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CNN Live Today

Interview With Larry Myers

Aired October 14, 2003 - 10:13   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to move on back to Virginia Beach where we're getting the news that the sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad who faces two counts of capital murder for the shooting of a number of people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. last year has entered a not guilty plea, this on the day when jury selection is taking place in Virginia Beach.
Our Jeanne Meserve is on the scene and we're getting more from her on this day.

We have a chance to talk with Larry Myers. It was his brother, Dean Myers, who was one of the victims. He was the seventh person killed by the snipers, whoever they were, last year. And Mr. Myers is joins us on the phone this day when jury selection is getting underway. Mr. Myers, thanks for being with us. Do we have Larry Myers with us?

LARRY MYERS, BROTHER KILLED IN SNIPER ATTACKS: Yes.

KAGAN: All right, there you are, sir. Thank you for being with us.

MYERS: Good morning, Daryn. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing fine. And as I look at the date, October 9, we just passed the one-year anniversary of the death of your brother and just on that note, I would like to offer my condolences, sir.

MYERS: Thank you so much. And we really appreciating that.

KAGAN: I also had a chance this morning -- I was in the Washington, D.C. area last year covering the story. I read some about your brother, but in the last few day I've had a chance to read even more about him. An incredible man and I wish you could share a little bit about him with us for our audience.

MYERS: Well, certainly. Dean grew up in the rural country in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. And we had a normal growing up time together. And he did very well in school.

And then later on was drafted -- actually, enlisted in the Army. Went to Vietnam. He received a Purple Heart there for -- after being wounded in battle and came back and went to Penn State, became a civil engineer. He brought those skills to work and the Maryland and Virginia area. And the last company he worked with was Dewberry (ph).

Dean was one of the most kind, gentle, caring, and considerate individuals you'll ever meet. He had no children, he was unmarried but all of his nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and nephews know him as Uncle Dean. And we just took many trips together, shared many experiences.

I guess one thing is every 4th of July for the last four or five years, he would he bring up fireworks and the youngsters and oldsters alike at my dad's house in Obelisk (ph) would just gather around and have an enjoyable time.

KAGAN: I had a chance to read the poem that you wrote about his life and learn about him that way, about the charitable works that did he in his life. And also reading about -- if you could tell me a little bit more about this to-do list that he had that I know you still hold special in your heart.

MYERS: Well, it's a to-do list hangs on my desk door and it looks like it came from a place called Net Results. It's sign up to be a mentor and join the M&M (ph) Group.

But, yes, it's all positive. For example, No. 3 is buy an active year will (ph), fill your mind with what is possible, with what is positive. No. 4, never surrender to negative emotions. No. 5, practice replacing love for anger. And six, see good in others.

It's under these types of circumstances that we're experiencing now that when we look at the values that Dean held and that he lived by, they're certainly supportive and encouragement to us as well.

KAGAN: Especially on a time like this. Now, just the way the wheels of justice turned, as said your brother was the seventh victim to die but it looks like the way this trial is going to play out that his murder will be at the top and it will be very close to the beginning and you're going to have to hear a lot of details about what happened.

Is it going to be different to live some of the principles your brother had believed in as you have to kind of relive some of this all over again?

MYERS: Well I've been reliving it recently with the onset of the trial very close and the press, et cetera. So I think that the to-do list -- the values that Dean held and lived by are really a strength to us and will help see us through this difficult period.

I am sure being in the courtroom there will be times of tension, times of emotion, all kinds of emotions. But yet we still hold to our bedrock values. And as we say here, fill your mind with what is positive and never surrender to negative emotions. When you surrender to negative emotions then you're reducing yourself to where others are coming from. And that's never good.

KAGAN: It is not good. So you do intend to be in the courtroom for the entire trial?

MYERS: No, I'm a full-time employee.

KAGAN: You got to work.

MYERS: I have to work. But I've also been asked to be the family member to testify. So I will be down for the first part of the trial. The entire time that Dean's situation is being discussed and of course, being testified. And then later on plan to be back for the sentencing and family input.

KAGAN: Have you thought about what you might say at that time?

MYERS: Not really. That's too far ahead. This trial is supposed to last about six weeks. And I think that will be formed in the coming weeks as the trial unfolds before us.

KAGAN: Well, we wish you well during that time. It will not be easy. And also in reading about your family I understand also over the last year you lost your mother as well. It has not been an easy time.

MYERS: Yes, that was Easter morning and, yes, exactly.

KAGAN: Well, once again our thoughts are with you and your family during this very difficult time.

MYERS: Daryn, thank you so much.

KAGAN: Thanks for sharing just a bit about your brother. I think you touched a lot of lives just talking about him here this morning.

MYERS: He certainly has and thank you again.

KAGAN: Appreciate it. The power of positive thinking. Larry Meyers, brother of Dean Meyers.

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 October 14, 2003 - 10:13   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to move on back to Virginia Beach where we're getting the news that the sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad who faces two counts of capital murder for the shooting of a number of people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. last year has entered a not guilty plea, this on the day when jury selection is taking place in Virginia Beach.
Our Jeanne Meserve is on the scene and we're getting more from her on this day.

We have a chance to talk with Larry Myers. It was his brother, Dean Myers, who was one of the victims. He was the seventh person killed by the snipers, whoever they were, last year. And Mr. Myers is joins us on the phone this day when jury selection is getting underway. Mr. Myers, thanks for being with us. Do we have Larry Myers with us?

LARRY MYERS, BROTHER KILLED IN SNIPER ATTACKS: Yes.

KAGAN: All right, there you are, sir. Thank you for being with us.

MYERS: Good morning, Daryn. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing fine. And as I look at the date, October 9, we just passed the one-year anniversary of the death of your brother and just on that note, I would like to offer my condolences, sir.

MYERS: Thank you so much. And we really appreciating that.

KAGAN: I also had a chance this morning -- I was in the Washington, D.C. area last year covering the story. I read some about your brother, but in the last few day I've had a chance to read even more about him. An incredible man and I wish you could share a little bit about him with us for our audience.

MYERS: Well, certainly. Dean grew up in the rural country in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. And we had a normal growing up time together. And he did very well in school.

And then later on was drafted -- actually, enlisted in the Army. Went to Vietnam. He received a Purple Heart there for -- after being wounded in battle and came back and went to Penn State, became a civil engineer. He brought those skills to work and the Maryland and Virginia area. And the last company he worked with was Dewberry (ph).

Dean was one of the most kind, gentle, caring, and considerate individuals you'll ever meet. He had no children, he was unmarried but all of his nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and nephews know him as Uncle Dean. And we just took many trips together, shared many experiences.

I guess one thing is every 4th of July for the last four or five years, he would he bring up fireworks and the youngsters and oldsters alike at my dad's house in Obelisk (ph) would just gather around and have an enjoyable time.

KAGAN: I had a chance to read the poem that you wrote about his life and learn about him that way, about the charitable works that did he in his life. And also reading about -- if you could tell me a little bit more about this to-do list that he had that I know you still hold special in your heart.

MYERS: Well, it's a to-do list hangs on my desk door and it looks like it came from a place called Net Results. It's sign up to be a mentor and join the M&M (ph) Group.

But, yes, it's all positive. For example, No. 3 is buy an active year will (ph), fill your mind with what is possible, with what is positive. No. 4, never surrender to negative emotions. No. 5, practice replacing love for anger. And six, see good in others.

It's under these types of circumstances that we're experiencing now that when we look at the values that Dean held and that he lived by, they're certainly supportive and encouragement to us as well.

KAGAN: Especially on a time like this. Now, just the way the wheels of justice turned, as said your brother was the seventh victim to die but it looks like the way this trial is going to play out that his murder will be at the top and it will be very close to the beginning and you're going to have to hear a lot of details about what happened.

Is it going to be different to live some of the principles your brother had believed in as you have to kind of relive some of this all over again?

MYERS: Well I've been reliving it recently with the onset of the trial very close and the press, et cetera. So I think that the to-do list -- the values that Dean held and lived by are really a strength to us and will help see us through this difficult period.

I am sure being in the courtroom there will be times of tension, times of emotion, all kinds of emotions. But yet we still hold to our bedrock values. And as we say here, fill your mind with what is positive and never surrender to negative emotions. When you surrender to negative emotions then you're reducing yourself to where others are coming from. And that's never good.

KAGAN: It is not good. So you do intend to be in the courtroom for the entire trial?

MYERS: No, I'm a full-time employee.

KAGAN: You got to work.

MYERS: I have to work. But I've also been asked to be the family member to testify. So I will be down for the first part of the trial. The entire time that Dean's situation is being discussed and of course, being testified. And then later on plan to be back for the sentencing and family input.

KAGAN: Have you thought about what you might say at that time?

MYERS: Not really. That's too far ahead. This trial is supposed to last about six weeks. And I think that will be formed in the coming weeks as the trial unfolds before us.

KAGAN: Well, we wish you well during that time. It will not be easy. And also in reading about your family I understand also over the last year you lost your mother as well. It has not been an easy time.

MYERS: Yes, that was Easter morning and, yes, exactly.

KAGAN: Well, once again our thoughts are with you and your family during this very difficult time.

MYERS: Daryn, thank you so much.

KAGAN: Thanks for sharing just a bit about your brother. I think you touched a lot of lives just talking about him here this morning.

MYERS: He certainly has and thank you again.

KAGAN: Appreciate it. The power of positive thinking. Larry Meyers, brother of Dean Meyers.

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