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.
Oh, you've noticed that too. Actually, every FBI Agent that I've ever known was a member of the Church. Hmmmm...
Oops. Now I've really gone and done it...
P.S. - I am not a member of the FBI. My screen name derives from my skill with crayons....
Don't be too hard on Illbay. Some of us Mormon freepers are more than a little tired of having to answer the same questions over and over from people who are quite eager to jump to conclusions when they know very few facts.
Now, you asked: If she saw all that, I wonder how she missed a glimpse of his face. and the way that question is phrased does lead the reader to think that you think she is lying.
Do you know what light sources were on? Do you know what phase the moon was in and what the sky conditions were like? Do you know what direction the bedroom window faces and were the beds are placed in the room? Were they bunk beds, and if so was she in the top or bottom? All these things would have a big effect on what she saw (while trying to pretend to be asleep) and I don't think its reasonable to hold a scared 9 year old to the standards you set.
You quickly pass judgment without pausing to consider anything more then how it can be interpeted to fit your pet theory, and that is what bugs so many of us.
Jon Benet #2
And possibly interpreted it as a threat to her.
Perhaps not as reported by the media anyway.
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.
On another note, have the police actually said that Elizabeth was "threatened" or did the assailant supposedly caution her to be quiet so she wouldnt wake someone up? A big distinction I think. As in, not wanting to get caught when you are running away with your boyfriend (?) right before you stage your own kidnapping?
And before I get slammed for frivilous speculation, consider this issue of the screen that was cut from the inside. I think we can all agree that that was done to give the appearance of someone breaking in, no? But why would that be? What possible motivation could there be for a hostile assailant to sneak into the house and then stage a forced entry? I can't think of too many possibilities, but only a couple make sense to me:
* Elizabeth was not abducted, but went along willingly. You may recall alot of stuff on these boards about how sad she looked in photos, etc, etc. Baloney. I focused instead on the recent video footage of her in what appeared to be almost a one woman show in that play she was in and I see a very confident looking young woman. And an actress to boot.
* A family member abducted her (forcibly or otherwise) and wishes to make it appear to be the act of a some unknown predator
Perhaps "changes" would be more accurate than "disappears".
Hardly. I for one wonder if the sister not only saw the assailant but has told the police exactly who it was. The only problem is they have no no idea where Elizabeth is.
And on an unrelated matter, why does it seem that so many folks (not meaning you) are so willing to try and explain away any and all inconsistancies whatsoever involving any member of the family whereas in, oh say the Jon Benet case, there was no such phalanx of supporters here???
I find that odd.
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