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Man Missing in Iran Worked for CIA; Three Stabbed After NFL Game; Outrage over DUI Killer's Light Sentence; Controversy Surrounds This Year's Heisman

Aired December 13, 2013 - 09:00   ET

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

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COSTELLO: And yes, they'll do it in bikinis.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Carol Costello, thanks so much for joining me.

We begin with something serious and shocking. It's a new report about an American who has been missing in Iran for nearly seven years. The Associated Press and "The Washington Post" say Bob Levinson worked for the CIA and was trying to dig up information when he disappeared. That's something both the agency and Levinson's family have denied for years.

CNN's Jim Sciutto is in Washington with more for you.

Good morning, Jim.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

So a very sensitive story, a very sad story for the family. As you say nearly seven years held in captivity. The Iranian government has never acknowledged that, although U.S. officials have repeatedly raised his case including Secretary Kerry recently in his contacts with Iranian officials.

He went to apparently, according to the reporting of the AP and "Washington Post," to an Iranian-controlled island of Kish, working as a contractor for the CIA, they say, exploring corruption at the highest levels of the Iranian government.

Now the AP says that it had confirmed these details three years ago back in 2010, and had accepted U.S. government requests three times not to report the story out of sensitivity, but they say they're reporting it now because nearly -- and this is quoting from an AP statement, nearly seven years after his disappearance, U.S. government efforts have repeatedly come up empty to free him. But still a great deal of sensitivity including from his family.

COSTELLO: And Jim, it does make you wonder now that this information is out how does that affect Levinson's safety within Iran? Do we even know if he's still alive?

SCIUTTO: Well, we don't know, as the AP noted there has not been any sign of life, any proof of life as they say for nearly three years. We don't know. The U.S. government very strong on this, though. They came out yesterday saying the U.S. government strongly urged the AP, quote, "not to run this story out of concern for Mr. Levinson's life," and his family who's been in touched with our own Susie Candiotti has said, that they are, quote, "deeply concerned over the risk created by this story."

So you do have those fears. You know, personally I've spoken to a number of relatives of other Americans held in Iran. There is an American former marine, Amir Hekmati who was held there now, and the sensitivity is that there are often charges made without base by the Iranian government that the Americans are spying for the CIA, for others. Hekmati has been charged with that.

The American hikers, you may remember, Carol, released three years ago, they were charged with spying for the U.S. government, Roxanna Siberi, journalist held in Iran, she was charged with spying, sentenced to eight years, although she was released after a month.

So, you know, the concern is, the fear is that a report like this could be used as ammunition by the Iranian government when cases like this come up, and that's certainly a concern that the U.S. government has.

COSTELLO: All right, Jim Sciutto, reporting live for us from Washington.

Now some surprising news out of Washington. Compromise apparently isn't dead after all. The bipartisan budget measure is now heading to the Senate after it sailed through the House. 169 Republicans voted for it yesterday along with 163 Democrats.

The measure is expected to face more hurdles in the Senate, though. Republicans Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and others have said they will not support it, but that bill still is expected to pass the Senate.

Terrifying moments in Utah overnight when a sudden rockslide crushed a home, killing two people inside. Police tell KUTV the falling boulder sounded like an earthquake and that the two bodies were found close to one another underneath the rubble. Officials say rockslides are common in areas this time of year because of snow and freezing temperatures.

Dreaming of a white Christmas. Well, lots of people will have their wish early. A massive thousand-mile-long winter storm expected this weekend across the south, the Midwest, the East Coast, meaning tens of millions need to brace for more freezing temperatures, and snow and ice and brutal wins, especially bad news for places like Buffalo where people are still trying to dig themselves out from yesterday's storm.

Indra Petersons is live in New York with the frigid, frigid news.

Good morning, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I like how everyone pauses before they toss to me today with the eh, news. Yes, exactly that. We're talking about cold arctic air and now another storm is going to be impacting so many people, about 1,000 miles wide from the northeast back to the Midwest, this storm coming our way.

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PETERSONS (voice-over): It's the third round of wintry weather for the Midwest and northeast this month.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been one storm after another.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frigid windchills, they were as low as 31 below in parts of the area last night.

PETERSONS: Another blast of biting cold and lake-effect snow on the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This has been constant all day.

PETERSONS: Already towns like Hamburg, New York, is causing multiple trucks to overturn on this Buffalo, New York highway. The icy roads even causing a 40-car pileup in Michigan.

Take a look at this police dash cam video, a semi hitting the cruiser, another SUV nearly colliding.

A developing system will bring a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet across the Mississippi Valley to the East Coast. As it moves into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region it will change over to snow. Cities like Pittsburgh, New York, and Boston anticipating more snow this weekend.

In Milwaukee it's so frigid outside kids are, believe it or not, running into school to beat the chill. Reporters following their lead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kids about to arrive here at Racine. One degree outside windchill below zero. I don't care if you're 7 years old or 27, I'm still going to listen to my mother.

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PETERSONS: We're going to take it day by day since I know it's impacting so many people's weekend. Right now we're already starting to see a little bit of that wintry mix especially around Kansas and Missouri. Then overnight tonight this spreads into the Ohio Valley. By Saturday starting to affect the mid-Atlantic and the northeast and then by Sunday it exits off.

Just remember, there are two systems kind of combining there so also some strong winds can be kind of factored in. Look for flight delays on top of the visibility issues. What we've already been dealing with.

Heavy amounts are going to be out there. Even as much as six inches in the Ohio Valley. Could see even as much as six inches or half a foot around New York City. The farther north you go, we're talking about potential for a foot of snow around Boston.

I think the only upside here, Carol, is hopefully people can stay home and stay off the roads so we have a lot of safer conditions with the (INAUDIBLE).

COSTELLO: That's right. It's happening over the weekend which is actually a good thing.

PETERSONS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Safety wise, I mean. Yes. Thanks, Indra.

PETERSONS: Sure.

COSTELLO: A chaotic scene at Mile High Stadium in Denver. A huge fight broke out in the parking lot after the Broncos game. When it was over, at least -- at least three people ended up stabbed. Police say one of the victims is now in critical condition. They also think a fourth person was stabbed but left the scene and has not been found yet.

Colleen Ferreira is a reporter with KUSA. She joins us live now with more.

Good morning.

COLLEEN FERREIRA, REPORTER, KUSA: Good morning, Carol.

You know, we are standing in the parking lot where police say the stabbings happened yesterday evening. If you can imagine after a Broncos game, any NFL game, people are trying to leave the parking lot and head home. Police say with all those stabbings it was chaotic, a little bit out of control.

The stabbings happened a little bit after the Broncos and Chargers game yesterday evening around 10:00 outside the stadium parking lot. We do know three men were stabbed, two are stable right now, one is in critical condition. There is a possible fourth victim, police say that person missing at this time. Right now police don't know what led up to these stabbings. They don't know how or why they happened. They say there were several witnesses out here in the parking lot at the time. Right now they have been interviewing witnesses overnight. They're still talking to them right now, hoping those witnesses can weigh in on those moments leading up to the stabbing -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So we don't know whether this fight had anything to do with the actual game.

FERREIRA: We don't know this information at this time. We asked police about that yesterday evening, they stood here in this parking lot, and said, we just don't know, we have no information leading up to those stabbings. We do know, though, they are interviewing those witnesses that saw the stabbings take place firsthand.

COSTELLO: What about security at the stadium? Because this is still really disturbing.

FERREIRA: Of course. You know, the stadium did release a statement saying that they understand what's happening. They are letting police handle the situation at this time, so no comment from anyone else this morning.

We are waiting to hear from police. They said the next update would come in the next hour.

COSTELLO: Colleen Ferreira, from KUSA, thanks so much. We appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, there is outrage over a judge's lenient sentence for a wealthy teenager who drove drank and killed four people.

Randi Kaye has uncovered more shocking details.

Good morning.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. And now he's going to a swanky rehab in California which is going to cost about half a million dollars. His father is picking up the tab, but still folks are angry.

I'll have the story coming up.

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COSTELLO: Checking our top stories at 13 minutes past the hour.

In a stunning last-minute plea deal the bride accused of pushing her new husband over a cliff admitted to second-degree murder. Jordan Lynn Graham was on trial for first-degree murder and lying to investigators when she was agreed to that plea deal. Graham told the judge, quote, "I just pushed Cody Johnson during an argument." The 22-year-old could spend the rest of her life in prison.

Criminal charges are likely expected in the case of a 19-year-old college student who died after an apparent hazing incident. John Michael Deng suffered severe brain trauma after taking part in a fraternity ritual at this house in the Poconos. Authorities say his frat brothers at Baruch College in New York waited at least two hours before taking Deng to the hospital after he lost consciousness.

And more trouble for Canada's crack-smoking mayor. A "Toronto Star" reporter is accusing Rob Ford of libel. Daniel Dale claims the mayor made false and defamatory statements about him during a TV appearance. Dale wants the mayor to retract the, quote, false insinuation that I am a pedophile. Ford has not responded.

Today is Friday the 13th but it could end up being very lucky if of course you pick the winning numbers in tonight's Mega Millions drawing. The multi-state jackpot has now grown to an estimated $400 million. That's after no one won the last 19 games. But raking in all that cash is a long shot. The odds of winning, one in 259 million.

Affluenza, it's the new and outrageous diagnosis lawyers used to keep a wealthy teenager out of prison for driving drunk and killing four people. Sixteen-year-old Ethan Couch's defense said he was a victim of his family's money and privilege and never learned about consequences.

There is outrage over his sentence -- 10 years' probation and rehab at a fancy facility with a half million-dollar price tag that his parents will pay for.

CNN's Randi Kaye has uncovered stunning new details that will make you even angrier about this story. She joins me now from New York.

Hi, Randi.

KAYE: Good morning, Carol. Yes, I've learned this kid has a very troubled past, which is why the judge's ruling has so many baffled.

This teenager, Ethan Couch, who we're talking about, started drinking at a very early age. He drove himself to school at 13 when he was only in the seventh grade and his parents allowed it. He's been arrested before, too, for drinking yet now his punishment is time at that swanky rehab center where he can ride horses, do yoga and even go to the beach.

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KAYE (voice-over): It's two minutes until midnight on June 15th, when a terrified teenager calls 911.

CALLER: We need some ambulances, it's bad. We flipped and -- oh God

911 DISPATCHER: OK, were you involved?

CALLER: I was in the truck.

KAYE: The truck was being driven by 16-year-old Ethan Couch, and the 911 caller is his friend, one of seven friends in the pickup. The group had been drinking heavily before couch plowed down four people on the side of the road. Multiple 911 calls captured the chaos.

911 DISPATCHER: Listen to me, is it just one vehicle?

CALLER: No, ma'am, there's four or five. There's another child in the ditch. They're gone!

911 DISPATCHER: And how many people need EMS?

CALLER: Ma'am, I'm telling you, it's dark. There's four or five kids, there's kids laying in ditches and street.

CALLER: Come here, come here. Come here. Come here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God.

CALLER: Come here. Come here. I need you guys to sit here and pray, OK?

KAYE: In the end, four people were dead and two of couch's friends thrown from the bed of the pickup, including Sergio Molina, who is now paralyzed and had been in a coma. His parents, we've learned are suing Ethan Couch, Couch's parents and the family business, Cleburne Metal Works, which owned the Ford F-350 Couch was driving.

Sergio Molina's parents are seeking as much as $20 million to care for their son in the future. The complaint points out couch had a history of arrests, including one where he pleaded to contest to charges of possessing and drinking alcohol. That court date was just three months before the fatal wreck.

We also got our hands on notes taken during Couch's manslaughter trial. They belong to the attorney for Eric Boyles who lost his wife and daughter in the crash. According to that attorney, witnesses testified that Ethan Couch was caught fleeing on foot about a quarter mile from the accident scene. He could be heard at the scene, the attorneys' notes say, yelling to one of his passengers, "I'm Ethan Couch. I'll get you out of this."

But in the end, with four people dead, all Ethan Couch get for his actions was a slap on the wrist. Judge Jean Boyd sending him to alcohol rehab with 10 years' probation.

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KAYE: And defense attorneys really do think that this is the best thing for Ethan Couch. They say if prosecutors got their way which they wanted 20 years, that Ethan couch would have ended up serving two years likely. So, this way with probation for 10 years, he's actually under supervision and in the system for 10 years, Carol, versus just the two years that he might have served in prison.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Is this an unusual sentence for this judge to pass down?

KAYE: Well, it's hard to say because she's a juvenile judge. We can only look at a snapshot of her record. But there was one case that really stands out because it's been brought to our attention by lots of folks.

This is the case that happened last year, it was the story of a 14- year-old boy who the judge sentenced to 10 years in a juvenile detention center after he punched one man and that man fell to the ground, hit his head on the pavement and died.

So, this boy also admitted to the crime, just like Ethan Couch had admitted to it. He's 14 years old. We know that in that case, he's African-American. We don't know if he comes from a wealthy family.

Again, this is just a snapshot. But here you have a boy who killed one person, getting 10 years behind bars and another boy who killed four people going to a swanky rehab center and 10 years' probation.

So, it's hard to figure out.

COSTELLO: It really is, and caused another boy to be paralyzed for the rest of his life.

KAYE: That's right.

COSTELLO: Unbelievable.

Randi Kaye, thanks so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM: all eyes on this year's Heisman ceremony, mired in controversy after allegations of sexual assault against the leading candidate, Jameis Winston.

Rachel Nichols has the story from New York.

Hi, Rachel.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS: Well, Carol, Jameis Winston about as sure a thing as you can get for tomorrow night's Heisman trophy ceremony. But coming up in the next hour, the accuser in his sexual assault case, her lawyer is going to speak. We'll have the whole story for you.

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COSTELLO: All eyes will be on this weekend's Heisman ceremony which has been mired in controversy. FSU's freshman quarterback Jameis Winston is favored to win but his reputation tarnished by sexual assault charges even though he's been cleared of all of those charges.

Rachel Nichols, host of "UNGUARDED", joins me live from New York to talk more about this. Good morning.

NICHOLS: Good morning.

You know, Carol, it's interesting. I know on CNN, we don't call elections until the day of the election, but I can pretty much do this early for you.

Gannett recently surveyed the voter, found out 45 percent of them plan to vote for Jameis Winston. The next player down, A.J. McCarron from Alabama, he only had 15 percent of the vote. So, that's pretty much as sure a thing as we can get.

But this situation is still developing. Within the next hour, we expect to hear a news conference from the lawyer of the accuser in that sexual assault case you referenced. Now, we have to stress, the district attorney in that case said there was not enough evidence to charge Winston, but we are going to hear the lawyer speak today and while that is not going to change tomorrow's voting and that tomorrow's results the voting is closed, the polls are closed.

There's nothing anybody can to it may change the demeanor of the ceremony, it may change how fans think about Winston when he grabs that trophy.

We're going to see. We're going to keep track of it here for you here on CNN.

COSTELLO: You know, one part, a big part of me says this is so unfair to this young man because he was cleared of all charges and he's going to be one of the greatest days of his life, and it, too, will be tainted by this news conference that's coming up.

NICHOLS: It is what is so difficult in these cases, when the district attorney comes forth and says there is some evidence but not enough evidence to charge, and we basically have a he said/she said in this case. It comes down to the court of public opinion who you believe. There are a lot of people who believe Winston. There a lot of people who stand behind the accuser, and it is going to change how people feel tomorrow and some people think that's unjust and some people think maybe he shouldn't be picking up the trophy at all.

So, it's complicated and I think this will follow Winston as we go forward.

COSTELLO: Further complicated was that press conference held by -- you know, the local authorities talking about the case, and laughing about it, which was unseemly. It's just -- it's just ugly all the way around.

This week on your show, "UNGUARDED", you talk to Charles Barkley about the quality of today's national basketball association. What did he say?

NICHOLS: You know Charles Barkley, he does not hold back. In fact, we talked a little bit about his open style how funny and sometimes critical he is has had a backlash against him. He told me that in his close friendship with Michael Jordan, it's actually drove a wedge between them and he said he's sad. He misses that friendship with Jordan. Of course, it hasn't stopped Charles.

So, when I did ask him about the NBA -- well, you can listen here, he wasn't timid.

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CHARLES BARKLEY, NBA HALL OF FAMER: I'm embarrassed. You know, Rachel, I'm a fan. I get -- I have to watch the games.

NICHOLS: Yes.

BARKLEY: And I know people at home are like, oh, these old guys hating on NBA. It's just bad basketball. I mean, it's bad basketball. It's ridiculous and they're in major markets.

NICHOLS: You have Miami. You have Indiana.

BARKLEY: That's it, stop. There's no third.

NICHOLS: There's no third?

BARKLEY: There's no third.

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NICHOLS: You can hear Charles talk about pretty much every topic under the sun tonight on our show at 10:30, both Eastern and Pacific Time. He's entertaining, Carol.

COSTELLO: To say the least.

Rachel Nichols, thank you for being with me this morning. I appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, don't mess with Kim Jong-un. That is the message North Korea's leader was sending when he ordered the execution of his own uncle. What does this stunning move mean for the stability of that region?

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