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CNN Sunday Morning

Missing Michigan State Students Found

Aired August 10, 2003 - 08:09   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.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Worry lines turn to smiles for parents of two Michigan State University students. The couple, who disappeared from Cape Cod, was found at a central Florida motel. Reporter Teri Adler of our affiliate WHDH reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Where?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Florida.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my. Is he OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are they OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is he alive? Is he OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god.

TERI ADLER, WHDH CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sense of relief was indescribable as Leanne (ph) and Joe Gouveia heard their only son and his girlfriend were alive and well in Orlando, Florida.

JOSEPH GOUVEIA, JUSTIN'S DAD: Apparently they found him and they're fine. You know? And whenever they're ready, you know, to call their dad, I'm happy.

ADLER: The thrilling message was sent out nationwide. Cell phones were a treasured tool.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: they're in Orlando, Florida. Unbelievable.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so happy that they're alive and well. I'm so happy.

ADLER: Then Leanne (ph) heard from her 21-year-old son, Justin, for the first time in nine days since he disappeared with Danela Alfaro-Lopez from this Yarmouth Port bed and breakfast.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Call us when you want to talk, OK? You've done nothing wrong, Justin. All right? There was just a lot of people concerned for you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know it. There is a god. There is a god. ADLER: Gouveia's friends and family had gathered in Yarmouth to pass out missing persons posters. This grassroots effort, a police investigation, and national TV appearances were all part of a campaign to find the Michigan University students. But it was in Orlando that police came through for this family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Orange County Sheriff's Department was running license plates on vehicles parked at motels, which is a common police practice. We do the same thing.

ADLER: Meanwhile, in Michigan, more tears. Danela's family recalls their first words with their 19-year-old daughter in more than a week.

MARIA LOPEZ, DANELA LOPEZ' MOTHER: I'm just glad you're safe. Everything's going to be OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: That was Teri Adler from our affiliate WHDH out of Boston. Well, the couple told police they didn't tell their parents they were going to Florida because the parents wouldn't have approved of the trip. They've got to be thrilled now, though, with those kids.

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 August 10, 2003 - 08:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Worry lines turn to smiles for parents of two Michigan State University students. The couple, who disappeared from Cape Cod, was found at a central Florida motel. Reporter Teri Adler of our affiliate WHDH reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Where?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Florida.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my. Is he OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are they OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is he alive? Is he OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god.

TERI ADLER, WHDH CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sense of relief was indescribable as Leanne (ph) and Joe Gouveia heard their only son and his girlfriend were alive and well in Orlando, Florida.

JOSEPH GOUVEIA, JUSTIN'S DAD: Apparently they found him and they're fine. You know? And whenever they're ready, you know, to call their dad, I'm happy.

ADLER: The thrilling message was sent out nationwide. Cell phones were a treasured tool.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: they're in Orlando, Florida. Unbelievable.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so happy that they're alive and well. I'm so happy.

ADLER: Then Leanne (ph) heard from her 21-year-old son, Justin, for the first time in nine days since he disappeared with Danela Alfaro-Lopez from this Yarmouth Port bed and breakfast.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Call us when you want to talk, OK? You've done nothing wrong, Justin. All right? There was just a lot of people concerned for you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know it. There is a god. There is a god. ADLER: Gouveia's friends and family had gathered in Yarmouth to pass out missing persons posters. This grassroots effort, a police investigation, and national TV appearances were all part of a campaign to find the Michigan University students. But it was in Orlando that police came through for this family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Orange County Sheriff's Department was running license plates on vehicles parked at motels, which is a common police practice. We do the same thing.

ADLER: Meanwhile, in Michigan, more tears. Danela's family recalls their first words with their 19-year-old daughter in more than a week.

MARIA LOPEZ, DANELA LOPEZ' MOTHER: I'm just glad you're safe. Everything's going to be OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: That was Teri Adler from our affiliate WHDH out of Boston. Well, the couple told police they didn't tell their parents they were going to Florida because the parents wouldn't have approved of the trip. They've got to be thrilled now, though, with those kids.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com