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CNN Live Today

Tragedy in Texas

Aired May 13, 2003 - 11:31   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Texas prosecutors are considering whether they will seek the death penalty in the case against accused child killer Deanna Laney. She is charged with the murders of two of her three boys, bashing their heads with rocks.
CNN's Art Harris joins us from Tyler, Texas. He's got more on this horrific case that has gripped the nation.

Hello, Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon.

Yesterday at her court appearance, Deanna Laney seemed subdued when her lawyer raised the issue of her competency, an issue that will have to be decided in the weeks to come. The prosecution seems confident in its case.

Whatever happens, it will be an uphill battle for Dee Laney, because, as the sheriff said, she in effect confessed when she called police that night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF J.B. SMITH, SMITH CO. TEXAS: She later called 911 operator. She did, in fact, say I have killed my two boys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The prosecutor says it's too early to tell whether it will seek the death penalty, Leon. We talked to a number of women here in Tyler Texas who say they favor capital punishment, but those who know Dee Laney well, her friends and neighbors, say she's a far different woman than the mother accused of double murder.

This morning, we have with us Dawn Mayne, a mother of two, who knows Dee very well. Her daughter and son know her children. Her son David played with her two sons.

Tell us about Dee a mother, what you observed. How was she with her kids?

DAWN MAYNE, LANEY'S NEIGHBOR: She was a wonderful, normal mother. She was always there and took care of them, and it's hard to say. I mean, she was just a normal, wonderful caring mother. Not only for her kids, but for my kids, when they were over visiting and the other neighborhood kids. HARRIS: You know, there's a moment in every mother's life -- I have got two boys -- when they lose their patience with their children. Has that happened to you? How do you handle it?

MAYNE: Of course. It's normal for -- I think every mother goes through that. It's just matter of walking away until you can control your temper, and then walking back and handling the situation. And I don't think Dee was any different than any of the rest of us. I don't think this -- I don't think that anger was a problem here, is our issue.

HARRIS: You never saw that?

MAYNE: No, I never saw that.

HARRIS: You told us a story about her unselfishness. One morning when you had to take your kids to school and your car broke down.

MAYNE: Right, and I could not get it cranked. She heard me over there trying to get it going and telling the kids they were going have to be late. Next thing I know she's pulling in the drive way saying here, take my vehicle. I said, well let me run you back home, thank you very much for doing that. She said, no, no, no, I'll walk. You're running late, already getting them to school. Just get them on. I'll walk on back home. Just total unselfishness on her part on many thing, many times.

HARRIS: A woman who would walk home. That's unselfish, but does it get to the point perhaps of being so self-sacrificing that could have been a signal that she wanted your approval, your friendship too much?

MAYNE: No, I do not think so. No, sir. That was just a caring, decent person of the community, as I would do for anyone if I saw my neighbor in that situation. I'd be happy to help them out as well. So, no.

HARRIS: Dawn, thank you very much.

MAYNE: You're welcome.

HARRIS: Friend and neighbor of Dee Laney, who says that she never saw any signs of trouble. Back to you, Leon.

LEON HARRIS: So many questions left to be answered there. Thanks, Art. Art Harris, reporting live from Texas.

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 May 13, 2003 - 11:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Texas prosecutors are considering whether they will seek the death penalty in the case against accused child killer Deanna Laney. She is charged with the murders of two of her three boys, bashing their heads with rocks.
CNN's Art Harris joins us from Tyler, Texas. He's got more on this horrific case that has gripped the nation.

Hello, Art.

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon.

Yesterday at her court appearance, Deanna Laney seemed subdued when her lawyer raised the issue of her competency, an issue that will have to be decided in the weeks to come. The prosecution seems confident in its case.

Whatever happens, it will be an uphill battle for Dee Laney, because, as the sheriff said, she in effect confessed when she called police that night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF J.B. SMITH, SMITH CO. TEXAS: She later called 911 operator. She did, in fact, say I have killed my two boys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The prosecutor says it's too early to tell whether it will seek the death penalty, Leon. We talked to a number of women here in Tyler Texas who say they favor capital punishment, but those who know Dee Laney well, her friends and neighbors, say she's a far different woman than the mother accused of double murder.

This morning, we have with us Dawn Mayne, a mother of two, who knows Dee very well. Her daughter and son know her children. Her son David played with her two sons.

Tell us about Dee a mother, what you observed. How was she with her kids?

DAWN MAYNE, LANEY'S NEIGHBOR: She was a wonderful, normal mother. She was always there and took care of them, and it's hard to say. I mean, she was just a normal, wonderful caring mother. Not only for her kids, but for my kids, when they were over visiting and the other neighborhood kids. HARRIS: You know, there's a moment in every mother's life -- I have got two boys -- when they lose their patience with their children. Has that happened to you? How do you handle it?

MAYNE: Of course. It's normal for -- I think every mother goes through that. It's just matter of walking away until you can control your temper, and then walking back and handling the situation. And I don't think Dee was any different than any of the rest of us. I don't think this -- I don't think that anger was a problem here, is our issue.

HARRIS: You never saw that?

MAYNE: No, I never saw that.

HARRIS: You told us a story about her unselfishness. One morning when you had to take your kids to school and your car broke down.

MAYNE: Right, and I could not get it cranked. She heard me over there trying to get it going and telling the kids they were going have to be late. Next thing I know she's pulling in the drive way saying here, take my vehicle. I said, well let me run you back home, thank you very much for doing that. She said, no, no, no, I'll walk. You're running late, already getting them to school. Just get them on. I'll walk on back home. Just total unselfishness on her part on many thing, many times.

HARRIS: A woman who would walk home. That's unselfish, but does it get to the point perhaps of being so self-sacrificing that could have been a signal that she wanted your approval, your friendship too much?

MAYNE: No, I do not think so. No, sir. That was just a caring, decent person of the community, as I would do for anyone if I saw my neighbor in that situation. I'd be happy to help them out as well. So, no.

HARRIS: Dawn, thank you very much.

MAYNE: You're welcome.

HARRIS: Friend and neighbor of Dee Laney, who says that she never saw any signs of trouble. Back to you, Leon.

LEON HARRIS: So many questions left to be answered there. Thanks, Art. Art Harris, reporting live from Texas.

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