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CNN Live At Daybreak

Victims' Relatives Visited Nightclub Fire Site

Aired February 24, 2003 - 06:31   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Back to our top story, that deadly nightclub fire in Rhode Island. As the community comes together to mourn lost loved ones, the investigation into the fire that killed 97 people is moving forward.
CNN's Whitney Casey joins us live with the latest from West Warwick, Rhode Island -- Whitney.

WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.

Well, the governor said yesterday that when the family members came here, they went through a gamut of emotions. Two hundred family members came to this site for the very first time yesterday, and let's just show you exactly what is here. This is the site right behind this fence is where the nightclub once stood.

The governor also said that 97 is now the death toll. That's increased by one. They found a body here Saturday morning.

Forty-two victims have been ID'd, and the governor credits this ID process to the tireless work of pathology teams that have been working around the clock, and to that burgeoning database of dental records.

But as this ID process continues, the investigation also continues. The state attorney general, Patrick Lynch, has said that the band, Great White, has been very forthcoming in his questioning, but he'd like the owners of the club, Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, to answer more questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK LYNCH, R.I. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I would hope that Mr. Derderian is as cooperative with the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation as he has been with the press.

JEFFREY DERDERIAN, 'THE STATION' CLUB CO-OWNER: There are many questions surrounding the tragedy that need to be answered. And like you, we want the answers as well. I was interviewed on the scene Thursday by state and local authorities, and I've provided all of the information requested.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASEY: Now, the question of culpability continues to shift. Who was responsible for the use of those pyrotechnics here? Meanwhile, the governor has put a moratorium on using pyrotechnics in buildings that have the capacity of 50 to 300 people; that was this building, The Station. But the governor underscores that the priority right now is to continue in the ID process. So far, 55 people are still unidentified -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Whitney, your backdrop is that makeshift memorial that has been culminating over the past few days. What sort of messages are people leaving as they come there and pay their respects?

CASEY: Well, that's interesting. As I said, the governor has said that they have gone through this gamut of emotions. He characterized this as an emotional odyssey, because the family members that come here, they are very grief stricken. In fact, one woman actually fainted at the scene, and she had to have medical care while she was here.

So, the families are still very shocked and very affected by this tragedy, but really right now, many of them are saying they want some answers.

WHITFIELD: All right, Whitney Casey, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired February 24, 2003 - 06:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Back to our top story, that deadly nightclub fire in Rhode Island. As the community comes together to mourn lost loved ones, the investigation into the fire that killed 97 people is moving forward.
CNN's Whitney Casey joins us live with the latest from West Warwick, Rhode Island -- Whitney.

WHITNEY CASEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.

Well, the governor said yesterday that when the family members came here, they went through a gamut of emotions. Two hundred family members came to this site for the very first time yesterday, and let's just show you exactly what is here. This is the site right behind this fence is where the nightclub once stood.

The governor also said that 97 is now the death toll. That's increased by one. They found a body here Saturday morning.

Forty-two victims have been ID'd, and the governor credits this ID process to the tireless work of pathology teams that have been working around the clock, and to that burgeoning database of dental records.

But as this ID process continues, the investigation also continues. The state attorney general, Patrick Lynch, has said that the band, Great White, has been very forthcoming in his questioning, but he'd like the owners of the club, Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, to answer more questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK LYNCH, R.I. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I would hope that Mr. Derderian is as cooperative with the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation as he has been with the press.

JEFFREY DERDERIAN, 'THE STATION' CLUB CO-OWNER: There are many questions surrounding the tragedy that need to be answered. And like you, we want the answers as well. I was interviewed on the scene Thursday by state and local authorities, and I've provided all of the information requested.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASEY: Now, the question of culpability continues to shift. Who was responsible for the use of those pyrotechnics here? Meanwhile, the governor has put a moratorium on using pyrotechnics in buildings that have the capacity of 50 to 300 people; that was this building, The Station. But the governor underscores that the priority right now is to continue in the ID process. So far, 55 people are still unidentified -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Whitney, your backdrop is that makeshift memorial that has been culminating over the past few days. What sort of messages are people leaving as they come there and pay their respects?

CASEY: Well, that's interesting. As I said, the governor has said that they have gone through this gamut of emotions. He characterized this as an emotional odyssey, because the family members that come here, they are very grief stricken. In fact, one woman actually fainted at the scene, and she had to have medical care while she was here.

So, the families are still very shocked and very affected by this tragedy, but really right now, many of them are saying they want some answers.

WHITFIELD: All right, Whitney Casey, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.