New Leads In Smart Case

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | October 26, 2002 | Kevi Cantera and Michael Vigh

[Palladin]

Expert Offers 'Some New Leads' in Smart Case
Saturday, October 26, 2002

BY KEVIN CANTERA and MICHAEL VIGH

As police investigating Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping became stymied by a dearth of solid leads over the months, the case has grown conspicuously cold.

That could change following a recent visit from renowned forensics expert Henry Lee, who was recruited to examine evidence in the mysterious kidnapping. Lee, who has worked on such high-profile cases as the O.J. Simpson trial and the disappearance of congressional intern Chandra Levy, told The Salt Lake Tribune this week he gave investigators "some new leads to follow" in Elizabeth's June 5 abduction.

Citing a confidentiality agreement with police he signed before gaining access to forensic evidence in the case, Lee wouldn't discuss his findings specifically.

Chris Thomas, speaking on behalf of Elizabeth's father Ed Smart, confirmed Friday that Lee gave law enforcement "many recommendations" on how to proceed. "The police said they would pursue those leads. . . . From our understanding, investigators have been very busy, since [Lee] left," Thomas said. "It has given the family a lot of hope that things are progressing in a positive way."

The 14-year-old girl was snatched from her bedroom in the early morning hours by a gun-wielding intruder -- a crime witnessed only by her younger sister.

Lee's examination of a kitchen window screen led him to back an early police theory that the screen was cut from inside the home, possibly as a diversionary tactic by the abductor, multiple law enforcement sources tell The Tribune.

Police have been unable to determine if the kitchen window was the actual point of entry into the Federal Heights home. Investigators' skepticism is grounded in the lack of scuff marks around the kitchen window and the belief that anyone squeezing through the small window would have awakened family members.

"I went through the house and did look at a lot of evidence . . .I examined the screen and the window," said Lee, refusing to say what he determined from the analysis.

Thomas said Lee did not discuss his findings with Ed Smart or other family members because of the confidentiality agreement.

While Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse welcomed Lee's input, he said: "I don't think there was anything that [Lee] found that will change much." Dinse said he expects Lee, who was originally recruited into the investigation by Ed Smart, to provide police with a written report.

Though Dinse has not publicly ruled anyone out, the chief has called the late Richard Ricci, who worked in the Smart home as a handyman last year, the No. 1 potential suspect. Ricci, who was being held at the Utah State Prison on alleged parole violations, died in August from a massive brain hemorrhage.

He was also charged with robbing the Smart home of jewelry and other items and an earlier night-time burglary of a home nearby while he worked in the neighborhood.

[Palladin]

Description of suspect, from ElizabethSmart.com:


Suspect Description

Caucasian Man
30 to 40 Years Old
5' 8" to 5'10"
Dark Hair
Hair on Arms
Hair on back of hands
Light Jacket
Light Golf Hat or English Driving Hat
Dark Shoes

[Sherlock]

Obviously the only posters left on this thread are those of you that have no clue. Keep watching that psychic detective website and that pathetic piece of work from San Diego and you'll all get it eventually.

[TREGEN]

"The guy that kidnapped Elizabeth was athletic and had thick black hair with wide sideburns"



Looks like another Elvis sighting!!

[TREGEN]

"I certainly don't believe this. Show us some proof. I have also heard police say they have never gotten any credible assistance from psychics either."



I haven't heard anything credible from LE at any time. Try using the psychics, what harm will it do? David Smart enlisted the help of Psy Tech They are psychics...I remember early on, Ed Smart said he was not going to enlist any help from psychics, but his brother surely did and is using psy tech and others...

[TREGEN]

What does this mean Sherl? I thought you didn't believe the psychics? Why are you useing the psychic web site? You are obviously trying to deter the people from trying to investigate this crime.

[varina davis]

Kat....keep your eyes and ears open....hope the SLC cops are going to really look into this and see if any cars of Fuller's dad might be implicated in the Liz abduction...

I would hope the SLC cops are on top of this. If Liz met Fuller on the internet and became friends, it might explain why she went so quietly the night of the alleged abduction.

[spectre]

Thank you, Palladin. I have only vaguely followed the Elizabeth Smart case since it became cold, and even I know that the kidnapper was wearing a hat.

I also recall seeing one of the male members of her family (on TV) holding up a "cap" that looked "similar" to the one the perp was wearing.

Fuller's past will be put under a microscope, even if some people on the forum don't think it amounts to anything, we know LE in Salt Lake is checkin him out, big-time.

sw

[landerwy]

What? You don't believe I saw it? I did see it. (Just kidding) I never said I believed it, only I saw it. It was on PaxTv, It's a Miracle program. They interviewed LE along with others who were apart of it. The guy had never done anything like it before according to the account. The boy was found and everyone was happy. I can't prove it one way or the other of the truthfulness of it, only that I saw it!

[landerwy]

I never said I believed it. But you know it gets quite annoying when someone puts in some sarcastic condescending comment into a discussion. That comment from you was unneeded and unwanted!

[landerwy]

I never said I believed it. But you know it gets quite annoying when someone puts in some sarcastic condescending comment into a discussion. That comment from you was unneeded and unwanted!

[Sherlock]

http://kutv.com/siteSearch/local_story_339143737.html

Smart Family Keeps Elizabeth’s Story Alive Six Months After Her Kidnapping

Dec 5, 2002 12:29 pm US/Mountain

Six months ago today, on June fifth, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her bedroom in her Federal Heights home. People all over the country followed Elizabeth's story.

Even today, Elizabeth's parents, Ed and Lois Smart, were on national television.

"We want Elizabeth back. We want her back. We want this whole thing to be over with," Ed Smart said.

Ed and Lois Smart have lived a nightmare of not knowing for six months. In an interview on the CBS Early Show, the Smarts said their family just takes it a day at a time.

"We had her birthday and that was a difficult time. There definitely is a void in our family. We miss her," Lois Smart said.

Since Elizabeth's kidnapping, police have sifted through 16-thousand leads and tips. Volunteers have searched on foot and Ed Smart has tirelessly kept Elizabeth's story before the media.

All hopes of breaking the case seem to have gone to the grave with the death of Richard Ricci the "Main" suspect in the kidnapping. Ricci was a convict handyman who did work at the Smart home. Ed Smart gave a Jeep to Ricci as payment for some of that work. He died after he suffered a brain hemorrhage.

"The fact that two of his previous co-horts from a robbery said that he was planning to burglarize our home and asked for their help kind of points the finger at him," said Ed Smart.

Trying to track Ricci’s movements and the whereabouts of his Jeep in the time before and after the abduction has been a major part of the investigation. People who helped Ricci take the Jeep in and out of a repair shop are of particular interest.

Even with Ricci's death, police believe other people know what happened. Their focus now, who was the woman who made a phone call to Neth's Auto to arrange the pick-up of Ricci's Jeep just days before Elizabeth's kidnapping?

And who was the man Ricci met after he returned the Jeep to the repair shop.

"Even though Richard is dead there is someone else, he worked with someone else, we need to find that person." Lois Smart said.

More than 100 police officers and FBI agents initially worked the kidnapping full time. With only six investigators working the case now police still feel it's only a matter of time before they solve this case.

A reminder, there is a 250-thousand dollar reward for Elizabeth's safe return and a 25-thousand dollar reward for information leading to an arrest. The tip hotline number is 800-932-0190. For information on the web click here for Elizabethsmart.com

[Sherlock]

"The fact that two of his previous co-horts from a robbery said that he was planning to burglarize our home and asked for their help kind of points the finger at him," said Ed Smart.

Trying to track Ricci’s movements and the whereabouts of his Jeep in the time before and after the abduction has been a major part of the investigation. People who helped Ricci take the Jeep in and out of a repair shop are of particular interest.

Even with Ricci's death, police believe other people know what happened. Their focus now, who was the woman who made a phone call to Neth's Auto to arrange the pick-up of Ricci's Jeep just days before Elizabeth's kidnapping?

And who was the man Ricci met after he returned the Jeep to the repair shop.

[Sherlock]

What do you got to say about this article, lakey? Your man, Ricci.

[trussell]

It's good to see that there is still some news about Elizabeth. Hopefully it will help to keep her info fresh and help to find her.

[sandude]

Thanks for posting this article Holmes. It's good to see your still on the case.

[cherry]

you posted to "all" so I will throw in a thought or two...

its not like the two yahoos that apparently told the police about Ricci's ideas to burglarize the Smarts...its not like they are primo #1 citizens....they could very well be telling the cops what they want to hear or they could simply be fabricating to cover themselves...

I can not understand why the cops do not know who was across the street...or who called into the shop...aren't web cams just about everywhere now?

It took them a year to find Chandra Levy...and they didn't even know she was gone unwillingly...this case may take several years...

[TREGEN]

Their focus now, who was the woman who made a phone call to Neth's Auto to arrange the pick-up of Ricci's Jeep just days before Elizabeth's kidnapping?



They know! They have the phone records. If they don't know, then they have the technology to find out. I believe LE tries to pull the wool over our eyes, come on, we're not Stupid....Just a thought...if the woman was Angela, don't you think that when Moul asked "who's jeep is being picked up?" Angela would have stated RICK RICCI...instead of "Mr. Ricci"?....Another thing...Has anybody ever used a different voice on the phone? ( a man using a higher pitched voice to make it sound like a womans voice?)

[TREGEN]

"The fact that two of his previous co-horts from a robbery said that he was planning to burglarize our home and asked for their help kind of points the finger at him," said Ed Smart.


Is it fact just because Ed says it is?
In what report or news article does the plan to burglarize come in?

[Sherlock]

Angela admitted she made the call. She tried to obfuscate the situation by saying when she asked about the white Jeep, Moul asked her which white Jeep because he had 3-4 of them there. She had to tell him the one with the electronic fuel pump. Haven't you been following the facts in this case and trail of lies from Angela Ricci?

[Sherlock]

Yes, I sure hope they find Elizabeth. Hope you're doing well, trussel, Merry Christmas to you and yours.