Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Bob Saget Family Sues to Keep Investigation Records Private; Economists Say, Russia-Ukraine Conflict Could Cause Inflation to Hit 10 Percent; New Details Uncovered in Unsolved Killings of Indiana Girls. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired February 16, 2022 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:30:06]

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN NEWSROOM: Thank goodness for that quick- thinking officer. The couple accused of taking the child and the grandfather were all arrested and charged and have been ordered to stay away from her. One neighbor says she never suspected anything unusual from that house.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNETTE WROLSEN, NEIGHBOR: Oh, my God.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yesterday was her birthday.

WROLSEN: I cannot believe this. You would not know at all, as normal as normal can be, except for the fact that, like I said, they have playground equipment out there and no children. I've never seen the little girl outside, ever. And I'm here. I'm retired. I'm here all the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: It reminds you, you never know what's happening in the house next door. Paislee is said to be in good health and has been reunited with her legal guardian and older sister, and has gotten some McDonald's meals, that she apparently loved as well.

Well, new this morning, the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Florida is responding to the lawsuit filed by Bob Saget's family. They are suing to block the release of Saget's medical records, arguing that the release of the information will cause them to suffer mental pain, anguish and emotional distress.

CNN Entertainment Reporter Chloe Melas joins me now. So, you can understand how they're upset about this situation, but how is the sheriff's office responding now, Chloe?

CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes. So, bottom line is that Bob Saget's family does not want unnecessary photos, videos or anything else as part of the investigation that would be too private. They are wanting these things to be sealed so that something that happened, like in the wake of Kobe Bryant's death doesn't happen.

But this is what the sheriff's office is saying this morning. Quote, while we are sensitive to the family's concerns about the right to privacy, that must be balanced with our commitment to transparency, compliance with the law and the public's right to know. So, this could get incredibly contentious.

As for whether there is a precedent for this, I was speaking to an attorney just moments ago who said that there isn't, that it's a case- by-case basis, but that the family now could file an injunction. But this could see its way to court, Bianna, and they may have to fight it out to make sure that the authorities do not release things that they feel like would be damaging to Bob Saget and his legacy.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. This as his family continues to grieve. Chloe Melas, I know you'll continue to cover the story for us. Thank you.

Now to this disturbing story. People in two neighborhoods in Houston are now shocked after hundreds of anti-Semitic and racist flyers littered their streets over the weekend. One resident telling CNN that video from a surveillance camera shows a car driving down her street and throwing flyers out of the window just before midnight, as if this was some sort of game. We are choosing not to show those flyers in detail because the content is just that disturbing.

CNN's Rosa Flores joins me now. Rosa, even more disturbing for me, personally, being from Houston, tell me more about what we are learning about this trend.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bianna, it's very disturbing. And aside from those two neighborhoods that you just mentioned, there is another one in Northwest Harris County, that in just one week, was also targeted. And to be clear, CNN is choosing not to show these flyers because they are racist and anti-Semitic and disgusting, quite frankly.

Now, what we can show you is that one of those residents did share with CNN surveillance video of these individuals dropping off these flyers, and then this woman got in her car, drove around her neighborhood and the adjacent neighborhood, and she shared that video with us as well. She picked up the flyers and she told me by phone, she said, Rosa, she did not want for her neighborhoods to wake up to those, quote, disgusting, end quote, flyers because they were very vile, anti-Semitic and racist in nature.

Now, according to the Anti-Defamation League, there has been an uptick of this in the Houston area. The regional director of the ADL sending CNN this statement, saying, in part, quote, we are concerned about the recent hateful propaganda distribution in Houston-area neighborhoods. We remain grateful that recipients of these loathsome flyers full of lies see the propaganda for what it is, hateful ideology.

Now, there are multiple law enforcement organizations that are investigating this. It's the Harris County Sheriff's Office and also the Harris County Precinct for Constables Office. No suspects have been identified, Bianna, nobody was arrested. But talking to law enforcement, I can tell you, they tell me, it's very difficult for anybody to be arrested and charged for these types of cases.

GOLODRYGA: Kudos to that citizen, that woman who got into her car and picked as many of these vile flyers as she could. Rosa Flores, thank you so much.

The cost of conflict, how Russia's possible invasion of Ukraine could send inflation rates into double digits.

[10:35:04]

A CNN exclusive analysis for you coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: The rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine could mean a rise in inflation. CNN is now getting an exclusive analysis that shows the inflation rate could hit 10 percent or higher. Economists with RSM say that number is tied directly with oil prices.

CNN's Matt Egan joins us now. And, Matt, this was something that we heard from the president yesterday when he directly spoke to the American people, saying that this is a fight worth having in terms of the U.S. standing its ground with NATO allies, but that Americans may be seeing prices go up at the pump.

[10:40:10]

MATT EGAN, CNN BUSINESS REPORTER: Yes, that's right, Bianna. The president was sort of bracing the public for this. I mean, the cost of living is already very high, and this conflict, if it happens, could make it go even higher, and a lot of it is about energy. We've already seen oil prices move up on these tensions, hitting $95 a barrel a few minutes ago, and JPMorgan has said, if any of Russia's oil flows are disrupted, we see oil go to $120 a barrel easily.

But let's be conservative. Let's just say it goes 110. RSM put out this analysis saying, if we see $110 for oil, then that sends inflation to 10 percent. Some context, inflation right now is high at 7.5 percent. The Fed is targeting 2 percent. We haven't seen 10 percent inflation since 1981.

And what's key here to remember is that Russia is the world's second biggest oil producer, secondly only in the United States, it pumps more oil than Canada and Iraq combined, and supply is already failing to keep up with demand. That's why we've seen oil prices move up, prices at the pump also moving up, hitting $3.51 a gallon nationally today, a seven-year high. In California, they're at a record in California of $4.71, above $4.71 a gallon. Not just about the prices at the pump though, we also have to think about higher oil and natural prices means it's more expensive to heat your home, more expensive for electricity, airfare, it gets more expensive to transport goods. Companies are going to pass along some of those costs to consumers. So, you put it all together, I think it's easy to see how you can get to 10 percent inflation.

Listen, the Europeans would feel the brunt of this from a financial perspective. They're the closest, they rely on Russia the most for energy, but COVID showed that this is an interconnected economy, interconnected financial system and something that happens on one side of the world can really impact just about everyone.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. Europe gets about 14 percent of its gas supply from Russia, as we speak. Matt Egan, thank you so much for breaking this down for us.

EGAN: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: Well, this morning, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that the U.S. has seen no meaningful pullback of Russian troops from the border of Ukraine, reiterating that the U.S. believes Russia could invade at any moment this week.

Let's bring Jim back who is in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. Jim, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been meeting with NATO leaders and Germany's defense minister this morning, really trying to show a united front there. Beforehand, you had the NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, saying that there are signals from the Kremlin that could give hope for diplomacy, but at the same time he's saying there are no signs whatsoever of de-escalation on the ground there.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: Well, clearly, the U.S., NATO allies, they are united. They don't believe the Russian claim that they're pulling back forces, no meaningful pullback. In fact, you heard a number yesterday of 150,000 troops on the border, that from the president, which is higher by 20,000, right, than the most recent estimates we've seen. So, from the U.S. perspective, the NATO perspective, Russia maintains enormous capabilities, but the open question remains, does President Putin take advantage of those capabilities and further invade this country?

It was notable, I thought, Bianna, when I spoke to Ned Price just a short time ago, the State Department spokesperson, that he reiterated that Putin, in fact, has multiple option here's. It could be a full- scale invasion, also it could be something less full scale, right, target a particular part of the country, perhaps in the east.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And also notable that this week we are expected to see what officials in both the Kremlin and Belarus say will be the conclusion of the joint military exercises there between Russia and Belarus on the 20th, this Friday. Aleksander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, will be meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and we'll see what comes out of that. That could be a significant sign of any potential de-escalation if we actually do start to see troops leaving Belarus, but that's a big if, Jim. SCIUTTO: It is certainly a big if. And, listen, Belarus is very much in the Russian camp now. It's been successfully subjugated by Vladimir Putin. So, it's an option that he will likely maintain, Putin, to use Belarus, which is strategically important for Ukraine, because it's in the north, right? So, Russia has the ability, in effect, to invade this country from three sides, at least potentially, if Putin were to go that way.

Well, one thing I do think we should pay attention to, because in the last 24 to 48 hours, just a lot of comments, allegations being made about the Donbas in Eastern Ukraine, Putin claiming outrageously a genocide there, the Russian parliament giving him the ability to recognize it. And we're hearing more headlines now about allegations of violence and shelling going on there. And the U.S. concern, as we have discussed, Bianna, is that Russia might use that as a pretext to then attack there or further solidify Russian control over that part of Ukraine.

[10:45:00]

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And no doubt, the most vulnerable part of Ukraine right there going on. And at the same time, when Russia is quite literally now putting a gun to Ukraine's head, forcing them to implement the Minsk 2 agreement, which would be very beneficial to Russia in the end too. So, it's really hard to see how this ends any time soon. Of course, you're on the ground there. We will continue to cover this throughout the day and the weeks ahead.

Well, still ahead, five years later and the man who killed two teenage girls in Indiana is still out there. His voice heard on a video recorded by one of those girls.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, down the hill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: We'll have new exclusive details to our sister network, HLN, tell us more about the critical cell phone video and the search for who murdered Abby Williams and Libby German.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:50:00]

GOLODRYGA: This week marks five years since two teenage girls were found dead on a hiking trail in Delphi, Indiana, and their killer has yet to be brought to justice. Abby Williams and Libby German were just 13 and 14 years old at the time.

Well, now, our sister network, HLN, has obtained documents revealing new details about cell phone video one of the victims captured.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, down the hill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Authorities previously shared that short clip and two still images of that suspect who is believed to have followed the girls. But investigators have kept many of the details private, including how the girls were killed.

CNN's Jean Casarez joins me now with the new details. First of all, just so chilling to see that short video. What more is HLN learning?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, HLN was able to gain access to probable cause affidavit from 2017, and it has information that has never been released before, it's extraordinary reporting. And what they found that the video, and only one and a half seconds has been released since 2017, and it is to show the man that it was in such close proximity to these two young girls, and also, guys, down the hill.

Actually, there is 45 seconds of video that Liberty German shot. We don't know what's on it. It's never been released, but we also know now the timeline and how fast this may have happened. It was 1:35 in the afternoon that their parents dropped them off. It was a day off from school. This is small town America. The whole town knew that the kids had the day off. They wanted to go to the hiking trails there in the Delphi historic trail area.

So, 1:35, they arrive there. 2:07 is when Liberty German shot some pictures, one of her girlfriend, Abigail Williams, and another of the bridge itself and posted it on Snapchat. Six minutes later, that is when the video was shot showing this man in such close proximity.

So, it all appeared to happen very fast. As we know, their bodies were found the next day in close proximity to where this was. There has never been resolution, no one has ever been charged.

GOLODRYGA: So, hopefully, this can bring some justice or lead the families to more justice because there is so much more of this video that they've now seen, 43 seconds worth of evidence.

HLN is also learning about the man behind a fake social media account who was one of the last people that spoken to Libby?

CASAREZ: This is very complex but it's fascinating, because HLN was able to get this information also from the probable cause affidavit. And at the time that the girls went missing, there was a social media site, and it was a fake one, but the name was Anthony Schotts (ph). And there were pictures of this young man who has no connection, we have no idea who this is, but the point of the social media site was to talk to young girls over the internet and lure them to send sexual photos of themselves.

So, the person behind it is Kegan Kline. Authorities found that, 26 years old. He is now in prison. It's not a case out of Indiana, but it was child porn. HLN was able to get an exclusive prison interview with him, and one of the questions they asked him, were you the man on the bridge back in 2017? Listen to his answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was not you?

KEGAN KLINE, PERSON BEHIND FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT: No, 100 percent no.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you aware whether you may have talked to Libby on the 13th?

KLINE: That's what they said, and that's what the police told me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That you did?

KLINE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And do you have any recollection of that?

KLINE: No, not at all. I've told them a hundred times I've done everything they wanted me to and it's like they're just harassing me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: So, investigators have told him that he was the last person to speak with Liberty German.

Now, over the internet, on the bridge, it's not said. But I do want to say, the FBI, after execution of a search warrant of his home in 2017, said they found no connection at all with Kegan Kline and the missing two young girls.

GOLODRYGA: That's two significant pieces of evidence though that HLN has helped discover.

[10:55:03]

CASAREZ: Absolutely.

GOLODRYGA: Jean Casarez, thank you so much for breaking down for us.

CASAREZ: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: Well, that does it for us today. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Bianna Golodryga in New York.

SCIUTTO: And I'm Jim Sciutto in Kyiv. We will continue to bring you the latest from here in Ukraine this week.

Right now, however, At This Hour with Kate Bolduan starts right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:00:00]