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CNN Live Event/Special

Smart Family News Conference

Aired July 02, 2002 - 13:20   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go to Salt Lake City, where Lois Smart is now addressing reporters.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

LOIS SMART, MOTHER OF MISSING GIRL: ...and you picked Betsy Ross. And then you proceeded to find about -- out about her as much as you could, and you then dressed up like Betsy Ross. Remember stuffing your skirt with a newspaper? It was wonderful, Elizabeth, and I will never forget you dressing up like that.

You did an excellent job. But, also, I kept thinking, I thought the reason you picked Betsy Ross was because she made an impression upon you. And she too had many hardships in her life. She lost two husbands, babies in infancy, but you know, she persevered, and she sewed a beautiful flag that we now have and celebrate the birth of our country.

And Elizabeth, you're a lot like her. You're very strong. You persevere. You won't give up, and you will make a difference in many people's lives. I want you to know how much we love you. We think about you every day. We will not give up until you're home with us. And I want to thank the many friends that you have, and neighbors, and schoolmates who continually send their love and support for you. We love you, Elizabeth.

ED SMART, FATHER OF MISSING GIRL: In addition, we -- both Lois and I -- want to thank all of those people, who have been doing endless searches. And it is -- it's just incredible and tremendous, the continual help that we've received, to think that this has been going for over a month now is unbelievable. But the fact that there are so many people out there still willing to help us try and find her, and being so supportive, is very uplifting and very supporting to us.

And we want to thank everyone out there for all that they've been doing. In addition to the searchers, the suppliers, all of those who have been helping in producing the pamphlets, the brochures, and everything that's been going on out there. We still feel as strongly as ever that Elizabeth is out there, that she is still waiting for us to find her. And we want to find her.

We're just asking that, you know, over the 4th of July holiday, that you keep your eyes open for her. You know, we don't know what it's going to take in finding her, but we know that everyone keeping their eyes open is going to help, and we appreciate all of your support, and for everything that everyone has done. Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Daily briefing from Salt Lake City today...

E. SMART: I will -- I would like to just comment to that effect. You know, I know that the police have definitely had a focus on Richard. I know that they are taking other possibilities out there. And above all, I want them to know how much we appreciate their support and all of the workers that have been out there, the FBI, the police, the state department that has been helping us, and we really want them to know how much we appreciate their help, and that we want to do anything to help make this thing go forward. Thanks.

PHILLIPS: All right, now, wrapping up...

CYNTHIA SMART OWENS, MISSING GIRL'S AUNT: One more thing I would just like to add. This is such an epidemic problem, this -- non- family abductions -- we would just like to encourage everybody to be as united for all of the children throughout the country and throughout the world as they have been for Elizabeth.

We are so grateful. Again, I would just like to share our family statement. We have it on a flier but -- We will not live in fear. We are watching. We are united. We are praying. We will never, ever give up. We are all family.

If people will tie these blue ribbons around their communities to show that they are watching, they're watching for all of the children, and let these predators know that we will not tolerate it. We would appreciate that very much. We'll also...

PHILLIPS: All right. That's 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart's aunt addressing reporters there. And this wasn't, obviously, a briefing for reporters about the investigation, or any facts about the investigation or possible suspects, but rather a very emotional type of news conference, the aunt reiterating just that they will not have fear, they remain united right now.

Ed Smart asking everyone in the area to keep looking for his daughter. And then Lois Smart -- she's done this a few times now during the news conferences, and that is she speaks to Elizabeth through the cameras and reminds her of stories where she remained very strong and very motivated and persevered through difficult times.

So once, again Lois Smart getting up to podium and talking to Elizabeth, and reminding her of when she dressed up as Betsy Ross, and comparing Betsy Ross' strengths to her daughter's strengths. Tough time for this family. But, obviously, they're keeping hope alive and remaining very faithful.

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