DATE=7/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235454
TITLE= BOMB SUSPECT (L)
BYLINE= JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE= MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: ONE OF THE MOST WANTED FUGITIVES IN THE UNITED STATES, 
ERIC ROBERT RUDOLPH, WHO AUTHORITIES SAY IS THE MAN BEHIND A 
SERIES OF BOMBINGS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES OVER THE 
PAST TWO YEARS, HAS BEEN SIGHTED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
VOA'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS AUTHORITIES HAVE CHARGED MR. RUDOLPH 
WITH MURDER AND ALSO WANT TO QUESTION HIM ABOUT THE 1996 BOMBING 
AT THE ATLANTA OLYMPIC GAMES.    

TEXT: ERIC ROBERT RUDOLPH IS CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF AN OFF- 
DUTY POLICEMAN WHO WAS KILLED WHEN A BOMB EXPLODED OUTSIDE AN 
ABORTION CLINIC IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA ON JANUARY 29TH. HE IS 
ALSO WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN THREE OTHER BOMBINGS IN THE 
ATLANTA, GEORGIA AREA, INCLUDING  THE 1996 EXPLOSION AT THE 
ATLANTA OLYMPICS WHICH LED TO THE DEATHS OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE.   

AUTHORITIES SAY THEIR SUSPECT IS AN EXPERIENCED OUTDOORSMAN WHO 
HAS BEEN LIVING IN THE ISOLATED MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH 
CAROLINA FOR NEARLY SIX MONTHS.  THEY SAY HE EMERGED FROM THE 
WOODS THIS PAST WEEKEND AND STOLE A TRUCK WHICH HE LATER 
ABANDONED. HE ALSO REPORTEDLY STOLE A LARGE QUANTITY OF FOOD.  
WOODY ENDERSON, WHO HEADS THE TASK FORCE LOOKING FOR MR. RUDOLPH,
SAYS AUTHORITIES BELIEVED ALL ALONG THAT THEIR SUSPECT RETURNED 
TO THE WOODS NEAR WHERE HE GREW UP AFTER THE JANUARY BOMBING IN 
BIRMINGHAM.  

                    // ENDERSON ACTUALITY //

         WE HAVE SAID ALL ALONG THAT WE HAD STRONG REASON TO 
         BELIEVE THAT ERIC RUDOLPH WAS IN THIS AREA, THAT HE HAD 
         NOT LEFT THIS AREA, THAT HE WAS ALIVE, THAT HE WAS 
         ACTING ALONE.  WE STILL BELIEVE THAT AND THE SEARCH HAS 
         INTENSIFIED SIGNIFICANTLY.  WE ARE BRINGING IN EXTRA 
         RESOURCES AND THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANTLY INTENSIFIED 
         SEARCH OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WEEKS.  

                      // END ACTUALITY // 

AUTHORITIES SAY MR. RUDOLPH EMERGED FROM HIDING NEAR THE SMALL 
TOWN OF ANDREWS, NORTH CAROLINA AND THEY HAVE RELEASED A NEW 
SKETCH OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE HE LOOKS LIKE BASED ON EYEWITNESS 
ACCOUNTS.  THEY SAY THEY BELIEVE HE CAME OUT OF HIDING BECAUSE HE
WAS RUNNING OUT OF FOOD BUT THAT HE STOLE ENOUGH FOOD OVER THE 
WEEKEND TO LAST SEVERAL MORE MONTHS.   THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF 
INVESTIGATION IS OFFERING A ONE-MILLION DOLLAR REWARD FOR 
INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF MR. RUDOLPH.  WOODY ENDERSON
SAYS THE SUSPECT IS VERY DANGEROUS.  

                  // 2ND ENDERSON ACTUALITY //

         WE HAVE SAID THAT WE WILL APPROACH HIM AS IF HE IS ARMED
         AND DANGEROUS.  OBVIOUSLY HE IS CHARGED WITH A BOMBING 
         IN WHICH A POLICE OFFICER WAS MURDERED.  WE HAVE REASON 
         TO BELIEVE HE HAS FIREARMS AND WE ARE APPROACHING IT 
         THAT WAY. 

                      // END ACTUALITY // 

AUTHORITIES SAY WHILE ERIC ROBERT RUDOLPH HAS ONLY BEEN CHARGED 
IN ONE CASE, THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE LINKING HIM TO THE 
THREE ATLANTA BOMBINGS WHICH TOOK PLACE AT A FAMILY PLANNING 
CLINIC, A GAY NIGHTCLUB AND THE CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK.  EACH OF
THE BOMBS INCLUDED NAILS AND HAD STEEL PLATES THAT SEEM TO MATCH 
EACH OTHER AND WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM A METALWORKING 
FACILITY NEAR MR. RUDOLPH'S NORTH CAROLINA HOME.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JLT/PLM

14-Jul-98 5:03 PM EDT (2103 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.