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Woman Assaulted After 911 Call; 911 Calls Ignored in Parts of Oregon; Family Mourns Slain Soldier; Amanda Bynes Arrested on Pot Charge; Paula Broadwell: "I Have Remorse"; Tornado Spurs Storm Shelter Debate; High Schooler Rejects Plea Deal

Aired May 24, 2013 - 14:30   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: A desperate Oregon woman that was raped in her home after she called 911 for help. The 911 dispatcher said couldn't send her help. Why? Budget cuts. There are only four sheriff deputies in Josephine County, Oregon. They're not available on the weekends, as you will hear.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED DISPATCHER: 911 Emergency?

UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: My ex-boyfriend is trying to break into my house. I'm not letting him in. But he's, like, tried to break down the door and he's tried to break into one of the windows. He put me in the hospital a few weeks ago and I've been trying to keep him away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Well, the woman was transferred to Oregon State Police. Here they were.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED OREGON STATE POLICE DISPATCHER: You know, obviously if he comes inside the residence and assaults you, can you ask him to go away or do you know if he is intoxicated or anything?

UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: I've already asked him. I've already told him I'm calling you. He's broken many before, busted down my door and assaulted me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Her ex-boyfriend raped her and assaulted her and now he is in jail. This week, people in Josephine County where this woman lives voted against the tax hike that would have paid for hiring more deputies.

Sunny Hostin, let me bring you in, our CNN legal analyst. So now, Oregon's governor is considering a bill to declare a public safety emergency in counties like Josephine County where people are left to fend for themselves. But is it legal for 911 calls to essentially be ignored? SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: No, of course not. I mean, I've got to tell you we, of course, expect to be protected or our calls to be answered when we call 911. This is a really interesting sort of different situation because as you mentioned, in this particular county, in this place in Oregon, they don't have 24-hour service. They don't have deputies that can get to someone that is in need.

And that really, I believe, is what the issue is. What is also unbelievable is that these folks in the town just struck down legislative action, which would have raised property taxes by $200 a year, but would have provided additional resources for safety. They don't want their property taxes to go up. Something needs to be done here because this is something, Brooke, that I don't think I've ever heard of before.

BALDWIN: Well, something needs to be done and some people in Josephine County where they feel kind of helpless where, I mean, they're taking the law into their own hands if they're threatened. What would you tell those people about the legal risks involved in that?

HOSTIN: Well, you know, there are always legal risks when you take the law into your own hands and that's why we have people that are specially trained to protect you, to respond to criminal situations. Of course, you have to be able to defend yourself. You are able to defend yourself especially as this woman was in her home that you do have the legal right to self-defense.

But, again, you can open up a huge can of worms if you are defending yourself in a way that ultimately is determined to be illegal. The real issue here and I think the real solution here is that these folks need to get more public safety resources. And I hope that will happen.

BALDWIN: Yes. They're working on it. Sunny Hostin, thank you. And you can read more about this story, just go to cnn.com.

Coming up next, a tearful tribute to the British soldier hacked to death with a cleaver, broad daylight, on this London street.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to say that I love Lee. I always will and I'm proud to be his wife.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Today, Lee Rigby's family talked publicly about that tragedy. Plus we have new video of what the suspects did moments after the attack and how police responded. Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We have gotten a piece of video that shows what happened when London police arrived to confront this armed attacker and another man accused in the hacking death of a British soldier. You remember this happened on Wednesday. So if you watch with me, you'll see the two alleged assailants dart beneath a tree and then run to the police.

You heard the gunshots. Those alleged attackers are now recovering from gunshot wounds and at least one of the two is a British national of Nigerian descent. The family of the fallen British soldier is absolutely heartbroken. Lee Rigby, a military drummer, was only 25 years old. He was a husband and a father of a 2-year-old little boy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REBECCA RIGBY, SLAIN BRITISH SOLDIER'S WIDOW: He was a devoted father to our son, Jack. And we'll both miss him terribly.

IAN RIGBY, STEPFATHER OF SLAIN BRITISH SOLDIER: Lee's dream was to join the Army, which he succeeded in doing. He was dedicated and loved his job. Lee adored and cared a lot for his family and was very much a family man, looking out for his wife, his young son, Jack, and his younger sisters. He never let any harm come to them. He was over the moon being a dad and an uncle and adored all of his family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Rigby's killing is being treated as a terrorist attack. Investigators are now looking into possible ties between the two suspects and other militants.

Back here in the United States, serious charges against actress Amanda Bynes. Police say she tossed a bong outside her window from her Manhattan apartment. She's facing a number of serious crimes. I'm about to talk to one of the most iconic child stars in TV history about this young woman's very public collapse.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back. We're here live in Moore, Oklahoma, where we're surrounded by devastation from Monday, but I got to tell you, this is a tough group of people moving forward. We have more amazing stories for you as our special coverage will continue in a moment.

But first, some news from the entertainment world, actress, Amanda Bynes, is in trouble again. The 27-year-old former child star arrested last night for allegedly throwing a bong out a window of her Manhattan apartment. That was on the 36th floor. This is video of Bynes in a long blonde wig. There she was, on her way to jail.

Police say Bynes' building manager called police because the actress was quote/unquote, "smoking a legal substance" in the lobby. Bynes then let police come into her apartment. We are told they saw this bong and other marijuana paraphernalia on a coffee table inside and that is when Bynes apparently tossed the bong out the window.

She is facing a felony charge, tampering with evidence, plus misdemeanor charges of drug possession and endangerment and on top of this, Bynes has a DUI case pending in California. Also, she was sentenced to three years probation this month for driving on a suspended license. Amanda Bynes' troubles have been compared to those of Lindsay Lohan. Lohan currently in rehab now, back in 2007 she was convicted of drunk driving and felony drug possession, and there are other former child stars with issues. Eddie Furlong from "Terminator 2" and "CSI New York," he was recently arrested accused of violating a protective order filed against him by an ex-girlfriend.

Then there is Todd Bridges, "Different Strokes," who dealt with drug issues back in the '80s. I want to bring in a former child star of the "Donna Reed Show." He is Paul Petersen who joins me now live from Los Angeles. So Paul, welcome to you.

I have to say off the top, I'm standing here surrounded by levelled homes, debris, debris, you know, people have lost their homes. Some people here have lost their lives. I'm just -- I don't have a lot of sympathy for this young woman, I have to say this off the top. That said, these are serious charges, what's your take?

PAUL PETERSEN, FORMER CHILD STAR: Well, look, we have to put everything in context, of course. I'm so glad you're there, Brooke. Those people need your help and support, all of us, and our hearts go out to them.

In the case of Amanda, we are the products of choices we make. Just think, if she would have sat down in New York and said I think I'll go to Moore, Oklahoma, and do what I can to help, not for publicity, just to do something good. It is astonishing to me and continues to astonish me how many bad choices kid stars as they get older can make.

I know this pretty personally because I was there myself. I wouldn't wish my 20s on anyone and I hope people understand that Amanda is -- her life has been taken from her because of success at an early age. And that happens to many kid stars. If you don't have the right support group, you're in trouble.

BALDWIN: Paul, let me go back to your personal story because, you know, you were shy of your 21st birthday when the "Donna Reed Show" wrapped. You said you wouldn't trade your 20s with anyone because you experienced a downward spiral and you say what is interesting is what happened to you back then isn't actually very different from what these young stars face today.

PETERSEN: It is no different in my era or going back to the 20s. Remember, two of the most famous kids stars in the silent era of Hollywood, Jackie Kugan and Baby Peggy, this is a replay. You see what happens is the industry, the entertainment industry just uses you up and when they're done with you, they are flat done with you. And it happened to Diana Sarah Carrie, became an object of ridicule.

BALDWIN: Yes. I know this isn't the case, though. That's the odd thing. This isn't the case for every single child star. Some make it out okay and some don't. Paul Petersen, thank you -- no, they don't. Paul Petersen, thank you so much for joining me. Appreciate it for your perspective.

Coming up next, people in Oklahoma call the storm shelters, you know, fraidy holes or hidey holes, is what I've heard. But now after what happened Monday, they may be rethinking these shelters. Do more Americans need to think about these bunkers? I will take you inside of one.

Plus, she's the woman at the center of the sex scandal that brought down General David Petraeus, retired Four-Star General Petraeus. Now after months of silence, Paula Broadwell is speaking out about that affair next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Paula Broadwell, you know the name, the woman at the center of the sex scandal that led to the resignation of the chief of the CIA, General David Petraeus, she is talking. Broadwell said she's sorry for her role in that scandal that brought down the highly decorated four-star general. Speaking publicly for the very first time, she says she accepts responsibility for what she did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA BROADWELL: I have remorse for the harm that this has caused, the sadness it caused in my family and other families and for causes that we belong to. I'm very blessed. Blessed with an awesome family, wonderful community that has been a great part of my rehabilitation, if you will, and wonderful organizations that realize that even if you've made mistakes in life, you can still contribute and pick up yourself and move on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: It has been nearly six months since that scandal broke. Broadwell credits her, quote, "awesome husband" for being there and for having the strength to see through the controversy.

We have been here in the Moore, Oklahoma, area, really ever since the tornado hit on Monday. And for the last week, we have been walking around neighborhoods just like this, a lot of action here today because they finally have been opened up. People can start walking through, folks from insurance companies, et cetera.

But yesterday, want to show you some video because I had talked to so many people that didn't have the storm shelters. Take a look. I found one. This is a storm shelter, they call them storm shelters if they're underground or safe houses or safe rooms if they're above ground.

We wanted to see and share this with you, this woman who lives in this neighborhood, her name is Sherry Wells, and she was gracious enough to sort of tell me her story. So she put this thing in three weeks before the tornado hit. She said without a doubt it saved her life, it saved the life of her husband.

She said she got some sort of rebate. Federal government helped her pay half. So she ended up paying $2,500, the government matched that. It's something like $5,000 and it was all said and done, but no doubt that storm shelter such as these save lives, but as I mentioned, they're not cheap.

They cost several thousand dollars depending what kind you get. And in today's "American Journey," our Tom Foreman takes a look at the debate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the wake of the Oklahoma twister, some have been raising their voices high, insisting this storm ought to spur a movement for more people to put in storm shelters. From Wichita, Kansas, PBA Architect sells an assortment of models, many of which look like normal rooms and there, Corey Schultz, sees his work as more than a business. It's a mission.

COREY SCHULTZ, ARCHITECT: After the fact, it's too late. This has to be something that you plan for, that you get in, that you get in place and then you use it and use it correctly. And then I think it can save lives across the country.

FOREMAN: Storm shelters have been around for generations, famously featured in "The Wizard of Oz." But modern shelters are an entirely different matter. Many companies now offer a variety of steel and concrete structures for above and below ground, boasting an array of extra security measures and strengths.

LOREN SHETLER, CAPITOL SHEDS: Each one of these anchor bolts has a 10,000 pound sheer strength. So by putting one every foot around here, it can more than withstand any storm.

FOREMAN (on camera): The challenge has always been economics. Even simple storm shelters can cost several thousand dollars. And as bad as these storms can be, even in the most tornado prone areas, odds are most homes will never be hit.

MAYOR GLENN LEWIS, MOORE, OKLAHOMA: It is about the money and the statistics. An F-5 tornado is very rare. It's 1 percent to 2 percent of the tornadoes. They don't happen very often.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Still, proponents look at the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Oklahoma, the decimated houses, and they stand firm --

SCHULTZ: Nobody can talk to me and talk me out of that shelters are worth it because I know they are. We're saving lives.

FOREMAN: Tom Foreman, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Tom, thank you.

Just in to us at CNN, a major development in the case that is making waves across the United States, an 18-year-old high school student in trouble for her relationship with a 14-year-old. This is a lesbian couple. We have just gotten word that the older student has rejected a plea deal. That update and details next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Here is this update we have, the case of a high school senior, arrested for allegedly having sex with an underage girlfriend. It is now going to trial. Caitlin Hunt has just rejected a plea deal that would have reduced the charges from felony sexual battery to third degree child abuse.

Hunt's father set up a petition to urge the state's attorney to drop the case. It now has more than 270,000 signatures. Her father's petition says that the parents of this 14-year-old girlfriend disapprove of her same sex relationship with hunt who, again, is 18 years of age.

But, this TV affiliate WPEC spoke with the alleged victim's parents who say the age difference only forced them to demand an end to the relationship. The couple said they went to Hunt, not just once, but twice, telling her to stay away from their daughter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had actually told Miss Hunt that this was wrong.

JIM SMITH, FATHER OF ALLEGED VICTIM: We had no alternative but to turn to the law and use -- and use it as a last resort.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So this whole story about you blame Kate for making your daughter gay, where did that come from?

JIM SMITH: I don't know. You tell me. It didn't come from us because that's not how we feel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was never said and that's why we feel that we had to tell how we felt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So according to Florida law, you have to be 18 years old or older to be able to consent to sex. Let me bring in Sunny Hostin back in now that we have this new nugget, they rejected the plea deal. This thing is going to trial. Are you surprised by that?

HOSTIN: Well, I'm not surprised by it because, you know, oftentimes people do feel very reluctant to plead guilty when they don't believe that they have committed a crime. They also don't want to plead guilty to exposure that could -- to a crime that could expose them to being a registered sex offender or being deemed a felon.

So I do understand why they would not take the plea. I've got to tell you this, Brooke. We talked about this particular case before. Proving statutory rape or proving non-consensual sex is very easy for the government in a case like this. All you've got to do is prove the age difference and the fact that this occurred, that sex occurred

We know that Kate has admitted to having this relationship with this 14-year-old. And the bottom line is, a 14-year-old, under the law, cannot consent, cannot consent and so that's why I said on air and I've got to tell you, many, many tweets, many, many e-mails from people that are very angry with what I said.

And what I said was, under the law, you simply cannot consent. And so this is a case where it would be beneficial for someone to take a plea deal because it is almost indefensible in a court of law. I don't think they can win.

BALDWIN: I was going to say how do you defend it? Age doesn't lie. It is pure numbers. So you say indefensible. Sunny Hostin, thank you very much.

HOSTIN: Sure.