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American Morning
Possible Break in Murder Case of Federal Judge's Family; Jackson's Accuser on Stand; Clinton Surgery
Aired March 10, 2005 - 08:59 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: Good morning. In Wisconsin at this hour, police answering questions that may break open a case of murder at the home of a federal judge.
Also at this hour, former President Bill Clinton undergoing an operation to repair his lung. An update on his surgery from outside the hospital.
And the boy accusing Michael Jackson of sexual molestation is back on the witness stand for day two of 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, everyone. Nine o'clock here in New York City.
Also this hour, airline pilots weighing in on a wide range of security issues today with a new report card. And the grades they're giving are not good. We'll talk to the president of the Airline Pilots Association about the problems and what passengers need to know in a few moments here.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, we're talking with Melanie Bloom. She is, of course, the widow of David Dloom. He was a friend and a former colleague of mine. He died while he was covering the war in Iraq.
Well, now she is helping raise awareness for the condition that killed David. It's called Deep-Vein Thrombosis. Now, many folks don't even know anything about DVT, but actually lots of people die from it. She's got lots of important information about it this morning.
HEMMER: Important and good information, you're right.
Jack, what's on your mind?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Should well-known baseball players be forced to testify under oath before a congressional committee investigating the use of steroids in the sport? AM@CNN.com.
HEMMER: All right, Jack. Thanks.
First, let's get to Chicago. And also, let's talk about what's happening north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There's a possible break in the murder case of federal Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow's husband and mother. A man who shot and killed himself outside Milwaukee left a suicide note claiming responsibility for those two murders. According to the newspaper, the "Chicago Tribune," Judge Lefkow had dismissed the man's case.
We're waiting at this hour to hear from investigators in Wisconsin. In fact, it's just about to begin right now just north of Milwaukee. We will listen in for more developments from Wisconsin now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: West Allis Police just stepping up to the podium right now to make a link between Bart Ross, a man who committed suicide in West Allis, and the murders of Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother.
CHIEF DEAN PUSCHING, WEST ALLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Good morning. My name is Dean Pusching. I'm the chief of police for the city of West Allis Police Department. I want to welcome you to our department this morning and apologize for the slight delay. We were waiting for some people to arrive.
With me this morning are representatives from the United States Marshals Office in Milwaukee and Chicago, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Milwaukee and Chicago offices. There's Bill Krizicki (ph) to my left, U.S. marshal for the eastern district of Milwaukee and Wisconsin area; Mr. James Finch (ph), immediately to my right, special agent in charge of the Milwaukee office of the FBI; and to the right of Mr. Finch (ph) is Mr. Robert Shields (ph) from the FBI office in Chicago.
I have a short informational statement to present this morning which will follow with a question-and-answer period.
Last night at about 5:00, a West Allis police officer observed a suspicious vehicle parked nearby a school in the area of 68th and Rogers (ph). The officer noted that the vehicle had Illinois license plates, and after he drove by this vehicle a second time, the driver started to leave, and with the officer following.
At this point, the officer noticed that the vehicle did not have any taillights. While they were stopped at a red light, he notified the station he was going to be conducting a traffic stop, which he conducted in the area of 71st and Grant Street in the city of West Allis.
While approaching the driver, a single gunshot was fired from inside the vehicle. The bullet exited the driver's window very close to where the officer was standing. The bullet did not strike anybody outside the vehicle.
Once the shot was fired, the officer withdrew his weapon and retreated from the vehicle and alerted other officers from the West Allis Police Department. Investigators from the district attorney's office and the medical examiner's office responded to the scene, along with several investigators from the West Allis Police Department. The investigation revealed that the driver was the sole occupant of this vehicle. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Our officer did not discharge his weapon.
We towed the vehicle back to the garage, and while conducting a standard inventory search our investigators discovered some material that led us to believe that this man could be involved or have some vital information to the Lefkow homicide investigation. We immediately called the United States Marshals Office in Milwaukee. They put us in contact with the Chicago office and specifically investigators on this homicide taskforce.
Members of the taskforce and agents from the FBI met at our station very early this morning to gather evidence and to continue this investigation.
Before we take questions, I'd like to commend our officer for doing an outstanding job. This is what all police officers are trained to do, to conduct routine investigations, or so you think at the time it's a routine investigation. We're very happy that the officer followed the proper techniques and the training that he received from our department.
It was simply a suspicious vehicle that it turned out where it could be certainly something much more involved here. But the officer did an excellent job.
Myself and other members of the press conference here will be happy to answer any questions that...
QUESTION: Have you specifically identified the individual in the car who shot himself?
PUSCHING: We have identified him. However, I do not believe that the medical examiner's office has notified the next of kin, his relatives. So I'm not going to release that person's name at this time.
QUESTION: What was in the suicide note that immediately led you to the Lefkow case?
PUSCHING: Well, there was just information that we received in the car that led us to believe he was involved here. I'm not saying there was a note or anything else. There was just information that we had in the car.
QUESTION: Did he take credit for it? Did he take credit for it? Paint us a picture of what was in the car that helped you immediately know that you had a possible connection.
PUSCHING: Well, there was just information that was in this vehicle here where our investigators knew that we received some information from the Marshals office on this particular case. And we thought that we'd be better off as soon as possible alerting the United States Marshals Office. And the FBI and the Marshals office are going to take over the inventory of this vehicle. (CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Can any of the federal agents step up and talk about what you know and what kind of possible involvement you have here? What leads to you believe this man was involved?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this time, we are not going to release any information relative to the evidence secured at the scene. Due to the nature of this investigation, we believe it would be -- it would be inappropriate at this time to give any details or specifics regarding the evidence in the vehicle or the identity of the individual.
QUESTION: Is it safe to say that you're not -- that you're scaling back then your search for the killer of the...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I didn't say we're scaling it back, because we have not definitively tied this individual to the Lefkow murders.
QUESTION: Sir, did you say (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as far as you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point, we are not going to jump to any conclusions as far as the connection to...
QUESTION: Why would he have been around here? Why Wisconsin?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, that I could not tell you.
QUESTION: Are other federal judges in danger?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have not examined all the evidence. So to give you specifics as to why he was here or whether there are any other judges in danger, at this point, I cannot -- I cannot divulge any additional information.
QUESTION: What steps are you going to be taking now in order to more definitively connect this individual to the Lefkow murders beyond what you found in the car?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. The FBI's evidence response team is currently examining the vehicle and all evidence found within the vehicle to determine whether it is tied to the Lefkow murders.
QUESTION: Were there, in fact, items or writings in the vehicle found which had details which only the killer could know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, I cannot give that information at this time.
QUESTION: Can you tell us whether any weapons were found or ammunition or the amounts?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
QUESTION: What type of weapon?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point, until we conduct a ballistics examination, I would...
QUESTION: Can you talk to us about the written note that was found?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did not say there was a written note found in the vehicle.
QUESTION: Can you tell us at this point whether you're looking for anyone else in the Lefkow case?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Until such time as we determine whether this individual is the sole perpetrator, we have to continue our investigation.
QUESTION: Have you got any DNA testing since -- you got this man's obviously DNA yesterday at 5:00. Have you had time to run anything against the stuff you've already collected?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have not corresponded with my evidence response team. So I would be -- it would be jumping to conclusions to say we've conducted DNA.
QUESTION: How long does something like that take?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, at this point it depends on the amount of evidence right now to be processed.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from the FBI office in Chicago could tie this all back to Chicago for us and what his investigators are doing.
Could Mr. Shields (ph) come to the podium and talk to us a bit?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Shields (ph)?
QUESTION: I know the task force was comprised of FBI, Chicago police. Talk a little bit now about what taskforce members are doing, what are they looking for and where does this go from here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, it's very preliminary right now.
QUESTION: Can you step up to the mic?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, it's very preliminary. I'm not going to make any comments, any statements. And we're going to continue to work with these individuals up here.
QUESTION: Mr. Shields (ph), can you comment if there is a connection that you know of between this individual and the Lefkow family?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, I can't make any comment on that.
(CROSSTALK) QUESTION: Is the person that killed himself the registered owner of the vehicle?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, I'm sorry. I can't make any comments.
QUESTION: Chief Pusching, could you step to the microphone, please? Tell us when your people were going through the car, tell me about their responses and how you found out, and what you thought when you learned that this magnitude of crime may have been solved right here in West Allis?
PUSCHING: The officers at the scene, when I first arrived at about 5:15 or 5:30 last night, they had done an excellent job. As I mentioned before, we had called the D.A.'s investigators to come out because this was an in-custody death.
The medical examiners responded, the D.A. responded. It has been determined it's a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They did an excellent job. I was here probably with some of those officers until about 8:30, along with several captains and deputies chiefs of the department.
We left, and then they started inventorying the vehicle. They called me about 10 after 11:00 last night, told me what was going on, and that they were in contact with the United States Marshals Office and the FBI. They were coming up from Chicago.
When they arrived, they called me again. So I came in the early morning hours to meet with all these individuals. But our employees here at the West Allis Police Department, we're certainly very proud of them. They did an excellent job.
As I mentioned before, this was a suspicious vehicle near a school. The officer did what he had to do, what all law enforcement officers do on a regular basis, simply perform their jobs and protect people.
QUESTION: The man who killed himself, is he the registered owner of the vehicle?
PUSCHING: That I'm not going to answer because, quite honestly, as I mentioned earlier, I don't believe the next of kin have been notified properly by the medical examiner's office.
HEMMER: Let's try and pieces some of these part of this puzzle together for you this morning, because there are a number of unanswered questions. We're listening to a press conference on behalf of the police and the FBI in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
There's a town just outside of Milwaukee known as West Allis. It was about 6:00 yesterday afternoon a suspicious vehicle was spotted with no taillight. When the officer approached the vehicle, a single bullet was fired inside, a self-inflicted gunshot wound that killed the man driving that vehicle.
Now the questions go to whether or not there was information inside that vehicle on this man or possibly in a home nearby as to whether or not there was information that ties this individual to the murders of Judge Lefkow's husband and mother back in Chicago at the end of February, February 28, in fact.
Now, they stressed twice there when they were asked and pushed on it whether or not there was information or some sort of note inside the car. The information received in the car was not confirmed as a note. That's what they're saying at this hour up in Milwaukee. And they have "not definitively" tied this man inside the van to the Lefkow murders.
Now, that's what we're hearing this hour in Milwaukee. This is what we heard in the middle of the night from the "Chicago Tribune." And Jim Warren (ph) confirmed these facts for us last hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
They're reporting that there was a suicide note claiming responsibility in the Lefkow murders, her husband and her mother inside this vehicle or possibly on this individual that led police to believe that there was an admission of guilt for these murders because there were details in the case not released to the public that they found either on or near this individual inside of the car. They're also trying to compare the caliber of the shell to the weapon that was fired in Milwaukee with the gun that was used in the murders back in Chicago.
So that's what we think we know at this hour regarding this mystery that's going from Chicago to Milwaukee and possibly back again. So when we get more information, we will certainly pass it along to you. For now, that's what we know.
Here's Soledad now.
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks.
In fact, let's get right to Carol Costello. She's got a look at some of the other stories that are making headlines this morning.
Carol, good morning again.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. A lot going on this morning.
A developing story to tell you about. A huge fire outside of New Orleans. Firefighters say at least 10 people have been killed in a smoldering townhome.
These pictures just coming to us. About four managed to escape the complex after the fire broke out earlier this morning. And officials say some of the victims were children.
In Rome, Pope John Paul II is staying put a few more days. Vatican sources say the pope is taking the advice of doctors to remain in the hospital as he continues to recover from that tracheotomy. The 84-year-old pope is expected back at the Vatican, though, by March 20 in time for Easter celebrations. The U.S. Senate is expected to pass a bill today affecting some 1.5 million people who file for bankruptcy each year. Lawmakers want to make it harder to get bankruptcy protection. The bill is expected to fly through the House next month.
And out in California, jurors deciding the fate of actor Robert Blake, set to resume deliberations today. They've asked to review testimony from the last three witnesses. The jury is apparently focusing on where Blake was at the time his wife was shot.
If convicted of her murder, Blake could face life in prison. Of course, we'll keep you posted.
O'BRIEN: Carol, thanks.
Let's talk about another trial now. The teenager who is accusing Michael Jackson of sexual molestation will be back on the stand today in a California courtroom. CNN's Miguel Marquez has been following the trial. He joins us live now from Santa Maria in California with more on the testimony.
Hey, Miguel. Good morning.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
After a year, a little over a year of rumor and innuendo and leaks, it all comes down to this witness testifying against the king of pop. And it makes for some very tense moments in that courtroom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Michael Jackson's accuser on the stand, face to face with the world-renowned pop star.
QUESTION: Tell us how you felt facing your accuser.
MICHAEL JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: I'm sorry, I'm under a gag order.
MARQUEZ: In the courtroom as the 15-year-old took the oath to tell the truth, Jackson sat bolt upright.
ANNE BREMNER, LEGAL ANALYST: He did look at Michael Jackson, I think you saw that, and Michael Jackson looked at him.
MARQUEZ: Prosecutors have charged Jackson with plying the boy with alcohol and molesting him four times and conspiring to cover it all up. Jackson says he's not guilty. His accuser once called Jackson "the coolest guy in the world." Today the 15-year-old commanded the world's attention.
BREMNER: He doesn't appear to be relaxed and calm, but he doesn't appear really nervous.
MARQUEZ: The boy testified that on his first day at Neverland in 2000, while still suffering the effects of nearly terminal cancer, Jackson suggested he and his brother spend the night in his bedroom. The boy said his parents allowed it, and the following night, he, his brother, Jackson, his kids, Paris and Prince, and a man named Frank Tyson went to Jackson's room to watch movies. Instead, said the accuser, Tyson got online and surfed adult sites on the Internet for 15-30 minutes. His short testimony so far seemed effective.
BREMNER: Remember when he had to scoot up to the mike, and he said, "OK," really loud into the mike? Jurors just spontaneous smiles of empathy for him.
MARQUEZ: The accuser told jurors that Jackson brought he and his siblings during the filming of the Martin Bashir documentary, "Living With Michael Jackson." And Jackson told the documentary was the boy's audition for the movies. He also told the court that Jackson instructed him to call him "Daddy Michael," and to tell Bashir on camera that Jackson was largely responsible for his recovery from cancer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Now, the boy will be back on the stand today, being questioned by the prosecution, sort of his side. It will be interesting to see if the prosecutor tries to take up the entire day, all six hours of the court day today, because jurors will not be hearing testimony tomorrow.
It will be a motions day. That means if he can take up the entire day, jurors will have three days, a long weekend, to think about everything this boy says Michael Jackson did -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Interesting point. Michael Jackson and the accuser obviously then at one point standing across from each other. What was Michael Jackson's reaction while he was listening to the testimony of the young accuser?
MARQUEZ: Yes, there wasn't a lot to tell from his look, but he does -- you know, he usually sits up straight in court.
Yesterday he had pulled his chair all the way up to the table and was sitting literally bolt upright, staring at him. You know, sometimes one finger on the side of his face and staring straight ahead at this kid. The kid glanced at him only at the beginning when he identified the defendant. But that was about it -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And how about -- and how about the teenager's demeanor on the stand? Did he seem nervous? Was he holding it together? And how did the jurors react to him?
MARQUEZ: Yes, he certainly seemed nervous, as any -- anybody would, I suppose, especially a teenager. But he certainly seemed stronger than both his older sister at this point and his younger brother.
At points he was talking directly to jurors and addressing them and sort of motioning with his hands and seemed to be building a rapport with them. And the jurors seemed to be warming to him as well -- Soledad. O'BRIEN: Miguel Marquez in Santa Maria, California, for us this morning. Miguel, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: In a moment here, Dr. Sanjay Gupta standing by live outside that hospital where Bill Clinton now is having surgery. In fact, at this hour, we'll get an update from Sanjay in a moment there.
O'BRIEN: And then a little bit later this morning, the wife of journalist David Bloom joins us. She's raising awareness about the condition that took his life. Her story's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Former President bill Clinton is undergoing low risk surgery today -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sorry about that. Mr. Clinton checked into a New York City hospital around 5:00 this morning. He's having a procedure to remove fluid and scar tissue that developed after his quadruple bypass surgery last fall.
Together we'll go to Sanjay Gupta now outside the hospital.
Hey, Sanjay. What's happening? Good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill. Yes, you saw some of that video. That's when he arrived about 10 after 5:00 this morning. That's a pretty typical arrival time for someone who is going to have his operation start early in the morning, usually around 7:30.
That's been my experience working at several academic hospitals. That's usually the first start for an operation in the morning, and he's probably already in the operating room at this time.
As you mentioned, the goal of the operation, to get some of the scar tissue and some of the fluid that we've been talking so much about. Again, the scar tissue, the best way to think about it is sort of like an orange peel, sort of socking up against the left lung and making it hard for him to breathe, causing some discomfort as well.
Both of those symptoms should be a little bit better after he has this operation today. They're either going do it with an endoscope -- that's a minimally invasive sort of way. If they can't get the peel off that way, they'll actually go ahead and open up his chest, about a three-inch scar on the left side of his chest.
Been communicating back and forth a little bit with the folks in the hospital. ClintonFoundation.org, lots of messages coming into that Web site. You know, one thing that strikes me, Bill, every time someone, a celebrity or someone, a world leader like President Clinton gets sick, it is a chance to educate people about heart disease. And a lot of messages coming in talking to the president specifically about how they went and got their own hearts checked, an important point. But also saying the American Heart Association taking donations.
Don't send flower. Send money instead to the American Heart Association -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Sanjay. Thanks. Keep us posted outside the hospital there here in New York.
GUPTA: Will do that.
HEMMER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, some of baseball's biggest stars are being called to Congress over steroids. But are they going to talk? A closer look is ahead up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Jack's got the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: A congressional committee, Soledad, investigating steroid use in baseball, and wants to drag some of the game's biggest names in, put them under oath and make them testify in front of the committee and whatever cameras might show up. Major League Baseball's opposed to this idea, saying that it could damage the image of the game.
The question is whether or not you think they ought to be forced to testify.
Tony in Myrtle Beach writes this: "Did I miss something? Have we won the war on terror? Fixed our education system? Solved the homeless problem, jobless problem?"
"I'm so thrilled our government has done its job and now has time to attack sports. And here I was thinking our representatives had forgotten their responsibilities."
Mark in New York City, "Why should baseball hide behind the assertion that it's a private business when the public financing all its white elephant stadiums and gives it massive local tax breaks and exempts it from antitrust laws?"
Linnaeus in New York, "Is steroid use by professional athletes a national issue? The congressmen who claim they don't have time to read the bills they approve somehow find time to pursue an issue that's guaranteed to bring in the cameras."
And Andrea in Pennsylvania, "Of course they should be forced to testify. Drugs are drugs, right? Or does it matter how much you make a year?"
HEMMER: One more batch of these a bit later. Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: In a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING, from bellies to bald heads, renting skin space is the latest tool for advertisers.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired March 10, 2005 - 08:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. In Wisconsin at this hour, police answering questions that may break open a case of murder at the home of a federal judge.
Also at this hour, former President Bill Clinton undergoing an operation to repair his lung. An update on his surgery from outside the hospital.
And the boy accusing Michael Jackson of sexual molestation is back on the witness stand for day two of 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, everyone. Nine o'clock here in New York City.
Also this hour, airline pilots weighing in on a wide range of security issues today with a new report card. And the grades they're giving are not good. We'll talk to the president of the Airline Pilots Association about the problems and what passengers need to know in a few moments here.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, we're talking with Melanie Bloom. She is, of course, the widow of David Dloom. He was a friend and a former colleague of mine. He died while he was covering the war in Iraq.
Well, now she is helping raise awareness for the condition that killed David. It's called Deep-Vein Thrombosis. Now, many folks don't even know anything about DVT, but actually lots of people die from it. She's got lots of important information about it this morning.
HEMMER: Important and good information, you're right.
Jack, what's on your mind?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Should well-known baseball players be forced to testify under oath before a congressional committee investigating the use of steroids in the sport? AM@CNN.com.
HEMMER: All right, Jack. Thanks.
First, let's get to Chicago. And also, let's talk about what's happening north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There's a possible break in the murder case of federal Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow's husband and mother. A man who shot and killed himself outside Milwaukee left a suicide note claiming responsibility for those two murders. According to the newspaper, the "Chicago Tribune," Judge Lefkow had dismissed the man's case.
We're waiting at this hour to hear from investigators in Wisconsin. In fact, it's just about to begin right now just north of Milwaukee. We will listen in for more developments from Wisconsin now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: West Allis Police just stepping up to the podium right now to make a link between Bart Ross, a man who committed suicide in West Allis, and the murders of Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother.
CHIEF DEAN PUSCHING, WEST ALLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Good morning. My name is Dean Pusching. I'm the chief of police for the city of West Allis Police Department. I want to welcome you to our department this morning and apologize for the slight delay. We were waiting for some people to arrive.
With me this morning are representatives from the United States Marshals Office in Milwaukee and Chicago, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Milwaukee and Chicago offices. There's Bill Krizicki (ph) to my left, U.S. marshal for the eastern district of Milwaukee and Wisconsin area; Mr. James Finch (ph), immediately to my right, special agent in charge of the Milwaukee office of the FBI; and to the right of Mr. Finch (ph) is Mr. Robert Shields (ph) from the FBI office in Chicago.
I have a short informational statement to present this morning which will follow with a question-and-answer period.
Last night at about 5:00, a West Allis police officer observed a suspicious vehicle parked nearby a school in the area of 68th and Rogers (ph). The officer noted that the vehicle had Illinois license plates, and after he drove by this vehicle a second time, the driver started to leave, and with the officer following.
At this point, the officer noticed that the vehicle did not have any taillights. While they were stopped at a red light, he notified the station he was going to be conducting a traffic stop, which he conducted in the area of 71st and Grant Street in the city of West Allis.
While approaching the driver, a single gunshot was fired from inside the vehicle. The bullet exited the driver's window very close to where the officer was standing. The bullet did not strike anybody outside the vehicle.
Once the shot was fired, the officer withdrew his weapon and retreated from the vehicle and alerted other officers from the West Allis Police Department. Investigators from the district attorney's office and the medical examiner's office responded to the scene, along with several investigators from the West Allis Police Department. The investigation revealed that the driver was the sole occupant of this vehicle. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Our officer did not discharge his weapon.
We towed the vehicle back to the garage, and while conducting a standard inventory search our investigators discovered some material that led us to believe that this man could be involved or have some vital information to the Lefkow homicide investigation. We immediately called the United States Marshals Office in Milwaukee. They put us in contact with the Chicago office and specifically investigators on this homicide taskforce.
Members of the taskforce and agents from the FBI met at our station very early this morning to gather evidence and to continue this investigation.
Before we take questions, I'd like to commend our officer for doing an outstanding job. This is what all police officers are trained to do, to conduct routine investigations, or so you think at the time it's a routine investigation. We're very happy that the officer followed the proper techniques and the training that he received from our department.
It was simply a suspicious vehicle that it turned out where it could be certainly something much more involved here. But the officer did an excellent job.
Myself and other members of the press conference here will be happy to answer any questions that...
QUESTION: Have you specifically identified the individual in the car who shot himself?
PUSCHING: We have identified him. However, I do not believe that the medical examiner's office has notified the next of kin, his relatives. So I'm not going to release that person's name at this time.
QUESTION: What was in the suicide note that immediately led you to the Lefkow case?
PUSCHING: Well, there was just information that we received in the car that led us to believe he was involved here. I'm not saying there was a note or anything else. There was just information that we had in the car.
QUESTION: Did he take credit for it? Did he take credit for it? Paint us a picture of what was in the car that helped you immediately know that you had a possible connection.
PUSCHING: Well, there was just information that was in this vehicle here where our investigators knew that we received some information from the Marshals office on this particular case. And we thought that we'd be better off as soon as possible alerting the United States Marshals Office. And the FBI and the Marshals office are going to take over the inventory of this vehicle. (CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Can any of the federal agents step up and talk about what you know and what kind of possible involvement you have here? What leads to you believe this man was involved?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this time, we are not going to release any information relative to the evidence secured at the scene. Due to the nature of this investigation, we believe it would be -- it would be inappropriate at this time to give any details or specifics regarding the evidence in the vehicle or the identity of the individual.
QUESTION: Is it safe to say that you're not -- that you're scaling back then your search for the killer of the...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I didn't say we're scaling it back, because we have not definitively tied this individual to the Lefkow murders.
QUESTION: Sir, did you say (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as far as you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point, we are not going to jump to any conclusions as far as the connection to...
QUESTION: Why would he have been around here? Why Wisconsin?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, that I could not tell you.
QUESTION: Are other federal judges in danger?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have not examined all the evidence. So to give you specifics as to why he was here or whether there are any other judges in danger, at this point, I cannot -- I cannot divulge any additional information.
QUESTION: What steps are you going to be taking now in order to more definitively connect this individual to the Lefkow murders beyond what you found in the car?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. The FBI's evidence response team is currently examining the vehicle and all evidence found within the vehicle to determine whether it is tied to the Lefkow murders.
QUESTION: Were there, in fact, items or writings in the vehicle found which had details which only the killer could know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, I cannot give that information at this time.
QUESTION: Can you tell us whether any weapons were found or ammunition or the amounts?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
QUESTION: What type of weapon?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point, until we conduct a ballistics examination, I would...
QUESTION: Can you talk to us about the written note that was found?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did not say there was a written note found in the vehicle.
QUESTION: Can you tell us at this point whether you're looking for anyone else in the Lefkow case?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Until such time as we determine whether this individual is the sole perpetrator, we have to continue our investigation.
QUESTION: Have you got any DNA testing since -- you got this man's obviously DNA yesterday at 5:00. Have you had time to run anything against the stuff you've already collected?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have not corresponded with my evidence response team. So I would be -- it would be jumping to conclusions to say we've conducted DNA.
QUESTION: How long does something like that take?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, at this point it depends on the amount of evidence right now to be processed.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from the FBI office in Chicago could tie this all back to Chicago for us and what his investigators are doing.
Could Mr. Shields (ph) come to the podium and talk to us a bit?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Shields (ph)?
QUESTION: I know the task force was comprised of FBI, Chicago police. Talk a little bit now about what taskforce members are doing, what are they looking for and where does this go from here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, it's very preliminary right now.
QUESTION: Can you step up to the mic?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, it's very preliminary. I'm not going to make any comments, any statements. And we're going to continue to work with these individuals up here.
QUESTION: Mr. Shields (ph), can you comment if there is a connection that you know of between this individual and the Lefkow family?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, I can't make any comment on that.
(CROSSTALK) QUESTION: Is the person that killed himself the registered owner of the vehicle?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Again, I'm sorry. I can't make any comments.
QUESTION: Chief Pusching, could you step to the microphone, please? Tell us when your people were going through the car, tell me about their responses and how you found out, and what you thought when you learned that this magnitude of crime may have been solved right here in West Allis?
PUSCHING: The officers at the scene, when I first arrived at about 5:15 or 5:30 last night, they had done an excellent job. As I mentioned before, we had called the D.A.'s investigators to come out because this was an in-custody death.
The medical examiners responded, the D.A. responded. It has been determined it's a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They did an excellent job. I was here probably with some of those officers until about 8:30, along with several captains and deputies chiefs of the department.
We left, and then they started inventorying the vehicle. They called me about 10 after 11:00 last night, told me what was going on, and that they were in contact with the United States Marshals Office and the FBI. They were coming up from Chicago.
When they arrived, they called me again. So I came in the early morning hours to meet with all these individuals. But our employees here at the West Allis Police Department, we're certainly very proud of them. They did an excellent job.
As I mentioned before, this was a suspicious vehicle near a school. The officer did what he had to do, what all law enforcement officers do on a regular basis, simply perform their jobs and protect people.
QUESTION: The man who killed himself, is he the registered owner of the vehicle?
PUSCHING: That I'm not going to answer because, quite honestly, as I mentioned earlier, I don't believe the next of kin have been notified properly by the medical examiner's office.
HEMMER: Let's try and pieces some of these part of this puzzle together for you this morning, because there are a number of unanswered questions. We're listening to a press conference on behalf of the police and the FBI in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
There's a town just outside of Milwaukee known as West Allis. It was about 6:00 yesterday afternoon a suspicious vehicle was spotted with no taillight. When the officer approached the vehicle, a single bullet was fired inside, a self-inflicted gunshot wound that killed the man driving that vehicle.
Now the questions go to whether or not there was information inside that vehicle on this man or possibly in a home nearby as to whether or not there was information that ties this individual to the murders of Judge Lefkow's husband and mother back in Chicago at the end of February, February 28, in fact.
Now, they stressed twice there when they were asked and pushed on it whether or not there was information or some sort of note inside the car. The information received in the car was not confirmed as a note. That's what they're saying at this hour up in Milwaukee. And they have "not definitively" tied this man inside the van to the Lefkow murders.
Now, that's what we're hearing this hour in Milwaukee. This is what we heard in the middle of the night from the "Chicago Tribune." And Jim Warren (ph) confirmed these facts for us last hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
They're reporting that there was a suicide note claiming responsibility in the Lefkow murders, her husband and her mother inside this vehicle or possibly on this individual that led police to believe that there was an admission of guilt for these murders because there were details in the case not released to the public that they found either on or near this individual inside of the car. They're also trying to compare the caliber of the shell to the weapon that was fired in Milwaukee with the gun that was used in the murders back in Chicago.
So that's what we think we know at this hour regarding this mystery that's going from Chicago to Milwaukee and possibly back again. So when we get more information, we will certainly pass it along to you. For now, that's what we know.
Here's Soledad now.
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks.
In fact, let's get right to Carol Costello. She's got a look at some of the other stories that are making headlines this morning.
Carol, good morning again.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. A lot going on this morning.
A developing story to tell you about. A huge fire outside of New Orleans. Firefighters say at least 10 people have been killed in a smoldering townhome.
These pictures just coming to us. About four managed to escape the complex after the fire broke out earlier this morning. And officials say some of the victims were children.
In Rome, Pope John Paul II is staying put a few more days. Vatican sources say the pope is taking the advice of doctors to remain in the hospital as he continues to recover from that tracheotomy. The 84-year-old pope is expected back at the Vatican, though, by March 20 in time for Easter celebrations. The U.S. Senate is expected to pass a bill today affecting some 1.5 million people who file for bankruptcy each year. Lawmakers want to make it harder to get bankruptcy protection. The bill is expected to fly through the House next month.
And out in California, jurors deciding the fate of actor Robert Blake, set to resume deliberations today. They've asked to review testimony from the last three witnesses. The jury is apparently focusing on where Blake was at the time his wife was shot.
If convicted of her murder, Blake could face life in prison. Of course, we'll keep you posted.
O'BRIEN: Carol, thanks.
Let's talk about another trial now. The teenager who is accusing Michael Jackson of sexual molestation will be back on the stand today in a California courtroom. CNN's Miguel Marquez has been following the trial. He joins us live now from Santa Maria in California with more on the testimony.
Hey, Miguel. Good morning.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
After a year, a little over a year of rumor and innuendo and leaks, it all comes down to this witness testifying against the king of pop. And it makes for some very tense moments in that courtroom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Michael Jackson's accuser on the stand, face to face with the world-renowned pop star.
QUESTION: Tell us how you felt facing your accuser.
MICHAEL JACKSON, ENTERTAINER: I'm sorry, I'm under a gag order.
MARQUEZ: In the courtroom as the 15-year-old took the oath to tell the truth, Jackson sat bolt upright.
ANNE BREMNER, LEGAL ANALYST: He did look at Michael Jackson, I think you saw that, and Michael Jackson looked at him.
MARQUEZ: Prosecutors have charged Jackson with plying the boy with alcohol and molesting him four times and conspiring to cover it all up. Jackson says he's not guilty. His accuser once called Jackson "the coolest guy in the world." Today the 15-year-old commanded the world's attention.
BREMNER: He doesn't appear to be relaxed and calm, but he doesn't appear really nervous.
MARQUEZ: The boy testified that on his first day at Neverland in 2000, while still suffering the effects of nearly terminal cancer, Jackson suggested he and his brother spend the night in his bedroom. The boy said his parents allowed it, and the following night, he, his brother, Jackson, his kids, Paris and Prince, and a man named Frank Tyson went to Jackson's room to watch movies. Instead, said the accuser, Tyson got online and surfed adult sites on the Internet for 15-30 minutes. His short testimony so far seemed effective.
BREMNER: Remember when he had to scoot up to the mike, and he said, "OK," really loud into the mike? Jurors just spontaneous smiles of empathy for him.
MARQUEZ: The accuser told jurors that Jackson brought he and his siblings during the filming of the Martin Bashir documentary, "Living With Michael Jackson." And Jackson told the documentary was the boy's audition for the movies. He also told the court that Jackson instructed him to call him "Daddy Michael," and to tell Bashir on camera that Jackson was largely responsible for his recovery from cancer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: Now, the boy will be back on the stand today, being questioned by the prosecution, sort of his side. It will be interesting to see if the prosecutor tries to take up the entire day, all six hours of the court day today, because jurors will not be hearing testimony tomorrow.
It will be a motions day. That means if he can take up the entire day, jurors will have three days, a long weekend, to think about everything this boy says Michael Jackson did -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Interesting point. Michael Jackson and the accuser obviously then at one point standing across from each other. What was Michael Jackson's reaction while he was listening to the testimony of the young accuser?
MARQUEZ: Yes, there wasn't a lot to tell from his look, but he does -- you know, he usually sits up straight in court.
Yesterday he had pulled his chair all the way up to the table and was sitting literally bolt upright, staring at him. You know, sometimes one finger on the side of his face and staring straight ahead at this kid. The kid glanced at him only at the beginning when he identified the defendant. But that was about it -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And how about -- and how about the teenager's demeanor on the stand? Did he seem nervous? Was he holding it together? And how did the jurors react to him?
MARQUEZ: Yes, he certainly seemed nervous, as any -- anybody would, I suppose, especially a teenager. But he certainly seemed stronger than both his older sister at this point and his younger brother.
At points he was talking directly to jurors and addressing them and sort of motioning with his hands and seemed to be building a rapport with them. And the jurors seemed to be warming to him as well -- Soledad. O'BRIEN: Miguel Marquez in Santa Maria, California, for us this morning. Miguel, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: In a moment here, Dr. Sanjay Gupta standing by live outside that hospital where Bill Clinton now is having surgery. In fact, at this hour, we'll get an update from Sanjay in a moment there.
O'BRIEN: And then a little bit later this morning, the wife of journalist David Bloom joins us. She's raising awareness about the condition that took his life. Her story's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Former President bill Clinton is undergoing low risk surgery today -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sorry about that. Mr. Clinton checked into a New York City hospital around 5:00 this morning. He's having a procedure to remove fluid and scar tissue that developed after his quadruple bypass surgery last fall.
Together we'll go to Sanjay Gupta now outside the hospital.
Hey, Sanjay. What's happening? Good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill. Yes, you saw some of that video. That's when he arrived about 10 after 5:00 this morning. That's a pretty typical arrival time for someone who is going to have his operation start early in the morning, usually around 7:30.
That's been my experience working at several academic hospitals. That's usually the first start for an operation in the morning, and he's probably already in the operating room at this time.
As you mentioned, the goal of the operation, to get some of the scar tissue and some of the fluid that we've been talking so much about. Again, the scar tissue, the best way to think about it is sort of like an orange peel, sort of socking up against the left lung and making it hard for him to breathe, causing some discomfort as well.
Both of those symptoms should be a little bit better after he has this operation today. They're either going do it with an endoscope -- that's a minimally invasive sort of way. If they can't get the peel off that way, they'll actually go ahead and open up his chest, about a three-inch scar on the left side of his chest.
Been communicating back and forth a little bit with the folks in the hospital. ClintonFoundation.org, lots of messages coming into that Web site. You know, one thing that strikes me, Bill, every time someone, a celebrity or someone, a world leader like President Clinton gets sick, it is a chance to educate people about heart disease. And a lot of messages coming in talking to the president specifically about how they went and got their own hearts checked, an important point. But also saying the American Heart Association taking donations.
Don't send flower. Send money instead to the American Heart Association -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Sanjay. Thanks. Keep us posted outside the hospital there here in New York.
GUPTA: Will do that.
HEMMER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, some of baseball's biggest stars are being called to Congress over steroids. But are they going to talk? A closer look is ahead up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Jack's got the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: A congressional committee, Soledad, investigating steroid use in baseball, and wants to drag some of the game's biggest names in, put them under oath and make them testify in front of the committee and whatever cameras might show up. Major League Baseball's opposed to this idea, saying that it could damage the image of the game.
The question is whether or not you think they ought to be forced to testify.
Tony in Myrtle Beach writes this: "Did I miss something? Have we won the war on terror? Fixed our education system? Solved the homeless problem, jobless problem?"
"I'm so thrilled our government has done its job and now has time to attack sports. And here I was thinking our representatives had forgotten their responsibilities."
Mark in New York City, "Why should baseball hide behind the assertion that it's a private business when the public financing all its white elephant stadiums and gives it massive local tax breaks and exempts it from antitrust laws?"
Linnaeus in New York, "Is steroid use by professional athletes a national issue? The congressmen who claim they don't have time to read the bills they approve somehow find time to pursue an issue that's guaranteed to bring in the cameras."
And Andrea in Pennsylvania, "Of course they should be forced to testify. Drugs are drugs, right? Or does it matter how much you make a year?"
HEMMER: One more batch of these a bit later. Thank you, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: In a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING, from bellies to bald heads, renting skin space is the latest tool for advertisers.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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