Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Suspected Arrested in California Abduction Case
Aired June 10, 2003 - 07:03 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: Back to California. The suspect in the adoption -- abduction, rather, of a 9-year-old girl is to be charged with kidnapping, felony assault and sexual assault. Twenty-four-year- old David Cruz was arrested just blocks from where he's accused of takc ing the girl from her home.
Dan Lothian is watching the case for us live today in San Jose.
Dan -- good morning there.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.
LOTHIAN: This really is an amazing story, because police were able to track down the suspect because of the help that they received from that young victim. She was able to tell them about the suspect ordering pizza from a local pizza shop. They were able to go there and get an address. Eventually, they moved in yesterday morning early.
They went into a home a few blocks away from the victim's home, found him hiding in the attic. He refused to come down. In fact, he put up a fight and was finally cornered with the help of a police dog.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): Tears run down Rosalie Tamayo's swollen face, the mother injured trying to fight off her daughter's kidnapper, relieved that her three-day nightmare is over and that a suspect, David Montiel Cruz, is behind bars.
Her words in Spanish flowing without pause: "When you feel you lose a child," she says, "it is like the feeling of dying."
MAYOR RON GONZALES, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: Her family has been through a great deal of pain. Her neighborhood has been through a great deal of pain.
LOTHIAN: The 9-year-old victim, who police say may have been sexually assaulted, turned up at this convenience store Sunday night, more than 20 miles from her San Jose home where she was abducted on Friday. The store's owner called 911 after questioning the frightened fourth grader, who had asked to use the phone.
ISA YASSIN, STORE OWNER: I asked her, 'How old are you?' She said, "9." So, right away I figured out she's the one missing from San Jose. LOTHIAN: From this street where a neighbor's surveillance tape captured the bold daytime crime, the 9-year-old returned from school and encounters the waiting attacker. Her mother and brother show up a few minutes later and become victims, too. The suspect, who had pulled his car into the family's garage, speeds off with the young girl.
The FBI, 150 local police and search-and-rescue teams from seven counties launched a massive manhunt. The surveillance tape is released, along with this sketch of the suspect.
Late last night, the first big break, the young girl is found at this store shaken, but safe.
CHIEF WILLIAM LANSDOWNE, SAN JOSE POLICE: I have never seen such a courageous little girl.
LOTHIAN: Early this morning a few blocks from the crime scene, police arrest the suspect and find crucial evidence.
LANSDOWNE: The physical injuries that he has on his person match the circumstances of this situation.
LOTHIAN: The 9-year-old's mother is now warning other parents to be more vigilant, so they won't ever have to walk in her shoes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Cruz, by the way, is expected to be arraigned tomorrow. He is expected to be charged with, among other things, as you mentioned earlier, Bill, kidnapping and sexual assault -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dan Lothian live in San Jose. Dan, thanks for that.
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 June 10, 2003 - 07:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to California. The suspect in the adoption -- abduction, rather, of a 9-year-old girl is to be charged with kidnapping, felony assault and sexual assault. Twenty-four-year- old David Cruz was arrested just blocks from where he's accused of takc ing the girl from her home.
Dan Lothian is watching the case for us live today in San Jose.
Dan -- good morning there.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.
LOTHIAN: This really is an amazing story, because police were able to track down the suspect because of the help that they received from that young victim. She was able to tell them about the suspect ordering pizza from a local pizza shop. They were able to go there and get an address. Eventually, they moved in yesterday morning early.
They went into a home a few blocks away from the victim's home, found him hiding in the attic. He refused to come down. In fact, he put up a fight and was finally cornered with the help of a police dog.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): Tears run down Rosalie Tamayo's swollen face, the mother injured trying to fight off her daughter's kidnapper, relieved that her three-day nightmare is over and that a suspect, David Montiel Cruz, is behind bars.
Her words in Spanish flowing without pause: "When you feel you lose a child," she says, "it is like the feeling of dying."
MAYOR RON GONZALES, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: Her family has been through a great deal of pain. Her neighborhood has been through a great deal of pain.
LOTHIAN: The 9-year-old victim, who police say may have been sexually assaulted, turned up at this convenience store Sunday night, more than 20 miles from her San Jose home where she was abducted on Friday. The store's owner called 911 after questioning the frightened fourth grader, who had asked to use the phone.
ISA YASSIN, STORE OWNER: I asked her, 'How old are you?' She said, "9." So, right away I figured out she's the one missing from San Jose. LOTHIAN: From this street where a neighbor's surveillance tape captured the bold daytime crime, the 9-year-old returned from school and encounters the waiting attacker. Her mother and brother show up a few minutes later and become victims, too. The suspect, who had pulled his car into the family's garage, speeds off with the young girl.
The FBI, 150 local police and search-and-rescue teams from seven counties launched a massive manhunt. The surveillance tape is released, along with this sketch of the suspect.
Late last night, the first big break, the young girl is found at this store shaken, but safe.
CHIEF WILLIAM LANSDOWNE, SAN JOSE POLICE: I have never seen such a courageous little girl.
LOTHIAN: Early this morning a few blocks from the crime scene, police arrest the suspect and find crucial evidence.
LANSDOWNE: The physical injuries that he has on his person match the circumstances of this situation.
LOTHIAN: The 9-year-old's mother is now warning other parents to be more vigilant, so they won't ever have to walk in her shoes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Cruz, by the way, is expected to be arraigned tomorrow. He is expected to be charged with, among other things, as you mentioned earlier, Bill, kidnapping and sexual assault -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dan Lothian live in San Jose. Dan, thanks for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
