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American Morning
Search for Dru Sjodin
Aired December 08, 2003 - 07:08 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: Now to North Dakota. Authorities will meet again today to decide what to do next in the Dru Sjodin case. The woman's father says family members will resume their search today -- in fact, this morning, they say. Authorities had suspended their search for her on Saturday.
Alfonso Rodriguez, accused of kidnapping Sjodin, but telling his attorney anyway that he did not do it.
Jeff Flock has the latest now live in Grand Forks this morning for us.
Jeff -- good morning there.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Bill, good morning. You want snow? We've got plenty of it here as well. It started falling overnight, and it will not be good conditions for the family this morning.
I talked to Allen Sjodin, Dru's father, last night. He said they got a tip on the Web site -- the finddru.com Website. If you haven't visited, you should take a look -- pictures of her there, good information about the search. They got a tip, he says, there that merits checking out this morning. So, family members will be out in the snow this morning to do that.
Fresh pictures of Dru, moving pictures, home video -- pictures that show a girl so alive; now missing for more than two weeks here. And, well, the search continues, and authorities still believe she could be alive, although it's been a long time.
I talked to Mike Kirby of the Grand Forks Police Department last night, and asked him point blank what is it that makes him most think she still could be alive?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. MIKE KIRBY, GRAND FORKS, N.D., POLICE DEPARTMENT: I think we just have to look at events like Elizabeth Smart and realize that as much as you might believe you've covered all of the angles and as much as you might have opinions about how things are going, anything is possible. And we don't want to close our eyes to any opportunities and we don't want to put blinders on and narrow our focus. We want to continue to move on that track and follow this criminal investigation as far as we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FLOCK: Of course, he refers to the Elizabeth Smart case. That's one that sort of ended in a miraculous fashion and in a good way. It's, in some sense, a nod to the fact this would also be something of a miracle if Dru Sjodin were to turn up now.
One other point about the Elizabeth Smart case, though, there was also an initial suspect in that case, who was arrested and jailed, although there wasn't clearly as much evidence, according to police, as there is against Mr. Rodriguez in this case. It's also important to note that someone is accused and not guilty until proven so.
So, we move on two tracks here, Bill: One, the search, which is continuing through the family. The other, the judicial part of this, Mr. Rodriguez won't have another court appearance for a couple months, but we may get the unsealing of that affidavit, the probable cause affidavit, which would give some more information about the evidence they have against Mr. Rodriguez, which authorities say is very strong -- Bill.
Jeff, thanks -- Jeff Flock there in Grand Forks.
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 December 8, 2003 - 07:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now to North Dakota. Authorities will meet again today to decide what to do next in the Dru Sjodin case. The woman's father says family members will resume their search today -- in fact, this morning, they say. Authorities had suspended their search for her on Saturday.
Alfonso Rodriguez, accused of kidnapping Sjodin, but telling his attorney anyway that he did not do it.
Jeff Flock has the latest now live in Grand Forks this morning for us.
Jeff -- good morning there.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Bill, good morning. You want snow? We've got plenty of it here as well. It started falling overnight, and it will not be good conditions for the family this morning.
I talked to Allen Sjodin, Dru's father, last night. He said they got a tip on the Web site -- the finddru.com Website. If you haven't visited, you should take a look -- pictures of her there, good information about the search. They got a tip, he says, there that merits checking out this morning. So, family members will be out in the snow this morning to do that.
Fresh pictures of Dru, moving pictures, home video -- pictures that show a girl so alive; now missing for more than two weeks here. And, well, the search continues, and authorities still believe she could be alive, although it's been a long time.
I talked to Mike Kirby of the Grand Forks Police Department last night, and asked him point blank what is it that makes him most think she still could be alive?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. MIKE KIRBY, GRAND FORKS, N.D., POLICE DEPARTMENT: I think we just have to look at events like Elizabeth Smart and realize that as much as you might believe you've covered all of the angles and as much as you might have opinions about how things are going, anything is possible. And we don't want to close our eyes to any opportunities and we don't want to put blinders on and narrow our focus. We want to continue to move on that track and follow this criminal investigation as far as we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FLOCK: Of course, he refers to the Elizabeth Smart case. That's one that sort of ended in a miraculous fashion and in a good way. It's, in some sense, a nod to the fact this would also be something of a miracle if Dru Sjodin were to turn up now.
One other point about the Elizabeth Smart case, though, there was also an initial suspect in that case, who was arrested and jailed, although there wasn't clearly as much evidence, according to police, as there is against Mr. Rodriguez in this case. It's also important to note that someone is accused and not guilty until proven so.
So, we move on two tracks here, Bill: One, the search, which is continuing through the family. The other, the judicial part of this, Mr. Rodriguez won't have another court appearance for a couple months, but we may get the unsealing of that affidavit, the probable cause affidavit, which would give some more information about the evidence they have against Mr. Rodriguez, which authorities say is very strong -- Bill.
Jeff, thanks -- Jeff Flock there in Grand Forks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
