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Haitian Immigrants Surge Overwhelms Texas Border; Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) Is Interviewed About The Current Situation At Del Rio, Texas; A Body Found In Wyoming As Authorities Search For Gabby Petito; Pfizer Booster For 65 And Above And With Risk. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired September 19, 2021 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[17:00:00]
JIM ACOSTA, CNN HOST: CNN learning the Department of Homeland Security will ask the Pentagon for help as nearly 13,000 migrants are camped under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas waiting to be processed by border patrol.
You're looking at brand-new drone footage just into CNN, the squalid conditions, sweltering heat and the coronavirus pandemic all triggering fears of a public health emergency. DHS is ramping up flights to send migrants back home. But for so many of them, that home is Haiti, a country still suffering after a major earthquake and the assassination of their president.
Just last hour I asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about those deportation flights and how quickly he expects help from the Department of Defense. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: This is all part of an all-of-government effort. Not only are we obtaining resources from the Department of Defense, but we've actually brought in a personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services to address the medical needs of anyone who needs that type of attention.
This is the approach of a good government that not only do we rely on the resources and capabilities of the Department of Homeland Security, but we look across the federal government and in partnership with civil society to see what resources and capabilities we can bring to bear to meet the challenge, and that is indeed what we are doing here.
ACOSTA: And how can you be assured that when they go back that they're not dealing with very difficult conditions? Much more difficult than what they're dealing with right now? Why not allow them to come into the country?
MAYORKAS: So let me take both those questions, Jim. First of all, we're working very closely with the government of Haiti to ensure that the individuals' return is effected, is accomplished, as safely and humanely as possible. We are working with the Department of State to assist in that regard.
And we're dedicating resources in Haiti for the humane receipt of individuals, the humane return of individuals.
ACOSTA: And have you briefed the president on what's happening at Del Rio and is it time for the president to go down to the border and take a look for himself?
MAYORKAS: So, we have in fact briefed the president. I have been personally in touch with members in the White House on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, multiple times every single day. And I will be traveling to the border myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: And you heard the secretary there say at the end of the interview that he is traveling down to the border to assess that situation unfolding in Del Rio, Texas.
In the meantime, let me bring in Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro. Congressman, before I get your reaction to the secretary's comments, as you know, this is just the latest humanitarian crisis that has hit the U.S. immigration system in recent years. There's been little movement on the policy side.
How do you explain this inaction to the American people as they witness scenes lie this? They seem to repeat themselves over and over from time to time. And Congress has not been able to pass meaningful immigration reform and get it signed by a president of either party.
REP. JOAQUIN CASTRO (D-TX): Well, you're right, Jim. I mean, we've seen this happen around El Paso, McAllen, Brownsville where you've had encampments along the border, not to this size perhaps, but we've seen it in the past where there are thousands of people that are in squalid conditions and waiting to make their asylum claim.
And the folks coming from Haiti are coming from a country that even in the last few months dealt with natural disasters, a hurricane, an earthquake, their president was assassinated. So, these are people that are fleeing a very, very desperate situation.
And when it comes to immigration reform, the Congress came close in 2014 when the United States Senate passed with 68 votes comprehensive immigration reform, but the speaker of the house refused to put it on the floor for a vote.
So, the next two months in Washington are going to be very important to finally get immigration reform done through the budget process. And the stakes are very high for everyone.
ACOSTA: And, congressman, I know you've criticized these Haitian deportation flights, 50 Democrats have signed a letter opposing them. We just heard Secretary Mayorkas defend those actions. I'm guessing you heard part of that interview where he did that.
What's your response to that? The secretary seems to be saying that they're assessing the situation in Haiti and that they're confident that this deportation process can be handled humanely. What do you think?
[17:04:52]
CASTRO: Well, I know that the administration is working in earnest. They're working very hard and they've made a decision that they think is best. And, you know, many of us just disagree. We come out on the other side of it. I think these are folks who could be -- who many of whom have relatives in the United States.
They could be accepted and be allowed to be in the United States while their asylum claim is processed. Some folks worry about COVID. Obviously, that's why the Title 42 expulsions were being done. But if it's a matter of protecting American citizens from anybody bringing in COVID, you could easily vaccinate everybody that you're allowing to wait here and have their asylum claim processed.
And so we believe that there are practical ways to handle it and make sure we are following both U.S. and international law and that we're doing the most humane thing.
ACOSTA: And what is the explanation you're getting from the administration as to why they're not going in the direction that you'd like to see that you and your colleagues would like to see it go?
CASTRO: Well, I believe that they still think that there is an issue with COVID. I think that they also feel that the volume of people that would be, you know, that they would have to essentially accept because now there's been a backlog since the Trump administration might be overwhelming.
And so look, there are real practical considerations there, but we also have the resources to handle that, to make sure that we handle this as humanely as possible. And like I said, these people are fleeing a situation where you had two natural disasters in the last few months, and their president -- their president got assassinated, destabilizing the country. And so if you're going to send folks back to that, that's a very, very dangerous and risky situation for them.
ACOSTA: And what about President Biden in all of this? Does he need to step it up on this issue of immigration? Do you think he needs to visit the border in this circumstance to get that kind of, I guess, eyeball on the situation down there, on this crisis down there?
CASTRO: Yes. Remember, with President Biden, this was literally in his first day in office was the first issue that he took on. So, it's obviously an issue even though I may have some disagreements here and there. It's an issue that the administration takes very seriously.
And so it wouldn't surprise me if at some point he does visit the border. Secretary Mayorkas has been there repeatedly. Others in the administration as well. And the president is being apprised and briefed on what's going on as well.
ACOSTA: And your state's Republican Governor Greg Abbott implemented a hardline immigration resulting in roughly 1,000 border arrests per month since March. Last week he ordered six points of entry to be closed. Have those policies factored into this do you think?
CASTRO: You know, Governor Abbott, unfortunately, most of what he's done has been posturing, political posturing. He's facing two Republican primary opponents including Allen West in the Republican primary. So he's trying to move as hard right as he can. And he is trying to use, you know, this age-old tactic of scaring people about black and brown immigrants coming to the United States.
You know, and the people of Del Rio where -- the area where we're talking about are great people, and that really is -- you talk about immigrant communities. That is an immigrant community mostly of Mexican-American immigrants who have settled there over the years. So they're wonderful people, but they're having the governor try to pour gasoline all over a situation that's already tense, right.
In any community, if you had 12,000 or 13,000 people, you know, right outside of it or under a bridge, of course everybody would be tense about it and wondering what's going on and what are you going to do with folks. But the government in his rhetoric and often in his policies is only making it worse.
ACOSTA: All right, Congressman Joaquin Castro, thanks so much. As always, we appreciate your insights and joining us this afternoon. See you again soon.
CASTRO: Thank you.
ACOSTA: Thanks a lot. Breaking news, we have just learned, this just in to CNN, that a body has been found in the area where police were searching for missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito. We're trying to get the latest information on that, trying to do as much digging as we can to get confirmation as to what the situation is. We'll get a live report on that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:10:00]
ACOSTA: All right. We do have breaking news in the search for Gabby Petito, the influencer who went missing during a cross-country trip with her fiance. Investigators searching for Petito in Wyoming have found a body. CNN's Leyla Santiago joins me now from North Port, Florida where police are still searching for Petito's fiance.
And Leyla, I should mention, in just the last couple of minutes the FBI office in Denver has tweeted that the FBI, National Park Service, law enforcement partners will provide an update in the investigation into Gabby Petito's disappearance at 4:00 p.m. Mountain time at the Greg Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park. That's going to be 6:00 our time, so in about 45 minutes from now. Leyla, what do you know on your end?
LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in the meantime while we're waiting for that, Jim, what has changed since the last time we spoke to you, CNN has now confirmed with the Teton County coroner that they have found a body in a national forest in Wyoming. That could be a huge development. But I want to make sure to be clear that that is all we know.
At this point, the coroner cannot give us details on the identity of the body, on the age or the gender. So there are still a lot of questions to be able to get a better idea as to how big of a development this could really be.
But, remember, Gabby Petito was reported missing on September 11th. And there has been quite the search in the Grand Teton National Park not only by law enforcement, FBI being involved, but also her loved ones, her own family going to where they last heard reports of her whereabouts.
[17:15:03]
So that is up in Wyoming. About 2,000 miles further where we are right now here in North Port, Florida, the search continues, as you mentioned, Jim, for her fiance, Brian Laundrie. He is 23 years old. And we have been here all day watching as crews have gone in and out trying to find him in what is 25,000 acres of a wildlife reserve.
Why are they here? Well, that development came on Friday. And that is because the family of Laundrie reached out to police saying that they were concerned of his whereabouts, and the last time they had seen him was Tuesday according to his family and he said he was heading here.
A lot of frustration from police and investigators wanting to know why the family waited so long to report this. And I should also mention that police say there was no talk of any information that could lead to the whereabouts of Gabby Petito either.
So, what we've been working with all day is a law enforcement community in two different states looking for two different people who went on a road trip together but only Brian Laundrie came back. And there is reason to believe according to police that he could be in danger here in this reserve where it is very lush, it is very swampy, as we have seen ATVs come out.
One of the things we took note of was that they're very muddy and there's grass hanging off them. So that tells you they are searching in some pretty remote areas of this reserve. I have spoken with someone inside who tells me that search still very much continues at this hour, but it has been two very long days here, hoping to find Brian Laundrie and hoping that that also could lead to Gabby Petito.
But, again, the latest development since the last time I spoke with you, Jim, we understand that a body has been found in Wyoming and there is an entire community and family members looking to get more answers, wondering if this could be part of the answer. Jim?
ACOSTA: Absolutely, Leyla Santiago. And just to go over what Leyla was just talking about a few moments ago, this is according to the Teton County coroner, Dr. Brent Blue, telling CNN over the phone, "A body has been found in a national forest in Teton County." And then in addition to that, we're just mentioning a few moments ago,
the FBI announcing that they will be holding a press conference at 6:00 eastern time on Gabby Petito's disappearance saying that the FBI along with the National Park Service, their law enforcement partners will be providing an update in the investigation into Petito.
There is the tweet on screen. And that's going to be done at the visitor center at the Grand Teton National Park. That is in the area where investigators have been searching for some sign of Gabby Petito. And it appears they are moving in that direction, providing more information to the public.
Obviously, it's early. We don't have any firm conclusions yet as to what exactly the FBI is going to tell us. But obviously when they schedule a press conference in what, 45 minutes from now in that situation, and you have the coroner's office in that area also talking about the discovery of a body in that area, it does appear that we are going to get some sort of update, perhaps a dramatic update in the search for Gabby Petito. We'll keep you posted on all of that.
In the meantime, to talk further about this, I want to bring in CNN criminal defense attorney and CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson. Joey, if this body is confirmed to be Gabby Petito's, does this give police probable cause to question or even arrest her fiance, Brian Laundrie? It is strange that we have two different searches for two different people at the same time.
JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, Jim, good evening to you. The answer to your question most directly is absolutely. I know we're speaking in hypothetical terms. I know we're being careful because there has not yet been confirmation. But to your question, in the event that it is her, right, we certainly pray not, but there is a dead body, we pray in any event.
But the bottom line is that it would give the police probable cause. What does that mean? It means that the police don't have to be assured of your guilt in order to arrest you. There just has to be a reason to believe that a crime was committed and you indeed are the one accused of committing it.
Remember, Jim, in the event that it is her body, there will be all types of forensic examinations done not only as it relates to DNA, of course, but as it relates to cause of death and other issues. There'll be a search of that general area that could be the preservation of other evidence. So it's not only that a body would be found that it would be hers, but I think the additional probable cause could come from investigations around, right, the body and around and really dealing with the body itself.
[17:20:02]
It would be a major game changer. He would go from a person of interest to a defendant in a criminal case.
ACOSTA: And what do you make of the fact that he's missing? JACKSON: Yes, you know, it's interesting in that regard because as the
family noted, Ms. Petito, there's a distinction between someone being missing and someone hiding. And so I think it's important to note, number one, is he indeed missing or is he in hiding perhaps thinking about, and again I'm speculating, but perhaps knowing that the body could be found. In the event that the body was found (inaudible) that it is trouble.
So we don't know yet. We do know that the police wanted to speak to him. We know that a person in his particular position has a right not to speak to the police. He chose not to do that. And as a result of that, the police could not question him to gain any specific information as to her whereabouts.
We have of course, as you know, Jim, the FBI -- I mean, the world's greatest law enforcement entity with all the resources they bring to bear, they got involved in the case, a body's found, we'll see if its hers. And in the event that it is, I think that he should certainly expect and anticipate that the police will be after him in grand fashion.
ACOSTA: And, Joey, up until this moment, the reporting had been that Laundrie was refusing to cooperate, refusing to talk with police. Obviously, that is going to lead some in the public to have conclusions about what's going on here.
But to have a discovery of a body, and again, we don't know for a fact that this is Gabby Petito, but if it is, the fact that in this, I mean, this kind of area of Wyoming, a massive wilderness area for a body to have been found, suggests unless there was some amazing stroke of luck on the part of law enforcement and part of the searchers that perhaps some information came in to direct investigators, direct searchers to this discovery potentially.
JACKSON: So, it certainly could be suggestive of that, Jim. That's on the one hand that perhaps they got a tip, perhaps they put together the digital imprint. Perhaps they did some cell phone triangulation to know that this was the last place it was used. There could be a number of things.
However, if you look and examine that, it not only could be a tip, it just can be that, look, when you're searching an area and you have the resources of the federal government, you have a number of law enforcement agencies that are involved with a tip or without a tip, you could be assured that they're going to look at every single thing.
Last point, and that is that there is something called direct evidence, right, and then there's circumstantial evidence to the earlier issue about probable cause and will he be arrested. There may not be any direct evidence because it's a secluded area, because it's an area that's outside of public view, because there may or may not have been any surveillance.
But I think they'll piece this together by virtue of common sense, right. The circumstances dictate that you may indeed be responsible. And that of course doesn't demonstrate he's guilty at all, presumption of innocence in the event this is her body, but it certainly would give a clear indication from a common person's point of view, boy, does it look suspicious, and boy, might you have information. And you know what, you may indeed be responsible. So we'll see as it develops and we'll see what they say in the press conference, Jim, in that regard.
ACOSTA: -- those insights and expertise. We appreciate it. And if you can stand by, as we like to say, just in case we need to come back to you. We are awaiting a press conference from the FBI. You can see the tweet up on screen right now. The FBI in Denver would not be putting out a tweet like this if they did not have some kind of significant development to pass onto the public in the investigation into the disappearance of Gabrielle -- Gabby Petito.
We're going to take that press conference to you live as soon as it starts. Stay with us. We'll be right back in just a few moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:25:00]
ACOSTA: Breaking news into CNN. A body has been found in the search area where investigators were looking for Gabby Petito in Wyoming. The 22-year-old went missing during a cross-country trip with her fiance. Her fiance has been named a person of interest in the case, but right now he is missing as well. Police are currently looking for him in Florida.
I want to bring in former Washington, D.C. police Chief Charles Ramsey. And Joey Jackson is back with us as well. Chief, if this is Petito's body, of course, we don't know for a fact that it is, but the coroner out there in that part of the country has said they've discovered a body.
The FBI has promised a press conference at the top of the hour. The press conference being about the disappearance of Gabby Petito. It sounds as though this case has just changed significantly.
CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFRECEMENT ANALYST: Well, I mean, it sounds like it if in fact that's her body. Obviously, they wouldn't be holding a press conference on a Sunday if they didn't think they had something regarding this particular case, but we'll see once that happens.
And depending on whether or not they've been able to positively identify the remains, you'll know for certain whether or not it's her. The question is how she died. And the medical examiner will have to do an autopsy to determine manner, cause, and so forth. I mean, it could be homicide. It could be suicide. It could be accidental. You just don't know until they've had a chance to really examine the body.
You know, I hate to say it, but if she's been out in the open for a length of time, animals could have gotten to her. I mean, you don't know the state that she's in right now and all those factor in. But in the meantime, they'll thoroughly process that scene. No question about it. [17:29:55]
I imagine the FBI will be the lead in terms of processing the scene, collecting evidence, and if and when they find Laundrie, obviously they will be wanting to talk to him, they will be executing search warrants, vehicle, home, all those kinds of things that you typically do in a homicide investigation.
ACOSTA: And, Chief, does this change the search for Laundrie? This is somebody who, I guess, is a missing person investigation, I suppose. They're trying to find him. They're conducting a search right now in the Carlton Reserve near North Port, Florida, where our Leyla Santiago is at. But he's also been reported as being uncooperative, not willing to speak with law enforcement and so on.
I wonder, Chief, when you have a body discovered and if it turns out to be the body of Gabby Petito, if, you know, folks in law enforcement are just going to be losing patience at this point with this refusal to cooperate, if that is still the case at this point. And at that point, do you try to, I guess, bring more pressure to bear on the situation?
RAMSEY: Well, I mean, you have to have -- you have to have evidence. All those kinds of things. So, I'm sure that they are doing everything they can now to find him even before they found the body. You know, this is one of those missing person cases that actually behind the scenes you're treating it as if it's a homicide, which means you're covering every base that you can possibly cover just in case because the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are very suspicious.
I mean, you know, that tape that was shown from the state troopers or police officers that actually showed her in a state of mind that was not consistent with what you saw on social media, obviously, he comes back alone. Obviously, there's a lot, a lot that has to be gone into here. But once they get their hands on him depending on what kind of evidence they have and what they can put together, but, again, you're innocent until proven guilty.
ACOSTA: Right.
RAMSEY: So, you know, you have to always, you know, protect his rights.
ACOSTA: Certainly. And here's some of that video now from the Moab Police Department where things don't look to be going so well with this couple. We're not exactly 100 percent sure what went on during this encounter, but our chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter, is with us as well.
Brian, as you know, this case has gripped the country, in part, because of the social media influencer aspect of all of this. Brian, what can you tell us about that, for folks who are just getting caught up on this case?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Over the summer, you know, this young couple was living a dream, was living a fairytale, traveling, you know, throughout the western United States, taking many photos and TikToks along the way.
And once Gabby Petito was reported missing, that trove, that archive of documentation, of social media status updates became evidence in this case. And I think one of the things that is so striking tonight, Jim, as we wait for word from the local authorities and from the FBI, is that so many digital detectives, social media sleuths tried to join this case.
They helped raise attention and draw national press to this story, and they tried to figure out if there were clues out there, which, in some cases, may be very helpful if the FBI's able to follow up on tips. In other cases it can be quite harmful or troubling when you've got police in Florida trying to calm people down as they search for the fiance.
So, we have this new environment, I think, in this social media age, the popularity of true crime podcasts when there is a very real life mystery going on, thousands, tens of thousands of people want to be a part of it. And that's a new kind of sociological phenomenon that we all have to grapple with that has been a factor in this case.
ACOSTA: Right.
STELTER: We know on TikTok, you know, videos and posts about Gabby have been seen hundreds of millions of times. Whether that's mostly positive or whether that's a negative I think remains to be seen. But I think all of that social media energy did put more pressure on investigators in this case.
ACOSTA: And Joey Jackson is still with us. Joey, up until this point, Laundrie has not cooperated with police. He's now been missing since Tuesday. This is very puzzling. I just, you know, I hate to think the worst in all of this, but, you know, we saw that video of the couple with the Moab Police Department. It doesn't look like things are going well there. And as Brian were saying, you contrast that with all of these other social media posts, something doesn't add up here.
JACKSON: Yes, it really doesn't. So, a couple of things. The first thing is the distinction between a direct and circumstantial evidence. There may not indeed be because of that location and because of the area. And I know, Jim, we're speculating to some degree. We have to get confirmation as to whether it is indeed her body.
A body was found. We don't know it to be her at this point. But to the extent that we could conclude perhaps that it is, right, we have to look at a number of things.
[17:35:02]
And will they have direct evidence that as law enforcement has to, you know, how specifically this occurred, how she died, right? There will, of course, be all types of forensic examinations to indicate and conclude that. But all this other stuff is circumstantial evidence. You go to the video we're seeing there. It shows that something was amiss with the couple. Was this an isolated event or was it simply something that occurred
repeatedly, right? And this one involved police intervention. How many other instances did it occur? So there is a lot in terms of cases when they go on, you know, people sometimes think, you know, okay, you have three eyewitnesses that say he did it. Often times you don't have the luxury of that.
People don't commit crimes in the light of day, generally, right? And so police have to put things together. Investigators have to put things together. Expert witnesses, DNA, forensics, investigators, and I think that'll be done here particularly as you were talking to Brian -- Brian Stelter before with respect to the social media imprint. That's huge, Jim. Why?
Because in social media, people catalog what they do, where they are, who they're with. And if you're doing that all along and then all of a sudden it stops, it leads you to believe, well, why did it stop? Did something nefarious happen? Well, potentially and we're going to find out exactly what that was, not exactly, but we'll have a greater indication during the press conference.
ACOSTA: Yes, I suppose in some cases these days these are like digital bread crumbs for investigators, digital footprint. Our Randi Kaye is part of this team coverage right now. She is on her way to the scene of what law enforcement are preparing to bring to the public here in just a few moments.
Randi Kaye, I understand you're on the phone with us in Wyoming. What's the latest? What can you tell us about what appears to be a significant development in the search for Gabby Petito?
RANID KAYE, CNN CORRESPOBNDENT (via telephone): Yes, it certainly does, Jim. We are actually in Salt Lake. We're actually right outside the Fairfield Inn where she was seen reportedly checking out in Salt Lake City on August 24th. So, we're making our way towards Teton and the Grand Teton.
Now, we know that a body was found in Teton County. No gender yet, no identification, as you mentioned, the 6:00 Eastern Time presser coming up with the FBI. So we will learn more, but I could tell you over the weekend here, the FBI in Denver was announcing that they were searching this camping area, the national park Service was involved, the U.S. Forest Service, the Teton County Sheriff, the Jackson, Wyoming police.
They were all involved in conducting these ground searches at an area called the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area. Now, we don't know if that's where this body was found. We just know it was in Teton County. But that is the area they were searching. They were asking for anyone to come forward who might've seen Gabby Petito or her fiance, Brian Laundrie between the dates August 27th and August 30th.
So, as I mentioned, we are making our way there. But they had begun their trek. As you know, they set out west on July 2nd from New York in that van which some people have said they've seen along the way and their plan was to get all the way to Yellowstone, which we know they never made it.
She did have some contact, as you know, with her family. The same day that she was reportedly seen checking out of this Fairfield Inn where we are, she FaceTimed with her mom, according to the family attorney. She said she was leaving Utah and heading to the Grand Teton.
So our plan is to follow footsteps along the way as we get closer now to where this body may have been found -- this body was found as we get more detail. But we know that she texted her mom multiple times on August 25th. And by that time her mom believed she was in the Grand Tetons, August 27th.
Her family says there were more text between Gabby and her mom. And then on August 30th she got a final text, apparently, from Gabby's cell phone, but the family doubts, Jim, that she actually wrote that. So, hopefully we will learn some more as to what they have found exactly in Teton County coming up here shortly.
ACOSTA: And Randi, when I look at these images that we we're showing during our coverage right now of Gabby Petito and her fiance, they just look like any other young couple. And we've seen so many people do this during the pandemic, head out to the wilderness, see the beautiful spaces in our country, places like the Arches in Utah and all of these national parks like the Grand Tetons and so on and they just look like in some of these images, like they're just having a wonderful time.
And now it appears that law enforcement has discovered a body that is very essential to this investigation into the disappearance of Gabby Petito. I wonder what you make of some of the digital footprints left behind by this couple, how it may have aided law enforcement in their search, in this potential discovery that we're reporting on this afternoon.
[17:39:57]
And also my understanding, Randi, is that there are some members of Petito's family or at least a member of the Petito family in Wyoming or in that Utah, Wyoming area to try to help, try to find her.
KAYE (via telephone): Well, her stepfather has been out here in Wyoming not necessarily searching, but serving really more as a liaison with the police. They wanted to have a family member out here. Her mother and her father have remained in Florida. They've been at some of those press conferences.
But you speak of that digital footprint. Certainly that is key. I mean, I've been paying attention to it just, you know, so we can learn where she was, where she apparently was and try and track her steps as they made their way to the Grand Teton. So, we know even just from a picture that was posted like this arts and entertainment venue even just as an example in Ogden, Utah, which is our next stop.
They -- she posted a picture there or a picture was posted on her Instagram there I should say on August 25th of her in front of this artwork. And we've spoken with the owner of this venue and they've also posted on Facebook that they have pictures of her, they've given their security camera footage to the FBI.
SO they've been -- they've been, I believe, the FBI has been getting these little bits and pieces from people and places where she has stopped or people who came into contact with her. They have security footage or they have pictures of her and then you combine that with postings that she's put on her social media. This one arts and entertainment venue was the last post on her Instagram on August 25th.
But no doubt they are looking at that, Jim, to try and figure out where this -- where she might've been, where the two might have separated, how he ended up driving back in her van to North Port, Florida without her and no word of her since.
ACOSTA: Such a strange and bizarre case. Randi Kaye, we know you're hustling to get out there to whatever is going to take place there in Wyoming. Appreciate your time very much, and also to Chief Ramsey, Joey Jackson and Brian Stelter.
We're going to take a quick break, pause for a few moments. We are waiting this press conference from the FBI that is going to be taking place in the Grand Teton National Park. You can see the tweet up on screen. That's taking place in about 18 minutes from now, so that's 4:00 p.m. Mountain time, but that's 6:00 our time.
So, coming up very shortly. So we'll take that live as soon as it starts. We'll pause here, reset, and we'll be back in a few moments and we'll have the latest on this investigation in just a few moments. Be right back.
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[17:45:00]
ACOSTA: And if you're joining us just now, a programming note, we are going to be taking a press conference that's scheduled for the top of the hour. The FBI is scheduled to hold a news conference to offer some developments in the case about the disappearance of Gabby Petito.
A body has been found in Wyoming, not confirmed yet that it is the body of Gabby Petito, but the FBI has scheduled a news conference at the top of the hour. We're going to be taking that live as soon as it happens. So stay with CNN for the latest on that investigation, and we'll bring it to you.
In the meantime, COVID booster shots are likely on the way for certain groups of Americans in the coming weeks. It appears only people over the age of 65 or those with high risk factors will be eligible after an advisory committee to the FDA rejected a proposal calling for a third shot for anyone over the age of 16.
While boosters can offer added protection to those who need it, public health experts say getting initial shots to still unvaccinated people is the highest priority right now. And look at these numbers. The country is averaging -- this is just unbelievable, nearly 2,000 COVID deaths every single day. It sounds like the pre-vaccine pandemic, those kinds of numbers and
the overwhelming majority of those fatalities never got even one shot. I want to bring in our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Sanjay, those numbers are just flat-out depressing. But in the meantime, should people who probably won't be eligible for a booster shot be concerned that the protection that they have right now may start to wane? Is there a reason to get, I guess, all revved up over this FDA decision if you're not in that age group or in that category where you might need that booster?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I don't think so, Jim. When you look at the data, the vaccines work really well. I mean, you know, there is some waning of the ability to protect the most vulnerable against severe illness, but for most people under the age of 65 who are healthy, while they can still get COVID, they could even have some symptoms, mild or even moderate symptoms.
The likelihood of them developing anything significant enough to be qualified as severe illness is really, really low. And I think that that's what really drove the FDA's decision, Jim. There's been a lot of back and forth as you know.
Let me show you something interesting because we focus on Israel a lot. So let me show you just what's happening in Israel. We focus on them because they've been a little ahead of us in terms of vaccinations. They is 65 percent of the country or so as vaccinated. They've been boosting since August, Jim.
Their case numbers are the highest they've ever been throughout this pandemic. Now, that's despite high vaccinations rates and boosting. Luckily, you know, proportionately, the hospitalizations and deaths are lower, right. They're not having the same proportions of deaths and hospitalizations because the vaccines do work.
If you look in this country, as you pointed out correctly, who are the breakthrough cases that end up in the hospital?
[17:50:00]
First of all, we know 95 percent of COVID patients in the hospital are unvaccinated, but of those 5 percent or so that are in the hospital, they're mostly over the age 65 -- 87 percent of the deaths and people over the age of 65 -- 70 percent of the hospitalizations in that age group.
And that takes you back to the sort of the rationale for this decision. This is the most vulnerable group. Those people who are vaccinated that are also getting severely ill, so a booster makes a lot of sense for them, Jim.
I will tell you, you know, high risk for severe COVID is the other category that they've recommended also to get a booster. It's a lot of people. Hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity. We'll hear from the CDC how they specifically they define that, but that's probably well over 100 million people who would also qualify in addition to the 50 million over the age of 65. So, this is going to affect a lot of people still, Jim.
ACOSTA: Yes. And I was wondering, you know, if the FDA had said, okay, yes, everybody over the age of 16 can go get a booster shot. If we're going to be back in that situation that we were earlier in this year, Sanjay, when everybody goes scrambling to get out to a pharmacy at CVS or Walgreen's or whatever, and that was a chaotic situation.
And if you just have this one sliver of the population and maybe we slowly but surely over time, give everybody a booster shot getting down to that age 16, maybe we won't have that chaos at the pharmacies.
GUPTA: Yes. I think that was part of, you know, part of the reason that the Biden White House sort of came out and said, hey, we're planning on this. We're going to make sure we have the vaccines available, so there isn't some of that chaos.
Now, to be fair, I think, you know, many have suggested including, you know, senior members at the FDA, that the White House sort of -- they got out ahead of this because you want to hear from your scientific agencies first.
ACOSTA: Right.
GUPTA: If the White House had said, look, we're doing everything to plan for this. We're going to make sure the vaccines are ready, the infrastructure is ready. We'll let our scientists do their job that would have been great. The White House put a date on this, which is Monday saying boosters are starting Monday, and we know still, the FDA hasn't officially done this or authorized this.
They got their recommendation from their advisory committee, but they still got to officially authorize it FDA still has to officially authorize it. And then the CDC has got to officially recommend who is going to fall into these categories. So, they still have a little bit of work to do, Jim.
ACOSTA: No question. And you have a special report, "The Origins of COVID-19" airing tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern. Let's play a clip of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA (voice-over): Chan is one of 18 prominent scientists who published a letter in "Science Magazine" in May of this year calling for an investigation into all possible origins.
GUPTA (on camera): What would you like to see specifically?
ALINA CHAN, BROAD INSTITUTE: The first thing would be getting access to that database that's gone missing.
GUPTA (voice-over): The same missing pathogen database containing thousands of bat coronavirus entries that was taken off line by WIV in September of 2019.
CHAN: SO, this as the database that the mission was to collect all the viruses in the world and use it to help prevent pandemics. So, this is a pandemic so, why didn't they share that database with other scientists so they could figure out how dangerous this virus is, where did it came from?
GUPTA (on camera): What is the status of that database now? Have you been able, now, then as a member of this WHO team or in any capacity to look at that data?
CHAN: No.
GUPTA (on camera): That sounds concerning, Peter. If it is that serious and we're trying to be as thorough as possible, maybe it amounts to nothing. But I think the fact that you still haven't seen that database, it's just going to raise a lot of eyebrows as we go forward.
PETER DASZAK: ECOHEALTH ALLIANCE: Well, rightly so. I think that, you know, China should be more open about the things that they've not released.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Officially, Sanjay, there has been no unanimous consensus on where this virus originated. Are we ever going to find out about this? Have you reached your own conclusions?
GUPTA: Well, you know, I guess, you know, most of these emerging infectious diseases have come about through natural origins, you know, a jump from animals to humans, 75 percent have. So, just statistically, I think it sort of lean that way. What's puzzling, Jim, and, you know, you're a political reporter, I'm a medical reporter, but you can't disentangle politics from just about anything nowadays.
ACOSTA: Right.
GUPTA: Is that if they wanted to dispense with the lab leak theory -- I'm talking about the Chinese government -- they say, hey, it didn't leak from a lab, let's just clear this up, they would have allowed an investigation to really take place. And yet they didn't. And I think it just raises a lot of suspicions. So, we still can't rule out the lab leak theory, and I get into some of the specifics as to why that is still very much on the table tonight.
ACOSTA: Yes. There is so much -- there is politics and medicine, there is medicine and politics these days. One of these days we'll separate the two, Sanjay, hopefully very soon, but Dr. Sanjay Gupta, looking forward to this CNN special report tonight, "The Origins of COVID-19." It airs tonight at 8:00 right here on CNN. You don't want to miss that.
Meanwhile, breaking news in the Gabby Petito case. A body has been found in area where investigators were searching for the 22-year-old in Wyoming. Officials have not confirmed an identity or even a gender.
[17:5500] But the FBI, as we mentioned just a short time ago, they are going to be holding a news conference any minute where we hope to learn more about that investigation. We're going to be taking that news conference live as soon as it begins.
Of course, we're going to have comprehensive coverage on all of this with our experts and analysts. And our CNN reporter, Randi Kaye, correspondent Randi Kaye is also heading to the scene right now. And so she will also have the latest in all of this, and that will be in the hours to come.
But as you likely know, Petito, she went missing during a cross- country trip with her fiance, Brian Laundrie. They spent the summer visiting national parks and camping out in their van as so many young people have done throughout this pandemic.
Laundrie, however, returned from that trip on September 1st alone. According to reporting, our reporting, he refused to cooperate with police in any way once Petito was reported missing by her family. Laundrie has now gone missing himself. Police have spent this weekend searching for him in a nature reserve near his parents' home in Florida. He is been named a person of interest in this fiance's case.
Again, we are awaiting a press conference from the FBI. It's expected to start any minute, and be sure to stand by for that. My colleague Pamela Brown, she's going to be coming in shortly to anchor that coverage. And as soon as the FBI comes out to the podium, we'll be bringing that to you live.
Sad news, potentially, to end this program tonight on, but thanks for being with us all weekend. That's the news. Reporting from Washington, I'm Jim Acosta. As I said, Pamela Brown, she takes over the "CNN Newsroom" live after a quick break. Have a good night.
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[17:58:59]
PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: I'm Pamela Brown in Washington. You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM on this Sunday. We have major breaking news in the search for Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old who went missing during a cross-country trip with her fiance.
