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Rain Overwhelms Pennsylvania, Illinois & Tropical Threats to Southeast; Rebel Fighters Inch Closer to Tripoli; Federal Investigators Get Involved in Racially Charged Case; West Memphis Three Freed; Elderly Socialite Dies, Much-Younger Husband Charged

Aired August 20, 2011 - 17:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone, thanks for joining us. I'm Don Lemon. We're going to start in Iran where two American men could spend the next eight years in prison. That is according to state run TV in Iran. Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were detained two years ago while hiking near the Iranian border and charged with spying. CNN's Reza Sayah has the very latest now from Islamabad Pakistan.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a verdict that will probably surprise a lot of people especially outside of Iran who perhaps expected Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal to be released by Iranian authorities after they have spent more than two years in prison waiting for this lengthy case to be completed. And of course, it's a verdict that will deeply disappoint the parents of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal who were hoping for this ordeal to be over for their sons. But it appears that this ordeal is far from over according to Iran's state run media. A revolutionary court in Iran has convicted Bauer and Fattal of spying and trespassing and sentenced them to eight years in prison, three years for trespassing according to authorities and five years for spying, a charge that the hikers and their lawyers has strongly denied all along.

We reached down to the hikers lawyer and what's bizarre is that he seems to be out of a loop with what's happening, he says, he was wasn't aware of the verdict until he heard it in the media. He says, he's not going to comment until he's spoken to court officials. Of course this is a case that made worldwide headlines shortly after the hikers were detained in July 2009 and it has increased tensions between Iran and the U.S. And this verdict certainly won't help relations between Washington and Tehran. But analysts say this case is far from over despite the verdict, the lawyers has 20 days to appeal the verdict and don't rule out the possibility that Iranian authorities will release Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal.

You recall back in 2009, another American Roxana Saberi and American journalist was also detained by Iranian authorities, convicted of spying, sentenced to eight years in prison. And she was released shortly thereafter, it is the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when Islamic governments including the regime in Iran tend to pardon individuals who have been convicted of a crime. Don't rule out the possibility analyst say, of the Iranian authorities pardoning Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal despite the verdict. Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad.

LEMON: Reza, thank you so much. World pressure is doing little to stop Syria from prosecuting pro-democracy activists.

(SPEAKING ARABIC)

Violence has engulfed the City of Homs, according to witnesses who say at least 21 people have been killed since Friday. One witness described it as, quote, "a real war." Activists say, tanks ruled into the city today. And they are afraid to leave their homes because of snipers. CNN is unable to independently confirm these details. A television interview with President Bashar al-Assad were reportedly be broadcast on Sunday, it will be the first time, the President has spoken publicly since the U.S. and other countries called for him to step down.

Militants in Gaza today responded to overnight Israeli airstrikes with the barrage of rockets. Video here shows the destruction left behind by Israeli strikes. The Israeli military says, it was targeting tunnels used by militants to launch attacks on Israel. More than two dozen missiles launched from Gaza smashed into Israel today killing one person and wounding at least 12.

Rebels in Libya appear to be one step closer to Tripoli. Opposition fighters have pushed government forces outside the gates of Zawiya but artillery and mortars can still be heard inside the city. As when the rebels might move on Tripoli, one fighter said an offensive was possible by the end of the week. The government meanwhile fiercely denies that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is scheming to leave Tripoli and U.S. officials believe he's preparing for a last stand. CNN teams in the capital say, the gun fire and explosions they have heard today are some of the loudest since the war began.

All right. Let's talk some politics now and the man who's grabbing headlines in the race for the republican presidential nomination. Texas Governor Rick Perry is in South Carolina, a key early state in the nominating process, he picked up endorsements today from a former ambassador as well as the current state Senate majority leader. He also promoted his jobs record in Texas and went after the president's record.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: Well, there's not anybody else in the race including the president that has created as many jobs as I have. Seven hundred and fifty thousand net jobs, new jobs have been created in the state of Texas while I've been the governor. The president has overseen 2.5 million jobs lost. And we have done it by simply putting some principles into place that work. We keep the tax burden as low as we can upon those job creators. We have a regulatory climate that is fair and predictable, a legal system that doesn't allow for over suing, and at the start of the thing, you don't spend all the money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And as for the president, a top White House advisor tells CNN that Mr. President Obama is making progress on the jobs plan he's expected to announce after Labor Day. As you may know, the President is vacationing with his family on Martha's Vineyard. We're told he's been crunching numbers, and weighing his options and then he'll continue working on the jobs plan through next week.

If you missed Wolf Blitzer's one-on-one interview with President Obama earlier in the week, you have another chance to hear his thoughts on the economy, Republicans and his prospects for a second term. Make sure you check out "THE SITUATION ROOM" at the top of the hour right here on CNN.

Up next, the West Memphis three, freed from prison the same day they pleaded guilty to murdering three children. The little known legal strategy that allowed them to go free.

And a deadly tornado strike in the Midwest. And the severe weather is not over yet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley are free men today. Known as the "West Memphis Three," they were just teenagers when they went to prison for killing three little boys nearly 20 years ago. They always insisted they were innocent. Now, they are out. Thanks to a highly unusual plea deal in which they admit guilt. It was a better plea. CNN's David Mattingly has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After more than 18 years behind bars, the men known as the "West Memphis Three" find that freedom has a bitter taste.

JASON BALDWIN, "WEST MEMPHIS THREE" DEFENDANT: This was not just, you know (INAUDIBLE) that we were innocent, and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives, and we had to come here, you know, and all they said was that we'll let you go, only if you admit guilt and that's not justice that were getting.

MATTINGLY: In a complicated deal, Jessie Misskelley Jr., Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin, get out of prison to proclaim their innocence but only after admitting the prosecution has evidence that could convict them. The "West Memphis Three" go free, but not free of the world murderer.

DAMIEN ECHOLS, "WEST MEMPHIS THREE" DEFENDANT: It's not perfect, it's not perfect by any means, but at least it brings closure to some areas and some aspects. You know, we can still bring up new evidence, we can still continue the investigations we have been doing, we can still try to clear our names, the only difference is now, we can do it from the outside instead of having to sit in prison and do it.

MATTINGLY: And after their entire young adult lives spent in prison, what next? They have to support a celebrities like Pearl Jam Eddie Vedder who was inside the court room when they were set free. They also have the relentless hatred of some of the families of the murdered children. In this outburst, a father yells to the judge, he is opening a Pandora's Box. JUDGE DAVID LASER, CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, ARKANSAS: I don't think it will make the pain go away to the victims' families, I don't think it will make the pain go away to the defendants' families. I don't think it will take away a minute of the 18 years that these three young men served in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

MATTINGLY: Prosecutors say the case is closed, they have their killers and their guilty pleas. But others, including the father of one of the murdered boys say they still want answers.

JOHN MARK BYERS, FARTHER OF MURDERED BOY: I have been on their side and I have been fighting for them hard since 2007 when I realized that I was wrong. And I had to make many amends to people, but I'm still standing and fighting for justice because they're innocent. They did not kill my son.

MATTINGLY: The "West Memphis Three" saved from a lifetime behind bars, now facing a lifetime of questions. David Mattingly, CNN, Jonesboro, Arkansas

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: It is quite an unusual strategy and if you're confused about how a person can plead guilty to murder and then be set free. We're going to clarify how it works with legal expert CNN's Holly Hughes coming up a little bit later on this hour. So, stick around.

Police in Florida arrest a 17-year-old. A 17-year-old. They say he was hoping to outdo columbine. Here's a question, are teens more trouble nowadays? That discussion is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK, you know, it has been a week with parents shaking their heads over what could have happened after the arrest of a Florida man's son for allegedly plotting to blow up a school.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXANDER CANO, FARTHER OF SCHOOL BOMB PLOT SUSPECT: I seen these pictures on TV, it bothered me. You know, I mean, where's his mother at? You know, what's going on? And I don't know what he did, I have no idea what's going on with them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, that man's son, 17-year-old Jared Cano was arrested by Tampa police for plotting they say to outdo columbine. They alleged Cano had a minute by minute plan to set up pipe bombs at the Tampa High School that expelled him intending to kill more than 30 people.

So, we're going to go to now to our human behavior expert Dr. Wendy Walsh. Wendy, what is going in with these kids today? It's Jared Cano this week, last week we covered a story of another 17-year-old, his name is Eduardo Marmolejo accused of stabbing to death the principal at his private school because he put him in a class that he didn't like. Are young people more violent today as compared to previous generations or are we just reporting on it more?

DR. WENDY WALSH, HUMAN BEHAVIOR EXPERT: I think Don, we're just reporting on it more. I didn't really see any trends in the statistics to show that there's been this giant spike. What I can tell you for sure is that America compared to the rest of the world has far more violent weapons related crimes with teens because of course we have pretty loose gun control here, so there are far more violence regarding using gun fire and there's also been a big spike in girl teen violence and date teen violence. But in general, it's just that we're covering it more. And people are aware.

LEMON: There are more cameras around, media is bigger, there are more media outlets.

WALSH: Yes.

LEMON: But seriously I don't remember, and maybe I'm wrong, I could be wrong, but I don't remember kids having such access to guns when I was a kid and at least not automatic weapons.

WALSH: Yes, that's the main thing, is that we have so many weapons in our culture, but you know having said that, Don, when I was growing up in a relatively smallish city in Canada, we had our local Catholic High School, you know, band a gun shooting with kids, you know, and we have pretty gun control in Canada, so you know, it can happen anywhere.

LEMON: Yes. You know, people have guns in their home, my grandparents had guns and they didn't like. And my dad had guns in their home, but they weren't like automatic weapons. They were you know, these little guns and these new things that have come out now. Nobody had that. All right. But I want to move on to talk about this because our affiliate WFTS is reporting that Facebook pages have popped up, freed Jared Cano and save Jared Cano and police have concerns about young people perhaps copying what Cano may have been plotting. Explain this copycat phenomenon. Is this more common now in teenagers?

WALSH: Well, again, it's related to the media coverage. Exactly what we're doing Don encourages other troubled teens to potentially be copycats. But I want to be clear about these Facebook pages, Muslims are not condoning the crime by any means, but they are more wanting to show sympathy and empathy for a troubled teen who clearly they are calling it had a call to help out for the world.

LEMON: What do you mean what we're doing? How are we exacerbating this, Wendy?

WALSH: Well, the more you cover crime, the more it gives people who are mentally, a little bit unstable new ideas for how they can create crimes. I mean, you and I would never do a story on how to built a bomb, you know, because for that very reason.

LEMON: All right. I'll take your word for that, Wendy. I want you to say with us because we're going to talk about the problem, when I heard this story, I can't believe it. Pedophilia in Hollywood, and some other hot topics, straight ahead. Stay with us. We're going to talk about the problem and when I heard this story I couldn't believe it. Pedophilia in Hollywood and some other hot topics, stay with us. What makes outlast so great?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. Wendy, let's bring Wendy in a real quick. Wendy, I want to bring you in because someone tweeted me during the break and they said, we the media can be responsible for our viewers, what our viewers may do to report the news, we don't encourage it. And I think that was very important that someone said that when we're talking about encouraging kids.

WALSH: Yes, I'm not blaming the media in any way, but it's just a causal link, the more you cover this stuff, the more unstable people have access to more information about things that they can do.

LEMON: It's just the facts. It's just the facts. That's what happened.

WALSH: It's just the fact.

LEMON: One doesn't cause the other, it's just a casual link.

WALSH: OK. Let's move on, Wendy, a lot of sorrow for the country group Sugarland to report. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER NETTLES, SUGARLAND: Moments before we were about to take the stage, a huge gust of wind blew in and collapsed the entire stage wounding over 40 people and killing five. In honor of those people who were wounded and those beautiful lives that were lost, we ask you to stand and join us now in a moment of silence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Such a sad story, Jennifer Nettles was referring to a tragic Indiana State Fair collapse last week. The number of people killed has now recent to six. Sugarland performed Thursday in New Mexico obviously still shaken from the tragedy. So, Dr. Wendy, you know what, this is what I said, just a terrible, terrible tragedy here. It's a strange position for this group to be in. Many of the people injured were in that sugar pit that they call it, the place of the group's most devoted fans. Sugarland must be filling some guilt, even though investigators say, it was an overpowering surge of wind that caused the stage to collapse. So, explain this guilt Doctor, how do people get through these emotions?

WALSH: You know, people have a version of survivor's guilt even when they have certainly nothing to do with the deaths that happened. It's just a feeling like oh, could I have prevented this in some way.

LEMON: Yes. If we weren't playing there, these people wouldn't have been there. WALSH: Right, exactly. And what they're doing by grieving in public and grieving with their fans, is actually psychologically really helpful. Because what do we do when there is a death and we're grieving, we come together for funerals and wakes. And we're doing it in a big way. So, you know, they're dealing with this tragedy in the best way you can.

LEMON: Yes. We always say that, you know, things could have been prevented for sometimes accidents, things just happen. We feel sorry for everyone involved and we wish them the very best. OK, I want to move on talking -- this is very disturbing to me and I'm sure to most people. A former child actor Corey Feldman told night line Dr. Wendy that pedophiles were everywhere in show business. And he blames a pedophile for the death of his friend Corey Haim, what do you make of these revelations from him?

WALSH: Well, you know, I certainly can't talk about any specific case because I wasn't there, but I can talk in general about the kinds of climates that pedophiles are able to operate in. Any time there's a closed system where there's a hierarchy and rules very much like Hollywood. And in Hollywood, there's also sort of narcissism reigns and individual pleasures sort of reign and they're used to spoiled babies getting whatever they want in Hollywood. In addition, the kinds of children that are dropped into a very adult world in Hollywood tend to be very precocious and very intelligent. So a pedophile could rationalize it with, well, he's not like any other 13- year-old, he knows what's going on. He understands, he's grown up, he's really an adult in a kid's body.

LEMON: There's no rationalization for that.

WALSH: So, I can understand -- terrible rationalization, but I can understand how the environment, if this is in fact true can create an epidemic of pedophilia that Corey is claiming exists.

LEMON: I hope there's more investigating into this Dr. Wendy, because that is terrible.

WALSH: Well, he's very specific. He said there's one mogul out there who should be arrested right now and he can't say his name.

LEMON: But he said one mogul. But why isn't he naming specific names? Because this is a terrible thing to do to a child.

WALSH: Exactly. Well, you'll have to ask him, Don, get him on your show.

LEMON: Thank you, that is a good, good response to that. And we will do that. But, hey, I'm wondering why isn't he naming names if he's accusing someone of doing this.

Hey, Wendy. Let's talk about this new study, and you know this. As well, you and I have talked about this. And I don't think it's anything new, but except for the study, nice guys specifically finish last in the workplace and if you want to succeed in business or in work, you've got to sort of be a hard, you know what. WALSH: Well, actually I looked very closely at the study and the keyword they use is disagreeable people make more money over the long run. Now, this is a self-report study, they extrapolated data from three different studies, and people who self reported that they can be disagreeable tended after 20 years to make a lot more money. Well, disagreeable doesn't mean rude, impolite, angry or can't get along with. It means an ability to believe in yourself during contract negotiations. When you're negotiating for salaries, whoever says, the first number losses, so when the boss makes the offer, if you have the ability to disagree and say no, I think I'm worth this, then you'll make more money.

LEMON: The person who goes, I don't think so. Usually, you know, ends up making more dough.

WALSH: Exactly. Compliant people make good employees, but they may not make the most money in the long run.

LEMON: Thank you, Dr. Wendy. Always appreciate it. Great conversation. Great conversation. I appreciate it.

WALSH: Thank you.

LEMON: All right.

Up next. Flash flooding in Pennsylvania, a mother and her children die when their car is swept off the road. And the severe weather is not over yet, our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is tracking it all for us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's get you caught up on the headlines right now. State media in Iran report two American hikers have been convicted of spying and sentenced to eight years in prison. Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were detained two years ago while hiking near the Iranian border and charged with espionage and trespassing. A third hiker Sarah Shourd was also detained but freed last year for medical reasons.

Witnesses in Syria say, the City of Homs has been engulfed by violence. Tanks reportedly rolled into the city this morning. Residents are terrified to step outside their homes. Because a sniper for the democracy activist say, at least 21 people have been killed since Friday despite claims by President Bashar al-Assad that military operations are over. CNN is unable to independently confirm events inside Syria.

Survivors of the massacre on Norway's Utoya Island return to the scene of the tragedy today. On Friday, family members of those killed on the island were able to visit. Sixty nine people were killed on the shooting spree July 22nd, expect the shooter appeared on court Friday and a judge ordered he be held in solitary confinement for another four weeks.

Fast and intense flooding in Pittsburgh claimed the lives of four people including a mother and her two children. The young girls were 12 and 8-years-old. Emergency crews found the fourth body today. Rescuers told our affiliate WTAE that the water on the street was at 1.9 feet high. And, you know, Pennsylvania's not the only state experiencing overwhelming rain. Illinois is getting pounded as well. Plus, there are some tropical threats that we're tracking right now.

Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras joins us now from the Severe Weather Center.

Jacqui, tell us what's going on. Nine feet?

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, that's a lot of water. It's so hard to tell how deep the water might be on a road in front of you. So that's why we tell you, don't ever drive over the top of that.

We have had a lot of shower and thundershower activity across the Midwest. A severe thunderstorm watch in effect across parts of Lower Michigan right now. Take a look at these pictures from Chicago earlier this morning from the same storm system. The air and water show has been going on. It started at 10:00 but they had to stop it at 10:30 due to heavy rain and a lot of lightening. The police did step in and helped guide the crowd to safe places. There were an estimated 2.2 million people here. The show did resume after the storms passed. Nobody was injured. And Chicago, you're looking a lot better right now.

In Wisconsin, one person was killed -- this was yesterday -- due to what's been confirmed now as a tornado. An EF-1 flattened a mobile home. Hundreds of trees have been snapped off and caused damage in northern Wisconsin.

Let's talk about where the storm system is moving right now and we're real concerned about what's going on in Detroit. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for you. And it's really in particular the northern half here, up into the suburbs. Damaging winds in excess of 60-mile-per-hour can be expected so stay indoors. This warning in effect until 6:00 local time. We still have problems at the airports in Chicago because of those storms earlier in the day. Ground delays around an hour and a half. And I expect Detroit will have some issues as well.

Let's talk about the tropics because, heads up, southeast, if you have been tuning out because I was talking about the Midwest, you need to pay attention to this. This very well could become our next storm and could potentially become a hurricane. And the southeast needs to pay very close attention to where this thing is going to be tracking in the next five to six days. The hurricane hunters are flying into it as we speak. It very well may become Tropical Storm Irene later on tonight. The forecast models are showing a very strong consensus bringing it through the Caribbean and up towards possibly the southeastern U.S. We'll keep a very close eye on this storm.

We have had eight named systems, Don, not one of them became a hurricane. Not one of them causing too many issues. We do have Harvey out there that's affecting Central America and Mexico right now, but not a U.S. storm.

Could be very interesting time next weekend, Don, you and me.

LEMON: Don didn't do much either. Didn't even give rain to Texas.

JERAS: That's good.

LEMON: Well --

JERAS: That's why we like you.

LEMON: We'll we could have used it this --

(LAUGHTER)

JERAS: Because you're nice.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: You heard the report, nice guys finish last in business.

JERAS: I heard about that.

LEMON: I know.

JERAS: They make less money.

LEMON: I've got to be meaner, more cantankerous.

JERAS: Yes. You're doing great.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Thank you, Jacqui.

Coming up, from death row to freedom, how a little-known legal strategy allowed the West Memphis Three to walk out of prison after 18 years and still pleading guilty to murder.

But first, we all see the moving images from Somalia, tens of thousands of children literally starving to death, victims of famine and war. But the drought extends across Kenya as well, where one group, founded by a 2010 "CNN Hero," has stepped up its efforts to reach thousands of the youngest victims.

(CNN HERO)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, breaking news here on CNN. You're looking at live pictures now. This is Libyan state-run television. You're looking at the government spokesperson. His name is Musa Aberhine (ph). He's saying that there are no advances on Tripoli and that everything is fine, everything is safe. Although we're getting reports from our reporters that are there that there is gun fire and explosions echoing in the Libyan capital and they are amongst the loudest that have been heard since this has all started. And it comes as rebel fighters are inching closer to Tripoli. Again, you're looking live. Let's get those pictures back up. It's live right there at Libyan state-run television. And there's a spokesman on television now. His name is Musa Aberhine (ph). And what he has been telling us that everything is safe.

Now, you're looking at our senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance. He's joining us live from Tripoli.

Matthew, I understand that you're hearing gun fire. What is the truth here? Nothing as the spokesman says or is something actually happening?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The spokesman hasn't said that nothing is happening. What he has said is that there have been some small armed gangs in several parts of Tripoli that have been the cause of the violence, that the gunshots and the RPG explosions that various residents around the city have been reporting, and that we have been hearing from this hotel in the center of the city. What he's saying is that those armed gangs have been put down and the situation has been brought back under control of by forces loyal to Colonel Gadhafi.

What I was commenting earlier was, as he says this, this is still fierce cracking gun fire going on just behind me right here. It comes and goes every few minutes, but there's clearly many areas of Tripoli that are very unstable indeed, and where there are exchanges of gun fire taking place between various armed gangs.

What we don't know, at this point, is whether these armed guns -- clearly, they're opposition figures. They're rebels. But we don't know is whether these are people that have risen up from within Tripoli or whether these are people who have come from outside of Tripoli.

LEMON: I want to bring in some video. This is from yesterday, Matthew, from explosions in Tripoli. As you and I talk here -- there it is, right there. And according to the latest reports, sounds of gun fire and anti-aircraft fire, explosions intensified in Tripoli. That's this evening. That's from several sources there, your reporting as well as Reuters. And residents are reporting fighting in several neighborhoods and said opponents of Moammar Gadhafi are in the streets.

What I meant when I said to you nothing is happening, what he's talking about, the advancement of rebel forces, he's saying -- he's downplaying the advances of rebel forces and saying -- basically, saying everything is OK, there's no need to worry about anything. And that's what I mean, what is the truth here? Are those rebel forces advancing? Is there no need to worry or is it something else?

CHANCE: I think he quit talking about a sort of frontal advance of those rebel who have been fighting, for instance, in Zawiyah over the past several days and now have more or less full control over that city. That's not happening. It will be very difficult for these rebels to break out of Zawiyah and come down open ground, 30 miles or so, towards Tripoli with an incredibly fierce firefight. What we're seeing in Tripoli, what we're hearing at least in Tripoli tonight is something slightly different. We seem to be experiencing several neighborhoods where opposition figures appear to be rising up, battling against government forces. And again, according to the Musa Aberhine (ph), the government spokesperson here, those small armed gangs, as he called them, have been suppressed. I don't get the sense that we're witnessing the start of a rebel kind of advance on Tripoli. This is something different. And indeed, rebel spokesmen in the western mountain region around Zawiyah have already said to CNN that tonight is the night that the uprising starts in Tripoli. So clearly, this may have been something that has been coordinated with the rebel command.

LEMON: Matthew Chance, reporting live. We're going to have another report from Matthew. Also, our Sarah Sidner is reporting as well. We're not going to go far from this story, so make sure you stay tuned to this broadcast and then coming up at 7:00 p.m. eastern, live here on CNN.

In the meantime, a group of Mississippi teenagers accused of beating a black man. Next, new developments in this racially charged case.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, it is a kind of heartless act that's a reminder of the Jim Crow days in the south, but it's right now happening as I'm speaking. A 19-year-old sits in a Mississippi jail cell, accused of murdering a man because he was black. James C. Anderson was just 49 years old. And now federal investigators are getting involved as this has now become a capital case.

We want to warn you that some of the images in this story are very disturbing.

CNN's Drew Griffin is in Des Moines, Iowa. He's working on another story now but he joins us live with this story.

Drew, why is this now a capital crime?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: As the investigation went on in Mississippi -- Jackson, Mississippi, the investigators found out that the victim in this case, James Craig Anderson, was robbed before being beaten and killed. And it's because the murder took place in the commission of a crime that now prosecutors there can file a capital murder charge, which makes him eligible for the death sentence. So it was the addition of being robbed which is why that capital murder charge was filed yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA ANDERSON YOUNG, SISTER OF JAMES ANDERSON: But I have only one thing to tell the media, and that is, go to Brandon, Mississippi. Go to Brandon, Mississippi, and get those other five murderers who committed such a horrendous violent act against my beloved brother, James Craig Anderson. Now run and tell that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Don -- Don, that was the emotional plea of Barbara Anderson Young, James Anderson's sister.

As you know, since this crime happened, not a single member of Anderson's family has come forward to say anything. She finally broke the family's silence yesterday, with a plea that we have been hearing ever since we aired the surveillance tape, that gruesome surveillance tape, which shows James Anderson being run over by a large F2-50, a Ford pick-up truck, in the parking lot of a hotel. That video went viral. There were many people calling for more charges to be filed. There were seven teenagers in all who were involved in this. Only two have been charged with this, Darrel Dedman (ph), the person driving the truck, and another fellow by the name of John Rice (ph), who has been charged with a lesser crime.

But the federal government is now involved, precisely to see if federal rights, civil rights, hate crime legislation can be used in Mississippi against those other people because right now they have not been charged with a crime.

LEMON: Drew Griffin, we're going to be following this story. Thank you, very much, Drew. We appreciate it.

We want to turn real quick and go to Holly Hughes. She's an attorney and a former prosecutor, federal prosecutor here.

You said the feds will get you on this charge?

HOLLY HUGHES, ATTORNEY & FORMER PROSECUTOR: Yes. The feds will enact the death penalty. When they seek it, they typically get it in the federal system, because they seek it sparingly. It's not like we hear a lot of state cases. And this is going to be a hate crime, Don. And the reason they need to get a hold of those other five teenagers who haven't been charged is because they're going to need to testify about an ongoing pattern of prejudice. These are folks that hung out with these other two. They need to be able to say, in the past, he's made these kind of statements. He's used racial epithets. He belongs to this particular group. And once they can establish that this is a pattern and not just a one-shot deal, then they can show that it is race based. It's biased. It's prejudiced. And it falls under the hate crime statute. And I think, if they seek it under this, Don, in this day and age, they're likely to get it.

LEMON: They'll get it.

Let's turn now to Arkansas, Holly. The West Memphis Three, three men tonight -- let's see, they got 18 years in prison. They had to plead guilty of murder in order to be set free. That's unusual. How does this work?

HUGHES: Right, this is sort of an anomaly in the law and it's what I like to call very plainly hedging your bets. There is a case called Alford versus North Carolina, the United States Supreme Court, basically said we will let a defendant enter a guilty plea but still proclaim their innocence. And the reason they'll be able to do that is because they're going to say, while I will not admit guilt in this crime, and I won't say I did anything, I do recognize the fact that the state has enough evidence that a jury could find me guilty, might find me guilty, and I don't want to roll that dice.

So to save the state the cost of a trial -- and, in this case, it would be a retrial, Don. They would be looking at trying something again that's 18 years old so.

LEMON: Going through the whole process all over again.

HUGHES: Yes, and bringing everybody back in. So the Supreme Court has said, OK, if you'll accept responsibility, realize that it could go either way, it's kind of a 50-50 --

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LEMON: But how do they clear their names now? Because even the father says that they're -- father of the young men says that they're not guilty of --

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HUGHES: Right. Remember, there's three victims here, and one of the fathers does say that and has said that for a very long time, and several of the mothers have come out and said, we think these three young teenagers are innocent. And, of course, now they're young men. They're in their 30s, Don. They've been in prison for over half their lives. What they're going to have to do is hire investigators, hit the street, interview people if they want to clear their name. And the sad fact is the evidence is gone, it's degraded.

LEMON: Oh, yes.

HUGHES: And if some drifter did this 18 years ago, they may never clear their names.

LEMON: This is going to be one of those cold case files.

HUGHES: Yes.

LEMON: And then something odd, something unusual, maybe the smallest thing is going to trigger something, and we'll be talking about it in a decade or so.

HUGHES: Absolutely.

LEMON: It'll happen. It'll happen.

HUGHES: We'll follow it.

LEMON: Let's go to Washington now because, talk about a murder, it's very odd. People have been trying to explain this one to me. An elderly socialite is the victim here. Her much, much-younger husband has been charged. Tell us about this.

HUGHES: This is Viola Drath, and this lady is so well known and accomplished. She is from Germany, a very famous writer. Met an Army colonel way back when, married him, came to the United States, and became quite the famous author and socialite and community activist. She did a lot of volunteer work. After her husband passes, she is so lonely, she meets up with this -- she's in her 70s. He's in his 20s at the time. She meets up with this man who calls himself Muth -- is his last name. They get married and he has -- it's a marriage of convenience. And he has a history of abusing her for several years. The 22 years they're married, there had been history of abuse. She's found dead. He doesn't report it for about 12 to 15 hours. And then he starts talking to the press and saying, oh, she died as a result of falling down the steps. Police took a closer look, she's got some serious head trauma and he's the only one in the house.

LEMON: A little fishy. Now they're looking at -- has he been arrested? He's been arrested.

HUGHES: He has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder because, by the way, as soon as she's found dead, he comes up with a forged document, runs to the family and says, oh, she's dead, I get this money.

LEMON: I get the money.

HUGHES: Completely forged.

LEMON: Oh, imagine that.

HUGHES: Yes. Stinks a little, doesn't it?

LEMON: Thank you, Holly. Appreciate it.

Straight ahead here on CNN, scary moments at a rodeo. A horse gets out of control and crashes through fencing, and screaming spectators try to jump out of the way. You'll see the video coming up.

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LEMON: Each week CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, introduces us to a person who has achieved remarkable things despite having to overcome major challenges. In this week's "Human Factor," Sanjay introduces us to a cancer survivor who is embracing life despite having an uncertain future.

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LEMON: Getting you caught up on the headlines right now, state media in Iran reports two American hikers have been convicted of spying and sentenced to eight years in prison. Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were detained two years ago while hiking near the Iranian border and charged with espionage and trespassing. A third hiker, Sarah Shourd, was also detained but freed last year for medical reasons.

Air strikes have reduced parts of Tripoli to rubble. A spokesman for Libya's rebels says the revolution has begun tonight in the capital. There are reports of clashes in neighborhoods throughout the city. CNN teams in Tripoli say explosions and gunfire among the loudest they've heard. The government says Tripoli is safe despite a few dozen rebels sneaking into the city.

Coming up at 7:00 p.m. eastern, the latest from Libya.

Also, questions intensify over Congresswoman Maxine Waters and why she says she's ready to unleash on the president. On the same day she made her comments, the White House released an executive order which promises to promote diversity in government and beyond. Did it have anything to do with her? I'm going to ask. And I know this interview is going to generate lots of interest in social media. So make sure you connect with me on Twitter, on Facebook, on my blog, CNN.com/don as well.

An out-of-control horse scatters fans at a rodeo.

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LEMON: What a scary sight. This horse crashed through the fencing at a rodeo in Adams County, Illinois. The horse and the rider were the first out of the gate at last night's event. Incredibly, incredibly, no one was injured. The horse is OK. And just in case you're wondering, again, no one was injured. The horse is doing OK as well. And the rodeo went on as scheduled. But, boy, was it some amazing moments right there.

I want to tell you before we leave you here and you get Wolf Blitzer and "The Situation Room," we're going to be covering all the events in Tripoli, all the events in Tripoli. We have a team of reporters there.

And we're looking live now as we leave you in just a few minutes. This is Libyan television. Earlier, there was a spokesperson saying that, not to worry, that there were no advances in Libya from the rebels who are fighting against Moammar Gadhafi and who are trying to take over the government there, or at least, as they say take their government back. We'll be reporting for you live in an hour.

Right now, "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer.