Posted on 06/18/2002 10:50:57 AM PDT by The Energizer
Police now say abductor of 14-year-old Utah girl didn't know he was watched by her sister
By RICH VOSEPKA=
Associated Press Writer=
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Police investigating the disappearance of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart said Tuesday the man was not aware that the girl's little sister witnessed the apparent abduction.
Two weeks ago, Elizabeth was taken by gunpoint from the queen-sized bed shared by the two girls in the Federal Heights home.
He told Elizabeth to grab some shoes and as he left with her.
Although it was earlier reported that 9-year-old Mary Katherine Smart had been warned to remain quiet, police who interviewed the youngster several times now say the man did not speak to the child. The little sister waited two hours before alerting her parents.
``We believe this man may be a trusted person in the neighborhood or community,'' said Salt Lake City Police Capt. Scott Atkinson. The kidnapper was calm, he added.
Police reiterated their description of their suspect: A white man, 30 to 40 years old, with dark hair and hair on his arms and back of his hands. He was wearing tan pants, dark shoes, lighter jacket and a golf hat. He held a small handgun.
``He spoke nicely and dressed nicely,'' Atkinson said.
On Tuesday, Atkinson held up a similar pair of tennis shoes that the kidnapper allowed Elizabeth to take with her. They were white Ralph Lauren athletic shoes with dark stripes and thick soles.
Investigators still want to talk to Bret Michael Edmunds, who continues to elude them. Edmunds isn't a suspect, but he was spotted near the Smart's home two days before the kidnapping, leading police to think he might have information in the case.
``I believe Edmunds is a witness to something, we don't know what,'' Atkinson said.
Edmunds is wanted for parole violation and spraying pepper spray at a West Valley policeman who stopped him.
The community is offering a $250,000 reward for the girl's safe return. Neighborhoods are organizing searches for the teen after a centralized search effort was disbanded Friday.
A Web site to help find Elizabeth has had more than 8 million hits, which overloaded the system, said Ted Wilson, former Salt Lake City mayor.
Yup. Like I said yesterday, some people people have a psycological need to deamonize the family so they can convince themselves that it doesn't happen to good people like them. With the Ramsey's and VanDamns it was an easy thing to deamonize them, but with the Smarts they have to exagerate and clutch at straws like crazy.
That is the position that I am maintaining here. Am only too aware of the inaccuracies and distortions of the media. They want a story--not too concerned about facts!
Unless they don't know where she is, and they're hoping he leads them to her.
As of today, though, I'm trying to stay away from speculation as to her whereabouts, or who did it. There are too many twists.
Not that I have heard- but then, I don't watch much television- especially in the Summer in Alaska- too many other things to do (apparently I will spend the rest of THIS particular beautiful day painting- Wife's orders...)
One of Illbay's wives took it away from him. "He'll poke his eye out!"
I respectully disagree. The fact that the sister did not run and tell the parents IMMEDIATELY had many people puzzled. The only thing that had had folks ready to believe why she didn't tell the parents was because of the threats made directly to her by the assailant.
Talk about one-stop shopping..... 8~)
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