Police Search Computers in Kidnapped Girl's Home

SALT LAKE CITY – Police have pored through the files on a dozen computers taken from Elizabeth Smart's home and from her neighbors and extended family as they continue their search for the 14-year-old, who was reported abducted from her bedroom at gunpoint more than two weeks ago.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse said Thursday that police found nothing on the computers that would indicate that Elizabeth had any communications through e-mail or instant messaging with any suspects in her kidnapping.

"We have found nothing on the computers that creates a nexus to this crime," he said.

He said the confiscated PCs were both personal and business computers.

Dinse said police have given lie-detector tests to a number of people — both inside and outside of Elizabeth's family — but they won't comment on the test results.

Sixteen days into the investigation, police say they still have no suspect in the June 5 kidnapping, although Dinse acknowledged that the police have received some promising leads.

FBI agents are looking at other kidnappings, including one that ended with the suspect's suicide in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and two teens taken from the same apartment complex in Oregon, said special agent Dan Roberts.

In addition, police said they were aware of one e-mail ransom notice, but they considered it a hoax because the money was demanded before the e-mail had been received, Dinse said.

The e-mail was sent to a media outlet during the weekend, he said. The community is offering a $250,000 reward for Elizabeth's safe return.

"Our families believe in the depths of our hearts that Elizabeth is alive and we pray for her safe return," said Elizabeth's uncle, Tom Smart, reading a statement from the family.

"Please let us not lose sight of bringing Elizabeth home," he said.

There is still no suspect in the case, police said. 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.

Dinse said the investigation "is maybe closer than two weeks ago" to being solved.

Working from a description provided by Elizabeth's sister, 9-year-old Mary Katherine, 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.

Investigators still want to talk to Bret Michael Edmunds, a transient 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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.