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Zimmerman Judge Recuses Herself; U.S. Troops Posed With Dead Bodies; Panetta on Photos: "This Is Not Who We Are"; Nurse Snatches Baby, Kills Mother; Dick Clark 1929-2012; Would-be Terrorists on Trial

Aired April 18, 2012 - 15:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Any moment now, this news conference is set to begin. We're talking about the murder of a new mom and the kidnapping of her 3-day-old infant. And police say a nurse is behind it all. We're watching from that, we're going to dip into that live.

Meantime, another apology for yet another instance of U.S. troops behaving badly in Afghanistan. We're going to show you what they did in a moment. But first I want you to listen to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, DEFENSE SECRETARY: That behavior that was depicted in those photos absolutely violates both our regulations and more importantly our core values. This is not who we are and it's certainly not who we represent when it comes to the great majority of men and women in uniform.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: That behavior that he was just referring to, that behavior concerns American troops posing with the bodies of would-be suicide bombers whose bombs detonated prematurely.

And CNN has elected to show just one of 18 photographs that were supplied to "The L.A. Times." And just to be clear, these were two separate incidents. Both involved a Fort Bragg-based unit which had recently lost troops in suicide bombings.

The photograph we just showed you was presumably snapped by an American soldier. In case you hadn't noticed, a lot of American soldiers lately have been posting photographs, they have been uploading videos to YouTube, videos just like this one. This was posted to YouTube and this was December of 2010.

When you watch it with me, this is incredibly compelling because you're looking at these U.S. troops, they're fighting off an ambush. This guy has this camera presumably on his helmet here. The next one we will show you this was posted last May. This was shot by a member of the 10th Mountain Division. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, boys, I need you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Again, these are members of the 10th Mountain Division fighting insurgents in Afghanistan.

This video also posted to YouTube. And all of this made us wonder whether there is any kind of Pentagon policy covering U.S. troops in the pictures, video they shoot in combat, videos just like this one. Can anyone post anything on YouTube? Could it potentially be harmful to American interests?

Let's ask all these questions and more to General Mark Kimmitt, U.S. Army retired general here.

General, there are a lot of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. They're going into combat. They have these cameras on their helmets that they have apparently purchased themselves. The question is, is it problematic and is there any kind of policy in the Pentagon saying you can or can't put this footage up on YouTube into the public domain?

BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT (RET.), FORMER U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PLANS AND STRATEGY: Well, I think it's problematic from a number points of view.

Obviously, the troops ought to be focusing on the mission and not trying to get some glory shots of what's happening in actual combat. Actual combat is tough enough without worrying if you have the right camera angle when you're fighting. As to policy, I think it's fairly clear that anything that interferes with the mission or in the case of these troops that photographed dead soldiers, that's prejudicial to good order and conduct.

That said, we have got to understand these cameras, videos are omnipresent on the battlefield these days and I don't think that we want to we want to restrict the First Amendment rights of our soldiers and their ability to embrace freedom of speech if it's not interfering with the mission. But if it does, we should.

BALDWIN: So going back to the point where a soldier who isn't worried about which way his camera is focused on his helmet, but simply just wants the video, you're saying your opinion is there's no problem with that and there shouldn't be any policy violating that soldier's First Amendment rights. Just want to make sure I'm hearing you correctly.

KIMMITT: There certainly are some cases. If this is a classified mission, obviously we don't want to photograph that.

If this would give away tactics, techniques and procedures that would give the enemy an advantage in the next combat operation, we don't want to post that. But we don't take away constitutional rights of those that are out defending our constitutional rights. BALDWIN: General, we will continue this conversation. I just want to show you another video. You're going to see this video. This is from the 173rd Airborne. This is in northern Afghanistan. This video was posted to YouTube just last May.

As we watch this, General, and we will keep watching it, this is really the first war it seems we have seen such an array of video cameras filming. We're not just talking still photos. We're talking film obviously like this case.

If nothing else, just for the sake of history, General Kimmitt, this is quite the opportunity for historians, right? Historians who are watching and detailing every move of these soldiers.

KIMMITT: Well, it's not just helpful to historians. It's helpful to the American people. I think it's important for the American people to understand the sacrifices, the dangers, the peril that our soldiers are in.

This is an opportunity for those that sent those soldiers over to combat to understand what that really entails. These are a great opportunity to see just that.

BALDWIN: In talking to perhaps some soldiers, what do you think the goal is and the purpose for these individual men and women to photograph, to chronicle these missions? Why are they doing this?

(CROSSTALK)

KIMMITT: Well, I think this is something this generation has become very used to, chronicling every aspect of their life, whether it's on Facebook and whether it's on YouTube. This is just something that's part of this generation's daily life.

BALDWIN: Including war.

(CROSSTALK)

KIMMITT: Including war.

And there are 90,000 American troops over in Afghanistan that are fighting war. And those units with good command structures can find the right balance between allowing their soldiers to take pictures and video of their daily activities, but also making sure that that is not at either risk to the mission, violate rule of war or is prejudicial of good order and discipline inside those units.

BALDWIN: That gets me back to the reason we started talking in the first place. These American troops posing with bodies of would-be suicide bombers whose bombs detonated prematurely. As we have been reporting, this has prompted Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to issue yet another apology. We have had four consecutive months of instances. This is certainly not the first incident.

I have wonder is to the Pentagon becoming overly concerned about possible discipline problems within the ranks of our fighting forces? You know, you see this one -- you see this one incident and it makes you wonder if it's really the only one.

KIMMITT: Well, I don't think the Pentagon is worried about the discipline of the force. Again, 90,000 soldiers, we're talking about one or two that are violating the rules here.

I think why the secretary of defense felt compelled to talk about this was because pictures like this don't just have a tactical impact, they have a strategic impact in terms of how our enemies see it, how our allies see it and how our coalition forces see it.

BALDWIN: But, General, what would you say to this soldier who remained anonymous who passed these 18 photographs to "The L.A. Times" and said the reason why I'm passing these along to you anonymously is because of this there is a lack of discipline White House our particular group and I'm concerned?

KIMMITT: Well, quite frankly, the best way to take care of a lack of discipline inside the little units is to use the very chain of command that promotes that discipline, that enforces that discipline.

There are internal ways to do this. You don't necessarily have to report everything to the press because you don't think the internal systems aren't working.

BALDWIN: Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, always a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much.

KIMMITT: Sure.

BALDWIN: Quickly here, just a reminder, as we're waiting for a news conference in Houston where we will be getting some information on this woman who has been charged with capital murder in this case of shooting and ultimately this woman, this mother died in a hospital after this woman basically tried stealing her baby, this 3-day-old baby. More on that in just a moment.

Also, the judge presiding over the case against George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin shooting just made a huge announcement. That's next as well. Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Moments ago here, the judge in the George Zimmerman- Trayvon Martin case in Florida has now officially recused herself. Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler came under scrutiny because her husband's co-worker is a legal analyst for CNN.

Zimmerman as you know is charged in the death of Martin. He is set to be back in court on Friday for that bail hearing. That's news obviously.

Also here, this new mother is murdered. Her son, 3-day-old son snatched in what police say was another woman's plot to adopt a baby. We're waiting for this news conference. Here's the story.

I'm looking down to see if I see anything. As we watch for this, here's the story. Kayla Golden, she was just leaving the doctor's office and she took her baby into the pediatrician and left the office. This was near Houston after taking her 3-day-old son, Keegan, just for a checkup.

All of a sudden this woman comes up to her, confronts her in the parking lot of this doctor's office. There was some of argument, the woman pulls out a gun and this woman Tia Collins just so happened to be in the area, she watched it all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIA COLLINS, WITNESS: Four heard gunshots at first. I heard three more after that. I saw a lady fall down over here in the parking lot. I saw another lady get out and I saw another guy get out of the car that the lady that shot her was driving and get the baby out of the other lady's car that was shot and they just got in the car and drove off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: She mentioned hearing several shots.

Despite this mother being shot multiple times, Golden went after the woman and tried to get her child out of the car but the woman sped off with the baby, reportedly hitting Golden and ending her desperate attempt to grab her son back.

Golden died later at the hospital. But this kidnapping set off a six-hour search for the baby and that led to this apartment complex here, which is where police found the suspect's car. The woman is identified as 30-year-old registered nurse Verna McClain. She eventually came home. She showed up. In fact, we have a copy here and this was her arrest report. It said she asked to speak specifically with detectives.

She goes on admitting to shooting Golden and taking her baby. She also told police where they could find these 3-day-old child. Baby Keegan is now safe and sound back in the arms of relatives.

According to this arrest report, she is charged now with capital murder. She is in jail without any bond. And police McClain had plotted to the kidnap a child. They quote her sister in fact as saying McClain has been talking about adopting and that McClain called her after the shooting and this kidnapping to let her know she had the child.

Police also say this could have happened to any mother. Apparently Kayla Golden was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are watching for that news conference in Houston. We will bring it to you live as soon as we someone getting behind that podium.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

BALDWIN: She's suspected of having an affair with former coach Bobby Petrino and their motorcycle crash eventually led to his demise. Well, this suspected mistress just made a big move. Plus, tens of thousands of dollars just up and disappeared out of this PTA account. And the PTA says the culprit is a parent. But this mystery gets even more bizarre as we're learning about this one today. Sunny Hostin is on the case. She's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Let's go live here to this news conference that just started. We're talking this is the DA and also sheriff's deputies. This with the 30-year-old woman charged with capital murder for trying to snatch a baby. Take a listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

LT. DAN NORRIS, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: As you know, yesterday afternoon, a very intense investigation began here in Montgomery County.

I think the important thing to stress here today for you is how well that investigation came together and how quick it came together. The most important of this investigation came to pass yesterday. And that's two different things. One is the safe recovery of this 3-day- old child and also the arrest and incarceration of the person who shot that child's mother in the parking lot of the doctor's office.

Those two are the most important aspects we have today. However, you need to understand that there's still a lot of work to do on this. The investigators have evidence to examine. They have other interviews to do. So we are in no way complete with this investigation. There's many T's to cross and many I's to dot.

So there's still a lot to do with this case before we hand it over completely to the district attorney's office so they have a report and a complete investigation to work with.

With that, I would like to introduce Sheriff Tommy Gage. He's the Sheriff of Montgomery County, Texas. Thank you.

TOMMY GAGE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS, SHERIFF: Thank you, Lieutenant.

Tuesday, April 17, shortly after 2:00 p.m., Kayla Marie Golden, white female, 28, left her pediatrician's office on (INAUDIBLE) Park Drive in South Montgomery County with her 3-day-old son, Keegan, after having a checkup.

When she put Keegan in the pickup, an altercation erupted with the suspect who was the occupant of the car parked next to her. The suspect shot Kayla several times, then took the child from the pickup, putting him in her car, knocking Kayla to the ground as she left the scene.

Witnesses on location called 911 for the sheriff's office and EMS. Upon arrival, officers got a brief description of the suspect and the vehicle in an attempt to locate it. The locate was there. Kayla was transported to a local hospital, where she later died. As the investigation continued, Detectives Wood and May (ph), while canvassing the area, drove through the parking lot of the Pine Ridge Apartments on Sawdust Road, spotted a parked vehicle that closely matched the vehicle described by witnesses.

It was determined that this was the vehicle involved in the offense. After talking to the residents, it was determined which department the suspect lived in. Montgomery SWAT team made entry into the apartment, didn't find anyone on location.

The suspect, Verna Deann McClain, black female 30, later arrived on location. And during her interview with detectives, the information was obtained which led detectives to a residence in Harris County, where her sister lives, and a possible location of a child.

Texas Rangers in Harris County received the information of the suspect's sister and went to that location and recovered little Keegan unharmed. With this information and the evidence obtained at both locations and from the vehicle which reported the arrest of the suspect and she was taken into custody.

Lieutenant.

NORRIS: Thank you, Sheriff.

As all of you know, the after was made yesterday of Verna Deann McClain. She is currently incarcerated in the Montgomery County Jail and charged with capital murder. She had very her first appearance before a judge this morning where a judge refused to set bond. She is under no type of suicide watch and she has been placed in a single cell, where she is the only occupant.

And the investigation, our investigators hit the ground running this morning, again, interviewing additional witnesses, reexamining evidence, and pressing forward with this. Our detectives, Melanie Wood and Chad May (ph), I believe should be commended for their good basic police work.

They ran with their instincts and they started the canvassing and looking at the area parking lots and apartment complexes and found this vehicle. Without these two detectives' innovative and good police work, we may not be here today.

Again, the most important part for our Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and all of our team that worked together, including Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, DPS, Constable's Office, all of the agencies came together to make this work yesterday.

I believe that the Sheriff's Office finest hour was yesterday. To recover that has been kidnapped and the mother killed by a stranger with no connection within five to six hours is as good as police work as you can do.

Today, I'm very proud to be part of this Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. That is where our investigation is today. I think, of note, that you need to pay attention to, is that we do not believe that this defendant acted in or with someone else. Originally, we released information that we believed that there was a second suspect that was in the car. That was based on witness interviews.

As all of you know, witness interviews -- witnesses see things from different angles and different perspectives. However, based on the totality of the investigation, the interview with the suspect, examination of evidence, we do believe, today, that she acted alone. However, let me stress to you that we will not we have tunnel vision on this. The investigators will keep an open mind to ensure that there is not another suspect.

But as of today, as of right now, we believe we have the single person responsible for the death of this mother and the kidnapping of her 3-day-old child.

With that, I will turn this over to Captain Zenor. This is commander of the Detective Division here in Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

BALDWIN: So we have been listening to a couple of different officials here during this news conference. This Montgomery County, Texas, and this is the Houston area and just listening to this can't help but think about this father who has now lost his wife after she was shot and ultimately died at the hospital.

Here's her picture. At least he got his little baby boy back. This is 3-day-old or perhaps 4-day-old now Keegan. What we just learned here from these authorities in Montgomery County is that they believe that this suspect who is in jail and did not get bond when she appeared before the judge this morning. Here she is. She is 30-year- old Verna Deann McClain. They believe she acted alone in trying to steal this child. Again she is charged with capital murder. Just horrible.

We're going to take a quick break. Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It's the political trend in the media-saturated age. Get the jump on the other guy, blur his message.

Also, New Yorkers are riveted to the trial of a would-be terrorist who planned a suicide attack. Time to play "Reporter Roulette."

But let's begin with Brianna Keilar and she is traveling with the president today in Ohio.

We know the president he spoke a little while ago and talked economy and jobs, meeting with a number of jobless folks in Ohio, as you pointed out last hour, key battleground state. What was his message today?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, he was slamming Republicans saying that they're doubling down on economic policies that he says caused the financial crisis particularly hitting Ohio hard. And he said the discretionary spending cuts that House Republicans have passed and Mitt Romney endorses, although he didn't name Mitt Romney by name I should say, will cause cuts to important things.

He put out -- he said college aid, medical research, the job training program that he was here to tout and he said these cuts will prevent people from getting a shot to get ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because somebody did the groundwork, we created a foundation for those of us to prosper. Somebody gave me an education. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn't. But somebody gave us a chance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: And, Brooke, guess who else will be coming here to Lorraine County? That's right, Mitt Romney. He will be here tomorrow hitting President Obama on his economic policies.

He was also all over the radio today here in Ohio slamming President Obama on everything from the economy to his playing golf to all of the international travel that he does. And as we rolled in here, Brooke, the Romney bus was actually across the street from this community college to welcome the president.

BALDWIN: Yes, we saw that photo.

Brianna Keilar, thank you. And before he heads to where you are tomorrow, he's in North Carolina. That's where we find Jim Acosta here, next in "Reporter Roulette." We know Mitt Romney is speaking right now, the location of the speech, in front of the football stadium where President Obama is giving that convention this summer. Obviously, in politics there is no coincidence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FORMER GOV. MITT ROMNEY, R-MASS., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He also said in the speech, he said, look --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brooke. And, you know, the Romney campaign is doing something -- what it calls bracketing this week. They're getting out their message sort of before and after the president's speech in Ohio. And you know, he's standing in front of this football stadium right now.

It's no accident that he's here. The president, as you said, will be here later this summer to give his big speech to the Democratic National Convention. But it's interesting to see the Romney campaign go about this very aggressive strategy. Earlier this morning, Mitt Romney was not talking to radio reporters here in North Carolina, he was talking to a radio talk show host in Ohio in advance of the president's speech.

So before the president's speech, he's getting his message out there and then Mitt Romney will be going back to Ohio tomorrow to give what he's calling a rebuttal to the president's speech that is happening today.

So, Brooke, if you think of it as brackets, literal brackets, they're bracketing the president's message. And you know, the Obama campaign has obviously picked up on this. Liz Smith, a spokeswoman for the Obama campaign, put out an e-mail to reporters earlier this afternoon, saying the American people are right to, quote, "collectively yawn at Mr. Romney's speech here in Charlotte today," Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes, so you point out he was talking on Cleveland radio, he's in charlotte (inaudible) the president, you know, where he'll be this summer. Then you have the president in, you know, outside of Cleveland and you have the Romney bus. So if we're following all of this back and forth, bottom line, both of these gentlemen are saying, hey, this guy may be here today, but remember me?

ACOSTA: That's right. And keep in mind, I mean, the rhetoric is starting to get sharp. I heard Brianna say just a few moments ago, or at least I thought I heard her say that the president hasn't really talked about Mitt Romney by name, but that's not the case when it comes to Mitt Romney.

Consider what he said just a little while ago to Bill Cunningham, who is a pretty prominent radio talk show host in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area. He went after President Obama for playing golf during the middle of the recession, saying that the president should be able to go four years without having to play golf.

So the rhetoric is being raised, at least on this side of the equation and I would expect it's going to be that way all through the rest of this week and probably for a little while longer than that, too, Brooke.

BALDWIN: What did you say, yesterday, we're officially in the silly season, Jim Acosta? Silly season? Here we go.

ACOSTA: I -- well, yes, I didn't bring up Ted Nugent, but that's a sort of a roundabout way of doing that.

BALDWIN: There you go. Jim Acosta, thank you for us in North Carolina.

Next here we're going to take you to New York. Reporter (inaudible) Susan Candiotti is standing by, she, once again here covering the trial of the man who allegedly set out along with two others to become suicide bombers. Susan, what's happening today?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know what, Brooke, I don't think we can say it often enough. This wasn't a bunch of terrorist wannabes that we've heard so much about. This was the closest Al Qaeda came to carrying out a successful attack against America on U.S. soil since 9/11. We heard testimony today that the trio was planning various targets. They talked about Times Square. They talked about Walmart.

They even talked about carrying out, eventually, they settled on New York City subway trains and strapping explosives on them that would be like -- including ball bearings that, when they exploded, take off like bullets flying everywhere. And then Al Qaeda had told them that they should die like martyrs, die for a cause. And that they should send with their mission a message to who would be President Obama that U.S. forces should get out of Afghanistan.

So as Zazi testified, that eventually he left Pakistan, went home to Denver, tested a bomb successfully, a detonator. But it turns out that it was e-mails that eventually led to his downfall, because on September 6, 2009, he started reaching out to an Al Qaeda contact, and it turns out that that contact was under surveillance, was on the radar of counterintelligence officials.

And so they tailed Zazi. They tailed him all the way to New York. And they stopped him without him knowing that it was a planned stop on the George Washington Bridge leading to New York. And they didn't know that he actually had explosives in the car and they let him go. But that freaked him out, he said. And he went to his friend's house. He said I think they're on to us.

They flushed the ingredients down the toilet, he said. And then Zazi went on to meet with a defendant who's now on trial. He saw him at a mosque and showed him a text message. And he said to him, the police is after me. We are done and the plot was foiled, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Sounds almost like some Hollywood script only that it wasn't at all. Susan Candiotti, thank you so much in New York. And that's "Reporter Roulette" here on this Wednesday.

Coming up next, tens of thousands of dollars just -- poof -- disappeared from this PTA account. PTA says a parent is behind this mystery. We're on the case.

Plus, oh, my goodness. Have you heard about this? This controversial crash diet, a woman asks her doctor for a feeding tube, feeding tube, you've seen these in this hospital if you're sick. You know, she wants it to lose weight. Find out how it works next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Got to share these live pictures with you. Look at what we're looking at. Thank you WBBM. You are looking at these two guys hanging on for dear life on this sailboat. This thing has been upside down, I'm told, for the better part of the last hour. This is Lake Michigan. If you know the area, this is near Montrose Harbor.

You see these two guys. They're on this sailboat, it's called Peter Pan. And we've been watching this live feed through the commercial break. And maybe 15 seconds ago, this police boat has just pulled upon this sailboat. And you can see members of the police force tossing this life preserver out there. Not the best toss. There we go.

You can see these two guys as they are, there we go. Finally, at least, coming to safety. It almost looks like one of them losing their clothes a little bit. But they are working on getting that lifesaver, as you have these two men, again, this is Lake Michigan. And Chad Myers, I was trying to look, as we look at these live pictures, I was trying to tell, is it pretty windy, what's the weather conditions that might have created this issue?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, yes, somebody -- this boat is about to turtle over now with -- it means the mast is going to go completely down and the keel's going to go up in the air. But the water temperature is somewhere about 45 degrees there. So that is really brutal. Now, unfortunately, these guys are between -- there's a swimmer in the water.

BALDWIN: There we go. There's --

MYERS: Swimmer in the water.

BALDWIN: Just grab him. I'm sure they're exhausted.

MYERS: Yes, they are exhausted. You're holding on like that and all of a sudden you're so very cold. You start to lose feeling in your arms and legs. Obviously they're not into hypothermia yet, that's why they are -- that is a dangerous, dangerous job there for these guys.

BALDWIN: Saw the thumb's up -- saw the thumb's up from one guy. So hopefully that's a good sign. It's tough, because they have to sort of climb over or perhaps around this around this sailboat that has turtled.

MYERS: That's what they're doing right now. It's upside down. It's like a turtle. Rather than just capsizing, the same idea. But when you've turtled, that means your mast is all the way down, not going to get that back over by yourself. If you do this with a Hobie Cat, you'll never get it back over the other side. It's very difficult.

This is not, obviously, savable, I don't think, this boat. You know, probably the first day on the water, maybe a petcock failed, wasn't shut. You never know what's going on with this -- water could have just been taken on with this. It didn't -- doesn't look like that boat was overwinded or overpowered by the wind. I think that boat could handle the waves I'm seeing here and the wind that I'm seeing here.

BALDWIN: There we go. Give them a hand. Give them a hand. They're pulling the first of two gentlemen on to this police boat that has just come in. And here you see Chicago police. Thank you, Chicago police. They've rescued these two men, who have apparently been on this sailboat for the better part of an hour. As you mentioned, cold, cold, chilly, chilly temperatures, 43 degrees here. Lake Michigan, just massive water.

MYERS: That might be the pier right there.

BALDWIN: And let me also point out, kudos to this TV station that we're taking the live feed from, WBBM. What I was told was that this news chopper just happened to be rolling over the area, saw these two gentlemen waving at them, waving at them desperately from the water below. And so they caught sight of this boat, thus then calling police to have them rescued.

MEYERS: Wow. You know, I've been a boater on Lake Erie all my life, but Lake Michigan, the waves come up so fast. You get winds that come up, waves get very, very sharp and water can come in vessels like that. I'm sure these guys now have a story to tell. Whoo.

BALDWIN: Happy ending. We're happy to leave you with this. They're going to get checked, treated and back on dry land. We are going to take a quick break. Amazing. Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now, one of those life lessons they don't teach you at school, people are sometimes willing to steal what they're not willing to earn. Case in point, Blaina (ph) Elementary School PTA, someone stole more than $50,000 by diverting the money from this PTA account. It has since been recovered, and police are now investigating a bank employee.

Our legal analyst, Sunny Hostin is "On the Case," she's there in New York for us.

Stealing from kids when schools -- they're already cash-strapped? I mean, doesn't that just enrage you a little bit?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: It's just so terrible, right, especially because the co-PTA president has indicated that it was a parent that allegedly is suspected in this over $50,000 theft. This occurred at E. Rivers (ph) Elementary School in Buckhead, Georgia, apparently not too far from you, Brooke, over at CNN Atlanta.

BALDWIN: Right.

HOSTIN: And they think the person, the parent worked at a bank and apparently checks in excess of $20,000, these checks were deposited into a bank account at that bank. Now apparently the person that worked at this bank since March 1st of 1995 but was relieved of duty April 9, 2012. So this is certainly an ongoing investigation. I don't believe there's been an arrest yet, but certainly the police are investigating.

BALDWIN: Why wouldn't there be some sort of checks and balances when it comes to -- I mean, we're talking a huge chunk of change here, more than $50,000. I mean, I'm sure parents out there, members of their own PTA are thinking, my goodness, could this happen to me?

HOSTIN: Yes, well, apparently parents have come out and said that this person had been trusted with the money. This person apparently was some sort of trustee on the account, a trusted person at least with the PTA.

So too soon to tell what the exact checks and balance system was. But certainly, Brooke, I think there are a lot of parents out there that are really concerned. I mean, many people are saying do I now need to look at my PTA? Do I now need to check to see if the funds that I'm trying to give to my school is going in the right place?

BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin, thank you so much.

HOSTIN: (Inaudible).

Got some sad, sad news to tell you now. CNN has now confirmed Dick Clark, the legendary Dick Clark, has died, the entertainer and producer, brought us "American Bandstand." You've seen him New Year's Eve, known for ABC's "Rockin' New Year's Eve."

He started as a game show host. He was a radio personality, he served as the chairman and chief executive of Dick Clark Productions. He suffered a stroke in 2004. He has made rare appearances since then. We have seen him on a couple of New Year's Eve, Dick Clark, 83 years old. More on his life next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Again, more on the sad news, 83-year-old Dick Clark has now passed away. CNN has now confirmed the news. You know him from "American Bandstand." I think of Dick Clark, I think of all the trips he took overseas to salute our men and women in uniform.

I want to bring in Kareen Wynter with just a little bit more.

And Kareen, I know this information is just coming in here, but can you tell us, do we know how he died?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we haven't confirmed this, Brooke, and first of all, this is definitely, definitely a shock to the entertainment community and beyond. Dick Clark passing away. We have not confirmed this, but there are reports that perhaps the entertainer died from a heart attack. We are not sure about that. We are reaching out to several different sources to confirm that.

There's no secret that Dick Clark had many health issues over the years. Back in 2004, Brooke, if you'll remember, Dick Clark at that time suffered a massive, massive stroke. It affected his health, obviously. Over the years he never ever truly recovered.

The Dick Clark that we were used to seeing growing up, "American Bandstand," even the annual New Year's Eve bash, that big bash at the Big Apple, he just never was the same over the years. And, you know, I watched him in January and there he was, front and center, and, you know, he always added his special touch to this annual show, but again, Dick Clark passing away. We're trying to confirm if his death is a result of suffering a massive heart attack. Brooke?

BALDWIN: And again, you talk about him as a game show host. Certainly an amazing entertainer. You mentioned "American Bandstand." But I just think of him, I mean, he was so gracious and so many times, so many times, I remember watching television as a kid growing up and seeing there's Dick Clark, popping up overseas, really sort of taking that moment so many times to say thank you to our troops.

WYNTER: Absolutely. It was that unique touch that he had. He was so relatable. It doesn't matter if you were next to him or watching him perform live face to face on tube. He had that connection with people, going decades back, and I think that's why he remained so relevant today, Brooke, even up to his death.

Again, I keep going up to his annual bash, because people of all ages, you know, teens would watch it, kids, older folks who've grown up and loved dick Clark. He was so relatable and despite his health challenges over the years, he never, ever was the same but you watched the show with that same level of excitement, you know, with him kind of steering the ship even though his role was significantly lessened over the years.

But again, Dick Clark, one of the greatest entertainers -- and he was still doing so many things even late in his life. His very, very successful company, Dick Clark Productions, and so everyone just waiting to see what happened here, what the cause of death. And we'll, of course, update you, Brooke, once we've confirmed with his publicist, with his camp. Dick Clark.

BALDWIN: Please do let us know what you're hearing and, of course, our thoughts to Dick Clark's family right now.

I want to bring in Elizabeth Cohen, who just so happened to be standing next to me, and, you know, on the health angle, Dick Clark in 2004, as Kareen was pointing out, you know, he suffered this massive stroke.

And then we saw him kind of bounce back. We saw him appearing on New Year's Eve alongside Ryan Seacrest with ABC and then now, CNN hasn't confirmed, we don't know exactly how he died. There are reports it could be a heart attack possibly.

ELIZABETH COHEN, SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Sad. Right, it is very sad. It is very sad and that is sometimes what happens. I mean, someone has a stroke and they bounce back for a period of time and, you know, there is some relationship between a stroke and a heart attack. Both are --

BALDWIN: There is.

COHEN: -- clogging of the arteries, going in different directions, to the brain or to the heart, but certainly not a rare thing in a man his age.

BALDWIN: And this is the kind of thing where many people have lost loved ones from heart attacks and it's not something that, you know, there's no warning. It just happens.

COHEN: I mean, sometimes there is a bit of a warning and oftentimes there is not warning. It really depends. I mean, and I'm sure that his family knowing his cardiovascular history, was probably on the lookout like this, but sometimes it does just happen.

BALDWIN: Here we are looking at video from "American Bandstand," Dick Clark hosted this for years and years. I mean, just --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: You feel like you grew up with him, right. I did.

COHEN: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Yes, everyone knows Dick Clark, and I think sort of, to Kareen's point, you know, I think in his older years, so many people have loved him. Younger folks, older folks, again, Dick Clark, 83 years of age. We have just now confirmed he has passed. We don't specifically know what it was that led to his death. We're working on finding that out.

COHEN: You know what's amazing? It's he always seemed young.

BALDWIN: He seemed young --

COHEN: And I've seen him on TV relatively recently doing his New Year's show and he still seemed young even after a stroke, even at his age. He just kept that youthful exuberance even in his 80s.

BALDWIN: Eighty-three years of age, Dick Clark will be missed. We'll be right back.

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BALDWIN: Let's take some live pictures -- let's go ahead and take some live pictures of Times Square, as we will certainly see some remembrances and tributes pouring in about the life and legacy of this man here, 83-year-old Dick Clark.

We have now learned Dick Clark has died, and I know many, many of you have rung in many a New Year listening to and watching Dick Clark.

But of course a lot of you, I know, think of Dick Clark and you think "American Bandstand," and I have on the line with me Freddy Cannon. Freddy Cannon appeared on "American Bandstand." Freddy Cannon, I'm hearing more than a hundred times, is this correct?

FREDDY CANNON: That's correct. Yes, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And let me just be totally transparent. I understand our Brooke Booker call you and she broke the news to you minutes ago that your friend Dick Clark has passed. Tell me what you --

CANNON: I'm shocked by this news. I didn't -- it just -- I'm just doing a little interview with a newspaper here in Los Angeles, and I'm really shocked at -- this guy was the best. I mean, he helped me from the very start of my career to all the way through the '80s into the '90s, and he's going to be missed a lot, believe me.

He was an icon. He was a great rock 'n' roll legend. He loved music, and he loved my era that I was in. And I can't believe it. I'm lost for words. I just -- he'll be missed by me, and my family loved him and knew him.

BALDWIN: Freddy Cannon. When was the last time you talked to Mr. Clark?

CANNON: I talked to Dick maybe a month and a half ago on the phone. It wasn't very long. It was a short, just to say hello and he congratulated me on my book. I have a new book out, called "Where The Action Is" which is a television show and that's the title of my book, and he did the introduction to the book, and -- those will probably be the last words he ever said about me and they were just beautiful the way he wrote it, and I'm just -- like I said, I'm lost for words.

When my -- as soon as my family finds out this, they're going to be so saddened. I don't know what to say. My heart goes out to Carrie, his wife and the kids, his family. And I know all the whole family, so -- he'll be missed, really. He'll be missed a lot.

BALDWIN: He'll be missed. I'm sure many people will be saying that in the coming days and I'm sure they will also say that is such an understatement. Freddy Cannon, in just a couple of words here, how did he sound on the phone?

CANNON: He sounded like he was, you know, his slurred his words because he had two strokes. So --

BALDWIN: Right.

CANNON: -- but very -- too, you know, too clear. I could understand him, but what I got out of Dick was that he was -- he had all his senses. He could make decisions and everything. He just wasn't mobile in saying that to other people who called me. He wasn't very mobile to get around. But I'm sure he knew what he was doing and what he was saying. So this was a big surprise, and I thought that he was going to go on and on --

BALDWIN: It's a huge surprise, yes, to people all over the world. Forgive me for cutting you off. Freddy Cannon, we appreciate you calling in and sharing your words.

Now, "THE SITUATION ROOM" starts now.