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CNN Live Today
Interview With Suzy Spencer
Aired March 18, 2002 - 14:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
SUZY SPENCER, AUTHOR, "BREAKING POINT": ... very intent on abiding by the gag order. And these are things that they've been saying in much larger terms, shall we say, a few weeks ago just, you know, privately off the record. So what you are hearing nowadays is actually a rather toned-down version of what the Kennedys say.
HEMMER: Is your interpretation of the relationship being always one as strained or only since that fateful day back in June of last year?
SPENCER: From what Rusty told me, I would say that it's always strained because Rusty tells me about when Andrea got out of the hospital in 1999, that Mrs. Kennedy was going, it's all your fault. It's all your fault, because she was blaming it on the environment. And that's sort of -- a bit of the difference there is the...
HEMMER: All your fault because why, Susan?
SPENCER: No, no, no, that it was all Rusty's fault.
HEMMER: Correct. All because of why, though?
SPENCER: Because of the environment. You know, that he was putting too much pressure on her, that she was in the bus with four children, one of whom was an infant, the fact that he wasn't changing diapers, all that kind of stuff.
HEMMER: Is there a suggestion that Rusty wasn't around or didn't carry his load?
SPENCER: I think it's that division of labor thing, that Andrea was supposed to do everything with the kids. I've been told that like if the kids needed something at the dinner table, that Rusty would say wait until your mom can do it, that he wouldn't get up and help.
HEMMER: Russell Yates suggested earlier today that he may sue the doctors. The medical care providers who were, in his words, supposed to take care of his wife. On Friday afternoon, I don't know if you heard his comments after the gag order lifted there, but he was blasting everyone. Fair criticism on his point or deflection at this point? SPENCER: I think there's some substance to it when you look at medical records, when Dr. Mohamed Saeed (ph) testified that he would spent like 30 minutes at a time with Andrea. But if you look at the suicide watch records from the hospital, where Andrea was watched every 15 minutes saying who she was -- excuse me -- who she was with and where she was, it shows her with Dr. Saeed each visit, for one 15- minute segment.
Now some who read those records and see that what they think is another 30-minute segment with Andrea at the first stay. But the bottom line is, he is not spending 30 minutes at a time with Andrea and the nurses would tell me that he would spend five minutes with her and Andrea would tell Rusty that, you know, he would spend five minutes. And the reason I'm going like this is because he would wave at Andrea. And that was like, I waved at Andrea. Andrea waved back. She's doing better.
HEMMER: Suzy, what was your read on the relationship ever since she's been in custody?
SPENCER: The relationship between Rusty and Andrea?
HEMMER: Correct.
SPENCER: I know that he would see her twice a week. I know that he would send her notes. I know that they would talk on the phone a lot. If things have changed in the past few weeks, I'm not sure about that.
HEMMER: But ongoing, they had these visits and they were trying, I guess, one would assume, to salvage some aspect of their relationship.
SPENCER: Well, Rusty still had the idea that Andrea was going to come back. You know, when I would speak to him on the phone, he was cleaning up the house getting it ready for her. But I think when the reality of the trial hit, that he -- you know, he realized his wife probably will not be coming home, and it was about two or three weeks before the trial started that he started telling me, I don't know if I can ever trust her again. I don't know if I can ever live with her again.
HEMMER: Now, listen, I mentioned some of the family comments earlier today. It's tough to find a case similar to this one. But if there is a basis for comparison, through your research in following this case and the family, have you found that the behavior similar in other cases?
SPENCER: Well, we know that there's the case in Hawaii where the woman drowned, I believe, five children. And I understand that Rusty has been in communication with the father over there and he has encouraged Rusty to, you know, go on with your life. And we've had, I think, here on CNN, a man who has also had three children I think drowned, and he said, you know, Rusty, go on here with your life. And Rusty talks about how, to him, marriage is companionship. And if she's in prison, how can she be a companion to him. HEMMER: It is sad all around, no question about it. Suzy Spencer, author of "Breaking Point", the book, chronicling this case and the family as well. Suzy, thanks.
SPENCER: Thank you.
HEMMER: Appreciate you sharing some thoughts with us today.
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