"America's Most Wanted," the Fox network anti-crime program, has released photos and the name of a man the network says is sought for questioning concerning the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping.
On Feb. 3, Elizabeth's parents, Ed and Lois Smart, released a police composite sketch of a transient called Emmanuel who had worked for them about a year ago. Police said they released the sketch because 9-year-old Mary Katherine Smart, who saw the abduction, said the man looks like the person she saw take Elizabeth from their bedroom last June.
"I think it is a significant development that they actually have been able to get the picture of who Emmanuel is," family member David Smart said late Saturday. "The main thing is just getting him to contact law enforcement so law enforcement can talk to him.
Lois Smart said she met the man while he was panhandling in downtown Salt Lake City. She gave him $5 and asked if he needed work. The next day, the man came to their home to pull weeds and work on the roof.
Noting that he seemed well-mannered and nice, Lois Smart said the man looked as if he could work. The man told the Smarts he was traveling from one homeless shelter to another preaching the word of God.
After the sketch was published, according to "America's Most Wanted," "Police got a call from a woman who said she's Emmanuel's sister. She told them she doesn't know where he is, but she gave them a lot of information about him, including pictures."
He may now have longer hair and a beard, the announcer said.
"Police now know Emmanuel's real name is Brian David Mitchell. He calls himself Emmanuel for religious reasons. He's believed to be traveling with his wife, named Wanda," according to the program.
They could have headed from Utah to a warm location, possibly to the south, the show said. It added, "Police stress he's not a suspect. They want to question him about Elizabeth's disappearance."
At the time the sketch was released, Salt Lake Police Sgt. Fred Louis said "Emmanuel" was no more a suspect than anyone else.
The program, which is broadcast on Ch. 13, asked anyone who knows his whereabouts to call 1-800-CRIME-TV. "America's Most Wanted" posted what it said is Mitchell's photo on its Internet site, www2.amw.com/amw.html.
The Web site says Mitchell changed his name to David Emmanuel Isiah for religious purposes. He is believed to be homeless, it adds.
E-MAIL: bau@desnews.com