Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 18

06/23/02 | Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 18

[stlnative]

June 22, 2002 - Late Evening Report

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) _ A hospitalized drifter sought for questioning in the disappearance of a teenager in Utah was alert and talking with investigators Saturday.

Bret Michael Edmunds, 26, was cooperating with investigators, said FBI spokesman Kevin Eaton. Salt Lake City police sought Edmunds for questioning in connection with the disappearance of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her family's home June 5.

Wanted for Questioning

Bret Michael Edmunds

• 6"2'
• 235 lbs.
• 1997 green Saturn
• Considered Dangerous

"He's talking to us. He's not telling us, 'go away, I want a lawyer,"' Eaton said.

But investigators won't say what information Edmunds is giving them. They will release information after Salt Lake City detectives have a chance to interpret Edmunds' responses.

Questioning Edmunds likely will not substantially affect the Smart case because he was only a possible witness and not a suspect, Eaton said.

"We've been hitting five to six promising areas, and we've been concentrating on a lot of important stuff" not related to Edmunds, Eaton said.

Edmunds remained in serious condition in a secure section of intensive care at City Hospital under the watch of U.S. marshals. He is being treated for a drug-related liver damage.

"He's conscious, he's coherent and he's talking," hospital spokeswoman Teresa McCabe said.

Edmunds, who appeared at the hospital Friday, began talking with a Salt Lake City police officer and FBI agent Saturday morning. Doctors monitored Edmunds' condition to ensure he was up to the questioning.

McCabe said Edmunds would stay at the hospital at least three or four days. She would not divulge details of his condition, citing confidentiality rules.

Edmunds is being held on a federal warrant charging him with fleeing to avoid prosecution for a probation violation. The charges are unrelated to the Smart case.

"He is still not a suspect at this time," Police Chief Rick Dinse said. "He's a question mark, and we want to put a period on that question mark."

Edmunds, who was living out of his Saturn sedan, had been seen in the Smart neighborhood the week the girl vanished. While Elizabeth's sister described the alleged kidnapper as a 5-foot-8 man, Edmunds stands 6-foot-2.

A Saturn found in the hospital parking lot was photographed, impounded and towed away. Police saw nothing suspicious through the windows, and are seeking a search warrant.

Also Saturday, sheriff's deputies said cadaver dogs were unable to find a scent at a subdivision near Salt Lake City. A police search was prompted after dogs owned by search volunteers apparently picked up an unusual scent.

Edmunds has been sought since last fall for outstanding warrants on charges of fraud and assault on a police officer in Utah. He had served 60 days and was put on probation in 2000 for stealing and forging checks.

When he is physically able, Edmunds will be taken to a magistrate for a hearing, the marshals service said.

[Plummz]

I was just pointing put that following your logic to its conclusion fingers the family. Something you might want to think about.

[JudyB1938]

So sorry to hear of your loss. You may wish to know about my daughter's next-door neighbor, an eye doctor with 4 small children. He got killed in an auto accident last night. Please include that family in your prayers. He was loved by everybody who knew him.

Life sure isn't fair. Just like this pretty little Smart girl. Life sure wasn't fair to her either. And I think that's why we who have suffered our own losses are so sympathetic with this story.

[AshleyTodd]

"How I wish we had a killfile feature!"


Maybe it hasn't occurred to you, but you're not helping matters by reposting every inaccurate thing Partisan Hack has posted.

[Plummz]

Information is important if you are seeking truth.

[restornu]

I pray some how you can find charity and let the Lord do the judging for now, for I am not a mind reader and neither are you!

[restornu]

It's really hard to know the reason some are call home at a young age, My husband up in age and his body gave out, its the void that takes time to adjust. When one is so young it the little ones who miss out on that relationship of dad, and the spouse is forced to live in the now. I myself need to be busy helping others and the arthritis is getting in the way.

Thank you for your words, blessings to you!

[JudyB1938]

I will pray for your pain.

[Bella]

Our 13 y/o daughter doesn't watch the news but since we have Fox on most of the time in our bedroom, she'll hear things in passing. Out of the blue the other day, she asked me if Elizabeth Smart's dad was gay. I asked why she thought that, and she said he sounded gay to her. The next time I saw him on TV, I had to admit that he indeed sounded like he was homosexual. Something about this feels all wrong to me, just like Westerfield being railroaded for Danielle's murder. It's just sick.

Wouldn't surprise me if he's gay as your 13yr old dgt said..Study their body movement, as many have noticed, when being interviewed, can't look directly into the camera, interviewer, or what about when out of the blue, he said and slapped Lois' knee saying she was his only love and out of context..what the hell?? Something's amiss here, and wouldn't surprise me if there's many a battle going on behind the scenes w/ this family..Something's seriously haunting this family, and at the price of their daughter.

[Bella]

You must be full of hatred and a very jealous character, you know? No, it's not a good thing to spread rumors, lies and hatred. Now, go take a hike!

Unless you can prove facts differently, you have no reason to criticize ANY of these people..Wouldn't you be pissed if any of these people crack the case!?

[Kentucky]

When are the results of the search of Edmund's car expected? By now they should know if she was ever in his car. Has anyone heard anything?

[freedox]

Oops, my mistake......I see you truly don't understand. Please don't let me distract you from your relentless attacks on Partisan Hack.

[freedox]

Since Edmunds apparently did not seek legal counsel and gave the police free reign to search his car in any manner they liked, I'm not exactly holding my breath for the results.

[Ditter]

You think he is lying because he is crying while talking to reporters. Others think he is lying because he appears to be normal & not upset. Some think he is a homosexual because he is soft spoken. The lesson I am learning from this is you are damned if you do & damned if you don't. At my next tragedy I am going to refuse all TV interviews.

[Plummz]

Rumors and innuendos are information. They have been clearly labeled as such. You have no basis to assert that they are lies, or that they are being posted in order to denigrate persons or religions. Assertions lacking a factual basis are basically lies. I suggest you stop lying.