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CNN Saturday Morning News
Police Set Back in Search for Smart
Aired June 15, 2002 - 09:08 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A major setback this morning in the search for 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. A man spotted in Texas yesterday who fit the description of Bret Michael Edmunds turned out to be someone else.
Our James Hattori's in Salt Lake City, where investigators are now back to square one.
No doubt very frustrating, James.
JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra, perhaps not square one, but certainly the square at which investigators have been stuck now for several days. Police still very much want to talk to 26-year- old Bret Michael Edmunds. He's the man who was spotted driving suspiciously in the neighborhood where Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped prior to her disappearance, and he was also spotted at her candlelight vigil last weekend.
They say he's not a suspect but could know something. Authorities in Texas and New Mexico thought they had Edmunds yesterday when they picked up an unidentified man resembling Edmunds for stealing cars. That was in Hereford, Texas. Turned out it wasn't him.
Investigators here in Salt Lake City think Edmunds may still be in this area.
Now, the search for Elizabeth Smart, at least by volunteers, is shifting. We've seen in all thousands of local residents come through a centralized command post every morning over the past 10 days. That's changing, though. Elizabeth Smart's family now says it wants that effort to go on but organized at a neighborhood level. They want block watch and other civic groups to check every field, basement, and other nook and cranny across the state.
As for the official investigation, police say they continue to make progress. They have not ruled out anyone as a suspect. They were back at the Smart family home yesterday with police dogs looking for evidence.
Kyra, it's day 10 of the investigation, still no suspects, still no apparent motive. There is an abundance of hope, though, especially by the part -- on the part of Elizabeth Smart's family -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: James Hattori from Salt Lake, thank you.
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