeth Smart offered condolences this weekend to the widow of Richard Ricci. The former handyman who did work in the Smart house and was considered a possible suspect in the teenage girl's disappearance died on Friday. He had suffered a stroke. Authorities thought he may have known more about Elizabeth's abduction than he let on. But now they will never know for sure.
Elizabeth Smart's father Ed Smart joins us this morning from Salt Lake City.

Mr. Smart, good morning.

Thanks for joining us.

ED SMART, ELIZABETH SMART'S FATHER: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Explain to me how is it possible to offer sincere condolences for a man who might have had something to do with your daughter's disappearance?

SMART: Well, my feeling is that Angela has been through a fair amount and I do offer my condolences to her. You know, I know she's been through a lot. You know, Richard is, you know, had his problems and, you know, I still feel that Richard is there, that he was involved in the abduction of my daughter. So I, you know, I...

KAGAN: Well, with that, let me ask you, are you afraid, then, now he goes to his grave with those secrets?

SMART: You know, Richard was not forthcoming. He would not, he was, he could have come forward a number of times and never did. So I've been disappointed so many times with him that I, you know, was not feeling like he would potentially come forward.

KAGAN: Do you think it's possible that other people were involved besides Richard Ricci?

SMART: I absolutely do. I feel, you know, last Friday we announced the reward of $3,000 for information leading to the person who walked away with Richard from the auto mechanics. That's an issue that we really want to find out about. Another one is my wife's sister had an attempted burglary that was, that had many similarities close to our abduction and we need to have that resolved, also.

KAGAN: Yes, I want to ask you about that in just a second. So, but your hope right now lies with that there are people out there, you believe, who know what happened to Elizabeth and that they should still come forward?

SMART: That's right.

KAGAN: Let me ask you, do you still believe Elizabeth is alive? Are you still holding out that hope?

SMART: I still am holding out that hope that Elizabeth is alive. I know the odds aren't in our favor, but I still am.

KAGAN: And I ask this question with all due respect, sir. We're coming up on three months since Elizabeth disappeared. I imagine the scene around your house is much different than it was in early June and on into July. Some things have calmed down.

How is the family doing and how do you somehow get into some sort of routine while still keeping up the hope and the search for your daughter?

SMART: Well, school started so the kids this past week were back in school. You know, that certainly helps the routine. You know, it's hard. We're still constantly praying for Elizabeth. She's still in our thoughts. We, you know, we've got to find her regardless of what the outcome is. We've just got to find her. So we are doing everything that we possibly can to try and further that.

KAGAN: And let me ask you about this incident at your son-in- law's house. There, someone tried to break into that house, as well, in a way that was very similar to what happened at your house. Explain to me how this wrought iron chair plays into it.

SMART: Well, there was a chair in the back of our house leaned up against the house that made it appear as if the person who cut the screen might have gotten up on that. There was also a couple of chairs at the back of the window where the screen was cut with my wife's sister's home. And so we don't know if this is a copycat or what the situation is. But we do need to get it resolved.

KAGAN: And you...

SMART: My niece...

KAGAN: Go ahead.

SMART: My niece was sleeping in the room the night this person tried to break in and, you know, had it not been for a picture that was on the window ledge that fell to the floor and woke everyone up, we have no idea what would have happened.

KAGAN: And you're hoping by releasing this information that you're going to keep the story alive in the public's mind and encourage whoever might know something, even if it's just a little thing, to come forward and share that information?

SMART: That's right.

KAGAN: Well, our thoughts and our hopes are with you, and I know this continues to be an incredibly difficult situation for your family.

Thanks for joining us this morning.

SMART: Thank you.

KAGAN: Ed Smart, thank you so much.

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