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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview With Dan Michel

Aired July 27, 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.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: And in Missouri, the case that panicked, saddened, and angered the Valley Park community. Six-year- old Casey Williamson snatched from her kitchen and then murdered. Authorities say their suspect in the abduction, Johnny Johnson, led police right to Casey's body.

Joining us now live is the mayor, Dan Michel, of Valley Park, Missouri.

Sir, thanks so much for joining us this morning.

MAYOR DAN MICHEL, VALLEY PARK, MISSOURI: Good morning.

ROBERTS: I guess let's start off with how did the town react to this news? Obviously they rallied around, because there were over 100 searchers that helped try and find Casey right there when it was first reported that she was missing, correct?

MICHEL: That's correct. As soon as it was reported, the police came out on -- got on the scene, and then residents, as soon as they heard about it, started walking door to door with flyers, the -- you know, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to try to alert anyone to find her. Maybe she'd just gone to a neighbor to play with somebody and we didn't realize that she's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) was just -- realized was missing.

ROBERTS: We can only imagine the big impact that it's had there. We can see over your shoulder the balloons and flowers that are behind you. Is that Casey's house?

MICHEL: That is Casey's house, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) kind of shows the emotions that people have, outpouring of emotion and the grief of the town to kind of help out the -- It's a close-knit town here, and everyone kind of pulls together when anything happens, like when there's potential for a flood or anything. People always helping each other.

And it's just like a small family (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Small city atmosphere here, when it -- within -- near St. Louis, but it's kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) little town, everyone helps each other, and just would never have guessed something like this would happen in a Midwest town like this.

ROBERTS: And I'm sure you're in touch with the Williamson family. How are they ding? It's -- we can only imagine how they must be coping today. But with all the support that we're seeing there, hopefully that's giving them some comfort.

MICHEL: I'm hoping it's just helping with the town here (UNINTELLIGIBLE) everyone can kind of pull together to show their support for the little girl who's been tragically killed.

ROBERTS: And now we have a suspect in this case, Johnny Johnson. We heard earlier from your police chief, Battelle, that there is one charge coming for murder and possibly others, because he said this was planned, that he plotted out taking little Casey.

MICHEL: I'm not aware of whether or not it was plotted, because whatever it was, it was sure obviously a sad scene. Nobody could have anticipated somebody staying at a house, little girl had no reason to suspect that this would be somebody who would, you know, treat her wrong. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) friend of the -- her parents -- you know, staying in the house, did all the right things, grandfather lives in the area here, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) everybody just kind of treated his family should...

Lot of kids in the neighborhood, they all go from one house to another to play throughout the afternoon, evening, and just -- for this to just -- totally -- the whole town has just been taken in, as the shock of this event here.

PALMER: And sir, you mentioned Valley Park being a small community. You know, recently we've heard about these cases in San Diego, also in Salt Lake City, just most recently in Philadelphia, little Erica Pratt. How is this going to affect your town in the months and weeks to come? How do you get beyond this?

MICHEL: I guess you just try to get everyone to work together to emphasize that when children go out, they say with other -- tell their parents where they're going and having an older brother or sister, an adult with them at all times to try to -- keeping them in sight, so that when (UNINTELLIGIBLE) don't go somewhere around the corner where somebody could come by.

But still try to work together as a community, don't just get paranoid, but still be (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Unfortunately, be a little bit more careful what goes on. If somebody pulls up, a stranger needing help is just going to have to treat that person as a potential -- somebody -- something -- murderer, I guess, and just kind of stay away, say, Sorry, I just -- Get home to their parents right away and report it if it's something he acts suspicious.

ROBERTS: And I guess you're very proud of the force there that worked so hard and so quickly to get results in this case. I know that they would probably have liked to have returned Casey home, but they have worked pretty hard to bring the suspect in.

MICHEL: Yes, sir, they worked very hard, and they did a very good job, coming in with all the different- the bloodhounds and the helicopters, all different forces kind of went through and did it in a very professional manner. And did at least bring closure to this, and an unfortunate ending to this, but it was better to have it this way than just weeks of not knowing (UNINTELLIGIBLE) just wondering if she's off somewhere else.

The whole town here, truly, their emotions go out to the family. We express our sorrow, and anything we can do to help, we're all going to work together to try to help all get through this.

ROBERTS: Yes, our hearts go out to the family and for your town.

Mayor Dan Michel, thanks so much, from Valley Park, Missouri. We appreciate your time this morning.

MICHEL: Thank you.

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