A Salt Lake newspaper says investigators believe the kidnapper of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart could have been a member of her extended family.
The Salt Lake Tribune said in a copyright story Thursday that detectives have been unable to explain how the abductor could have entered the house through the small window that appeared to be the entry point.
The newspaper, which said the information was from four law enforcement agencies, which it did not identify, said investigators have surmised that someone who was already inside the home may have tried to make the window look as though a break-in occurred there. It said the screen appears to have been cut from the inside.
Police have said the window was not in the bedroom shared by the girl and her 9-year-old sister. They refused to say where it was located and they refused to say whether the screen had been cut.
Police spokesman Fred Louis declined to confirm or deny that the screen had been cut from the inside. He would say only that police were not going to discuss the physical evidence.
Regarding the newspaper's statement that the abductor might have been a member of the extended family, he would only repeat the statement police have made all along _ that they have not ruled anyone out.
Police have said they did not believe the missing girl staged the abduction.
Large Mormon family covering up for nutty relative? If so, I hope they are forced to reimburse the State of Utah, the Federal Govt, and other agencies for the millions of dollars spent on this 8-day search.