Elizabeth Smart Thread, 9/26/02 to ???

From www.kutv.com

Police Look at New Possible Suspects in Smart Abduction

Nov 4, 2002 9:41 am US/Mountain

A man is under police scrutiny, in the Smart abduction case. He's a known child molester from California. When Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her home last June; Salt Lake police learned that fifty-one year old James Witbaard was in the city. Witbaard has a history of molesting young girls.

According to published reports Witbaard was:

- arrested in January for sexually molesting two girls who lived in his Buena Park, California neighborhood.
-Witbaard spend 23-days in jail before posting bail
- in July, he pleaded guilty to sexual battery and was sentenced to time served, plus five years probation and counseling.
- while Witbaard was out on bail he came to Utah.

"We don't know anything about him. We've never heard of him," said Elizabeth Smart’s uncle David Smart.

The head of the Elizabeth Smart task force told the Los Angeles times that they have no direct evidence linking Witbaard to the Smart kidnapping.

But evidence found in Witbaard's car was sent to Utah's crime lab where it is now being evaluated.

"We're anxious to learn the results, if they don't find anything on this man, we're hoping police will continue a thorough investigation to find Elizabeth's kidnapper," Smart said.

James Witbaard's attorney says there is no connection between his client and the Smart kidnapping.

He says once investigators look into this, they'll move on to other possible suspects.

Witbaard is not the only possible suspect. Investigators say they're working off a list of a handful of names.

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