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CNN Saturday Morning News

Ricci Issues Statement

Aired June 29, 2002 - 09:25   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: Handyman under police scrutiny in Elizabeth Smart's disappearance has issued a statement through his attorney. And in it, Richard Albert Ricci says he knows nothing about the 14-year-old's disappearance of her -- or her whereabouts, and feels he is being targeted because of his past.

CNN's Ed Lavandera joins us from Salt Lake City.

Ed, I don't know, they're looking pretty hard at him and taking a lot from his home and car.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They sure are, he's getting a lot of scrutiny, although police still say he's not an official suspect in this case.

So much evidence has trickled out throughout the week that we haven't heard anything from Richard Ricci until last night in a statement that his attorney put out, where he says that he has cooperated fully with the FBI, police, and APP -- APP is the Adult Parole and Probation Department here in Utah. "I have taken polygraph tests and been through 26 hours of questioning, given blood and DNA and surrendered my vehicle. The police and FBI have searched my home and shed and have even dug up my garden, and they have found nothing.

"I think the reason I'm involved is because of my past. I would not nor could not hurt a child in any way."

And that's some of the first words that we've heard directly from Richard Ricci in a statement put out from his attorney last night.

And joining us now is Chris Thomas, a spokesperson for the Smart family. Chris, I think this has to put the Smart family in a difficult situation. Although they'd like -- they want their situation resolved, this man isn't a suspect. Is the Smart family put in -- feel like they're put in a difficult situation with what's going on this week?

CHRIS THOMAS, SMART FAMILY SPOKESMAN: There have been a lot of suspicious details that have come out in the media this week. But the Smart family does not know whether or not Ricci was involved in any way in this crime. They're really leaving that in the hands of the authorities and channeling their energy into things that they can do.

They've been very involved with the search effort. They've worked at the command post. They've been speaking to the media as well as to a number of community groups, and really keeping their focus on finding Elizabeth.

LAVANDERA: And it's -- I guess it's difficult not to ride these waves of all this evidence that comes out, whether or not it's significant or not significant, at this point is hard to say. Is it, is it, is it difficult for them?

THOMAS: Yes, I -- to a degree it is. It really has been a roller coaster, and I think they've learned to temper their emotions and not give too much credence to any one development. Again, leaving the kind of the who-dunnit to the authorities, and focusing their efforts on finding her. Because they still don't have Elizabeth back, and they still need everybody's help in keeping their eyes and ears open for her.

LAVANDERA: The sense that we get, perhaps, from what the way investigators are working this case is, they're looking for who committed the crime, and hopefully that will lead them to Elizabeth. Whereas you guys and the family are working for finding Elizabeth.

Do you think any way works better, is more effective than the other?

THOMAS: Well, I think each group has their specific tasks, and obviously there's a lot of areas where they juxtapose. So, you know, obviously the family is anxious to get her back. They -- to give you an update on them, they're doing remarkably well. They surprise me with their courage and their faith. They still believe very strongly that she's alive, and they're focusing their efforts on bringing her home.

LAVANDERA: Great, Chris, thank you very much. And I wish the family the best through all of this.

THOMAS: Thank you.

LAVANDERA: It has been more than three weeks since Elizabeth Smart's been missing, so the search continues here in Salt Lake City.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Ed Lavandera, live from Salt Lake. Thanks, Ed.

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