Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 36

07/10/02 - Wednesday - Day 36 | Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat Thread - Day 36

[stlnative]

Please keep adding Elizabeth Smart updates to this thread...
Remember to keep checking back to this thread today for today's
developing news on the Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping.

Elizabeth was taken from her home at about 1:30am on the morning of June 5th, 2002.

Links

Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping - Daily News/Chat FreeRepublic Threads

	Day 31	Day 23
	Day 30	Day 22
	Day 29	Day 21
Day 35	Day 28	Day 20
Day 34	Day 26/27	Day 19
Day 33	Day 25	Day 18
Day 32	Day 24	Day 17

Salt Lake City Police Department Website
FBI Kidnappings/Critical Missing Persons - Elizabeth Smart
FBI - Salt Lake City Branch
Elizabeth Smart Website
Smart Residence Real Estate Listing
Brigette's Scanned Copy of House Layout from Newsweek Magazine
(Please do not link to the picture on my server space, if you wish to use it...
copy and paste it to your own hard drive and move it to your own server space)


Help keep this thread ongoing & pleasant...
Please do not let yourself get sucked into a heavy HEATED discussion or argument from
someone who wishes to come on this thread and make posts that will disrupt this thread.
The best thing to do it not to bring attention to these post or reply to them.


Brigette's Ping List - (How To Join & How It Works)
If you would like on my Elizabeth Smart Ping List,
Please send me a "Private Reply" with your request... Please do not post a "Public Thread
Request" as I may accidently overlook it. Also you can click here to visit
my profile page and to view the list of people on my Ping List's.
People on my Elizabeth Smart Ping List will only receive ONE ping
daily from me at the beginning of the thread each day.
This single ping will help you find the daily Elizabeth Smart thread faster
when you check your own "My Comment's" FR feature. If something large breaks in the case during
the day I will send out a new ping to everyone on my Ping List. Something breaking to me is if they find
Elizabeth or actually arrest a person for kidnapping her. It is up to you to visit this thread several times daily
as others and I will continue to add the latest breaking news reports as they are released throughout the day.

[stlnative]

PING to Day 36 - Have a Great Wednesday!

BTW... I am not the same "Bridget" that may or may not be connected to the Smart Case that was mentioned in the Day 35 thread.

[Utah Girl]

Have a great Wednesday! I am off to bed, and my neighbor so very kindly confined his electric guitar practicing to 9:30 PM to 10:30 Pm this evening...

[stlnative]

Smarts Juggle Privacy, Need for Media Focus

Wednesday, July 10, 2002

Local and national news media line up to hear members of the Smart family at Tuesday's news conference. The family is working hard to keep Elizabeth in the media spotlight, despite a scarcity of new information in the case. (Al Hartmann/The Salt Lake Tribune) BY GLEN WARCHOL THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE    The Smart family daily news conference -- a fixture at their Federal Heights LDS ward house for a more than a month -- hit its lowest point Tuesday.     With no new developments to announce in the investigation or search for kidnapped Elizabeth Smart, the exchange between a dwindling group of reporters and family members petered out in a record five minutes.     For the broadcast media, the scarcity of information meant stretching for something newsworthy to put on the air. "I've got to figure out how to fill two minutes," complained one national television newsman.     The news media's growing frustration may not find much public sympathy, but it portends a grave problem for the Smart family. Only by keeping Elizabeth's face in front of America can they nourish hope she will be found.     The news media, particularly television, demand fresh infusions of information, interviews and angles, whether generated naturally from the investigation or artificially through increased access to the family and their heartbreak.     Though most newspeople are circumspect in saying it, they know their editors will soon pull them off even the most compelling story if nothing new breaks.     Smart family spokesman Chris Thomas anticipated the problem after Monday's news conference, where the only new information was a clarification of the rewards being offered. Thomas queried an informal gathering of television producers, bookers and reporters: "What can we do to make these press conferences more meaningful?"     Later, in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, Thomas expanded on the Smarts' dilemma: to provide the news media with fresh material on Elizabeth without allowing exploitation that could further harm the family.     "The main objective is to keep her picture out there and her story alive," Thomas said. "But we will not do certain things just to keep it alive."     Ed and Lois Smart, for example, have refused all overtures to interview Elizabeth's siblings. They have also refused continuous requests to film the inside of their home where the kidnapping took place.     "Ed and Lois have thought through this carefully; they are pretty black and white on what they will allow. They still have a family to take care of. Protecting the family is a priority equal to finding Elizabeth."     Thomas, a Salt Lake public relations professional who is donating his time to the family, says the family has rejected direct requests from the likes of Geraldo Rivera, Connie Chung and Barbara Walters when their requests meant violating the few private areas they have maintained.     "Even if it means the media's going away, we will not compromise certain things to keep them here," Thomas said.     Though the family daily reiterates its confidence in the investigation, the news media, at least, has made clear its frustration with the absence of the police at news conferences.     "Would it be nice to have someone here from the police to field questions about the investigation?" says Thomas. "Sure, it would be nice. There is only so much the family can say."     Salt Lake Police spokesman Capt. Scott Atkinson said the department is trying to maintain a balance. "We do want the family to keep her picture out there. Yet on the other hand, we'd rather spend our time looking for Elizabeth and continuing the investigation," Atkinson said. "When we have new information, we'll be there."     Until then, Thomas says the family may have to consider which of its last vestiges of privacy to surrender to the news media.     "This is a fragile situation," Thomas says. "This is a family that has been through more than anyone can comprehend."

[Utah Girl]

I was wondering when the news media would start to peter out. It has been an extraordinarily wrong time for the national media to be so attentive. Let's see what the grand jury brings today and tomorrow.

[Jolly Green]

It has been an extraordinarily wrong time for the national media to be so attentive

long?

[Utah Girl]

LOL, thanks for the catch. I'm trying to multi-task here and I'm not succeeding. :)

[mystery-ak]

turn on the press conference

[stlnative]

Ed Smart is on TV now talking about a letter he received, I was a 1 page letter (not handwritten) date July 3rd, he received it yesterday. The letter states that they wish to talk about the release of Elizabeth. It was addressed to; The Parents of Elizabeth. It was from a person who says they know the abductor and that they made the letter for the abductor.

He (Ed) is giving an awful lot of information about this letter, so I think this is a catch to keep the media around. Ed does say this letter is different than others he has received. It sounds like the police are not looking at this letter seriously.

[miss marmelstein]

His information is confusing and seemingly contradictory. First he said the letter was addressed "to the parents of Elizabeth Smart" and then he said the letter was addressed "to the family." He's also laughed aloud several times.

[mystery-ak]

This makes no sense....he's addressing the kidnapper, yet he has the original letter...why not give it to the police for forensics....he seems to take it seriously!

[mystery-ak]

I was shocked with the laughter...didn't seem to be nervous laughter?

[stlnative]

All of you should be able to see what he was doing. He explained himself at the end of the conference. He said he came out today to let the abductor know that he can contact him if likes and that he is wanting the abductor to contact him. Then Ed brought up the letter I mentioned earlier, he used this as an example of how the abductor could contact him if he wanted to. He also stated that he wants contact and some information from the abductor so he that he knows that abductor's contact is not bogus. In otherwords the family is getting many bogus letters... but nothing that says or points to the letter writer really having Elizabeth. So if the letter was really from a friend of the abductor, Ed wants more contact and more information that this person really has Elizabeth. (for example the abductor could ask Elizabeth what she did on a certain day... with abductor knowing this information... this would prove that they really have her.)

[mystery-ak]

I understood what Ed was doing, it just strikes me as odd that he hasn't turned over the original letter to the FBI, he apparently is taking this letter seriously...by now all forensic evidence is probably lost
He himself said that this letter is different from others he has received...MHO is that all letters should be treated as evidence.

[varina davis]

His information is confusing and seemingly contradictory. First he said the letter was addressed "to the parents of Elizabeth Smart" and then he said the letter was addressed "to the family." He's also laughed aloud several times.

Yes, his demeanor seemed stranger than usual. The giggling was bizarre. He also seemed to contradict himself a few times and definitely didn't appear nearly as concerned about Elizabeth's safety as communicating with the person or persons she is with.

Can't help but wonder if the SLCPD is encouraging him to appear publicly just to see what he will say and how he will act and react. Couldn't help but think the PD is pulling back to let the family and their connections untangle this mess. Of course that is sheer speculation, but the new conference sure raised more questions than it answered.

[stlnative]

Today Ed was trying to keep the medias interest. So he talked about a letter he received. He talked around reporters questions, but did give enough information that people & reporters should be able to understand what he was doing. In otherwords, he did not plainly come out and say that Police are considering this letter as real, but said he gave the police a "Copy" of it. (this tells us that the police are not taking the letter seriously) Plus Ed Smart gave quite a bit of information about the letter, way more than the police would ever allow if they considered it real. Also Ed laughed because of the reporters continue asking the same question over and over, they just rephrase it each time and Ed knows this and he laughed because of it and told the reporter he cannot answer the question, instead of saying your asking the same question but rephrasing it.

The media will look (even more) foolish and will catch on soon with these types of reports coming from the family. They want real information and the Smart family will not get away with doing these types of press conferences for very long. The police or the FBI need to come out at least once a week and randomly each week with something new on the case to keep the media around.

[Bella]

I understood what Ed was doing, it just strikes me as odd that he hasn't turned over the original letter to the FBI, he apparently is taking this letter seriously...by now all forensic evidence is probably lost He himself said that this letter is different from others he has received...MHO is that all letters should be treated as evidence.

Lets HOPE this is a COPY and NOT the original...hopefully the authorities are conducting tests on the letter, envelope, & stamp..and if not, wonder if they need someone living w/ them constantly instructing them how to handle any and all evidence, and not pass it along for everyone to handle to read..

[Registered]

This is wayyyy to freaky.

[stlnative]

I saw his laugh as frustration at the Reporters asking and rephasing the same questions over and over again after he has already said he cannot talk about it when he was asked the same question in a different way before. How some of you are see it differently must not be listening to what the reporters are asking him and how the reporters are asking the same questions over and over but just rephasing the questions. Reporters are sneeky when they ask questions, they do the same to Bush and he laughs also when they do it.

[andysandmikesmom]

This is what usually happens in these cases...a sensational kidnapping, or abduction, or disappearance of a child, and the local news picks it up, then the national news picks it up...and depending on I suppose, many different factors, certain children who have disappeared, get days and weeks of press coverage....

And then when the leads peter out, when there is no new information, eventually the national press loses interest, because its not really news, to report that there is no new news on a particular case...the press is always under pressure, for many reasons, to get a fresh angle on a story, get a new lead, or just get a new and different story altogether...

Unfortunately, there are always more and more children who disappear, or are abducted, and whose face and profile will eventually take the place of the latest hot news items...

A month from now, or a few months from now, there will be another shocking child abduction or disappearance, and that child will be the latest one, and that child will replace Elizabeth Smarts face and profile with the press...

Its sad, but that seems to be the way of it...

Still, I will keep Elizabeth Smart and her family in my thoughts and prayers, and just hope that somewhere, Elizabeth is still out there alive and waiting to come home...

But realistically, I think most people, whether the newspeople, or law enforcement people, or just regular folks, seem to feel that as each day passes, and no hint or trace of Elizabeth is found, the more likely it is, that she is dead, and that now it is just a matter of time until her body is found...

I hope that assessment is wrong, but as we all know, after this long of a period of time has passed, most children missing for this long, are usually not found alive...

Still, let us pray continually, that Elizabeth is under Gods protection, and that she is alive and unharmed...

[varina davis]

Reporters are sneeky when they ask questions, they do the same to Bush and he laughs also when they do it.

But Bush does not have a daughter who was allegedly kidnapped. BTW, I did listen to the reporter's questions and it's true that they ask the same ones over again. They do it for the same reason the police do it, to see if the person being interviewed will trip up -- and often, they do.

Also noticed Mrs. Smart was not on hand today, which may not be unusual.

It begs common sense to accept statements (if true), that the police have not tested the letter for forensic information. If they haven't, then they clearly do not place much credibility on this development.

[Rad_J]

Here is a link to an article about the letter:

http://www.ksl.com/dump/news/cc/breaking/missing.htm#letter

[Utah Girl]

This is the article from KSL.com. The police did receive a faxed copy of the letter before it came in the mail to the Smart home.


Elizabeth Smart's father said Wednesday he has received a letter that he suspects may have come from someone with knowledge of his daughter's June 5 disappearance.

But Ed Smart also said he could not say whether the unsigned letter, which he received Tuesday, was credible. It lacked any solid information that would indicate it came from a person with specific information about his daughter, Smart said.

Since 14-year-old Elizabeth's disappearance on June 5, the family has received "thousands" of letters, said Tom Smart, Ed Smart's brother, told The Associated Press.

But this one was the first that seemed to be from someone willing to negotiate, Ed Smart said during a news briefing. "It was from a person they had talked to the abductor," indicating the abductor was looking for a safe way to resolve the kidnapping, he said.

The unsigned, typewritten letter postmarked July 3 bore no return address. Ed Smart said the police received a faxed copy before he received the original letter. He would not say whether the letter was mailed to his home.

Police have "absolutely nothing" to do with his decision to disclose it publicly, Smart said.

Calls to Salt Lake City Police and the FBI were not immediately returned.

"I'm just anxious to do whatever it's going to take to get her back," he said. "I address him to ask him to please correspond with me to give me a reason to truly believe that he truly does have Elizabeth. I would like to be able to hear from him and tell me what it is that he wants."

Police say Elizabeth Smart was taken from her bedroom at gunpoint by a soft-spoken abductor. Investigators have said a former handyman, Richard Ricci, is at the top of their list of potential suspects, but he has not been charged in the case.

Ricci, who has a long criminal history, is being held on unrelated parole violations.

Kent Morgan, an assistant county district attorney, said charges accusing Ricci of burglarizing the Smart home last year could be filed some time this week.

[Rad_J]

I had thought about ransom requests a lot in mid-june and discussed them with my wife. I had wondered if I was in that situation and did recieve a ransom request, if it would be a good idea to just say I had received about 50 requests or more whether true or not, just to get the kidnappers to reveal more information and possibly get more evidence from them. If it takes three letters and a phone call or two that can possibly be traced, just to prove to the Smarts it is legit, then that is more evidence to go on.

Then in this news conference, Ed says they have received thousands of letters. I highly doubt they have recieved thousands of letters claiming they have Elizabeth, but probably have gotten thousands of letters offering sympathy and help.

[Rotan]

If you pay careful attention, you can see that Ed is going through a wide variety of emotions. He goes almost directly from nervous laughter to frustration at the reporters at one point. Is it strange? I don't personally think so. The strain must be unbearable at this point. He recieves a letter that's "a little different" claiming that someone out there actually does still have Elizabeth, which would mean she is alive as they've always hoped. There has to be some relief in there mixed with the frustration that even if she is alive, she still isn't home. At first, I found his behavior a bit odd, but upon closer look, I've rethought my stance.

He did make a couple rather large mistakes, though. He gave a plea that the abductor contact them for negotiations about Liz's release, saying that's all that mattered to him. He then went on to say that he hopes whoever did this is brought up on charges as soon as they are discovered. Big no-no. He wants his daughter back, I can understand. The way to make sure she's alright and stays that way, though, is by pleading with the perpetrator, not verbally hoping for his prosecution. That would tend, in my opinion at least, to lead to a much less favorable and tragic outcome of the case.

The other mistake he made was in being vague about the proof that whoever, if anyone, contacts them actually has her. I'm not going to say what I would or would not have said if I were in his shoes, but specifying something like that seems to me to be important. It doesn't have to be precise, just along the lines of "Tell us something only we and Elizabeth would know." A child abductor's mind is obviously not stable. I won't go into detail because I don't want to even think about it, but proof has many forms.

One last thing. Ed Smart stated that he actually has the original copy and that the police never asked for it. To me, that suggests they either find it less than credible or the Smarts have been recieving these types of letters constantly and this one is coming out now to keep media attention.

Just my opinions on the matter from what I saw on the press conference.

[Rad_J]

How hard is it to hide where a fax was sent from? It seems like it would be easier to trace a fax than a normal phonecall. Wouldn't a police fax machine have more capability built in for tracing faxes? So, what I am asking, is there such a thing as a truly anonymous fax?

[miss marmelstein]

"But Bush does not have a daughter..."

Well, I saw the same press conference as everybody else and, like you, Varina, I found his demeanor odd. Of course, I have always found this to be true. I did not find his laughter nervous. I found it weird.

[stlnative]

Thanks Utah Girl... They need solid evidence in these letters to take any one of them seriously. If she is still alive, then the kidnapper could ask her something that only her parents and her know. Something that would tip them off that the letter was real. This is what Ed Smart was trying to get across today to the kidnapper. Telling him if he really has written them to write again giving them more information so that they can weed out his letter(s) from all the others. Or if the kidnapper has not contacted them yet, to please do so... but to include some information in his contact that will get their attention so that they know he contact is real. There are many ways that the real kidnapper could tip them off that he is the real perp when contacting them.

They are trying to work on the kidnapper, but if she is dead I doubt they will not get any contact at all from him. But some kidnapper/killers like to play games with the victims family and I would guess they are hoping that this one is a game player. I am also hoping this one is game player and who is not very good at the game.

[stlnative]

I totally agree with you, I also caught his slip up about he wants to the contact from the perp, but also wants him charged right away when he is discovered.

Some people have a tough time put themselves into this family's shoes to understand what is going on with this family and to understand the nervous laughs and things being said out context. I also noticed that Ed Smart looks to be loosing some weight... so what they are going through must be a living hell that some of use can understand to some degree, even though we have never been there ourselves.

[stlnative]

put = putting

Have a good day all... I am off here until late tonight. Prayer are being said for this family and Elizabeth. I pray that some sort of answers will come soon to them.

[Utah Girl]

I just listened to the KSL update. They said the SLPD was unaware that Ed Smart would be discussing the letter, and in fact, the police turned on the news conference after they heard he was discussing this particular ransom letter. And apparently a couple of police did show up at/or after the conference, because they talked to Ed Smart "behind closed doors." (Don't they always???) And as the police were driving off, they were asked if the came about the letter. "No" was the response.

I really thought Ricci was involved in the abduction in some way. Now, it seems as if he is not, or he is not forthcoming. The Smarts are getting desperate, and I think the realization is sinking in that perhaps it may just be a long wait to find her body, and an unsolved mystery. Prayers for Elizabeth and her family today.

[varina davis]

Investigators have said a former handyman, Richard Ricci, is at the top of their list of potential suspects, but he has not been charged in the case.

If so, I wonder why Fox continues to scroll "Ricci is not considered a suspect" on its TV channel?

[Utah Girl]

I don't know, that would be a question for Fox News. Kind of bad journalism, I would say...

[AmusedBystander]

I really thought Ricci was involved in the abduction in some way. Now, it seems as if he is not...

Ricci is involved in this, the police just have circumstantial evidence at this point, but they don't have to move very quickly against Ricci as he is already in custody. What they don't know, is just who else is involved. Ricci is savvy enough, through his years in the system to know this. He knows full well that he going away for theft, but he also knows he won't be in that long for the theft. Unless someone slips up and/or the body is found, the police won't be able to make the case.

[Utah Girl]

I was just thinking the same thing. I think the police don't have anything but circumstantial evidence against Ricci, and until they do, Ricci won't be forthcoming more. He's probably thinking that if he keeps his mouth shut he can get away with the abduction, and just serve time for theft or burglary or whatever the police are going to charge him with this week. And in fairness, perhaps he doesn't have anything to do with the abduction, and is just very unlucky. I don't think the Utah parole board is going to look at him kindly the next time he is up for parole.

[r9etb]

Wouldn't a police fax machine have more capability built in for tracing faxes? So, what I am asking, is there such a thing as a truly anonymous fax?

Almost certainly there's tracing information on the fax machine, and if not that, a simple *69 (or whatever caller ID capabilities the SLCPD has) will trace the call back, too.

Let's suppose that it's a crank letter -- anybody dumb enough to do that would be dumb enough to send it to the police fax without any idea that it could be traced.

If it's a genuine letter, the fax once again suggests arrogance and probably no real attempt to hide the origin of the fax.

[FR_addict]

I think Ed is very bizarre.

Either Ed is lying or the Fox reporter is lying. The reporter, Adam Housley, on the scene communicated back to Shepard Smith and said that Ed told him that he turned over the letter to police himself. Ed Smart denies saying this. He said a copy was turned over to the police, then he said the person that gave him the letter faxed it to the police and he assumed that the police had it. He also said he talked to the FBI about this letter. The police and/or the FBI would have asked for the original.

This story is bizarre. Why didn't he talk to the police himself about the letter before going public with this letter? I still think the family is involved.

[FR_addict]

Ed Smart said someone gave him the letter. I was assuming that he meant someone in the family received the letter and gave it to him.

[FR_addict]

I replayed this part and the letter was supposedly given to someone besides Ed Smart and this person gave the letter to Ed.

[Utah Girl]

The local press is saying that police were faxed copy of this letter. I didn't hear the press conference, sounded as if Smart was rather agitated (and I can't blame him.)

[Rotan]

If the letter was faxed to the police, it's my guess that it wasn't the perpetrator that did it but instead someone working on the case faxed it in to be examined. They never said it was faxed by the author.

[varina davis]

This story is bizarre. Why didn't he talk to the police himself about the letter before going public with this letter? I still think the family is involved.

Either involved or knows the reason behind the alleged abduction. Ed Smart sure didn't come across well in this news conference. But if it helps get Elizabeth home, then I'm glad he did it -- bumbling though it might have been.

Also seemed like he very flustered when asked if the letter came from another state.

[Rotan]

Er..that reply was to all, I just forgot to change it. Sorry.

[Neenah]

I am late to the thread today and only am as far as your post here, so it may be handled differently by the time the last post is stated here. The last post now is 37 at this time. 3:00 p.m. central time.

Reporters are sneeky when they ask questions, they do the same to Bush and he laughs also when they do it.

With all due respect to you Brigette..and I do respect you and all your tiring work here...President Bush may smirk or laugh, but if Jenna or Barbara were missing for 5 weeks, I doubt he would be laughing. This is totally bizaar behaviour on this father's part. # 1...If it were you or me...that letter would be RUSHED to the F.B.I. immediately, and The F.B.I. or the P.D. would be handling it, both in investigation and media attention...and would advise the family to be quiet about it, while they do their work, and that includes testing the ORIGINAL copy. They in my mind, would not thrust him out onto the media with it as a "tidbit" to keep the media satisfied instead of leaving SLC.

There is something wrong here. Think of it....they have waited all these days...a letter comes stating someone knows where she is...and the Dad breaks it to the press ? And then laughs at the questions?

You said in post # 16...(this tells us that the police are not taking the letter seriously) I can't get past the words of that ! What Dad, with his little girl missing for sooooo long,would come out with something that the police are not considering even worth a press conference ?? And #2...What Dad would USE THIS LETTER just to keep the press interested?

I am not trying to be harsh, but there is something wrong with this picture.

[Rotan]

Well, I for one would. If it were my daughter, I might do anything and everything to keep the media's attention on my child. The more attention it gets, the more likely the case will not end up unsolved.

[Faith]

Heavenly Father,

Once again, we come to You, believing in Your ominipotence and sovereignty. You are the God of the impossible. Nothing is too difficult for You. We ask You, Father, to use the details and circumstances of this letter to lead the authorities to Elizabeth. Father, we do not know whether the letter is legitimate, but You see all the pieces of this puzzle that are hidden to us. We ask You, Father, to have mercy upon Elizabeth and to allow her to be released to her family. We commit her to You, knowing that You love her and care about every minute of her life. Someone is sitting on the information that is needed, Father. Convict that person's heart to speak. Hear our prayers for Elizabeth, Father, and help her to keep her eyes focused on You. Let not a hair on her head be harmed. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.