Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Salon Massacre at Seal Beach; President Obama Talks Jobs, Trade in Detroit; 'Occupy Wall Street' Funding; Second Man Guilty in Deadly Home Invasion; Missouri Bishop Faces Criminal Charges
Aired October 14, 2011 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Randi Kaye. Good to see you.
I'm Brooke Baldwin.
And let's begin here with a live picture as we are awaiting President Obama to speak there in Detroit, Michigan. As soon as we see him step behind that podium, we will of course bring that to you live.
Meantime, let's get you caught up on everything making news this hour, "Rapid Fire."
Let's begin with riot gear, chants and handcuffs. Filling streets across the country today, protesters speaking out about Wall Street and corporate greed. Dozens under arrest in major cities, including 14 people in New York alone.
And just into us, some brand-new iReport video from Wall Street. And the guy who shot this claims police ran over someone's leg in this video, and then slammed his face into the Street.
Let's look at live pictures out of New York now, where most demonstrators are showing up. So who is paying for these protests? In a couple of minutes from now, I'm going to speak with the guy who is helping them get the cash.
And the man in charge of Britain's military quitting today. Defense minister Liam Fox under fire for allowing a friend to advise him even though the guy wasn't on the government payroll. Fox is apologizing and says he blurred the line between work and his personal life.
Mitt Romney has given his plan for jobs. Now Rick Perry is taking his turn.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'll work to open up Alaska's abundant resources to oil and gas exploration, including the ANWR coastal plain and the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: In his first major policy speech, the Texas governor says his energy plan would create more than a million jobs. And if he is president, Perry insists America will not be held hostage when it comes to oil.
The much anticipated iPhone 4S now on sale all around the country. And one of the first guys in line, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE WOZNIAK, CO-FOUNDER, APPLE: I have a bunch of friends now that say, oh, this is the most important thing ever in history, but I'll just order it have it come to my home. They give up on doing this little sacrifice, wait for the event.
Me? No. I think that's part of it. That makes it more valuable. The sacrifice makes it worth more to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: You've got to get there in person, he says. Apple, by the way, sold one million of these phones in just the first 24 hours on its Web site, and through AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. The cost of the phone, you ask? Somewhere between $200 and $400 a pop.
A missing 10-month-old girl still missing, and the family is getting desperate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE LERETTE, FAMILY SPOKESMAN: 911 works. We're hanging in there. Thank you very much.
And just keep praying. We feel that -- just keep praying. Please, please, please.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: A man saying he's a cousin is speaking out as searchers are still coming up empty. Investigators again looking through a wooded area. By the way, the family also releasing home video of little Lisa Irwin, hoping this will help.
A permanent black marker used to cover a shaved spot. Here's the head. Take a look.
Covering a shaved spot of the head of a junior high school Texas student. In this picture, you can actually see the bottom line. Look closely. You can see there was a bottom line, two parts, bottom line, filled in on Sheldon Williams' head.
The school told Sheldon his haircut violated the school dress code, so instead of calling the mom, the assistant principal went on, filled in the design with a Sharpie.
Here's what Williams' mom had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the parent gives you permission to do such things, then it's OK to do that. But to just take the initiative and to say, I'm just going to color in his hair with a permanent marker, that was very disrespectful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Well, school administrators say they won't be handling hair design violations in this way again.
Do you remember how the world was supposed to end back on May 21st and clearly it didn't? So guess way? The new doomsday date is set for October 21st. At least that's what Harold Camping is predicting this time.
According to "TIME" magazine, the end of the world prophet said this on his radio recording -- let me quote him for you -- "I really am beginning to think as I restudy these matters that there's going to be no big display of any kind. The end is going to come very, very quietly." Harold Camping.
So, we've all seen this video, right the running of the bulls in Pamplona? But how about Arizona?
That's right. Four a fourth year, several bulls will be chasing after hundreds of people in this tiny town called Cave Creek. Look at them go.
Animal activists and town officials have objected, but the event is still taking place starting today. We are told the bulls are better tempered and slower than the ones in Pamplona, and their horns have been blunted, if that makes you feel better, in Arizona.
We are just getting started here. I've got a lot more to cover in the next two hours, including this --
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: For the first time, we're hearing a pilot's final words before an Air France jet crashed to sea, and it's making some people furious.
I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
(voice-over): New details in that shooting at a California salon, what we're learning about that angry ex-husband accused of opening fire on a beauty shop full of customers. We're live in Seal Beach.
Occupy Wall Street spreads. But how are they raising money if they are against big banks? We'll talk live to an investment banker- turned-protester who is getting money for the movement.
Then, in case you missed it, the House has just passed a new bill that would let some hospital staff say no to performing an abortion, even if it means saving a woman's life.
I'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: We are just getting a briefing out of Seal Beach, California. We're getting some new details from police on that mass slaying at a hair salon in Orange County Wednesday.
The suspect, in custody. You see him right there on the right side of your screen. His name is Scott Dekraai. He was locked in a child custody dispute with one of these eight victims. That's right, eight people dead.
Thelma Gutierrez is live for us at the scene of this news conference.
I understand more news coming from that, including some new information, Thelma. What have you learned?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, the news conference is going on right now, as we speak, but the Orange County district attorney just said that Scott Dekraai will be facing eight counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Also, one count of attempted murder. There is one person in critical condition for what he called the deadliest massacre in Orange County's history.
Now, he called, Brooke, Scott Dekraai a methodical and merciless killer. He said the motive for this massacre was simply revenge -- revenge for a custody battle that he was locked in with his wife, his ex-wife Michelle Fournier, who was also killed in this deadly rampage.
He described it in detail, Brooke. He said that Dekraai premeditated this crime, that he wore a bullet-proof vest, that he carried three firearms into the salon, that he actually stopped to reload his gun, and that he wasn't satisfied in killing his ex-wife, but continued killing many other people in that salon, one by one.
He said it was a two-minute rampage, and that he went down the row shooting people in the head and in the chest, that he didn't stop there. That on his way out of the salon, he shot a man who was sitting in a Range Rover as well.
Again, he says the motive for this, simply revenge over a custody battle -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: I know this area referred to often as "Mayberry by the Sea." They hadn't seen but one homicide in five years, and now you have eight in a day.
There was a candlelight vigil at Seal Beach last night. I imagine people there just still in shock.
GUTIERREZ: Yes, absolutely, Brooke. And, you know, people in this quiet town know each other.
Many of the people knew the victims there, including the owner of that salon, Meritage, Robert Fanon (ph), who was also killed in this terrible massacre. People gathered in front of the salon yesterday, placing flowers and cards, trying to console one another. Grief counselors were brought into the area to help people cope with this, as you had mentioned.
This is not a beach town where things like this happen, and folks very upset over this, trying to cope with it the best that they can.
BALDWIN: Horrific.
Thelma Gutierrez for us.
Thelma, thank you so much.
Meantime, as promised, the president now up on stage, speaking to a packed house in Detroit, Michigan. Quickly, before we listen to him, also on his stage, his visitor in Washington, and now in Michigan, the South Korean president, President Lee.
Take a listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- economic comebacks that we've ever seen.
So, President Lee knows what it's like to go through tough times, he knows what it's like when folks have counted you out, and he knows what it's like to make a big comeback.
So, with that, I want to welcome President Lee to Detroit and have him say just a few words.
(APPLAUSE)
PRESIDENT LEE MYUNG-BAK, SOUTH KOREA: Thank you.
(through translator): Folks, I'm a little bit shorter than President Obama, so I'm going to adjust the microphone. I hope you'll understand.
(LAUGHTER)
Well, first of all, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's a great pleasure visiting your factory here in Detroit, along with one of my closest friends, President Obama.
Well, folks, as you know, the global economy is going through some tough times, and so there's one thing on the minds of both President Obama and I, and that is jobs. It is about creating good, decent jobs, and it is about keeping those jobs. And this is what keeps us awake.
(APPLAUSE)
Ladies and Gentlemen, before I came here to see, I just had a brief tour given to me by the members of this factory, and I heard about the history, and I also heard about the danger of how this factory was on the brink of being closed. But now, as you can see, we have so many people here, like all of you here working here and earning a good living, and I think more than anyone else here in this factory, I think it's President Obama who is the happiest man to see this fact factory being so energetic and enthusiastic.
(APPLAUSE)
BALDWIN: South Korean President Lee speaking there with his Detroit Lions hat on et al, speaking at a General Motors assembly plant there in Detroit, Michigan. He is on stage there.
You heard momentarily referring to President Obama as one of his closest friends, talking jobs. They're hoping as a result of this trade deal reached this week with not only South Korea, also Colombia and Panama as well, they're hoping to create some 70,000 American jobs.
By the way, we are going to go back to this event as soon as we see President Obama take that microphone back from the South Korean president.
Meantime, let's move along and let's talk Occupy Wall Street. You know those protests? They are flooding cities all around the country. Denver, San Diego, New York, all seeing arrests at these protests.
Business mogul and hip-hop legend Russell Simmons joined the New York protests this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSSELL SIMMONS, BUSINESS MOGUL: -- simple, want a democracy that works.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: He also just spoke with CNN live last hour. We're going to hear from him in just a moment.
Al Gore has even thrown his hat into the ring of support of these Occupiers. Hear what he has to say about the protests straight ahead.
But what exactly do these protesters want? Coming up in two minutes, we're going to breakdown the cause.
Stay right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Let's show that live picture one more time.
And apologies, baseball fans. I must have had football on the brain. This is South Korean president, President Lee, with a Tigers hat on, not Lions.
By the way, we are going to come back to this image as soon as we see President Obama speaking once again.
Today, many cities nationwide are seeing bigger Occupy Wall Street protests. In New York, police arresting 14 people near Broadway, including protesters who blocked traffic, knocked over a police scooter, threw bottles, and turned over trash baskets.
But it's video like this here that has some folks concerned. Take a look.
This is iReport video. This is from New York just this morning.
And according to an iReporter, it shows a New York City police officer allegedly running over the leg of one of these observers. You can hear the man screaming in the video.
Protesters say they were ready to be arrested, including hip-hop pioneer and business mogul Russell Simmons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMMONS: I'm part of the 100 percent. I'm part of the 100 percent. And I believe if these people are sick or suffering, or if they don't have education, they don't have health care, they don't have -- well, if I'm paying not enough taxes, I want to support them in an effort to make it more fair and a better -- a fair country and a better union.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Simmons, interestingly enough, is in the very financial services industry he is now criticizing. He's the founder of UniRush, which sells the RushCard prepaid debit card. And just take a look at some of the RushCard fees. There is $3.95 to $14.95 one-time fee, depending on the type of card you get; a $9.95 monthly fee for one plan; and up to $2.50 international ATM withdrawal fee.
Arrests of Occupy Wall Street protesters happening around the country. We told you about those 14 arrests in New York City. Now Seattle police making 10 arrests last night after protesters refused to leave a park there. And in Denver, at least 24 people arrested early this morning, most for unlawful conduct and disobeying an 11:00 p.m. curfew for state-owned land.
And now more video. Here you see this man detained. Colorado state patrol dressed in riot gear began clearing out protesters. Their encampment was on state park land near the capitol building.
And perhaps you're wondering, as some of us were, exactly how these Occupy Wall Street protesters have been able to pay for their month- long demonstration in New York. And it turns out, many of them are using the Internet and WePay. It's a Web service that processes Internet donations, and organizers today say they have raised more than $100,000.
And we have WePay co-founder Rich Aberman joining me live from Palo Alto, California.
And Rich, before we talk WePay specifically, what is it that Occupy Wall Street folks are just trying to raise money for? RICH ABERMAN, CO-FOUNDER, WEPAY: So they're using WePay to use money for housing, food, clothing. We've had over 200 accounts set up for various different cities and various different purposes. So it's a wide spectrum of reasons.
BALDWIN: And obviously part of the premise here, Occupy Wall Street rallying against the big banks, but they need a way to fund their efforts. They don't turn around and obviously turn to a big bank. So that's where you and your buddy come in.
Just explain what WePay is.
ABERMAN: So, WePay is the hassle-free way to accept payments online. We make it very easy for kind of normal, everyday consumers to get up and running very quickly, accepting online payments, whether they have their own Web site, whether they're technical.
And so I think our kind of company mantra really resonated with Occupy Wall Street, because we provide a pleasurable user experience. We deeply care about our customers. We want them to be successful in what they are trying to do, and I think there's a lot of companies in our space that are a little bit more monolithic and a little bit more inhumane.
BALDWIN: Also, Rich, kind of part of this story, I know you and your co-founder, your backstories. You were a law school student, right? He was an investment banker. What is it that attracted the two of you to this movement in particular?
ABERMAN: So, I think we have a wide spectrum of users that use us for different purposes, and the movement found us. We didn't find them.
And I think the reason they found us is because we've really made our corporate mission and our marketing message about empowering users to do great things and providing a platform that allows them to collect money for what they want to collect money for. And I think that's a very different mission than companies that are focused exclusively on the bottom line. And I think that really resonated with Occupy Wall Street, as it has with other nonprofits as well.
BALDWIN: I know Occupy Wall Street, it's growing not only nationwide, but across the country, dozens of countries. There has been criticism, and it continues to be as recent as heard from former President Bill Clinton, essentially saying the movement really needs one clear message.
Do you agree with that?
ABERMAN: We've tried, you know, to stay out of supporting it one way or another. Our basic mission is to provide a platform that allows people to raise money for what they are passionate about. And I think we have been very conscious about keeping our personal opinions out of -- keeping them out of the way of people using our platform.
And so I may have my opinions about the messaging and what they should or shouldn't do, but I've been very conscious about making sure that that doesn't interfere with the product and the service that we're providing our customers with.
BALDWIN: Got it. Richard Aberman, WePay. Thank you so much for coming on. I appreciate it.
And now let's return to Detroit, Michigan, and let's listen in to the president.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
OBAMA: -- all around the world stamped with three proud words: "Made in America."
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And that's why one of the first decisions that I made as president was to save the U.S. auto industry from collapse.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: There were a lot of politicians who said it wasn't worth the time and wasn't worth the money. In fact, there are some politicians who still say that.
Well, they should come tell that to the workers here, because two years ago it looked like this plant was going to have to shut its doors. All these jobs would have been lost, the entire community would have been devastated. And the same was true for communities all across the Midwest. And I refused to let that happen.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: So we made a deal with the auto companies. We said, if you're willing to retool and restructure, get more efficient, get better, get smarter, then we're going to invest in your future because we believe in American ingenuity. Most importantly, we believe in American workers. And today I can stand here and say that the investment paid off.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: The hundreds of thousands of jobs that have been saved made it worth it. An American auto industry that's more profitable and competitive than it's been in years made it worth it.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: The taxpayers are being repaid. Plants like this are churning out groundbreaking fuel-efficient cars like the Chevy Sonic, the only one of its kind that's made and sold in the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And for folks that haven't tried it, you've got to sit in that car. There's a lot of room in there, even for a pretty tall guy like me. I felt pretty good.
They took away the keys, though. Secret Service wouldn't let me. I checked in the dashboard, and it wasn't there.
Now, here's the thing. We live in a global economy, and that means most of the potential customers for American companies like GM won't just be here in the United States, they will be all around the world. And the more goods and services we sell abroad, the more jobs we create here at home.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: In fact, every $1 billion in exports supports thousands of American jobs. And that's why I've set a goal of doubling our exports, and that's a goal that we're on track to meet. That's why we worked with Panama and Colombia, as well as South Korea, to resolve outstanding issues with these trade agreements, and that's why I pushed Congress to pass them as soon as possible.
Now, Korea is one that is critically important, because, understand, Korea has 50 million people. It's one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. It's one of our closest allies and our closest friends.
And President Lee and I talked about this when we had dinner the other night. Our trade is basically balanced between the United States and Korea. They buy as much stuff from us as they sell to us, and that's how free trade is supposed to be. It's not a one-sided proposition.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: That's how trade is supposed to be. And I know President Lee doesn't mind me saying this, even though he's a Hyundai guy. If Americans can buy Kias and Hyundais from Korea, then I know Koreans should be able to buy some Fords and Chryslers and Chevys that are made right here in the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: The other thing that happened was, this took a little longer than some people expected because I wasn't going to sign just any trade deal. President Lee wasn't either.
We had to work hard to reach an understanding. It's like a scene from a GM dealership where folks are negotiating about the heated seats and the extended warranty. And you're going back and forth and trying to figure out, how does it fit together so that it works for everybody?
But when all was said and done, President Lee and I walked away with a trade agreement that is a win-win for both countries.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Here in the United States, this trade agreement will support at least 70,000 American jobs. It will increase exports, it will boost our economy by more than our last nine trade agreements combined. And as I said, the good thing is, we have got a balanced situation. It's not just a matter of folks sending a bunch of stuff here. Koreans are also buying a bunch of American products. That's what makes it a win-win.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And by the way, I also held out on sending this agreement to congress until they promised to renew a law called the TAA, the trade adjustment assistance, which helps workers who have been affected by the global competition, so that they are able to help transition.
Now, it's because of all of these benefits --
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: -- it's because of all these benefits that this trade agreement won the support of business and labor, from automakers to autoworkers, from Democrats to Republicans. That doesn't happen very often. And it was good to finally see both parties in Congress come together and pass legislation that is good for the American people, an agreement that will build on our own economic relationship that is for years to come but at this plant the capacity for us to exchange ideas and technologies and systems, which will improve productivity on both sides.
You know, nearly a decade ago, when a Korean business named Daewoo Motors went bankrupt, it was General Motors that stepped in and saved that company, which is now known as G.M. Korea. And years later, it was the engineers from G.M. Korea who helped make the Chevy Sonic possible and the collaboration with that company that helps this plant and these 17,050 jobs -- 1,750 jobs.
So on the larger scale, the closer economic ties between the United States and Korea are going to lead to more jobs and more opportunity for both nations. Already Korean investment --
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: And, by the way, it's not just in the auto industry. They are creating jobs here in Michigan with LG Chem planning to make lithium and ion batteries in Holland, Michigan. And Hyundai manufacturing suspension modules in Detroit, and Mando opening a new research and development center for brakes and steering in Novi.
In Korea, American businesses are going to be pursing those same investments and opportunities. So it's truly a win-win for everybody involved.
So, I just want to say thank you to President Lee for his cooperation and for his leadership.
I want to thank the members of Congress who fought so hard to get this done, especially the delegation from this state.
I want to especially thank the people of Detroit for proving that, despite all the work that lies ahead, this is a city where a great American industry is coming back to life and the industries of tomorrow are taking route and a city where people are dreaming up ways to prove all the skeptics wrong and write the next chapter in the Motor City's history.
And that's why I came here today because for every cynic that's out there running around saying it can't be done, there are a whole bunch of folks that are saying, yes, we can.
(CHEERS)
OBAMA: Yes, times are tough and they have been tougher in Detroit than just anyplace else. But we've made it through tough times before. We do not quit. We rolled up our sleeves. We remembered our history, and we said to ourselves, there is nothing that we cannot do when we're willing to do it together.
You are all a testimony to the American spirit. These cars are a testimony to the American spirit. And if we can take that same spirit and apply it across the board to all of the challenges that we face, there is nothing that we cannot do.
God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
BALDWIN: President Obama firing up the crowd there. That is a General Motors assembly plant where he and his South Korean counterpart just spoke there. They are exiting and shaking some hands as they leave that stage.
He kept reiterating the point that this South Korean trade deal is a win-win for everyone. That South Korea is a good friend of the U.S., good ally. And specifically, he says what will come of this deal, American exports will be increased up to $11 billion and support some 70,000 American jobs, and huge round of applause he said we need to see more tags that say "made in America."
Still to come, guilty -- that is the verdict for the second man accused of murdering a mother and her two daughters in their home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM PETIT, SOLE SURVIVOR: I thought from the beginning that he was a lying, sociopathic personality and probably at this moment doesn't think he's guilty of anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: That was the father of the family speaking out after the trial, Dr. William Petit. We're going to hear more from him in just a moment.
Also, we're going to hear from one of the reporters inside that court when the verdict of all 17 counts came down. Hear how the family of the victims and the family of now convicted murderer reacted to the jury's decision.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: At the tail end of the show yesterday, it was breaking news. A Connecticut jury found Joshua Komisarjevsky guilty of all 17 counts of his home invasion and murders of a woman and her two young daughters. Now the only survivor that brutal home invasion is speaking about the trial and how he feels about the man convicted of killing his family.
Deb Feyerick has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four years, two months, and 21 days since the chilling murder of his wife and two daughters, Dr. William Petit summed up his feelings at this second and final verdict.
PETIT: There's a bigger sense of relief because we've been through the two trials, so there's a little bit less -- a little bit less of the unknown at this point.
FEYERICK: In court, members of the Petit family cried during the verdict. The defendant, Joshua Komisarjevsky, guilty on all 17 counts. The jury finding he intended to kill the family after spotting 11-year-old Michaela in a grocery store parking lot with her mother and then following them home.
PETIT: I always thought right from the beginning that part of this was about sexual predation upon women and in this case, a teenager and a 11-year-old girl.
FEYERICK: During the trial, Dr. Petit and his family had to listen to Komisarjevsky talking about his fixation and subsequent molestation of Petit's daughter Michaela.
As the verdict was read, Komisarjevsky stared at the jury, betraying no emotion and no remorse. He turned and yawned as he was led out of court.
PETIT: I thought from the beginning that he was a lying sociopathic personality and probably at this moment doesn't think he's guilty of anything. He's convinced himself of that, I suspect.
FEYERICK: The same jury will now decide whether Komisarjevsky gets the death penalty.
As for Dr. Petit, he says he has occasionally moments of peace but hasn't thought about what's next.
PETIT: It's not clear to me that time heals all wounds, but you form some kind of scars or a jagged hole in your heart, you smooth out the edges a little bit and you just take it one day at a time.
FEYERICK: Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New Haven, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Joining me now on the phone from Connecticut, Helen Ubinas, columnist for the "Hartford Courant." Helen, we've been -- we've talked to you before, following your tweets. You were inside the courtroom as all 17 counts were read. And just spring boarding of Deb's piece, she mentioned that Komisarjevsky yawned. Did you see that?
HELEN UBINAS, HARTFORD COURANT (via telephone): He did. It was an odd moment because, as you can imagine, we were all looking to see if there'd be any -- any reaction from Joshua Komisarjevsky and there didn't seem to be much of any. And then right before he was let out, he yawned. At first we don't know, you know, what he meant by that. But it sort of felt like he wanted to show that he was unaffected by what happened there.
BALDWIN: Wow. And then you also tweeted that the Petit and Hawke families look drained but relieved. What do you mean?
UBINAS: It was -- again, as you can imagine, it was an incredibly intense moment there as the jury was giving their verdict and as they jury forewoman answered guilty on all 17 counts. But as she answered guilty, guilty, guilty over and over again, there seemed to be a sense of relief in the room, especially coming from the family's side of the room.
BALDWIN: And as, you know, all 17 counts were read, did the members of the jury -- did they make eye contact with Komisarjevsky at all, or the family?
UBINAS: I didn't notice them making eye contact with Komisarjevsky but I did notice several members of the jury making contact with the family. I didn't notice, you know, a lot of emotion coming from the jurors, but many did look over to the family.
BALDWIN: And when you heard from Dr. Petit speaking outside the courthouse yesterday, he said this trial compared to the Steven Hayes trial was more difficult because of Komisarjevsky's -- I don't know if the word is fixation, familiarity with Michaela, is that right?
UBINAS: That is right. And I think that's the perfect word, fixation. Because throughout the trial, when we heard from Joshua Komisarjevsky himself in the audio statement to police, it was clear he was fixated on Michaela from the beginning and he, you know, he made these statements that they locked eyes, that he felt some sort of camaraderie with Michaela, that he felt that she understood why they were there.
And it was incredibly difficult for the family and for spectators to listen to that. This was an innocent 11-year-old girl who was terrorized and brutalized by this man. And he kept trying to justify it in his statements to police.
BALDWIN: We know the penalty phase begins for him October 24th. Steven Hayes got the death penalty. Obviously, we will wait and see if Komisarjevsky will share the same fate.
Helen Ubinas with the "Hartford Courant" -- Helen, thank you.
UBINAS: Thank you.
BALDWIN: And, also, yesterday, we told you and showed you video of elephants trapped by the flooding and we have now received some frightening news about these animals. We also some brand new video to show. That story in 60 seconds. Stay right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: I want to show you some new video of more elephants. Their stranded and they're surrounded by floodwaters in Thailand. It trapped them for a week now. They have been on this bridge, slowly starving.
Locals have been bringing little bits of food by rowboat but that's pretty much it. Elephants can swim but no one knows if the baby elephants would drown.
And now, I want to tell about a soldier who died in Afghanistan just this past week. His name, Private Danny Chen. The Army is investigating his death. You see, he was found dead in a guard tower from a bullet wound.
And according to "The Wall Street Journal," his parents believe he took his own life in the Kandahar province, driven to do so by bullies in his own unit. The newspaper quotes the spokesman on behalf of them because there is a language barrier but their son, who went to war for the United States was reportedly harassed, dragged out of bed, and beaten.
Private Chen's family laid him to rest yesterday. The Freedom Riders stood watch around the funeral home there in this Chinatown neighborhood in New York City as Private Chen's family gathered to say good-bye to their 19-year-old soldier -- 19.
The Army wouldn't discuss Chen's death with us because it is under investigation. But Pentagon spokesman, Captain John Kirby did tell CNN, quote, "We treat people with respect in the military, in uniform, in particular. And when you don't, you're held accountable."
He goes on, "It's just not tolerable to bully or to discriminate or to harass anybody in the uniform in the military. We take all of those kinds of allegations very seriously and they are followed up and people are held accountable because that is the right thing to do. That somebody would be driven to kill themselves as a result only makes it that much worse of a case because every suicide is a loss for the department that we can't recover."
As CNN dead indicates in-depth coverage to the issue of bullying all week long, we thought those words were important for to you hear and these images of Private Danny Chen's funeral important for you to see.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A developing story in Missouri this hour. The bishop of the Kansas City's St. Joseph's diocese has been indicted on child endangerment charges. I want you to listen as the story prosecuting this case makes the announcement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN PETERS-BAKER, JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Today, the state of Missouri has charged Robert Finn and the Catholic diocese of Kansas City St. Joseph. In count one, failure of mandate a reporter, the failure to report suspected child abuse.
So, the grand juror objecting country charged of the defendant in the first country is Robert Finn, Bishop Finn. He committed a Class A misdemeanor, a failure of mandated reporter, punishable under section 558.011.5.
And specifically the charges read, in that one hour become December 16th of 2010 and May 11th of 2011, in the county of Jackson, state of Missouri, the defendant was a mandated reporter and had reasonable cause to suspect a child may be subject to abuse due to the following things: previous knowledge of concerns regarding Father Ratigan and children. The discovery of hundreds of photographs of children on Father Ratigan's laptop, including a child's naked vagina, up skirt images and images focuses on the crotch area, and violations of restrictions that were placed on Father Ratigan and knowingly failed to report immediately such abuse to the Missouri children's division.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Bishop Robert W. Finn just appeared in court, charged of mishandling criminal behavior against children. The bishop and the diocese enter pleas of not guilty today. And our CNN Vatican analyst John Allen points out this is the first time in U.S. history that a Catholic bishop is being criminally charged.
The Obama administration is trying now to block a tough new immigration law in Alabama saying it invites discrimination and our David Mattingly spoke to undocumented people living in Alabama who are living in fear. He also talked to the state senator who was one of the main authors of this law.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROMAN LOVERA, UNDOCUMENTED IN ALABAMA: Right there.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): This is it over here?
(voice-over): He was just two months away from graduation, but now Alabama high school student Roman Lovera is afraid to go to school.
(on camera): As we drive down this road, what are you thinking?
LOVERA: I was so close. One little piece of paper kept me from graduating. MATTINGLY (voice-over): That piece of paper is the new Alabama immigration law that supporters and opponents alike call the toughest in the country.
For the undocumented, a simple traffic stop could lead to deportation. Roman Lovera's family immigrated to Alabama illegally 10 years ago. Today, he likes hunting, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alabama football.
(on camera): If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a good old boy.
LOVERA: I have grown up with Southerners my whole life. Some people even call me a Mexican redneck.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): And yet Lovera and hundreds of other Hispanic students are fleeing Alabama schools. Their families making plans to flee the state. Others feel trapped.
(on camera): If you could speak to the people who passed this law, what would you say to them?
"ARELI," UNDOCUMENTED IN ALABAMA (through translator): Don't be selfish. We all have and want an opportunity.
MATTINGLY: Twenty-seven-year-old Areli immigrated to Alabama illegally from Mexico 11 years ago. She and her husband say they can't move because she's almost seven months into a high-risk pregnancy. And every day they stay, they risk deportation. They ask that their full names and faces not be revealed.
ARELI: We are not stealing anything from them, simply asking them to let us work.
MATTINGLY (on camera): Families living in fear, children being pulled out of schools. Was this the intent of this law?
SCOTT BEASON, ALABAMA STATE SENATE: There's no intent for families to live in fear.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): State Senator Scott Beason led passage in the legislature. He tells me the focus is on jobs.
BEASON: Our responsibility is to the people who elect us, to the people of Alabama. If there are other states out there who want to welcome an illegal workforce and displace their own workers, they should invite them there.
MATTINGLY: In the meantime, Roman Lovera says his dreams of graduation and college are fading. In his family's two bedroom apartment, the blinds are drawn and their bags are packed -- ready to run, if need, at a moment's notice.
LOVERA: My parents gave me the option to stay and I told them we came as a family and we'll leave as a family.
(END VIDEOTAPE) BALDWIN: Their bags are packed.
David Mattingly, I want to talk about your piece in a minute. But, first, news today on this law was the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that's now blocked pieces of law. So, now, what?
MATTINGLY: Well, they blocked one portion of the law that's really significant here and that was that the state schools were being asked to question students about their immigration status when they enroll. That's been temporarily blocked for now. But they did leave a major provision untouched and that still allows authorities, any type of law enforcement in Alabama to question anyone at any time about their immigration status. So, that major portion is still in place.
BALDWIN: So then with regard to the family that you spoke about in your piece, are they affected by this change today?
MATTINGLY: Well, the young man Roman who says he's going to school anymore isn't so much afraid of what will happen to him at school. It's actually getting from his to school, he has to go pass a bunch of police officers who are watching the roads every day, that is what has him in fear. Those officers still have the same power, so he is still not going to be going back to school.
BALDWIN: Thanks for going to Alabama and doing the piece, David Mattingly. We appreciate it.
We are also working on breaking news right now about American combat troops being deployed to Africa.
We're going to go live to the Pentagon after this quick break. Stay right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)