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Philly Building Inspector Kills Self; Gangster: I've Killed 30 Plus People; Human Genes Can't Be Patented; Prostitutes Helped Raise Girl Scholar; Sesame Street Incarceration Kit; George Lucas: $150 Movie Tickets; Overcoming A Traumatic Brain Injury

Aired June 13, 2013 - 14:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Remember that deadly building collapse in Philadelphia last week? It has apparently now claimed another life. A city official says the man who had inspected that building committed suicide although he was not a target of the investigation here. Six people died in this building collapse in center city in Philadelphia. A crane operator who was working on the building has been charged with six counts of involuntary manslaughter.

A self-described hitman spontaneously confesses to killing more than 30 people across the United States. Florida detectives say this guy, Jose Martinez, told them all about his killing spree. Right now authorities across the nation are scrambling to identify the people Martinez claims he murdered. All of this comes to light now while Martinez was being questioned in connection with a 2006 double murder in Ocala, Florida. Two construction workers were shot and killed.

But the whole thing, it was a cold case for years and years. But listen to this. A cigarette butt Martinez apparently left behind led to the huge break in the case. It was inside this pickup truck where Martinez says he shot and killed those two workers. Authorities say a lab test showed Martinez's DNA on the cigarette butt. Right now Martinez is sitting inside of an Alabama jail in connection with a homicide there.

CNN's Alina Machado joins me now with this crazy story, so a lot of questions. First question, what prompted him, do we even know, to up and then confess to killing 30 people?

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, according to the detective who spoke with him in Alabama, Jose Martinez just wanted to come clean for all of the crimes he's committed. The double murder you mentioned happened in Marion County more than six years ago. It wasn't until earlier this year that detectives got those lab results pointing to Martinez as a suspect in that case.

Now, investigators did a little bit of digging. They found out that Martinez was wanted in Alabama for an unrelated homicide. He was arrested in Arizona and extradited to Alabama where he is now facing a first-degree murder charge. A Florida detective traveled to Alabama to talk to Martinez about the 2006 double homicide. Authorities say he not only confessed to that crime, but he told them he was responsible for dozens of other killings. Brooke, the detective says Martinez told him he committed his first killing when he was just 16 years old.

BALDWIN: So then what do you know about him working for Mexican cartel?

MACHADO: That's an interesting side bar to this story. Martinez, according to Florida authorities, refers to himself as a bail bondsman for the Mexican cartel. Essentially locating drug dealers who owe the cartel money and collecting a debt and then killing these people. His payment according to the detective was 25 percent of the debt collected.

Now, so far authorities have confirmed 11 of the victims Martinez allegedly confessed to killing. Authorities all over the country are now working together to try to identify all of the potential victims.

BALDWIN: Now. Alina Machado, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Coming up next, Angelina Jolie's genes may not be patented even if scientists want to use them to try and prevent Jolie and others from getting breast cancer. The U.S. Supreme Court this morning with a major ruling that impacts you and me. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, live in studio, breaks it down next.

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BALDWIN: Just into us here at CNN as we look at these pictures together, a natural gas explosion has destroyed at least two homes here. You can see the aftermath. This is Westminster, Colorado. If you know the area, aerial pictures from our affiliate there.

Here's what we know from the fire department. Some folks here in the area heard some huge boom. Others felt the impact of a pressure wave. Look at the bits and pieces of homes on neighbors' roofs and garages all because of this natural gas explosion in this neighborhood, again, Westminster, Colorado, huge, huge damage.

Obviously the questions are, were people home? I see a car there. So we're going to make those phone calls. We're going to continue to dig on this story to see what happened and if people are OK.

Also today, a major Supreme Court ruling basically means that Angelina Jolie's genes may not be patented even if scientists wanted to use them to try to prevent Jolie and others from getting breast cancer. Jolie had that preventative double mastectomy after she learned she has this very specific gene that significantly increases her risk of developing breast cancer.

She wrote all about it in that "New York Times" opinion piece. So today the court unanimously ruled human genes may not be patented. I want to talk about this with our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Couple questions, one being, how -- how does this whole thing affect, I guess, drug companies trying to develop these new drugs to help people fight cancer, other life le threatening diseases?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it makes a difference. There's been this thought for some time, if you can patent genes, one company in this case, Myriad, holds this patent. No one else can develop this test. So you know, they had a monopoly on this gene testing you just mentioned for Angelina Jolie. That was the only company that could do that.

Other companies can now do this. It brings down the price, makes it more accessible to people. It was expensive, several thousand dollars to get the testing done. I think that encouraging competition. Depending on your perspective on that, I think overall for consumers they'll have cheaper, more accessible tests, but I think Myriad obviously wanted to be able to hold this themselves and say, look, we spent 17 years, $500 million getting to this point. We want to hang on to as much as we can.

What they said was you can't patent a gene. You have genes. I have genes. The particular gene with Angelina Jolie, fewer than 1 percent of women have that, but they say that cannot be patented. What can be a patented is you have to create a template of a gene to study it. You can patent that template, but any company can create a template. It was a little bit of a nuance, but an important description of that decision.

BALDWIN: What are other examples? We think of Angelina Jolie and the BRCA gene you're talking about. What are other examples in which maybe this will help in terms of competition and pricing?

GUPTA: I think, you know, the whole idea that's something that's already within you, your genetic code, there's all sorts of different genes for different types of diseases. Cancer is the big one that we think about. There are other genes maybe for neurodegenerative problems town the road that people may find.

For example, you find a gene for Alzheimer's disease or for Parkinson's or something. Could you potentially take that gene, create a test around it and then be able to test for these things? That's what a lot of people are doing in different aspects of medicine. And now I think you're going to sort of open up the market in terms of lots of different companies being able to do that exact same thing.

BALDWIN: OK, Dr. Gupta, thank you. I don't know if you're able to see, if we can pull up quickly. The good doctor always rocks some good socks. I can't help but point out the purple stripe. Dr. Gupta. It's the little things. Thank you so much today. Appreciate it.

Coming up, this is an absolutely incredible story. This young girl, she was raised in a brothel by prostitutes. She overcomes unbelievable odds. We'll tell you what she did and where she's headed, next.

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BALDWIN: Maybe you remember this yourself. A lot of high schoolers these days will tell you just how tough and competitive it is to get into a good college these days, but it probably opportunity compare to what one student had to overcome. The fact that she has makes her an ideal profile for CNN's "Girl Rising" series about girls' education all around the world.

The 18-year-old Shweta Katti grew up in Mumbai's largest red light district in India, living above a brothel. Sadly it may not surprise you to learn that her past involves being sexually abused. But what is surprising about her story, her future. She's now earned a $46,000 scholarship to Bard College in New York.

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SHWETA KATTI, SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: I'm really excited. I don't know what I'm going to find out there. But I'm really excited this is going to be an adventure for me, new place, new people, new culture, I don't know. I'm so excited for it.

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BALDWIN: She got there with the help of her family, her mother, and the sex workers who all helped raise her.

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KATTI: My mom is my inspiration and she's the one who encouraged me and who said, you're going to do better. You are, like, amazing. And, of course, the sex workers with whom I was surrounded by because my mom used to go to factory in morning, like 9:00 in the morning. She used to come back at 7:00. I used to spend most of my time with them and they are -- like, they're my inspiration. That's why, like, because of them, I am here. Because of my mom and because of them, I'm here.

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BALDWIN: Shweta credits her success to a group called Kranti, which helps underprivileged girls and helps Shweta with the actual college application.

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ROBIN CHAURASIYA, FOUNDER OF KRANTI: Everyone looks at these girls like they're poor them. They're victims. They're just going to suffer and have such terrible lives. The fact is that people who go through all of these situations and experience these hardships, I personally believe, are going to make the most amazing leaders.

KATTI: If given a chance, everybody can do this. This is not supernatural thing in me, but I got this opportunity. I got this chance. I had experiences like this. And, yes, that's how I guess everybody can do this and everyone can achieve this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: How awesome is she? If you'd like to learn more about the campaign behind the film "Girl Rising," please go to cnn.com/girlrising. Another reminder for you set the DVRs. CNN film "Girl Rising" airs this Sunday, June 16th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.

Coming up next, Sesame Street, best known to tackle some hot button issues, but its latest involves prison.

Plus Steven Spielberg and George Lucas predict the movie industry is about to implode. One of their predictions, movie tickets could cost you a cool 150 bucks. That's not all.

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BALDWIN: OK, question, what comes to mind when you think of "Sesame Street"? Elmo, Big bird, brought to you by the letter "O"? Well, "Sesame Street" has branched out over the years into addressing pretty hot button issues like divorce, AIDS, but this latest topic has some people saying, no. Watch this.

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PUPPET: You seem kind of sad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Listen, Alex, whatever it is that's on your mind, you don't have to tell us. But we're your friends and you can always talk to us if you want.

PUPPET: It's just all this talk about my dad and where he is has got me really upset.

PUPPET: Because your daddy's away?

PUPPET: And you miss him?

PUPPET: Yes. But because of where he is, too. My dad is -- my dad's in jail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: That video is from this online tool kit for adults. It teaches parents and caregivers how to help their kids cope when mom or dad is incarcerated. Entertainment journalist and pop culture expert Jawn Murray is editor in chief of alwaysa-list.com. He joins me. Krista Smith is senior west coast editor for "Vanity Fair."

So welcome to both of you. We're going to talk movies in a second, but let's stick with "Sesame Street" because, listen, you know, you think of "Sesame Street," they push the boundaries, AIDS, divorce. Remember the Bert and Ernie sexual ambiguity thing. Do you think this issue of helping kids cope with incarcerated parents, progressive or too much for preschoolers? Jawn, to you first.

JAWN MURRAY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ALWAYSALIST.COM: I think it's a great tool actually. You know, I grew up, my father was in prison from the time I was 3 years old. At an early age my mom explained to me exactly where he was because at the time we lived in a small town. She wanted me to know my family dynamic before some neighborhood busy body shared it with me.

It allowed me to become comfortable with it. I understood it. It also taught me that when you do things in life, there's a consequence for it. So it made me very cognizant of the things that I did. And I went on a path of not wanting to get in any trouble so I wouldn't end up like my father. I think it's imperative to teach the kids at an early age.

BALDWIN: Follow-up to that. Hang on. This is interesting. Did your mom ever tell you later in life that it was tough to explain to you early on? Maybe something like this type of "Sesame Street" tool would have helped?

MURRAY: Well, it's funny. You know, I grew up watching "Sesame Street," but I also playing with Legos and Tonka toys, and things of that nature. So, you know, she definitely -- I know it's hard for her to explain. Nobody wants to have to tell your child that. These kids -- think about it now, they're in the digital age. They're babysat with iPads and tablets. They can Google their family name. A parent's mug shot will show up online. You have to explain to the kids so they don't find out on their own. I think it's more detrimental to the kids when they learn that way.

BALDWIN: Krista, what do you think?

KRISTA SMITH, WEST COAST EDITOR, "VANITY FAIR": Well, I think the proof is in the numbers. They're saying 2.7 million children are affected by this. You think it's actually pretty bravo to "Sesame Street" to provide the tools for people to actually explain this to their child and how their child can then cope with their peer group. Be able to have a dialogue to understand where their father is or where their mother is. It is alarming how many children and families are dealing with this situation.

BALDWIN: Here's the criticism, though. I saw the 2.7 million number as well, U.S. incarceration rate is highest in the world. This is a criticism. This is from Mike Riggs of "Reason" magazine blogs. Quote, "Congratulations, America, to making it almost normal to have a parent in prison or jail." Krista, does he have a point? Normalizing this?

SMITH: Well, I don't think 2.7 million is normal.

BALDWIN: It's reality.

SMITH: Yes. We live in a different world now. To his point, it's a digital age where you can Google, you can find out all this information now. So I think it's better to have the power for the individual to have the power and the tools to do it.

BALDWIN: Let me move to movies because there was a huge something that's Steven Spielberg and George Lucas said at this conference where they were speaking. According to Spielberg the trend in big blockbuster movies is unquestionable. Quote, "There's going to be an implosion where three or four or even a half dozen of these mega- budgeted movies go crashing into the ground. That's going to change the paradigm again."

You know, he predicts movies, tickets to movies like "Iron Man 3" will cost you 25 bucks while maybe a more historic film like "Lincoln" will set you back $7. Jawn, 25 bucks for the movies?

MURRAY: No. I'm not paying it. Luckily -- here's the thing. I'm a journalist. I do a lot of work in the film industry. I see a lot of screenings for free. I don't necessarily understand what it's like to be the consumer paying the ticket.

BALDWIN: Good for you.

MURRAY: But I will say this. Hollywood better take note because their inability to be unique, they're putting all their eggs in one basket, like investing so much money in a movie they hope will be a blockbuster then it's a bust like "After Earth." Their inability to want to engage and embrace the multicultural America and do projects that emphasize diversity, it's going to be to the detriment of the film industry. Movies are going to continue to lose money because they're not speaking to the right audience. That's why people like Will Packer and Tyler Perry are successful because they cater to the underserved audience.

BALDWIN: Krista, final word. This idea of making a movie like "Broadway" paying 150 bucks, they're saying.

SMITH: Well, I think that what he is talking about is basically creating a must-see experience much like a sporting event where you go in and you can actually order dinner, have a drink. The theatre looks a little differently. The seats are like a la-z-boy. It becomes a different experience than watching "Spiderman" in a regular movie theatre. I think that's more what he's talking about. It is a big issue especially now with cable television.

BALDWIN: And the internet, and Netflix.

SMITH: Exactly.

BALDWIN: Everything else.

SMITH: "House of Cards."

BALDWIN: I better get some champagne and filet if I'm paying 150 bucks. Jawn Murray and Krista Smith, thank you guys very, very much. Back in a moment.

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BALDWIN: A traumatic brain injury nearly killed Ryan Boyle. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has his remarkable story in this week's "Human Factor."

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GUPTA (voice-over): Like a lot of 9-year-old boys Ryan Boyle loved to ride around and pop wheelies on his bike.

RYAN BOYLE, AUTHOR, "WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT": I would always ride my mountain bike.

GUPTA: He was riding a friend's big wheel when a freak accident turned his life upside down.

BOYLE: I slid down the driveway backwards into the road and into the path of a speeding pickup truck. It hit me in the back of the head at 30 miles per hour.

GUPTA: Boyle's injuries were catastrophic, broken arm, pelvis, femur, shoulder, six broken ribs, and a devastating traumatic brain injury. Doctors doubted he'd even live through the emergency surgery.

BOYLE: My neurosurgeon said to my parents when I came out of surgery that, I operated on him as if he had a chance.

GUPTA: Boyle did have a chance. Two months later, he woke up from a coma.

BOYLE: My neurologist took a look at me. He said, I am optimistic that Ryan will regain enough strength in his right hand to type. My parents just shot back, no. He'll be running and riding his bike.

GUPTA: Obviously, his parents knew best. Boyle went from being unable to speak or walk to eventually riding a stationary bike during his therapy sessions. As he struggled to understand what had happened to him, being able to ride became Boyle's salvation. That was then. This is now. Boyle's thriving as a college freshman. Just like when he was growing up, his bike is always nearby.

BOYLE: I'm on my own bike team. It's actually the first para-cycling team in the country.

GUPTA: And he's not done yet. Boyle hopes to represent Team USA in the 2016 Paralympics.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)