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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Suspect in Sjodin's Disappearance Moved to North Dakota; Cincinnati Coroner Rules Jones' Death Homicide

Aired December 03, 2003 - 17:00   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.


WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now, the search for a missing student in North Dakota, the suspect is being moved from Minnesota to North Dakota but is he leading them to the young woman?
Stand by for hard news of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Violent arrest, a stunning statement from the Cincinnati coroner.

Desperate search...

SERGEANT MICHAEL HEDLUND: We're going to hang on to that, try to hope.

BLITZER: Will a suspect help them find (AUDIO GAP).

(AUDIO GAP) charges of murdering his wife and unborn son.

Fear along the freeway, Ohio residents wait for the next shooting.

Doctors in distress...

HEDLUND: What I'm doing is risky but it fits what I feel I need to do professionally.

BLITZER: Why some are driven to drastic measures and what it means for you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, December 03, 2003.

BLITZER: There is potentially explosive news coming right now from Cincinnati. The racially-charged death of a 41-year-old Black man will be ruled a homicide. Even though Nathaniel Jones had health problems and used illegal drugs, the county coroner says the main cause of his death was a violent struggle with Cincinnati Police.

CNN's Brian Cabell is standing by with details -- Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, first of all there are some semantic complications with the coroner's report and you have to sort through those. First of all there's the cause of death and there is the manner of death. Those are two different things and then the very word homicide that you mentioned that can be confusing as well.

But the bottom line is this. According to the coroner Nathaniel Jones was in bad health. He had a drug problem but he probably would still be alive today if he had not fought with the police.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CABELL (voice-over): The death certificate for Nathaniel Jones will list cardiac dysrhythmia, another form for cardiac arrest, as the official cause of death. It was brought on, the coroner says, by the violent struggle Jones had with Cincinnati Police early Sunday morning, the manner of death, as determined by the coroner, homicide.

DR. CARL PARROTI, HAMILTON COUNTY CORONER: The word does not imply hostile or malign intent. It is merely a characterization of the circumstances in which the cause of death came to be.

CABELL: The coroner stresses several factors contributed to Jones' death, his obesity, a history of hypertension, and the ingestion of drugs, cocaine, PCP, and methanol. Methanol is sometimes used to heighten the effects of other drugs.

The attorney for Jones' family says he doesn't trust the coroner's findings and will call for a second autopsy. Jones' grandmother criticizes those who she says are portraying her grandson as an animal.

BESSIE JONES, NATHANIEL JONES' GRANDMOTHER: (Unintelligible) like he was an animal. He wasn't. He was a good little fat (unintelligible) fellow. He wasn't violent.

CABELL: A surveillance tape at the restaurant where the deadly fight occurred showed Jones in an apparently animated but not belligerent mood shortly before the encounter with police. Jones' family and supporters want to know why he changed and if he was provoked.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABELL: The coroner's examination revealed that there were bruises only on the lower part of Jones' body and there were no internal bruises to his organs at all. That's according to the coroner.

But as you might expect there are some people who distrust what the coroner said; in fact, there will be a second autopsy now. There is also, Wolf, talk of a recall tonight. There will be a meeting later tonight to recall the mayor they hold, Charlie Luken as at least partially responsible for what happened.

BLITZER: Brian Cabell thanks very much.

And we'll get some more analysis on this report. That's coming up. I'll speak with Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky.

But right now, let's go to Grand Forks, North Dakota. The family of Dru Sjodin is speaking out on the search for this young woman.

HEDLUND: Any questions?

JASON NELSON, COUSIN OF DRU SJODIN: This is more for (unintelligible) family members in court today just the family's reaction to seeing Rodriguez in court being in the same room with a couple of the gentlemen. How difficult was that? Was it -- share your thoughts if you will, we saw you in the courtroom this morning, when he walked in and you come face-to-face with the man that's accused of taking her?

It was difficult but it was something we felt we had to do and we wanted to be there to represent Dru and our family. It was good for us to be there and we'll continue to be at hearings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you state your name please?

NELSON: Jason Nelson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you related?

NELSON: I'm Dru's cousin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, can you tell us what you found today out in the search? Was anything helpful discovered?

HEDLUND: I actually haven't had any contact with the searchers themselves so I'm not aware of what particular items they might have found or actually whether there is going to be any significance in those.

I'm sure as in the past searches they're I'm sure going to uncover a number of different items. Those will all have to be analyzed over a period of time. At this point in time, though, I don't have any specifics. I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, was the knife found in the mall parking lot?

HEDLUND: I beg your pardon?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A knife found at the Columbia Mall parking lot?

HEDLUND: I don't have any information on that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant, you said Mr. Rodriguez had been interviewed. Can you say whether he was cooperative with investigators?

HEDLUND: I'm afraid I can't discuss that right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You also said with regard to counsel did you say he had asked for counsel or that he had counsel? Could you clarify that?

HEDLUND: We are respectful to his right to counsel so if at any time during the discussions with him he is stating he does not want to answer we are not pushing that issue, cannot push that issue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does he have counsel at this time?

HEDLUND: I believe he does but I'm not aware who that would be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you confirm for us the whereabouts of Mr. Rodriguez and the time he had officially been transported?

HEDLUND: I'm not sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he is answering questions?

HEDLUND: I don't know that. I know we have had investigators that have been speaking to him but the exact nature of those discussions I'm not sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have physical evidence, DNA evidence that links Mr. Rodriguez to this crime?

HEDLUND: I can't discuss that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, did he appear on the Marshall (ph) Field surveillance cameras at the Columbia mall?

HEDLUND: I can't discuss that either, I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you say how many store surveillance cameras that he did appear on?

HEDLUND: No, I cannot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you had any videotape that showed him being with Dru in that parking lot?

HEDLUND: I'm not going to be able to discuss any of the specifics on any of the video surveillance tapes. I apologize. That's evidence that at this point in time our state's attorney's office is not allowing us to discuss. Basically any material evidence we really are not allowed to discuss at this point in time.

About the only thing I can state as far as Mr. Rodriguez' connection to this crime is, as you're all well aware, he is a registered sex offender in the state of Minnesota, Class 3, which as you're all well aware is the highest level of risk for re-offending in the state of Minnesota.

That's obviously a type of individual that we would have been interested in having discussions with from the very start of this investigation. Because of that obviously you can draw your own conclusions as to why we might have begun having investigations with him or discussions with him over the course of this past week and a half. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was there any surveillance of Mr. Rodriguez before his arrest? Did he (unintelligible) any indication as to where Dru might be?

HEDLUND: I have no information on that whatsoever, I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has Rodriguez indicated whether Dru -- has Rodriguez indicated whether or not Dru is alive?

HEDLUND: As I mentioned earlier I don't have any information on the discussions that were held. I know investigators did speak with him today. I don't know the results of those discussions and I have no idea what they discussed (unintelligible).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you talk about why you put out pictures of his car? Why did you put out so many pictures of his car?

HEDLUND: The reason we've supplied the pictures of his car is we are still trying to determine exactly what occurred after five o'clock on November 22nd.

We believe that Mr. Rodriguez was at Columbia Mall. We do believe that he is the person that was the abductor in the incident with Dru Sjodin and we do believe that that vehicle was involved in that abduction.

We're hoping that anyone that may have seen that vehicle that evening would be able to contact us at the tip line as we mentioned that number earlier. If anyone is able to provide any information on seeing that vehicle at any location that evening that can possibly help us find Dru that's the reason behind that vehicle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant was there evidence found in the car?

HEDLUND: The vehicle was impounded. I can't discuss any evidence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you tell me when the vehicle was impounded?

HEDLUND: I don't have that, sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you elaborate? I talked last night with one investigator about the hair color change. Have you guys been able to determine he might have been gray when he was released from prison, dark haired now? Can you determine when he did that and was it done as an effort to change his identity or his appearance?

HEDLUND: I believe the investigators may have that information. I do not. I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant, does there get to a point in time when you've covered every possible acre of this county and have to ratchet down the search? You had 1,700 people out today. Are you looking at that in the inevitable future? Can you talk about that? HEDLUND: That's obviously a consideration at some point in time. I don't know that -- I'm convinced that we haven't covered every single acre in this county yet, at least not as thorough as we would like to.

There's always areas that could possibly have been overlooked, areas that need to be reexamined. We will try to do that if that is what we feel we need to, how we need to proceed with this investigation.

I know both Polk County and Grand Forks County officials are going to be sitting back today reevaluating what areas were able to be searched today and how effectively they think those areas are going to be able to be covered.

They'll try to determine at what point in time we do need to request for additional volunteers. That could be as early as for tomorrow. As of right now there is no indication that they're going to be requesting volunteers but that's certainly a possibility still.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what would be the difference in future searches? Like tomorrow you seem to I guess perhaps suggest the search tomorrow might be a little different than today. Are they more individual searches and something more...

HEDLUND: As you're aware we've had now three times that we've requested volunteers out of approximately 12 days. The majority of the other days or virtually all of the other days it was law enforcement only searches.

Officials are trying to determine areas that they feel do need to be searched as we attempt to discover exactly where Dru is. On other days, we have scaled back areas, perhaps areas that we've had leads that lead us to believe that there might be evidence at those particular areas that we feel that it's going to be able to be done more effectively with only law enforcement personnel.

I guess that's just kind of we're taking it day by day and seeing what we feel is most appropriate for that particular time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will tomorrow be law enforcement searches only?

HEDLUND: Law enforcement or law enforcement related personnel, family members, other volunteer groups such as the Polk County Posse and Marshall County Posse I believe are still involved as well in the assistance of conducting these searches.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible) from St. Cloud were also coming. Do you know if that worked into the plans or do you not?

HEDLUND: I'm not sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have investigators from your department spoken to Mr. Rodriguez' mother or any other members of his family or have they tried to? HEDLUND: I'm not aware. I am sure they've attempted to contact anyone that at all would at all be related to Mr. Rodriguez but I don't know the nature of any of those conversations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're not sure if they have or have not been cooperating?

HEDLUND: That's correct.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you believe Rodriguez was in Dru's car at any time?

HEDLUND: I do not know. I don't have any information on that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible)

HEDLUND: As far as I know there was no -- excuse me, no diving conducted today. I believe they completed that two days ago, at least for the time being. There was a fairly significant section of the Red Lake River in Minnesota in the vicinity of Crookston that was searched.

I believe they searched that to the end of what they felt was capable and appropriate for conducting any searches there. At this point in time there are no other areas that I'm aware of that they plan on conducting any dive efforts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has the Red River been searched?

HEDLUND: The Red River banks have been. There has been no diving that has been conducted in the Red River.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His court appearance again is that set for 1:30 tomorrow?

HEDLUND: That's my understanding from speaking to the State's Attorney Mr. Peter Welte. That would be 1:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at the Grand Forks County Courthouse which is currently in the former civic auditorium on First Avenue North here in Grand Forks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will there be a fresh mug shot tonight? Will he be processed and will that be available?

HEDLUND: I believe the photo from yesterday is the most current photo that there is. I'm not sure if that was his mug photo or not but that's the only photo that we have at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When he is processed is that part of the processing I guess protocol that he would need photographed again and fingerprinted again?

HEDLUND: I would assume so, yes. That would be up to the Grand Forks County Correctional Center officials to take care of that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you concerned that as time continues to pass that leads will dry up? HEDLUND: Well, that's always a concern that you have in any situation, any investigation. The longer time goes on the further it goes, the particular situation becomes less fresh in people's memories.

The people that were most likely to have immediate information probably have already contacted us but there's always that off chance that someone was in Grand Forks for only that day or it's hard to imagine that they wouldn't have seen any media coverage on this case but there's always that possibility and we continue to hold out hope that for whatever reason someone that hasn't contacted us still will.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible).

HEDLUND: Not to the best of my knowledge, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can we get your name, sir?

HEDLUND: Sergeant Michael Hedlund.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you spell your last name?

HEDLUND: H-E-D-L-U-N-D. I want to thank you again for coming. I appreciate your support for the family and keeping them in your prayers. Thank you.

BLITZER: An update on the heart-wrenching search for 22-year-old Dru Sjodin. She's been missing now for almost two weeks, the search continuing, not a whole lot of information, one man in custody suspected with the kidnapping waiving extradition earlier today from Minnesota to North Dakota. At the top of the news conference we heard once again from Sven Sjodin, the brother of Dru Sjodin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SVEN SJODIN, BROTHER OF DRU SJODIN: Thank you very much. In the search for Dru, your help today, you know, everyone that came out with their four-wheelers and ATVs and just took time out of their day to help us find our little girl.

We are still resolute in the fact that we will find Dru. That is our mission. We are still on track to find her and we're going to continue to search and we're going to find her shortly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The man charged with kidnapping Dru Sjodin was in court today even as hundreds of volunteers continued to search for this woman.

CNN's Mike Brooks is following the case. He's joining us now live with more -- Mike.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf.

As we just heard, law enforcement authorities are still playing their information very close to the vest but law enforcement officials have said that they do have evidence placing Rodriguez at the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks, North Dakota where Dru Sjodin disappeared on November 22nd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKS (voice-over): Police and volunteers in North Dakota set off in search of missing college student Dru Sjodin while the man charged with kidnapping the 22-year-old appeared in court in a nearby Minnesota town.

Fifty-year-old Alphonso Rodriguez, Jr. waived extradition, clearing the way for his transfer to Grand Forks where Sjodin disappeared 11 days ago. She was last seen leaving the mall where she works and last heard from in a cell phone call to her boyfriend abruptly ending with Sjodin saying "no, no, no" or by another account "oh my God."

The suspect, Rodriguez, is a convicted rapist released just this past May after serving 23 years in prison for attempted kidnapping. Police won't say whether he's cooperating, only that the investigation continues.

HEDLUND: We believe that we have the individual that's responsible for this situation but the investigative task force does continue to follow all leads and all tips just to ensure that there isn't anyone else involved.

BROOKS: Sjodin's family believes she's still alive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We all have one goal in mind and that's bringing Dru back home to her mother, to her father, to her brother. We all love Dru. We think that she's going to be with us very soon.

BROOKS: Investigators are less optimistic.

HEDLUND: The odds are not in our favor but there's until we have, you know, strong evidence the other direction we're going to hang on to that shred of hope.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKS: As he was being taken out of the courtroom, an unidentified woman ran up to Rodriguez screaming at him in Spanish telling him to inform authorities "where the body is" for the sake of his mother -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Mike Brooks thanks very much for that report.

Unfortunately, Dru Sjodin's case is far from unique. She's one of dozens of people reported missing last month and among thousands of cases under investigation right now.

Fourteen-year-old Tiaira Brandon disappeared from Danville, Virginia on November 3rd. Less than three weeks later, 15-year-old Dona Michelle Frost also vanished from Virginia. According to the FBI they are among the latest of more than 97,000 active missing person cases in the United States. Of those more than half are under the age of 18.

Controversy or medical fact, straight ahead a closer look into why a coroner ruled the death of a Black man in police custody a homicide. We'll speak to Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky.

Highway shootings, a new link and an Ohio community on high alert.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The issue isn't if you're going to get sued it's when you're going to get sued.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Medical malpractice, doctors taking drastic measures to combat high insurance rates. The impact is on all of us though.

First though today's News Quiz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Where did the nation's first challenge to medical malpractice insurance rate hikes take place, Florida, California, Texas, New York, the answer coming up?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Still ahead, the controversial ruling in the police beating death. We'll find out why the medical examiner ruled the death of Nathaniel Jones a homicide. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

By now we've all seen the videotape, the police beating a 350- pound man who resisted arrest. Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky is a professor of forensic science at John Jay College in New York. He's joining us now live from our New York studio. Dr. Kobilinsky thanks very much for joining us.

The Hamilton County coroner in Cincinnati has found that Nathaniel Jones' death is a homicide. What does that mean to you?

DR. LAWRENCE KOBILINSKY, JOHN JAY COLLEGE: Well, that's very significant. You have an individual, Nathaniel Jones, who had a history, a medical history of an enlarged heart and hypertension. He had been taking drugs, illicit drugs, both PCP and cocaine, both of which are stimulants and raise blood pressure.

Both individually or together can cause a dysrhythmia. That means the heart goes into an abnormal rhythm and cardiac failure. However, it's not clear as to whether the individual died as a result of drugs.

What the coroner is saying is that the beating is what pushed him over the edge. In other words, the drugs alone were not sufficient to cause death in the coroner's opinion but rather it was a homicide. In other words, the beating was contributory to the death. Now, the question really...

BLITZER: I was going to read specifically, Dr. Kobilinsky, from the report. Absent the struggle, Mr. Jones would not have died at that juncture.

KOBILINSKY: OK.

BLITZER: But the word homicide suggests that he was murdered.

KOBILINSKY: Well, remember this that there is such a thing as justifiable homicide and the issue that I think is relevant is did the police use excessive force and, if so, was is justified? That is something that really needs to be answered and that is not something the coroner can discuss.

BLITZER: So, legally the fact that they've used the word homicide may not mean that charges necessarily would be pressed against any of those six police officers?

KOBILINSKY: Precisely correct. It could have been justifiable if they thought he was endangering one or more of them. He was aggressive. After all he was on these stimulating drugs so it would not surprise me if he did actually lunge out and attack the police. The question is was there force justified in this tremendous beating?

BLITZER: Based on what you saw of the beating from this videotape, the same videotape all of us have now seen, what does it look like to you?

KOBILINSKY: Well, first of all they did not strike the head so that it was controlled, perhaps police training but it's also evident that whatever damage the batons did, they were aluminum, they did not rupture internal organs. They did not cause hemorrhage. That beating was not the kind of beating that would cause death in an of itself.

However, in an individual who was already compromised on these drugs that would be exactly what pushed him over the edge and so it's a contributory factor to his death.

BLITZER: Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky, Professor of Forensic Science at John Jay College in New York, thanks professor very much.

KOBILINSKY: A pleasure.

BLITZER: We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Several developments today in the Scott Peterson murder case including a date set for his trial for the deaths of his wife Laci and their unborn child. Kimberly Osias is on the story for us today in Modesto, California. She's joining us live -- Kimberly.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Scott Peterson's arraignment was efficient and to the point. In just about an hour the judge ruled on key issues. He continued a gag order that's been in place since June and also sealed the autopsy photos and set a date for the hearing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS (voice-over): The stakes are high for Scott Peterson who has now been formally charged with two counts of capital murder under special circumstances.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that correct, Mr. Peterson, you're pleading not guilty as to two charges of murder plus denying the special allegations?

MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Absolutely.

SCOTT PETERSON, DEFENDANT: That's correct, Your Honor. I'm innocent.

OSIAS: Prosecutors are seeking the ultimate sanction, the death penalty, for the murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn son. The trial date has been set for January 26, however the defense is asking for a change of venue which could delay the trial for several months. The hearing on that issue is set for January 6th.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it's possible to have this trial here in Modesto we should.

OSIAS: One big source of contention today was Scott Peterson's truck. The prosecution argued the jury would need to physically see the vehicle because it was used to transport Laci's body to a warehouse and later to the San Francisco Bay.

Police say traces of Scott Peterson's blood and cement were found in the vehicle. Unswayed by the prosecution's argument, the judge ruled in favor of the defense and ordered that the truck be released to Scott Peterson's family within the next two weeks.

GERAGOS: It is a financial hit on the family to continue to have to make the payments for the truck, especially when there's no good need for it.

OSIAS: Offering her support, Scott Peterson's mother was in court today.

JACKIE PETERSON, SCOTT'S MOTHER: When my son walks out the door, I will consider that truth and fairness.

(END VIDEOTAPE) OSIAS: A lot of people may be wondering how high powered attorney Mark Geragos can handle two big cases like Michael Jackson's and Scott Peterson's at the same time. Well, actually, that question was posed to Jackie Peterson just a little bit earlier, that's Scott's mother. And she said she thinks it's fine, and that he's doing a very good job -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kimberly Osias for us in Modesto. Thanks, Kimberly, very much.

Let's get some perspective now on these latest developments. Jan Ronis is a criminal defense attorney. He's joining us now live from San Diego. Jan, thanks very much. Did this go according to plan today? Any surprises?

JAN RONIS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Not really. In fact, it lasted longer than I thought. Normally, after a preliminary examination, within a couple of weeks, there is a new arraignment, and they file or refile a new charging document, which is called an information as opposed to a complaint. And then just procedurally, trial dates are set -- future motion dates are set, things of that nature, things that we saw happen today. So it went exactly according to script.

BLITZER: He's entitled, under California law, to a trial within 60 days. The trial date is set for January 26. But everyone seems to suggest that that's almost certainly not going to happen.

RONIS: That's clearly unrealistic. I would be surprised if this case were tried within the next eight to 12 months, quite frankly. As was mentioned, they are going to have to at least decide where it's going to be tried. And I think it is clear that at least there's going to be a motion to change the venue to another jurisdiction. And I think that's a probable outcome of that request, because it's going to be very difficult for Mr. Peterson to get a fair trial anywhere, especially in that relatively small county.

BLITZER: And Mark Geragos would have to bring evidence before the judge why he could not get a fair jury in Modesto. That process could take a while, though, right?

RONIS: Right. He's going to have to conduct polls, he's going to have to bring in expert witnesses to testify in their polling samples and what they found with respect to the interviewing a number of potential jurors and what their biases and prejudices are. He has got quite a burden. But I think just based upon other cases that I've witnessed, I think it's one that he'll meet in this case. I mean, it's a small county, demographically small population base, and the crime is noteworthy as any in recent memory. So I'm sure it will be change at some point.

BLITZER: An earlier judge, as you well know, ruled there is probable cause to go to trial. That's why they're going through this process right now.

RONIS: Sure. BLITZER: But Mark Geragos is also going to file another motion to dismiss the charges, saying there is not enough evidence. Is that simply procedural, or does he realistically think the judge will dismiss this at this point?

RONIS: Well, it's -- I mean, there's clearly was probable cause. That's something less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. I think he has to go through the formality if nothing else to satisfy his client's desire, but let's be serious. This case is never going to be dismissed based upon insufficiency of the evidence, at least at this point. It may be that a jury will not be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. But I think the judge clearly at least made the right decision based upon the small standard that he has to apply in deciding whether the case ought to proceed to trial.

BLITZER: Bottom line, based on what you know right now, Jan, how strong of a case does the prosecution have?

RONIS: Well, of course, we've only heard the prosecution evidence, and from what I heard, obviously Mr. Peterson has some -- some problems. But I think motive is going to be a real problem for the prosecution to establish, although that's not an element of the offense. Mr. Peterson doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that would have a sufficient motive based upon the fact that he merely had a girlfriend to kill his wife. They seemed to have a good marriage. He has no criminal history. There's nothing in his background that would suggest that he's the kind of person that would be capable of doing this. So I think the absence of a motive is going to be a real problem for the prosecution.

BLITZER: Jan Ronis, the criminal defense attorney, thanks for joining us.

RONIS: Very well. Thank you.

BLITZER: A dozen shootings, a community shocked and scared. We're live from Ohio on the crime spree that has quiet neighborhoods on guard.

Risky business. Doctors and patients taking some big chances because of an insurance crisis. We'll tell you all about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: There are some very nervous teachers and parents in one elementary school in Columbus, Ohio, probably a lot of other elementary schools as well. That's because police now say it was one of the targets of a series of a dozen shootings, one of them fatal, which they believe are all now connected. CNN's Kris Osborn is in Columbus. He's joining us with the latest -- Kris.

KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. That's right, Wolf. Well, Franklin County officials will not say whether or not they have a person of interest in mind, but they do say, rather clearly, they do not, as of yet, have a suspect. Meanwhile, however, there is a serious security concern in a variety of areas, many of them, of course, at schools. The elementary school was the site where on November 11 a bullet smashed through the window setting off the alarm. Today at the school a special crime unit was on scene. In addition, the kids were kept inside during recess as an additional security procedure.

Meanwhile, security patrols on either side of I-220 (sic) continue. There are patrol cars up and down the highway. An additional focus on residential areas, as well as schools. In addition to that, there are officials, personnel, out combing the area looking for additional evidence, looking for ballistic evidence, in many cases.

There was also discussion from many detectives here about why there isn't going to be any continued conversation about a profile.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF DEPUTY STEVE MARTIN, FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: To try and categorically say that the individual or individuals involved in these shootings are of a certain race, age, or have a particular background is something we believe to be irresponsible and would only hinder this investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OSBORN: One other reason why Detective Martin mentioned there wouldn't be discussion of a profile, is simply that nationwide, there isn't a whole lot of experience with this kind of incident, an unexplained string of 11, 12 shootings that appear quite deliberately to be targeting vehicles and people.

Also, one source described to me that they're going back to those earlier shootings to try and get even more evidence. In some cases, it is tough to find because a bullet went right through the car and isn't anywhere to be seen -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kris Osborn with the latest in Columbus. Kris, thanks very much.

Now that ballistics evidence has, in fact, linked at least four of the recent shooting incidents in Columbus, investigators are focusing their probe. Joining us now to discuss a little bit more on this case, the former FBI investigator, Greg McCrary. Greg, thanks very much for joining us.

Take us into an investigation like this. Where do you begin?

GREG MCCRARY, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: It is more daunting than most investigations. And it is a homicide investigation, because the problem is, in most homicide investigations there is a relationship between the victim and the offender, typically. Here in a stranger- based predatory crime like that, that's absent. So that makes it a more daunting challenge. But you have to start with the physical evidence and you have to start with witnesses and victims. And only since the shooting November 25, the fatal shooting, have more people come forward to report previous shootings. So they are just trying to establish the pattern now, the timeline, and the pattern. And all of that has to be evaluated.

BLITZER: You heard a report that the police there saying they're not going to profile in this case. No profiling. Does that mean the whole art or science, if you will, of profiling is out of date nowadays based in part on what happened here in the Washington area during the sniper investigation a year ago?

MCCRARY: Not at all. And let me address that just for a second, because I think what happened there is a lot of people coming and saying, it was a white male, this and that. But who were those people saying that? A lot of those people, in my opinion, were not qualified to offer an opinion or they were self-described profilers to begin with.

So profiling certainly has a place. But we have to have evidence. We have to have a lot of behavior and physical evidence to look at. And so it doesn't, certainly, negate profiling. It just isn't appropriate in a case like this where we don't have enough data.

BLITZER: I've heard one criminologist suggest perhaps a thrill killer is on the loose. What does that mean?

MCCRARY: Well, it means that they're doing it for the thrill of it, for some unknown psychological motive. And that may be. And even when we find out what the motives are in these cases, they still don't make any sense. Even if we look at the D.C. snipers, what, does that justify the murders that went on? No. So we don't know.

It could be narcissism. Could be thrill. But those are sort of mid-level explanations that really don't carry a lot of weight.

BLITZER: We understand that some people involved in the sniper investigation in Washington are now out in Columbus helping out, based on some of the mistakes, lessons learned from what happened here. What are the lessons we learned then that might be useful in Columbus?

MCCRARY: I think tightly controlling information. I think one of the things that created a problem was leaking information to the media about contact from the shooters at the time.

BLITZER: That was a mistake?

MCCRARY: That was a mistake.

BLITZER: The biggest mistake, though, was the white box truck, the white van that never existed.

MCCRARY: Witness contamination. It's always problem. Witnesses in good faith were describing a white box truck.

BLITZER: When it was a dark Chevy Caprice?

MCCRARY: Exactly, exactly right. And that's always an issue with contaminated -- witness contamination...

BLITZER: But there is a thin line you have to walk, you, the FBI, local law enforcement. You have to get information out because the public can help resolve this issue?

MCCRARY: They're calling for the public to come forward. They're doing the right things, they're asking for the public to come forward. They have a report of previous shootings that may have gone unreported. Now they got to report suspicions about individuals who may be out of pocket when these things happen.

They're not describing the weapon, That's fine. We, the public, don't need to know it. Law enforcement will be looking at that very closely. They seem to be doing the right things.

BLITZER: Former FBI special agent Greg McCrary, thanks.

MCCRARY: You're welcome.

BLITZER: Protecting the environment, but at what cost? A look at the new forest management law that has environmental groups speaking out.

Healthcare crisis effecting doctors nationwide. But find out how it will affect you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: President Bush signed a bill today that will speed tree cutting on federal land. Supporters say it will reduce wildfires by making it easier to thin overgrown forests, but critics claim it is a political payoff to the lumber industry. Our senior White House correspondent, John King, has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today's bill signing is tomorrow's reelection campaign theme and debate.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: With a healthy forest restoration act we will help to prevent catastrophic wildfires. We'll help save lives and property. And we'll help protect our forests from sudden and needless destruction.

KING: The new initiative streamlines the approval process for thinning trees and underbrush from thick forests, nearly doubles federal spending on forest thinning to $760 million and makes it harder to block thinning projects in courts. Mr. Bush says this year's devastating wildfires served as a powerful lesson.

BUSH: This law will not prevent every fire, but it is an important step forward. KING: But critics call it a payback to the timber industry that won't help areas most at risk of fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bill is actually going to increase commercial logging in remote forests in the back country miles away from these communities.

KING: Mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants are another point of contention between the White House and major environmental groups. The Clinton administration rule requires power plants to use the latest available technology to curb emissions of mercury blamed for birth defects. The Bush administration is considering a more lenient approach, but promises results.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We're moving forward on an effort to implement tough new rules that is would cut mercury emissions by 70 percent from power plants.

KING: Bush critics once again see things differently. Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean accuses the administration of trying to gut the Clean Air Act and called on the president to put the public health of the nation over the profit of a few energy corporations.

The White House says Mr. Bush deserves credit for taking common sense steps to help the environment without hurting the economy.

(on camera): But most environmental groups say this president's top priority is helping big business not the environment and they promise to make that case, Wolf, in the coming campaign.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And the campaign just heating up. Thanks very much, John King for that.

Medical matters that could affect your next trip to the doctor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really cannot do a good job with 30 patience a day. I can't -- boom, boom, boom. It is a revolving door.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Up next, the problem is facing primary care physicians and how they play a role on what you pay.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Earlier we asked -- where did the nation's first challenge to medical malpractice insurance rate hikes take place? The answer, California. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a California nonprofit organization, made the first ever consumer group challenge earlier this year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Yesterday we looked at the growing number of working Americans without health insurance. But doctors are also being swept up in the country's health care crisis as they face skyrocketing malpractice insurance premiums. That's leaving some physicians to take some drastic measures, and patients, predictably, are feeling the fallout. CNN's Lisa Leiter is joining us now live with the story from Chicago -- Lisa.

LISA LEITER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well, there is no question that doctors' chief complain is the rising cost of insurance. But they're also worried about the fact that they have too many patients and too much paperwork. And they're really just sick of the system.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. MARK MACUMBER: Have you ever heard of diverticulatis (ph) or diverticular (ph) disease? OK. What it is is...

LEITER (voice-over): Dr. Mark Macumber never thought of himself as a radical, but now the family practitioner is going where few doctors dare to tread. He's working without malpractice insurance.

MACUMBER: It hadn't even entered my mind that you can still see patients without malpractice. I've grown up in this era where the issue isn't if you're going to get sued, it's when you're going to get sued.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this the patient's name?

LEITER: This summer, Macumber's premiums jumped to $40,000 a year, four times what he was paying and more than he could afford. So he felt he had no choice, even though one successful malpractice suit against him could mean financial ruin.

MACUMBER: What I'm doing is risky, but it fits what I feel I need to do professionally.

LEITER: A recent survey showed physicians' malpractice insurance premiums are skyrocketing. They rose an average of 36 percent between 2001 and 2002, and by a stunning 53 percent this year, mostly because of ballooning legal settlements. The president of the American Medical Association calls the problem a full-blown crisis.

DR. DONALD PALMISANO, PRES., AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: Physicians are retiring before their time. They're limiting their practice because they want to stay in practice. They just can't afford to pay $249,000 in Miami this year to be able to deliver babies.

LEITER: Annual insurance rates vary widely depending on the city and the specialty. In Chicago, for example, internists pay $35,000, general surgeons, $92,000, and OB/GYNs, $140,000. (on camera): With overhead like that, doctors are forced to see more and more patients to stay in business. Dropping liability insurance is a risk most doctors are not willing to take, so they are finding other ways to make ends meet.

DR. JUNG KIM, FAMILY PRACTITIONER: Take one now, take one in the evening and one a day.

LEITER (voice-over): Dr. Jung Kim recently overhauled his practice. He now charges his patients a fee of $1,000 a year, on top of payments for office visits. As a result, he needs fewer patients to make money, and that means for them less time in the waiting room and more time in the examining room.

Dr. Kim now sees just 10 patients a day instead of 30.

KIM: I really cannot do a good job with 30 patients a day. I mean, I can't boom, boom, boom. It's a revolving door.

LEITER: With no major reforms in sight, doctors will continue to find ways to combat that frustration. Both Dr. Kim and Dr. Macumber say they now can focus on care instead of costs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEITER: And there is yet another solution for doctors trying to cut their costs. Some are moving to areas where the malpractice insurance rates are not so high. Here in Chicago, some doctors have moved to rural areas in the state of Illinois or to nearby states like Wisconsin or Indiana, where the malpractice rates are much lower -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Lisa Leiter, thanks very much for that report.

Up next, an undercover agent goes inside the cover of "Vanity Fair" magazine. Our picture of the day is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Can you spy the spy? This is our picture of the day. Look at this, Valerie Plame was so-called -- supposedly outed as a CIA operative by a Bush administration leaker after her husband, the former ambassador Joe Wilson, criticized the intelligence on Iraq. The leak sparked outrage and an investigation.

Recently, Wilson said his wife would not allow herself to be photographed, but here they are posing for "Vanity Fair" magazine, unless that's someone else wearing the dark glasses. We don't think it is.

A reminder, we're here twice a day, 5:00 p.m. Eastern, noon Eastern, Monday through Friday. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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





Cincinnati Coroner Rules Jones' Death Homicide>


Aired December 3, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now, the search for a missing student in North Dakota, the suspect is being moved from Minnesota to North Dakota but is he leading them to the young woman?
Stand by for hard news of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Violent arrest, a stunning statement from the Cincinnati coroner.

Desperate search...

SERGEANT MICHAEL HEDLUND: We're going to hang on to that, try to hope.

BLITZER: Will a suspect help them find (AUDIO GAP).

(AUDIO GAP) charges of murdering his wife and unborn son.

Fear along the freeway, Ohio residents wait for the next shooting.

Doctors in distress...

HEDLUND: What I'm doing is risky but it fits what I feel I need to do professionally.

BLITZER: Why some are driven to drastic measures and what it means for you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, December 03, 2003.

BLITZER: There is potentially explosive news coming right now from Cincinnati. The racially-charged death of a 41-year-old Black man will be ruled a homicide. Even though Nathaniel Jones had health problems and used illegal drugs, the county coroner says the main cause of his death was a violent struggle with Cincinnati Police.

CNN's Brian Cabell is standing by with details -- Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, first of all there are some semantic complications with the coroner's report and you have to sort through those. First of all there's the cause of death and there is the manner of death. Those are two different things and then the very word homicide that you mentioned that can be confusing as well.

But the bottom line is this. According to the coroner Nathaniel Jones was in bad health. He had a drug problem but he probably would still be alive today if he had not fought with the police.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CABELL (voice-over): The death certificate for Nathaniel Jones will list cardiac dysrhythmia, another form for cardiac arrest, as the official cause of death. It was brought on, the coroner says, by the violent struggle Jones had with Cincinnati Police early Sunday morning, the manner of death, as determined by the coroner, homicide.

DR. CARL PARROTI, HAMILTON COUNTY CORONER: The word does not imply hostile or malign intent. It is merely a characterization of the circumstances in which the cause of death came to be.

CABELL: The coroner stresses several factors contributed to Jones' death, his obesity, a history of hypertension, and the ingestion of drugs, cocaine, PCP, and methanol. Methanol is sometimes used to heighten the effects of other drugs.

The attorney for Jones' family says he doesn't trust the coroner's findings and will call for a second autopsy. Jones' grandmother criticizes those who she says are portraying her grandson as an animal.

BESSIE JONES, NATHANIEL JONES' GRANDMOTHER: (Unintelligible) like he was an animal. He wasn't. He was a good little fat (unintelligible) fellow. He wasn't violent.

CABELL: A surveillance tape at the restaurant where the deadly fight occurred showed Jones in an apparently animated but not belligerent mood shortly before the encounter with police. Jones' family and supporters want to know why he changed and if he was provoked.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABELL: The coroner's examination revealed that there were bruises only on the lower part of Jones' body and there were no internal bruises to his organs at all. That's according to the coroner.

But as you might expect there are some people who distrust what the coroner said; in fact, there will be a second autopsy now. There is also, Wolf, talk of a recall tonight. There will be a meeting later tonight to recall the mayor they hold, Charlie Luken as at least partially responsible for what happened.

BLITZER: Brian Cabell thanks very much.

And we'll get some more analysis on this report. That's coming up. I'll speak with Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky.

But right now, let's go to Grand Forks, North Dakota. The family of Dru Sjodin is speaking out on the search for this young woman.

HEDLUND: Any questions?

JASON NELSON, COUSIN OF DRU SJODIN: This is more for (unintelligible) family members in court today just the family's reaction to seeing Rodriguez in court being in the same room with a couple of the gentlemen. How difficult was that? Was it -- share your thoughts if you will, we saw you in the courtroom this morning, when he walked in and you come face-to-face with the man that's accused of taking her?

It was difficult but it was something we felt we had to do and we wanted to be there to represent Dru and our family. It was good for us to be there and we'll continue to be at hearings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you state your name please?

NELSON: Jason Nelson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you related?

NELSON: I'm Dru's cousin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, can you tell us what you found today out in the search? Was anything helpful discovered?

HEDLUND: I actually haven't had any contact with the searchers themselves so I'm not aware of what particular items they might have found or actually whether there is going to be any significance in those.

I'm sure as in the past searches they're I'm sure going to uncover a number of different items. Those will all have to be analyzed over a period of time. At this point in time, though, I don't have any specifics. I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, was the knife found in the mall parking lot?

HEDLUND: I beg your pardon?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A knife found at the Columbia Mall parking lot?

HEDLUND: I don't have any information on that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant, you said Mr. Rodriguez had been interviewed. Can you say whether he was cooperative with investigators?

HEDLUND: I'm afraid I can't discuss that right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You also said with regard to counsel did you say he had asked for counsel or that he had counsel? Could you clarify that?

HEDLUND: We are respectful to his right to counsel so if at any time during the discussions with him he is stating he does not want to answer we are not pushing that issue, cannot push that issue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does he have counsel at this time?

HEDLUND: I believe he does but I'm not aware who that would be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you confirm for us the whereabouts of Mr. Rodriguez and the time he had officially been transported?

HEDLUND: I'm not sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he is answering questions?

HEDLUND: I don't know that. I know we have had investigators that have been speaking to him but the exact nature of those discussions I'm not sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have physical evidence, DNA evidence that links Mr. Rodriguez to this crime?

HEDLUND: I can't discuss that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, did he appear on the Marshall (ph) Field surveillance cameras at the Columbia mall?

HEDLUND: I can't discuss that either, I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you say how many store surveillance cameras that he did appear on?

HEDLUND: No, I cannot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you had any videotape that showed him being with Dru in that parking lot?

HEDLUND: I'm not going to be able to discuss any of the specifics on any of the video surveillance tapes. I apologize. That's evidence that at this point in time our state's attorney's office is not allowing us to discuss. Basically any material evidence we really are not allowed to discuss at this point in time.

About the only thing I can state as far as Mr. Rodriguez' connection to this crime is, as you're all well aware, he is a registered sex offender in the state of Minnesota, Class 3, which as you're all well aware is the highest level of risk for re-offending in the state of Minnesota.

That's obviously a type of individual that we would have been interested in having discussions with from the very start of this investigation. Because of that obviously you can draw your own conclusions as to why we might have begun having investigations with him or discussions with him over the course of this past week and a half. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was there any surveillance of Mr. Rodriguez before his arrest? Did he (unintelligible) any indication as to where Dru might be?

HEDLUND: I have no information on that whatsoever, I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has Rodriguez indicated whether Dru -- has Rodriguez indicated whether or not Dru is alive?

HEDLUND: As I mentioned earlier I don't have any information on the discussions that were held. I know investigators did speak with him today. I don't know the results of those discussions and I have no idea what they discussed (unintelligible).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you talk about why you put out pictures of his car? Why did you put out so many pictures of his car?

HEDLUND: The reason we've supplied the pictures of his car is we are still trying to determine exactly what occurred after five o'clock on November 22nd.

We believe that Mr. Rodriguez was at Columbia Mall. We do believe that he is the person that was the abductor in the incident with Dru Sjodin and we do believe that that vehicle was involved in that abduction.

We're hoping that anyone that may have seen that vehicle that evening would be able to contact us at the tip line as we mentioned that number earlier. If anyone is able to provide any information on seeing that vehicle at any location that evening that can possibly help us find Dru that's the reason behind that vehicle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant was there evidence found in the car?

HEDLUND: The vehicle was impounded. I can't discuss any evidence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you tell me when the vehicle was impounded?

HEDLUND: I don't have that, sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you elaborate? I talked last night with one investigator about the hair color change. Have you guys been able to determine he might have been gray when he was released from prison, dark haired now? Can you determine when he did that and was it done as an effort to change his identity or his appearance?

HEDLUND: I believe the investigators may have that information. I do not. I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant, does there get to a point in time when you've covered every possible acre of this county and have to ratchet down the search? You had 1,700 people out today. Are you looking at that in the inevitable future? Can you talk about that? HEDLUND: That's obviously a consideration at some point in time. I don't know that -- I'm convinced that we haven't covered every single acre in this county yet, at least not as thorough as we would like to.

There's always areas that could possibly have been overlooked, areas that need to be reexamined. We will try to do that if that is what we feel we need to, how we need to proceed with this investigation.

I know both Polk County and Grand Forks County officials are going to be sitting back today reevaluating what areas were able to be searched today and how effectively they think those areas are going to be able to be covered.

They'll try to determine at what point in time we do need to request for additional volunteers. That could be as early as for tomorrow. As of right now there is no indication that they're going to be requesting volunteers but that's certainly a possibility still.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what would be the difference in future searches? Like tomorrow you seem to I guess perhaps suggest the search tomorrow might be a little different than today. Are they more individual searches and something more...

HEDLUND: As you're aware we've had now three times that we've requested volunteers out of approximately 12 days. The majority of the other days or virtually all of the other days it was law enforcement only searches.

Officials are trying to determine areas that they feel do need to be searched as we attempt to discover exactly where Dru is. On other days, we have scaled back areas, perhaps areas that we've had leads that lead us to believe that there might be evidence at those particular areas that we feel that it's going to be able to be done more effectively with only law enforcement personnel.

I guess that's just kind of we're taking it day by day and seeing what we feel is most appropriate for that particular time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will tomorrow be law enforcement searches only?

HEDLUND: Law enforcement or law enforcement related personnel, family members, other volunteer groups such as the Polk County Posse and Marshall County Posse I believe are still involved as well in the assistance of conducting these searches.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible) from St. Cloud were also coming. Do you know if that worked into the plans or do you not?

HEDLUND: I'm not sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have investigators from your department spoken to Mr. Rodriguez' mother or any other members of his family or have they tried to? HEDLUND: I'm not aware. I am sure they've attempted to contact anyone that at all would at all be related to Mr. Rodriguez but I don't know the nature of any of those conversations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're not sure if they have or have not been cooperating?

HEDLUND: That's correct.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you believe Rodriguez was in Dru's car at any time?

HEDLUND: I do not know. I don't have any information on that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible)

HEDLUND: As far as I know there was no -- excuse me, no diving conducted today. I believe they completed that two days ago, at least for the time being. There was a fairly significant section of the Red Lake River in Minnesota in the vicinity of Crookston that was searched.

I believe they searched that to the end of what they felt was capable and appropriate for conducting any searches there. At this point in time there are no other areas that I'm aware of that they plan on conducting any dive efforts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has the Red River been searched?

HEDLUND: The Red River banks have been. There has been no diving that has been conducted in the Red River.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His court appearance again is that set for 1:30 tomorrow?

HEDLUND: That's my understanding from speaking to the State's Attorney Mr. Peter Welte. That would be 1:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at the Grand Forks County Courthouse which is currently in the former civic auditorium on First Avenue North here in Grand Forks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will there be a fresh mug shot tonight? Will he be processed and will that be available?

HEDLUND: I believe the photo from yesterday is the most current photo that there is. I'm not sure if that was his mug photo or not but that's the only photo that we have at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When he is processed is that part of the processing I guess protocol that he would need photographed again and fingerprinted again?

HEDLUND: I would assume so, yes. That would be up to the Grand Forks County Correctional Center officials to take care of that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you concerned that as time continues to pass that leads will dry up? HEDLUND: Well, that's always a concern that you have in any situation, any investigation. The longer time goes on the further it goes, the particular situation becomes less fresh in people's memories.

The people that were most likely to have immediate information probably have already contacted us but there's always that off chance that someone was in Grand Forks for only that day or it's hard to imagine that they wouldn't have seen any media coverage on this case but there's always that possibility and we continue to hold out hope that for whatever reason someone that hasn't contacted us still will.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Unintelligible).

HEDLUND: Not to the best of my knowledge, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can we get your name, sir?

HEDLUND: Sergeant Michael Hedlund.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you spell your last name?

HEDLUND: H-E-D-L-U-N-D. I want to thank you again for coming. I appreciate your support for the family and keeping them in your prayers. Thank you.

BLITZER: An update on the heart-wrenching search for 22-year-old Dru Sjodin. She's been missing now for almost two weeks, the search continuing, not a whole lot of information, one man in custody suspected with the kidnapping waiving extradition earlier today from Minnesota to North Dakota. At the top of the news conference we heard once again from Sven Sjodin, the brother of Dru Sjodin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SVEN SJODIN, BROTHER OF DRU SJODIN: Thank you very much. In the search for Dru, your help today, you know, everyone that came out with their four-wheelers and ATVs and just took time out of their day to help us find our little girl.

We are still resolute in the fact that we will find Dru. That is our mission. We are still on track to find her and we're going to continue to search and we're going to find her shortly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The man charged with kidnapping Dru Sjodin was in court today even as hundreds of volunteers continued to search for this woman.

CNN's Mike Brooks is following the case. He's joining us now live with more -- Mike.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf.

As we just heard, law enforcement authorities are still playing their information very close to the vest but law enforcement officials have said that they do have evidence placing Rodriguez at the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks, North Dakota where Dru Sjodin disappeared on November 22nd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKS (voice-over): Police and volunteers in North Dakota set off in search of missing college student Dru Sjodin while the man charged with kidnapping the 22-year-old appeared in court in a nearby Minnesota town.

Fifty-year-old Alphonso Rodriguez, Jr. waived extradition, clearing the way for his transfer to Grand Forks where Sjodin disappeared 11 days ago. She was last seen leaving the mall where she works and last heard from in a cell phone call to her boyfriend abruptly ending with Sjodin saying "no, no, no" or by another account "oh my God."

The suspect, Rodriguez, is a convicted rapist released just this past May after serving 23 years in prison for attempted kidnapping. Police won't say whether he's cooperating, only that the investigation continues.

HEDLUND: We believe that we have the individual that's responsible for this situation but the investigative task force does continue to follow all leads and all tips just to ensure that there isn't anyone else involved.

BROOKS: Sjodin's family believes she's still alive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We all have one goal in mind and that's bringing Dru back home to her mother, to her father, to her brother. We all love Dru. We think that she's going to be with us very soon.

BROOKS: Investigators are less optimistic.

HEDLUND: The odds are not in our favor but there's until we have, you know, strong evidence the other direction we're going to hang on to that shred of hope.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKS: As he was being taken out of the courtroom, an unidentified woman ran up to Rodriguez screaming at him in Spanish telling him to inform authorities "where the body is" for the sake of his mother -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Mike Brooks thanks very much for that report.

Unfortunately, Dru Sjodin's case is far from unique. She's one of dozens of people reported missing last month and among thousands of cases under investigation right now.

Fourteen-year-old Tiaira Brandon disappeared from Danville, Virginia on November 3rd. Less than three weeks later, 15-year-old Dona Michelle Frost also vanished from Virginia. According to the FBI they are among the latest of more than 97,000 active missing person cases in the United States. Of those more than half are under the age of 18.

Controversy or medical fact, straight ahead a closer look into why a coroner ruled the death of a Black man in police custody a homicide. We'll speak to Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky.

Highway shootings, a new link and an Ohio community on high alert.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The issue isn't if you're going to get sued it's when you're going to get sued.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Medical malpractice, doctors taking drastic measures to combat high insurance rates. The impact is on all of us though.

First though today's News Quiz.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (voice-over): Where did the nation's first challenge to medical malpractice insurance rate hikes take place, Florida, California, Texas, New York, the answer coming up?

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BLITZER: Still ahead, the controversial ruling in the police beating death. We'll find out why the medical examiner ruled the death of Nathaniel Jones a homicide. Stay with us.

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BLITZER: Welcome back.

By now we've all seen the videotape, the police beating a 350- pound man who resisted arrest. Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky is a professor of forensic science at John Jay College in New York. He's joining us now live from our New York studio. Dr. Kobilinsky thanks very much for joining us.

The Hamilton County coroner in Cincinnati has found that Nathaniel Jones' death is a homicide. What does that mean to you?

DR. LAWRENCE KOBILINSKY, JOHN JAY COLLEGE: Well, that's very significant. You have an individual, Nathaniel Jones, who had a history, a medical history of an enlarged heart and hypertension. He had been taking drugs, illicit drugs, both PCP and cocaine, both of which are stimulants and raise blood pressure.

Both individually or together can cause a dysrhythmia. That means the heart goes into an abnormal rhythm and cardiac failure. However, it's not clear as to whether the individual died as a result of drugs.

What the coroner is saying is that the beating is what pushed him over the edge. In other words, the drugs alone were not sufficient to cause death in the coroner's opinion but rather it was a homicide. In other words, the beating was contributory to the death. Now, the question really...

BLITZER: I was going to read specifically, Dr. Kobilinsky, from the report. Absent the struggle, Mr. Jones would not have died at that juncture.

KOBILINSKY: OK.

BLITZER: But the word homicide suggests that he was murdered.

KOBILINSKY: Well, remember this that there is such a thing as justifiable homicide and the issue that I think is relevant is did the police use excessive force and, if so, was is justified? That is something that really needs to be answered and that is not something the coroner can discuss.

BLITZER: So, legally the fact that they've used the word homicide may not mean that charges necessarily would be pressed against any of those six police officers?

KOBILINSKY: Precisely correct. It could have been justifiable if they thought he was endangering one or more of them. He was aggressive. After all he was on these stimulating drugs so it would not surprise me if he did actually lunge out and attack the police. The question is was there force justified in this tremendous beating?

BLITZER: Based on what you saw of the beating from this videotape, the same videotape all of us have now seen, what does it look like to you?

KOBILINSKY: Well, first of all they did not strike the head so that it was controlled, perhaps police training but it's also evident that whatever damage the batons did, they were aluminum, they did not rupture internal organs. They did not cause hemorrhage. That beating was not the kind of beating that would cause death in an of itself.

However, in an individual who was already compromised on these drugs that would be exactly what pushed him over the edge and so it's a contributory factor to his death.

BLITZER: Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky, Professor of Forensic Science at John Jay College in New York, thanks professor very much.

KOBILINSKY: A pleasure.

BLITZER: We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Several developments today in the Scott Peterson murder case including a date set for his trial for the deaths of his wife Laci and their unborn child. Kimberly Osias is on the story for us today in Modesto, California. She's joining us live -- Kimberly.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Scott Peterson's arraignment was efficient and to the point. In just about an hour the judge ruled on key issues. He continued a gag order that's been in place since June and also sealed the autopsy photos and set a date for the hearing.

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OSIAS (voice-over): The stakes are high for Scott Peterson who has now been formally charged with two counts of capital murder under special circumstances.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that correct, Mr. Peterson, you're pleading not guilty as to two charges of murder plus denying the special allegations?

MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Absolutely.

SCOTT PETERSON, DEFENDANT: That's correct, Your Honor. I'm innocent.

OSIAS: Prosecutors are seeking the ultimate sanction, the death penalty, for the murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn son. The trial date has been set for January 26, however the defense is asking for a change of venue which could delay the trial for several months. The hearing on that issue is set for January 6th.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it's possible to have this trial here in Modesto we should.

OSIAS: One big source of contention today was Scott Peterson's truck. The prosecution argued the jury would need to physically see the vehicle because it was used to transport Laci's body to a warehouse and later to the San Francisco Bay.

Police say traces of Scott Peterson's blood and cement were found in the vehicle. Unswayed by the prosecution's argument, the judge ruled in favor of the defense and ordered that the truck be released to Scott Peterson's family within the next two weeks.

GERAGOS: It is a financial hit on the family to continue to have to make the payments for the truck, especially when there's no good need for it.

OSIAS: Offering her support, Scott Peterson's mother was in court today.

JACKIE PETERSON, SCOTT'S MOTHER: When my son walks out the door, I will consider that truth and fairness.

(END VIDEOTAPE) OSIAS: A lot of people may be wondering how high powered attorney Mark Geragos can handle two big cases like Michael Jackson's and Scott Peterson's at the same time. Well, actually, that question was posed to Jackie Peterson just a little bit earlier, that's Scott's mother. And she said she thinks it's fine, and that he's doing a very good job -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kimberly Osias for us in Modesto. Thanks, Kimberly, very much.

Let's get some perspective now on these latest developments. Jan Ronis is a criminal defense attorney. He's joining us now live from San Diego. Jan, thanks very much. Did this go according to plan today? Any surprises?

JAN RONIS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Not really. In fact, it lasted longer than I thought. Normally, after a preliminary examination, within a couple of weeks, there is a new arraignment, and they file or refile a new charging document, which is called an information as opposed to a complaint. And then just procedurally, trial dates are set -- future motion dates are set, things of that nature, things that we saw happen today. So it went exactly according to script.

BLITZER: He's entitled, under California law, to a trial within 60 days. The trial date is set for January 26. But everyone seems to suggest that that's almost certainly not going to happen.

RONIS: That's clearly unrealistic. I would be surprised if this case were tried within the next eight to 12 months, quite frankly. As was mentioned, they are going to have to at least decide where it's going to be tried. And I think it is clear that at least there's going to be a motion to change the venue to another jurisdiction. And I think that's a probable outcome of that request, because it's going to be very difficult for Mr. Peterson to get a fair trial anywhere, especially in that relatively small county.

BLITZER: And Mark Geragos would have to bring evidence before the judge why he could not get a fair jury in Modesto. That process could take a while, though, right?

RONIS: Right. He's going to have to conduct polls, he's going to have to bring in expert witnesses to testify in their polling samples and what they found with respect to the interviewing a number of potential jurors and what their biases and prejudices are. He has got quite a burden. But I think just based upon other cases that I've witnessed, I think it's one that he'll meet in this case. I mean, it's a small county, demographically small population base, and the crime is noteworthy as any in recent memory. So I'm sure it will be change at some point.

BLITZER: An earlier judge, as you well know, ruled there is probable cause to go to trial. That's why they're going through this process right now.

RONIS: Sure. BLITZER: But Mark Geragos is also going to file another motion to dismiss the charges, saying there is not enough evidence. Is that simply procedural, or does he realistically think the judge will dismiss this at this point?

RONIS: Well, it's -- I mean, there's clearly was probable cause. That's something less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. I think he has to go through the formality if nothing else to satisfy his client's desire, but let's be serious. This case is never going to be dismissed based upon insufficiency of the evidence, at least at this point. It may be that a jury will not be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. But I think the judge clearly at least made the right decision based upon the small standard that he has to apply in deciding whether the case ought to proceed to trial.

BLITZER: Bottom line, based on what you know right now, Jan, how strong of a case does the prosecution have?

RONIS: Well, of course, we've only heard the prosecution evidence, and from what I heard, obviously Mr. Peterson has some -- some problems. But I think motive is going to be a real problem for the prosecution to establish, although that's not an element of the offense. Mr. Peterson doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that would have a sufficient motive based upon the fact that he merely had a girlfriend to kill his wife. They seemed to have a good marriage. He has no criminal history. There's nothing in his background that would suggest that he's the kind of person that would be capable of doing this. So I think the absence of a motive is going to be a real problem for the prosecution.

BLITZER: Jan Ronis, the criminal defense attorney, thanks for joining us.

RONIS: Very well. Thank you.

BLITZER: A dozen shootings, a community shocked and scared. We're live from Ohio on the crime spree that has quiet neighborhoods on guard.

Risky business. Doctors and patients taking some big chances because of an insurance crisis. We'll tell you all about it.

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BLITZER: There are some very nervous teachers and parents in one elementary school in Columbus, Ohio, probably a lot of other elementary schools as well. That's because police now say it was one of the targets of a series of a dozen shootings, one of them fatal, which they believe are all now connected. CNN's Kris Osborn is in Columbus. He's joining us with the latest -- Kris.

KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. That's right, Wolf. Well, Franklin County officials will not say whether or not they have a person of interest in mind, but they do say, rather clearly, they do not, as of yet, have a suspect. Meanwhile, however, there is a serious security concern in a variety of areas, many of them, of course, at schools. The elementary school was the site where on November 11 a bullet smashed through the window setting off the alarm. Today at the school a special crime unit was on scene. In addition, the kids were kept inside during recess as an additional security procedure.

Meanwhile, security patrols on either side of I-220 (sic) continue. There are patrol cars up and down the highway. An additional focus on residential areas, as well as schools. In addition to that, there are officials, personnel, out combing the area looking for additional evidence, looking for ballistic evidence, in many cases.

There was also discussion from many detectives here about why there isn't going to be any continued conversation about a profile.

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CHIEF DEPUTY STEVE MARTIN, FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: To try and categorically say that the individual or individuals involved in these shootings are of a certain race, age, or have a particular background is something we believe to be irresponsible and would only hinder this investigation.

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OSBORN: One other reason why Detective Martin mentioned there wouldn't be discussion of a profile, is simply that nationwide, there isn't a whole lot of experience with this kind of incident, an unexplained string of 11, 12 shootings that appear quite deliberately to be targeting vehicles and people.

Also, one source described to me that they're going back to those earlier shootings to try and get even more evidence. In some cases, it is tough to find because a bullet went right through the car and isn't anywhere to be seen -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kris Osborn with the latest in Columbus. Kris, thanks very much.

Now that ballistics evidence has, in fact, linked at least four of the recent shooting incidents in Columbus, investigators are focusing their probe. Joining us now to discuss a little bit more on this case, the former FBI investigator, Greg McCrary. Greg, thanks very much for joining us.

Take us into an investigation like this. Where do you begin?

GREG MCCRARY, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: It is more daunting than most investigations. And it is a homicide investigation, because the problem is, in most homicide investigations there is a relationship between the victim and the offender, typically. Here in a stranger- based predatory crime like that, that's absent. So that makes it a more daunting challenge. But you have to start with the physical evidence and you have to start with witnesses and victims. And only since the shooting November 25, the fatal shooting, have more people come forward to report previous shootings. So they are just trying to establish the pattern now, the timeline, and the pattern. And all of that has to be evaluated.

BLITZER: You heard a report that the police there saying they're not going to profile in this case. No profiling. Does that mean the whole art or science, if you will, of profiling is out of date nowadays based in part on what happened here in the Washington area during the sniper investigation a year ago?

MCCRARY: Not at all. And let me address that just for a second, because I think what happened there is a lot of people coming and saying, it was a white male, this and that. But who were those people saying that? A lot of those people, in my opinion, were not qualified to offer an opinion or they were self-described profilers to begin with.

So profiling certainly has a place. But we have to have evidence. We have to have a lot of behavior and physical evidence to look at. And so it doesn't, certainly, negate profiling. It just isn't appropriate in a case like this where we don't have enough data.

BLITZER: I've heard one criminologist suggest perhaps a thrill killer is on the loose. What does that mean?

MCCRARY: Well, it means that they're doing it for the thrill of it, for some unknown psychological motive. And that may be. And even when we find out what the motives are in these cases, they still don't make any sense. Even if we look at the D.C. snipers, what, does that justify the murders that went on? No. So we don't know.

It could be narcissism. Could be thrill. But those are sort of mid-level explanations that really don't carry a lot of weight.

BLITZER: We understand that some people involved in the sniper investigation in Washington are now out in Columbus helping out, based on some of the mistakes, lessons learned from what happened here. What are the lessons we learned then that might be useful in Columbus?

MCCRARY: I think tightly controlling information. I think one of the things that created a problem was leaking information to the media about contact from the shooters at the time.

BLITZER: That was a mistake?

MCCRARY: That was a mistake.

BLITZER: The biggest mistake, though, was the white box truck, the white van that never existed.

MCCRARY: Witness contamination. It's always problem. Witnesses in good faith were describing a white box truck.

BLITZER: When it was a dark Chevy Caprice?

MCCRARY: Exactly, exactly right. And that's always an issue with contaminated -- witness contamination...

BLITZER: But there is a thin line you have to walk, you, the FBI, local law enforcement. You have to get information out because the public can help resolve this issue?

MCCRARY: They're calling for the public to come forward. They're doing the right things, they're asking for the public to come forward. They have a report of previous shootings that may have gone unreported. Now they got to report suspicions about individuals who may be out of pocket when these things happen.

They're not describing the weapon, That's fine. We, the public, don't need to know it. Law enforcement will be looking at that very closely. They seem to be doing the right things.

BLITZER: Former FBI special agent Greg McCrary, thanks.

MCCRARY: You're welcome.

BLITZER: Protecting the environment, but at what cost? A look at the new forest management law that has environmental groups speaking out.

Healthcare crisis effecting doctors nationwide. But find out how it will affect you. Stay with us.

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BLITZER: President Bush signed a bill today that will speed tree cutting on federal land. Supporters say it will reduce wildfires by making it easier to thin overgrown forests, but critics claim it is a political payoff to the lumber industry. Our senior White House correspondent, John King, has details.

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JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today's bill signing is tomorrow's reelection campaign theme and debate.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: With a healthy forest restoration act we will help to prevent catastrophic wildfires. We'll help save lives and property. And we'll help protect our forests from sudden and needless destruction.

KING: The new initiative streamlines the approval process for thinning trees and underbrush from thick forests, nearly doubles federal spending on forest thinning to $760 million and makes it harder to block thinning projects in courts. Mr. Bush says this year's devastating wildfires served as a powerful lesson.

BUSH: This law will not prevent every fire, but it is an important step forward. KING: But critics call it a payback to the timber industry that won't help areas most at risk of fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bill is actually going to increase commercial logging in remote forests in the back country miles away from these communities.

KING: Mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants are another point of contention between the White House and major environmental groups. The Clinton administration rule requires power plants to use the latest available technology to curb emissions of mercury blamed for birth defects. The Bush administration is considering a more lenient approach, but promises results.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We're moving forward on an effort to implement tough new rules that is would cut mercury emissions by 70 percent from power plants.

KING: Bush critics once again see things differently. Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean accuses the administration of trying to gut the Clean Air Act and called on the president to put the public health of the nation over the profit of a few energy corporations.

The White House says Mr. Bush deserves credit for taking common sense steps to help the environment without hurting the economy.

(on camera): But most environmental groups say this president's top priority is helping big business not the environment and they promise to make that case, Wolf, in the coming campaign.

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BLITZER: And the campaign just heating up. Thanks very much, John King for that.

Medical matters that could affect your next trip to the doctor.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really cannot do a good job with 30 patience a day. I can't -- boom, boom, boom. It is a revolving door.

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BLITZER: Up next, the problem is facing primary care physicians and how they play a role on what you pay.

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BLITZER (voice-over): Earlier we asked -- where did the nation's first challenge to medical malpractice insurance rate hikes take place? The answer, California. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a California nonprofit organization, made the first ever consumer group challenge earlier this year.

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BLITZER: Yesterday we looked at the growing number of working Americans without health insurance. But doctors are also being swept up in the country's health care crisis as they face skyrocketing malpractice insurance premiums. That's leaving some physicians to take some drastic measures, and patients, predictably, are feeling the fallout. CNN's Lisa Leiter is joining us now live with the story from Chicago -- Lisa.

LISA LEITER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well, there is no question that doctors' chief complain is the rising cost of insurance. But they're also worried about the fact that they have too many patients and too much paperwork. And they're really just sick of the system.

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DR. MARK MACUMBER: Have you ever heard of diverticulatis (ph) or diverticular (ph) disease? OK. What it is is...

LEITER (voice-over): Dr. Mark Macumber never thought of himself as a radical, but now the family practitioner is going where few doctors dare to tread. He's working without malpractice insurance.

MACUMBER: It hadn't even entered my mind that you can still see patients without malpractice. I've grown up in this era where the issue isn't if you're going to get sued, it's when you're going to get sued.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this the patient's name?

LEITER: This summer, Macumber's premiums jumped to $40,000 a year, four times what he was paying and more than he could afford. So he felt he had no choice, even though one successful malpractice suit against him could mean financial ruin.

MACUMBER: What I'm doing is risky, but it fits what I feel I need to do professionally.

LEITER: A recent survey showed physicians' malpractice insurance premiums are skyrocketing. They rose an average of 36 percent between 2001 and 2002, and by a stunning 53 percent this year, mostly because of ballooning legal settlements. The president of the American Medical Association calls the problem a full-blown crisis.

DR. DONALD PALMISANO, PRES., AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: Physicians are retiring before their time. They're limiting their practice because they want to stay in practice. They just can't afford to pay $249,000 in Miami this year to be able to deliver babies.

LEITER: Annual insurance rates vary widely depending on the city and the specialty. In Chicago, for example, internists pay $35,000, general surgeons, $92,000, and OB/GYNs, $140,000. (on camera): With overhead like that, doctors are forced to see more and more patients to stay in business. Dropping liability insurance is a risk most doctors are not willing to take, so they are finding other ways to make ends meet.

DR. JUNG KIM, FAMILY PRACTITIONER: Take one now, take one in the evening and one a day.

LEITER (voice-over): Dr. Jung Kim recently overhauled his practice. He now charges his patients a fee of $1,000 a year, on top of payments for office visits. As a result, he needs fewer patients to make money, and that means for them less time in the waiting room and more time in the examining room.

Dr. Kim now sees just 10 patients a day instead of 30.

KIM: I really cannot do a good job with 30 patients a day. I mean, I can't boom, boom, boom. It's a revolving door.

LEITER: With no major reforms in sight, doctors will continue to find ways to combat that frustration. Both Dr. Kim and Dr. Macumber say they now can focus on care instead of costs.

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LEITER: And there is yet another solution for doctors trying to cut their costs. Some are moving to areas where the malpractice insurance rates are not so high. Here in Chicago, some doctors have moved to rural areas in the state of Illinois or to nearby states like Wisconsin or Indiana, where the malpractice rates are much lower -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Lisa Leiter, thanks very much for that report.

Up next, an undercover agent goes inside the cover of "Vanity Fair" magazine. Our picture of the day is next.

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BLITZER: Can you spy the spy? This is our picture of the day. Look at this, Valerie Plame was so-called -- supposedly outed as a CIA operative by a Bush administration leaker after her husband, the former ambassador Joe Wilson, criticized the intelligence on Iraq. The leak sparked outrage and an investigation.

Recently, Wilson said his wife would not allow herself to be photographed, but here they are posing for "Vanity Fair" magazine, unless that's someone else wearing the dark glasses. We don't think it is.

A reminder, we're here twice a day, 5:00 p.m. Eastern, noon Eastern, Monday through Friday. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Cincinnati Coroner Rules Jones' Death Homicide>