Police Cast Doubt on Missing College Student's Kidnapping Story
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ... wanted to be alone. Now, fast forward, almost two hours later. We have just within the last 30 minutes or so received word there is going to be a second news conference here today with Madison police. And it is unclear exactly what it's going to be about. However, polices did say last time that they would only come out again today if there would be another significant development in the case. So this could go in a number of ways. But let's hear what the police had to say earlier when they were explaining why and how Audrey Seiler had arrived at the point where she changed her story.</s>PHILLIPS: OK, Jonathan, let's talk about this composite that has been released. Audrey Seiler saying the composite that was put out was not of this abduction in the marsh area, now saying that that wasn't true. Is this composite still valid, I guess you could say, with the other part of her story, where she says she was abducted at a different time downtown?</s>FREED: Well, that's right. What the police said is that they went on to clarify, and they said that the sketch -- they said that the sketch that was drawn up yesterday and released yesterday -- that Audrey claims that she was still abducted by that person at knife point, but that it just happened in another part of the city and not from her apartment. And here is what police were saying earlier.</s>ASST. CHIEF NOBLE WRAY, MADISON, WISCONSIN, POLICE: She was presented with these confirmed inconsistencies that resulted in Audrey admitting that, in fact, she had not been abducted at her apartment at all. Audrey stated that she just wanted to quote/unquote "be alone." However, Audrey is now reporting that the suspect depicted in the sketch which was made available last night -- that her -- the sketch -- that the sketch -- abducted her from a different location in the city at knifepoint.</s>FREED: So Kyra, the sense here in Madison, Wisconsin, is that we are looking at this developing story through the looking glass, because it certainly seems to be becoming curiouser and curiouser as the days wear on -- Kyra.</s>PHILLIPS: Jonathan Freed, thank you. Joining us with more information and insights on the Seiler case is former D.C. police detective, also former FBI counterterrorism agent, CNN's Mike Brooks. OK. You and I were together when this story was unfolding. Breaking news. What, we were on the air for about four hours.</s>MIKE BROOKS, CNN ANALYST: Almost, yes.</s>PHILLIPS: And we saw that the dog, the canine, the search dog they had out there kept getting distracted. Well, you and I brought up the point that could this be a hoax? Is it possible that no one is out there?</s>BROOKS: Exactly. We said she could be the victim of a random act of violence. She could have -- it could have been a planned kidnapping, or she could have left of her own accord. Chief Wray said in the press conference earlier that there were inconsistencies in her statements, in witness statements and in evidence. But he didn't say whether or not there was evidence found or there weren't any evidence found. So, you know, this is very, very confusing. I'll be anxious to see what they say in the next press conference, if they're just coming back to clarify what they said, to say that basically the composite, they're still looking for that. But Kyra, we know that they would be remiss if they did not continue the investigation. As they said, it's still an ongoing investigation. They would be remiss if they didn't go back and, again, question her on this composite, maybe even offer her a polygraph. If they believe that there is still someone out there in the community that's a danger to the community, they would be remiss if they didn't keep the investigation going, looking for this white male with the knit stocking cap that she said attacked her in another part of the city.</s>PHILLIPS: All right. If it turns out that all of this, everything that she's saying, it's all a bunch of lies, how can she be held accountable? I mean, you're talking about a lot of police officers, a lot of money, a lot of cost involved in a search for a number of days. And you know, taking for -- what she said as truth.</s>BROOKS: A lot of resources went into this particular case. And we go back to February 1, where she said that she was assaulted by an unknown assailant near her apartment that came up from behind her. Now, we've got to take a look at that case, too. Is that going to be unfounded, or are they going ahead with that investigation? But there is a city statute and there is also a state statue dealing with obstruction of an officer in an official investigation. I spoke with a lieutenant from the Madison Police Department today, and he said that that is one charge that they have as a city ordinance. They have a very similar state charge that's a Class A misdemeanor. Both of them would be misdemeanors. But it would be up to the district attorney to decide exactly what charges, if any, would be brought against her for making this story up.</s>PHILLIPS: This could be someone that may just be looking for a little attention.</s>BROOKS: It could be. And early on in the investigation, it was asked whether or not she had any problems, and they said that she was not depressed. There could be other things going on we don't know about. Maybe the police can help clarify that at the 1:30 news conference.</s>PHILLIPS: Again, we're going to dip into that 1:30 news conference, bring it to our viewers live. Mike Brooks, thanks so much. We'll take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.