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Boston Remembered: Ricin Sender Captured

Aired April 27, 2013 - 16:00   ET

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

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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Carol Costello, reporting live from Boston with CNN special coverage and just take a look around me at all of the people down here on Boylston Street, at Copley Square.

A makeshift memorial has sprung up behind me. People have brought flowers and stuffed animals and running shoes, an American flag. They left touching messages behind. The mayor of Boston asks people to get down here, get down to this area so that they can shop and get on with life as normal. He's asking to spend $25 in a store or in a restaurant just to help these businesses that were closed down for so many days due to this terrible bombing.

Also, parking is free down here. You won't get a ticket. So come on down and shop and celebrate Boston with literally thousands of people.

We're going to have more on the investigations, the Boston bombings. But first, I want to tell you about the new developments in that Ricin letter investigation. Federal agents in Mississippi have now arrested a man in Tupelo and charged him in the investigation. Federal agents believe this man James Everett Dutschke was behind letters laced with poison sent to President Obama and two other officials.

The White House says the president has now been informed of the arrest. Our Alina Machado is in Tupelo, Mississippi. Alina, bring us up to date.

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, James Everett Dutschke is now going to be facing charges. The U.S. attorney's office saying he will be charged with developing, retaining and possessing and using a biological agent as a weapon. That biological agent, of course, referring to ricin.

Now Dutschke He was taken in to custody here at his home in Tupelo, Mississippi, overnight. The arrest was made by the FBI at some point between 12:30 and 1:00 in the morning. And that arrest in reference, of course, to the ricin investigation. And Dutschke is turned over to the U.S. marshal's office.

Now, we first learned about Dutschke at a hearing on Monday. That hearing was related to the initial suspect in this case. That suspect's name, that man's name is Paul Kevin Curtis. Curtis had said in that hearing that he had been framed and mentioned Dutschke as a possible suspect. A day later, all of the charges that have been filed initially against Curtis were dropped and he was released. His name was cleared. The focus at that point seemed to turn to Dutschke.

We heard about searches at a martial arts studio that had been associated with Dutschke earlier this week. We also know that FBI agents were here at Dutschke's home, searching this location, as well. Now we have been out here talking to neighbors, talking to people who have known Dutschke for a while and we talked to one man whose name is Dennis Carlock and he has known Dutschke for about a few years and here's what he had to say about the arrest.

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DENNIS CARLOCK, DUTSCHKE'S NEIGHBOR: Well, I'm glad they got him. Like I told bunch of them before, I don't care how they got him as long as they got him out of this neighborhood.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACHADO: Now we have also learned that the Lee County sheriff's office is also potentially going to try to seek state charges filed against Dutschke. Carol?

COSTELLO: Alina Machado reporting live from Tupelo, Mississippi today.

Now the latest on the Boston bombing investigation. Two foreign exchange students from Kazakhstan who were friends with suspect, Dzokhar Tsarnaev are being held by immigration officials. Susan Candiotti is live in Devens, Massachusetts where Tsarnaev is being held at a federal prison medical center. Susan, tell us about these students. Why are they being held?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're being held, Carol, on immigration violation charges. According to the lawyer representing these two students, they're being held because they weren't regularly attending classes and because they are here on a student visa, that means that they are in violations so those are the immigration charges that they are facing at this time.

However, law enforcement sources tell us that they're still being detained because federal authorities and investigators still want to know what these students might be able to share about the whereabouts of the bombing suspect who's now accused and is being held at the federal detention center behind me, the medical center that's Dzokhar Tsarnaev.

The lawyer representing the students in question said they had nothing to do with the bomb plot and for now, investigators have said that they have no evidence to indicate that the two bombing suspects had any accomplices. But as we said, we are being told by sources that they want to continue to question these two students to see if they can provide some background on their fellow student.

One of the things they know about these students is that they shared a cell phone and iPhone that the lawyers said that none of them had enough money to buy one on their own so they shared that and had that in common. And that they also relied on Dzokhar Tsarnaev because he spoke better English than they did and so he was able to provide help for them. So for now, these two students remain in custody on those immigration charges, Carol.

COSTELLO: I'm sure you'll keep following this. Susan Candiotti reporting live from Devens, Massachusetts today.

Apparently Dzokhar Tsarnaev hasn't been nearly as generous with clues like the trashed laptop. Investigators searching for a laptop in a dump in Devin. That search is now over but supposedly before he was read his Miranda rights, Tsarnaev told investigators that they dumped a laptop in some trash bin and then authorities have been looking for it.

Let's get back to the Miranda rights and when exactly authorities read those Miranda rights to the suspect. CNN's Athena Jones is at the White House. What's Washington saying about this?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. You know, this is a subject that has been coming up a lot here on Capitol Hill here in Washington. You know, Congressman Mike Rogers, he's the head of the House intelligence committee, he's the chairman. He wants the know more about how the suspect happened to be read his rights, to remain silent, his right to a lawyer on Monday at the hospital. He sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking a series of questions that he wants answers to. Among them, who decided that this initial appearance should take place at that specific time and place.

And also did anyone from the Department of Justice or the FBI raise concerns about the timing of the reading of those Miranda rights to the suspect? Now the Department of Justice hasn't yet responded to this list of questions from the congressman but they have said that prosecutors and FBI agents were told ahead of time that this initial appearance was being scheduled and so we do know from at least one law enforcement official who spoke with CNN's Susan Candiotti, that they felt that those initial bedside interviews with the suspect were very, very thorough and therefore the reading, the timing of the reading of those Miranda rights wasn't something that end up hindering them but we don't expect that to end the discussion here in Washington, Carol.

COSTELLO: I don't think it will. Anything come from the White House, speaking of the discussions?

JONES: While, we haven't heard much from the president on this case in the last several days, we did hear from vice president Biden last night. He was speaking at a forum in Sedona, Arizona. He talked about some comments he had made earlier in the week when he called these two suspects "cowardly knockoff jihadists." He explained that the reason he said that was because from everything he'd seen, they didn't appear to be professionals. He went on to talk about suspects like this.

Let's listen to what he had to say there.

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JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: The most difficult person to deal with is the self radicalized or the one that is marginally assisted who is not directed specifically by anybody because all the intelligence apparatus and all of the - all of the means by which we have to infiltrate or pick up the kind of signals we're able to pick up with our significant technological capability is rendered almost useless.

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JONES: It's interesting what you heard there from the vice president at the end, technological capabilities. When one of the criticisms here, going on here is that this idea that signals were missed. Not technological signals but warnings and advisories from Russia about the older suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who is now, who was killed in a shootout earlier and so that's something that's going to continue, as well. Lots of questions being asked of the intelligence community about what do they missed or didn't follow up enough on certain leads. Carol?

COSTELLO: Athena Jones, reporting live from the White House this afternoon.

A carjacking followed by a harrowing rise with the two Boston suspects, the man who went through that terrifying experience, the victim in this case, speaks out. We'll be right back.

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COSTELLO: A Boston man is recounting in riveting detail what he went through when he was carjacked by bombing suspects, Tamerlan and Dzokhar Tsarnaev. A 26-year-old Chinese entrepreneur who wants to be identified only by his American nickname, Danny, details his terrifying experiences exclusively to the "Boston Globe."

Reporter Eric Moskowitz describes one critical moment of the risk. Well, they stopped in Watertown. They stopped in Watertown Center so Dzokhar could withdraw money from the Bank of America ATM using Danny's card. Danny shivering from fear, claiming to be cold asked for his jacket. Guarded by just one brother, Danny wondered if this was his last chance but he saw around him only locked storefronts. A police car drove by, lights off. Danny will get another chance to escape later after enduring a seemingly endless ride through Boston. The "Boston Globe" reporter who wrote those words, Eric Moskowitz is here with me now. Hi, Eric.

ERIC MOSKOWITZ, "BOSTON GLOBE" REPORTER: Hi. How are you?

COSTELLO: Are you still communicating with Danny?

MOSKOWITZ: I am. We talked a little bit and we texted before the story ran just to let him know when it was going to run and then texted throughout the day yesterday and then again today. And mostly about sort of anything but what happened to him in his ordeal. We've been texting about a (INAUDIBLE) which is the Mandarin name for the Boston Celtics. Actually, one of the things that brought Danny to Boston and if you think about the twists and turns that allowed Danny to survive that night and of course, without Danny - without the escape, the police don't find the brothers, you know, they may head to New York with the explosives in the car but if you peel back, I mean one of the reasons that Danny came to Boston is because in China he was a Celtics fan.

COSTELLO: And he just wanted to watch basketball. Look what happened.

MOSKOWITZ: Yes.

COSTELLO: I have heard many people in the city of Boston and in New York City consider Danny a hero. Does he consider himself that?

MOSKOWITZ: You know, he's really - I mean he comes across as a really good and decent guy and very private and he was very worried - one of the reasons why he didn't want his real name to be used and why he didn't want to come out in person in front of the cameras is that he was worried that the public would misread him or that they would think somehow he was in cahoots with the terrorists which is absolutely, nothing of the sort. I mean Danny was so brave and poised and I told him, you know, "Danny, you're so popular today and everybody thinks you're a hero and everybody wants to know, did you talk to the girl. He was a little bit embarrassed. But he said, You know, yesterday when he talked to me he said today is a good day.

COSTELLO: He's also afraid - his parents are in China, right?

MOSKOWITZ: They are.

COSTELLO: Has he shared this harrowing tale with his parents?

MOSKOWITZ: Only with his dad. So if you wind back to when the bombing happened, that news was carried in China and his parents called him immediately because it's a big city where a lot were hurt and a few people got killed. They wanted to know if he's all right and he says he's OK.

When the carjacking happened, you are not thinking in China that one person gets carjacked it is your son afterway around the world. So they didn't call then and he was not a rush to tell them. He got - he was with the police for 15 hours telling them his story. When he got out, he told his professor, his adviser in grad school and a couple of friends and that's it and then he told his dad but he said, "You know, don't tell, mom. I don't want her to know. I don't want her to be nervous. But if my name gets out, then, you know, we'll have to tell her."

COSTELLO: So she would be so worried and maybe she would make him go home to China and he wants to stay here?

MOSKOWITZ: He's very happy here. I mean, he's working on a start-up business and, you know, he has an engineering degree but he's an entrepreneur and he said he really likes Boston. There's a lot of young people here (INAUDIBLE).

COSTELLO: OK. Let's go back to the girl? Because I'm sure people are - I know I'm interested. So as he was talking his way out of this terrible ordeal, he talked with these suspects about mundane things including this girl.

MOSKOWITZ: Well, he didn't talk with them about the girl. They actually asked, do you have - first, he asked, does anyone care about you? He's trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, non threatening as possible and he says "No, no one cares about me." Thinking that will make them think no one is going to come looking for him and they don't need to be nervous. And then he tells them he has a girlfriend in China which he told me was not the case. And that when he got very nervous, there was a time where he gets a phone call and it's his roommate looking for him and they tell him, you're going to answer it, you're going to speak English and say a word in Chinese, we'll kill you. Because they know he could be giving away, you know, what's going on -

COSTELLO: That's right.

MOSKOWITZ: And so he, you know, he was so nervous in that moment and his heart is pounding he's thinking about two things, the girl in New York who he hasn't told how he felt and then, you know, whether he get a chance to sort of let his business succeed. And you know, I said, have you told her how you felt and a part of it is modesty, I think. It may also be that his second language, i talked to her on the phone. He's actually talking to her when they found the younger brother in the boat. He said I told her that I was so glad that I had the opportunity to speak with her again and I was worried I would never speak with her again in my life.

COSTELLO: Did he say he loved her?

MOSKOWITZ: I don't know. That's what everyone wants to know. I have to go back and ask him. We'll - everybody's saying, I'll tell him this, that the world is rooting for him and for the two of them to get together.

COSTELLO: Eric, get that out of him. Make him say it. Thank you so much. Thank you for joining us.

Since the attack at the marathon, people have been calling this the great American city. Boston Strong. That strength is matched only by the concern and compassion being shown for those injured and to the memories of those killed. Coming up, a look at a living memorial right here in Boston.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: This week on "The Next List," (INAUDIBLE), innovator of the bionic limb.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the biometronics group here at M.I.T., the mission is to blur the boundaries between humans and machines.

What we do here is we build robots that attach to the body, to the legs that augment a person's physicality. It allows them to move again when they're not able to move.

GUPTA: Why do you call them robots that attached to the body?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are developing very advanced systems. I would call them bionics. Stealing from the Hollywood term.

They're robotic because they have sensors on. They have computers. Various computers across their structure. They have motor, muscle- like, tendon-like systems that push and change stiffness and dampen and allow a person to move again across varied terrains.

GUPTA: How (INAUDIBLE) plans to help amputee victims of the Boston bombings, this Saturday 2:30 Eastern.

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COSTELLO: Team Co-Co taking over Washington. Yes, the one and only Conan O'Brien is hosting tonight's annual White House correspondents dinner. It's been dubbed the nerd prom. But expect more glitz and glamour than anything. Top Hollywood celebrities and politicians will join Conan and the first family for a full night of laughs and do not forget you can catch it all tonight. The White House Correspondents' Dinner right at 9:00 right here on CNN.

And we're learning something new about Oscar-winner Diane Keaton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know what your son just told me? Al's biological mother is under the impression that divorce is a great big fat sin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

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COSTELLO: Yes, we know that. She's been out promoting her new film "The Big Wedding" but during our interview with the actress, Keaton revealed something no one has ever known about her before. She has this addiction.

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DIANE KEATON, ACTRESS, "THE BIG WEDDING": You know may I just say something?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

KEATON: Because I want to say something. I'm addicted to CNN and I watch it every single day of my life and I just wanted to tell you that. I know all the characters. I'm not kidding. It's truly -- it's little bit of a problem. I have a little bit of an addiction to CNN. And it's the truth. I love the information. And I love the cast of characters. Do you know, I mean --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anderson and Wolf?

KEATON: Oh, yes but early morning, too. You know, Carol Costello. I think she's a crack-up and Suzanne Malveaux is so sweet and pretty and Don Lemon, I like Don Lemon. I like them all! I like everyone. It's true. You become acquainted with them and they live with me. And I have it on all the time. And when I get - you know, like when I work on a movie, I always try to make sure I can get CNN in the makeup trailer because I don't want to be without it. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's awesome.

KEATON: I try to put it in to my contract. Get me a little CNN. Please. Yes. I don't care how big the TV is. I just need to see them.

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COSTELLO: I have always loved Diane Keaton, but Diane, I love you even more now. Thank you so much. And I hope you never, ever recover from that addiction. We love you at CNN.

All week long we have been watching people here in Boston come together and today the crowds just keep gathering with messages and memorials. We'll talk with some of those people and show you how they're remembering the victims of the Boston bombings and how they're helping Boston remain strong.

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COSTELLO: Before I leave you this afternoon, I want you to take one more look at the memorial that's set up in Copley Square and all these wonderful people who are dropping off flowers and kind messages and take a look at the picture of Richard Martin, he's the eight-year-old boy that was killed near the finish line of the Boston marathon. He's sort of become the face of this tragedy.

Well, today, in his neighborhood in Dorchester, members of his Little League team held a parade honoring Martin. Just to say what a wonderful human being he was. They also honored his mother and his sister who are still recovering from their injuries. Listen to what Martin's coach and the city councilman said about him.

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MIKE CHRISTOPHER, MARTIN RICHARD'S COACH: Just a great kid. You know? The type of kid you want on your team. You know? He was like a little Mr. Baseball. You know? When he was in between the lines, there was just no fooling around. His mechanics and baseball's not something that you just pick up easily. He just had it and he was a young kid. He was only eight years old but he just had - everything was there.

FRANK BAKER, DORCHESTER CITY COUNCILOR: It is a sad day but it's also a good day. It's a good day. Look at all these people out here that we have. Everything that's happened over the past two weeks. We're all part of this. We're all part of the grieving but are also all part of the healing.

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COSTELLO: Oh, and he said it right there, didn't he? We're all part of the healing and that's why everybody is here today. They're not celebrating death, they're not celebrating life. They're here so Boston is strong and they're here to lend their support and pray for a safer world.

I want to thank you so much for being with us today on CNN and thanks for all the well wishes you've given us. We really appreciate it. "Newsroom" will continue in about half an hour. It is time now I said good-bye and thank you so much for joining us.