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CNN Live Today

Pipe Bomb Suspect Will Move to Iowa

Aired May 09, 2002 - 14:02   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's start it off with the next act of the mailbox pipe bomb story unfolding. Tomorrow in Iowa, where the first devices were found, suspect Luke Helder expected to be moved there tomorrow.

Martin Savidge today in Reno. Once again, we heard from Cameron, the father, a short time ago.

Marty, hello.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Let's talk about the visitation that took place. The family members, both parents, arrived here about two hours ago at this detention facility just outside of Reno.

They were given special dispensation. Didn't go in through the front door. Went in in a vehicle through a security gate. It then pulled close to the building and they walked inside.

We are told, according to the sheriff, that they had a half-hour meeting with their son.

I'll get to the specifics about that meeting, but let's go now to the sound from Cameron. This is the father of Luke Helder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAMERON HELDER, FATHER OF LUKE HELDER: We are here to see our son in his hour of need. We told him we love him. I feel a lot better after speaking to him. This will be a long process. It's already been very hard on us. And our heart goes out to the families of the victims and the victims. We're really sorry.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: The sheriff here says it was very emotional meeting that took place between the two parents and the son. There was no physical contact, though. This was a meeting that actually took place between the glass, that is pretty much standard in prison facilities like this.

And there was talking on the telephone by means of communication, so they were not able to hug. They were not able to have physical contact.

The sheriff says you can imagine, it was extremely emotional.

And we are also being told that this meeting was part of an arrangement that had been set up with the FBI. As you remember, Cameron was instrumental. He put out that emotional plea earlier in the week, asking for his son to get in contact with authorities. And in fact we now have learn through FBI documents, it was the father who alerted authorities he believed his son may have been involved in that mailbox bombing spree.

And so this seemed to be a return for that cooperation. The travel coming here to Reno, the family arriving in the middle of the night. And then of course this meeting that took place for about a half hour inside the facility.

There also may have been meetings between the parents and the public defender, and also law enforcement officials.

And as you point out, the legal odyssey for this young man will continue tomorrow. He leaves here, Reno, we anticipate early in the morning, and he is bound for Cedar Rapid, Iowa. That is the first federal jurisdiction to launch charges against him.

Other federal jurisdictions, though, have followed suit.

That's the way it stands now, -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thank you, Marty. Martin Savidge, again, in Reno, Nevada.

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