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Three Dead in Missouri Church Shooting; Remembering Merv Griffin; Search Continues for Missing Miners; Hawaii Prepares for Hurricane Flossie
Aired August 12, 2007 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MERV GRIFFIN, DECEASED ENTERTAINER: I just hope I entertain the most people and they had fun with it and stuff. And my tombstone will read, "I will not be right back after this message."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Merv Griffin: singer, interviewer and entrepreneur passes away. We look back at his life and rich legacy.
Also, high-tech inspection for the shuttle Endeavour. We will tell you what NASA found.
And this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sensor has detected alcohol. You have become negligent. Please stop your car in a safe place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Whoa! New technology lets your car just say no to drunk driving. It is 7:00 p.m. at the CNN Center in Atlanta, 5:00 p.m. where rescue efforts continue in Utah. I'm Tony Harris in tonight for Rick Sanchez and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The quiet sanctuary of a small church shattered today by an attacking gunman. It happened in the town of Neosho in southwest Missouri. Three people are reported dead. Several others hurt. Joining us now is Todd Higdon. He is a reporter with the "Neosho Daily News." And Todd, good to talk to you. What can you tell us about what happened today?
TODD HIGDON, NEOSHO DAILY NEWS: Like I said, we have three confirmed dead and several wounded.
HARRIS: Todd, describe the scene as best you know it, when police arrived. What have you heard from authorities?
HIGDON: Basically when I arrived, we had SRT teams that were ready to go inside the church itself. I arrived probably about 30 minutes after the initial shooting. HARRIS: Since we don't have a view of the church, can you describe the church? Give us a sense of the size, perhaps the size of the congregation that was worshipping at this hour?
HIGDON: We have about 25 to 50 people that were worshipping by the church. The church itself is about, actually it turned 141-years- old today.
HARRIS: Huh. The person in custody, have you heard any details about this individual at all?
HIGDON: No. The only thing that I have heard right now is that he is at the Boone county jail. No charges have been filed, nor has any names as well.
HARRIS: Sure. We're reporting three dead, and six injured. Any news on the conditions of those injured?
HIGDON: No, some were treated at a restaurant about 150 yards -- or 150 feet away from there. And then they were transported into either the sheriff's department or to the hospital itself.
HARRIS: OK. So Todd, we understand the congregation, correct me if I'm wrong on this, is largely Latino. Is the suspect in custody Latino as well?
HIGDON: That, we do not know. Actually, the church itself is non-denominational type church. The one that runs the church itself opens it up in the afternoons on Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00. And then that way they can let the Micronesians worship there as well in their native tongue.
HARRIS: I understand. OK, Todd Higdon is with the "Neosho Daily News." Todd, we appreciate the information, thank you.
HIGDON: Thank you, sir.
HARRIS: Let's talk about Merv Griffin now. He once joked that his tombstone will read, you heard it at the top of the newscast, "I will not be right back after this message." Griffin died this morning from prostate cancer at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 82-years-old, and pretty much did all there is to do in showbiz. He might not be right back after this message, but his influence will be felt for years to come. Here's CNN's Brooke Anderson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With a wide welcoming grin and a twinkle in his eye, Merv Griffin had an easy demeanor and a hearty laugh that was infectious. The epitome of versatility, Griffin was a singer.
GRIFFIN: Thanks for the memories.
ANDERSON: Band leader, actor and media mogul, but he's probably best known as host of "The Merv Griffin Show." GRIFFIN: If the talk shows were good at the time, they chronicled even better than the history books the times that we were living in.
ANDERSON: His talk show began in 1962, and ran for nearly a quarter of a century, during which time Griffin interviewed 25,000 guests.
GRIFFIN: There was only one person who ever intimidated me in 23 years of doing this show and that was Mrs. Rose Kennedy. You knew that she ruled the roost.
ANDERSON: In April 2006, Griffin's production company, Merv Griffin Entertainment, released a DVD set featuring his most memorable interviews, including Rose Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and a fresh face, Tom Cruise in 1983.
GRIFFIN: You seem a little shy about all that applause?
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: No.
ANDERSON: Griffin a native Californian, born in the San Francisco suburb of San Mateo on July 6th, 1925.
At 19, he began his singing career on the radio, working his way into nightclubs as a solo performer. In 1950, Griffin scored a hit with "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" which sold three million copies.
GRIFFIN: I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.
ANDERSON: Merv Griffin became a household name in part because he created two of the most successful game shows in television syndication history, "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" and for writing their theme songs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is "Jeopardy!"
GRIFFIN: The "Jeopardy!" theme is amazing. I wrote it in about 15 minutes. Just sat down on the piano, wrote this simple little folk song.
ANDERSON: In 1986, Griffin sold "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel" to Columbia Pictures Television for $250 million. That same year, he was named the richest Hollywood performer in history on "Forbes" annual list of the 400 wealthiest people in America.
GRIFFIN: How are you doing?
ANDERSON: Griffin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996. He recovered and told CNN in early 2006 he felt great, and hadn't changed a thing.
GRIFFIN: I do everything that I'm not supposed to do, and I don't do it intentionally. I have just smoked all my life, and I still smoke. And I eat too much, and I don't exercise. I take a taxi to a taxi.
ANDERSON: Over the course of his career, Griffin received 17 Emmy awards and in 1994 was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, but Griffin measured success not by accolades but by his ability to make people laugh.
GRIFFIN: I just hope I entertain the most people, and they had fun with it and stuff, and my tombstone will read, "I will not be right back after this message."
ANDERSON: His sense of humor always intact, Merv Griffin was the consummate entertainer. Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And you should know, Griffin's success wasn't limited to entertainment. After selling off the rights to his hit game shows, Griffin got into real estate, and spun his own wheel of fortune. He bought the Beverly Hilton and soon amassed the hotel and casino empire known as Resorts International. Griffin was also a horseman. He owned the Griffin Ranch and also the 2005 winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile. His personal worth is estimated at over $1 billion. Wow.
A special edition of "LARRY KING LIVE," on tap tonight. "Remembering Merv Griffin," begins at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Our other big story, the effort to reach those six trapped miners in Utah today. Authorities said the crews are trying to dig toward the miners are braving extremely difficult obstacles and still have a long way to go. From the top of the mountain tonight, a different set of workers will bore a third hole toward a section where the miners could have fled. To bring us up to date from Huntington, Utah, CNN's Kara Finnstrom. Kara, good evening to you.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you. Well, it's been seven long days. Still the rescuers have yet to see or hear any signs of life. But today, they said they would be making this third attempt, as you just mentioned, to bore another hole down more than 1,400 feet into the same cavern where they believe these miners are trapped. That prompted a lot of questions about whether after all of this time, it is likely that these miners could still be alive. Here's how a federal mining safety official responded to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD STICKLER, MSHA, ASST SECRETARY OF LABOR: We've had miners that I'm familiar with, in cases where miners have been rescued after 11 days. There's one case I'm familiar with, and I don't know if all the cases around the world. But our attitude is that we always have to have hope. And that's a position we're taking, is that we're hoping and we're praying. And it would be a terrible mistake to ever give up hope until you know for sure.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FINNSTROM: And one of the possible scenarios that they painted is that these miners, when they couldn't get out of the mine, progressed to a part of the mine where they thought the air quality would be better.
They say this is exactly where they're targeting now. They should have all the preparations complete by later on tonight, early tomorrow, to start drilling down, although we have no word exactly how long it will take to reach that area.
One other very important note, we still have the concerns about the oxygen. We know there could be an area, a survivable area that's about five and a half feet high where there's potable water, or drinkable water down there, where possibly these miners could have survived.
But we also know that the only real air quality sample we've gotten within the cavern area has only been at about 7 percent oxygen, which is not enough to survive on. This new area that they're drilling is about 1,100 to 1,200 feet from where the sample was taken. We'll really just have to wait and see what they find once they get down there.
HARRIS: OK, Kara, just time to dig another hole and try to locate these miners. Kara Finnstrom for us.
Huntington, Utah, is a town of 2,000 people, hundreds of whom gathered last night for a service for the miners. As for the families of the six trapped miners, they say they're holding together the best they can.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSE SANDOVAL SANCHEZ, COUSIN OF TRAPPED MINER: Yeah, a slow process in general. Don't want to give specifics. But it's a slow process. Definitely a time of grief and laughs and ups and downs. We're hanging in there. Good family support for everybody in there. I think everybody will be all right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The uncle of one of the miners told CNN that as the days drag on, he and his family are slowly losing hope. The city of Huntington has set up a fund to support the families. If you would like to contribute, you can send your donations to Zion's Bank at P.O. Box 60, Huntington, Utah, 84528, or call 1-800-974-8800 for more information.
We know the name Flossie doesn't exactly strike fear in your heart, but maybe it should. Jacqui?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I don't know about fear, but this is certainly a storm that you don't want to ignore, if you live in the Hawaiian islands. Flossie might be small, but packing an incredible punch right now. We also have the potential development in the Atlantic. That definitely everybody wants to hear about. We'll have the forecast coming up.
HARRIS: And not long after these pictures were taken, well the little girl on the right disappeared. A family's darkest secret, and a shameful chapter of American history went with her. Tonight, a brother's search for his sister 50 years in the making. That's later in our show. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So, this is one doghouse you mind not mind getting sent to. It is one cool pad. Ira Godwin of Greensboro, North Carolina, make sure his pal Mac beat the heat so he installed an air conditioner in his daughter's old life size doll house and converted it into a doghouse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IRA GODWIN, DOG OWNER: Some of the people thought, that was just hilarious. But I just feel like if you have a pet, you need to take care of him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: OK. Godwin says, we can agree with that. The doll house originally had wallpaper and carpet, but he removed the carpet because it draws too much heat.
Jacqui, heat is still an issue in many parts of the country. Not as bad as it's been on the last couple of days here. But at least initially, you could give us an update on that Flossie character.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Well, a laser-tipped boom armed with higher resolution video cameras gave NASA a closer look at a ding on the shuttle's thermal tiles today. The 3D images of the three-inch gash may help NASA engineers rule out the need for a risky repair in space. Our Miles O'Brien has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It happened 58 seconds after launch. A chunk of insulating foam fell off Endeavour's external fuel tank, ricocheted off a strut and then scraped across some of the orbiter's heat-resistant tiles.
There are four gouges in all, first spotted in pictures snapped by the space station crew as Endeavor back flipped, just before docking on Friday. It was enough for engineers to order up a closer look at the gouges with a laser ranging device which generates a three-dimensional picture of the damage.
MATT ABBOTT, LEAD FLIGHT DIRECTOR: We got all the data we expected to get for the engineering teams, and that data is being analyzed as we speak. O'BRIEN: Engineers will now conduct a blast furnace test on some tiles with similar damage, and a computer simulation to see what might happen when the gouge is exposed to the 2,300-degree heat of re-entry.
The shuttle team says the largest and deepest gouge may go all the way to Endeavour's aluminum skin. But they say it is below a sturdy strut in the wing, not sensitive wiring or hydraulics and they point to these damaged tiles from "Discovery" back in 1988. Even though the damage was even more extensive then, the orbiter's skin was unscathed. But the jury is still out.
JOHN SHANNON, DEP. SHUTTLE PROGRAM MANGER: I don't have an idea right now whether a repair will be required, or if so, which type of repair will be required.
O'BRIEN: The crew can paint the gouge with a heat-resistant liquid, fill it in with some high-tech bondo, or cover it with a plate. Astronauts have practiced doing the repairs, but NASA managers have never staked the safety of a shuttle crew on them. Miles O'Brien, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And still to come in the CNN NEWSROOM, how low will it go? Just in time for the start of school, drivers are catching a break at the pump.
So he didn't win the Iowa straw poll, but that didn't stop this GOP presidential hopeful from rockin' the house. Details later in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And checking news across America now. A bit of relief from the pain at the pump. Gas prices have dropped, can you believe this, almost 11 cents in the past two weeks. The average price for a gallon of regular gas is now $2.78. But at least one expert says, don't expect it to last.
Scary moments in Grand Junction, Colorado last night. Emergency teams rescued a woman from this nearly submerged SUV. Can you see it here? Police say the vehicle careened off the road and into the water. There is no word on what caused this mishap.
Chainsaws are busy in Tucson, Arizona, this weekend as residents cleaned up from a dangerous hailstorm. Widespread damage is reported after monsoon rains struck the city Friday. One witness says the kind of damage you're seeing you normally expect after a tornado, not heavy rain.
Police in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, say a hammer-wielding man literally hit a beauty parlor and its patrons. Besides robbing four women customers aged 56 to 76, police say he also attacked them. Injuries include a fractured skull with one victim needing surgery. The 41-year-old suspect was caught after a day-long manhunt.
Merv Griffin known for his vision, his smarts and his humor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: You write. You create shows, you come up with "Wheel of Fortune," "Jeopardy!," you write the songs. You became larger than doing a show.
GRIFFIN: I started buying in hotels, which were my second love. You know, talk show, beds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The TV titan passed away this morning. We've got memories of Merv ahead in the NEWSROOM.
Also, not sober? Not allowed. This car knows if you've been drinking.
And.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where's Molly? Where's Molly? Where's Molly?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he got this answer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop talking about Molly. Go to your room.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Separated for five decades, an Oregon man searched for his sister and seeks answers for other families divided by disability.
You're with CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And here's what's happening now. A shooting at a church in the small town of Neosho, Missouri. Police say a gunman stormed into the church during a mid-day service and opened fire. A city official says three people were killed and as many as 10 others now were injured. Authorities have the suspect in custody.
New developments from Minneapolis where the sheriff's department confirms more human remains have been found at the I-35W bridge collapse site. They were discovered about four hours ago, but have yet to be identified by the coroner's office.
Rescuers will drill a third hole into a Utah mine as the search for six trapped miners enters its seventh day. Rescue officials are using another hole to get more light into an area they call a survivable space.
Talk show host and game show creator Merv Griffin died today at a Los Angeles hospital. A second battle with prostate cancer claimed the 82-year-old entertainer. Griffin pretty much did all there is to do in showbiz. He started his career as a singer and actor. Later he hosted "The Merv Griffin Show" for more than 20 years. He made a fortune with his game show creations, "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" He even wrote that famous "Jeopardy!" theme song. Griffin also went into hotel casino and other real estate ventures.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan and Merv Griffin were long-time friends. In a statement she said "He was a dear, dear friend and we became even closer over the last 15 years. He was there for me on some of the hardest days when Ronnie was fighting Alzheimer's and he was there for me every day after Ronnie died."
Griffin interviewed thousands of newsmakers, personalities and celebrities on his talk show. CNN's Larry King interviewed Merv after his career -- about his career and his success.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING: You were on your way to becoming not only very rich, but an impresario. You write quiz shows, you come up with "Wheel of Fortune," "Jeopardy!", you write the songs. I mean, you became larger than doing a show.
GRIFFIN: But I started buying in hotels, which were my second love. It was like talk show with beds.
KING: We're going to show a clip with Orson Welles.
ORSON WELLES, FORMER ACTOR: I acted in soap operas in the day to make my living. I did a lot of those. I remember I played a cad in one of them. I was trying to seduce a girl. It took us about 13 weeks in one rumble seat to get anywhere.
KING: Was he as impressive as he was on the screen?
GRIFFIN: Oh, yeah, scary. The only thing that he did not was impressive is he invited me to lunch with and had a little corner and I went in, we sat with him and he wanted an introduction to Clint Eastwood because he had a script that he thought would be great for Clint, and I agreed to set it up.
And we were sitting there and he had a little piece of fish and a little of this and a little vegetable. And the size - he was gigantic. I thought, how can that be? Maybe he's swollen. So I left at the same time he did. And he got in his car and driver in front of me and I got in mine.
We were coming right over in his direction, right over here because my theater was right up the street here. And so we were almost following him. Suddenly he turned left on Cahuenga and I said to the driver, follow that car. It was great to say. We followed him and he pulled up in front of Pink's. And I said, stop. You know Pink's? The hot dog stand. For years, it's been there, wonderful. His chauffeur went in and he came out with a tray, and I counted two dozen. He sat in the back seat.
KING: He died shortly after this.
GRIFFIN: He died three hours after this interview.
KING: Wow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: A special edition of "LARRY KING LIVE." On tap tonight, "Remembering Merv Griffin," begins at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Actor Robert Wagner says he met Merv when they were both young actors kicking around Hollywood together. Wagner made many appearances on "The Merv Griffin Show" and he joins me by phone with his personal remembrances. Robert Wagner, thanks for your time.
ROBERT WAGNER, ACTOR: Oh, Tony, it's a pleasure to speak about Merv. He was a very, very good friend, and as you said, I went back with him when we were actors together, starting off in Hollywood.
He was playing with Freddy Martin's band, and playing piano. He was a wonderful, wonderful human being. Took a great big bite out of life, and enjoyed it so much. And he shared his success, Tony, with all of us that knew him.
And he was so generous, so very generous. I mean, when you were with him, you were -- everything was absolutely the first rate. Couldn't be any better. He will be missed by all of us.
HARRIS: You mentioned generosity. I'm just curious, maybe that was the gift, maybe there were others, but what was, in your opinion, the singular gift that -- the essential gift of that -- that made Merv Griffin, Merv Griffin?
WAGNER: I think I would say to you that he loved people. He genuinely loved people. And as I said before, his generosity was just incredible. I mean, he shared his love for life, and his success with the people who knew him. And he was the most marvelous man, had great humor, and his gifts were many. They were I enormous, all of them.
HARRIS: I don't want to talk much about money, but the estimates put his net worth at over $1 billion. Did he change at all as the success just multiplied?
WAGNER: I didn't notice that. I didn't notice that change. He just had this ability to go from one venture to another. I remember when he got involved in the hotels down in the Bahamas and we all went down there to help him kick it off. And he was just so enthusiastic. And his enthusiasm carried him into so many different ventures. And he was a -- he had a real vision. He had a tremendous vision about life. And as I said to you before, he took a big bite out of it. And he will be missed, believe me.
HARRIS: Robert Wagner with us in the CNN NEWSROOM. Mr. Wagner, great to talk to you. It really is.
WAGNER: Thank you so much. HARRIS: Thanks for your time this evening.
WAGNER: Thank you very much.
HARRIS: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, this evening, a family's heart-breaking decision, a brother's heart-felt search.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would read page after page where they said that Molly was kept in a straight jacket all day long. That she was restrained, that she was being medicated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: He finally found his sister and found out what she had been through over their five decades apart. We'll have that story for you.
Later, keeping them sober. The latest car from Japan where sobriety comes standard.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, some of the most popular videos on CNN.com, a politician with a penchant for rock 'n' roll. Apparently a lot of you just have to see it to believe it. Well, here it is. Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee proves he's born to be wild at an event in Iowa.
What many are not so wild about, but are very interested in, dirty beaches. A new study shows they're on the rise. The report by CNN's Gary Nurenberg tells us why.
And if that doesn't pique your interest, this might. A Florida man with a job like no one else's. He plays Jesus six days a week at a spiritual theme park. And yes, his daily duties include crucifixions. Yikes.
Let's talk about Hurricane Flossie threatening the Hawaiian islands. Dave Curtis with Hawaii's state civil defense is on the line from Honolulu. Dave, thanks for your time.
Hey Dave, what are you preparing for right now? Maybe you don't know, but maybe you can give us a little guidance here. Are you preparing for possible landfall, strong storm surge? What are you preparing for?
DAVE CURTIS, HAWAII STATE CIVIL DEFENSE: At this moment, we don't really know. Much of the impact looks like it's going to be on the big island, the island of Hawaii. That is the southern-most of the Hawaiian islands.
Current projections from the National Weather Service have the storm passing about 60 miles south of the big island. Right now the storm is a Category 4. By the time it gets to the south point area, it could be as strong as a Category 1 or it could be down to a tropical depression status.
Either way, there's going to be strong winds and possible heavy rains associated with it. We could get as much as 10 inches of rain in some areas of the south section of the big island.
HARRIS: Boy. Hey, Dave, meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is with us as well and she has some questions for you. Jacqui?
JERAS: Hi, Dave. Just wondering due to the unique nature of Hawaii as a state, being an archipelago and not really being able to evacuate people, what kind of unique challenges are you facing with this storm?
CURTIS: We always have those challenges, Jacqui. Of course we can't just jump on a car and get on the road and drive. We do have to have shelters in all of the neighborhoods.
We do have hurricane shelters at most of the schools. Those are operated of course by the Red Cross, as they are in most states. And those people that live in single wall construction type houses, we advise to go to those shelters.
Other homes that are strong enough, the hurricane clips and special rooms in them, people can shelter at home. We're advising people to take the time to update their hurricane kits at home and all the food and water and things that are necessary to support life for two to three days.
JERAS: What's the mood of the people there? Are they taking this storm seriously? Or is everybody looking forward to surfing some big waves?
CURTIS: I think everybody's looking forward to some rain. We've had some drought conditions, particularly on the neighbor islands. I'm in Honolulu and the neighbor islands have been kind of dry, particularly the big island. They're looking forward to a little rainfall at this point.
They may get some stronger winds. The hurricanes, as you know, are very unpredictable, Jacqui. One or two-degree shift in the path of the hurricane can be significant as to whether or not it passes by or whether or not it actually strikes an island. So we're watching it very carefully.
JERAS: Right. Even though you need the rain, we could get a little bit too much, especially with the topography there. Are you worried about flooding?
CURTIS: We are indeed. Mayor Harry Kim from the big island and his civil defense staff were just on a video conference with our folks talking about that very subject and they are preparing on the big island.
JERAS: All right, thanks very much. Dave Curtis, the public information officer with the Hawaii State Civil Defense Department there in Hawaii. Of course, your hurricane headquarters will be tracking Flossie. As it gets closer, Tony, it looks like probably Tuesday night they'll feel the impacts of the storm.
HARRIS: That's good stuff. Jacqui, appreciate it, thank you.
This is an unbelievable story we have for you now. A family mystery and a shameful era in America's treatment of the disabled. For one Oregon man, the search for his long-lost sister became a journey of revelations that finally ended in a reunion. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen has this incredible story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): All his life, Jeff Daly knew that when he was a little boy, he had a sister named Molly. He had hazy memories of playing with her, laughing with her, loving her.
JEFF DALY, FOUND LONG-LOST SISTER: I didn't really want to play with other people. I spent all of my time with her.
COHEN: But then one day, when Jeff was 6 and Molly was 2, someone took Molly away.
DALY: I kept just saying, where's Molly? Where's Molly? Where's Molly?
COHEN: And he got this answer.
DALY: Stop talking about Molly. Go to your room.
COHEN: The mystery of why Molly Jo Daly disappeared would eventually send Jeff searching through his family's darkest secrets and through a shameful chapter of American history.
Sue and Jack Daly were married in 1949 and set up house in the small seaside town of Astoria, Oregon. Jeff was a rising executive, Sue, a homemaker. Jeff was born in 1951.
DALY: The '50s was sort of the perfect mom. It was the "Leave It to Beaver." It was Betty Crocker. It was sort of like perfect little home life.
COHEN: His little sister Molly was born three years later.
DALY: And I'm sure that she wanted to have the perfect little boy and girl family.
COHEN: But something wasn't completely perfect about Molly. Molly was disabled. So just a few months after this picture was taken, she was gone.
DALY: Yes. At this point in time, they were already making arrangements for Molly to be sent away.
COHEN: Jeff grew up and became a successful TV photographer. He traveled the world, but could never completely fill that emptiness he'd felt since he was 6. Over time, Jeff learned that his parents had sent Molly away because she was disabled. He told his parents he wanted to see Molly, but he says they forbid it. So Jeff waited until 2004, when both of his parents had died. He learned from a relative that Molly had spent most of her life here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First stop in the journey of a mentally retarded child. Mental retardation is often detected early in life.
COHEN: Molly Jo Daly had been warehoused at a state institution, just like tens of thousands of other disabled children across the country. It was called Fairview. As many as 40 children lived in one room, according to Oregon officials. Fairview patients were sometimes restrained in leather cuffs, isolated for long periods of time, and sterilized. Jeff discovered a film that the state had made about Fairview. In it, he spotted Molly, and he read her personal file.
DALY: I would read page after page where they said that Molly was kept in a straight jacket all day long, that she was restrained, that she was being medicated.
COHEN: He noticed how much worse she looked every year.
DALY: Molly and other folks would sometimes - they would throw themselves to the floor and they would bang their heads on the pavement, or they would break windows and cut themselves because what that meant was somebody would take care of them. They would have a nurse that would bandage them up, or they'd get to go see a doctor.
COHEN: So how could Jeff's parents send their own daughter here when she was only 2? Bill Lynch, executive director of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, says it's hard for us today to understand what it was like 50 years ago.
BILL LYNCH, OREGON COUNCIL DEV. DISABILITIES: The doctor would say that it would be better for you, it would be better for your child, it would be better for your other children if you simply turned your child over to the state for institutionalization.
COHEN: And many parents obliged, especially since there were few public school programs available back then for children with disabilities. There was a lot of shame at that time in having a disabled child.
DALY: It was shame. It was a part of society. It was how you were looked at by your friends.
COHEN: After a series of lawsuits, the state closed Fairview in 2000. Two years later, the governor apologized for what he called the "great wrong done to helpless citizens entrusted to the care of the state of Oregon." After Fairview closed, its residents were scattered all around the state of Oregon, making them difficult to find. But Jeff was lucky. His father kept meticulous records.
DALY: I found a file in my dad's filing cabinet that was buried away back in the closet. And we found a file that said "Molly." COHEN: Inside, a phone number.
DALY: And I was able to hear the person on the other line say that Molly Daly is sitting right across from me.
COHEN: Do you think your father wanted you to find her?
DALY: Totally. He wanted us to find Molly. He wanted me to find Molly. I know that for sure.
Molly!
COHEN: After nearly 50 years apart, Jeff found his Molly. They were reunited as brother and sister. Jeff was relieved to find that she lives in a group home, where she's loved and well cared for. Jeff was lucky to have his father's records to guide him, but it's a lot harder for other families. Jeff was inspired to help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it is. Hi, Molly.
COHEN: So in 2005, Jeff, his wife Cindy, and Molly went to the Oregon capitol. And with Molly by his side, Jeff testified to the legislature to make it easier to access records so other brothers and sisters can reunite. It's called Molly's Law and it's become a model across the country.
DALY: Molly's room, from what we've been able to find from old film and old pictures, was over here in the corner.
COHEN: And Jeff made a documentary to inspire others to search for family members who had been sent to institutions.
DALY: Old MacDonald had a farm.
COHEN: Now 50 years later, Jeff finally answered the question, where's Molly? The question he asked so many times as a boy. He and his sister are making up for lost time. He visits often and has become her legal guardian. Is this better than a walk?
Playing together like they did 50 years ago. Molly now has a family.
DALY: Whee!
COHEN: And Jeff has his sister back.
DALY: We can go higher!
COHEN: Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Seaside, Oregon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Isn't that great? I told you so. There is so much more to this story. Read more about Jeff's journey, or if you want to find a lost loved one, just log onto CNN.com and go to our Health section.
Drinking and driving could become a thing of the past, thanks to this car of the future.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The sensor has detected alcohol. You have become negligent. Please stop your car in a safe place.
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HARRIS: Wow. Better call a cab because you're not going anywhere. We get behind the wheel of the sober smart car.
And as the nation watches rescue efforts in Utah, a look back at the Sago mine tragedy. A report from CNN's "SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT" coming up next hour.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
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HARRIS: Crazy, crazy, crazy. If you love fancy and super expensive Italian sports cars, well, you might find these images a little disturbing.
Police say the owner of this $400,000 brand spanking new Lamborghini was speeding near Orlando, Florida. He lost control, ran off the road and crashed. The result? One lame Lamborghini. Was that funny? Was that OK? OK. The 39-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. You think? And leaving the scene -- I'm on a roll here. And leaving the scene of an accident. His wife was reportedly a passenger, and hurt her arm a bit in the crash.
All right, don't drink and drive. For motorists who don't follow the rules of the road, there is now a car that will. CNN's Kyung Lah steers us in the right direction.
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KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's as Japanese as sushi, a nightly communion of sake and beer. The government believes this custom is contributing to a national problem of drunk driving.
A string of accidents where children were killed is disturbing the social psyche. Enter Japanese innovation, a concept car being developed by Nissan, conceptualizing the end of drunk driving.
It's not aimed at the celebrity offender, like, say, Paris Hilton, or Lindsay Lohan, or at the repeat offender. But at the average consumer.
MINORU SHINOHARA, NISSAN MOTOR CO: Be careful. Don't drink. That kind of rather soft reminding, very easy to do. And it has some impact for ordinary people.
LAH: Here's how it works. An onboard computer detects any erratic driving. Facial recognition technology detects if the driver is becoming sleepy. And a number of sensors mounted all around the car detect alcohol in the air or on the driver's sweat.
For the purposes of demonstration only, not to drive, Nissan is allowing us to test out their drunk driving prevention system. After a few sips of beer, the car sensors go to work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The sensor has detected alcohol. You have become negligent. Please stop your car in a safe place.
LAH: If I drank even more, the transmission would lock.
CHARLES HURLEY, CEO, MADD: The technology is not ready right now, but we're very hopeful it will be tested in various ways and eliminate drunk driving in the United States and other countries, beginning in about 10 years.
LAH: A number of automakers like Volvo and Toyota are developing similar smart cars, a change in how society approaches the problem. Stopping the driver before he commits a crime. Kyung Lah, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And still to come, we're going to catch you up on the Utah mining disaster when we come back. And then tonight at 10:00 Eastern, sexually active seniors facing serious STDs. Yeah, you heard me.
Plus, afraid what the market will do when it opens tomorrow? A lot of folks are. We're going to find out what's ahead from Wall Street. Keep it here. You're in the NEWSROOM.
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HARRIS: The latest now on that nonstop rescue effort at a Utah mine. Six workers have been trapped there for nearly a week. A third hole will be drilled into the mine, in an effort to locate the miners. Rescue officials are also trying to get more light into an area through a second hole. That area, officials say, has a survivable space and crews are digging through the rubble of a collapsed mine, a process expected to take several days. We have reporters on the ground and will have live reports at 10 p.m. Eastern.
But first, lessons learned from the Sago mine tragedy. CNN's "SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT" takes a closer look at the events in West Virginia that left 12 miners dead.
Then at 9 Eastern, a special "LARRY KING LIVE," "Remembering Merv Griffin."
I'm Tony Harris. We will see you back here again at 10 Eastern, but first a check of the top stories.
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