CAPE BOY'S BOMB TO BE TOPIC OF TERMAN TV SHOW

A television crew working for a German national network was in Cape Girardeau Friday filming interviews for a story about the 16-year-old boy who built a bomb by following instructions on the Internet.

Glen Abbott, a producer with Video Information in Topeka, Kan., said the RTL network (the equivalent of ABC, CBS or NBC) wanted a story about the bomb-making teen for an upcoming television news magazine called "Explosive." He said RTL routinely hires his company for stories of interest in the United States.

"They contacted us and wanted us to do this story," Abbott said. "I think they're interested after the Oklahoma City bombing. And they just like these sort of American, human-interest-type stories."

Abbott said an American equivalent to "Explosive" would be "20/20" or "Dateline NBC"

While in Cape Girardeau, the crew interviewed the boy responsible for making the bomb, his father and Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr..

Abbott said the boy and father agreed to be interviewed by the crew because the telecast would only be seen in Germany.

Cape Girardeau police investigated the teen and the bomb April 6 after the teen's father took it to police headquarters. The father discovered it in his son's bedroom.

Boyd said the bomb was made with fuel, styrofoam and gunpowder and had the potential of causing significant property damage and injury.

The bomb was exploded by the Missouri Highway Patrol and federal agents at an undisclosed location.

Since the bomb's maker was a juvenile, any court action against him would be confidential.

Abbott said the story would most likely air in Germany in a few weeks.