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CNN Sunday Morning

Authorities Look in Vain for Jennifer Short

Aired August 18, 2002 - 09:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In southwest Virginia, more than 200 people combed 100 square miles, looking in vain for signs of Jennifer Short. She is the 9-year-old who hasn't been seen since her parents were found shot to death in their home on Thursday morning. CNN's Jeanne Meserve joining us now from Virginia with the very latest -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, we're going to get a briefing in about an hour's time from the sheriff's department, bringing us up to date on overnight developments, if there have been any. We want to show you some videotape which CNN obtained yesterday of young Jennifer. You see her jumping with friends on a trampoline. The girls then all fall down on top of one another, are mugging and hamming it up for the camera.

This videotape gives you a much better sense of what this little girl looks like than any of the still pictures have. You see her face in motion. You get a little bit of a sense of her personality.

Now, this videotape was shot back in April. Since then, Jennifer has gotten her haircut, and last evening the sheriff's department here released some new photographs of her with this new shorter haircut. They are hoping that these new pictures will prompt some new calls. They say they've been a little bit disappointed in the calls they've gotten, despite the Amber alert and the nationwide publicity. They hope this will provoke a little bit more.

The big headline yesterday, as you mentioned, the suspension of the search effort. The volunteer searchers here had gone over a significant area of ground. They felt they had done it pretty thoroughly and it was pointless to do it anymore, unless they had some specific direction. The sheriff's department agreed, and so that search has been put on hold for the time being, although it will resume if and when authorities feel it should be.

The investigation thus continues with interviews and re- interviews of family and friends and business associates of Mr. Short. Important because yesterday the sheriff said he does believe that this crime was committed by somebody who knew the family and who was familiar with the home.

But the bottom line is this: There still is no sign of young Jennifer Short. There is no suspect. There is no motive. We'll hear more in another hour's time. Catherine, back to you.

CALLAWAY: That's right. Thank you, Jeanne. Jeanne Meserve. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com