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CNN Live Today
Stormy California; Missing Pregnant Woman, Son Believed Dead
Aired February 22, 2005 - 11:00 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.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We start this hour with the stories that are "Now in the News."
More than nerves are on edge in California as stormy weather continues to cause problems there. Days of rain and snow have caused landslides, avalanches, widespread flooding, and forecasters are predicting even more rain today. That particular picture you're looking at is one that we received here just not along ago from KTLA. It's in Hyde Park. Apparently an area that is suffering some of the problems they've been going through for a couple of days now.
Also, about 20 minutes ago in Brussels, President Bush arrived at a meeting of European Union officials. It's a working dinner. And many of the EU leaders are there with him. We're going to have more on the president's trip to Europe in just a couple of minutes.
And in Iran, crews are digging through rubble for survivors after a powerful earthquake struck central Iran. We're told that nearly 300 people are dead from the magnitude 6.4 tremor. About 40 villages were reportedly affected by the quake, with at least seven villages nearly destroyed. And we're going to have more on that story in just a little bit as we follow it.
Also this: the Supreme Court justices hear a case that hits close to home for a lot of Americans. It's the case that centers on seven Connecticut families who sued after city officials announced plans to bulldoze their homes to make way for a riverfront hotel.
At issue is what governments can do or not do to forcibly seize homes and businesses for private economic development. The case's outcome will have major implications for imminent domain actions all over the country.
One more note from the Supreme Court. The justices are going to hear a challenge to the nation's only assisted suicide law.
The Bush administration is pushing to stop doctors from helping terminally ill patients in Oregon commit suicide. Oregon is the only U.S. state to allow physician-assisted suicide. Since 1998, more than 170 people have used the law to end their lives.
It is 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Rick Sanchez.
One quick clarification. I had said Hyde Park, well known in Chicago. But it's Highland Park where we were showing you that video just moments ago out in southern California. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'll keep you honest about my hometown.
SANCHEZ: Thank you.
KAGAN: You keep me honest about south Florida, I'll keep you honest about L.A.
Good morning from L.A. I'm Daryn Kagan, and we have a lot happening today.
SANCHEZ: Yes. As a matter of fact, there's an arrest now in that case of a pregnant Forth Worth, Texas, woman and her son. Both disappeared Saturday shortly before her baby shower.
Now, we're trying to get a clear picture of where this stands right now. We're going to have that for you in a moment, when we're told -- as we check to see, still no police officers in the room.
That's that picture I was just looking down to check on. It's where they are going to hold that news conference. It's in Dallas or Ft. Worth, and we're going to be taking you there as soon as it happens.
This is what we know. Let's try and set it up for you.
We know that 37-year-old Stephen Barbee is in custody. He's charged with capital murder in the case. Now, his relationship, if any, to Lisa Underwood is not clear.
Police say they have talked to the fathers of her son and unborn child. Underwood was seven months pregnant when she went missing Saturday. Police found a large pool of blood at her home. There was no sign of forced entry.
Her SUV was found, nose down in a creek 40 miles outside of Dallas. No sign of Underwood or the boy in this case.
KAGAN: We will get to the news conference as soon as it begins in Texas. Right now, though, let's move on to stormy California.
Mud is crashing into people's bedrooms. Pools are slipping down the hillside. Sinkholes are swallowing roads. And the rain just keeps coming. Already it's the fifth wettest season on record for Los Angeles.
Our Chris Lawrence is watching the precarious situation. He's in Glendale, California, this morning.
Chris, good morning.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, you know, as soon as you think you have this weather figured out, it up and changes on you. It has been pouring rain for almost the last hour, and then just like that it's bright blue sky and sunny.
The workers just finished clearing out a lot of the mud out of the street here. They've still got the street blocked off. But when that rain starts up again, these slopes are so soaked and unstable, that mud is bound to start flowing back down into this area.
And to give you an idea of just how powerful it can be, we take you to Bel Air, California, where you can see an entire backyard just literally collapsed under the weight of that mud. Deck chairs, the grill, an entire swimming pool just swept down the hill.
And if you can kind of visualize all the water in your neighbor's swimming pool being dumped into your home, well, that's what exactly happened here. When that swimming pool went crashing down the hill, all of its water spilled out. It added about 20,000 gallons of water to that mudslide and just sent it smashing right through a neighbor's home right at the bottom of the hill.
But we're not just talking about residential areas. I mean, you go out to the Hollywood freeway, and one of the busiest freeways in the country was shut down literally almost the entire night. You can see why.
The floodwaters rising so quickly there. Trapped cars, trucks, even a big rig. No one was hurt there, but a lot of people had to be rescued. Several of those cars and trucks had to be towed out of there.
And when you talk to the residents who live here, you know, they say, "Well, we kind of take the weather for granted. You get used to it. We live out in sunny, southern California, and, yeah, we get a little bit of rain in the wintertime, but nothing like this."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE REIDINGER, RESIDENT: I have never seen the rain come down -- yesterday afternoon was the strongest rain I have ever seen in 50 years here in southern California. And we have never seen this amount of rain in a month or six weeks. It's amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: Yes, about the only way to describe it. And you can see the water starting to run down the hill. A lot of the people that live here say that stream was not there yesterday. And that could be a little bit dangerous if that rain starts up again, as it's expected to do.
So far, more than a dozen homes already evacuated here in Glendale. But the way that this storm comes in waves, the firefighters say it's hard to predict exactly how many more homes may have to be evacuated and whether the people who live here in this neighborhood will be able to stay -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Chris Lawrence live from Glendale. Thank you.
And coming up, we're going to have a chance to talk with Mayor James Hahn of Los Angeles about the state of emergency he has declared for his city. SANCHEZ: Here's another development that we're following for you. As you know, the Michael Jackson case was interrupted last Tuesday when Michael Jackson had to be rushed to the hospital. He was in the emergency room and then admitted to the hospital for several days because of what they describe as flu-like symptoms.
Well, just moments ago, we saw this picture, which I guess proves beyond a shadow of the doubt that Michael Jackson will be in court today. There he is, arriving on one of the few days he actually needs an umbrella because of the weather out there in southern California. He is, of course, flanked by his attorney, Thomas Mesereau, and if need be we'll be checking back there in California as this case develops.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, let's check in on President Bush's day. He is attending dual summits in Brussels, Belgium. Right now he's at the European Union headquarters for talks with leaders from the 25-nation alliance. He is encouraging nations to get involved in rebuilding Iraq and put aside differences over the war.
Earlier at NATO headquarters, Mr. Bush received a pledge from all members to help train Iraq's military.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Twenty-six nations sat around the table saying, you know, let's get the past behind us. And now let's focus on helping this -- the world's newest democracy succeed.
And I appreciate the contributions. And the NATO training mission is an important mission. Because after all, the success of Iraq depends on the capacity and the willingness of the Iraqis to defend their own selves against terrorists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: We are also following the developments obviously in Texas, where as we have been telling you, police are going to be holding a news conference at any moment now. We just checked, and we do see that there is someone at the podium. I'm waiting for my producers to advise me as to whether this is indeed one of the police officers who is giving information.
This is indeed the lieutenant who -- Jean Jones, who in this case is briefing reporters. Let's go ahead and take a listen to what he has to say about the disappearance of this woman and her son, and the subsequent arrest of a man.
LT. JEAN JONES, FORT WORTH POLICE: Mr. Stephen Dale Barbee of Ft. Worth was arrested last night in Tyler, Texas. He was arrested on the charge of capital murder. Mr. Barbee was arraigned in Tyler this morning. And he's currently being transported back to Ft. Worth.
At this time, no other arrests have been made. Lisa Underwood and Jayden have not been located as of yet. And we are continuing our very aggressive search to locate them.
We have learned information from our investigation over the last -- the last 12 to 24 hours, and the information that we have received leads us to believe that Ms. Underwood and Jayden are deceased.
Are there any questions?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the suspect confess? And did he lead you to the bodies or give you any information as to where they are?
JONES: Our department policy prevents us from making any statements regarding statements made by an arrested person. So I won't discuss that issue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about a possible motive? Everybody's wondering why.
JONES: We haven't established a motive as of yet. So I can't speak to that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the relationship between him and her?
JONES: We know that Mr. Barbee and Ms. Underwood were at one time romantically involved. I can't tell you what their relationship is, what their most current relationship status was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But is he the father of the unborn child?
JONES: We don't know that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did you find him?
JONES: How did we find him? I don't know how our investigators learned that Mr. Barbee was in Tyler. But we did obtain that information, and our investigators went to Tyler and conducted an interview there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There were some reports that he turned himself in. Can you confirm that?
JONES: I don't have any information. I know that Tyler -- the Tyler Police Department assisted us with that portion of the investigation, but I can't tell you exactly how he came to speak with us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What can you tell us about this crime? Do you know -- have more information about what happened and how he killed them?
JONES: Well, that refers back to an earlier question regarding motive. And we have not established a motive at this time, so I can't answer that question right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant Jones, just to recap, you said at one time you believe they were romantically involved and, yes, that he is not the father of the unborn child? JONES: We don't know who the father of the unborn child is. We know that at one time Mr. Barbee and Ms. Underwood were romantically involved. But we don't know what the current status of their relationship is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, can you confirm whether other people are being questioned regarding this crime?
JONES: Well, we are talking to a number of people. If your question is, have we identified other suspects? I can't tell you that we have.
We will continue talking with, interviewing significant persons to the investigation. And if it happens that we do identify the suspects, then we'll announce that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do your investigators suspect others who are involved?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long ago were they romantically involved?
JONES: I'm sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long ago were they romantically involved.
JONES: I have no idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, do the investigators think others were involved?
JONES: I don't know that information, quite honestly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were told that police had interviewed both fathers, one in Missouri and the one in north Texas. So you must know who the fathers are (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Barbee.
JONES: Well, we know who the father of Jayden is. He lives in another state. I'm not sure what state that is. And, yes, we have been in contact with him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought you also said you interviewed the father of the unborn baby?
JONES: That -- I didn't phrase it that way. We have not identified any person as the father of the unborn child. That information came out from other sources.
As I said earlier, we don't know who that person is. We do know that Mr. Barbee and Ms. Underwood were romantically involved at one time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, did he lead you -- or rather tell where you the bodies are or say anything about location of where Ms. Underwood and her son are?
JONES: Well, we've -- we learned information that will assist us in the search. But I can't talk about the details of that information.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I'm sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the Denton area the crime area that you are still searching?
JONES: That's where the focus of our search efforts are currently and will remain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was Mr. Barbee out (ph) in the search last night?
JONES: I believe it was, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, did you all recover a murder weapon?
JONES: I don't have any information on evidence, any type of weapons recovered. No information there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he say he had seen her within the 24 hours (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I can't talk about statements that Mr. Barbee made to us, no, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What led you to his house?
JONES: I don't know. The investigators apparently had very legitimate basis for conducting that -- that search and they -- I know they did. But I can't tell you what led up to that search. And I can't talk about what was discovered, if anything was discovered during the search.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you provide us with a search warrant affidavit or an arrest warrant affidavit?
JONES: That's public information. And I'm sure you'll be able to get a copy of that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you say just in general what connected him to the crime?
JONES: I can't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I'm not certain how much the bond value is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, what led you to the search at Walnut Creek?
JONES: I don't have that information. And I'll take one more question.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When did you cancel the Amber Alert and why?
JONES: The Amber Alert was canceled. It was not canceled by our agency. And that's all I'll say about that.
Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, one other question. Does Barbee -- does he have family?
SANCHEZ: So there you have it, the very latest information from -- well, I think he's going to take one more question.
JONES: I don't have any background information, family information on Mr. Barbee. So I wouldn't be able to answer that question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I don't have information. But thank you very much.
SANCHEZ: Two outstanding questions that we went into this news conference with. One of them obviously was the condition of the woman and her son who were missing in this case, Lisa Underwood. There you see her with her son Jayden. And police did just confirm on that score that they were indeed killed.
There's also a question as to about what the relationship was between the suspect in this case and the woman and her child.
KAGAN: Yes, he did -- he did announce that Stephen Barbee has been arrested. He has been charged with capital murder.
He says at one time police believe Stephen Barbee and Lisa Underwood were lovers. The extent of that relationship, when it might have happened, they don't have details on. And specifically, they did not say if they believe Stephen Barbee is the father of Lisa Underwood's unborn child. She was seven months pregnant at the time of her disappearance earlier this week.
SANCHEZ: Yes. And you ask yourself automatically, well, how can they charge him with capital murder if they haven't found the bodies? Then the lieutenant was asked by a reporter, as you heard, has there been a confession, has he admitted to it? And they said, well, they're not going to say exactly what he has told police at this problem.
So still some questions remaining. But it certainly does appear that this story is starting to clear up, unfortunately and sadly enough, there in Texas. And we will continue to follow it for you.
KAGAN: Yes. Lisa Underwood apparently a very popular woman in her neighborhood. A part owner of a bagel shop.
SANCHEZ: Right.
KAGAN: People -- customers and friends very fond of her. A lot of people out there hoping and praying for her, and particularly not getting the kind of news that they would want today.
SANCHEZ: And she was pregnant.
KAGAN: Seven months pregnant.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
KAGAN: We are going to follow the story. Much more ahead as details come in.
Also, is there any let-up in sight for the dangerous weather on the West Coast? We're going to look for the forecast for California and the rest of the country after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, you've heard the sky is falling in southern California. It is the ground that is falling because of all the rain that won't seem to stop.
Want to go live to southern California now, to a part of Los Angeles called Highland Park. Eric Spillman from KTLA standing by, hopefully still standing on a little bit steadier ground than what surrounds him.
Eric, good morning.
ERIC SPILLMAN, REPORTER, KTLA: Good morning, Daryn.
Yes, we have had so much rain here in southern California here over the past few days and weeks. And once again, we're seeing homes in danger of sliding down a hill here.
You look back up there, you can see where the ground has given way. A section of hillside came crashing down here early this morning. Now those homes that you see on that ridge there are perched much closer to the edge than they were before. And authorities are worried that those properties could break loose and come crashing down into this canyon.
Why are they worried? Well, let me show you what happened here just about a half an hour or so ago.
We could see signs of movement on the hillside. And then a big section of somebody's concrete patio fell down, fell down the hill here.
This is the section of Los Angeles called Highland Park. It's just kind of east in downtown L.A..
Folks who live in one of these homes called the fire department sometime early this morning. They could hear creaking sounds coming from the backyard.
When they went out to check their swimming pool and patio they could see signs movement. Then while they were watching the backyard concrete block wall fence just fell down the hillside all of a sudden. And then at that point, authorities said, hey, we're not going to taking any more chances.
They put yellow tape up around four of these homes here. They red-tagged them, meaning they are unsafe to occupy, and told residents they should go somewhere else for their own safety.
All morning long fire crews have been seeing signs here that the ground is shifting. They removed some of the water from the swimming pool at that one house. But they are seeing big -- big cracks developing on the concrete deck.
The pool is tilting downwards. One fire captain saying it's only a matter of time before the whole thing goes.
Reporting live from Highland Park, a section of downtown -- or a section of Los Angeles. We'll seen it back to you.
KAGAN: Eric, let me ask you this. I'm going to have a chance to interview Mayor Hahn coming up here in a little bit. What's the general mood in Los Angeles about how the city -- and of course this stretches clear past the borders of just the city of Los Angeles. But what's the feeling of how the officials are handling this weather crisis?
SPILLMAN: Well, they are doing their best. City crews are very, very busy working to repair roads that have washed out and landslides really throughout the region and homes that are -- that are perched precariously and some that have fallen, mud that's gone through. Several people have died over the last several days as a result of boulders crashing through homes and so forth.
So I think emergency crews have been very, very busy. And city crews are doing the best they can to cope with this thing.
KAGAN: And let me just ask you this, also. As a Los Angeles native, you know, you are usually reporting for KTLA, talking to a southern California audience. Right now, talking to a national audience.
I get asked time and time again, being from southern California, how do people live there and why are they building their home on the hillsides? I've tried my best to explain. Why don't you take it from here?
SPILLMAN: Well, I think, you know, one of the wonderful advantages of living in southern California is you've got these areas where you can have a wonderful view, panoramic views. And that's why people like living here, and they build their homes close to these hillsides.
That's the geography here. And as the area grows, more and more homes are built in these types of places. And most of the time it's OK.
But what we're having this season is one of the rainiest seasons that we've had here in southern California in many, many years. I think it's number five since they began keeping records in the 1800s. So this is a very, very unusual year.
KAGAN: Ready for this? Just in the last hour, our weather department reports that you actually have since gone up. You are now at the fourth rainiest since they started keeping records. So congratulations.
SPILLMAN: Well, that goes to show you. I think -- yes. I mean, I think we had a very rainy year in 1977, and then prior to that 1941. And then have you to go back to like 1890-something to have as rainy of a wet season compared to what we have had this year.
Thirty-one or so inches of rain. And we could actually break the record because there's still more time left in the rainy season here.
KAGAN: Which means we will be checking back with you. Eric Spillman from KTLA. Eric, thank you.
SANCHEZ: Let's take you now to another place where there has been a lot of rain, and that's in the area of Georgia, north Georgia, Atlanta area. Hail and heavy rain causing major problems for residents.
This was the scene overnight. Yes -- well, it's not golf ball size, but it certainly can do some damage. Look at it. There it is.
Thunder and lightening also rolled through with the hail in the region, causing at least four house fires. One death is being blamed on the storms. And the police are also saying, by the way, too many traffic accidents to count. So...
KAGAN: I've heard a lot of thunderstorms in my time here in Georgia. Last night was really loud.
SANCHEZ: Yes. I was playing basketball when suddenly I started hearing the pop, pop, pop, pop. And it was the roof of the gym where I was playing, being pelted with hail.
KAGAN: Were the other guys beating you?
SANCHEZ: Yes, I was getting killed by better athletes.
KAGAN: Let's check in on Jacqui Jeras, checking on weather here in Georgia, across the country, southern California as well.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Still ahead, I'll have a chance to talk with Mayor James Hahan of Los Angeles. He has declared a state of emergency with all the rain in southern California.
That's still ahead. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 22, 2005 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We start this hour with the stories that are "Now in the News."
More than nerves are on edge in California as stormy weather continues to cause problems there. Days of rain and snow have caused landslides, avalanches, widespread flooding, and forecasters are predicting even more rain today. That particular picture you're looking at is one that we received here just not along ago from KTLA. It's in Hyde Park. Apparently an area that is suffering some of the problems they've been going through for a couple of days now.
Also, about 20 minutes ago in Brussels, President Bush arrived at a meeting of European Union officials. It's a working dinner. And many of the EU leaders are there with him. We're going to have more on the president's trip to Europe in just a couple of minutes.
And in Iran, crews are digging through rubble for survivors after a powerful earthquake struck central Iran. We're told that nearly 300 people are dead from the magnitude 6.4 tremor. About 40 villages were reportedly affected by the quake, with at least seven villages nearly destroyed. And we're going to have more on that story in just a little bit as we follow it.
Also this: the Supreme Court justices hear a case that hits close to home for a lot of Americans. It's the case that centers on seven Connecticut families who sued after city officials announced plans to bulldoze their homes to make way for a riverfront hotel.
At issue is what governments can do or not do to forcibly seize homes and businesses for private economic development. The case's outcome will have major implications for imminent domain actions all over the country.
One more note from the Supreme Court. The justices are going to hear a challenge to the nation's only assisted suicide law.
The Bush administration is pushing to stop doctors from helping terminally ill patients in Oregon commit suicide. Oregon is the only U.S. state to allow physician-assisted suicide. Since 1998, more than 170 people have used the law to end their lives.
It is 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Rick Sanchez.
One quick clarification. I had said Hyde Park, well known in Chicago. But it's Highland Park where we were showing you that video just moments ago out in southern California. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'll keep you honest about my hometown.
SANCHEZ: Thank you.
KAGAN: You keep me honest about south Florida, I'll keep you honest about L.A.
Good morning from L.A. I'm Daryn Kagan, and we have a lot happening today.
SANCHEZ: Yes. As a matter of fact, there's an arrest now in that case of a pregnant Forth Worth, Texas, woman and her son. Both disappeared Saturday shortly before her baby shower.
Now, we're trying to get a clear picture of where this stands right now. We're going to have that for you in a moment, when we're told -- as we check to see, still no police officers in the room.
That's that picture I was just looking down to check on. It's where they are going to hold that news conference. It's in Dallas or Ft. Worth, and we're going to be taking you there as soon as it happens.
This is what we know. Let's try and set it up for you.
We know that 37-year-old Stephen Barbee is in custody. He's charged with capital murder in the case. Now, his relationship, if any, to Lisa Underwood is not clear.
Police say they have talked to the fathers of her son and unborn child. Underwood was seven months pregnant when she went missing Saturday. Police found a large pool of blood at her home. There was no sign of forced entry.
Her SUV was found, nose down in a creek 40 miles outside of Dallas. No sign of Underwood or the boy in this case.
KAGAN: We will get to the news conference as soon as it begins in Texas. Right now, though, let's move on to stormy California.
Mud is crashing into people's bedrooms. Pools are slipping down the hillside. Sinkholes are swallowing roads. And the rain just keeps coming. Already it's the fifth wettest season on record for Los Angeles.
Our Chris Lawrence is watching the precarious situation. He's in Glendale, California, this morning.
Chris, good morning.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, you know, as soon as you think you have this weather figured out, it up and changes on you. It has been pouring rain for almost the last hour, and then just like that it's bright blue sky and sunny.
The workers just finished clearing out a lot of the mud out of the street here. They've still got the street blocked off. But when that rain starts up again, these slopes are so soaked and unstable, that mud is bound to start flowing back down into this area.
And to give you an idea of just how powerful it can be, we take you to Bel Air, California, where you can see an entire backyard just literally collapsed under the weight of that mud. Deck chairs, the grill, an entire swimming pool just swept down the hill.
And if you can kind of visualize all the water in your neighbor's swimming pool being dumped into your home, well, that's what exactly happened here. When that swimming pool went crashing down the hill, all of its water spilled out. It added about 20,000 gallons of water to that mudslide and just sent it smashing right through a neighbor's home right at the bottom of the hill.
But we're not just talking about residential areas. I mean, you go out to the Hollywood freeway, and one of the busiest freeways in the country was shut down literally almost the entire night. You can see why.
The floodwaters rising so quickly there. Trapped cars, trucks, even a big rig. No one was hurt there, but a lot of people had to be rescued. Several of those cars and trucks had to be towed out of there.
And when you talk to the residents who live here, you know, they say, "Well, we kind of take the weather for granted. You get used to it. We live out in sunny, southern California, and, yeah, we get a little bit of rain in the wintertime, but nothing like this."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE REIDINGER, RESIDENT: I have never seen the rain come down -- yesterday afternoon was the strongest rain I have ever seen in 50 years here in southern California. And we have never seen this amount of rain in a month or six weeks. It's amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: Yes, about the only way to describe it. And you can see the water starting to run down the hill. A lot of the people that live here say that stream was not there yesterday. And that could be a little bit dangerous if that rain starts up again, as it's expected to do.
So far, more than a dozen homes already evacuated here in Glendale. But the way that this storm comes in waves, the firefighters say it's hard to predict exactly how many more homes may have to be evacuated and whether the people who live here in this neighborhood will be able to stay -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Chris Lawrence live from Glendale. Thank you.
And coming up, we're going to have a chance to talk with Mayor James Hahn of Los Angeles about the state of emergency he has declared for his city. SANCHEZ: Here's another development that we're following for you. As you know, the Michael Jackson case was interrupted last Tuesday when Michael Jackson had to be rushed to the hospital. He was in the emergency room and then admitted to the hospital for several days because of what they describe as flu-like symptoms.
Well, just moments ago, we saw this picture, which I guess proves beyond a shadow of the doubt that Michael Jackson will be in court today. There he is, arriving on one of the few days he actually needs an umbrella because of the weather out there in southern California. He is, of course, flanked by his attorney, Thomas Mesereau, and if need be we'll be checking back there in California as this case develops.
KAGAN: Meanwhile, let's check in on President Bush's day. He is attending dual summits in Brussels, Belgium. Right now he's at the European Union headquarters for talks with leaders from the 25-nation alliance. He is encouraging nations to get involved in rebuilding Iraq and put aside differences over the war.
Earlier at NATO headquarters, Mr. Bush received a pledge from all members to help train Iraq's military.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Twenty-six nations sat around the table saying, you know, let's get the past behind us. And now let's focus on helping this -- the world's newest democracy succeed.
And I appreciate the contributions. And the NATO training mission is an important mission. Because after all, the success of Iraq depends on the capacity and the willingness of the Iraqis to defend their own selves against terrorists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: We are also following the developments obviously in Texas, where as we have been telling you, police are going to be holding a news conference at any moment now. We just checked, and we do see that there is someone at the podium. I'm waiting for my producers to advise me as to whether this is indeed one of the police officers who is giving information.
This is indeed the lieutenant who -- Jean Jones, who in this case is briefing reporters. Let's go ahead and take a listen to what he has to say about the disappearance of this woman and her son, and the subsequent arrest of a man.
LT. JEAN JONES, FORT WORTH POLICE: Mr. Stephen Dale Barbee of Ft. Worth was arrested last night in Tyler, Texas. He was arrested on the charge of capital murder. Mr. Barbee was arraigned in Tyler this morning. And he's currently being transported back to Ft. Worth.
At this time, no other arrests have been made. Lisa Underwood and Jayden have not been located as of yet. And we are continuing our very aggressive search to locate them.
We have learned information from our investigation over the last -- the last 12 to 24 hours, and the information that we have received leads us to believe that Ms. Underwood and Jayden are deceased.
Are there any questions?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the suspect confess? And did he lead you to the bodies or give you any information as to where they are?
JONES: Our department policy prevents us from making any statements regarding statements made by an arrested person. So I won't discuss that issue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about a possible motive? Everybody's wondering why.
JONES: We haven't established a motive as of yet. So I can't speak to that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the relationship between him and her?
JONES: We know that Mr. Barbee and Ms. Underwood were at one time romantically involved. I can't tell you what their relationship is, what their most current relationship status was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But is he the father of the unborn child?
JONES: We don't know that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did you find him?
JONES: How did we find him? I don't know how our investigators learned that Mr. Barbee was in Tyler. But we did obtain that information, and our investigators went to Tyler and conducted an interview there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There were some reports that he turned himself in. Can you confirm that?
JONES: I don't have any information. I know that Tyler -- the Tyler Police Department assisted us with that portion of the investigation, but I can't tell you exactly how he came to speak with us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What can you tell us about this crime? Do you know -- have more information about what happened and how he killed them?
JONES: Well, that refers back to an earlier question regarding motive. And we have not established a motive at this time, so I can't answer that question right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant Jones, just to recap, you said at one time you believe they were romantically involved and, yes, that he is not the father of the unborn child? JONES: We don't know who the father of the unborn child is. We know that at one time Mr. Barbee and Ms. Underwood were romantically involved. But we don't know what the current status of their relationship is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, can you confirm whether other people are being questioned regarding this crime?
JONES: Well, we are talking to a number of people. If your question is, have we identified other suspects? I can't tell you that we have.
We will continue talking with, interviewing significant persons to the investigation. And if it happens that we do identify the suspects, then we'll announce that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do your investigators suspect others who are involved?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long ago were they romantically involved?
JONES: I'm sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long ago were they romantically involved.
JONES: I have no idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, do the investigators think others were involved?
JONES: I don't know that information, quite honestly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were told that police had interviewed both fathers, one in Missouri and the one in north Texas. So you must know who the fathers are (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Barbee.
JONES: Well, we know who the father of Jayden is. He lives in another state. I'm not sure what state that is. And, yes, we have been in contact with him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought you also said you interviewed the father of the unborn baby?
JONES: That -- I didn't phrase it that way. We have not identified any person as the father of the unborn child. That information came out from other sources.
As I said earlier, we don't know who that person is. We do know that Mr. Barbee and Ms. Underwood were romantically involved at one time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, did he lead you -- or rather tell where you the bodies are or say anything about location of where Ms. Underwood and her son are?
JONES: Well, we've -- we learned information that will assist us in the search. But I can't talk about the details of that information.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I'm sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the Denton area the crime area that you are still searching?
JONES: That's where the focus of our search efforts are currently and will remain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was Mr. Barbee out (ph) in the search last night?
JONES: I believe it was, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, did you all recover a murder weapon?
JONES: I don't have any information on evidence, any type of weapons recovered. No information there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he say he had seen her within the 24 hours (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I can't talk about statements that Mr. Barbee made to us, no, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What led you to his house?
JONES: I don't know. The investigators apparently had very legitimate basis for conducting that -- that search and they -- I know they did. But I can't tell you what led up to that search. And I can't talk about what was discovered, if anything was discovered during the search.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you provide us with a search warrant affidavit or an arrest warrant affidavit?
JONES: That's public information. And I'm sure you'll be able to get a copy of that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you say just in general what connected him to the crime?
JONES: I can't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I'm not certain how much the bond value is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, what led you to the search at Walnut Creek?
JONES: I don't have that information. And I'll take one more question.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When did you cancel the Amber Alert and why?
JONES: The Amber Alert was canceled. It was not canceled by our agency. And that's all I'll say about that.
Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, one other question. Does Barbee -- does he have family?
SANCHEZ: So there you have it, the very latest information from -- well, I think he's going to take one more question.
JONES: I don't have any background information, family information on Mr. Barbee. So I wouldn't be able to answer that question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
JONES: I don't have information. But thank you very much.
SANCHEZ: Two outstanding questions that we went into this news conference with. One of them obviously was the condition of the woman and her son who were missing in this case, Lisa Underwood. There you see her with her son Jayden. And police did just confirm on that score that they were indeed killed.
There's also a question as to about what the relationship was between the suspect in this case and the woman and her child.
KAGAN: Yes, he did -- he did announce that Stephen Barbee has been arrested. He has been charged with capital murder.
He says at one time police believe Stephen Barbee and Lisa Underwood were lovers. The extent of that relationship, when it might have happened, they don't have details on. And specifically, they did not say if they believe Stephen Barbee is the father of Lisa Underwood's unborn child. She was seven months pregnant at the time of her disappearance earlier this week.
SANCHEZ: Yes. And you ask yourself automatically, well, how can they charge him with capital murder if they haven't found the bodies? Then the lieutenant was asked by a reporter, as you heard, has there been a confession, has he admitted to it? And they said, well, they're not going to say exactly what he has told police at this problem.
So still some questions remaining. But it certainly does appear that this story is starting to clear up, unfortunately and sadly enough, there in Texas. And we will continue to follow it for you.
KAGAN: Yes. Lisa Underwood apparently a very popular woman in her neighborhood. A part owner of a bagel shop.
SANCHEZ: Right.
KAGAN: People -- customers and friends very fond of her. A lot of people out there hoping and praying for her, and particularly not getting the kind of news that they would want today.
SANCHEZ: And she was pregnant.
KAGAN: Seven months pregnant.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
KAGAN: We are going to follow the story. Much more ahead as details come in.
Also, is there any let-up in sight for the dangerous weather on the West Coast? We're going to look for the forecast for California and the rest of the country after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, you've heard the sky is falling in southern California. It is the ground that is falling because of all the rain that won't seem to stop.
Want to go live to southern California now, to a part of Los Angeles called Highland Park. Eric Spillman from KTLA standing by, hopefully still standing on a little bit steadier ground than what surrounds him.
Eric, good morning.
ERIC SPILLMAN, REPORTER, KTLA: Good morning, Daryn.
Yes, we have had so much rain here in southern California here over the past few days and weeks. And once again, we're seeing homes in danger of sliding down a hill here.
You look back up there, you can see where the ground has given way. A section of hillside came crashing down here early this morning. Now those homes that you see on that ridge there are perched much closer to the edge than they were before. And authorities are worried that those properties could break loose and come crashing down into this canyon.
Why are they worried? Well, let me show you what happened here just about a half an hour or so ago.
We could see signs of movement on the hillside. And then a big section of somebody's concrete patio fell down, fell down the hill here.
This is the section of Los Angeles called Highland Park. It's just kind of east in downtown L.A..
Folks who live in one of these homes called the fire department sometime early this morning. They could hear creaking sounds coming from the backyard.
When they went out to check their swimming pool and patio they could see signs movement. Then while they were watching the backyard concrete block wall fence just fell down the hillside all of a sudden. And then at that point, authorities said, hey, we're not going to taking any more chances.
They put yellow tape up around four of these homes here. They red-tagged them, meaning they are unsafe to occupy, and told residents they should go somewhere else for their own safety.
All morning long fire crews have been seeing signs here that the ground is shifting. They removed some of the water from the swimming pool at that one house. But they are seeing big -- big cracks developing on the concrete deck.
The pool is tilting downwards. One fire captain saying it's only a matter of time before the whole thing goes.
Reporting live from Highland Park, a section of downtown -- or a section of Los Angeles. We'll seen it back to you.
KAGAN: Eric, let me ask you this. I'm going to have a chance to interview Mayor Hahn coming up here in a little bit. What's the general mood in Los Angeles about how the city -- and of course this stretches clear past the borders of just the city of Los Angeles. But what's the feeling of how the officials are handling this weather crisis?
SPILLMAN: Well, they are doing their best. City crews are very, very busy working to repair roads that have washed out and landslides really throughout the region and homes that are -- that are perched precariously and some that have fallen, mud that's gone through. Several people have died over the last several days as a result of boulders crashing through homes and so forth.
So I think emergency crews have been very, very busy. And city crews are doing the best they can to cope with this thing.
KAGAN: And let me just ask you this, also. As a Los Angeles native, you know, you are usually reporting for KTLA, talking to a southern California audience. Right now, talking to a national audience.
I get asked time and time again, being from southern California, how do people live there and why are they building their home on the hillsides? I've tried my best to explain. Why don't you take it from here?
SPILLMAN: Well, I think, you know, one of the wonderful advantages of living in southern California is you've got these areas where you can have a wonderful view, panoramic views. And that's why people like living here, and they build their homes close to these hillsides.
That's the geography here. And as the area grows, more and more homes are built in these types of places. And most of the time it's OK.
But what we're having this season is one of the rainiest seasons that we've had here in southern California in many, many years. I think it's number five since they began keeping records in the 1800s. So this is a very, very unusual year.
KAGAN: Ready for this? Just in the last hour, our weather department reports that you actually have since gone up. You are now at the fourth rainiest since they started keeping records. So congratulations.
SPILLMAN: Well, that goes to show you. I think -- yes. I mean, I think we had a very rainy year in 1977, and then prior to that 1941. And then have you to go back to like 1890-something to have as rainy of a wet season compared to what we have had this year.
Thirty-one or so inches of rain. And we could actually break the record because there's still more time left in the rainy season here.
KAGAN: Which means we will be checking back with you. Eric Spillman from KTLA. Eric, thank you.
SANCHEZ: Let's take you now to another place where there has been a lot of rain, and that's in the area of Georgia, north Georgia, Atlanta area. Hail and heavy rain causing major problems for residents.
This was the scene overnight. Yes -- well, it's not golf ball size, but it certainly can do some damage. Look at it. There it is.
Thunder and lightening also rolled through with the hail in the region, causing at least four house fires. One death is being blamed on the storms. And the police are also saying, by the way, too many traffic accidents to count. So...
KAGAN: I've heard a lot of thunderstorms in my time here in Georgia. Last night was really loud.
SANCHEZ: Yes. I was playing basketball when suddenly I started hearing the pop, pop, pop, pop. And it was the roof of the gym where I was playing, being pelted with hail.
KAGAN: Were the other guys beating you?
SANCHEZ: Yes, I was getting killed by better athletes.
KAGAN: Let's check in on Jacqui Jeras, checking on weather here in Georgia, across the country, southern California as well.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Still ahead, I'll have a chance to talk with Mayor James Hahan of Los Angeles. He has declared a state of emergency with all the rain in southern California.
That's still ahead. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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