Bret Michael Edmunds
- 6"2'
- 235 lbs.
- 1997 green Saturn
- Considered Dangerous
Posted on 06/22/2002 10:17:01 PM PDT by 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.
Bret Michael Edmunds
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"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.
1. Elizabeth had a dramatic reduction in grades within the last six weeks. All A's to D's and F's.
2. She was scheduled to see a psychologist to discuss the abrupt change in behavior.
I heard the father during another one of his statements in front of a microphone, and it hit me that he is lying. His fake crying-talking is no longer working for me. It is the exact same voice as Susan Smith.
There is a bombshell at the end of this story, I just know it.
I think it's good to throw it all out there though. How many times before have the so called wild rumors turned out to be fact?
I've lost the ability to be shocked.
I hadn't heard those specifics before...Where was that reported? I had just heard/read that they called some neighbors first before calling police. In fact, I recall an interview published in the paper that said the uncle (Tom) got a call between 2:30 and 3:00am and by the time he got to the house the police had already arrived and had the house sealed as a crime scene.
It has been reported that some neighbors had come over and gone searching for Elizabeth through the house before police arrived.
You also mentioned some 'wild rumors' about the dad staging the kidnapping for ransom money, I hadn't heard those rumors (other than some pretty wild scandal-monging here at FR over the last couple of days). Where were you when you heard those rumors??
if any of that is true....throw in the fact that Elizabeth missed her harp presentation at the school that night....for some reason, the family was late....to her concert at her school...which would have been very important to her, don't you think
What's the source for that?? If that IS true, that does add a new dimension to this case...
See: Danielle VanDam Case.
The idea that a sick, twisted motive is not possible, in conjunction with a very protectective community is a recipee for the case never being solved.
See: Jonbenet Ramsey.
We have to consider the darkest sicknesses to get at the truth.
Surely the police don't believe that she just ran off with Romeo, or they would have stopped the investigation?
I may be farther off base then I have very been, but you hit the nail right on the head as far as I am concerned. That is exacly the same impression that I had. He'd break into a forced sobbing at the wierdest places. My kids used to pull that when they were in trouble. It was totally fake IMO. We shall see. I hope to hell this isn't going to be another case that never gets solved like that poor little beauty queen girl. Can't remember her name right now, but I have always been sad at the way she met her end, and at the fact that her killer got away.
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