About Chandra Levy's Disappearance

Saturday July 14 12:27 PM ET

What's Known About Levy Case

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Some questions and answers about the search for former federal intern
Chandra Levy, and her connection to Rep. Gary Condit (news - bio - voting record), D-Calif.:

Q: Who is Chandra Levy?

A: A 24-year-old from Modesto, Calif., who came to Washington last fall as part of her master's
degree program in public administration at the University of Southern California. She lived in an
apartment near Dupont Circle, a fashionable Washington neighborhood, and worked as a paid intern
at the Bureau of Prisons, in the public information office. Her internship was unexpectedly cut short in
late April because her superiors learned she had finished her college course work in December,
making her ineligible to continue.

Q: When did she disappear?

A: Levy was last seen April 30 when she canceled her membership at a health club near her
apartment. She was making preparations for returning to California and attending the university's
graduation ceremony. She sent her parents, Dr. Robert and Susan Levy, an e-mail on May 1 in which
she noted airplane fares for her trip home. Police have said they have no reason to doubt Levy was
the message sender. When her parents could not reach their daughter over the next five days, they
called police. Her mother also telephoned Democratic Rep. Gary Condit, who represents Modesto,
and asked for his help. Police entered Levy's apartment May 10 and found her partially packed bags,
wallet, cell phone and computer. Only her keys were missing. There were no signs of foul play.

Q: What do police think happened to Levy?

A: They do not know but are pursuing four theories: She was murdered; she killed herself; she went
into hiding; or she has amnesia. Police have all but ruled out suicide because so much time has passed
without her body being found. They are searching abandoned buildings in neighborhoods near Levy's
apartment and have distributed simulated pictures of Levy with different hair styles. Police say they still
consider the case a missing persons investigation and not a crime, though they acknowledge that as
more times passes the likelihood of murder increases.

Q: What was the relationship between Condit and Levy?

A: Condit initially put up $10,000 for a reward for Levy's safe return and issued a statement in which
he called her a ``great person and good friend.'' Questions about the nature of their relationship
escalated during the next few weeks amid media reports the two may have been romantically
involved. Condit's aides denied the reports; he remained publicly silent. Condit did not acknowledge
an affair in interviews with police in mid-May and on June 23, police sources have said. Levy's aunt
issued a statement July 6 in which she said Levy had told her she began an affair with the married
Condit last Thanksgiving. On the night of July 6, in a third police interview, Condit said he and Levy
had an intimate relationship, a police source has said.

Q: What does their relationship have to do with Levy's disappearance?

A: Police do not know if there is a link, but Condit may have been one of the last people to talk to or
see Levy. Investigators say it is important to establish the frame of mind and movements of a person in
the days before they go missing, and the best way to do that is to interview to people who saw and
talked to the person.

Q: Is Condit a suspect in her disappearance?

A: No. Police say there are no suspects because they have no evidence of a crime. Police did search
Condit's apartment late Tuesday and early Wednesday with his consent and obtained a DNA sample
from him Thursday. Condit submitted to a lie detector test arranged by his lawyer and, according to
the lawyer, was found to be truthful when denying any knowledge about what happened to Levy.

Q: What is the relevance of allegations that other women have had affairs with Condit?

A: It is unclear. Terrance Gainer, Washington's No. 2 police official, said those accounts have yielded
nothing useful in the search for Levy. But federal officials have expanded a preliminary criminal
investigation to determine whether Condit obstructed the investigation of Levy's disappearance. In
particular, flight attendant Anne Marie Smith alleges Condit asked her to sign a statement denying a
10-month affair she says they had. Smith, who spent two days answering questions from prosecutors
and FBI (news - web sites) agents last week, also claims Condit told her she did not have to
cooperate with FBI agents. Condit has denied asking anyone to lie or encouraging them not to
cooperate with investigators. He has said nothing about Smith's allegation of an affair. Last week, a
California minister told The Washington Post that seven years ago, his then-18-year-old daughter had
an affair with Condit. A signed statement in the daughter's name that was tacked to the father's front
door on the day the report was published denied an affair. A Condit spokesman also denied an affair.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010714/us/condit_missing_woman_q_a_1.html

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