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.
The national media have been slow to correct the original mischaracterization. That's all.
Would you have a link by any chance?
"What do the cops know that they're not telling the media?"
One must be careful not to judge too quickly - lest he be judged himself.
Most likely is still that she knew the man she left with.
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY The gunman who kidnapped 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart did not know that the girl's 9-year-old sister was awake at the time of the abduction, police said Tuesday.
Mary Katherine Smart saw the gunman twice, in different parts of the house, and witnessed the gunman warning Elizabeth not to speak, Police Sgt. Scott Atkinson said.
It had previously been reported that the kidnapper warned the younger girl to remain quiet.
Atkinson said Mary Katherine saw the suspect in two different locations in the home, and that both sightings were connected with the abduction.
He said there was no indication that the suspect may have been in the house for a reason other than to take Elizabeth.
"We believe this man may be a trusted person in the neighborhood or community," Atkinson said. The kidnapper was calm, he added. "He spoke nicely and dressed nicely."
Police reiterated their description of their suspect:
A white man, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, 30 to 40 years old, with dark hair and hair on his arms and back of his hands. He was wearing a Polo brand shirt, tan pants, dark shoes, a lighter jacket and a golf hat. Atkinson said he held a small handgun.
Atkinson also held up a pair of white Ralph Lauren Polo brand canvas tennis shoes similar to those the kidnapper allowed Elizabeth to take with her.
He said investigators still want to talk to Bret Michael Edmunds, who continues to elude them. He stressed that Edmunds isn't a suspect, but he was spotted near the Smart's home two days before the kidnapping, leading police to think he may 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.
"Keep a watch. I think every person can be a searcher," Ed Smart, Elizabeth's father, said Tuesday. "I still feel so strongly inside that she is waiting for us to find her. And that she is alive and well."
"I would just plead with this captor to please make the right decision and let her go," Smart said.
A Web site to help find Elizabeth has had more than eight million hits, which overloaded the system, said Ted Wilson, former Salt Lake City mayor.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
It's generally considered good form to clean up after you dispense "pearls of wisdom."
God judges. I'm a fruit inspector.
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