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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview With Roy Wasden

Aired April 19, 2003 - 07:19   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I think first we are going to head to Modesto, California where Mike Brooks is standing by. We've got some new information there. Mike, what do you have?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. As we said earlier in the show that yesterday Scott Peterson was arrested in San Diego, California and the California Department of Justice confirmed that the remains found in San Francisco Bay last Sunday and Monday were that of Laci Peterson and her child that the authorities describe as a full-term male child fetus were found is her son, Scott. Joining us now in Modesto is Modesto police chief, Roy Wasden. Chief, thank you very much ...

ROY WASDEN, MODESTO, CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEF: Good morning, Mike.

BROOKS: ... for joining us.

WASDEN: Thank you.

BROOKS: I know it's been a long four months for most law enforcement agencies, especially for Modesto police. Tell us a little bit how the case came together and the arrest was made yesterday.

WASDEN: This is a case where it's a process of elimination. And, you know, right at the outset you have the universe to work from and then you continue to eliminate things. We never were able to eliminate Scott. As the investigation moved forward in March, we really believed we were dealing with a homicide case based on the totality of the case. We made that declaration, looked for information if anyone knew Laci's whereabouts in any condition. Again, we didn't get any direct or specific information and then had the fortunate circumstance where Lacy and Connor were found in the bay and that brought us forward to the point we're at today.

BROOKS: Now, if they had not found the remains -- if the remains had not washed ashore, did you still have enough evidence to arrest Scott Peterson.

WASDEN: We believe that we were very close to having enough information to make an arrest in this case. Of course, the discovery of the remains really accelerated everything forward. But the detectives were working toward that conclusion. They were consulting with the prosecutors and the district attorney's office.

BROOKS: Now in March, divers and your people were out in San Francisco Bay doing a search and our sources are telling us that they saw using side scan sonars some anomalies at the bottom that they believe was the body of Laci Peterson.

Now when the body was recovered, it was not totally intact. Will you be going back to San Francisco Bay looking for additional evidence?

WASDEN: Yes. There's still work to be done and we will be doing that.

BROOKS: Now, what charges are going to be brought against Scott and how will they proceed with that?

WASDEN: The district attorney, of course, has to make that decision. He indicated yesterday that their intent will be to file capital murder charges. And, of course, there's a great deal of review that they need to make -- the special circumstance decisions and those kinds of things.

BROOKS: So where do you go from here?

WASDEN: Well, we continue to wrap up the loose ends, the information that we need to pull together. We'll, of course, be cooperating in every way possible with the district attorney, anything that the district attorney's office will need as they move forward in the prosecution of this case.

BROOKS: Now when Scott was arrested yesterday, was he cooperative with Modesto Police?

WASDEN: You know, I don't know. I've not received any direction communication with the detectives that were involved in the arrest, so I don't know.

BROOKS: Chief, thank you very much.

WASDEN: Thank you, Mike.

BROOKS: Chief Roy Wasden of the Modesto of the Modesto Police Department. Heidi, as you said, the chief says their investigation is not over. It will continue as they move forward with the prosecution for Scott Peterson and for his alleged murder of his wife and his fetus and unborn son. Heidi?

COLLINS: All right. Mike Brooks with the police chief of Modesto California, Chief Roy Wasden. Thanks so much, Mike, appreciate it.

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 April 19, 2003 - 07:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I think first we are going to head to Modesto, California where Mike Brooks is standing by. We've got some new information there. Mike, what do you have?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. As we said earlier in the show that yesterday Scott Peterson was arrested in San Diego, California and the California Department of Justice confirmed that the remains found in San Francisco Bay last Sunday and Monday were that of Laci Peterson and her child that the authorities describe as a full-term male child fetus were found is her son, Scott. Joining us now in Modesto is Modesto police chief, Roy Wasden. Chief, thank you very much ...

ROY WASDEN, MODESTO, CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEF: Good morning, Mike.

BROOKS: ... for joining us.

WASDEN: Thank you.

BROOKS: I know it's been a long four months for most law enforcement agencies, especially for Modesto police. Tell us a little bit how the case came together and the arrest was made yesterday.

WASDEN: This is a case where it's a process of elimination. And, you know, right at the outset you have the universe to work from and then you continue to eliminate things. We never were able to eliminate Scott. As the investigation moved forward in March, we really believed we were dealing with a homicide case based on the totality of the case. We made that declaration, looked for information if anyone knew Laci's whereabouts in any condition. Again, we didn't get any direct or specific information and then had the fortunate circumstance where Lacy and Connor were found in the bay and that brought us forward to the point we're at today.

BROOKS: Now, if they had not found the remains -- if the remains had not washed ashore, did you still have enough evidence to arrest Scott Peterson.

WASDEN: We believe that we were very close to having enough information to make an arrest in this case. Of course, the discovery of the remains really accelerated everything forward. But the detectives were working toward that conclusion. They were consulting with the prosecutors and the district attorney's office.

BROOKS: Now in March, divers and your people were out in San Francisco Bay doing a search and our sources are telling us that they saw using side scan sonars some anomalies at the bottom that they believe was the body of Laci Peterson.

Now when the body was recovered, it was not totally intact. Will you be going back to San Francisco Bay looking for additional evidence?

WASDEN: Yes. There's still work to be done and we will be doing that.

BROOKS: Now, what charges are going to be brought against Scott and how will they proceed with that?

WASDEN: The district attorney, of course, has to make that decision. He indicated yesterday that their intent will be to file capital murder charges. And, of course, there's a great deal of review that they need to make -- the special circumstance decisions and those kinds of things.

BROOKS: So where do you go from here?

WASDEN: Well, we continue to wrap up the loose ends, the information that we need to pull together. We'll, of course, be cooperating in every way possible with the district attorney, anything that the district attorney's office will need as they move forward in the prosecution of this case.

BROOKS: Now when Scott was arrested yesterday, was he cooperative with Modesto Police?

WASDEN: You know, I don't know. I've not received any direction communication with the detectives that were involved in the arrest, so I don't know.

BROOKS: Chief, thank you very much.

WASDEN: Thank you, Mike.

BROOKS: Chief Roy Wasden of the Modesto of the Modesto Police Department. Heidi, as you said, the chief says their investigation is not over. It will continue as they move forward with the prosecution for Scott Peterson and for his alleged murder of his wife and his fetus and unborn son. Heidi?

COLLINS: All right. Mike Brooks with the police chief of Modesto California, Chief Roy Wasden. Thanks so much, Mike, appreciate it.

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