There is no conspiracy here: SLPD Press Conference (Elizabeth Smart abduction)

KSL Radio ^ | 6/19/2002

[Utah Girl]

Elizabeth Smart's little sister, the sole witness to the teen's abduction, waited two hours to tell her parents about the kidnapping because she feared the kidnapper was still in the house.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse said Wednesday that the girl, Mary Katherine, got out of bed soon after the abduction and headed toward her parents' bedroom. But she saw the man still in the house, so she went back to her room and waited for two hours.

On Tuesday, police changed a key detail in the case. Their initial report, based on secondhand accounts, stated that Mary Katherine had been threatened by the kidnapper to keep quiet about the abduction.

They now say that Mary Katherine, who was in the same bed as Elizabeth, feigned sleep during the abduction.

"She hasn't wavered one bit from her original statement that she gave investigators," Dinse said.

Dinse rejected any idea that his department was deliberately deceiving the media.

"There is no conspiracy afoot here," Dinse said. "We are not telling you everything ... and we probably are not going to until we're further along."

Wednesday was the 15th day of the investigation into Elizabeth's abduction. She was reportedly taken from her bedroom at gunpoint in the early hours of June 5, police said.

Police still have no suspect in the case. They have received a total of 8,000 to 10,000 leads, of which 1,300 warranted follow up, Dinse said. Up to 900 of those leads have been cleared and about 400 remain to be looked at, he said.

Police who interviewed Mary Katherine four times now say the man did not speak to the younger child or apparently realize she saw him.

Working from Mary Katherine's description, police are looking for 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 Scottish-style golf hat. He held a small handgun.

"This investigation would be very, very difficult without Mary Katherine. She has provided us with a tremendous amount of information, and we're very appreciative of her," Dinse said. "I'm saying again, I believe we will resolve this case eventually, and Mary Katherine is a big part of doing that."

The community is offering a $250,000 reward for Elizabeth's safe return.

Investigators still want to talk to Bret Michael Edmunds, a drifter who continues to elude them. Edmunds was spotted near the Smart home two days before Elizabeth's disappearance.

Police have repeatedly said they don't consider Edmunds a suspect, but may have seen something in the Federal Heights neighborhood that would help the investigation.

A Web site set up to find the teen is getting more than 2 million hits a day, said David Smart, Elizabeth's uncle.

[EnquiringMind]

I know I won't be the one with egg on my face.

[stlnative]

From the Ashleigh Banfield Show that aired tonight on MSNBC, she interviewed the parents and was allowed to ASK anything she wanted, but that the family was not able to answer questions directly about the case, to protect the case as the police have asked them not to speak about the case in detail.

Mary K is back home with her parents and siblings sleeping in her OWN bed. She is happy due to the new puppy and dog that they have.

The family has been asked by police NOT to ask questions with Mary K on what happened that night, they have advised them to let her speak on her own when she is ready.

Mary K and Elizabeth shared the bedroom as the mother thought it was the best thing to do, she shared her room with her sisters as a child and always felt it was a better for the girls to be close to each other to keep the girls relationship tight. ( I totally understand this and why she would do this )

(In my opinion, the Smarts are being very open and are not trying to hide anything, they both seem very relaxed. There is nothing being said that seems strange... More coming as there is another 1/2 hour left.

[stlnative]

More from the interview with Ashleigh Banfield

The police were called FIRST, not others. They said the phone records can be checked! The police seemed to take forever to get there. They said they checked the house first for Elizabeth to see if she was still in the house. Then called the police before calling anyone else!

Also the Police Chief says that Mary K heard the threat directed to Elizabeth while the perp was still in the bedroom. Mary K got up after they (Perp & Elizabeth) left the bedroom and then again saw the perp in another part of the house as Mary K was heading to the parents room, she remembered the threat and went back to her bedroom and waited. (my guess is that he threaten Elizabeth that he would kill everyone in the house if she did anything to wake them up.)

NOW...The police chief says there was a threat to Elizabeth and to the family if Elizabeth made a noise or alarmed the family. (remember I am writing this as it airs on TV) The police believe this is someone that has cased the home, in otherwords they have studied it. Police did receive the call at 4:01, even though Tom Smart says he was called at 3:30 am, the police now say that they have cleared this call times up with the family and it is now known that Smarts actually DID call the police FIRST, before anyone else. They also say they do not have enough details to put out a GOOD composite drawing on the Perp, but they know alot about that perp and his manner and actions in the home during the kidnapping.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Hmmmm, perhaps because "No current freeper by that name" wouldn't have a face to stick egg on?

[stlnative]

UG, I don't know if you saw the Ashleigh Banfield interview with Smart Parents that was on Wednesday Night, but here is what I have learned from watching it, see my post #'s 162 & 163.
Brigette

[per loin]

(In my opinion, the Smarts are being very open and are not trying to hide anything, they both seem very relaxed. There is nothing being said that seems strange...

I agree. They were very believable about their activities once they heard Elizabeth was missing, and their immediate calling of the police.

[Utah Girl]

I did see the whole interview. As soon as I saw your post, I watched the interview. I must say, Ashleigh Banfield is a pretty good interviewer. And your notes were very good too. Not too much new information. I saw worried concerned parents, but calm parents too. I don't know if calm is the right word, but not hysterical or anything. And I do like Chief Dinse. He seems like a thoughtful man who is going to do his job, no matter how much the media badgers him to let information out. Thanks for the heads up.

[terilyn]

Does anybody have the composite sketch that was circulated of this guy?

Investigators Clear Man Sought For Questioning in Smart Case

Sunday, June 9, 2002

BY MICHAEL VIGH
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

Another promising lead in the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart quickly evaporated Saturday when a man sought by police was interviewed and cleared.

Earlier in the day, authorities put together a composite sketch of the man and said they would like to question him because he had contact with Elizabeth before her abduction. But hours later, police had located and questioned the man, who police said had no criminal record.

"We found him, he was cleared and now we're moving on," said Salt Lake City police Capt. Scott Atkinson. "The man did not have any information on her whereabouts."

The beret-wearing man, who was described in his late 30s to 40s with a missing front tooth, had spoken to Elizabeth at a social function before the teen's disappearance. Atkinson said the man, whose name was not released, explained the circumstances under which he approached the girl to investigators' satisfaction.

article continues....

Utah Girl, you posted this a couple of weeks ago. The police indicated today that they believe they may have already talked with the person responsible for Elizabeth's disappearance.

For some reason this guy keeps coming to mind. Hat, right age. I can't remember what color his hair was though. If the guy had dark hair on his hands then it would be a reasonable assumption to believe he also had dark hair on his head. I also don't remember his approximate height/weight.

[stlnative]

MSNBC... seems to be getting the REAL facts. It almost as if the police and the family have more trust in the MSNBC station, then they do others. Maybe it is because the way MSNBC respects the family and does not try to trick them into revealing parts of the case they cannot talk about.

I am glad you got to see it... Good Night UG!

[Utah Girl]

I thought the description of the guy in the red beret was that his hair was reddish. I could be wrong though. I don't have the sketch, but I am sure the police are keeping an eye on him. Just a gut feeling.

[Utah Girl]

Yes, now I have to eat my words about Ashleigh Banfield. She was excellent this evening, asked some tough questions, but didn't badger the Smarts if they couldn't answer. I only rolled my eyes at a couple of her questions.

[stlnative]

If you search some of the early post on FR you will find the composite you are looking for. Use Kidnapping; Smart; Utah as keywords.

[homeschool mama]

In agreement...Amen.

[Utah Girl]

I found the composite sketch. Here it is:

[twigs]

Thank you, Brigitte! That's an interesting theory. I think something is definitely up about the plates. The PI I saw was perplexed as well, but he's not in the loop. I got the impression that the 266... plates were not Edmunds'. Maybe he did steal them! The theory about the gray/silver car bears investigation!

[twigs]

Not only are the Smarts very open, relaxed and cooperating completely with police, the pattern is emerging that the little "facts" that have made us question their integrity are slowly turning out to be poor reporting by the media. For example, the Smarts did NOT contact their neighbors before they did the police. It just seems to me that the media seems intent on targeting a very healthy, close, attractive and religious family who adheres to the 50's ideal of the model family that the media has been trying to say for years never in fact existed. Maybe the Smarts DO have "issues." Who doesn't? But the media representation of them, with an intent on destroying their reputation, is repugnant.

[Palladin]

How nice! A little girl has lost her favorite sister just two weeks ago, and the parents replace the missing girl with a puppy. And now MK is "back to normal" and "happy".

That interview with Banfield was totally weird. Ed talked too much, Lois too little. They both smiled and acted like they hadn't a worry in the world. Either they are on heavy-duty tranqs, or they know where Eliz. is, and they gave permission for her to be taken.

There is more than meets the eye with this perfect, golden Mormon family. 11-12 computers taken from family and extended family. Being closely scrutinized (by the FBI, I should think). Something ugly is coming out soon.

[Utah Girl]

Hmmm, in the interview I saw last night, Lois was quite vocal, even interrupting her husband several times. And it is your interpretation that the dogs have replaced Elizabeth, not anything that the Smarts said. They did say in response to Banfield's question that the dogs were 1) because the kids had wanted a dog and 2) for safety reasons.

They also still both looked haggard to me, especially Ed. I saw a lot of worry and emotion, and a lot of faith in God. Interesting perspectives...

[GovernmentShrinker]

From whence comes the information that 11-12 computers had been taken from the family and extended family?

[Utah Girl]

Facts? You want facts? :) I'm wondering if that info is in the alleged National Enquirer story.