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American Morning
Search for Laci
Aired April 18, 2003 - 08:13 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: After the recent discovery of two bodies, the prosecutor investigating the disappearance of Laci Peterson told a newspaper in California -- I'm quoting now -- "I feel pretty strongly it is her. It's too much of a coincident to have a female and baby found close to each a day apart." The prosecutor added, "If I were a betting man, I'd put money on it."
Chris Filippi is covering this story for KFBK Radio, Modesto, California. He joins us live now from the Golden State.
Chris, what was the reaction when the prosecutor issued that statement?
CHRIS FILIPPI, KFBK RADIO: Well, I think it really was a bit of a surprise, because to this point, authorities have been very tight tight-lipped about the investigation, and surely the D.A.'s office here in Stanislaw County has been watching this investigation very closely. We know that they have been connected with the investigation in this process, and they've been trying to keep things very quiet.
So I think what really happened there is you had a district attorney who is used to basically speaking his mind to the local press, saying something that he probably wishes at this point he never really said.
HEMMER: Where has Scott been throughout all this?
FILIPPI: Well, that's really one of the big questions. And the only thing we can really say for certain at this point is that he has not been staying at his home on a regular basis. There have been some reports of him in the Modesto area over the last few days, but since the bodies were found earlier this week, there have been no public appearances by Scott. There had been some earlier word that he perhaps was in San Diego, staying with his family down there.
At this point, his family won't say anything about that. We can tell you, though, now he has an attorney here in Modesto, and that attorney has been staying in constant contact with Scott, although, again, he won't divulge his whereabouts. The thinking is he's somewhere in Modesto staying with a friend but not at his home.
HEMMER: What about the state crime lab and DNA? Do they have enough from the decomposed bodies right now that were found?
FILIPPI: Well, that really is an ongoing process. Really the focus now is trying to get a DNA sample from the unidentified woman that washed ashore on Monday morning. At this point, they are telling us that they do have enough DNA evidence on the baby's body to use that for DNA testing, but they are still analyzing, still working on the woman's body to determine if they can extract a sample from that and go on to the DNA testing from there.
HEMMER: Chris, listen, I know you're talking to a lot of people out there in California. We were told earlier in the week it could be weeks before they have a proper identification. Is that still the thinking based on the sources you're talking with?
FILIPPI: You know, I think it really depends who you talk with. Some of the people I've spoken with, they say it could be a matter of days instead of a matter of weeks. But there is a big difference between when they get the answers and when they release the answers to us. There is definitely a process here. One has a sense watching this investigation very closely that they want to be very tight-lipped about this for as much as possible. They want to get all their ducks in a row, because you have all sorts of investigative agencies involved in this process. They want to tell the family first. They want to make sure everything is lined up before they tell us. I think the inside track right now is that they may get an answer within the next few days, but as far as when they tell us, that could still be a week or two off.
HEMMER: Thank you, Chris. Chris Filippi, KFBK Radio, working their story there in Modesto.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 18, 2003 - 08:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: After the recent discovery of two bodies, the prosecutor investigating the disappearance of Laci Peterson told a newspaper in California -- I'm quoting now -- "I feel pretty strongly it is her. It's too much of a coincident to have a female and baby found close to each a day apart." The prosecutor added, "If I were a betting man, I'd put money on it."
Chris Filippi is covering this story for KFBK Radio, Modesto, California. He joins us live now from the Golden State.
Chris, what was the reaction when the prosecutor issued that statement?
CHRIS FILIPPI, KFBK RADIO: Well, I think it really was a bit of a surprise, because to this point, authorities have been very tight tight-lipped about the investigation, and surely the D.A.'s office here in Stanislaw County has been watching this investigation very closely. We know that they have been connected with the investigation in this process, and they've been trying to keep things very quiet.
So I think what really happened there is you had a district attorney who is used to basically speaking his mind to the local press, saying something that he probably wishes at this point he never really said.
HEMMER: Where has Scott been throughout all this?
FILIPPI: Well, that's really one of the big questions. And the only thing we can really say for certain at this point is that he has not been staying at his home on a regular basis. There have been some reports of him in the Modesto area over the last few days, but since the bodies were found earlier this week, there have been no public appearances by Scott. There had been some earlier word that he perhaps was in San Diego, staying with his family down there.
At this point, his family won't say anything about that. We can tell you, though, now he has an attorney here in Modesto, and that attorney has been staying in constant contact with Scott, although, again, he won't divulge his whereabouts. The thinking is he's somewhere in Modesto staying with a friend but not at his home.
HEMMER: What about the state crime lab and DNA? Do they have enough from the decomposed bodies right now that were found?
FILIPPI: Well, that really is an ongoing process. Really the focus now is trying to get a DNA sample from the unidentified woman that washed ashore on Monday morning. At this point, they are telling us that they do have enough DNA evidence on the baby's body to use that for DNA testing, but they are still analyzing, still working on the woman's body to determine if they can extract a sample from that and go on to the DNA testing from there.
HEMMER: Chris, listen, I know you're talking to a lot of people out there in California. We were told earlier in the week it could be weeks before they have a proper identification. Is that still the thinking based on the sources you're talking with?
FILIPPI: You know, I think it really depends who you talk with. Some of the people I've spoken with, they say it could be a matter of days instead of a matter of weeks. But there is a big difference between when they get the answers and when they release the answers to us. There is definitely a process here. One has a sense watching this investigation very closely that they want to be very tight-lipped about this for as much as possible. They want to get all their ducks in a row, because you have all sorts of investigative agencies involved in this process. They want to tell the family first. They want to make sure everything is lined up before they tell us. I think the inside track right now is that they may get an answer within the next few days, but as far as when they tell us, that could still be a week or two off.
HEMMER: Thank you, Chris. Chris Filippi, KFBK Radio, working their story there in Modesto.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
