Return to Transcripts main page

Jane Velez-Mitchell

Jury Selection Begins in Casey Anthony Trial; Father Sues Estranged Wife over Wrongful Death of Kids

Aired May 09, 2011 - 19:00   ET

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


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST (voice-over): Tonight, an earth-shattering first day of jury selection in the Casey Anthony trial. The secret`s out. The location revealed. Now everyone is asking, who will be ringside at the trial of the century?

CASEY ANTHONY, ACCUSED OF MURER: Can someone let me -- come on.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And why did Casey refuse to see her mom this weekend? I`ll have all the shockers.

And a bizarre twist in the case of a mom accused of murdering her two so-called mouthy teens. Her devastated husband is suing her for wrongful death. You won`t believe this outrageous story. And why is this mom shaking?

Also.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My family, if you know, if you know, please. I`m begging you. If you know, I want you to tell.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Mind-blowing violence outside Atlanta. Cops say a minister and his pregnant wife are shot by two men, killing her and her unborn child. Now the wounded minister desperately begs the public to help find her killers. Why would anyone want to gun down this family?

Plus the hunt for the beautiful missing cousin of music star Whitney Duncan ramps up. Who is the mystery man wearing camouflage seen dragging the gorgeous college student into the woods? I`ll talk to a close family friend about the frantic search for Holly Bobo. And I`m taking your calls.

ISSUES starts now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BELVIN PERRY, JUDGE: Casey Maria Anthony, between the 15th day of June, 2008 and the 16th day of July, 2008, in said county and state, did in violation of Florida state statute, from a premeditated design effect the death of Caylee Marie Anthony, a human being, unlawfully killing Caylee Marie Anthony.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, day one of the trial of the century. That`s what they`re calling it. As jury selection kicks off, Casey Anthony breaks down in tears in court while the judge reads the charges against her out loud.

It`s been nearly three years since Casey`s daughter, precious 2-year- old Caylee, vanished. But now it`s becoming very real. Casey simply cannot live in a fantasy land of denial any more. She`s on trial for murder. She could get the death penalty.

Brand-new video shows Casey being booked into jail in Pinellas County, Florida. Look at it. Look at it carefully. Look what this young woman has to endure all the time. And that gives you an idea of perhaps why she was crying. And we`re going to show you the video of her crying in court as soon as we get done with this.

OK. This is where jury selection is taking place, Pinellas County. Look at her standing at attention. Then they`re going to tell her, OK, "Move forward now and now we`re going to have you lean against this table while we frisk you. "

All of this, her being transferred to Pinellas County, is occurring presumably, theoretically, so she could get a better shot at a fair trial, but the defense already called for this jury pool to be thrown out today. The judge said no way to Jose. Baez, that is.

Also, here is Casey`s latest mug shot. Take a look at that. This would be the fifth mug shot so far. Look at that expression. What does that mean?

Meantime, Casey`s ex-dream team member appeared on CBS. Defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden, this boils down this trial to two, just two key issues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDA KENNEY BADEN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The defense`s biggest hurdle is the 31 days. No doubt about it. Prosecution, no cause of death of Caylee indicated. No cause of death. So how can you say this was a brutal heinous murder? How can you say this was an intentional murder if you don`t even know how this child died?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: As for the defense, the month when little Caylee was missing while mom Casey partied. The defense says they are going to explain everything during the first couple of minutes of their opening statements. Oh, really? How? How can you explain partying like this while your precious 2-year-old is missing?

Call me, 1-877-JVM-SAYS. What`s your theory.

Straight out to "In Session" correspondent Jean Casarez. She was in the courtroom today in Clearwater, Florida. Jean, tell us the mood today as this extraordinary trial finally got under way. It`s what we`ve all been waiting for. How intense was it in that courtroom? What happened?

JEAN CASAREZ, CORRESPONDENT, TRUTV`S "IN SESSION": It was a totally different feel than every hearing that I have gone to.

First of all, let me tell you, the helicopters were overhead this morning. There were media in mass here, because this was the first day of the trial. And inside that courtroom, it was Casey Anthony that had the different demeanor. The minute she walked in that door she was serious; she was distraught, and she started to cry. The only other time we`ve seen her cry was when Judge Ashton was talking about what the killer did of Caylee Anthony. And today when that indictment was read that alleges what prosecutors say Casey did to Caylee, that`s when she started to cry.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let`s take another look, a closer look at Casey crying at the very start of the trial. Look at it. There she is crying.

Now here`s my theory about why she`s trying. I think she`s crying because the reality of this has finally set in. That her denial system, which is so incredibly thick, has finally crumbled. She`s finally thinking to herself, "Oh, my God, nobody is believing my lies." She is a pathological liar. And for months and months and months before little Caylee disappeared, she lied to everyone around her, pretending to have a job at Universal Studios, which she didn`t have, telling different stories for months on end, and she got away with it. Everybody believed her ridiculous stories, which helped her build up the confidence that she could lie about anything and get away with it.

And today, as the trial starts, she`s finally realizing, "It doesn`t matter how many times I tell a lie. Some people won`t believe it, especially if it`s about something important like life and death."

This is a cautionary tale about the dangers of lying about anything. If you lie about little things, you`ll start lying about bigger things and bigger things. And one day your whole life will become a lie.

Jeff Brown, criminal defense attorney, I`m sure you have a totally different theory.

JEFF BROWN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, I don`t know if it`s all about lying. I mean, clearly, there`s a lot of lies that she told. You know, and Baden was on there, the former defense counsel, talking about how the 31 days is an issue in this case. It clearly is.

Keep in mind, the jurors don`t just decide cases on logic. They decide cases on emotion. And the prosecution is telling a story about what happened in those 31 days. This defense team better come up with an answer as to what happened during those 31 days that`s sellable, because at this point, I haven`t heard it. I don`t know what her story is.

And the jury is simply going to be able to look at this case and say, "Well, we understand the prosecution`s theory: you killed her. You don`t really have a story." So those 31 days, even if there`s not a lot of evidence forensically, there`s a lot of evidence emotionally here.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let me say this. Jose Baez says he`s going to explain why Casey didn`t call the cops for a month -- and then her mother called, actually -- while she partied.

BROWN: But you know...

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And he`s going to explain it during the first minute of the first day of opening statements. Listen to Jose.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE BAEZ, DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR CASEY (via phone): That question will be answered within -- within the first minute of me standing up for opening statements. And it will be put to rest for -- for good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And here`s my big issue. What is this day one bombshell that can explain everything? Zanny the nanny`s all but evaporated. Even Casey`s former defense attorney, Linda Kenney Baden, says we all know that`s a lie. Claims that the meter reader did it don`t add up.

With the mountain of evidence that little Caylee`s dead body was in Casey`s car trunk, does this mean that Casey has decided to pin it on somebody else who had access to that car? Hmm. Who might that be? Could it be, for example, a family member like George or Lee? And is that why she is giving her family the cold shoulder? She refused to meet her mother this weekend when Cindy went to the jail to try to talk to her.

Yvonne, Arizona, your question or thought, ma`am?

CALLER: Yes. Hi.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hi.

CALLER: I was -- I was thinking. I think that Jose Baez is searching for straws. I don`t really think he`s got the answer in one minute, like he says. Because if he did, he wouldn`t be still searching for straws on trying to play the race card and trying to say that his client is white and pretty.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, absolutely.

Jean Casarez, what happened in court today? Because I understand that they started out with about 100. They whittled it down to about 66. And of those 66, 45 were excused. So that means 21 people have made the cut so far? Correct me if I`m wrong.

CASAREZ: That`s right. So more were excused than were kept. And it was just the issue of hardships. We haven`t gotten into questioning on the death penalty, can you recommend that someone be sentenced to death? And also that pretrial publicity.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I`ve got to say that this jury selection, I believe, will take a heck of a lot longer than five days. Now what do I know? But to me it seems to get 20 people because you`re looking for 12 jurors plus eight alternates. Given the pace of what happened today, I can`t imagine it getting done by Friday, but I`m known to be wrong.

Jean Casarez, do you think it`s going to get done by Friday?

CASAREZ: You know, Jane, I think -- I think it`s too early to tell. I think it`s going to be a slow process. And I question if they are -- if greater than 50 percent are gone right now out of who they`ve questioned, they may need more jurors.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: They may need more jurors.

On the other side, we`re going to talk to the attorney who used to represent Cindy and George about all the bombshell developments. More on the first day of Casey`s jury selection. We`re taking your calls. What`s your theory? 1-877-JVM-SAYS, 1-877-586-7297.

Plus later, a minister pleads for help to find his murdered pregnant wife`s killer. But first, a shocking first day of jury selection in Casey Anthony`s trial. And we`re going to talk to a man who is on the inside next about Cindy`s relationship with Casey. Why did Casey refuse to meet her mom when she came to the jail this weekend?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PERRY: Because your verdict could lead to the imposition of the death penalty, your attitude towards the death penalty is a proper subject of inquiry by the court and the attorneys.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CINDY ANTHONY, CAYLEE`S MOTHER: I have someone here that I need to be arrested in my home. And I have a possible missing child. I have a 3- year-old that`s been missing for a month.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A 3-year-old?

CINDY ANTHONY: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you reported that?

CINDY ANTHONY: I`m trying to do that now, ma`am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did the person do that you need arrested?

CINDY ANTHONY: My daughter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: When it comes to Casey and her mom and dad, there could be a huge war brewing. Some experts still suspect the defense is left with only one option, to point the finger at a family member, possibly George.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is your feeling on some level that some responsibility is going to be leveled at your client.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can only assume, with the actions of the last two weeks, that would probably be the course.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And that is the current attorney for Cindy and George. More proof of what appears to be some kind of riff. Cindy tried to visit Casey in the Orange County jail this weekend. Casey turned her mother down, said," I don`t want to see you." Remember, Casey did not make eye contact with her parents when she walked into court on Friday.

Joining me now, Brad Conway, George and Cindy Anthony`s former attorney.

Brad, you were in the gallery in court today. I understand Cindy and George were not there. What is your take on this growing theory that this explanation that Jose Baez is going to provide in the first minutes of opening statement is somehow going to throw some other family member under the bus?

BRAD CONWAY, FORMER ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE AND CINDY ANTHONY: Jane, one thing that you have to remember is that an attorney`s comments in opening statements, that`s not evidence. That`s just a statement of fact to the jurors about what the attorney expects to prove to them. So whatever he says in his opening comments, they will end up having to prove up. And I think I kind of changed my position on this. I think that you will see Casey Anthony testify in this trial.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow. Really? So how is she going to explain dancing all night while her child was missing? How is she going to explain getting a tattoo that says, "Bella Vita," the beautiful life, while her child is missing?

CONWAY: I don`t.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: How is she going to explain not calling the cops for 31 days until her mother finally confronts her, and the mother`s the one who actually calls the cops. How?

CONWAY: I don`t know how she`ll explain it, but she`s the only one that can. And she will be testifying via video. All the videos, all the statements that she gave. So that will be presented to the jury. She`s the only one that can rebut that. She`s the only one that can explain why she was doing what she was doing. And I think she`s going to be in a position where she`s almost got nothing to lose.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: So you`re predicting that Jose Baez`s big bombshell is that, in the opening statements, he`s going to say, "And my client will take the stand and explain to you exactly why she went partying and exactly why she did X, Y, Z"? That`s your prediction?

CONWAY: I don`t think he`ll give up that in opening. I think he`ll give his explanation and then we`ll -- we`ll see when the defense decides to present a case. But I don`t think that he will give that information up in opening.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: The smell in Casey`s trunk freaked out Casey`s parents. We all know that by now. Here`s a clip of Cindy`s infamous 911 call. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CINDY ANTHONY: There`s something wrong. I found my daughter`s car today, and it smells like there`s a dead body in the damn car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: First thing this morning, the judge said air samples from Casey`s trunk that purportedly shows signs of human decomposition are in. The jury will hear about those air samples. Translation: more bad news for Casey. And this on the heels of the judge ok`ing hair decomposition evidence and the stain that allegedly resembles the outline of a child.

Jayne Weintraub, I know that you`ve been close to the fence. When Jose Baez says he`s going to explain everything on day one in the opening minutes of opening statements, what is he referring to?

JAYNE WEINTRAUB, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, I think he`s going to give you an overview, Jayne, of what took place and what her state of mind was. I don`t expect that Jose is going to get up there, nor would any lawyer, and give detail by detail of the kind of circumstances that you want to hear about. That`s going to come during the case as evidence develops.

You know, it`s interesting what you said, though, today about the judge denying the defense motion about the smell in the car. And if I could just give you a comment on that, you know, it`s creating an issue for the defense that the judge just didn`t need -- just didn`t need to make. This is a death penalty case. You don`t start giving the state attorney`s office and prosecutors leeway to use scientific theories that have never been used in a courtroom before. You know, this whole issue in science methodology.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: You`re saying it`s junk science.

WEINTRAUB: . not scientific.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I understand that.

Cindy, Alabama, quick question or thought?

WEINTRAUB: Not only is it junk science, they could have.

CALLER: Yes. I think that Casey -- I know she killed Caylee. She didn`t report it for 31 days because, let`s face it, her dad used to be a cop; her mom used to be a nurse. She knows about decomp. She thought if she didn`t report it, Caylee`s body would have plenty of time to decompose before they found it. She cries for Casey not Caylee.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: You are not going to make it on the jury, because they want people who don`t have a preconceived notion of her guilt or innocence. Are they going to be able to find 20 people who don`t have an opinion?

HLN`s coverage of this case continues at 8 p.m. Eastern. Don`t miss "NANCY GRACE" tonight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. JIM PREVITTERA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF`S OFFICE: She`s in confinement in the infirmary in a cell by herself, and she`ll remain that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, a tormented father fights back. His soccer-mom wife is accused of executing their two teenagers for being, quote, "mouthy." Now the dad is suing his soon-to-be-ex-wife for wrongful death because of her outrageous divorce demands.

Julie Schenecker is accused of the incomprehensible: of shooting her 13-year-old son as she drove him, literally, to soccer practice, because he, quote, "talked back." She then allegedly went back home and executed her daughter while the 16-year-old girl sat at her computer desk.

If you think Julie Schenecker`s behavior was bizarre -- here she is shaking like crazy. The shaky perp walk has become infamous. You`re not going to believe what she wants her husband to do now.

Straight out to Steve Summers, reporter with News Talk 20 WWBA in Tampa. Steve, what does Julie Schenecker want from her estranged and completely devastated husband who`s already lost his two precious children?

STEVE SUMMERS, REPORTER, NEWS TALK 20 WWBA (via phone): Well, Jane, what we really have here now is a divorce battle shaping up, a nasty divorce battle within the murder case.

Especially -- the timeline is this. Colonel Parker Schenecker, the husband, filed for divorce from Julie Schenecker, the one who killed their two children, soon after those killings, and she -- he offered Julie a settlement and while she sat in jail: "Here`s what I`m going to give you. Take it and we`re done."

She basically rejected that, then turned around and demanded half the couple`s $2 million estate, plus money to pay for a lawyer, alimony, health insurance, life insurance that he wants -- she wants him to buy on himself to benefit her. And she even wants her diamond engagement ring back.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, God.

SUMMERS: So what it looks like has happened here is he has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her for an unspecified amount, wrongful death of their two children. Because basically, Florida laws in most any other state says that, when you have a divorce, the spouses have an equitable distribution of the assets, in order to stop her from taking half of this money even if she`s in prison or however that works out, he is going to try to get it back in a settlement, a wrongful death lawsuit.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Look at these two precious kids that this mom allegedly executed. Now, she reportedly confessed.

We`re hearing about a bizarre e-mail Julie sent to her husband while he is overseas serving our country. Imagine that. The wrongful death suit says Julie sent her husband, Parker Schenecker, an e-mail allegedly after she slaughtered her own children, saying, quote, "Get home soon. We`re waiting for you," end quote.

Honestly, this case, even though we cover so many horrific cases, is the ultimate stunner. This woman, though, despite all of this, has decided to plead not guilty, Steve Summers, even though there`s e-mails where she`s plotting it, allegedly, and admitting it afterwards?

SUMMERS: Yes. She`s admitted to this. She`s pleaded not guilty. But here`s -- here`s the legal posturing that`s going on here behind this not guilty plea.

August 15 is the deadline that the judge has set for the prosecution to tell whether they plan to seek the death penalty against Julie Schenecker. It is also the deadline for the defense to tell the court if they plan to use the insanity defense. So presumably this not guilty verdict.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Got it. Got it.

SUMMERS: . is what plays this out just a little bit longer while they make their decision.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Excellent reporting. We`re going to stay on top of this. Please come back soon, because we`re going to stay on top of that story.

On the other side of the break, a minister and his pregnant wife shot, killing her baby.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My family. If you know, if you know, please. I`m begging you, I want you to tell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Mind-blowing violence outside Atlanta. Cops say a minister and his pregnant wife are shot by two men killing her and her unborn child. Now the wounded minister desperately begs the public to help find her killers. Why would anyone want to gun down this family?

Plus the hunt for the beautiful missing cousin of country music star, Whitney Duncan ramps up. Who is the mystery man wearing camouflage seen dragging the gorgeous college student into the woods? I`ll talk to a close family friend about the frantic search for Holly Bobo. And I`m taking your calls.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROCK: (INAUDIBLE) I miss her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, a husband and his pregnant wife gunned down just steps from their home in Georgia. Now the search is on for the two men who cops say ambushed and opened fire on them all for no apparent reason. It all happened when the husband Chris Brock says he and his wife pregnant wife, Daysha were pulling into their apartment complex with their 7-year-old goddaughter.

Just before the shooting, Chris says he pulled up to the security gate of the complex and slowed down to prevent a silver car behind him from entering without permission, without putting in the pass code. Then as he parked, he noticed the silver car somehow got past the gates and that`s when the bullets started flying.

Now, that man, a minister reportedly, is recovering from a gunshot wound to the arm. There he is in the hospital, and he`s pleading for justice for his dead wife and unborn child.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROCK: (INAUDIBLE) That was my family. If you know, if you know, please, I`m begging because if you know, I want you to tell, please. Don`t hold this back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: We`re taking your calls on this, 1-877-JVM-SAYS, 1- 877-586-7297. Joining me now, Levi Page, host of the "Levi Page Show" on blog talk radio; do we have any information on a possible motive or anything really?

LEVI PAGE, HOST, "THE LEVI PAGE SHOW": You know, we don`t, Jane. I think police at this point are going to rely on Chris Brock and the 7-year- old goddaughter who witnessed these shootings outside of that apartment complex in Dekalb County, Georgia. I think it`s going to come down to do they believe his story or do they not believe his story?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Ok. That`s interesting. Now, Chris and his wife were reportedly childhood sweethearts. They started dating when she was just 10 years old. And in two more months they were expecting their first child.

They had reportedly tried to conceive for a long time and they were reportedly overjoyed when they discovered that she was pregnant. Check this out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROCK: It was so wonderful because I had been waiting, waiting. I`ve been waiting and God blessed us with this child.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: So, this man is not considered a suspect. He is a victim at this point. Take a look at this photo. Doctors actually delivered the baby boy after Daysha was shot. But tragically this precious little infant died shortly afterward.

It just breaks my heart; it makes my stomach turn. Defense attorney Joey Jackson; the 7-year-old goddaughter was reportedly there but not hurt in the gun fire. She is going to be key to this, right? But what can a 7- year-old say?

JOEY JACKSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think, Jane, a 7-year-old could say a lot. I mean just analyze here. We have to determine, what`s the motivation? What could possibly lead to this?

And I think you have to look to three different things. One, was it payback for something? So then you look to where who would the minister have -- where would the minister`s enemies be if that were the case?

And if they`re not, you look at the second motivation, robbery. Here we know that nothing was taken.

And so therefore, it leads to three, is it random? If it`s random, then perhaps it`s gang-related. Was it ritualistic? Was it just let`s just kill for fun?

But I think 7-year-olds will be brought in, they`ll be questioned obviously to determine if they know the difference between the truth and a lie, a fact and fiction. And they`ll be asked. What did you see? It was a silver car, what happened, what was the interaction?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. Well, as you mentioned, there is a major lack of detail here. And I`m wondering why. All we know is there was a silver car no make or model. The minister says there were two guys that had their guns already cocked and ready to shoot. No description of them. We tried to get information. This is just a random silver car we are showing. Police aren`t answering any questions.

What does that tell you Joe Navarro, former FBI agent?

JOE NAVARRO, FORMER FBI AGENT: Well, it strikes me as very suspicious. I mean if there a guard gate was there a camera? Where there other witnesses and so forth?

The man that survived, the victim, I want to know what kind of wound that is, how far away were the shooters when he was shot and so forth? And, you know, is this a case of road rage or something else?

But there is something about this case that usually, you know, preachers and clergy are low-risk victims. So, I`m just wondering what`s going on here.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, absolutely. You would think a minister would lead a very serene life. There will be no tears, no drama, certainly no violence. By the way, there are no tears there. But this crime has no boundaries.

Remember the Mary Winkler case? She shot her minister husband and then fled with their kids. She was only convicted of voluntary manslaughter because she claimed, A, it was an accident, and B, that her husband had abused her.

We`ve been attempting to find out what church this minister, 24-year- old Chris Brock is associated with. No luck so far. Again, cops say he is a victim here, that he was shot in the arm while his pregnant wife died and there were reportedly witnesses, but still there are questions.

And of course, any time a woman is shot and this is no reflection on him, but any time a woman is shot, because of the preponderance of intimate partner violence the first person police seek to eliminate unless there are other obvious suspects is the husband or boyfriend. The question is, are there obvious suspects here? Who are they looking for?

Lakisha, Indiana, your question or thought?

LAKISHA, INDIANA (via telephone): Hi Jane. Thank you for taking my call.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thanks for calling.

LAKISHA: I`ve got a comment. It`s a shame that we can`t even walk out of our doors nowadays without worrying about getting shot or killed with our family. My hearts go out to the lady`s family. That`s sad that they lost the baby and her because of the blessing to even get pregnant and to have children. I have a daughter myself. She is 2 years old, be 3 in August.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Lakisha, yes, our hearts go out to this family. Again, we are told by police that this minister husband is a victim here, and he is a victim. That is the official word. He was shot in the arm and may never regain the use of his arm. This is not just a nick. This is a pretty serious shooting.

But again, going back to Joey Jackson, criminal defense attorney, the police aren`t saying anything. But wouldn`t they have to look at him first to eliminate him? So would it be wise for him to take a polygraph, for example, so that they could eliminate him as a suspect? Do you think it`s something that they should ask him to do?

JACKSON: Well, you know what, Jane, I`m not a big fan of polygraph tests because on two counts you lose. Number one, if you pass it and people think you`re guilty, they say you gamed the system, gamed the process. And then if you fail it, oh we knew all along. So I`m not a big fan of that.

What they will do certainly is conduct a major investigation as to him. What`s going on? Did he conspire with anybody, does he know anything? And we hate to be talking like this.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Of course.

JACKSON: But we know from past experience, that you know what, a lot of times -- not to say he is involved -- but a lot of times as you mentioned, Jane, the man is involved and they have to be really fair with that.

(CROSSTALK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Intimate partner violence --

JACKSON: Exactly.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: -- is a leading cause of death for pregnant women in the United States.

(CROSSTALK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: In fact, it is one of the leading causes of death for women in the United States, is intimate partner violence.

So again, he is not a suspect. If he has, for example, a spokesperson or an attorney and they want to come on our show, I would love to have them on. But you always have to eliminate -- this is hypothetical, any case, you always have to eliminate the person nearby.

But here is my big issue. Let`s not rule out random rage. We live in a culture of violence. Just because these shooters didn`t attempt to rob this couple and there were reportedly no demands whatsoever doesn`t mean that they wouldn`t necessarily shoot. People shoot for all kinds of reasons. People shoot for no reason at all in this country.

There is an epidemic of gun violence. It`s, I think, something like 68,000 people every year are shot. So it`s not always a motive. There are often just random -- maybe he ticked these people off because he tried to stop them from getting into the complex and maybe they were high or drunk. Maybe they just decided we`ve got guns and we`re going to go out there and show this guy something. We can`t discard that possibility in this violent culture, Joe.

NAVARRO: No, we can`t. And you`re absolutely right. The victim says they came at him already with guns drawn. I mean what`s -- you know, this almost sounds like an assassination. This is very bizarre. But as you said, if it`s in the heat of the moment and it`s some sort of road rage, yes, I could see it, unfortunately. It does happen here in America.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I mean how many times we cover people shooting someone to death for a dollar that they had in their pocket? Shooting somebody to death for a donut? It`s crazy. It does happen.

Kathy, Nova Scotia, your question or thought.

KATHLEEN, NOVA SCOTIA (via telephone): It`s Kathleen.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Kathleen.

KATHLEEN: I love your show.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thank you.

KATHLEEN: My comments on the minister. He doesn`t seem very convincing. I think that it was a set up for his wife to be shot.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Again, what you may be noticing and I noticed, and we can play this video again is that he`s upset but he doesn`t appear to be crying. Levi, when you tried to talk to the police, did they tell you anything? There are no tears.

PAGE: Well, the police are being very tight-lipped at this point. But we have seen similar cases where men did say a group of people or a group of men tried to shoot their wife and they ended up getting nicked and hardly ever injured. But the thing is this guy might not regain full use of his arm. So you know, that leads credibility to the story, but you say that the leading cause of death among pregnant women is murder. And also the people that most likely do it are the significant other boyfriend/husbands.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. Unfortunately we live in a world where intimate partner violence is very common. That`s why we have to ask these questions. But again, he is a victim at this point. He is not considered any way, shape or form suspect or person of interest.

Thank you, fantastic panel.

Coming up next, the stunning cousin of a famous country music star still missing; I`m going to talk to worried friends about the hunt for Holly Bobo. And we`re taking your calls.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BELVIN PERRY, JUDGE IN CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL: Casey Marie Anthony, between the 15th day of June, 2008 and the 16th day of July 2008, in said county and state, did in violation of Florida state statute, from a premeditated design did affect the death of Caylee Marie Anthony. Caylee Marie Anthony, a human being; unlawfully killed Caylee Marie Anthony.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: there you see Casey Anthony crying on the first day of her trial. Yes, it`s finally started.

And tonight, a Casey Anthony insider drops a huge bombshell here on "ISSUES".

Listen to what the former attorney for George and Cindy, Casey`s parents said just a moment ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRAD CONWAY, FORMER ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE AND CINDY ANTHONY: Whatever he says in his opening comments, they will end up having to prove up. I think I kind of changed my position on this. I think that you will see Casey Anthony testify in this trial.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow. Wow, imagine if that happens. Boy, I have a lot of questions to ask her, not that I`m a prosecutor.

Casey Anthony broke down in tears today as the judge read the charges against her. Take a look at her, she is sobbing in court on day one of jury selection.

Has the reality finally set in that Casey could ultimately be sentenced to death? This is really happening? That decision will be in the hands of 12 jurors being picked from Pinellas County more than 100 miles away from the trial where that will take place. Home turf of Casey Anthony is Orange County.

The jury selection is happening in Pinellas County. This is presumably so Casey can get a fair trial. We shall see. And we will have all the very latest. We are on it here tomorrow and so will Nancy Grace coming up in just a little bit at 8:00 p.m.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN BOBO, MOTHER OF MISSION STUDENT: I love you so much. Please, please try to get home to us. If anybody knows anything about her, please, please help us find her. She`s just so precious, you just don`t even know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, heartache and despair for a mom who spent Mother`s Day pleading for her missing daughter`s safe return. Holly Bobo, cousin of country music star Whitney Duncan has been missing for almost a month now. And cops are still tight-lipped about any new clues. What do they know that they are not telling us?

Holly`s brother told cops his sister was dragged away -- he saw it -- by a man wearing camouflage. At first, he says he thought it was Holly`s boyfriend who often wears camouflage so he wasn`t worried. But then her brother says he found blood on the driveway.

This is a very small town. Parsons, Tennessee, only has about 2,500 residents. Investigators think whoever took Holly is a local. Somebody can solve this mystery. Somebody can help. Somebody out there knows who took Holly Bobo. Look at this beautiful girl.

We are taking your calls, 1-877-JVM-SAYS.

Now, I`m very delighted to have with us tonight Tammy Raimey, a close friend of the Bobo family. She has been out there searing for Holly.

Tammy thank you so much for joining us. We know that this has been very difficult. When is the last time you searched? Because I understand that there was a search this past weekend, Tammy?

TAMMY RAIMEY, CLOSE FRIEND OF THE BOBO FAMILY (via telephone): Well, I was out of town this weekend. And I had been told that there was a search, but I don`t know if that was just a volunteer search of some people that got together or if it was an official police search.

I`ve been told that the police have been still doing their searches. But I do know that the law enforcement has been scaled way back.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Really? Well there`s a lot of talk about Holly`s brother because obviously, he`s the one who says he saw Holly being led away by the suspect, the mystery man. Now Clint Bobo, the brother, has reportedly said he thought it was Holly`s boyfriend because the person was wearing camouflage and Holly`s boyfriend reportedly wears camouflage a lot.

The Bobo family says Clint Bobo has been cleared of any involvement. But Tammy, you`re a friend of the family. What do you know about the brother and the boyfriend? Tell us. Paint a picture of these two individuals so we can understand some of the key characters in this case. It might be helpful.

RAIMEY: They are both good boys. I mean, you know, that`s just all you can call them. They are good boys. They`ve been raised right. You know, they enjoy the outdoors. They are hard working. Going to school; there is -- you know, there is no way either one of those were involved in any way.

And, you know, they had cleared Clint and the boyfriend. Of course, that issue keeps being brought up. And people say, well, I doubt it. Well, there is not a doubt in my mind.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Hang on. We`ll get to more on the other side -- Holly Bobo

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA BOBO, FATHER OF HOLLY BOBO: It might have been somebody close, somebody that kind of knew our routine and when I left, when she left and when my daughter left to go to school and what I got in my mind, but I don`t know what.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: That was Holly Bobo`s father trying to keep it together. What happened to his precious daughter Holly? You know what? The town is small. It`s Parsons, Tennessee. I would think cops would eventually be able to interview every single resident. There`s only 2,500 of them.

Searchers found Holly`s lunch box three days after she disappeared eight miles from her house. And they also found something else that belongs to Holly but they won`t say what it is that they found on the side of some road. We`ve never heard if Holly had a cell phone on her or not.

Here`s my big issue: mutually suspicious.

Tammy Raimey, you`re a friend of the family, you live in the area. Are people in this town looking at one another suspiciously because cops have said it`s a local?

RAIMEY: Well, no not really. You know, we`re uncomfortable wondering is it someone still around us? Do we need to be worried? If this person is, you know, was it just Holly the target or could there be more? But no, as far as looking suspiciously at each other, I would say no.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: The fact that Holly`s cousin is Whitney Duncan a country music star, is bringing national attention to this case and here she is singing on the Warner Music group label.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MTV OF WHITNEY DUNCAN)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Levi Page, host of "The Levi Page Show" you are in Nashville, Tennessee. Obviously she is a major story. It`s bringing attention this case. Is that helping police or is it just really creating more noise?

PAGE: Well, Jane, this country music star initially did speak in the beginning, defending Clint Bobo via interviews in the media and also via Facebook and Twitter, but the family has been very tight-lipped. I don`t know if the police are telling them not to cooperate or not to speak to the media and be out in the media or not, but do I have a couple of updates. You mentioned some searches.

We know that last weekend, a couple of weeks ago there was a search in Henderson County, Tennessee where a, quote, "significant police presence was located there". We don`t know if they found anything. We also know that the police have said that they are starting to identify persons of interest in this case.

And we do know that the police have been interviewing a lot of people in this town. They would stop people randomly and they created checkpoints throughout this town and the surrounding areas. And nobody in this case has been 100 percent ruled out. I just want to clarify that. But they seem to have moved on from immediate family members and friends.

And one thing that I`m still wondering about was why did Clint Bobo claim that his sister was dragged when police went to the home and said that there were no drag marks away from the home? Was she dragged or led? I mean that`s a question that needs to be asked.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I want to give Tammy, a friend of the family, the last word on that. Because you could drag somebody and not have drag marks, Tammy.

RAIMEY: I don`t believe that is what Clint ever told them. I think that was bad wording from the TBI from the very start.

PAGE: Thank you.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. We`re going to stay on top of this, Tammy. Thank you. Our hearts go out to you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: A heart-wrenching story of animal abuse. We have an over population head crisis and every day we see sad examples of pets thrown away like garbage.

This adorable dog was found by a Good Samaritan floating down a Florida river. This 4-month-old puppy was tied to a board with electrical wire and left to starve. Look at this poor innocent creature. The vets say this beautiful animal was near death and is very lucky to be alive. Nobody wanted this dog.

It`s a symptom of a much bigger problem. The Humane Society says 4 million dogs and cats are killed every year because they have no homes. Let`s stand up and say that`s not ok anymore. Let`s be hyper-vigilant about spaying and neutering our companion animals.

And by the way, every time a dog is bought, purchased with money, a dog in the shelter dies. If you have space at home get a stray, they make great companions. I know. I`ve got quite a few of them.

Nancy Grace is up next.

END