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Massacre in Crandon, Wisconsin; Authorities Searching for Missing Cessna With 10 People on Board

Aired October 08, 2007 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Take a look. He was a full-time sheriff's deputy and part-time city cop, but today Tyler Peterson is dead, as are a half-dozen people he gunned down in a late-night party in a small town.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And Betty, amid the tears, some questions and speculation. We expect to hear details, in fact, moments from now in a news conference from Crandon, Wisconsin.

We'll take you there live.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen, in today for Kyra Phillips.

You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: And we start with that Wisconsin -- those Wisconsin murders.

He was supposed to protect and serve. Instead, he shot and killed.

A 20-year-old sheriff's deputy gunned down six other young people in a small Wisconsin town over the weekend. Now people in Crandon are asking why. And we expect to hear more from police in any moment now.

You're looking at live pictures of a press conference there. Expected to get under way, as I said, just in moments.

But first on the ground, we want to go to our Susan Roesgen, who is in Crandon, and she's going to update us as we prepare for that press conference to start.

Hi, Susan.

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don.

You know while we do wait for this news conference, I think that alert CNN viewers will be surprised or will remember a coincidence here. It was only a couple of weeks ago that this very school, this very auditorium where the news conference is going to be held, was the scene of great joy here because a Wisconsin soldier had helped an Iraqi girl -- an Iraqi girl get eye surgery that was paid for by the local Lions Club.

So here we've got a story of hope and rejuvenation for an Iraqi girl just a couple of weeks ago in this tiny town of 2,000 people, and then today we're going to have this news conference by all sorts of law enforcement representatives and the school superintendent talking about that shooting, Don. So I think it's really just an amazing coincidence you would have both happy news and sad news in the space of a couple of weeks here.

LEMON: Yes.

And Susan, just -- you've been reporting apparently there's some question about maybe he had a grudge or it may have been a love triangle or something?

ROESGEN: You know, people are speculating, but law enforcement has been very tight-lipped. The most that we know is from friends of the victims who have told us that one of the dead was Deputy Tyler Peterson's ex-girlfriend and that he apparently knew the other people, current and former students of this high school behind me, who were at that party. But again, that's just from the friends of the victims.

We have not had any confirmation from the local law enforcement. Maybe we'll get some of those answers from this news conference.

We also expect to find out, Don, perhaps about some other really dramatic events that happened after the shooting at that party. We understand now that Deputy Tyler Peterson may have taken at least one hostage at another location after he left the party, after the shootout, and it was when he was with that hostage that the local police department S.W.A.T. team had to take him out, shot him and killed him.

Now, that was from the mayor here, but we, again, have not had confirmation of that from local law enforcement. So it seems to have been a very dramatic time here early Sunday morning -- Don.

LEMON: All right, Susan. It seems like you've got a lot going on there. You've got sirens, you've got bugs, or what have you. But again...

ROESGEN: Yes.

LEMON: Thank you very much for that report.

And as we continue to monitor these pictures, we'll bring this press conference to you live here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

You won't miss any of it.

NGUYEN: Well, another developing story that we're following, the search is under way in the Cascades for a small plane with 10 people on board. It was bound for Shelton, Washington, but for whatever reason never made it.

CNN's Kathleen Koch is on the story for us, and she's got additional information.

What have you been able to discover, Kathleen?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, this is an aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan, that was owned by Skydive Kapowsin. It's a Skydive operation near Seattle, Washington, been in business for some 29 years. And this aircraft was on its way back from Boise, Idaho, where they had participated, the nine passengers, in a parachute event. Left there around 7:00, was due back in Shelton just around midnight, but it did not show up.

Now, the FAA says according to its radar, the plane dropped from radar around 8:00 p.m. So they put out an alert to nearby airports to see if the plane might have landed at one of those airports, but so far all of them report negative, it didn't show up. So the Yakima County Emergency Management Office have search and rescue teams right now searching the area near Rimrock Lake. It's in the Cascade Mountains, south of I-90, north of Mount Rainier.

A spokesman who I just talked to, Tina Wilson, says right now they have not yet found the aircraft. But Jeff Ferrington (ph), who's one of the owners of Skydive Kapowsin, says they do have an emergency locator transmitter on the plane. They have sleeping bags on board. He said often they take food with them on trips like this.

It was just a two-hour flight, but, again, they don't know what has happened, if it had to make an emergency landing, if it crashed. But again, the search is on and they are very desperately looking for these people right now. A lot of concern right there.

NGUYEN: Oh, no doubt.

So it left Boise, Idaho, around 7:00 p.m. last night. After about an hour in the air it went missing off the radar.

Any indication as to what the weather may have been like where they were over at that time?

KOCH: The FAA didn't mention the weather in the area. No one has mentioned that as a concern.

Obviously, that's something that they will be looking at. They always do when there's an aircraft that's missing, potentially gone down. But I haven't heard that that's been an issue in this case.

I did speak to one of the owners again, Jeff Ferrington (ph), of Skydive Kapowsin. He said the aircraft hadn't had any problems lately, none at all. He wouldn't talk about who exactly the pilot was, but according to their Web site, all of the pilots are trained according to FAA regulations. All the instructors licensed.

So no clear idea at this point as to what happened to the aircraft right now, Betty, just that it's missing.

NGUYEN: All right. Kathleen Koch, I know you'll continue to update us as soon as you get new developments. (NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Crandon, Wisconsin, the scene of a deadly shooting this weekend. Six people dead, including the gunman there. The gunman believed to be a 20-year-old sheriff's deputy.

We're awaiting a press conference so that officials and investigators there can update us on exactly what happened. Was it a grudge? Was it some sort of love triangle?

There's lots of speculation going on, but they're going to clear that up for us at this press conference coming up.

Just as soon as it happens we'll bring it to you live.

NGUYEN: Well, an autopsy could tell us what caused a police officer to die while running the Chicago Marathon. Thirty-five-year- old Chad Scheiber (ph) of Midland, Michigan, collapsed during the race yesterday. He was one of dozens of runners who fell ill in the record heat and high humidity. Two runners were hospitalized in critical condition.

And our Brianna Keilar spoke with one of the marathoners on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: There was some criticism that maybe there wasn't enough water, but what you're saying is the water stations were too far apart, that people were going too long of distances because they could get fluids.

Is that what you're saying?

ARZU KARIMOVA, CHICAGO MARATHON RUNNER: Yes, that's what I'm saying. I also -- like, I run a little bit faster than some of my friends who were running, like, 15 minutes a mile. They say there was nobody at the water station and nothing was there.

KEILAR: So are...

KARIMOVA: The people who were coming after me.

KEILAR: So there just weren't enough fluids there, your friend said.

Describe for us the scene, because I know that when you were on or close to mile 18, you saw someone who was seizing, having a seizure. Is that right?

KARIMOVA: Yes, I saw a couple of people had a seizure and a few people fall down on the ground. And then after I saw them, I said, OK, I'm not going to finish the marathon in four hours, 15 minutes. I'll push for five hours, or five and 15. I slowed down because of it.

Another thing that was amazing -- amazing to me is that there wasn't enough medical assistance on the road. And there was no ice. Like, they knew it was going to be hot. They should have had ice.

Like, the individual people were handing out ice and giving water to people. I think it wasn't well organized.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: A little bit more information right now. Temperatures near 90 degrees before organizers cut that race short.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: We go to Wisconsin, the scene of that deadly shooting this weekend. Officials there updating us.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

J.B. VAN HOLLEN, WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL: ... the attorney general for the state of Wisconsin.

First, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims, their loved ones, their classmates and their community. No parent, no community should have to endure what they now must endure due to this tragedy.

We in law enforcement stand side by side with the families as they grieve. Though violence so terrible and tragic will never make sense, we will continue to investigate this matter so that we can establish an understanding of what precisely occurred Sunday morning.

We know that you're here for answers to questions -- what occurred, why did it happen, how did it end? We're seeking answers to those questions, too. And we're developing answers to those questions by thoroughly investigating this matter, conducting interviews, reviewing interview information, and processing and examining the crime scene. This investigation is ongoing.

Here's what we can confirm now -- all evidence from multiple sources indicates that the perpetrator of these vicious, multiple homicides was Tyler Peterson and only Tyler Peterson.

At approximately 2:47 a.m. early Sunday morning, Peterson entered a building at 201 North Hazeldel (ph), Apartment B, in Crandon. An argument ensued. Peterson then left the building, retrieved a rifle from his truck, forcibly entered the apartment and began to open fire.

Approximately 30 rounds were fired inside the apartment. Ultimately, six people were killed in the apartment. Their names are Jordan Murray (ph), Leanna Thomas (ph), Katrina McCorkel (ph), Lindsey Stahl, Bradley Shultz (ph) and Erin Smith (ph). There was a single survivor who was shot and has been interviewed by the Department of Justice. After Peterson opened fire in the apartment, he left the apartment and began to fire numerous rounds at a responding Crandon police officer, Greg Carter (ph), striking his police cruiser, but Officer Carter was injured but Peterson then fled. Crandon Police Chief John Dennee then requested the assistance of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The Division of Criminal Investigation took over this investigation, as well as the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory.

We responded immediately and agents and DOJ personnel were dispatched to the area. Due to the nature of the investigation and the subject, the Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, immediately assumed its role as lead investigative agency and continues to act as such and will until the close of this investigation.

After fleeing the scene, Peterson was a fugitive. Peterson had telephone conversations with law enforcement officials, including Crandon Chief of Police John Dennee, confirming he was the shooter.

Mid to late morning on Sunday, Peterson was located at a residence in the town of Argonne. Contact was established and maintained with the suspect. Ultimately, however, shots were fired both by law enforcement and Mr. Peterson.

There have been statements made about the cause of Mr. Peterson's death. At this time, this is a matter of ongoing investigation. It is premature to speculate as to the precise cause of death. We hope to have additional information once the autopsy is completed.

All seven deceased are having autopsies performed on them today. Law enforcement will release additional information as it becomes available.

This investigation is fluid and ongoing. The Department of Justice, through the Division of Criminal Investigation and our state crime laboratories, is working diligently to complete the investigation of the multiple homicides and Peterson's subsequent death. We are working deliberately but with all deliberate speed.

The Crandon Police Department was the first responder to the shots at the apartment, and quickly requested law enforcement backup. Numerous agencies responded and provided assistance, including the Oneida County Sheriff's Department, the Langlade County Sheriff's Department, the state patrol, the Vilas County Sheriff's Department, the O'Connell (ph) County Sheriff's Department, the Laona Police Department and the Department of Natural Resources.

The Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, sent agents from throughout the state to the scenes. All told, over two dozen DCI agents have participated in aspects of this investigation. Department of Justice, State Crime Laboratory personnel were also dispatched, and they processed and continue today to process the scenes.

I thank everyone for their assistance. There has been a lot of information given about this case, some accurate, some based on speculation. Please understand the collection and analysis of information is a time-consuming and deliberative process. We are working as fast as possible without sacrificing the quality of the investigation. Over the next couple of days, we will provide information to the media through news releases and other means.

Mr. Peterson, the gunman, was employed by the Crandon Police Department and the Forest County Sheriff's Department. These agencies have cooperated fully with the investigation, as has the district attorney in Forest County.

The Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, as well as the state crime laboratories, was requested to come to Crandon to take the lead in this investigation and to continue the investigation at the request of the district attorney, chief of police and the sheriff. I commend them for this request, because while they have assisted and will continue to assist in anything that the Department of Justice asks of them, they recognize that there are too many people involved in this case who have too close of ties to their departments for them to lead the investigation themselves.

I commend them for calling us in. I'm very pleased at the Department of Justice's ability to come forward so rapidly and help in your community.

We will continue to help in your community as much as we possibly can.

Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would now like to introduce Crandon School District's superintendent, Dr. Richard Peters, who will make a statement, after which time we'll have a brief period for questions and answers of the panel.

RICHARD PETERS, SUPT. CRANDON SCHOOL DISTRICT: I will be reading my statement, and if any of you would like copies of the statement, there are ladies over here by the wall who have those copies for you, should you want them.

My name is Dr. Richard Peters, and I am the superintendent of the School District of Crandon.

During this time of tragedy, the Crandon School District is working with the local law enforcement agencies and the attorney general, and will not comment on any part of the investigation. Our focus is on helping our students cope with this tragedy.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of the young people who have died.

Experts tell us that returning to some type of normal as soon as possible is very important to helping our children begin the healing process. Therefore, we are reopening school on Wednesday, October 10. District staff is processing this tragedy and planning for the students' return. We have received offers from many area school districts and we will accept the services that best help our students and staff begin the healing process.

I want to thank everyone for their outpouring of support. A family memorial fund has been established at Laona State Bank, and deposits can be made at any Laona State Bank location to help the families.

As a school community, we want to take time to assess the needs of the students, staff, families and the community before making decisions on school events. What we know now is as follows.

The junior varsity football game scheduled for tonight has been canceled. The middle school seventh and eighth grade girls' basketball games scheduled for tomorrow night have been canceled. The girls' volleyball game in White Lake, whether that will be held yet or not is yet to be determined, as well as the varsity football game currently scheduled for Friday night.

The coaches and the teams will make the decisions on those games, and we will work with them and inform the community of their decision as to if they want to go forward.

Counseling services were available today for students, staff and families at Grace Chapel. School counseling services for students will continue on Wednesday as school for our student students.

We do not know when the funerals will be planned. We anticipate that those announcements will be made by the families and the authorities.

Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before taking questions and answers, actually, we have one more statement.

I would like to introduce Pastor Bill Farr (ph) of Grace Chapel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was asked by the Tyler Peterson family to share a statement, and I've been in contact with them, and so I'll just read the statement.

It says, "Crandon community, our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their friends. We are grieving for your losses. We are very sorry for what has happened."

"This huge tragedy has deeply affected everyone, including us. We also feel a tremendous amount of guilt and shame for the horrible acts Tyler committed. We are struggling to respond, like most of you. We do not know what we should do. Like us, many of you are asking why and looking for answers.

There is nothing that happened before or after yesterday's events that has given us any insight into why. We may never receive the answers we all seek. Like those close to Tyler, we are in shock and disbelief that he would do such terrible things. This was not the Tyler we knew and loved. We do not know how to act.

We want to express our love and support to everyone affected, but are unsure what would be appropriate. We are hurting for all your losses as well as ours. May God bless you all. Are you in our thoughts and prayers. With great sorrow, the Peterson family. "

KEVIN ST. JOHN, SPOKESMAN, WISCONSIN DEPT. OF JUSTICE: Before I go to questions I would like to make a special request of the media. Law enforcement has met with the victims' families, and they have made a specific request that the media not contact them during this difficult time. And I would just like to ask all of you to give them the space that is appropriate during this time, and with that we'll take some questions.

QUESTION: Can you provide any insight into what the argument was about that started all this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing we know is there was some type of dispute. The only thing we know is there was some type of dispute; the facts and the details, no, at this time.

QUESTION (OFF MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were in a relationship for a few years. They had broken up and were back and forth.

QUESTION: Was she with somebody else that night?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A bunch of friends.

QUESTION: (OFF MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, nothing like that. It was all friends.

ST. JOHN: Please understand that the investigation continues and that the relationships between the people who were present at the house that night is a matter that is under investigation. And as we conclude that investigation and collect all of the information and disseminate it into one place, we'll then disseminate it to you.

QUESTION: (OFF MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Approximately 2:47 a.m.

QUESTION: This is when the police responded to the shots?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Correct.

QUESTION: (OFF MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He had some injuries. They were very minor and he was treated and released. He's fine.

QUESTION: Where was he shot? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was not shot. He received glass through windshield on his face

QUESTION: Where did Tyler get the gun from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point as far that would be something that --

(CROSS TALK)

ST. JOHN: At this point as far as the location of where the gun came from, that's a matter that is still being investigated and being confirmed at this time, including whether or not there were multiple guns that were used.

(CROSS TALK)

QUESTION: Can you tell us what kind of weapon it was? Can you tell us what kind of rifle?

ST. JOHN: The rifle that was used was an AR-15.

QUESTION: Was that what the sheriff's department or police use?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We use that similar type of rifle, yes.

QUESTION: Is that used by the SWAT team? (OFF MIKE)

ST. JOHN: At this time, it has not been confirmed that the rifle was from law enforcement, but it is the type of rifle that is used by the sheriff's department.

QUESTION: Did he serve on the SWAT Team?

ST. JOHN: Yes.

QUESTION: What can you tell us about the victims? Were they asleep when this happened? Were they awake? Where were they in the house?

ST. JOHN: As far as details about where the victims were, situated in the house and what they were doing, that information is still being collected, and confirmed to put together an entire story, to understand what they were going through at the time of this vicious incident.

QUESTION: Could you please tell us about the training that Mr. Peterson received before he became a law enforcement officer, and did the screening for -- prior screening include a psychological evaluation?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He met the requirements through the State of Wisconsin Standards Board. He went through the background investigations, the numerous hours of training, the ride-alongs, everything like that. There was not a psychological evaluation done. I think it's important that you realize that we had no indications, obviously, that anything like this would ever occurred. This occurred, it was a shock to us, just as much as it was to anyone else. But I want you to know that it is so important to realize that once we realized he was our suspect we treated him -- he was no longer a cop. He was treated as a fugitive just like anyone else.

QUESTION: Chief, you spoke to him on the phone. Did he express remorse for his actions?

ST. JOHN: That's something I'll refer to you.

QUESTION: Can you tell us anything about that conversation now? (OFF MIKE)

ST. JOHN: Well, we're not going to get into the demands as far that Mr. Peterson may have made to the district attorney's office at this time.

Although the district attorney, Leon, would you care to speak to the basic tenor of the conversation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. I believe the question was did we have discussions with him? Yes, we did. I was in contact with him. We did attempt to have him surrender. And discussions ensued as to how that would be accomplished and what manner. He did attempt to negotiate a potential settlement of the case but, unfortunately those were unsuccessful

(CROSS TALK)

QUESTION: You talked to him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I talked to him.

QUESTION: (OFF MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's difficult. I don't want to get too much into it and I can't really say what he was thinking other than to say that we did talk to him. We attempted to resolve the situation by him surrendering, but that was unsuccessful.

(CROSS TALK)

QUESTION: Was he upset? What was his demeanor on the phone?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I talked to him on the phone he was calm. He understood the dilemma that he was in.

QUESTION: How long was it after the shooting that you talked with him?

QUESTION: Was he driving around? (OFF MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, what happened is I was en route from Milwaukee. I diverted to the Jackson police department to attempt to contact him earlier in the morning. I then went to the Washington County sheriff's department and did reach him. I'm not really certain where he was at. I was on the phone and he was on a phone.

ST. JOHN: I wanted to -- we could do our names, I think that would be good. And let's go down the line here.

Pastor Farr -- please correct, me Pastor Farr if I'm wrong. I do have the microphone and rather than have everybody move. It's Bill Farr, F-A-R-R.

OK, Superintendent Doctor Richard Peters. That's the common spelling, P-E-T-E-R-S.

(END LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

LEMON: OK, you're listening to a press conference happening in Wisconsin about those shootings this weekend. Six people killed by a sheriff's deputy. The guy you see there to the right of your screen, 20-year-old Tyler Peterson. They're talking about exactly what happened the type of weapon they believe he used. And All right-15 rifle. The same kind they use in the sheriff's department there. But they're not exactly sure it that's the one his officially issued rifled, that was the one use.

An ex-girlfriend, Betty, as was rumored in the town. Police do confirm she was at the residence at the time, but they are not exactly sure if this was a love triangle.

NGUYEN: What is so interesting, too, when you hear six people shot and then you hear that Tyler Peterson, himself, was killed, but what we learned during this press conference was that 30 rounds were fired in that house, which indeed killed those six people. There was a single survivor though, and that's going to provide some key information as this investigation does continue. And of course, we're going to bring you all the new developments just as soon as we get them here at CNN.

LEMON: Also, there was another sheriff's deputy injured, luckily not shot, just glass. But they're interviewing him as well, as well as a witness who survived that shooting. CNN NEWSROOM is going to continue, we're going to update you on this story as well as several other developing stories. Breaking new happening, one in Pennsylvania, another one in Florida. CNN NEWSROOM back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It's 41 past the hour, three of the stories we're working on for you, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM

A search is going on right now, for a missing Cessna plane with up to 10 people on board. The plane had been heading from Boise, Idaho, to Shelton, Washington. A hunter in Washington reports he heard a crash.

Several schools in Clearwater, Florida, are on lockdown right now. Earlier there was a car crash near the school and gunshots were heard just before that crash.

And a standoff unfolding right now at a suburban Pittsburgh hotel. Police say an escaped convict from Kentucky is hold up at a Knight's Inn, in Morgan. They say the man had been awaiting a federal trail on a bank robbery charge.

NGUYEN: Don, we've been following this story and we've got new developments, in fact, into the cause of death for a Chicago marathon runner. Chad Schieber. Elizabeth Cohen is with us.

And, Elizabeth, I guess it appears that it wasn't just a heat related thing.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. That's what the Cook County medical examiner is saying.

In Chicago, he is saying that the police man who died while running a marathon -- you see him right there -- that he died because of mitral valve prolapse. That is what the autopsy is showing. It was not because of the heat. Mitral valve prolapse is actually a pretty common heart disorder and it is a disorder with one of the valves in the heart. It doesn't open and close properly.

And the medical examiner says sometimes people have this and they don't even know it. So, it's very possible that the had this and wasn't aware of it. But sometimes when the heart is really pushed to the limit, these things unfortunately show up.

NGUYEN: A lot of people were wondering if it indeed was the heat that had caused it. I mean, many people did collapse. And it was very hot in Chicago. Talk to us about how that can really affect a person's body.

COHEN: Right, it was very hot and it was very humid. And you know we say it's not the heat it's the humidity. Well, that's very true for marathon runners. When the temperatures get really high, your body does very different things than when you're running in lower temperatures.

You get dehydrated easily. And your blood starts going to your skin to cool it off so those muscles that are working so hard, those leg muscles, they don't get the blood flow, they don't get the nutrients that they need. So, unfortunately, that's what happened yesterday when you saw so many of those people collapsing. And you can actually train to run in hot weather. Here in Atlanta, we have our big race in July but people know it.

NGUYEN: So your body can't just adapt to it? I mean, that's something that you have do over time?

COHEN: Yes, the trainers that I talked to, these are people who train elite marathon runners, and they say when they have a hot- weather marathon coming up, they train their runners from two to three months. They actually will bring them for that final month before the marathon to a very hot climate. It takes a month for the body to get acclimated. You need to teach your body how to deal with the hot temperatures. And also interestingly enough you have to teach your body how to take on lots of fluids. These runners are taking in about four ounces every five minutes, of fluids, and we're not talking water. We're talking something like Gatorade and you might think no big deal so just drink four ounces every five minutes.

NGUYEN: Right, just drink more.

COHEN: But you would feel sick, if you're not used to doing that. You run, you feel sick, you drink less, you get dehydrated. It actually is tough. Your body needs weeks and weeks of training to take in that many fluids.

NGUYEN: There was also some concerns that there wasn't enough water provided at stations that were close enough.

COHEN: Right and sort of mixed reports about how good a job they did on that.

NGUYEN: All right, Elizabeth. We appreciate it. Thank you.

COHEN: Thank you.

LEMON: Let's talk more about that weather now and these temperatures that have not been in line, wondering when they are going to fall in line.

Chad, got to ask you something real quick. Because you've been doing this, at least been covering these national stories longer than I have. Do you remember in recent history this many people getting sick because of weather from a marathon?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's odd, because cities plan their marathons around the weather. They literally -- you don't plan a marathon on August 1st in Atlanta, you don't put that together. And, you know, you get to Boston, you get the New York and then you get Chicago. And so, no, this is such a late season record.

Yesterday's temperature in Chicago at O'Hare was not only a record for the day, it was a record for the entire month of October. It has never been 87 ever before at O'Hare in October period. The last -- well, we broke it by one degree, but that was 1947.

So of the 30 days that -- 30 days has September, April, June -- 31 days that is October -- never been hotter than that. Why? Because the cool weather is in the West and the warm weather is in the East. That's about to change and change dramatically.

It is 78 right now in Buffalo. It's 57 in Boston. This cold air that is to the west of this little ridge of warm air that's just poking up into the Northeast tonight, look, 68 Detroit tonight -- 37 is the low tonight in Denver; 37 in Albuquerque. It's still going to be hot today. There you go Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

Here's a live shot from Columbus, Ohio, at least it was a little bit ago. We put it on tape. You can see The Shoe. Good news, there's no game in The Shoe today. There's something going on down there at the lawn. But WBNS, our affiliate there, hot day in Columbus, 88, headed to 92 this afternoon, there. Back to you guys.

LEMON: Usually, if you're in the Midwest, or anywhere near Chicago, if you get temperatures in the 80s, people are celebrating in October. Obviously, not celebrating this with all the folks that got sick and the one runner who died. Now we know it's of heart problems rather than heat.

MYERS: Right. There are still people in critical condition because of it, that are in the hospital that probably didn't have a heart problem. So, you know, it was a bad day.

LEMON: All right, Chad. We'll keep checking back with you on this very weird weather.

We also want to update you now on a missing airplane in the Washington area, Washington State area. The Cessna plane that has been missing with the skydivers on board, went missing yesterday. Someone in the area says he heard a crash. We'll be speaking with someone who is involved directly with the search.

Nisha Marvels (ph), is the spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division. Coordinated search effort on their part. New video, you're looking at there. We're going to update you with all the latest information, just after the break in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Oh, boy. It was a sigh heard around the world as men everywhere learned that international sex symbol, can I say that on TV?

NGUYEN: Sure you can.

LEMON: Pamela Anderson is officially off the market once again.

NGUYEN: Say it isn't so.

LEMON: OK, A.J., when was she ever on the market? She's been married, she and Liz Taylor are running neck and neck.

A.J. HAMMER, CNN ANCHOR, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Give Pam a little credit. It's not quite that.

LEMON: Close.

HAMMER: But, yeah, she is married again. And not only is she beautiful, rich and famous, she's very efficient with her time, Don. She squeezed in this quickie marriage to Rick Solomon in Vegas on Saturday night at the Mirage Hotel. She got the wedding done in between her 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. shows at the Planet Hollywood Hotel. I love that. She's at that hotel performing alongside a magician named Hans Clock (ph). Now, the newlyweds have a lot in common. They've both been married twice before. So it's only two times, Don. They both each have two kids and each of them starred in a sex tape worth millions. Of course, Pam Anderson was with her first husband Tommy Lee. Rick Solomon's was with Paris Hilton.

So congratulations to both of them. Hopefully the third time will prove to be the charm, but more importantly, hopefully they will keep their private tapes to themselves.

LEMON: Yeah, did you see that. Keep that to herself. She should keep her clothes on. Did you see we had to pixelate her -- you know..

NGUYEN: You know what.

LEMON: You know, her -- her girls there.

(LAUGHTER)

NGUYEN: There we go.

Now, why do we have that show that again. That was so not needed.

LEMON: You know, we've got to show it again.

She's only been married twice. Did she marry Tommy Lee more than once -- seems like she's been married more. I don't know.

HAMMER: Twice.

LEMON: OK, A.J., you're the expert.

HAMMER: She will call you and correct you.

LEMON: Yes, she will. She can call. I'll talk to her.

OK, so a big weekend, another big weekend for embattled actress Lindsay Lohan. We haven't heard much about her. Apparently, I hear she's moving to New York, or something like that?

HAMMER: This actually might be good news, Don. She's 21 years old, of course, and she has finally checked out of the rehab facility where she's been getting treatment for the past couple of months.

Now, Lindsay and her father, Michael Lohan, were photographed with suitcases in hand as they exited the exclusive Cirque Lodge Treatment Center in Utah. Lindsay entered that facility in August, that following her second DUI arrest, which happened in late July. And at that time, when she was arrested a small amount of cocaine was found in her pocket.

Well, Lindsay choose to extended her treatment -- a lot of people saying that was a good thing to have done -- staying beyond the four weeks we all thought she would be there fore. And while she was there she certainly accomplished a lot. She struck a plea deal ensuring that she is not going to serve any jail time for her arrest. Something that probably would have otherwise happened. She reunited with her father, whom she had been estranged from for three years. And she even negotiated a start date for her latest film "Dare to Love Me," which will reportedly begin shooting on October 15th. And that's a good thing for her because a lot of people were saying perhaps she is unemployable.

And it appears like Lindsay, Britney Spears has reunited with her own estranged parent. Her mom, Lynn Spears, just days after losing custody of her two young sons, Britney's mom and her sister Jamie Lynn Spears, were photographed arriving at the Lost Angeles airport on Friday night, at 3 a.m. Perhaps trying to avoid the cameras and it didn't work. Britney and her mom were seen driving from the pop star's Beverly Hills home to her home in Malibu. It's no secret that Britney really could use all the support she can get right now. Her behavior is definitely being scrutinized not only by the public but by the court as they approach her next custody hearing. That will happen on October 26.

Lynn and Britney had a falling out in June when the entertainment website, TMZ reported that Britney handed her mother an upsetting letter asking her mom to stay away from the kids.

And, Don, I can tell you that this afternoon we received new pictures of Britney with the kids and the person who is probably the court-appointed monitor, and apparently she was walking around in her gated community, holding the kids and talking on her cell phone, but at least she is getting to see her kids, with supervision right now.

LEMON: All right. Good for her. And I just got one e-mail from one of your many fans. A woman, she goes, never question The Hammer. So, there you go.

HAMMER: And they put The Hammer?

LEMON: Yes, yes. What do you have coming up tonight?

HAMMER: Well, more of Britney's bizarre life caught on tape, from a flat tire in the middle of the night to being attacked with hot coffee, we're going to let you see for yourself Britney Spears' very strange weekend that she's just coming off of. It is unbelievable video, and you will see it tonight on TV's most provocative entertainment news show. It's "Showbiz Tonight," we look forward to you joining us at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on "Headline Prime".

LEMON: Always a pleasure, A.J. Thank you.

HAMMER: You got it, Don.

NGUYEN: Well, coming up, smeared or busted? The president of Oral Roberts University says he did everything by the book, but some former professors say don't take his word as gospel, religion, politics and alleged excess. That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Well, money is the root of a raging controversy at Oral Roberts University. Plaintiffs in a lawsuit claim the school's president has spent huge amounts of donated cash on himself and his family, and those aren't the only accusations. CNN's John Roberts has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROBERTS, PRESIDENT, ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY: We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts denies a slew of scandalous allegations. Three former professors have filed a lawsuit against Roberts and the school. They claim they were fired for reporting the schools alleged illegal involvement in the Tulsa mayor's race.

The professors also claim Richard Roberts, and his wife Lindsay, used school money to remodel their home 11 times in 14 years. That they used the university jet to send their daughter on a senior trip to the Bahamas at a cost of almost $30,000. And that they awarded non- academic scholarships to their kids friends.

PROF. JOHN SWAILS, ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY: We took it to our superiors and we found out that it was taken all the way up to the administrative chain. And even though -- and we discovered later that nothing was being done to make it right.

J. ROBERTS: And there's more. The suit also alleges Mrs. Roberts spend over $39,000 on clothing and that she frequently ran up more than $800 monthly cell phone bills. And sent hundreds of text messages in the middle of the night to underage males.

CALEB TRUJILLO, FORMER ORAL ROBERTS STUDENTS: My friends and the students here deserve to know the truth from the administration or from the Roberts family about where the tuition money goes and what it's spent on.

J. ROBERTS: The university's executive board is conducting a, quote, "full and thorough investigation."

Roberts addressed the lawsuit this past week in chapel.

R. ROBERTS: It is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion. Make no mistake about it, this suit is about money.

J. ROBERTS: The professors have since amended their lawsuit to add claims of libel, slander and defamation. No word on how much money the professors are seeking in damages.

John Roberts, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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