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CNN Saturday Morning News
Interview With Jim Wideman
Aired July 27, 2002 - 07:08 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.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, back to the abduction and killing of little Cassandra Williamson. The death of the little girl known to her family and friends as Casey has stunned her neighbors in suburban St. Louis, Missouri.
For Cassandra's family, the pain beyond measure.
We get more now from Nancy Pasternak of our affiliate KTVI.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And when he came out of the bathroom, she was gone. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
NANCY PASTERNAK, REPORTER, KTVI (voice-over): A mother's heartbreak turns to devastation Friday afternoon as her daughter, 6- year-old Casey Williamson, is found dead just miles from the family home.
JIM WIDEMAN, VICTIM'S GRANDFATHER: Her family's gathered around her, and she cried in my arms for a long time. And her mother's with her.
PASTERNAK: Neighbors rushed to the family home with flowers, teddy bears, and words of support. They had spent hours scouring the area for the 6-year-old. Now they only have memories.
LAURI ROBERTS, NEIGHBOR: Just a sweet little girl, just one of these other kids that ran around the neighborhood.
PASTERNAK: Investigators say Casey's body was found covered in debris in the old glassworks factory, a known hangout for drug users. The suspect, 24-year-old Johnny Johnson, allegedly confessed to police. Investigators won't say how the little girl died.
Johnson has a minor arrest record. Now he's facing an accusation of murder.
CHIEF RON BATTELLE, ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE: It's a sad conclusion. But now we're going to work hard to gather the evidence to hopefully put him in jail and maybe even the death penalty, you know, which he probably deserves if he did in fact do this.
PASTERNAK: Valley Park residents James and Alice Schwartz were horrified when they heard of Johnson's arrest. They knew his family years ago. They say the young man had a strange demeanor.
JAMES SCHWARTZ, VALLEY PARK RESIDENT: He's a hard man to talk to. He acted like he didn't half understand what you were saying. And he was unresponsive. He's not a conversationalist.
PASTERNAK: Casey's grandfather tells me he's hoping for justice, but he knows it won't bring Casey back, and he has only memories of his little girl.
WIDEMAN: She loved riding her bicycle, she loved to sing. She could sing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: That was Nancy Pasternak reporting from our affiliate KTVI.
Well, a short time ago I had a chance to talk to Casey Williamson's grandfather, who was featured in the report that we just saw about the family's tragic loss. Listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WIDEMAN: Isn't any -- there's nothing I can just do for anyone. We just do for each other right now. We just stay together and try to cope with the loss.
ROBERTS: Jim, can you take us back to yesterday to give us a brief timeline of when you realized that Casey was gone, and then when you alerted police.
WIDEMAN: All right, about a quarter to eight yesterday morning, my daughter called me and said that she couldn't find Casey. And I told her to search the house, both the houses, look in the yard, check to make sure she wasn't out riding her bike or something, which isn't -- wouldn't be totally unlikely of her.
And she called me back, crying, and said she couldn't find Casey. And I said, "Call the police, I'll be here, I'll be home just as soon as I can be there... "
ROBERTS: And police then made that discovery...
WIDEMAN: "... probably around 8:15."
ROBERTS: Police then made the discovery of your granddaughter's body at a glass factory not too far away from the house, and then arrested the suspect in this, Johnny Johnson. What do you and your family know about this man?
WIDEMAN: I personally don't -- I don't know Johnny Johnson. I know of his family. I know his sister. She was my daughter's age, and they've -- I've seen her -- she's actually been in my home before, several years ago. I really don't know Johnny Johnson.
ROBERTS: So what are authorities telling you today about the pending charges against Johnny Johnson? What's next in this?
WIDEMAN: They're -- he admitted it, and they're booking him for what -- what the chief said, murder. They're booking him for murder.
ROBERTS: Well, Jim Wideman, Cassandra Williamson's grandfather, again, we're very worry for your loss, but we appreciate you joining us this morning to explain how your family and you are dealing with this. Thanks again.
WIDEMAN: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Casey's abduction is one of several high-profile kidnappings and murders in recent weeks involving young girls.
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