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American Morning
Breaking Open BTK Murder Case; Florida Community Searching Again for Missing 9-Year-Old Girl
Aired February 28, 2005 - 08:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking open the BTK murder case. This morning, the Wichita police chief talks with us, clearing up the rumors from the weekend in the investigation.
A Florida community searching again for a missing 9-year-old girl. How could Jessica Lunsford vanish without a single clue?
And the Northeast bracing for another big winter storm. The snow starts falling very soon.
And a huge night for Hilary Swank and "Million Dollar Baby." All the big winners straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.
8:00 here in New York.
I'm Bill Hemmer.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello.
Soledad is out in Los Vegas...
HEMMER: That she is.
COSTELLO: ... or Los Angeles.
She wishes she were in Vegas now.
HEMMER: Maybe after last night, right.
COSTELLO: Yes.
HEMMER: A lot going on this hour.
A developing story from Iraq. A suicide bombing there today in the town of Hillah, a huge death toll to report. We're told 125 at a minimum are dead. More details in a moment. We'll get to Nic Robertson live in a few seconds here.
COSTELLO: Also, back out to Los Angeles and Soledad.
She's looking at Oscar fashion from last night. Who looked great and who didn't? That's coming up.
HEMMER: In the meantime, though, Jack Cafferty is here, as well.
Coming up in "The File" is what -- Jack, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Coming up in "The Cafferty File," a toothbrush that will have your mouth singing, less than 10 bucks. Japanese women think they can live happily ever after without men. And we'll say good-bye...
COSTELLO: (LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: ... careful.
COSTELLO: I'm sorry.
CAFFERTY: And we'll say good-bye to a pioneer here at CNN. Unlike Dan Rather's colleagues, we have only nice things to say about this gentleman.
HEMMER: Oh, he's nice.
COSTELLO: Whether we meet him or not?
CAFFERTY: No, no, I mean it. He's a friend of mine.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
We want to get to Iraq, our first story this hour.
More than 100 are dead when a suicide car bomb exploded on a crowded Iraqi street. The target in this case, a group of police recruits in Hillah. That's about 55 miles south of Baghdad.
To the Iraqi capital now and Nic Robertson there -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Well, this is the deadliest blast since the fall of Saddam Hussein. According to an eyewitness, a suicide bomber drove his car full of explosives right into the line of police recruits at 9:30 in the morning as they were waiting outside the medical center. The police say that the police recruits had gone to the medical center as part of their recruitment process. They were due to get health checks in the morning. The suicide bomber detonating his explosives.
The police say the death toll made higher by the fact that this medical center is right in the middle of the town of Hillah, very close to what would have been, police say, at that time, a very busy outdoor market. The Iraqi Red Crescent organization says that at least 200 people have been wounded. Not clear how many of those market goers, how many of those Iraqi police recruits. But this comes after months and months of continued attacks against police recruits. But this, by far, the deadliest attack in Iraq since Saddam Hussein fell -- Bill.
HEMMER: Nic, that is one of our headlines this morning from Iraq.
The other one is the story that broke yesterday with a Syrian connection.
Explain to us the connection here between the insurgency and the possible financial backing that they were getting from a relative of Saddam Hussein.
ROBERTSON: Indeed, Bill, this is a very intriguing situation. The Iraqi government being very, very careful about what they're saying. Sab'awi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half brother, according to Iraqi intelligence sources here, say he fled Iraq after Saddam Hussein fell. He lived in Syria for a long time. Now the Iraqi government says that Sab'awi is back in their custody. They say that they managed to get another 25 people with him.
Reading between the lines here, the Iraqi government, and, indeed, the sources within intelligence here, hinting that he was picked up or handed over by Syrians to Iraqis. But they will not say that explicitly at this stage.
What we have heard from a government official today is that the Iraqi government here has been cooperating closely with Syrian authorities to root out insurgent elements inside Iraq for the last four months. What we are told, again, just to go over this in fine detail, Iraqi security sources here saying that Sab'awi fled Iraq after Saddam fell and that now he's go back in their custody and that in the meantime he'd been in Syria, never coming back until he got into their custody -- Bill.
HEMMER: We'll follow that, as well.
Nic Robertson, thanks, live in Baghdad -- Carol.
COSTELLO: A lot going on in the world this morning.
Let's check the headlines with Kelly Wallace.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A busy news morning.
Good morning to you.
Good morning again, everyone.
Now in the news, Pope John Paul II said to be recovering this morning following surgery. The Vatican released a statement less than two hours ago, the first one on the pope's health since Friday. Sources say the 84-year-old pontiff is eating regularly and spending some hours out of bed. He has also apparently started voice therapy. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leaving for London this hour, her third trip abroad since she assumed that post. Secretary Rice is planning to attend an international conference aimed at getting more financial support to the new Palestinian government. Rice's trip was also intended to include several Middle East stops, but that portion of her trip was canceled.
In Santa Maria, California, Michael Jackson's trial gets underway today. Opening statements are scheduled to begin just three and a half hours from now. At issue, whether the self-proclaimed king of pop gave alcohol to a 13-year-old cancer patient and then molested him. That trial could last up to six months.
And it is curtain time for the gates. The 23 mile art exhibit in New York's Central Park is coming down. Visitors getting in a final glimpse of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude exhibit yesterday after a 16- day run. Word is the remnants of the $21 million art project will be recycled. You're looking at a live picture right there. They're up. And they're going to start coming down today. And they will be recycled, used for things like paint rollers.
Well -- Chad, perhaps it's good that the gates are coming down today, because a big storm forecast to hit the Northeast.
Chad, how bad is it going to be?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know what? It could have been a completely different vision, though...
WALLACE: Yes, I bet.
MYERS: ... with white everywhere else and then the saffron blowing around. Obviously, that's why they put it out there in the winter.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Nine minutes now past the hour.
We're going to try and get the lights on here in the studio.
COSTELLO: There they go.
HEMMER: There they go.
Thank you, Chad.
Talk to you later.
A suspect could be charged with 10 murders today in the BTK serial killer case. Dennis Rader arrested on Friday about noontime by Wichita, Kansas police. He's suspected in a series of killings going back more than 35 years.
The mayor is Carlos Mayans and the police chief is Norman Williams, in Wichita. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: Chief, the Associated Press is reporting that he has confessed to at least six of these murders.
Is that the case?
CHIEF NORMAN WILLIAMS, WICHITA, KANSAS POLICE: We have a policy within the department that we don't discuss any information that comes out of an interview. That information should come out during the trial setting.
HEMMER: Are you confident this is the BTK killer?
WILLIAMS: We held a press conference on Saturday morning announcing the arrest of the BTK suspect.
HEMMER: When will the arraignment take place then?
WILLIAMS: We're looking at early, either later today or early into morning.
HEMMER: And during that arraignment, Chief, is that when the official charges will be read?
WILLIAMS: That is correct.
HEMMER: And at this point, among those charges, how many deaths will you link to this man?
WILLIAMS: Currently, he has been arrested on 10 different homicides that have occurred over the last 31 years in our community. There's only been 10 cases that he has been associated with.
HEMMER: Mayor Carlos Mayans, how is the community now reacting? It is now day three. They've had time to absorb this information. What are they telling you, Mayor? MAYOR CARLOS MAYANS, WICHITA, KANSAS: Well, I think, first of all, I think the community is relieved. I think that the relatives of the victims are beginning a new chapter. It's going to be very challenging for them as they face the trial of this person. But I think that the community is relieved. I think people are able to sleep much better at night.
HEMMER: Is it a sigh of relief, Mr. Mayor, or is it now the realization that one of their own living in their community is responsible, or considered to be, at this point? MAYANS: Well, I think it's both. I think, I mean I think people are surprised that someone can live among themselves keeping such a dark secret.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: The chief very tight-lipped during that interview that we recorded about 90 minutes ago. There's various reports about whether or not one of the daughters of Rader turned him in, whether or not she went to police or whether or not police went to her. We don't have many answers right now. Perhaps later, if the arraignment does occur, later today, on Monday, or Tuesday.
Either way, later tonight join Aaron Brown for a special edition of "NEWSNIGHT," "Catching the BTK Killer." "NEWSNIGHT" goes behind- the-scenes with law enforcement in Kansas, 10:00 Eastern time, 7:00 on the West Coast -- Carol.
COSTELLO: No luck in Florida, Bill.
Jessica Lunsford is still missing and today that intensive search for the missing 9-year-old girl may be scaled back. Hundreds of volunteers spent the weekend searching for Jessica.
Sara Dorsey is live in Homosassa Springs, Florida with more -- good morning.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
Yesterday we thought we might have had a break in this case. The Citrus County Sheriffs Office released a surveillance video showing a little girl that resembled Jessica Lunsford with an unidentified man. That was put out to the media and that man was later identified and the girl was not Jessica.
So now this investigation is back at square one. The only good news here is that the weather is dramatically better for searchers than it was yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY (voice-over): Homosassa Springs, Florida, home of only a couple thousand residents, is being tested. TAMMY PAYNTER, HOMOSASSA SPRINGS RESIDENT: It's bad. It's something that you never would have thought that would happen here, not in this little town.
DORSEY: Nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford went missing Wednesday night from her own home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put it up in your church or your community.
DORSEY: Police have no clues and no hard leads. But residents are volunteering by the hundreds to search for the little girl.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we are under a tornado watch.
DORSEY: Despite bad weather, all day people kept coming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead!
DORSEY: Searchers fought thick brush...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm stuck.
DORSEY: Side by side they pushed on, some fearing what they might find. CHERYL BRINBUSE, HOMOSASSA SPRINGS RESIDENT: I want to find her, but I don't want to be the one that finds something. So, yes, it is a little frightening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're praying for a miracle here.
DORSEY: Those that couldn't search prayed for a little girl who seems to have just vanished.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're praying that god will miraculously bring Jessica back into our midst.
DORSEY: Her church, Faith Baptist, continues to offer prayer vigils and a place for law enforcement to organize volunteers.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY: And today the county sheriff plans on pulling the command center out of this neighborhood, which is against the family's wishes. The family has spent the entire morning talking to the media, pleading for Jessica to be brought home, and also asking the media to stay despite the fact that there are no leads.
There is one lone light on in their home. That's in Jessica's bedroom. And the family tells us they will keep that on until she makes it home safely -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Light a single candle.
Sara Dorsey live in Florida this morning.
Thank you.
HEMMER: Right about 15 minutes past the hour now.
A huge night last night in Hollywood. And "Million Dollar Baby" knocked out the competition, took the biggest awards last evening.
Sibila Vargas this morning has a look at the winners from last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Oscar goes to...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sandy Powell for "The Aviator."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thelma Schoonmaker for "The Aviator."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dante Ferretti for "The Aviator."
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the early rounds at the Oscars, "The Aviator" racked up points. But in the final rounds, the film went down for the count. The boxing drama "Million Dollar Baby" claimed the title of best picture.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
BARBRA STREISAND: I'm so happy to give you this again, Clint.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: And producer Clint Eastwood shared the best picture prize. But the trophy for best director was his alone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
CLINT EASTWOOD, BEST DIRECTOR: I'd like to thank my wife, who's my best pal, down here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: At age 74, he's almost as old as Oscar himself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
EASTWOOD: I watched Sidney Lumet out there, who is 80, and I figure I'm just a kid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: "Million Dollar Baby" also earned two acting trophies, one for Morgan Freeman for his supporting role and another for Hilary Swank, the second best actress win of her career.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
HILARY SWANK, BEST ACTRESS WINNER: It's really one of the most surreal things. And even standing here right now talking, I feel like I may be dreaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the Oscar goes to Cate Blanchett in "The Aviator."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: "The Aviator's" Cate Blanchett won best supporting actress. No surprise there. No surprise, either, when it came to best actor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jamie Foxx in "Ray."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS) JAMIE FOXX, BEST ACTOR WINNER: And I can't wait to go to sleep tonight, because we've got a lot to talk about. I love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS (on camera): Going into the show, everyone was wondering what would Chris Rock say. Well, he didn't play it safe. He even reserved some barbs for the stars, which later drew a response from Sean Penn.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
CHRIS ROCK, HOST: Who is Jude Law? Why is he in every movie I have seen the last four years?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
SEAN PENN: I did want to answer our host's question about who Jude Law is. He's one of our finest actors.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: A little punch-counterpunch on a night that belonged to "Million Dollar Baby."
Sibila Vargas, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: Also, next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING, we will hear from best actor winner Jamie Foxx. He'll talk to Soledad then right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Well deserved, too, for Jamie Foxx. He was great in that movie.
COSTELLO: He was. And he gave a great acceptance speech once again.
HEMMER: That he did, the same speech over...
COSTELLO: You bet.
HEMMER: ... and over and over that recurring.
COSTELLO: It's losing its emotional appeal now.
HEMMER: Well, we'll get back to the Oscars a bit later.
COSTELLO: Yes, we will.
One law maker says Vladimir Putin is acting like a spoiled child. So is it time for President Bush to ground him, so to speak? Kamber and May have an idea. HEMMER: Also, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about steroids. What does he say about his own past use of performance enhancing drugs? We'll get to it.
COSTELLO: And our special series, "The Future Is Now." Andy says instead of rushing out to buy a big screen TV, maybe you should think smaller. That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Thanks to cell phones, we can play games, text message, even take pictures when we want. And now we may never have to miss our must see TV.
In our new series starting today, "The Future Is Now" we call it, the screens might be tiny and the batteries overworked, but the wireless industry is now bringing TV to a cell phone near you.
And Andy Serwer is now here to tell us more about that -- good morning, Drew.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Bill.
TV on your cell phone. Now how have we lived without this for all these years?
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Ernie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Bert.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm cleaning house, Bert.
SERWER (voice-over): If you're worried your kids are spending too much time in front of the TV, it's not going to get any easier. With the newest batch of mobile phones, you and your kids will never be more than a flip away from TV.
(on camera): So what can we actually see here on this phone?
DAVE SAMBERG, VERIZON WIRELESS: You can pick different -- well, we can watch CNN. We can watch...
SERWER: I think that's a wonderful idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was actually incredibly fun.
SERWER (voice-over): Dave Samberg works for Verizon Wireless, the company's new VCAST service gives you access to hundreds of regularly updated TV clips. Other channels include VH1, E!, Market Watch and ESPN. VCAST, available in limited markets, costs $15 a month, plus you'll have to buy a special phone.
(on camera): And that is the $64,000 question -- what happens when your phone rings and you're watching TV?
SAMBERG: It actually gives you the option. You can go to the options and say ignore or you can say answer.
SERWER (voice-over): Pulling up clips can take a while and there are competitors, like Sprint and Cingular's MOBE TV...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And thanks so much for joining us here.
SERWER: ... which can stream a live TV feed. But while live, the MOBE TV service is slower, with spottier picture quality. And, as if TV isn't enough of a distraction, the new phones also have 3D video games.
(on camera): Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.
SAMBERG: Yes, that's a bridge.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
SERWER: All right, the -- so you know the TV show "24?" They're actually creating 60 second episodes that they're going to be putting on this phone. So you'll get a little 60 seconds of Kiefer Sutherland in your life.
HEMMER: I'm surprised the resolution is as good as it is. It did not look bad.
SERWER: Yes. It's really pretty cool. I mean obviously it's kind of a niche technology, but it has some promise.
HEMMER: I saw a little bit of that in Japan back in December when we were in Tokyo so.
What's coming up tomorrow, by the way?
SERWER: Well, tomorrow Philadelphia Eagles' fans have more to look forward to than just the football season next year as beer goes high tech in the City of Brotherly Love.
You don't want to miss that one.
HEMMER: "The Future Is Now."
Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Looking forward to it.
"Million Dollar Baby" won the big prize last night. But what about the fashion on the red carpet? The West Coast editor of "Glamour" magazine talks to Soledad as we continue in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: Oh, I love this question today -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Well, I'm glad you do. We don't -- we're not graced with your presence here in the middle of the Hemmer-Cafferty sandwich very often and that's why we came up with a little something to please you.
As Dan Rather -- you may have planned it that way -- as Dan Rather's long career as anchor of the CBS Evening News comes to an end, some very well known colleagues are trashing the long time CBS News man. In the current issue of "New Yorker" magazine, in an article written by Ken Auletta, Walter Cronkite calls Rather's style "show boating." Mike Wallace says Rather is "uptight and occasionally contrived." Even "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt says he prefers watching Peter Jennings to Rather.
Now, this is the farewell that Rather gets after 24 years as anchor of the CBS Evening News.
The question is, is it appropriate for his colleagues to be trashing him in a publication like they are in the "New Yorker?"
Dave in South Dakota writes: "Few people of good conscience would say it's right to criticize someone when they're retiring. These people should have made their criticisms known to Rather 20 years ago. That they choose do to so now shows them to be more spineless than we thought."
Tom in West Virginia writes: "I'm not surprised his fellow journalists are picking his bones. One should remember that birds of a feather flock together, especially vultures."
Dean in New Jersey writes: "Yes, it's appropriate for Dan Rather's colleagues to kick him while he's down. In fact, I think it's a beautiful thing, with Rather being such a biased liberal creep and all. On the other hand, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
And James in Illinois writes: "Well, heck, yes, it's inappropriate, Jack. Oh, yes, have you heard what Bill and Soledad are saying behind your back?"
HEMMER: What are you doing after the show?
CAFFERTY: Retirement is, you know, on the horizon, as they say.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COSTELLO: Wow!
A day after a surprise appearance in a hospital window, how is the pope recovering? The Vatican offers new details this morning. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains what it all means.
That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 28, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking open the BTK murder case. This morning, the Wichita police chief talks with us, clearing up the rumors from the weekend in the investigation.
A Florida community searching again for a missing 9-year-old girl. How could Jessica Lunsford vanish without a single clue?
And the Northeast bracing for another big winter storm. The snow starts falling very soon.
And a huge night for Hilary Swank and "Million Dollar Baby." All the big winners straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.
8:00 here in New York.
I'm Bill Hemmer.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello.
Soledad is out in Los Vegas...
HEMMER: That she is.
COSTELLO: ... or Los Angeles.
She wishes she were in Vegas now.
HEMMER: Maybe after last night, right.
COSTELLO: Yes.
HEMMER: A lot going on this hour.
A developing story from Iraq. A suicide bombing there today in the town of Hillah, a huge death toll to report. We're told 125 at a minimum are dead. More details in a moment. We'll get to Nic Robertson live in a few seconds here.
COSTELLO: Also, back out to Los Angeles and Soledad.
She's looking at Oscar fashion from last night. Who looked great and who didn't? That's coming up.
HEMMER: In the meantime, though, Jack Cafferty is here, as well.
Coming up in "The File" is what -- Jack, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Coming up in "The Cafferty File," a toothbrush that will have your mouth singing, less than 10 bucks. Japanese women think they can live happily ever after without men. And we'll say good-bye...
COSTELLO: (LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: ... careful.
COSTELLO: I'm sorry.
CAFFERTY: And we'll say good-bye to a pioneer here at CNN. Unlike Dan Rather's colleagues, we have only nice things to say about this gentleman.
HEMMER: Oh, he's nice.
COSTELLO: Whether we meet him or not?
CAFFERTY: No, no, I mean it. He's a friend of mine.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
We want to get to Iraq, our first story this hour.
More than 100 are dead when a suicide car bomb exploded on a crowded Iraqi street. The target in this case, a group of police recruits in Hillah. That's about 55 miles south of Baghdad.
To the Iraqi capital now and Nic Robertson there -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Well, this is the deadliest blast since the fall of Saddam Hussein. According to an eyewitness, a suicide bomber drove his car full of explosives right into the line of police recruits at 9:30 in the morning as they were waiting outside the medical center. The police say that the police recruits had gone to the medical center as part of their recruitment process. They were due to get health checks in the morning. The suicide bomber detonating his explosives.
The police say the death toll made higher by the fact that this medical center is right in the middle of the town of Hillah, very close to what would have been, police say, at that time, a very busy outdoor market. The Iraqi Red Crescent organization says that at least 200 people have been wounded. Not clear how many of those market goers, how many of those Iraqi police recruits. But this comes after months and months of continued attacks against police recruits. But this, by far, the deadliest attack in Iraq since Saddam Hussein fell -- Bill.
HEMMER: Nic, that is one of our headlines this morning from Iraq.
The other one is the story that broke yesterday with a Syrian connection.
Explain to us the connection here between the insurgency and the possible financial backing that they were getting from a relative of Saddam Hussein.
ROBERTSON: Indeed, Bill, this is a very intriguing situation. The Iraqi government being very, very careful about what they're saying. Sab'awi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half brother, according to Iraqi intelligence sources here, say he fled Iraq after Saddam Hussein fell. He lived in Syria for a long time. Now the Iraqi government says that Sab'awi is back in their custody. They say that they managed to get another 25 people with him.
Reading between the lines here, the Iraqi government, and, indeed, the sources within intelligence here, hinting that he was picked up or handed over by Syrians to Iraqis. But they will not say that explicitly at this stage.
What we have heard from a government official today is that the Iraqi government here has been cooperating closely with Syrian authorities to root out insurgent elements inside Iraq for the last four months. What we are told, again, just to go over this in fine detail, Iraqi security sources here saying that Sab'awi fled Iraq after Saddam fell and that now he's go back in their custody and that in the meantime he'd been in Syria, never coming back until he got into their custody -- Bill.
HEMMER: We'll follow that, as well.
Nic Robertson, thanks, live in Baghdad -- Carol.
COSTELLO: A lot going on in the world this morning.
Let's check the headlines with Kelly Wallace.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A busy news morning.
Good morning to you.
Good morning again, everyone.
Now in the news, Pope John Paul II said to be recovering this morning following surgery. The Vatican released a statement less than two hours ago, the first one on the pope's health since Friday. Sources say the 84-year-old pontiff is eating regularly and spending some hours out of bed. He has also apparently started voice therapy. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leaving for London this hour, her third trip abroad since she assumed that post. Secretary Rice is planning to attend an international conference aimed at getting more financial support to the new Palestinian government. Rice's trip was also intended to include several Middle East stops, but that portion of her trip was canceled.
In Santa Maria, California, Michael Jackson's trial gets underway today. Opening statements are scheduled to begin just three and a half hours from now. At issue, whether the self-proclaimed king of pop gave alcohol to a 13-year-old cancer patient and then molested him. That trial could last up to six months.
And it is curtain time for the gates. The 23 mile art exhibit in New York's Central Park is coming down. Visitors getting in a final glimpse of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude exhibit yesterday after a 16- day run. Word is the remnants of the $21 million art project will be recycled. You're looking at a live picture right there. They're up. And they're going to start coming down today. And they will be recycled, used for things like paint rollers.
Well -- Chad, perhaps it's good that the gates are coming down today, because a big storm forecast to hit the Northeast.
Chad, how bad is it going to be?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know what? It could have been a completely different vision, though...
WALLACE: Yes, I bet.
MYERS: ... with white everywhere else and then the saffron blowing around. Obviously, that's why they put it out there in the winter.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Nine minutes now past the hour.
We're going to try and get the lights on here in the studio.
COSTELLO: There they go.
HEMMER: There they go.
Thank you, Chad.
Talk to you later.
A suspect could be charged with 10 murders today in the BTK serial killer case. Dennis Rader arrested on Friday about noontime by Wichita, Kansas police. He's suspected in a series of killings going back more than 35 years.
The mayor is Carlos Mayans and the police chief is Norman Williams, in Wichita. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: Chief, the Associated Press is reporting that he has confessed to at least six of these murders.
Is that the case?
CHIEF NORMAN WILLIAMS, WICHITA, KANSAS POLICE: We have a policy within the department that we don't discuss any information that comes out of an interview. That information should come out during the trial setting.
HEMMER: Are you confident this is the BTK killer?
WILLIAMS: We held a press conference on Saturday morning announcing the arrest of the BTK suspect.
HEMMER: When will the arraignment take place then?
WILLIAMS: We're looking at early, either later today or early into morning.
HEMMER: And during that arraignment, Chief, is that when the official charges will be read?
WILLIAMS: That is correct.
HEMMER: And at this point, among those charges, how many deaths will you link to this man?
WILLIAMS: Currently, he has been arrested on 10 different homicides that have occurred over the last 31 years in our community. There's only been 10 cases that he has been associated with.
HEMMER: Mayor Carlos Mayans, how is the community now reacting? It is now day three. They've had time to absorb this information. What are they telling you, Mayor? MAYOR CARLOS MAYANS, WICHITA, KANSAS: Well, I think, first of all, I think the community is relieved. I think that the relatives of the victims are beginning a new chapter. It's going to be very challenging for them as they face the trial of this person. But I think that the community is relieved. I think people are able to sleep much better at night.
HEMMER: Is it a sigh of relief, Mr. Mayor, or is it now the realization that one of their own living in their community is responsible, or considered to be, at this point? MAYANS: Well, I think it's both. I think, I mean I think people are surprised that someone can live among themselves keeping such a dark secret.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: The chief very tight-lipped during that interview that we recorded about 90 minutes ago. There's various reports about whether or not one of the daughters of Rader turned him in, whether or not she went to police or whether or not police went to her. We don't have many answers right now. Perhaps later, if the arraignment does occur, later today, on Monday, or Tuesday.
Either way, later tonight join Aaron Brown for a special edition of "NEWSNIGHT," "Catching the BTK Killer." "NEWSNIGHT" goes behind- the-scenes with law enforcement in Kansas, 10:00 Eastern time, 7:00 on the West Coast -- Carol.
COSTELLO: No luck in Florida, Bill.
Jessica Lunsford is still missing and today that intensive search for the missing 9-year-old girl may be scaled back. Hundreds of volunteers spent the weekend searching for Jessica.
Sara Dorsey is live in Homosassa Springs, Florida with more -- good morning.
SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
Yesterday we thought we might have had a break in this case. The Citrus County Sheriffs Office released a surveillance video showing a little girl that resembled Jessica Lunsford with an unidentified man. That was put out to the media and that man was later identified and the girl was not Jessica.
So now this investigation is back at square one. The only good news here is that the weather is dramatically better for searchers than it was yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY (voice-over): Homosassa Springs, Florida, home of only a couple thousand residents, is being tested. TAMMY PAYNTER, HOMOSASSA SPRINGS RESIDENT: It's bad. It's something that you never would have thought that would happen here, not in this little town.
DORSEY: Nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford went missing Wednesday night from her own home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put it up in your church or your community.
DORSEY: Police have no clues and no hard leads. But residents are volunteering by the hundreds to search for the little girl.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we are under a tornado watch.
DORSEY: Despite bad weather, all day people kept coming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead!
DORSEY: Searchers fought thick brush...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm stuck.
DORSEY: Side by side they pushed on, some fearing what they might find. CHERYL BRINBUSE, HOMOSASSA SPRINGS RESIDENT: I want to find her, but I don't want to be the one that finds something. So, yes, it is a little frightening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're praying for a miracle here.
DORSEY: Those that couldn't search prayed for a little girl who seems to have just vanished.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're praying that god will miraculously bring Jessica back into our midst.
DORSEY: Her church, Faith Baptist, continues to offer prayer vigils and a place for law enforcement to organize volunteers.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
DORSEY: And today the county sheriff plans on pulling the command center out of this neighborhood, which is against the family's wishes. The family has spent the entire morning talking to the media, pleading for Jessica to be brought home, and also asking the media to stay despite the fact that there are no leads.
There is one lone light on in their home. That's in Jessica's bedroom. And the family tells us they will keep that on until she makes it home safely -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Light a single candle.
Sara Dorsey live in Florida this morning.
Thank you.
HEMMER: Right about 15 minutes past the hour now.
A huge night last night in Hollywood. And "Million Dollar Baby" knocked out the competition, took the biggest awards last evening.
Sibila Vargas this morning has a look at the winners from last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Oscar goes to...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sandy Powell for "The Aviator."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thelma Schoonmaker for "The Aviator."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dante Ferretti for "The Aviator."
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the early rounds at the Oscars, "The Aviator" racked up points. But in the final rounds, the film went down for the count. The boxing drama "Million Dollar Baby" claimed the title of best picture.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
BARBRA STREISAND: I'm so happy to give you this again, Clint.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: And producer Clint Eastwood shared the best picture prize. But the trophy for best director was his alone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
CLINT EASTWOOD, BEST DIRECTOR: I'd like to thank my wife, who's my best pal, down here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: At age 74, he's almost as old as Oscar himself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
EASTWOOD: I watched Sidney Lumet out there, who is 80, and I figure I'm just a kid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: "Million Dollar Baby" also earned two acting trophies, one for Morgan Freeman for his supporting role and another for Hilary Swank, the second best actress win of her career.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
HILARY SWANK, BEST ACTRESS WINNER: It's really one of the most surreal things. And even standing here right now talking, I feel like I may be dreaming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the Oscar goes to Cate Blanchett in "The Aviator."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: "The Aviator's" Cate Blanchett won best supporting actress. No surprise there. No surprise, either, when it came to best actor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jamie Foxx in "Ray."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS) JAMIE FOXX, BEST ACTOR WINNER: And I can't wait to go to sleep tonight, because we've got a lot to talk about. I love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS (on camera): Going into the show, everyone was wondering what would Chris Rock say. Well, he didn't play it safe. He even reserved some barbs for the stars, which later drew a response from Sean Penn.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
CHRIS ROCK, HOST: Who is Jude Law? Why is he in every movie I have seen the last four years?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM OSCAR CEREMONY COURTESY AMPAS)
SEAN PENN: I did want to answer our host's question about who Jude Law is. He's one of our finest actors.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: A little punch-counterpunch on a night that belonged to "Million Dollar Baby."
Sibila Vargas, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HEMMER: Also, next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING, we will hear from best actor winner Jamie Foxx. He'll talk to Soledad then right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Well deserved, too, for Jamie Foxx. He was great in that movie.
COSTELLO: He was. And he gave a great acceptance speech once again.
HEMMER: That he did, the same speech over...
COSTELLO: You bet.
HEMMER: ... and over and over that recurring.
COSTELLO: It's losing its emotional appeal now.
HEMMER: Well, we'll get back to the Oscars a bit later.
COSTELLO: Yes, we will.
One law maker says Vladimir Putin is acting like a spoiled child. So is it time for President Bush to ground him, so to speak? Kamber and May have an idea. HEMMER: Also, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about steroids. What does he say about his own past use of performance enhancing drugs? We'll get to it.
COSTELLO: And our special series, "The Future Is Now." Andy says instead of rushing out to buy a big screen TV, maybe you should think smaller. That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Thanks to cell phones, we can play games, text message, even take pictures when we want. And now we may never have to miss our must see TV.
In our new series starting today, "The Future Is Now" we call it, the screens might be tiny and the batteries overworked, but the wireless industry is now bringing TV to a cell phone near you.
And Andy Serwer is now here to tell us more about that -- good morning, Drew.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Bill.
TV on your cell phone. Now how have we lived without this for all these years?
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Ernie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Bert.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm cleaning house, Bert.
SERWER (voice-over): If you're worried your kids are spending too much time in front of the TV, it's not going to get any easier. With the newest batch of mobile phones, you and your kids will never be more than a flip away from TV.
(on camera): So what can we actually see here on this phone?
DAVE SAMBERG, VERIZON WIRELESS: You can pick different -- well, we can watch CNN. We can watch...
SERWER: I think that's a wonderful idea.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was actually incredibly fun.
SERWER (voice-over): Dave Samberg works for Verizon Wireless, the company's new VCAST service gives you access to hundreds of regularly updated TV clips. Other channels include VH1, E!, Market Watch and ESPN. VCAST, available in limited markets, costs $15 a month, plus you'll have to buy a special phone.
(on camera): And that is the $64,000 question -- what happens when your phone rings and you're watching TV?
SAMBERG: It actually gives you the option. You can go to the options and say ignore or you can say answer.
SERWER (voice-over): Pulling up clips can take a while and there are competitors, like Sprint and Cingular's MOBE TV...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And thanks so much for joining us here.
SERWER: ... which can stream a live TV feed. But while live, the MOBE TV service is slower, with spottier picture quality. And, as if TV isn't enough of a distraction, the new phones also have 3D video games.
(on camera): Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.
SAMBERG: Yes, that's a bridge.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
SERWER: All right, the -- so you know the TV show "24?" They're actually creating 60 second episodes that they're going to be putting on this phone. So you'll get a little 60 seconds of Kiefer Sutherland in your life.
HEMMER: I'm surprised the resolution is as good as it is. It did not look bad.
SERWER: Yes. It's really pretty cool. I mean obviously it's kind of a niche technology, but it has some promise.
HEMMER: I saw a little bit of that in Japan back in December when we were in Tokyo so.
What's coming up tomorrow, by the way?
SERWER: Well, tomorrow Philadelphia Eagles' fans have more to look forward to than just the football season next year as beer goes high tech in the City of Brotherly Love.
You don't want to miss that one.
HEMMER: "The Future Is Now."
Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Looking forward to it.
"Million Dollar Baby" won the big prize last night. But what about the fashion on the red carpet? The West Coast editor of "Glamour" magazine talks to Soledad as we continue in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: Oh, I love this question today -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Well, I'm glad you do. We don't -- we're not graced with your presence here in the middle of the Hemmer-Cafferty sandwich very often and that's why we came up with a little something to please you.
As Dan Rather -- you may have planned it that way -- as Dan Rather's long career as anchor of the CBS Evening News comes to an end, some very well known colleagues are trashing the long time CBS News man. In the current issue of "New Yorker" magazine, in an article written by Ken Auletta, Walter Cronkite calls Rather's style "show boating." Mike Wallace says Rather is "uptight and occasionally contrived." Even "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt says he prefers watching Peter Jennings to Rather.
Now, this is the farewell that Rather gets after 24 years as anchor of the CBS Evening News.
The question is, is it appropriate for his colleagues to be trashing him in a publication like they are in the "New Yorker?"
Dave in South Dakota writes: "Few people of good conscience would say it's right to criticize someone when they're retiring. These people should have made their criticisms known to Rather 20 years ago. That they choose do to so now shows them to be more spineless than we thought."
Tom in West Virginia writes: "I'm not surprised his fellow journalists are picking his bones. One should remember that birds of a feather flock together, especially vultures."
Dean in New Jersey writes: "Yes, it's appropriate for Dan Rather's colleagues to kick him while he's down. In fact, I think it's a beautiful thing, with Rather being such a biased liberal creep and all. On the other hand, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
And James in Illinois writes: "Well, heck, yes, it's inappropriate, Jack. Oh, yes, have you heard what Bill and Soledad are saying behind your back?"
HEMMER: What are you doing after the show?
CAFFERTY: Retirement is, you know, on the horizon, as they say.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COSTELLO: Wow!
A day after a surprise appearance in a hospital window, how is the pope recovering? The Vatican offers new details this morning. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains what it all means.
That's just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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