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Bodycam Video Shows Petito Confirming Laundrie Hit Her During Dispute; Gov Gavin Newsom (D-CA) Discusses New CA Statewide Vaccine Mandate for K-12 Schools. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired October 01, 2021 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00]

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: It may have been one of the last times Gabby Petito was publicly seen. And today, disturbing new police bodycam video now links up with a 911 call made back in August where a bystander called police in Utah to report a man hitting a woman.

That call is what ultimately led to Petito and her fiance, Brian Laundrie, being pulled over.

Here's part what have Gabby told police during this incident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Did he hit you though? I mean, it's OK if you say you hit him and I understand if he hit you. But we want to know the truth if he actually hit you.

GABBY PETITO, FORMER FIANCEE OF BRIAN LAUNDRIE: I guess, yes, but I hit him first.

UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Where did he hit you? Don't worry. Just be honest.

PETITO: On the side of my face. Like I guess -- he didn't like hit me in the face. He didn't punch me in the face or anything.

UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Did he slap your face or what?

PETITO: Like he grabbed me with his nail and I could feel it pinching my face.

UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: CNN's Nadia Romero joins us now.

Nadia, that video obviously very disturbing. This dispute is just one piece of this unfolding puzzle. What more are you learning?

NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Ana, it's so hard to watch Gabby Petito so emotional. And what is really painful, when you watch the entire interaction with police. Especially when you contrast it to the images of Gabby Petito that we saw on social media, she was so happy and full of life and smiling and seemingly so in love with Brian Laundrie.

And now we're seeing a different perspective. A terrible day for their relationship. And now that entire investigation is under an independent investigation.

The response by the Moab police officers, people questioning if officers there handled it quickly.

But listen to Gabby Petito as she pleads with police to not arrest her or Brian Laundrie. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETITO: Can I have a ticket for hitting the curb? Or something, please? Because we're OK.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: I understand. But we don't have -- listen, if I had any discretion on this I would separate you guys for the day and just give you warnings to stop hitting each other. But I lawfully don't have discretion here.

(CROSSTALK)

PETITO: You said there's a witness or something.

UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: There's two witnesses.

And there's what he said and what you said and it all matches nicely that you were the primary aggressor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMERO: So that is part of what is in question here. Did those police officers respond correctly in believing that Gabby Petito was the abuser and not the victim? That's an ongoing investigation -- Ana?

CABRERA: What are we learning about the day Gabby Petito's family reported her missing?

ROMERO: So that bodycam video, August 12th, her family reported her missing September 11th. So about a month passed in between when we have that police interaction and when her family reported.

Gabby Petito's family says that they tried to reach out to Gabby, to Brian Laundrie, and to Brian Laundrie's family and were really getting no answers.

Take a look at this police report we're getting from North Port police. It was a 911 call that was taken on September 11th, the day that the family reported her missing. Everything is redacted. Everything. And so that gives you insight into maybe there's something in that

report that is part of this ongoing criminal case to see what happened to Gabby Petito.

We know her body was found and the autopsy or the coroner ruled it a homicide. So that could be part of her death investigation.

But there's obviously something that the police department doesn't want us to know about that particular day -- Ana?

CABRERA: Something or everything, apparently, given the entire report is redacted. That's why it's all black.

Nadia Romero, thanks for your report willing.

I want to speak with retired FBI special agent, Bobby Chacon.

Bobby, gosh, when you watch that bodycam video and you hear what Gabby tells police and her mannerisms and all that, what are you, with your trained eye, gleaning from this piece of video?

BOBBY CHACON, RETIRED FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, you really have to move -- as an officer, you have to move beyond what you're being told by the people in this the situation, especially in the domestic violence relationships and controlling situations.

You can't tell at face value what people are telling you because this is emotional and it's kind of a coercive situation, a co-dependent relationship, and so they will cover for the other person.

The officer said she was the primary aggressor. But that doesn't match up with the 911 caller where he said he saw a man hitting a woman coming out of that van.

So they had information that appeared that Brian was the aggressor, at least from the 911 call.

So they had witnesses outside of the relationship who tell them that the man is striking the woman.

And so they have I believe enough -- Gabby shows a bruise on her face. They had a visible injury, as we say. And so they had the witness statements.

The stuff coming from Gabby comes with some -- some credibility issues because of the relationship she's in and because she's in this coercive abusive relationship.

And I think the officers should have recognized that. They certainly should not have told her that they see her as the primary aggressor. That's the wrong thing to tell her. And it also doesn't match up with what you know.

[13:35:11]

CABRERA: As you said, the credibility issue on her part is perhaps she felt like she had to kind of help her potential abuser because of the dynamics in that relationship.

And so what she was telling them couldn't be taken at face value about how she was, well, I hit him first.

Moving on from that though, what do you make that have redacted police report?

CHACON: Well, it's really interesting what's going to be in there because one of the calls that day came from Gabby's father, who lives in Florida, about 150 miles away.

He went to the Laundrie home, but he called the police obviously expressing some concern for his daughter. This is the 10th or 11th.

She was already missing 10 days. And the family in New York is going crazy trying to reach the Laundries, trying to find out.

And the police go there twice on the 10th and twice on the 11th to follow up. And the reports all say the problem was solved and no police action needed.

Now it would be very interesting to see they only talked to the parents of if Brian was also there, who they talked to and how it was resolved and what the calls actually were.

Was this a neighbor calling because they said heard loud shouting and fighting? I don't know from the reports yet.

So it will be real interesting to put those pieces together. It's going to tell us what was happening in that house during those days when, you know, I think there was some really serious intense conversations going on between Brian and his parents.

CABRERA: Well, it's so interesting. And we'll put up the graphic, that shows how many phone calls were made to that house in the days before and after Gabby Petito reported -- before and after she was reported missing.

And even around the time also Brian Laundrie was later reported missing. He was reported missing on the 17th. His parents said he was last seen on the 14th. So you can see how this lines up with that timeline.

But there's also a mysterious phone purchase that we learned about. The Laundrie family attorney saying Brian Laundrie bought a new phone. He opened a new account for it.

This was on September 4th. So that would have been after he returned to Florida without Petito and before she was report missing.

Now the lawyer says it -- it wasn't a burner phone and that that phone is now in the hands of investigators.

But the timing here, Bobby. How could investigators make sure Laundrie wasn't able to destroy possible evidence on an old phone?

CHACON: Well, you can't really. You know, it depends on how quickly you get on the person.

And he had ample time, even on his drive back from Wyoming to Florida, to do anything he wanted with that phone, the original phone that he traveled with, that we see in the video from Utah.

And so my guess is that he either destroyed any evidence on there or the lawyer told him that the police were going to take that phone that he was traveling with.

Which means, if you want a phone -- and none of us can live without a phone these days -- go and get yourself a new phone because that one the police are going to take.

He went into a AT&T store. They don't sell burner phones.

I think this was a legitimate attempt to get a new phone because he knows his old phone was going to be seized by police. In fact, FBI, about 10 days later, seize that phone as well, even the new phone that they have possession of now.

CABRERA: Based on your experience, every day that goes by, what does it mean for finding Laundrie?

CHACON: Two things. I think every day that goes by and his body is not found, it means he probably didn't wander off to kill himself and he's probably on the run as a fugitive.

And it also means him and his parents probably put a plan in place and he's actually executing that plan, whether that is to stay low, go somewhere and just not -- get enough food and water.

And, you know, he could be hold up in some cabin or some condo somewhere where he's just going to stay out of public eye for as long as his funds and his food last.

And so, you know, that's going to make it very difficult in these early days to find him.

CABRERA: Real quickly, if you will, do you think that police have surveillance on his parents at this point?

CHACON: I would -- I would say that's a good assumption.

CABRERA: Yes. Interesting developments.

Bobby Chacon, thanks for walking us through all of that with your insights and expertise. It was great to have you here. Appreciate it.

CHACON: Thanks for having me on, Ana. Thank you.

[13:39:19]

CABRERA: It's the first state to go this far. California Governor Gavin Newsom announcing moments ago a statewide mandate for vaccines for K-12 schools. How will it be enforced? What is his message to parents? We'll ask him next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Breaking news. Moments ago, the governor of California announcing a COVID-19 vaccine will be added to the state's current list of immunizations required to attend school. We're talking about K-12 schools.

Here's what we know. This requirement will begin the term following full FDA approval for grades grouped at K-6 and then 7-12.

Right now, as you know, Pfizer's vaccine for 12-15-year-olds is still emergency use authorized.

And so this will apply to students at both public and private schools. It will be subject to exemptions for both medical reasons and personal beliefs.

[13:45:03]

But this is a first in the country. And it comes on the heels of the governor's recall election, a recall that began over his COVID-19 restrictions.

So let's get to the governor. California Governor Gavin Newsom is joining us right now.

Thanks for making time for us, Governor.

This is a big announcement.

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): Absolutely.

CABRERA: Why is this the right move right now?

NEWSOM: Yes. I think we're all just exhausted by this. We want to get this pandemic behind us.

And while we've made great progress, California, 84 percent of Californians eligible received at least one dose. We have the lowest case rate in America. It's not good enough.

And we have a cohort, 12-17, right now where only 63.5 percent of our kids have received at least one dose of vaccine. And we think this will accelerate our efforts to get this pandemic behind us.

CABRERA: You point out though California is moving in the right direction. COVID cases are decline right now in your state.

Almost 70 percent of eligible Californians are fully vaccinated. That, of course, is 12 and older. And 84 percent have had at least one dose.

So what makes you think that the current strategy isn't enough?

NEWSOM: Because we've been humbled over the last year. I mean, every time we take our eye off the ball and we think we've got this or move on to the next issue or challenge we have a new mutation, a new variant that comes out and new variables that come out.

Look, I'm mindful of the seasonality of this. And while California has withstood this last wave, we are concerned about the fall and into the spring of next year.

And so good enough never is with this disease. And we know that people are still dying, 700,000 Americans.

We know that kids are being infected. Kids are ending up in our hospital system.

I have four young kids. I can't take this anymore.

I'm like most parents, want to get this behind us and get this economy moving again and make sure our kids never have to worry about getting a call saying they can't go to school the next day because one of the kids or staff member tested positive.

CABRERA: I hear you, as a parent to two young kids who aren't eligible to be vaccinated just yet. I'm feeling your pain.

Five California school districts, you know, have been leading the way, out front requiring the vaccine already.

Just this week, San Diego Unified School District, which is the state's second-largest districts, unanimously voted to approve a vaccine mandate, that all eligible students have to be vaccinated as well as the staff in that district.

But there was opposition to this. No surprise, of course.

Let's look at what happened at a recent county board meeting there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your children and your children's children will be subjugated. How many vaccines have you had? Have you been a good little Nazi? Hail Fauci, hail Fauci, hail Fauci!

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: What are you expecting in terms of that kind of, you know, reaction potentially over this new statewide mandate?

NEWSOM: Look, we already mandate 10 vaccines. In so many ways, this is the most -- this is a significant amount -- announcement but probably the most predictable announcement.

We require for mumps and measles and rubella and so many other diseases. We require vaccinations. And yet, there's something about this disease that's become so polarized and so divisive.

And it's -- it's tragic. I mean, my heart goes out to the people protesting, that they are led with such fear and anxieties, such disinformation and misinformation, very intentional and some just naively receiving it.

So, look, we have to remind people that this is well-established territory for our kids for decades and decades.

Our kids and parents have been bringing our kids into the doctor's office or getting them to the school nurse or getting them vaccinated and keeping them healthy and safe.

We're just adding one additional thing to the list so the rest us can move beyond this pandemic and disease and get the economy moving and keep our kids back in person for instruction, which every parent, even those protesting, want to see.

CABRERA: But so many parents -- and maybe it's a minority -- but there's still enough of them, and they are a loud minority, who don't even want mask mandates.

Last month, an elementary school teacher near Sacramento was hospitalized after a parent allegedly attacked them over mask mandates.

Who are you expecting to enforce this?

NEWSOM: Well, you know what, if you want to attack someone, attack me. I was the first governor in the country to require masking for all of our public schools. I was the first governor in the country to require vaccine verifications and/or testing. Now we need them again.

If you want to go after someone, go after me. Don't go after school board members. Don't after the innocent folks that are just trying to do the right damned thing. I mean that.

We're better than that. Our kids are watching. Kids are watching the adults. And they're mirroring our behavior, not what we say but what we do. We're better than this.

You have a problem, come after me. Stop attacking and antagonizing these public servants all across this country, not just across my state. They don't deserve it.

[13:50:09]

CABRERA: Who has to enforce this?

NEWSOM: We have rules and regulations that are well established for enforcement for vaccines already. It is the same rules, same regulations, district by district.

California is the largest school district in America, thousands, and 25 different independent school districts and well-established schools procedures not only for vaccines and verification and data collection but also as it related to staffing requirements.

And there's rules and regulations for employment, conditions of employment. You have them. I have them. Well established. They're consistent with what is already on the books. CABRERA: And to be clear, for our viewers, in case it wasn't clear

earlier, this, at this point, would apply to people 16 and older because that is the age group that has a fully approved vaccine at this point.

And as you point out, younger people aren't eligible even for emergency use yet. It is possible, however, that the Pfizer vaccine could be authorized for younger children ages 5 to 11 in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, there's a recent poll that found less than a third of parents of children in that age range plan to get their kids vaccinated as soon as it is available.

I know that you have young children -- you brought it up -- under the age of 12. Do you plan to get them vaccinated as soon as they're eligible?

NEWSOM: Yes. And I have a 12-year-old and someone who just turned 12 and she's looking forward to getting vaccinated.

We anticipate, and not surprising, the FDA approval of 12 to 17-year- olds. That is the first cohort and the first phase in with the new rules. And 5 to 11 will take more time.

And over the course of time, you saw this, even with the 12-plus cohort, those numbers are not dissimilar. They start to build more trust and confidence.

And even with the polling numbers, 5 to 11, that parents were looking forward to FDA approval not just the emergency use authorization.

CABRERA: Right.

NEWSOM: So I think, as this gets socialized and as we lean in and more states do what California is doing, I think you'll see the numbers change, that anxiety change.

But that's also, in closing, that is a big part of our responsibility. Reach out to those parents. A lot of folks out there still with a lot of anxiety, particularly when it comes to our kids.

And remind them that all the vaccines, their kids are already safely taking and why this is just another of the many, many doses of vaccines that are expanding their lives and keeping our society healthy.

CABRERA: So as a parent, you have no concerns over getting your kids vaccinated as soon as possible when their eligible?

NEWSOM: No. I have concern about my kids going to school and getting sick and getting other kids sick. I have concerns about their teachers and the bus drivers and paraprofessionals getting sick.

I have concern about other parents that are manipulating facts and truths. I'm concerned about some 500,000 Americans dying. I'm concerned that our economy is not where it needs to be and our

school systems continue to close because we have closed our minds to facts and evidence and science in this country.

We're not going to allow that to happen in California.

CABRERA: Governor Gavin Newsom, thanks so much for taking the time.

NEWSOM: Good to be with you.

CABRERA: We'll be right back.

NEWSOM: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:58:08]

CABRERA: An update now from the Department of Homeland Security, which says the U.S. will no longer arrest and deport migrants solely because they are undocumented.

New guidelines issued by the department call for a more targeted approach to immigration enforcement.

The focus will be on terrorism suspects, those who have committed serious criminal conduct, and those who recently crossed the border illegally.

These guidelines represent a return to Obama-era immigration policies and a rollback of the more-aggressive hardline approach taken by the Trump administration.

Could this be the best Super Bowl half-time lineup ever? Sure, I know that answer is subjective. But no doubt this will be epic.

Five of the biggest icons in the hip-hop world, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blidge, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem -- and we didn't forget about Dre. Dr. Dre also on board.

This big show during the big game will be held at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. And who knows? Maybe an undefeated Denver team will be there, too. Go Broncos. Just saying.

Now talk about a lucky find. A California woman hitting the mother lode while searching for diamonds in the Arkansas state park.

Now according to KATV, the woman and her husband been searching the Crater of Diamonds Park and she spotted this. It was something shiny, sitting on top of the ground.

It turned out to be a 4.3 carat yellow diamond, 4.3 carat. The park superintendent described the diamond as, quote, "about the size of a Jellybean with a pear shape and a lemonade yellow color."

How about that? I mean that is a happy Friday, right? [13:59:57]

That does it for me today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York.

You can find me on Twitter, @AnaCabrera, until Monday. Actually, I'll be back Tuesday. I'm off Monday because I'm running a race over the weekend in Minnesota.