New Twist In Case Of Missing Utah Girl

The investigation into the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart has taken a new twist.

In a story in Thursday editions, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that detectives have been unable to explain how the abductor could have entered the house through the small window that appeared to be the entry point.

The newspaper said investigators also have surmised that a window screen appeared to have been cut from the inside, possibly to make it look like a break-in. This has led investigators to theorize the teenager may have been abducted by a member of her extended family.

"I would say (it is) one of many theories," said Salt Lake Police Capt. Scott Atkinson. They are also looking at the neighborhood and everyone who knows Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was reportedly taken from her bedroom at gunpoint in the early morning of June 5.

The Smart's extended family is large. Elizabeth's mother, Lois, is the second-youngest of eight siblings; her father, Ed, is the second-oldest of six. Elizabeth has at least 70 first cousins.

Police think they're making headway.

"I think we're making progress. I believe that the investigators are starting to sort through the information that they need to. I don't know that they're as frustrated as we first were," Atkinson said.

On Tuesday, seven days into the investigation, police said they were focusing their investigation on the Smart's upscale neighborhood and those who know Elizabeth.

Atkinson said police are continuing to give polygraph tests, but would not say who was given them, only to say, "They haven't generated leads."

Police have said the window was not in the bedroom shared by 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart and her 9-year-old sister. They refused to say where it was located or whether the screen had been cut.

Regarding the speculation that Elizabeth's abductor might have been a member of the extended family, a police spokesman said investigators have said all along that they have not ruled anyone out.

The Smart family issued a statement saying it was "disappointed by today's Salt Lake Tribune article."

"Investigating the family is common procedure. We continue to fully cooperate in every aspect of the investigation and urge the public and media to avoid distraction from what is most important," the statement said.

On Thursday, David Smart, Elizabeth's uncle, reiterated that.

"We urge the public and the media: Do not get distracted with this type of aspect," he said.

The family has not hired an attorney, he said. "I don't see any need to hire an attorney."

The Tribune's report followed a day of intense hunting for a 26-year-old transient who police said might have information about the teen's disappearance. Bret Michael Edmunds was identified through a partial license plate number provided by a milkman.

Police were careful to say they don't consider Edmunds a suspect.

He was being sought for parole violation and assault on a police officer. He had served 60 days and been put on probation in 2000 for stealing and forging checks.

Edmunds is probably living in a 1997 green Saturn with Utah license plate number 266XJH, Louis said.

On Thursday, Atkinson said police were still looking for Edmunds, but added, "We do not believe Mr. Edmunds was involved."

The milkman, Charlie Miller, told police last week that he saw a car drive slowly up and down the Smarts' street on the morning of June 3, two days before the abduction.

A statement signed by Ed Smart said the family had looked at Edmunds' photograph and did not recognize him. Miller also saw the photograph and was not sure if that was the driver he had seen.

Elizabeth's 9-year-old sister, Mary Katherine Smart, described the kidnapper as a 5-foot-8-inch man. Edmunds is 6-feet 2-inches tall and 235 pounds.

Police have interviewed Mary Katherine three times. The girl told investigators that a gunman entered the bedroom she shared with her older sister and forced the older girl to go with him.

Since Elizabeth's disappearance, thousands of volunteer searchers have combed through the city and surrounding mountains for any trace of the girl. Thousands of posters of Elizabeth are plastered throughout the Salt Lake valley.