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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview with Josephate Jordan

Aired July 12, 2003 - 08:07   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.


JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, back in this country, the focus is on the mysterious murders in Bakersfield, California. A possible suspect in the case is not in custody, but he returned to the state.
CNN's David Mattingly has the latest details now live from Bakersfield -- good morning, David.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Vincent Brothers is back in California this morning. He returned to Los Angeles last night, greeted by a crowd of reporters and cameras. He's coming back and though he still doesn't have anything to say, his attorney has said that Brothers has a solid alibi and was not in Bakersfield at the time his wife, three children and mother-in- law were murdered in their home.

For this community, Bakersfield right now, the focus is on grieving.

With me right now is Pastor Josephate Jordan, who presided over a memorial service last night. This community deeply disturbed by these murders.

PASTOR JOSEPHATE JORDAN, CHRIST FIRST MINISTRIES: Very much so. This was one of those cases where you just can't find the right words to say how chaotic things are at this point. But at this time, the family is holding up very well in view of the fact that there's a couple of a ministers and the family and the church has a -- the family has a very good spiritual background. So they're doing good.

MATTINGLY: And something about the family, they say publicly they are not rushing to judgment in this case.

JOSEPHATE: Last night at the memorial service, one of the brothers, Eddie Harper, made the statement in saying that it would be a travesty of justice to falsely accuse Vincent and have to live with that for the rest of their lives, considering the fact that he could be innocent.

MATTINGLY: And the victims, just to go down their names, Joanie Harper, age 39; her 70-year-old mother Ernestine; and the four children -- three children, 4-year-old Marcus; 2-year-old Lindsey; and 6-week-old Marshall. This is what makes this so difficult for this community to deal with, the children.

JOSEPHATE: One of the things that was so profound was the fact that Ernestine was always doing things for the kids. She was considered to be an activist and she was always in the community trying to help the kids out. And now everyone is trying to focus on the loss of these little kids because it's not just a mother that's lost or a daughter that's lost, it's three innocent kids that's lost, also. So it's going to take a lot to pull this family and the community back together.

MATTINGLY: What do you know of Vincent Brothers?

JOSEPHATE: Everything I know about Vincent is good. In order for him to be a vice principal of a school says something for him. All the kids at the school seem to like him. And plus the fact all of the local community activist type groups that he's been in, he's been very supportive of. He's very supportive in all of the youth groups here in Bakersfield. So it's very chaotic right now trying to put a handle on what's really going on.

MATTINGLY: Very difficult to deal with all the emotions swirling around this case. Of course, police right now not talking about this case and publicly, at least, they have said that Vincent Brothers is still their only suspect -- John.

VAUSE: OK, David Mattingly reporting live for us from Bakersfield in California.

Thank you, David.

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 July 12, 2003 - 08:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, back in this country, the focus is on the mysterious murders in Bakersfield, California. A possible suspect in the case is not in custody, but he returned to the state.
CNN's David Mattingly has the latest details now live from Bakersfield -- good morning, David.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Vincent Brothers is back in California this morning. He returned to Los Angeles last night, greeted by a crowd of reporters and cameras. He's coming back and though he still doesn't have anything to say, his attorney has said that Brothers has a solid alibi and was not in Bakersfield at the time his wife, three children and mother-in- law were murdered in their home.

For this community, Bakersfield right now, the focus is on grieving.

With me right now is Pastor Josephate Jordan, who presided over a memorial service last night. This community deeply disturbed by these murders.

PASTOR JOSEPHATE JORDAN, CHRIST FIRST MINISTRIES: Very much so. This was one of those cases where you just can't find the right words to say how chaotic things are at this point. But at this time, the family is holding up very well in view of the fact that there's a couple of a ministers and the family and the church has a -- the family has a very good spiritual background. So they're doing good.

MATTINGLY: And something about the family, they say publicly they are not rushing to judgment in this case.

JOSEPHATE: Last night at the memorial service, one of the brothers, Eddie Harper, made the statement in saying that it would be a travesty of justice to falsely accuse Vincent and have to live with that for the rest of their lives, considering the fact that he could be innocent.

MATTINGLY: And the victims, just to go down their names, Joanie Harper, age 39; her 70-year-old mother Ernestine; and the four children -- three children, 4-year-old Marcus; 2-year-old Lindsey; and 6-week-old Marshall. This is what makes this so difficult for this community to deal with, the children.

JOSEPHATE: One of the things that was so profound was the fact that Ernestine was always doing things for the kids. She was considered to be an activist and she was always in the community trying to help the kids out. And now everyone is trying to focus on the loss of these little kids because it's not just a mother that's lost or a daughter that's lost, it's three innocent kids that's lost, also. So it's going to take a lot to pull this family and the community back together.

MATTINGLY: What do you know of Vincent Brothers?

JOSEPHATE: Everything I know about Vincent is good. In order for him to be a vice principal of a school says something for him. All the kids at the school seem to like him. And plus the fact all of the local community activist type groups that he's been in, he's been very supportive of. He's very supportive in all of the youth groups here in Bakersfield. So it's very chaotic right now trying to put a handle on what's really going on.

MATTINGLY: Very difficult to deal with all the emotions swirling around this case. Of course, police right now not talking about this case and publicly, at least, they have said that Vincent Brothers is still their only suspect -- John.

VAUSE: OK, David Mattingly reporting live for us from Bakersfield in California.

Thank you, David.

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