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Nancy Grace
Authorities Release Tapes of Witness Interrogations to Tiger Woods Crash
Aired December 04, 2009 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Tonight, superstar golf phenomenon Tiger Woods, leaving his home barefoot, 2:00 AM -- repeat, 2:00 AM -- after Thanksgiving Day celebrations drives out of his multi-million-dollar compound and has a head-on collision, a major smash-up with a tree and a fire hydrant? His young wife, mother of his two children, reportedly hears the crash from inside the house, runs out and beats out both back windows of Woods`s Cadillac. Woods refusing to talk to police not once, not twice, but three times. And why -- why -- did a neighbor have to call 911? We have the 911 call. Woods pulling out of his own golf tournament as rumors of an alleged affair between Tiger Woods and a nightclub hostess hit the newsstands just hours before the so-called crash.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP);
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is he conscious, unconscious?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At that point, he was -- he was snoring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was snoring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was actually snoring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Did she say anything you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I mean, at this point, she was actually very quiet, just kind of in shock, you know, just kind of sitting there. She wasn`t very verbal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s a black Escalade.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What`s happened?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tiger Woods finds himself in a public relations bunker, and police are in the rough.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was he conscious or unconscious, or was he snoring, like your brother (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was -- he was unconscious. I didn`t hear the snoring part because I wasn`t as close. But he never -- I never saw him open his eyes or anything.
911 OPERATOR: What happened? What`s wrong?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a neighbor. He hit the tree. And we came out here just to see what was going on. I see him and he`s laying down.
911 OPERATOR: You mean it was an auto accident?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it was an auto accident, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, it`s -- it`s Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. Because she can, please take your name off that, and what do you call it, just have it as a number on the voicemail, just have it as your telephone number, OK? You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right, bye.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... situated on the ground...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... when I got out there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the passenger side of the vehicle or on the driver`s side?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe the passenger.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Was he in the street or was he still...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was in the street.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, so he`s in the street, on the side. OK. And who else was there with him? And you said...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His wife. And her name`s Eli?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elin. OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiger Woods makes a public admission and says he regrets his transgressions. The sports superstar is addressing tabloid speculation set off by his one-vehicle wreck last week in Florida. He is apologizing for "personal failings."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you -- did you smell any alcohol on him?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No alcohol, no any other kind of drug whatsoever. None.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Zero.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Zero.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: Joining us from WBDO, Drew Petrimoulx there near Tiger Woods`s home.
DREW PETRIMOULX, WBDO: Yes, very interesting, Nancy, this interview with investigators, where they talked to the neighbors of Tiger Woods. One of the most interesting things that came out to that interview was that Tiger Woods was actually passed out cold, knocked out by the time they got out there early that morning. Now, what exactly knocked him out is unclear because they do say there were no signs of any alcohol, no signs of drugs. But by the time they got there, he was out cold.
Another interesting fact that we learned from that interview is that the neighbor actually heard 10 to 15 minutes of a knocking sound before they came downstairs. Now, whether that was her, the wife, knocking on Tiger Woods`s window, trying to wake him up, or if that was her knocking on their window, trying to get someone`s attention, we`re not exactly clear yet.
Another thing that`s interesting -- I talked to someone close to the family and they said that -- that sound of someone saying, What happens -- "What`s happened" on the 911, that was actually Tiger Woods`s mother. She was inside the house when this whole thing happened. So some very exciting, interesting new developments from this interview.
ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Well, and Nancy, we`ve also learned that not only was Tiger Woods`s mother was there, but Elin Nordegren, his wife`s, mother was there, as well. Apparently, they both came outside of the house. They were all standing there while Elin Nordegren was tending to her husband, Tiger Woods.
Now, the neighbor describes Tiger as having a cut lip, bleeding from the mouth, as if maybe he bit his lip in the accident. However, we don`t really know much about what might have led up to the accident. Now, Kim Serafin from "In Touch Weekly" may have heard a little bit more about possible damage inside the house.
KIM SERAFIN, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Well, again, this all goes back to the original rumors that were swirling around once we first heard about the accident. Of course, everyone was saying, Was this precipitated by a fight inside the house? Now, reports have been coming out, was it because of text messages that Tiger Woods was receiving? Did they have a fight. Was this domestic violence? It that what caused his injuries? And this all goes back to the fight -- whether a fight actually happened in the house or whether his injuries came from his accident.
JOSTAD: Well, and also, Drew Petrimoulx, do we know any more about why this alleged mistress, Rachel Uchitel, abruptly canceled that scheduled news conference?
PETRIMOULX: Not exactly sure. You know, leading up to that news conference, we all thought this is where she was going to come clean and say that she had lied in her original statement to "The New York Post," I believe it was, that everything was made up, that she did have an affair. But you know, she has a pretty famous and well-schooled lawyer out there in LA. So behind the scenes, they must have made the decision that this is what`s best moving forward.
JOSTAD: Well, and Gloria Allred is one of the most skilled, most well-known lawyers in Hollywood. She was the one who was representing or is representing Rachel Uchitel. She has not comment. She has not either denied or confirmed any sort of payout to Uchitel.
And Kim Serafin, what exactly do we know about Rachel Uchitel and other alleged mistresses?
SERAFIN: Well, as you mentioned, of course, this press conference was what got a lot of coverage because Gloria Allred knows how to do a press conference. When Rachel hired Gloria Allred, it obviously -- it made people speculate about what might happen.
Now, the press conference was scheduled Wednesday night. It was supposed to be Thursday morning. It was canceled. As you mentioned, it`s also because of unforeseen circumstances, is what I believe they said. Now, there were some rumors swirling that it might have been -- there might have been some conversations between Rachel and Tiger. There was talk of was there a payout. Then now it`s come out, no, there`s not a payout. TMZ is reporting that Rachel is keeping silent because she`s scared.
So it`s very interesting, all of these details that are kind of leaking out, but so much of it is rumor. So much of it is speculation. We really don`t know at this point.
JOSTAD: Well, and also take a look at these photos. These are modeling pictures of Tiger Woods`s wife. And these were taken back when she was living in Sweden. She apparently didn`t really care about modeling, according to the photographer who discovered her. She would rather be a student, so she actually quit modeling after she`d taken a few of these pictures, went back to school to study child psychiatry -- or child psychology.
And this -- and she also negotiated a deal -- as soon as she became famous, became linked to Tiger Woods, she went back to this photographer who had discovered her, negotiated a deal with him about which photographs he would release to the public. So she`s a very smart, shrewd businesswoman in that account.
Now, Drew Petrimoulx, do we know anything about a prenup that Elin Nordegren may have signed?
PETRIMOULX: Yes. That`s very interesting. Apparently, there`s some clause in the prenup where they would have had to have been together for a certain amount of time for the payment to be made. But we understand now that that`s being renegotiated,.
I think what`s very interesting to add here is Tiger Woods is still here in Orlando, kind of holed up in his mansion there, and we understand that they`re going through intense marriage counseling. So he has professionals coming in to try to work this out. But we also understand that there`s been a large sum of money put into an account controlled by Tiger Woods`s wife as kind of a gesture of good faith that Tiger really wants to try to work this thing out.
JOSTAD: Drew, what exactly -- you said the payout before would be $20 million, is that correct?
PETRIMOULX: That`s the figure that I`ve heard so far. Of course, I haven`t seen personally the legal jargon or what she would have to say with this, so I`m not exactly sure what the contract reads. But some of the reports we`ve heard, figures as high as $20 million.
JOSTAD: Wow. And so she gets $5 million now just for signing this renegotiated prenup. Then she would get -- and this is the -- what Thedailybeast is reporting -- if she stays for another seven years -- they`ve been married five years, at this point. If she stays for another seven years, she`ll get $75 million. If she only stays for another two years, she still gets $55 million.
One thing, do we know, Kim Serafin, are they in any sort of counseling? Is there any sort of negotiation going on right now?
SERAFIN: They are, apparently, according to reports, in counseling. Now, there is this new report out about a renegotiated prenup. Initially, the report says that her prenup was that she would get $20 million after staying with Tiger for 10 years. But according to the report, this renegotiation would give her $5 million up front and then $55 million if she stays with him for another two years, and then up to $80 million to stay with him for another seven years, according to this report.
JOSTAD: Well, and Drew Petrimoulx, do we know -- is there -- I know we touched on this briefly, but is there any sort of payout to these other women that are allegedly linked to Tiger Woods? Do we know about any money changing hands either from Tiger Woods to these women, or do they get paid to tell their story?
PETRIMOULX: Well, I know there was a large sum of money paid out for that audio recording that Tiger Woods allegedly left on one of his mistresses`s answering machine, I think upwards of $150,000. Whether the Uchitel -- Ms. Uchitel was paid out -- she`s denying that. And reports that I`ve seen that says she hasn`t received any money from Tiger. So it`s a very shady situation. Some money is being paid out, but at this time, it doesn`t seem like Tiger`s paying for anyone to keep quiet.
JOSTAD: Well, and also, it sounds like Tiger Woods`s wife said very little to these neighbors as she was comforting him. She apparently just told the neighbor, I need help. Please help me. Please call 911. And then she said nothing else after that. She just attended to Tiger Woods., never said anything about what precipitated this early morning crash the night after Thanksgiving.
PETRIMOULX: Yes, right. And when I talked to this person, somebody that`s very close to the family of Tiger Woods`s neighbor, they said they`re really confused over -- as to what actually happened. You know, when they first saw it, it seemed cut and dried, seemed like a crash. But when all these details come out, now they`re thinking back, Was there a fight? What actually caused this crash? And that`s the biggest question, what caused the crash?
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, let`s talk about when -- when Mr. Woods was laying there. Could you see -- you obviously were standing right over him, got blankets over him. What -- can you describe any injuries that you saw?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just -- just the lacerations that were on his lip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On his lip? Upper lip or bottom lip?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I couldn`t tell. I mean, between the two, I don`t know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Between the two lacerations, was there -- was there a lot of blood?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would it be, like, a bloody nose or something, that kind of thing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right. Maybe if you might have bitten your lip...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... or something like that. Not -- nothing on his shirt, nothing on his hands. I was holding him still at one point, and I didn`t get any blood on me whatsoever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. You`re holding his head?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was trying to keep him still...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... just to make sure his neck and his spine wasn`t...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly. Did you see any broken bones?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was there anything like that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: What happened? What`s wrong?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a neighbor. He hit the tree. And we came out here just to see what was going on. I see him and he`s laying down.
911 OPERATOR: You mean it was an auto accident?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it was an auto accident, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My two officers arrived at the scene and there was Tiger Woods laying on the ground in front of his vehicle, with his wife over him, rendering first aid.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "This situation is my fault," Woods says, "and it`s obviously embarrassing to my family and to me. I`m human and I`m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn`t happen again."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody wants to know, all right, what happened? What does Tiger Woods have to tell us?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was backing out of his driveway and hit a fire hydrant and subsequently hit a tree. And this is in his Escalade. And as such, you know, suffered some injuries.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His wife came out of the house when she heard the accident, him hitting the fire hydrant, used a golf club, was what we were told, to break out the rear window to gain entrance into the vehicle, removed him from the vehicle and laid him down in the street.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble," Woods said. "She was the first person to help me. Any assertion is absolutely false."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every time you stonewall the cops three days in a row, you look like you`re hiding something or looking like you`re guilty of something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: As Tiger Woods reportedly hovers in and out of consciousness, a neighbor claims Woods`s wife asked them to call 911. New photos of Tiger Woods`s Cadillac emerge. Take a listen to what unfolds next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looked out the window, saw the headlights, you know, shining out. I went out there -- I went out there to see exactly who it was, what it was, what was going on. I went out there. I saw Tiger laying on the ground, OK? Elin was talking to him. And from that point, I just said, OK. I immediately just ran back in the house, got the phone, dialed 911 and ran back out of the house again to go out there to see if she needed any assistance or whatever the case -- what was going on.
At that point, I instructed my sister -- while I`m on the phone with the 911 operator, I instructed my sister to come back in the house and get pillows and blankets for Tiger because it was cold outside, and obviously, he`s laying on the ground. So my sister comes back in the house, and I`m on the phone with the operator. We got the pillows. She came back with the pillows and put them underneath his head, wrapped him up in the blankets and things like that, and just basically just waited until the authorities arrived, just kept every -- I tried to keep everyone kind of calm, whatever the case may be, and just notified them, hung on the phone and then they got here and...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We`re going to backtrack. So you went outside and who was out -- you said Mr. Woods was there...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elin was already there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which side of the vehicle was he on? And you can use driver side or passenger side.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe he was already situated on the ground...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... when I got out there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the passenger side of the vehicle or on the driver`s side?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe the passenger.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Was he in the street or was he still...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was in the street.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, so he`s in the street, on the side. OK. And who else was there with him? And you said...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His wife. And her name`s Eli?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elin. OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. And was he conscious, unconscious?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At that point, he was -- he was snoring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was snoring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was actually snoring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Did she say anything to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I mean, at this point, she was actually very quiet, just kind of in shock, you know, just kind of sitting there. She wasn`t very verbal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she ask you for any help or anything?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, yes. When I went out there, you know, she said, Can you please help me? Can you please help me, whatever the case may be. But that`s when I ran back in and got the phone and then ran back out. But other than that, I don`t really recall me and her ever...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, was there anything out there besides here? Was there any other vehicles, any other pedestrians, any other traffic?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So there`s no other vehicles. There was nothing parked out here on the road or anything like that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe the golf cart -- a golf cart was out there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, let`s talk about when Mr. Woods is laying there. Could you see -- you obviously were standing right over him, got blankets for him. What -- can you describe any injuries that you saw?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just -- just the lacerations that were on his lip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On his lip? Upper lip or bottom lip?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I couldn`t tell. I mean, between the two, I don`t know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Between the two lacerations, was there -- was there a lot of blood?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would it be, like, a bloody nose or something, that kind of thing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right. Maybe if you might have bitten your lip...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... or something like that. Not -- nothing on his shirt, nothing on his hands. I was holding him still at one point, and I didn`t get any blood on me whatsoever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. You`re holding his head?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was trying to keep him still...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... just to make sure his neck and his spine wasn`t...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly. Did you see any broken bones?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was there anything like that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. All right. How about yourself, ma`am? Did you see any...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, just the blood on the lip...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just the blood on the lip.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... was the only thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No fractures, no other contusions, nothing like that, no big cuts from anything?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was clean.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was pretty much clean.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... for troop D with the Florida Highway Patrol. I would now like to introduce Major Cindy Williams, troop commander for troop D.
MAJ. CINDY WILLIAMS, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: Good evening. We appreciate your attendance here today. The Florida Highway Patrol has concluded its investigation of the vehicle crash involving Mr. Tiger Woods. The investigation has determined that Mr. Woods is at fault in the crash. This afternoon, FHP is in the process of issuing a uniform traffic citation for careless driving to Mr. Woods.
Any person operating a vehicle upon the streets or highways within the state is required by law to drive in a careful and prudent manner so as not to endanger the life, limb or property of any person. Failure to drive in such a manner is defined as careless driving. Careless driving is a moving violation, and upon conviction may result in a fine of $164 and four points on a driving record.
This was a single-vehicle crash with a single occupant. Unfortunately, it is one of thousands that occurs in our state each year.
Mr. Woods has satisfied the requirements of Florida law by providing his driver`s license, registration and proof of insurance to us. With the issuance of this citation, the Florida Highway Patrol has completed its investigation into this matter. Thank you.
QUESTION: Major, is there any truth to the -- any other report...
SGT. KIM MONTES, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: I just have a few additional comments that I would like to add. The FHP is not pursuing criminal charges in this matter, nor is there any testimony or other evidence to support any additional charges of any kind, other than the charge of careless driving. After reviewing the evidence available to us and in consultation with the office of state attorney Lawson Lamar (ph), it was determined that there was insufficient evidence available to issue a subpoena for any additional medical information that might exist in this case. We cannot speak to the existence of any blood evidence. There are no claims of domestic violence by any individual.
We will not answer any questions today. We believe these comments and our crash investigation report will speak for themselves. We will not conduct additional press conferences or interviews. Despite the celebrity status of Mr. Woods, the Florida Highway Patrol has completed its investigation in the same professional manner that it strives to complete each traffic crash investigation, although our approach may vary depending upon the circumstances, Mr. Woods`s status in no way impacted our investigation results or conclusion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) especially sad about since I`m kind of feel a little bit sorry for Elin since me and my wife are at fault, hooking her up with him. And we sort of thought he was a better guy than he is. And I would probably (INAUDIBLE) apologize to her and hope she uses a driver next time instead of a three iron.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Florida highway patrol concluded its investigation of the vehicle crash involving Mr. Tiger Woods. The investigation has determined that Mr. Woods is at fault in the crash.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After he crashed his SUV, neighbors say they found Tiger Woods lying on the ground without any shoes. The Florida highway patrol has released finished their audio-taped interviews with the neighbors.
Jarius Adams says Woods wife was talking to the golfer. Adams says he put a blanket on Tiger and pillows under his head.
TIGER WOODS, PRO GOLFER: Hey, it`s Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take you name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling. So if you can, please take you name off that, and just have it as a number of the voicemail, just have you telephone number.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: More breaking details continue to emerge. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, let`s talk about when Mr. Woods was laying there. You obviously were standing right over him, got blankets for him. Can you describe any injuries that you saw?
JARIUS ADAMS, TIGER WOODS` NEIGHBOR: Just the lacerations that were on his lip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Between the two lacerations, was there a lot of blood?
ADAMS: Not a lot, not a lot. It would be like a bloody nose or something of that kind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you were holding his head?
ADAMS: I was trying to keep him still just to make sure his neck and spine weren`t...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you see any broken bones or scratches or contusions, nothing that no big cuts from anything.
ADAMS: No, no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was clean?
ADAMS: He was pretty much clean.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since you were the initial person out there and you actually orchestrated getting blankets and the pillows for him, was there a time when you were close to him as you got, did you smell any alcohol on him.
ADAMS: No alcohol nor any kind of other drug whatsoever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOSTAD: Nancy, the people that you hear talking on this tape are Jarius Adams and his sister, Kimberly. They were apparently both asleep. And actually Kimberly said that she heard this sound, like a continuous knocking, very faint.
She at first thought that maybe somebody in the house had forgotten their keys, so she went downstairs to investigate and figure out what`s going on. That`s when she said she saw headlights shining into the house.
So she woke up her brother. He went outside and sees Tiger Woods laying there in the street. He see Elin, Tiger`s wife. Elin asked him then for help.
But the thing that isn`t clear, And Drew Petrimoulx, correct me if I`m wrong about this, we still don`t know exactly if the neighbors heard anything or not. Are there various reports about whether people heard an argument before it happened?
DREW PETRIMOULX, REPORTER, WDBC, COVERING STORY: These neighbors didn`t. There are reports other neighbors did. I looked at an aerial shot and how that neighborhood is laid out, and it seems like it would be hard for other neighbors to hear anything. These are really huge houses. And across the street is a golf course.
And so the only neighbor next to or even remotely close to Tiger Woods house is pretty far off in the corner of the street.
So it would strike me as really strange if other neighbors were able to hear it. Those are big houses and they`re far apart. So it would seem to me it would be pretty difficult for another neighbor to hear a fight even if there was one.
JOSTAD: And Kim, what does Elin, Tiger`s wife, say? Did she hear the crash? Why did she end up outside?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY" COVERING STORY: Again, this is really interesting, because we don`t know much about Elin. According to these neighbors, she was there, asked for help, but she was kind of in shock. She was apparently very quiet, really focused on Tiger, asked for help, but that was about it.
But it goes hand in hand with what we know about Elin, which is not much. Like Tiger, she is very, very private. We really have not heard much about her. She`s not the typical celebrity wife that starts a clothing line and does a lot of interviews. She`s been with Tiger at his golf games, and that`s about it.
We know she was a beautiful former swimsuit model who really gave up modeling for education. But other than that, she`s stayed private, didn`t want to live that celebrity life. She apparently told people or people have said she never wanted to be a celebrity wife or girlfriend. She didn`t want to be Tiger`s arm candy.
So it seems like she was attentive, but staying with this whole privacy issue that`s important to both her and Tiger.
JOSTAD: Right. And she was attending to Tiger Woods after the crash. And it`s interesting, because when he was first admitted into the hospital, the first reports we were hearing, the police reports said his injuries were serious.
However, he was apparently treated for a bit, released a few hours later. And now we`re hearing this neighbor saying he was snoring. I don`t understand the snoring. Dr. Marty Makary, what would snoring, why would a person be snoring after a car accident?
DR. MARTY MAKARY, M.D., PHYSICIAN OF PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, JOHNS HOPKINS: In a trauma setting, we recognize sudden snoring or heavy breathing to be the hallmark feature of a temporary loss of consciousness. And that happens because a head injury can quickly put someone into a deep sleep and the body will repeatedly gasp for air. It`s a sort of panic or fight and flight response, as we say.
Snoring is a function of a loss of consciousness and it`s also related to your head position and any swelling in the airway area. We know he has an injury to the lip, so it does make sense.
JOSTAD: Injury -- could that have been from either striking the steering wheel or could it be something as simple as he bit his lip when he crashed the car?
MARKARY: Right now it appears that it could have been either of the two. What we do know and I would feel comfortable concluding that does appear to have sustained a concussion. A concussion is simply somebody who lost consciousness temporarily and then had a normal head scan, because, quite honestly, that`s the only way to get out of the hospital after a head injury.
So we know he was rushed to health central hospital. The troopers described his injuries as incapacitating, but that can be difficult to assess in the urgency of getting someone to a hospital. And he was treated and released the same day, which is a common pathway for any trauma patient with a mild concussion and a normal head scan after a car accident.
JOSTAD: And we didn`t learn much about Tiger`s injuries. Of course, those hospital reports have still been kept secret. The highway patrol actually came out and said they had no probable cause to obtain any medical records. They wouldn`t say if there was blood taken.
We do know Tiger Woods was not given a blood-alcohol test. His blood were not tested for alcohol. So we don`t know much about that at this point.
But we do know that all Tiger Woods said about his injuries, and he pulled out of his own golf tournament, he said that he had cuts and bruises, and he was very sore. But no more details about what injuries Tiger Woods actually has.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRACE: The world`s greatest golfer again choosing to say nothing about his Friday SUV crash. Police now being told that he is not talking to them.
To Maxine Page, senior news editor radaronline.com. Let`s go back over that scenario Maxine Page. First of all, how far away from his home was Woods when he had a head-on collision with a tree and a fire hydrant?
MAXINE PAGE, SENIOR NEWS EDITOR, RADARONLINE.COM: It was very close, just outside his house.
GRACE: I understand it was about two houses away?
PAGE: Correct. It was a neighbor`s house, yes.
GRACE: So he was two houses away, but his wife says she heard him hit a tree two houses away from inside Tiger Woods` home?
PAGE: That`s what she says, yes.
GRACE: OK. Now, she hears the crash, according to her, and she races out with a golf club?
PAGE: There`s been two conflicting stories. One story, she said she ran out, and the other story she says she actually drove a golf cart. But she appeared on the scene with a golf club and smashed in the back window.
GRACE: Wait, wait, wait. Maxine Page with us -- Maxine?
PAGE: Yes.
GRACE: You said two conflicting stories. From where are they coming? Who is giving conflicting statements?
PAGE: She has. Elin has, two different statements. She said first of all that she ran there, and the second statement she said in a golf cart.
GRACE: And with her, she happened to bring a golf club.
PAGE: Very handy, yes.
GRACE: And Maxine page, she beat out the back windows of the vehicle in order to pull him out of the driver`s seat?
PAGE: Correct. Apparently, she smashed out the back window went into the car and pulled him out.
GRACE: OK, Maxine, one more clarification. It`s my understanding she smashed out both back windows, right and left. Yes or no?
PAGE: Yes. Correct.
GRACE: Why? Why smash out both windows?
PAGE: That`s the question. It seems like excessive force. Also to smash the back windows seemed strange when he was in the front. But yes, she smashed out both back windows.
GRACE: Maxine?
PAGE: Yes.
GRACE: The likelihood of this incident occurring, the same day as the "Enquirer" hits the stands -- in New York, the "Enquirer" can hit the stands Thursday, which was Thanksgiving. Then it gets to the rest of the country Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, sometimes later.
But, I believe it`s on the front page of the "Enquirer" about an alleged fair between Tiger Woods and a hostess -- what is a hostess for a nightclub? Whatever. That alleged affair which the lady denies and Woods denies hits the stands that day.
And in a couple hours, smash up and wife runs out of the house or comes out in a golf cart armed with a golf club. Thoughts?
PAGE: It`s a big coincidence. We have been reporting that they had a heated argument over this woman and over the affair. And that he told her that she totally spoiled their Thanksgiving before running out of the house.
GRACE: Of course, nobody can know what happened inside the house. It can`t be confirmed unless he or she told people. It hits that day, and this happens that night. Maxine Page, isn`t the woman denying the affair the hostess at the nightclub?
PAGE: She has denied it, but there`s a lot of inconsistencies in her story.
GRACE: To you, Barry Levine, joining us. He is the executive editor of the "National Enquirer." You guys are the ones that broke the story originally about an alleged affair. Both Tiger Woods and the woman deny the affair. We don`t know if there was a domestic dispute in the home because there`s no witnesses inside the home.
BARRY LEVINE, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "NATIONAL ENQUIRER" (via telephone): That`s correct Nancy. At this point we are standing by our story. Obviously an argument took place, from what we have been told.
We specifically reported it a day before the accident that Tiger was involved in a cheating scandal with a woman named Rachel Uchitel, a New York City party girl, that Rachel had gone in mid-November to Australia to hook up with Tiger.
We followed her based on source information in New York halfway around the world to Australia. We saw her go into Tiger`s hotel, check into the hotel, get off on the 35th floor of the hotel where Tiger was staying.
Of course, Rachel is denying this, but we feel very comfortable with our report. We have multiple sours.
GRACE: Let me ask you this, Mr. Levine.
LEVINE: Sure.
GRACE: Has anybody threatened to sue you over the story, alleging libel or slander?
LEVINE: No. We have not received any threats of a lawsuit. Tiger`s people denied the story when we went to them for comment. Rachel denied the story. And I`m told she has an attorney, a great attorney, Gloria Allred out in Los Angeles. But we have not received any communication on a threat of a lawsuit.
GRACE: That`s one of the last things I would want is Gloria Allred chewing my behind, I can tell you that much, Mr. Levine. So no threat of a law suit right now.
Now, Mr. Levine, let me ask you this, the alleged other woman gave her side of the story. Hold on, let me go to Eliot Jostad, our chief editorial producer. Eliot, what does this woman say? I know she`s denying the affair.
JOSTAD: Right. Rachel Uchitel gave a very long interview to the "New York Post"...
GRACE: Rambling. She kept saying the same thing over and over.
JOSTAD: Well, this interview apparently happened last week before she was using the services of Gloria Allred. But she tells "The Post" that the story is ridiculous. She says that not a word of it is true. She claims that the sources were just out for a payday.
She says she only met Tiger Woods twice, very short meetings. She says she never spoke to him on the phone. She says she never exchanged any text messages with him. And she says they are not having an affair.
GRACE: OK. Barry Levine, back to you, Barry Levine, the executive editor of the "National Enquirer." Mr. Levine, what is your response to the things that the so-called other woman had to say, giving her side of the story?
LEVINE: I read her account today and on our website today we posted a point-by-point denial. We believe in our sources. Our sources passed polygraph tests.
And in addition to that, we saw with our own eyes Rachel Uchitel goes to Australia to meet with Tiger Woods. We had a team of reporters on the story for several weeks.
As you know, Nancy, we have dealt with these types of women before, Rielle Hunter in the John Edwards scandal for months and months and months denied any type of relationship with John Edwards. It`s not uncommon that somebody will deny an involvement with a major celebrity or newsmaker.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiger Woods is now apologizing for his transgressions. "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to the behavior my family deserves."
Just hours ago a tabloid released an urgent voicemail supposedly from Tiger to another woman warning her his wife may be calling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOODS: Hey, it`s Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take you name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling. So if you can, please take you name off that, and just have it as a number of the voicemail, just have you telephone number.
Can you do this for me quickly? All right, bye.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have told many a jury, nothing good happens after midnight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My two officers arrived at the scene and noticed Tiger Woods laying on the ground in front of his vehicle with his wife over him rendering first aid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a neighbor who hit the tree, and we came out here just to see what was going on. He was laying down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After days of speculation over Tiger Woods car crash, the Florida highway patrol has concluded the investigation. The FHP announced it will issue a ticket to the golf superstar. He could face a $164 fine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The investigation has determined Mr. Woods is at fault in the crash. This afternoon, FHP is in the process of issuing a uniform traffic citation for careless driving to Mr. Woods.
GRACE: I, as you know, all though I cannot play golf am a huge Tiger Woods fan. So this is not about Tiger Woods. What I`m wondering is, was there a police report such as striking a fixed object? I know if I ran into a fire hydrant and tree, the police would be talking to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing he`s issued are statements that he`s made through his lawyer and his Web site. And what he said is that he wants to keep his privacy on that. His lawyer says it`s his right not to speak. And right now that`s what he`s exercising.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There had to be something to cause him to lose control of his vehicle and to strike those objects. And why he isn`t trying to explain it, I don`t know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: Tonight, let`s stop and remember Army Specialist Robert Hall, Jr. He lost his wife just one day after talking to his toddler girl. He`s remembered as thoughtful, dedicated to family, loved video games and movies. He leaves behind a grieving mom Midge, brother Steven, sister carol, widow Tracy and daughter Rachel. Robert Hall, Jr., American hero.
Thanks for being with us for this special "Nancy Grace Investigates." See you tomorrow night at 8:00 sharp, eastern. Until then, goodnight, friends.
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