Saturday, August 31, 2002
Richard Ricci dies
2 intrusions were similar, Smart says
By Derek Jensen
Deseret News staff writer
Police discovered a wrought-iron chair below the Smart family's kitchen window the morning Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom, her father says — information the family believes could be an important piece of evidence in the puzzling case.
The chair, taken from the family's backyard patio, was propped against the wall under the kitchen window where investigators found the screen cut, Ed Smart told the Deseret News Friday.
While police refused to comment on the chair or how the abductor may have entered the Smart residence, the family believes this latest piece of evidence to become public could be useful because the method that may have been used to enter their home appears to be the same way an intruder tried to break into the home of Ed Smart's sister-in-law. That incident happened July 24, exactly seven weeks after Elizabeth's June 5 disappearance.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the July break-in and refused to comment on any evidence in the case.
Investigators have said the incident may have been a prank since the neighborhood is home to several families with teenagers who are known for cruising around at night.
"They really don't believe it really has anything to do with Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping," deputy Peggy Faulkner said.
Still, the Smarts question just how random the incident was.
Three distinct similarities exist between the two incidents, Ed Smart said.
First, the screen was cut in both windows. Second, both incidents occurred in the early morning hours. Those two details have been widely reported in the media, but until now no one has reported a chair being found outside the Smarts' kitchen window.
"It was very unnerving," Ed Smart said of the similarities. "Basically it brought all of our kids who we'd gotten back into their rooms back into our room."
While the family isn't sure what the similarities mean to Elizabeth's case, they have announced a $3,000 reward for the first person who can identify whoever was involved in the attempted break-in. Other rewards — including up to $250,000 for Elizabeth's safe return — are also being offered.
The possibility of a break-in is one of many theories police are exploring, but Elizabeth's father also admitted it's possible former handyman Richard Ricci may have obtained a key to their house during the three months he worked for the Smarts. Ricci, 48, who died Friday night at University Hospital while in a coma, had been a prime potential suspect in Elizabeth's kidnapping for several weeks.
"We had keys here with them (workers) in the house, and it would have been very easy for him to make a copy," Ed Smart said. "I'm not positive, but he could have easily enough. . . . I never gave him a key."
Police said they have considered the possibility that Elizabeth's attacker entered the house with a key but refused to elaborate.
"That could explain some theories," Capt. Scott Atkinson said.
Smart said the small details of the kidnapping case his family occasionally releases to the media are not an indication the case has hit a dead end. Various experts, including forensics specialist Henry C. Lee, who worked on the O.J. Simpson case, have offered their services. Lee offered to help in the Smart investigation several weeks ago. The Smarts contacted police, who agreed to have him work with detectives. As part of his involvement in the case, Lee must sign a confidentiality agreement.
"We aren't grasping at straws," Ed Smart said. "Yes, we are trying to put as much pressure to solve this case as we can. It's gone on for three months, and it's three months too long."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: djensen@desnews.com
This had to be someone that KNEW these things, IMO.