The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 6

NATIONAL NEWS The Des Moines Register GC FBI joins search for Florida girl, 11 mm By VICKIE CHACHERE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sarasota, Fla. The FBI joined the search Tuesday for an 11-year-old girl whose apparent abduction was videotaped by a car wash surveillance camera, and the youngster's parents pleaded for her safe return. "Please release Carlie. Please give me my baby," begged Carlie Brucia's mother, Susan Schorpen. The sixth-grader was seen on videotape being led away by a man as she took a shortcut behind a closed car wash on her way home from a friend's house Sunday night.

Sheriff's officials are working with the FBI, state law enforcement authorities and the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. More than 100 calls from the public have been logged, and an unidentified company offered a $25,000 reward for information. "Carlie, if you can see and hear this, please know we will stop at nothing," sheriff's Maj. Kevin Gooding said at a news conference, telling the little girl to run and get help if she can. "We won't stop until we find you.

Please, Carlie, dont give up." appear to know him. The man, who was wearing a mechanic's shirt with a name patch on one breast, spoke to her for a few seconds, then grabbed her by the arm and led her away. Her parents said they do not recognize the man. The FBI was working with NASA to enhance the images from the videotape in hopes of lifting more clues. Authorities were looking into the account of a caller nearly 100 miles away in Kissimmee who said he saw a man appearing to struggle with a girl early Tuesday in a parking lot.

Based on that account, authorities also were looking for a green, four-door Honda or Nissan. The girl's father, Joe Brucia, implored anyone who might have seen anything to come forward. A national hot line was set up (888)382-6237 to gather information. The family's home is about a mile from where Carlie was visiting. Carlie Brucia ASSOCIATED PRESS On tape: This frame from a surveillance camera at a closed car wash appears to show Carlie Brucia being abducted by an unidentified man.

The surveillance tape showed a white man in his late 20s or early 30s approach Carlie. The blond, blue-eyed girl did not Page 6A Wednesday, February 4, 2004 4 Ex-Hawkeye nominated for U.S. attorney ....1 1 VB ra By JANE NORMAN REGISTER WASHINGTON BUREAU Washington, D.C A former Hawkeye football player was nominated Tuesday by President Bush as the new US. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, based in Des Moines. Matt Whitaker, a former University of Iowa tight end and academic all-American, was one of three Iowans recommended by US.

Sen. Qiarles Grassley of Iowa, aides to the Republican senator said Tuesday. The Bush administration made the final selection. Whitaker is now a lawyer in private practice in Des Moines. He is a former attorney for the Super Valu grocery chain, and received his law degree and his master's in business from the University of Iowa in 1995.

He received his bachelor's degree in 1991 from the university. Whitaker made an unsuccessful run for the job of state treasurer in 2002 against incumbent Democrat Michael Fitzgerald. It was noted in news articles at the time that the former college athlete wore a 1991 Rose Bowl ring on his right hand. The U.S. attorney is the top federal prosecutor in the southern portion of Iowa.

The former US. attorney was Steve Colloton, a Bush adrninistration appointee who recently was confirmed as a judge on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Whitaker's nomination will have to be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate. No evening Full of Life lYOUNKERS nours! Early mornings onlyl l)f flrs IUoincfi firgister cMoinesR e(t r.tom ni 'PIT 1 I l'7Jdi 1 p.nifny (IB for Senior Citizens age 55 or better! Savings are valid on regular, sale and clearance price merchandise throughout the store. Save 10 on small electrics, furniture, mattresses, area rugs AND LAMPS, WHERE AVAILABLE.

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