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CNN Sunday Morning

Search for Elizabeth Smart Yields No Results

Aired June 09, 2002 - 08:17   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: Intense search for a missing Utah girl is turning up nothing but frustration for authorities. Salt Lake City police have questioned a man in Elizabeth Smart's disappearance, but have gained no new leads. Our James Hattori joins us now live from Salt Lake City with the latest. Good morning, James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra. Four and a half days after the kidnapping of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, investigators, as you say, sadly continue to hit dead ends. One of the latest coming yesterday. They released a composite sketch of a man who supposedly had contact with Elizabeth some time prior to her disappearance, but within hours of releasing the sketch, police found the man, they questioned him and determined he was not relevant to the case.

Now, despite the lack of progress or perhaps because of it, the parents of Elizabeth made an appearance here at the hospital, which is serving as a search command center, to thank the volunteers. More than 1,000 come out each day to look for clues. Ed and Lois Smart they say they believe in their hearts that their daughter is still alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED SMART, ELIZABETH'S FATHER: Whoever this person is out there that has her is going to soften his heart and see that he needs to let her come home. She is missed deeply by the community, by us. We just -- we want her home. We really want her home.

LOIS SMART, ELIZABETH'S MOTHER: And Elizabeth, if you can hear us, we love you, Elizabeth. We haven't forgotten, and everybody wants you back, and we won't stop until you're home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HATTORI: An emotional boost, obviously, for many of the members of the community who are out here everyday looking for clues.

Now, a church service and a candlelight vigil are planned for later today. And of course, the volunteers will be out here again later this morning to resume their search -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: James Hattori, live in Salt Lake, thank you.

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