Police now say abductor of 14-year-old Utah girl didn't know he was watched by her sister

AP | June 18, 2002 | RICH VOSEPKA

[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.

[lady lawyer]

I think the "cut from the inside" story has been debunked, too. But I could be mistaken about that.

[Illbay]

Not much for the free exchange of ideas, is ILBAY...

"Free exchange of ideas" makes it sound O! so noble! What you mean is "yeah, he's just another one of those throw-backs who detest gossip-mongering!"

[Utah Girl]

And the Smarts have said that they understand why the police are looking at them and at other family members. I've heard them say that several times in various interviews. Tom Smart has said it also, as have the other Smart brothers. They've said to investigate away, because that will close one more avenue that the police must go down.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Except that the police have denied reports that the screen was cut from the inside. Last I heard, they were saying they didn't know whether it had been cut from the inside or the outside, and the only source that ever said it was cut from the inside was the discredited Salt Lake Tribune article which cited anonymous sources for this "information". Furthermore, I haven't heard any source, reliable or otherwise, state that there is any evidence that the screen was cut that night. On such a small window, it sounds like something which might have been that way for a while without anyone noticing, until the house was searched top to bottom for evidence after the abduction.

[Grig]

If the abductor didn't know her sister was watching then WHY did she wait TOW HOURS to tell anyone? This doesn't make sense. The abductor must have seen her and told her to be quiet for TWO HOURS or maybe her sister was in on the abduction. Something smells here.

I can wake up my kids in the middle of the night, ask questions, get answers, then they go back to sleep and in the morning they have NO memory at all about it. This girl could have fallen asleep waiting for them to leave, she could have been too scared to do anything, then felt too guilty for not going sooner. I have a 10 year old girl and last week a huge bug flew into her room and landed on her hand, she is still too freaked out to spend the night in there. Just because this little girl didn't act the way YOU would have acted doesn't prove or mean ANYTHING.

[freedox]

You seem like a sensible sort of person. One thing that has NOT been disputed is that Elizabeth went quietly and willingly with her abductor. First, this was explained by the report that he had a gun......now it is being further explained by the suggestion that he was someone who was "trusted." The police very quickly came out publicly to debunk a third possibility......that Elizabeth was in on a staged abduction. I wonder how they came to that conclusion so quickly. I also wonder how cooperative the family would have been with the investigation if the police had not made this statement early on.

[TheDon]

I think the Smart family is not talking to the media about the investigation to support police requests not to do so. In a recent news conference the father stated as much.

[ET(end tyranny)]

but it does show the police changing their initial characterization of what the little sister said

What? You mean the media didn't do this all by themselves? Oh my! Yes, the media will report what the police say. And that is where the mischaracterizations came from.

[TheDon]

I hadn't heard the abductor didn't have a gun. Where did you read that?

[Utah Girl]

I heard that the screen-cut-from-the-inside story was debunked also. I think I read it yesterday, I'll try and find a source.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I don't think freedox's post said he didn't have a gun -- just implied that that might not have been the only reason Elizabeth went with him.

The question as to whether it was a real gun would be worth asking, though, as I don't see how either girl could have had any certainty about that in the dark.

[Utah Girl]

Fleem-jackets? You guys have fleem-jackets? I want one too. :)

[ET(end tyranny)]

I think what freedox meant was that with so many things being said then taken back, or changed that it wouldn't surprise them if the gun disappears from the story.

[The G Man]

The police very quickly came out publicly to debunk a third possibility......that Elizabeth was in on a staged abduction.

I hope the cops continue their lousy track record and are wrong on that one. And lets hope the Smarts end up only needing to get a wayward daughter into therapy as opposed to a casket.

As a parent, the idea of some monstrous fiend breaking into your home to do God knows what to your children is too horrific to think about. No family should have to go thru what the Klaas family went through. Thats part of the reason why I still hope Elizabeth is just a stupid runaway. I'm afraid I'm wrong though.

[The G Man]

I heard that the screen-cut-from-the-inside story was debunked also. I think I read it yesterday, I'll try and find a source.

Thanks. I hadn't heard that. Don't know if it makes me feel better or worse about this whole thing though.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Silly Utah Girl. You know only men are allowed to have those :)

[freedox]

I never said the abductor didn't have a gun, Don. Did you get a bit carried away in a frantic attempt to discredit my post?

[freedox]

"I hope the cops continue their lousy track record and are wrong on that one."

My point was that this statement, made early in the investigation, might have been designed to put the family at ease and ensure their open cooperation. I don't know whether the police have actually dismissed the notion of a staged abduction or not.

[Woodkirk]

I do know that this was a bold and audacious act by someone who did not fear being caught, did not fear that Elizabeth would cry out or scream, and did not fear the consequences of being caught either in the act or afterwards. He may have sensed that he is protected in some way by his position, connections, or whatever.

[Neenah]

I just got to this thread and wanted to post..so I have not read the 174 posts. If this has been stated before, I do not know.

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.

Well...WHAT IS IT????I am getting so sick of this. There are people all over this country who are concerned, and helping, and going on the INFORMATION that the police are releasing to the public !!. Now..almost 2 stinking weeks into this, and the police recant that Mary Katherine DID NOT HEAR THE MAN ? HE DIDN'T SPEAK TO HER??? I don't know about you, but soon they will be like the DC police in my book. Seems to me, when interviewed on T.V., the parent's or Uncle did not dispute the GUN scenario. Right?

I read the opening of THIS thread, and a few posts, and this is the first time I have gotton disgusted. I realize the police are not going to tell it all to the public, but they have changed several things . I am STILL puzzled about WHY the PD made a big hooping deal out of this guy they gave a picture of and then said over and over and over HE IS NOT A SUSPECT. Question...Why then make a deal of it.?

JUST REPORTED ON COURT T.V. 4:04 central time.......

NOW THE POLICE.....are saying that Mary Kathrine SAW THIS MAN AT TWO ..2..DIFFERENT TIMES...AT TWO 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ....IN THE HOUSE !!! IN THE HOUSE !!!

The men on Court t.v. are asking " Why take 2 weeks to bring out this information? " also.." Don't give Press Conferences when you don't have the information straight ! ". One of the worse things that can happen is to give out wrong information...why? Because it compromises the investigation !!

The police also made this statement this afternoon..." This man may be a TRUSTED MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY " Huh ???? What??? May be ? Why in gods name would you even SAY that????? huh?