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CNN Larry King Live
Deadly Shark Attack Today; Interview with Pamela Anderson; 'America's Most Wanted' to Reveal 1,000th Capture
Aired April 25, 2008 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAMELA ANDERSON: Love you, Larry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Pam Anderson on Capitol Hill?
She knows how to make an entrance, getting exposure for her pet cause.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Who do I have to sleep with to, you know, get these animals protected?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Does she have a new boyfriend?
And crime buster John Walsh with the latest on missing Madeleine McCann and why he's watching the Texas polygamy case so closely.
But first, deadly shark attack -- a swimmer in Pacific waters killed with a single bite.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But this almost certainly was a great white shark.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're live from the San Diego Coast right now on LARRY KING LIVE.
Good evening.
Let's head to Southern California, near San Diego, to Solano Beach, California.
Ted Rowlands, our CNN correspondent, is standing by.
Also there is Rob Hill. He's a family spokesperson for the Martin family, representing the late Dave Martin, the 66-year-old retired veterinarian pronounced dead shortly after the terrible incident today, which occurred around 7:00 a.m. This morning, California time -- Ted, get us up to date.
What happened?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Larry, right now an eight mile stretch of beach in Southern California has been closed off and will be until at least Monday. And they're actively, in the air, searching for any sign of this shark. It's like finding a need in a haystack. The prevailing wisdom is that this shark is long gone. But as a precaution, they are looking for the shark -- not to capture or kill it, just to see it and to make sure that there's -- that there's no humans around it. So it's more of a safety precaution.
Obviously, a lot of shock and heartache for those that knew Dr. Martin in this area. It happened, as you said, about 7:00. And according to witnesses, the shark came from below and came straight up, attacking Dr. Martin, lifting him up in the air, then pulling him down.
When he did come up, screaming for help. He was with a group of swimmers and they immediately got him on shore and attended to him, but were unable to save him. And he was pronounced dead at this lifeguard station here in Solana Beach.
Just a horrific, horrific accident or attack today in Southern California.
KING: Ted, do we know how far offshore Mr. Martin was?
ROWLANDS: He was about 130 yards offshore -- not far at all. He was with a group that -- they routinely come out and swim. He's a triathlete. So he was training with a group. And this was uncommon, according to shark experts, for a shark to be that close to the shoreline. It does happen. According to the shark experts, some sharks come down from Northern California around this time of year to have their pups. And then they move back to Northern California.
But the last confirmed shark attack in San Diego County was in 1959. So, obviously, a rare occurrence that has shocked this beach community.
KING: And what do they make of it, Ted, before we talk with Rob?
The shark comes out of nowhere and goes right for him?
ROWLANDS: Well, they think it is a case of mistaken identity, which is typically what they believe most shark attacks on humans is. The shark was below the surface about 30 feet, they believe, and saw the silhouette of the swimmers. And the prevailing wisdom is that the shark thought it was a seal and came up, attacked and left. It did not re-attack. It left the scene and no one else was attacked -- just Dr. Martin, of course -- unfortunately, fatally.
KING: Rob Hill, as the Martin family spokesperson, how many people in the family are we talking about, Rob?
HILL: Currently, you know, we're -- they're gathering all the family members together. And Dave left behind four children and some grandchildren. And they're all here in Solana Beach right now.
KING: Was he married?
HILL: He was divorced.
KING: Were the family -- were the children close?
HILL: Yes, they were. And two of the younger children were still here living in Solano Beach with Dave. And this has hit home and hit hard. The family is grieving right now. And we're just trying to respect their privacy and not talk too much about the family or the situation for them.
KING: How long ago did he retire, Rob?
HILL: I don't have an answer for you on that, but he's been living in Solana Beach since 1970 with his children and his family.
KING: Did you know him?
HILL: Yes, I did know Dave. I've known him for about two years now.
KING: What was he like?
HILL: Dave was a great guy. He was very compassionate, very friendly, very mellow, as we say here. He was -- just always wanted to meet people and very friendly. He would greet you at the table and we'd sit down to breakfast after a swim and introduce himself. And occasionally his son would join him for a swim and we'd all get to meet some of his family or his daughter or his grandchildren.
He was a big family man. He spoke about his kids and grandchildren all the time. He was very proud of them and he loved his family greatly.
KING: He was obviously not afraid of the water.
HILL: No, no. Dave was doing something he loved and he would -- he loved to get in that water and that ocean, especially as it got warmer, and swim. And he also did some runs with us along the coast here. And a lot of triathletes in the Tri Club are going to miss him. And, you know, we're -- it was a great loss for the community, for the family and friends.
KING: As a vet, did he ever talk about sharks?
HILL: No. You know, not around me. We swam here quite often and, you know, we joked around about how cold the water was more than anything. Sometimes we wouldn't swim just because it was a little too cold for us down here in Southern California. We're a little spoiled. Dave would wait until the water warmed up a little bit and get in there with us.
KING: Did you -- do you have a fear of them, Rob, when you swim?
HILL: Sharks?
Not when I'm swimming or diving, no. Surfing sometimes, I think about it, when you're out pretty far. But I don't know, I just -- we never thought about it, especially here in Solana Beach.
KING: And, Ted, the purpose of the search again is what?
They don't want to capture the shark.
It's to what?
ROWLANDS: Right, yes. They want to just make sure that the shark isn't in the area and so that's why they're searching. It's not an effort to catch it or go find it. In fact, they're hoping and figuring that the shark's long gone. And at that point, they could reopen the beaches. And right now, the beaches for -- an eight mile stretch has been closed until Monday.
If they see the shark, of course, they'd have to re-evaluate that decision.
KING: Yes.
Thank you, Ted.
Thank you, Rob. And please express our condolences to everybody in the family.
Rob Hill, the Martin family spokesperson and our superior correspondent, Ted Rowlands, who is always at or around the scene every time we go to him.
Ted Rowlands at Solano Beach, California.
And when we come back, she's here and makes quite an entrance. She's Pamela Anderson.
Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back.
A return visit with Pamela Anderson. She was last here almost three years ago.
ANDERSON: Was it that long?
KING: And she's here representing -- well, she's doing a new series for the E! cable network. She is -- we'll ask her about that. She's an animal rights activist. Later, we'll talk about her involvement with PETA. Let's get caught up on some things.
You were -- how are you doing?
ANDERSON: Good.
How are you doing?
KING: You were briefly married to Rick Salomon.
ANDERSON: Oh, jeez.
KING: What happened?
ANDERSON: It never happened.
KING: You weren't married?
ANDERSON: No. It was an -- well, it was an annulment so...
KING: Annulment means it never happened.
ANDERSON: Yes, it never happened.
KING: Are you seeing anybody now?
ANDERSON: I'm not seeing anybody now, no.
KING: Why not?
ANDERSON: I'm not. I'm just, you know, I'm busy with my kids. After Vegas, I thought I would take a break.
KING: How many kids do you have?
ANDERSON: Two, Brandon and Dylan, 10 and 11. Yes.
KING: Are you very close with the children?
ANDERSON: Very close. Obviously, yes.
KING: Do you miss being involved...
ANDERSON: They're excited about me being on your show. They actually like your show.
KING: They actually do?
ANDERSON: Brandon loves politics. My older son loves politics. We watch CNN all the time.
KING: Do you miss being involved with someone?
You can miss that.
ANDERSON: Yes, I can miss that. It's not too bad, though. Actually, I don't have time. My kids are taking up a lot of time and I'm running around with Dan Matthews and a few friends and traveling so. Men take up a lot of time.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: You were a magician's assistant.
ANDERSON: I was.
KING: What was that like?
What, did they throw knives at you?
ANDERSON: No, but I got cut in half. I got levitated.
What else happened?
A lot of things. It was just, you know, one of my things -- one of my list of things to do. I can check that off now.
KING: Can you tell me how they levitate?
ANDERSON: It's magic.
KING: No, how do they do it?
ANDERSON: It's magic. It's magic. It's actually very, very dangerous because if you...
KING: For you?
ANDERSON: Yes. Very.
And I'm scared of heights, too, so...
KING: You mean...
ANDERSON: ...but I really enjoyed it.
KING: ...if he makes a mistake, you could...
ANDERSON: Yes, you could really get hurt.
KING: You could crumble.
ANDERSON: And I was about 40 feet in the air, so, it was high.
KING: Now, we know about the Hepatitis. We've discussed that at length on the show once.
ANDERSON: Yes. Yes, we did.
KING: How are you -- how are you doing?
ANDERSON: I'm doing really good. Actually, I just went to my doctor, Dr. Huizenga (ph). He took all my blood work and went through all my tests. And I hadn't really been to him in a year-and-a-half. And he said he's never seen me healthier. That -- he said it's a miracle. You know, I don't really work out a lot. I walk and, you know, play sports with my kids. But he says you're in the best shape I've ever seen you in. You're 40 years old and your liver is in great shape, all your blood work came back really well, low cholesterol...
KING: So the hepatitis is gone?
ANDERSON: It's not gone, no. No. But it's stayed...
KING: It will never be gone, right?
ANDERSON: Well, it has disappeared in some cases.
KING: Really?
ANDERSON: Yes. So I'm -- you know, I'm treating it homeopathically.
KING: You're going to...
ANDERSON: But I'm doing really what he told me. He went through my -- he went through everything and he said the only thing, he thinks it really -- that me being vegetarian really helps me staying in such good shape. (INAUDIBLE).
KING: You're going to the White House correspondent's dinner tomorrow night.
ANDERSON: I am. Yes.
KING: We'll be there.
ANDERSON: You're going to be there?
KING: It's going to be fun.
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: Any reason why you're going -- just?
ANDERSON: Well, I'm here in Washington because Dan Matthews and I are actually lobbying and getting some attention to -- against animal experimentation. And they finally met with us today, which is a miracle. They've been trying to -- PETA has been trying to meet with them forever. And so they saw us today.
KING: PETA will be with us later with us, right?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: How -- what are you going to wear tomorrow?
(LAUGHTER)
KING: What are you going to wear? (LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: I don't know, something -- something...
KING: It's a black tie.
ANDERSON: Is it?
KING: Yes.
ANDERSON: Well, something sparkly maybe. Something fun.
KING: I'm sure they'll recognize you.
ANDERSON: Something inappropriate.
KING: You endorsed a presidential candidate at the recent premier of "Superhero Movie," in which you play Invisible Girl.
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: Let's take a look.
ANDERSON: Oh, jeez, you've got this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I love Obama. I tried to like Hillary and I have a lot of friends who love Hillary and just think -- I don't like nasty politics and I think that Obama is an inspired leader. I think he's here for a reason. And I think he's -- you know, my kids want to grow up and be like him. And I think it would be really fun to have a president that everyone loves and who is endearing and who's smart and powerful. And I just -- he gives me a good feeling. I think he's a great guy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Do you like politics?
ANDERSON: I do. I do like politics. I watch you guys all the time. Yes.
KING: So you're going to...
ANDERSON: And I do. I like Obama.
KING: Are you going to speak for Senator Obama?
ANDERSON: Well, I don't think anyone wants to hear anything about, you know, politics and me. So -- but personally, I do think he's great. I think he's a real interesting choice. And I watch my kids and my kids really love him.
KING: They like him?
ANDERSON: Love him.
KING: Do you think...
ANDERSON: I mean there's something really powerful about him.
KING: Do you think celebrity endorsements help?
ANDERSON: I don't know. I -- definitely not my celebrity endorsement.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: You became a U.S. citizen, right?
ANDERSON: I did, yes. Recently. So that's why I came to Washington, too. I thought why not, you know?
Now that I'm an American citizen, I can come do these things of things.
KING: You're dual, right, with Canada?
ANDERSON: A dual citizen, um-hmm.
KING: Do you vote in both places?
ANDERSON: I don't vote. I've never voted in Canada. When I moved to America, I was voting age in Canada. So when I came here, I wasn't paying attention to Canadian politics but I...
KING: So you don't vote?
ANDERSON: I don't vote in Canada. This is my first time I've ever voted.
KING: Are you going to vote here?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: All right.
You're doing a new series. E! calls it Observational Documentary Series.
ANDERSON: Yes, we're doing a documentary series.
KING: Meaning reality?
ANDERSON: It's not a reality show because I...
KING: What happens on it?
ANDERSON: Well, a lot of things are off limits. Obviously, my children are off limits. I'm not going to have them photographed or documented in any way. A lot of it has to do with my work I do with animal rights. And it's really fun and it's wild. It's kind of a self- portrait. It's funny.
KING: Do they follow you around?
ANDERSON: A very small amount. They follow me around, they get a real insight. I think it's actually more insightful than a reality show. Nothing is staged, nothing is scripted. But it's kind of a day in the life or a week in the life of, you know, traveling around the world, trying to, you know, be a hands-on mom. My kids aren't -- you get a sense of me being a mother, but you don't get to see my children. So, juggling everything.
KING: And observational documentary.
ANDERSON: An observational documentary series, yes.
KING: Now you -- your -- it's impossible for you to be private, because you're too striking. So when you go out, who doesn't recognize you?
So doing this show, why do it?
ANDERSON: I -- well, I think it's -- I have -- there's a lot of interesting things that I get to do. And I like to bring awareness to it and it's a mass -- it's a way to -- especially with the animal rights and things that I do, I think it's really important to have something positive. You know, there's a kind of a cartoon character of me out there and -- not that I don't like that.
KING: Because you're fun.
ANDERSON: I think it's going to be -- it's definitely a lot of fun.
KING: Later...
ANDERSON: I direct a lot of it.
KING: Later, we'll ask her about her involvement with PETA.
We can't get enough of Pam. She's not going anywhere.
We'll see you right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "BORAT," COURTESY 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go ahead.
ANDERSON: Hi.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. Hello.
Are you mad at me?
ANDERSON: No thanks. I'm sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I'm going with my best (INAUDIBLE).
ANDERSON: Oh, hey. Oh, my gosh. Help. Help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get your own life. Get your own life.
ANDERSON: Help! Help!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down on the ground. Stay on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get your hands behind your back. Bring your knees up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pamela, I am not an attracted to you anymore. Not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: How did you -- he's a riot.
ANDERSON: He is a riot.
KING: You like him?
ANDERSON: I like him.
KING: How did you get...
ANDERSON: I was a fan of his before the film.
KING: How do they get you to do that?
ANDERSON: Well, they -- I mean they talked to me. His -- actually, a friend of Dave LaChapelle's. And wet met at The Chateau Breamont (ph). And he's been a fan and asked me to do other -- other things with him before the movie, which I never got to do. And it evolved into this and he called me and he was very flattering...
KING: Did you expect him to...
ANDERSON: ...very sweet.
KING: Did you expect him to jump on you?
ANDERSON: Oh, yes.
KING: That was in -- there was a script for that?
You knew that?
Of course, you acted great.
ANDERSON: Well -- thank you.
I know, it's shocking, right? (INAUDIBLE).
KING: No, it's not shocking. You really had it down.
ANDERSON: Thank you. I appreciate it, see?
It's my crowning achievement.
KING: You don't think you were good on "Baywatch?"
ANDERSON: And after that, it's only downhill from there. I've never seen.
KING: No?
You didn't -- you never watched it?
ANDERSON: I didn't watch it. No.
KING: OK.
A couple of other things and then we'll get into your involvement with PETA. Your ex, Kid Rock, did this show last October.
Did you see it?
ANDERSON: I saw a little bit of it.
KING: It was very good. He told me he beared you no ill will.
ANDERSON: I hope not.
KING: Do you bear him any ill will?
ANDERSON: No. Of course not.
KING: He's a good guy.
ANDERSON: He's a good guy. He's a good guy.
KING: Tommy Lee, how is he?
ANDERSON: He's doing great.
KING: You're friends?
ANDERSON: Very good friends. Very, very, very good friends. Yes. The love of my life.
KING: He is the love?
ANDERSON: Of course. He's the father of my kids. That's probably part of my problem.
KING: Meaning what?
ANDERSON: Meaning what?
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Meaning what?
ANDERSON: Well, I love Tommy.
KING: What do you mean part of the...
ANDERSON: Tommy -- we're like a family. We're like a little bit of a dysfunctional family, I guess. But...
KING: So you still love him?
ANDERSON: He loves his kids...
KING: And?
ANDERSON: And we love each other and...
KING: So why can't you be together?
ANDERSON: And -- well, there's, who knows why?
There's lots of complicated reasons, right?
Relationships are complicated. But I adore him and Bob and all my husbands.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Was Kid Rock...
ANDERSON: No, I'm kidding.
KING: Was Kid Rock not happy about the "Borat" movie? Is that true?
ANDERSON: He wasn't.
KING: He wasn't?
ANDERSON: He wasn't. But it's so long ago. I don't remember all these -- this (INAUDIBLE).
KING: What do you keep looking at?
ANDERSON: I keep trying to see if the "Borat" thing is going over there.
KING: OK. All right. I want to cover -- I've got a couple of other things.
ANDERSON: OK.
KING: What about those news reports that you gave Hugh Heffner quite an 82nd birthday surprise in Vegas?
Apparently involved were high heels and a dance.
What did you do?
ANDERSON: Well, I sang happy birthday. He just came -- I just -- I went to Vegas. I was watching Elton's last show. I'm in his show. And David and I -- Dave LaChapelle and I were there. And it was Heff's birthday and so we went to his suite and we surprised him when he coming in with the girls. I came out with a piece of cake singing "Happy Birthday."
KING: Wearing?
ANDERSON: Just the slice of cake.
KING: Oh, you were nude?
ANDERSON: Yes. It was just for fun.
KING: Was Heff surprised?
ANDERSON: He was very surprised.
KING: Now...
ANDERSON: It was fun.
KING: ...you've been on "Playboy," covers, right?
ANDERSON: A lot of times, yes.
KING: Is it easy once you do it, to be nude, pictorials?
ANDERSON: It is. Well, when I first started shooting for "Playboy," it was -- I was a little, you know, self-conscious. And then by the time we, you know, shot for days and days and days, they have to stop you from walking out the door nude. It becomes very comfortable.
KING: Really?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: So you don't think about it?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: Why do...
ANDERSON: And plus, it's Hefner, so, you know.
KING: Why do you think we're so hung up on it?
ANDERSON: I don't know. I don't know. You know, I'm Canadian. I don't think Canadians are as hung up, maybe. (LAUGHTER)
KING: Is it true that you declined to film a scene with a dog in "Superhero" because you didn't think the real animal should be used in movie making?
ANDERSON: Yes. Yes.
KING: You don't think animals should be used in any movie?
ANDERSON: I don't think so. I mean I don't want to be involved in a movie that's doing that. I don't think they're treated very well. And so I have made it very clear in any of my contracts that I don't work with animals or in a movie that has animals.
KING: Are you getting a lot of offers all the time to do movies?
ANDERSON: I get a lot of crazy offers to do things. But, again, I guess (INAUDIBLE) do what I have fun. Like I love being a magician's assistant. I love doing the show that I'm doing now. I love traveling around the world with Dan and doing animal rights stuff. And I'm -- and I'm -- I'm always doing something. I'm on an adventure, I guess.
KING: Do you like doing movies?
ANDERSON: No. No.
KING: Because?
ANDERSON: It's a lot of work. I'm not really -- I don't consider myself an actress. I have a comfortable life and I've created a great, simple life, kind of, for my kids and I. And I have no ambition in that area.
KING: OK, you're not an actress?
ANDERSON: No.
KING: What are you?
ANDERSON: I don't know yet.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: What do you want to be when you grow up?
ANDERSON: You tell me. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I don't know. I want to be able to, you know, have a meaningful life and get to have a lot of fun and, you know, draw attention to things that are meaningful to me. And that's what I've been able to accomplish. I mean I want to have, you know, an interesting career and raise two wonderful kids and spend a lot of time with them and be able to do fun things like this, like come here and work on things that I really believe in and make a difference.
KING: Do you have a problem wearing fur? ANDERSON: Yes. Absolutely. I would never wear fur.
KING: Never?
ANDERSON: Never. No.
KING: What do you think of those protesters who throw paint at people who wear fur?
ANDERSON: I think they're great. I think they're great. I usually put little stickers in people's pockets that say "I'm a" -- I can't swear. "I wear fur" -- anyway.
KING: OK. What do you make of like, let's take Paris Hilton and others, young females -- stars -- star is the right word -- who carry around little dogs?
ANDERSON: Well, it's OK for a pet dog, I mean, if you're loving them and looking after them.
KING: What do you...
ANDERSON: But I don't dress mine up in clothes. They would prefer to be nude, as well, at my house.
KING: What do you think of the problems faced by all these young stars now?
ANDERSON: Well, it's a dangerous career. It's a dangerous business. And I think when you're really young and you're offered a lot of things, you make a lot of mistakes. We all make a lot of mistakes. And they're kind of growing up in front of us. And it's hard to be ridiculed all the time and...
KING: It's tough.
ANDERSON: It's tough. It is tough.
KING: All right, Pam is sticking around. She's got a pet cause, you know.
ANDERSON: Yes, I do.
KING: More LARRY KING LIVE and we'll talk about that pet cause right after the break.
ANDERSON: Hint, hint.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: Former President Jimmy Carter will be aboard on Monday night.
Pamela Anderson remains.
And we're joined by Dan Matthews, senior vice president of PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He's the author of the book, "Committed: A Rabbel-Rouser's Memoir."
Earlier today, Pam and Dan lobbied for a PETA cause -- ending animal testing. They appeared in Washington on Capitol Hill.
Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It's in response to their plan for animal experimentation. And we just found out in the car right here they were going to see us. We're excited to get in there and have a conversation. But it's about animal experimentation and just getting with the times, like Europe and everybody else has moved on. And we're still using 80-year-old tests. You know, it's cruel. You know, it's not cool.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: What kind of response did you get today, Dan?
DAN MATHEWS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PETA, WORKS WITH PAM: It was a groundbreaking response, actually. We have been on the government's back for years to replace these decades old animal tests with more modern, reliableal alternatives, as they've already done in Europe. And they've always refused to meet with us. But finally bringing our weapon of mass distraction to Washington, the Health & Human Services Department welcomed us inside. And we had our first in what we hope is an ongoing dialogue.
I think people would be shocked to learn that millions of dollars are spent on all these antiquated animal tests which don't protect humans.
KING: For medical purposes?
MATHEWS: No. For chemical products.
KING: All right...
MATHEWS: For...
KING: For hair things, right?
ANDERSON: Well, they used to do a lot of...
ANDERSON: Tests for cosmetics.
MATHEWS: ...a lot of tests for cosmetics. And PETA has investigated places like L'Oreal and Gillette and Estee Lauder and Revlon. We've stopped a number of them from testing on animals. But the government agencies still use a lot of animal tests and...
KING: How do we get Pamela involved?
MATHEWS: Well...
KING: How did you get involved?
ANDERSON: Well, I've been involved for a long time. Since "Baywatch" days I was calling him. I've been an animal activist since I was little, you know, rolling nickels and quarters and sending them out to animal causes.
So we teamed up when I was on "Baywatch."
KING: So you called PETA?
ANDERSON: Yes, I sent them a letter, right?
MATHEWS: Yes.
ANDERSON: And said, you know, use me in any way...
KING: Just culled a letter?
ANDERSON: Yes, I wrote a letter and said please use me, I'm sick of talking about my personal life, I'd like to be able to share this attention with something more meaningful. And we've been doing this for years. We've traveled all over the world. And we (INAUDIBLE)...
MATHEWS: There's an entire chapter in my book about our exploits. We've gotten laws passed in different countries. Pam is -- one of our big campaigns with Pam is to pressure KFC to stop boiling birds alive in defeathering tanks and to adopt more humane gathering methods so that the birds' wings and legs aren't snapped in two when they're crammed into creates.
PETA was able to convince McDonald's to stop buying meat from slaughterhouses that fail inspection, for instance. I think even the most diehard carnivore out there, if they went to our Web site, PETA.org, they'd find that they had a lot more in common with us than they have differences.
KING: PETA's image is as a rough organization. Agreed?
ANDERSON: You think so?
KING: Oh yes, I think so.
ANDERSON: There has to be extremes.
MATTHEWS: Being obnoxious is our currency. We could not get into some of the board rooms that we get into by just asking nice. We have always asked nice first.
KING: The general question is, why don't we care about animals? Everyone cares about their own pets.
MATTHEWS: People do care about animals. For instance, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, when we finally got to them and showed them how animals are electrocuted and drowned in under water traps and beaten to death just for a fur coat, they all agreed to enact corporate policies against using any fur whatsoever. Martha Stewart, who used to be one our targets for wearing fur, saw our footage, had a change of heart and now hosts our video exposing the cruelties of the fur trade on our website, and has --
It's all about living and learning. Even Reverend Al Sharpton, who is a big chicken lover, when he saw all the cruelty that KFC does to chicken, was happy to back our boycott and even narrated our video online on PETA's site.
KING: Has this affected your career, do you think?
ANDERSON: Not in a negative way. Not a negative way, no, not at all. It doesn't matter to me. I do just fine and it's more meaningful to me to be able to do things like this than anything else.
KING: Do you want to stop all animal testing?
ANDERSON: Yes.
KING: All animal testing? Medical or cosmetic?
ANDERSON: I don't think there's been. There's no animal test helping humans.
MATTHEWS: Richard Nixon declared a war on cancer in 1970. In 2000, they did all these audits, what have we really gotten from all these millions of dollars we've spent trying to give animals cancer and learn from it. We have just learned that the only real strides have been in prevention and early detection. But invasive research with animals hasn't really --
KING: What I read in the paper that cancer cells produced in these mice, that has not lead to things?
MATTHEWS: You read it on the front page when they were able to implant a human ear into a mouse, but you don't read page 50, one line that says when they tried to adapt the test to humans it failed. I myself happen to be gay. I grew up in the AIDS era and I watched millions of dollars being diverted to try to in fact Chimpanzees and other animals with AIDS, while all these people dying of the disease weren't getting the care they needed, and while people weren't getting the message of prevention. AIDS is an easy thing to avoid.
Now we have got -- 30 years later, we've got all these chimps sitting in basements because they didn't make good test models in the end. It's just been a waste of money and a waste of animal lives and bad for people.
KING: Do you think PETA, Pamela, is successful?
ANDERSON: Oh, yes, absolutely. In the 15 years or the 14 years I've worked with them, I've seen huge changes, even what I've been able to do, which is really inspiring for to keep doing things. Even today, to be able to talk to people about the animal experimentation here in Washington and get people to listen; they haven't been able to get through the door. I'm they can --
KING: Do you agree with her on animals in film?
MATTHEWS: Absolutely. Any time animals are used in a business, there are corners that are cut to save costs and the animals suffer as a result.
KING: What about horse racing?
MATTHEWS: It's horrible. Everybody knows about the death of Barbaro. There's problems. Again, anything that uses animals. Angelica Houston just hosted a video exposing the abuse of Great Apes when they're used in TV commercials and movies. People see baby chimps in ads and think they're so cute. They have no idea that they were taken from the mothers and forced to become reliant on human trainers. When they become of age of seven, eight years old, sexual maturity, they're unmanageable and they get thrown into a cage or a roadside zoo and it's miserable life.
They're our closest living relative, Chimpanzees. They deserve a better life. You can have a great life without killing. Look at this vegetarian testimonial right here.
KING: You're not kidding. I salute you both. See you tomorrow.
ANDERSON: Thanks, Larry.
MATTHEWS: See you tomorrow, thanks, Larry.
KING: Dan Matthews, senior vice president of PETA. You got a website?
MATTHEWS: PETA.org, yes.
KING: PETA.org. John Walsh and "America's Most Wanted," a milestone, after the break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN WALSH, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED":: You know, it used to be you'd hardly ever see anyone down here along the U.S. and Mexican border. But not anymore. We're on our way to a take down at sea on the Coast Guard's newest fast boat.
If you are innocent, why are you such a coward and you don't go back to face justice?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're always excited to welcome John Walsh to LARRY KING LIVE, especially excited because "America's Most Wanted" will reveal its 1,000th capture on the episode that airs May 17th. What's that like for you, John?
WALSH: Quite a milestone, Larry. I remember back 20 years ago when the show started. There were a lot of people who said we would -- the show wouldn't work. We'd never capture anybody; and here we are 20 years later, a thousand captures. Pretty remarkable, I think.
KING: You're not kidding. Let's get to some things current. What are you thought on the Texas polygamy ranch story?
WALSH: Well, I think it's a really, really tough situation. You know, we profiled Warren Jeffs a couple of years ago when he was on the Most Wanted, and the cult leader, and he's serving time now, convicted of two sex crimes, of arranging marriages of older men and younger girls, but I don't think there's any winners in this case. I think it's a real tough thing when you take so many kids from their parents. But, you know, I have to subscribe to the theory, whether the report was founded or unfounded, you can't ignore a report of sexual abuse. You have to check it out and this is a cult that's been known to allow some illegal activity amongst adults and children.
So, you know, it's a very, very tough situation. No winners here.
KING: Couldn't agree with you more.
WALSH: Terrible.
KING: The sexual assault murder of 19 year old Brianna Denison in Reno, Nevada is you say illustrates why up to date DNA data is desperately needed. Talk about it.
WALSH: Heart breaking case, Larry. National case; you had it on your show. Three young women raped in Reno, Nevada. Brianna Denison, 19-year-old girl, kidnapped from the couch of a friend's house and found murdered. And once they got into the testing, taking the DNA of the three rape victims who survived and Brianna's rape DNA kit, they realized that they had not tested 3,000 rape kit cases in Reno. And the private citizens of Reno raised the money, almost 300,000 dollars to test those kits, and solved 30 crimes.
Now, it didn't find Brianna's murderer. We're going to profile that case again on Saturday night. But what kind of a message does it send to our children, to our wives, mothers, daughters, the women in America, that states and cities can be so far behind and not even process rape kits, let alone put the DNA into a national database? So we have a long way to go in the battle to get every convicted felon and every person arrested for a felony, get their DNA into a state database and then into the FBI database.
It will solve crimes thousands of unsolved sex crimes and free innocent people from jail.
KING: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California is a big backer of the DNA databank idea. How's that -- I know you support it. There the two of you are. How will it work?
WALSH: He's on tomorrow night's show. We're profiling a terrible case in Sacramento, 11 victims, rape victims in the last 15 years. DNA linking about ten of those cases together. But no -- nobody caught yet. But he is a great proponent of DNA databases, and he got a law passed called proposition 69, right there in 2004 in California, that takes mandatory collection of every convicted felon's DNA -- there's over a million DNA kits in the California database. And in January of next year, they're going to take the DNA of everybody arrested for a felony.
They solve four to five unsolved cases a day in California because of Governor Schwarzenegger's bill.
KING: Carry on. A case in South Florida that I understand has you especially worked up, the murder of a mom and her eight-year-old daughter in a mall parking lot. Are you thinking serial killer here?
WALSH: Absolutely. Larry, this is one of the most disturbing cases I have worked on in years at the Boca Raton Mall there. There's an unsolved case of almost a year and a half ago of a woman named Randi Gorrenberg (ph). That I think started the killer on his spree. That's my opinion. And then just before Christmas last year, a mom and her seven-year-old daughter were kidnapped in the mall parking lot, both of them murdered, shot in the face. I think it's the work of a serial killer. I'm going to keep profiling this guy until he gets caught.
There's a composite of the guy. And he also kidnapped another woman and her two-year-old son. They were lucky enough to talk their way out of him killing them. But this is a guy that's still out there. I believe still in the south Florida area. A terrifying, terrifying case.
KING: What keeps you worked up?
WALSH: Well, you and I have talked about it so, so many times. I mean, I think you go home at night and look at those two beautiful boys and thank god that you have them. And, you know, Adam's murder is what propelled my wife and I into this battle. And, you know, I think it's all about justice, Larry. I think "America's Most Wanted" has become the court of last resort. It proves that law enforcement can work with the public. The average citizen can make a difference.
A thousand fugitives caught all over the world. It's still -- it still motivates me on a weekly basis to say, hey, this is the court of last resort for justice.
KING: We're going to take a look at some of your top cases when we come back. We have a great quick vote question for you viewers to consider. Head to CNN.com/LarryKing and answer this if you can. Would you turn in a friend if they were featured on "America's Most Wanted?" Tell us now by voting at CNN.com/LarryKing. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: With us is John Walsh. They will on May 17th celebrate the 1,000th capture on "America's Most Wanted." Let's look at some of the top cases on your docket. Paul Jackson, why are you so involved in this one?
WALSH: Paul Jackson and his half brother in 1990 and a few years after that, started kidnapping and taking young girls off the street. They had a torture chamber in their home in Oregon. And they were wanted for years. His half brother, the most bizarre thing, turned himself in in 2006. He's in prison for 100 years. And this guy's been on the run since 1990. I would like to see this horrible guy caught.
KING: Yes, me, too. What about Alexis Flores.
WALSH: I would say Alexis Flores may be on top of my personal most wanted list. This is a guy who in 2000 kidnapped a five-year-old girl, raped and murdered her. Allegedly tortured her and left her in a vacant home; and he is a poster boy for DNA. He was picked up for shop lifting and forgery about five years after the murder. They took his DNA. Some good cops suspected that he may be wanted for other things. But, of course, by the time they got the DNA, back because it wasn't mandatory back in those days, he was able to bond out and he's on the run.
I think he might be in Honduras. He could be back in the states. He's a poster boy for DNA laws because he's beaten the system.
KING: We have fugitives in the alleged human trafficking ring. Rafael Cadena Sosa, Patricio Sosa, and Carmella Carmen Cadena, what about that?
WALSH: These three people are alleged to have exploited all kinds of illegal Mexican immigrants who would be smuggled across the border, promised that they would have employment and they use them in prostitution, intimidated them, held them against their will, threatened their relatives on the other side of the border, threatened them with extortion.
Human trafficking is a big, big business throughout the world. And these three people exploited all kinds of illegal Mexican women that came across hoping to find a better life. Actually, paid to come and be smuggled into the United States and then forced into prostitution.
KING: Have you had people that were on "America's Most Wanted" that turned out to be innocent?
WALSH: We've had a couple people that I think the charges have been dropped over the years, that they have made deals with the government. But most of the time we do the worst of the worst, and they are people that have chosen to flee. But there's been a couple over the years that juries have found them innocent. And I say the same thing. They chose to be fugitives. We catch them, turn them over to criminal justice system. They'll find an honest jury that didn't see that episode of "America's Most Wanted" and try these people.
KING: Robert Bowman, wanted for the 1967 aggravated murder of a 14-year-old girl. 1967?
WALSH: This guy has been out there for years. As a matter of fact, the two detectives in that case of the kidnapping and torture of that 14-year-old girl have never given up. Even though they're retired, they tracked him to a homeless shelter in Miami. They didn't have enough DNA. They didn't have enough to arrest him. He's still out there. He may be hanging out in homeless shelters in Las Vegas. But this guy had a girl in his basement for three days and tortured and murdered her.
KING: God, the things people do.
WALSH: It's mind boggling, isn't it, Larry? And the detectives say that they won't rest. It was one of the worst cases they have ever seen. They were this close to catching him in Miami. They actually interviewed him and didn't have enough until the advent of DNA. But I hope that that family gets justice.
KING: Manuel Penaloza, alleged car jacker, killer .
WALSH: This is an incredible story. He had -- he was on -- he drove away from the scene of a crime. Police allege he murdered two gang members. He crashed his car and he then car jacked a woman who had stopped to help him. She actually came to the scene to help him, a good samaritan. He tried to car jack her. She fought this guy. She never knew that he had two bodies in the car that he smashed.
She fought him but he got away with the car and how lucky is she that he didn't kill her when he car jacked her? But he's another bad guy that's out there.
KING: There's still time to participate in the quick vote at CNN.com/LarryKing. Would you turn in a friend if they were featured on "America's Most Wanted?" You vote and we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with John Walsh. Another case you want to cover, what about Derrick Benjamin, the alleged accomplice of an accused armed car robber, Dominic Lyde? Lyde was captured.
WALSH: Lyde He was captured and this guy is still out there. They pulled off an inside job and got away with about five million dollars. And the interesting thing is the guy that was captured was turned in by someone that knew him very well. And I know you're doing this poll; and I wanted to tell you, over the years, 30 plus people have done the right thing and called up "America's Most Wanted" and turned in relatives or someone they knew very closely. Now, police don't answer the phone.
You and I have talked a this for years, why people call up. We don't trace or tap calls. We let people remain anonymous. But I have great faith in the general public, Larry, that they will do the right thing. These guys will run and say the cops are looking at me for stealing a car when they're really a child molester or wanted for murder.
KING: I'm told by our producers that 92 percent said they would make the call. WALSH: It is just -- I have great faith. I see a lot of terrible things on "America's Most Wanted." I see the worst of society. But I have also seen the best. For 20 years, people have either visited AMW.com or called the hotline. They have turned in brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, husbands, boyfriends. I really believe that people want to do the right thing.
KING: When it comes to success, the incredible recovery of Elizabeth Smart on March 12th, 2003, my god, five years already, is high on the list. John was our guest that night. So was Elizabeth's uncle, Tom. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM SMART, UNCLE OF ELIZABETH SMART: God bless, John, and thank you so much. If it wasn't -- John Walsh and "America's Most Wanted" and Larry King's show played a big part in this. Thank you very much.
WALSH: This is just a credit to the Smart family, all the people in Salt Lake City, that you never gave up. You're such wonderful, loving people. And I'll tell you, my prayers -- if I could do a cart wheel on television right now for you, I would do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Certainly one of the great moments, right, John?
WALSH: And I don't know if you remember how much you had to do with this, Larry. Elizabeth was missing for nine months and Ed Smart and Lois Smart never gave up, and they told me that Mary Katherine, the little sister, was there the night that Elizabeth was kidnapped, had made a composite of a guy named Emanuel. And the police suspected that the handyman that died in prison of an aneurysm was the kidnapper.
They were wrong. They had never pushed this composite. On your show was the first time that we showed the composite.
KING: I remember.
WALSH: We kept doing it on "America's Most Wanted." The thing I think we're the most proud of is we've gotten back 35 missing kids alive. That's usually not the end of the story. And Elizabeth Smart, Larry, was one of -- it's something I'll never forget to see that girl after nine months back alive. It was -- it's makes everything worth it when we get a child, a missing child back alive.
KING: How has the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act worked?
WALSH: Well, I tell you, you covered it. You had my family on two years ago on July 27th, the 25th anniversary of Adam's kidnapping. It turned to certainly the worst day of our life and a day we dreaded into a memorable day. But the downside is in all good intention of creating a national sex offender registry and going after the worst of the worst sex offenders, not the guy who urinated at Mardi Gras, the level three terrible sex offenders, it still hasn't been funded by Congress two years later.
KING: Really?
WALSH: Including you, Larry. A bill is unanimously supported, bipartisan, Democrats and Republicans, signed in the Rose Garden. I think Americans would be appalled to know that this piece of legislation has still not been funded by the United States --
KING: Why?
WALSH: I don't know to this day. I have talked to both sides of the aisle. I've been before Congress. It's shown to work. It would create a national sex offender registry and allow the U.S. marshals and FBI to go after the worst of the worst and not a dime has been allocated yet. It is the most frustrating thing.
KING: Unbelievable. John, I can do nothing but congratulate you again. "America's Most Wanted" will reveal its 1,000th capture on the episode airing on May 17th, a satisfying moment for you, a sense of accomplishment. Congratulations, John. Nothing but the best for you.
WALSH: Thank you, Larry. You've been there all along the way for the 20 years. I think you very much.
KING: We hope you catch 1,000 more. If you want a transcript of this show or want to tell us what you thought of it, log onto CNN.com/LarryKing. You can download our latest podcast our participate in our John Walsh quick vote. Monday should be very interesting about these parts. President Jimmy Carter will be here and we've got lots to talk about, including his most recent visit to the Middle East. Joy Behar will be aboard on Tuesday night.
Next Wednesday night, Michael Moore. Time now for my friend John King, the chairman of the board, who will sit in for Anderson Cooper and host "AC 360." John?
