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Mall Madness; Ohio Couple Facing Charges for Abandoning Adopted Child
Aired November 28, 2013 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): But scenes like these that flood the Internet give the bark and battle a black eye.
This ugly clash at a Los Angeles Wal-Mart two years ago was captured by Juan Castro.
JUAN CASTRO, BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPER: All the people just went in there and started destroying the boxes.
LAH: All this for markdown Xbox games.
CASTRO: People were fighting, trying to get those deals, and that's when some lady brought out pepper spray and just started going at it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My eyes are burning. My eyes.
LAH (on camera): Was that moment a turning point for Wal-Mart?
RACHEL WALL, WAL-MART SPOKESWOMAN: Certainly. I think we could do a better job at managing crowds and helping customers get into the store, find the item they're looking for and get out. So I think we learned a lot.
LAH (voice-over): Wal-Mart says this time, it's a calmer Black Friday, orderly lines through the store, shoppers will get wristbands and rain check tickets to ship items that run out, but what won't change are the surprise deals through the store.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Forty seconds and then all the people will go crazy.
LAH: So predictably wild that his dad brought his kids to Wal-Mart to witness the mayhem firsthand.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's something about Black Friday. Your integrity --
LAH: These Chicago area cousins don't care about mayhem. In fact they thrive on it every year, using shopping apps and meticulous planning to save on toys for their young kids.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What, eight hours of shopping? Yes, it was all night. Yes. Eight hours or so. LAH: Seriously, all night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was worth it.
LAH: (INAUDIBLE) spent $960, half of her budget, saving $1,000 on gifts, enough to make her want to dance.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So yes, the jig had to happen and I would do it again if I got a deal like that.
LAH: Not a laughing matter to Victoria Caruso, who's seen enough video of the fighting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Me and you, any time you want (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
LAH: And doesn't want any of it even if it's literally a pillow fight.
VICTORIA CARUSO, SITTING OUT BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING: I think they're crazy. To them it's a sport. Lacrosse is a sport. Black Friday is not a sport.
LAH: She shops all online. Sure, she gives up on some of the deals but savors her serenity.
CARUSO: Savings aren't worth the bail money.
LAH: After capturing the Wal-Mart wildness Juan Castro avoids the retailer on Black Friday but still can't resist the short outing.
CASTRO: I should get a bulletproof vest. And make sure -- maybe some football gear would do me good.
LAH: That may be good advice because for shoppers like these, it's game on.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAH: So if you want in on the game early, this retailer is open right now. The others, like Best Buy, even Wal-Mart, are going to do a reopening ceremony in a few hours. You can get to them tonight -- Brooke.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Watch out for the pillow fights. That video was kind of awesome that you pulled out for that piece.
Let me ask you this, though, Kyung, because listen, it's one thing obviously for these folks who want to shop on Thanksgiving Day to do so, but for the workers, let's say, at the Kmart where you are, is this Kmart saying to these workers, you have to work on this holiday, or are they saying, hey, if you want to work, you can make a little extra money?
LAH: Exactly. You can make a little extra money. It's time-and-a- half for the workers who choose to work. Now, do they choose to work? Many of them do, especially in the early morning hours, because these are lower-paid jobs. They can really use the income.
Then they can then spend the money in the economy. They can buy their kids presents. The people who are working this evening, they're really not that excited about coming in, according to some of the workers I have spoken to. They actually traded in order to try to come in this morning because, you know, who really , truly wants to work at night on Thanksgiving?
BALDWIN: Right. Right. Kyung Lah, thank you very much.
And if you did stay home today and you want to try to hit the stores tomorrow for the Black Friday specials, stick around. We will talk to the man who runs this Web site. It showcases all the best deals of the day. So, and I will ask him about his Black Friday success tips, some of his top deals right now. So, stay tuned for. That is in 20 minutes. So, stay with me.
Buzz Lightyear got the all-clear to fly between Manhattan skyscrapers today for this annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. The giant balloons did fly a bit lower than usual, about five feet lower, because of the wind there. The largest -- 16 largest balloons, they could have been grounded if the winds got too strong, so they had to make this game- time decision this morning to lower them.
But that didn't stop the people from coming out. Thousands of people jammed the Manhattan streets just to see this in person, watch the performers marching down the streets.
CNN's Jason Carroll talked with some spectators at the parade -- Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, right now, what you're looking at, that's the very end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A lot of people who we came out here today to talk to had a really good time. Lots of folks who came out braved the cold weather.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody in California, love you.
(CROSSTALK)
CARROLL: But everyone had a great time when they came out. There were concerns about the balloons, concerns the balloons would not make it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they did.
CARROLL: But the balloons and the babies, they all made it out to this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We believe.
CARROLL: We believe.
Take a listen to what said had to say about what they enjoyed about this year's parade.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Loved it, loved it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really wonderful.
CARROLL: Is this your first time?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
CARROLL: So there was a controversy this year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fourth time.
CARROLL: This is your fourth time? Wow, you're a trooper.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I enjoy it.
CARROLL: There were concerns earlier that the balloons, the giant helium balloons might not make it into the parade. Were you concerned when you came out?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Well, when I got up this morning, it wasn't windy, so I said, oh, there's a possibility. We were very happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: So, once again, Brooke, all 16 giant helium balloons and all the bands, the clowns, all the fans making their way out for this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Everyone out here, I have to say -- it was a great parade. Weather ended up cooperating. People were friendly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
CARROLL: So for the rest of the United States that's watching, New Yorkers are a friendly bunch, correct?
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
CARROLL: That's what you wanted to hear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy Thanksgiving.
CARROLL: So, Brooke, until next year, Brooke, happy Thanksgiving.
BALDWIN: Happy Thanksgiving, Jason Carroll. Thank you so much.
And from New York to overseas, thousands of U.S. troops, they are having a Thanksgiving in Afghanistan for the last time today. Come 2014, most of our troops will come home, and it could turn out they all come home because Afghan President Hamid Karzai is becoming increasingly coy about a long-term security deal. The U.S. says he needs to sign it and sign it very soon. Today, the White House said 10 service men and women got phone calls today from the president. Got this picture for you, wishing them happy holidays there from the Oval Office.
Speaking of our heroes, it's the best part of coming home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this your card?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: You will see how this emotional reunion played out.
Also, take a look at your Thanksgiving comet. This collision is making astronomers very excited today. The big moment happened just a short time ago. We will all geek out on this Thanksgiving. Stay with me. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: It was a big surprise for one military family. At the happiest place on earth, three little brothers had planned on meeting Mickey Mouse, and then just watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this your card?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No? Oh, it's not? That's right. Let's cut the deck. Tap, and say Alakazam. Now, is this your card?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it is.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come here.
How you doing, guys? I missed you. Don't cry, buddy. Hi. How are you? I missed you, man. Hey, buddy. Come here. Give me some kisses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Pass the tissues. Dad is home, tears of joy for these three and their father. This is Lieutenant Colonel Jason Ladell (ph) just back from Afghanistan. Now the family is back together after 14 months apart right in time for Thanksgiving.
Within the past hour or so, comet ISON passed within a million miles of the sun, and NASA released this image. Take a look for yourself of ISON. This is taken from one of several space telescopes tracking this just incredible journey. That's the sun right there smack-dab in the middle of that picture.
If ISON survived the sun's heat and gravity -- let's be real -- this is a huge if -- we earthlings could see quite a show as the comet passes back our way. Again, that's a huge, huge if.
With me now from west orange, New Jersey, Tariq Malik, managing editor of the Web site Space.com, and Chad Myers joining me here as well.
But, Tariq, let's begin with you here. What do you know as far as whether or not this thing survived? Aren't comets really supposed to melt the closer to the sun they get?
TARIQ MALIK, MANAGING EDITOR, SPACE.COM: That's right. This is a sungrazer comet, which means that it just comes so close to the sun, the chances of it just breaking apart and evaporating away are high.
The latest picture, I just saw one right now from the SOHO spacecraft, and it's not looking good for the comet. They saw it coming in. It was strong, and then it just sort of kind of faded just dramatically in the last six hours or so. A lot of scientists are worried that the head of this comet has crumbled away and all we have left is the dust tail.
BALDWIN: Ruh-roh.
Chad Myers, you have been listening to NASA, you have been eavesdropping. What are you -- can you corroborate?
(CROSSTALK)
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Let's pretend the cup is the sun. They saw -- and this is the backside. They saw the comet come in this side, waiting, waiting, waiting for it to come out here, and there wasn't much left when it came out the other side.
You know, this thing had the tidal forces just being torn apart by the sun. Sure, it's melting and it's subliming, as our guest talked about, going right from a solid to a gas. It's so hot where it is, but it's those forces just pulling that nucleus apart, and it doesn't look good right now.
BALDWIN: Tariq, how often does this kind of thing happen where you have a comet like this passing by the sun? It doesn't seem close, but it is kind of close in scientific terms, right?
MALIK: Well, Brooke, yes, sungrazer comets are fairly common. The spacecraft that we're talking about right now, the SOHO, sees one of them every few days or so.
But comet ISON is something special. It's the first time coming in from the vast Oort cloud of comets outside the solar system. It's Not going to be coming back again, at least not for millions and millions of years, or if it's dead, it will be gone forever.
And it also -- they discovered it in September of last year, which gave NASA scientists, sky watchers around the world 14 months of lead time to really just get ready for this, to move spacecraft to see them. They saw it from Mars. The Hubble space telescope saw it on the way in.
They had just a phenomenal amount of lead time for this one, which really built up the expectations, as well as the fear.
BALDWIN: The disappointment.
MALIK: Yes.
BALDWIN: The disappointment. Tariq Malik, thank you so much, as always, for joining us from Space.com.
And, Chad Myers, oh, well.
MYERS: It could still come out the other side. You know, remember...
BALDWIN: I appreciate his optimism.
MYERS: You remember the first Apollo, when they lost contact with him because he was going through the atmosphere?
BALDWIN: Sure. Sure.
MYERS: Are you there, are you there, are you there?
BALDWIN: They were there.
MYERS: We just haven't found it yet, but so far, I don't see it.
BALDWIN: OK. We will see. Chad, thank you very much.
MYERS: You're welcome.
Coming up, a popular band cancels a concert after watching a CNN film -- why the Barenaked Ladies say they will no longer perform at this specific venue. Can you think of what that might be?
Plus, an update to a story we have been following, an Ohio couple facing charges for abandoning their adopted child. They returned the 9-year-old to children's services, and now they're fighting to get him back. Can they do that? Do they have a case? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Mike McGregor (ph) with the 4th Infantry Division headquarters here in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
I just wanted to send a shout-out to my two sons, Caleb (ph) and Spencer (ph).
Happy Thanksgiving, buddies. I miss you. Love you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: The Barenaked Ladies have decided to stop the music and make a statement.
(MUSIC)
BALDWIN: You know that song, but do you know this? The band is pulling its show at SeaWorld Orlando after watching "Blackfish," a CNN documentary about a SeaWorld orca that kills its trainer.
The group posted this on Facebook -- quote -- "This is a complicated issue and we don't claim to understand all of it, but we don't feel comfortable proceeding with the gig at this time. The SeaWorld folks have been gracious and extended us invitations to the park to learn more about what they do and how they do it."
A park spokesman confirmed the show has been taken off the schedule.
Talk about tormented. An Ohio couple faces charges of abandoned their adopted son, and yet court records show they now want him back. This is all coming to us from our Cincinnati affiliate WLWT.
Cleveland and Lisa Cox just pleaded not guilty to a charge of non- support of dependents. The prosecutor says they returned this 9-year- old son, a boy they had raised since he was three months of age, to the Department of Children's Services a couple weeks ago.
Some of the proof? This letter this mother, Lisa Cox, left in a bag, the only item the boy had when he was abandoned. Let me just read part of the letter she penned. She wrote: "I will never, ever forget you. You will always be in my heart. I pray one day you will come to see and believe that and that you will understand why we did what we did. I want so much for you to be healthy and happy."
Now, this letter may be referring to an August incident in which this boy reportedly threatened the family with a knife. That's when the mother called 911.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LISA COX, MOTHER: Got a steak knife and he said, "I'm going to kill you."
He's on medication. He's seeing a psychiatrist, but he's just kind of -- this is the first time he's gone like this. He ransacked my house.
911 OPERATOR: Sounds like you just -- you need some help.
COX: He does. And I can't get it. I have tried everything.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
BALDWIN: CNN legal analyst back with me Danny Cevallos.
And, Danny, when you hear this story, let's talk about these parents, because after they were indicted, they told authorities they wanted to stop any of these relinquishment proceedings. They want this little boy back. Do you even think that could happen at this point?
DANNY CEVALLOS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, it could have.
See, these defendants are probably guilty of simply not following procedure. Ohio law, like every other state, has procedures for what we call unruly or incorrigible children. If they had brought the child to social services, they have done an intake and evaluated whether or not the child was safe and provided services and scheduled a court hearing to find out whether or not this kid can remain in the home and what services should be provided.
Instead, parents can't simply drop them off like returns at The Gap. You can't do that.
BALDWIN: Yes. This is a child.
CEVALLOS: They probably failed to follow the correct procedure.
If they had done that, they would have the opportunity to have the kid stay with them and eventually, if he got better, if he got the services he needed, then have him remain in the home.
BALDWIN: Let me get back to the letter. Let me just quote a little bit more of it from the mother again.
"It breaks my heart that you can no longer be a part of our family. I love you so much. From the very first day, I have always loved you. I am praying that God will continue to take good care of you and that he will find the perfect family to love you, and I believe he will."
Couldn't this letter -- clearly, this mother loves this little boy. Could this letter be used in her defense in the criminal case?
CEVALLOS: I mean, what is the legal definition? What evidentiary value does the word love have when it comes to the letter? Her actions speak louder.
BALDWIN: Right.
CEVALLOS: And it clearly shows that, irrespective of what's in the letter, she took the child to the center and dropped him off like he was in a basket.
And the law does not allow that, at least procedurally. It may be that ultimately this child should be removed from the home, but that will require a court determination. Parents who have that legal obligation to care for the children cannot make that decision unilaterally and go dropping children off at churches. That's just not the appropriate legal procedure, even though ultimately the court may determine the same thing, that the child may not be able to remain in the home.
BALDWIN: You're right. Words are one thing. Actions are something entirely different.
Danny Cevallos, thank you very much. Speaking of words, two words that make some shoppers salivate this time of year. You know who you are. Black Friday. You fight the crowds. You find these crazy amazing deals. So what are some of the tips to help you save the most money? We're going to talk to this guy. It's his job to know how to get a bargain. Don't miss this. That's next.
You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. I'm Senior Airman Dylan Sheets (ph). I'm with the 577 Prime BEEF Squadron at Kandahar airfield.
I want to give a shout-out to my family and friends in Vermont and say happy Thanksgiving and to my fiancee, Jenna (ph), in Maryland.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Happy, happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for being with me here on this holiday.
You know, in just a couple hours, the nation's largest retailer kicks off the Super Bowl of shopping. I'm talking Black Friday weekend. And if you have ever wondered what it takes for a massive chain like Wal-Mart to get ready for this rush, wonder no more.
Chief business correspondent Christine Romans gives us the insider's view -- Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, some 140 million people are going to go to the stores on Black Friday, and retailers are doing everything they can to lure you in. We go behind the scenes of the nation's largest retailer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Wal-Mart.
ROMANS (voice-over): One-point-three million workers in 4,000 stores around the country building up to one event, Black Friday. The world's biggest retailer says it's the most important shopping day of the year.
STEVE BRATSPIES, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, WAL-MART: We call it the Super Bowl of retail.
ROMANS: Say goodbye to tomatoes and hello to toys and televisions.
BRATSPIES: If you go into a supercenter at around 2:00 or so on Thanksgiving Day, it looks like a food store. But then, just two or three hours later, we will go from the largest food store to the largest G.M. store in the world.
ROMANS: But Wal-Mart can't sell what it doesn't have, so it's buying more to keep up with demand.
BRATSPIES: We have bought over 65 percent more TVs this year, five times as many sheet sets, two times as many tablets.
ROMANS: And customers won't need to wait for the deals. Thanksgiving Thursday is the new Black Friday, Kmart, Best Buy, Target, and Wal- Mart all opening earlier this year.
