Francine Tate Found Alive

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record ," July 25, 2007. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

MARTHA MACCALLUM, GUEST HOST: Good news: Francine Tate is safe and sound tonight. Just hours ago, she was found in northern Wisconsin eight days after she vanished.

Francine's brother-in-law, Dee Thompson, joins us. Dee, welcome. Good to have you.

DEE THOMPSON, TATE'S BROTHER-IN-LAW: Greta, thank you so very much.

MACCALLUM: It's Martha. I'm filling in for Greta tonight.

THOMPSON: I'm sorry.

MACCALLUM: That's all right. Tell me how you got the good news.

THOMPSON: The sheriff's office called us. One of the detectives called and spoke directly to Steven tonight, or this afternoon earlier. And it was instant joy. He made sure that everybody heard it right away, and everybody is just overwhelmed, ecstatic.

MACCALLUM: You know, we cover so many of these stories, and most of them do not end this way. So it's just so wonderful that this family, your family, you know, really went out and got the word out there and got everybody interested in following it. And the police, of course, were on it. Give us some idea of what they think happened to her.

THOMPSON: Well, Martha, I'm not entirely sure of that. What can I tell you tell so you far is that Steven was given a ride up there by some folks from here. At least four people went, so that they could get Francine and her car. And they are headed back right now. It's a considerable distance.

As far as what specifically went on, I don't have that information yet. But I can tell you that without all the media attention, all the volunteer effort that went into this, we would not have gotten anywhere near so far so fast.

MACCALLUM: Now, how was she contacted? Did they find her, or did she contact them?

THOMPSON: No. My understanding is, is that a law enforcement person found her up there.

MACCALLUM: Was she in a house? Was she out in her car? Was she on the street?

THOMPSON: I believe she was with her car.

MACCALLUM: OK. Is there, you know, any thinking that she just took off, that she drove up there, that she needed to get away?

THOMPSON: You know, I could do any number of things with conjecture. I don't have an answer for her motivation or any of that. At this point, we are not so concerned with the why. And I understand your question. I'm sorry, I just don't have an answer for that.

MACCALLUM: What did they tell you about her physical condition?

THOMPSON: You know, I was told alive and well. The folks that went up there to meet her say she's in great shape.

MACCALLUM: Give us — you know, in terms of — there was a homeless man that was taken in by the couple.

THOMPSON: Right.

MACCALLUM: And the police thought maybe he might have something to do with it. What happened with that part of the investigation?

THOMPSON: Well, my understanding from other media sources, I guess, for lack of a better term, is that he was located also today over in Minnesota somewhere, and pretty much had no idea that he was even wanted to be talked to about this.

MACCALLUM: So they believe — the police believe that this man did not have anything to do with it?

THOMPSON: I would think that they're satisfied. I have not had that conversation with the law enforcement folks, but I believe that his person of interest status was changed with the press releases around here.

MACCALLUM: Right. Is she being taken to a hospital to be checked out? When do you expect that you'll see her, that she'll be back?

THOMPSON: I'm not entirely sure about that. I don't know that there was a need for the hospital. I would believe that the time between the phone call and the time that she was picked up, that if there was a need, that it was probably dealt with.

MACCALLUM: All right. Well, it's great to be able to report a story like this and that your family member is found alive and is going to be back with all of you soon. Thank you very much, Dee. Good to have you on tonight. Congratulations. We're happy for you.

THOMPSON: And again, Martha, thanks to you and the folks, as well.

MACCALLUM: All right. Take care now, Dee.

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