Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Police Release Audiotape of Woman Claiming to be Mateo's Mother
Aired June 13, 2003 - 07:36 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We go to Bakersfield, California now. That is where police have released an audiotape of a phone call from a woman who claims to be the mother of 2-year-old Mateo. He's that little boy that they found wandering the city streets last month in the middle of the night.
Thelma Gutierrez has the latest from Bakersfield.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They call him Mateo. No one knows his real name or even how old he is. All police know is that he was found three and a half weeks ago abandoned in Bakersfield, California.
(on camera): It was late at night. Mateo was found right here in the middle of this intersection all alone. Police aren't sure how he got here or even who his parents are. And now they've exhausted all leads except for an anonymous telephone call.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I left him because we are being mistreated by my husband. After all, if something happens to me, I don't want anything to happen to my baby. If he could be adopted, I would appreciate it, because I'm sick with cancer and I can die any minute.
GUTIERREZ: The woman claiming to be the mother also said the boy's name is not Mateo, but Jesus Peres Flores. Investigators have checked databases for the name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you seen this baby in the neighborhood at all?
GUTIERREZ: And they've hung fliers all over town. And they've made countless appeals to the Spanish speaking public.
Still, no luck.
Now, the Bakersfield public defender, who is Mateo's legal representative, hopes to speed up the adoption process, and that means severing the parents' rights. Dozens of people have expressed interest in adopting Mateo.
Elizabeth Moreno is one of them. She says his story has touched her heart. ELIZABETH MORENO, CONCERNED CITIZEN: Adoption crossed my mind simply because if you've seen him, he is such a loveable little boy. I mean he is so warm.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: Investigators believe that that audiotape may be credible. They say that the caller described in detail what the boy was wearing, details that were not released out to the public. And, of course, they want this woman to come forward. They want the parents to come forward because if they don't, within four months, the public defender, who now represents the little boy, says that their parental rights will be severed -- Daryn, back to you.
KAGAN: And I guess that would mean ultimately he would find a home with a family who really wants him.
GUTIERREZ: That's exactly right. And they're hoping to speed up that adoption process because they say that many, many people have come forward, lots of people reaching out, waiting to take this little boy into their homes.
KAGAN: Understandable. He is absolutely adorable.
Thelma, thank you so much 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
Mother>
Aired June 13, 2003 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We go to Bakersfield, California now. That is where police have released an audiotape of a phone call from a woman who claims to be the mother of 2-year-old Mateo. He's that little boy that they found wandering the city streets last month in the middle of the night.
Thelma Gutierrez has the latest from Bakersfield.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They call him Mateo. No one knows his real name or even how old he is. All police know is that he was found three and a half weeks ago abandoned in Bakersfield, California.
(on camera): It was late at night. Mateo was found right here in the middle of this intersection all alone. Police aren't sure how he got here or even who his parents are. And now they've exhausted all leads except for an anonymous telephone call.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I left him because we are being mistreated by my husband. After all, if something happens to me, I don't want anything to happen to my baby. If he could be adopted, I would appreciate it, because I'm sick with cancer and I can die any minute.
GUTIERREZ: The woman claiming to be the mother also said the boy's name is not Mateo, but Jesus Peres Flores. Investigators have checked databases for the name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you seen this baby in the neighborhood at all?
GUTIERREZ: And they've hung fliers all over town. And they've made countless appeals to the Spanish speaking public.
Still, no luck.
Now, the Bakersfield public defender, who is Mateo's legal representative, hopes to speed up the adoption process, and that means severing the parents' rights. Dozens of people have expressed interest in adopting Mateo.
Elizabeth Moreno is one of them. She says his story has touched her heart. ELIZABETH MORENO, CONCERNED CITIZEN: Adoption crossed my mind simply because if you've seen him, he is such a loveable little boy. I mean he is so warm.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUTIERREZ: Investigators believe that that audiotape may be credible. They say that the caller described in detail what the boy was wearing, details that were not released out to the public. And, of course, they want this woman to come forward. They want the parents to come forward because if they don't, within four months, the public defender, who now represents the little boy, says that their parental rights will be severed -- Daryn, back to you.
KAGAN: And I guess that would mean ultimately he would find a home with a family who really wants him.
GUTIERREZ: That's exactly right. And they're hoping to speed up that adoption process because they say that many, many people have come forward, lots of people reaching out, waiting to take this little boy into their homes.
KAGAN: Understandable. He is absolutely adorable.
Thelma, thank you so much 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
Mother>
