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North Korea's Nukes; International Manhunt for Former South Carolina Cop

Aired May 06, 2005 - 14:30   ET

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

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


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Checking stories "Now in the News."
The insurgent onslaught continues in Iraq. In the latest violence, at least 23 people are killed in two separate suicide bombings, one south of Baghdad, the other in Tikrit. Police also found the bodies of 14 men shot to death in Baghdad.

President Bush leaves Washington on his way to Latvia. He's due to land in just about 15 minutes. It's the first stop on a four- nation trip to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. He will visit the Netherlands, Russia and Georgia.

A new turn in the case of an Australian woman imprisoned in Indonesia on drug charges. An Australian prisoner who testified on her behalf has been stabbed in a Sydney jail. Schapelle Corby said she was framed by drug smugglers. She faces death or life in prison if convicted in Indonesia.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's been three months now since North Korea stunned the world, announcing it has nuclear weapons. Now it may be taking the next step. The next shoe may drop. "The New York Times" reporting recent satellite photos appear to show the country is preparing for a nuclear weapons test. Well, is it a bluff, is the for real?

David Albright, joining us now from Washington. He is a former United Nations nuclear weapons inspector. David, good to have you back with us.

DAVID ALBRIGHT, FMR. U.N. NUCLEAR WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Good to be here.

O'BRIEN: This is not an easy thing to detect, because what we're talking about here is the potential for an underground test. What can satellites see?

ALBRIGHT: Well, you can see tunneling activity. I mean, you can -- I mean, one of the things that "The New York Times" pointed out is that there's a reviewing stand being built a couple miles from this tunnel complex. But the bottom line is, you can't see that much and so it is still, from what I understand, a suspect nuclear test site. But it -- but because of the increased activity at the site, the reviewing stand, North Korean statements, there's great concern that North Korea may be preparing to conduct a nuclear test.

O'BRIEN: And in retrospect, it was discovered after a missile test a few years ago. The viewing stand was actually the real tell- tale sign, because otherwise, it's easy to camouflage a lot of the other activities?

ALBRIGHT: That's right. And it -- and just because they move material back in or move material in, you really don't know what's going on. I mean, North Koreans tunnel everywhere and they build lots of things inside those tunnel complexes. So they're going to be not only taking dirt and rock out, but they'll also be bringing lots of things to build structures and other facilities

O'BRIEN: A couple of hours ago, Mohammed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was on Wolf Blitzer's program, noon Eastern. Let's listen to what he had to say to Wolf.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL: I am very, very concerned about that possible development. When I read that story Friday morning, I really got quite worried about it. It would have disastrous political repercussions. I'm not sure how much environmental impact it could have, in terms of radiological fallout. So I do hope that the North Koreans would absolutely reconsider such reckless steps.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: And I misspoke. That's the Wolf Blitzer program that airs this Sunday, "LATE EDITION," noon Eastern. David, when you hear Mr. ElBaradei talking about the possibility of environmental effects, radiological fallout, that's a big concern. But underground testing, in theory, shouldn't present that problem, right?

ALBRIGHT: No, that's right. And North Korea should be able to design a test site where there's no venting. Accidents can happen and so you could have venting coming out the tunnel entrance or a fissure in the ground. So you have to worry about that. But typically, you can design it so that does not happen.

O'BRIEN: All right. The first part of his statement. Disastrous political repercussions. Would you agree with that?

ALBRIGHT: Well, if North Korea does test, it's going to be a tremendous strain on the international community. I mean, will we put a blockade around North Korea? Will Japan start to think about getting nuclear weapons? What is South Korea going to do? So I think it could be disastrous if it isn't handled very carefully.

And I think one of the important things that the United States and people in Northeast Asia should be doing right now is preparing -- and just in case North Korea does test. I mean, we don't want this to be a big surprise that leads countries to take very drastic actions, particularly with North Korea, where you never can really predict how they're going to respond. I mean, we know, you push them, they push back harder. I mean, that's their philosophy. So we have to worry that if North Korea tests, that the situation is managed very carefully so we don't inadvertently end up in a war. O'BRIEN: As you were talking at the beginning, we were showing some of their previous missile tests. They just had one over the past weekend. What do we know now about North Korea's capability to loft any sort of weapon, nuclear or otherwise, outside of its own boarders?

ALBRIGHT: Well, it certainly has ballistic missiles that can carry some amount of payload, conventional weapons, some place into the region. I mean, Japan and even further. The key issue is can they put a nuclear warhead on the missiles? And there's a debate. Certainly, I would -- we would assess -- I used to say, probably can put a crude nuclear weapon on one of their shorter-range missiles. Perhaps it could reach Japan.

I don't believe that they could put a warhead on a missile that could reach the continental United States. So I think there's a view that they're increasing their capabilities to make nuclear weapons, but we remain very uncertain about what they've actually accomplished.

O'BRIEN: David Albright, thanks for your insights, as always. We appreciate it.

ALBRIGHT: OK, thank you. And CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. You can see the full interview with Mohammed ElBaradei, as I mentioned, this weekend on "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer. It begins at noon Eastern all around the world.

PHILLIPS: Michael Jackson's defense team now in full swing. CNN's Rusty Dornin is in the courtroom. She's going to give us an update straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

O'BRIEN: An epic battle between Christians and Muslims comes to the big screen this weekend. Will the movie's timing cause some controversy? . PHILLIPS: And show mama the love. How much do you plan to spend on Mother's Day this weekend? Just two shopping days left. Better get busy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Now to South Carolina. From the picture postcard city of Charleston, a story of child sex abuse, murder and deception and the hunt for a cop who apparently led a double life.

CNN's Randi Kaye has our report, only on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was once a respected police officer in Charleston, South Carolina. Now Daniel William Hiers is the focus of an international manhunt, accused of molestation and murder.

LESLIE, MOTHER OF ALLEGED VICTIM: I was scared. I was in shock.

KAYE: This woman, Leslie, asked us not use her last name. Her 11-year-old daughter is one of Hiers' alleged victims.

Hiers and the little girl met in this karate class. Hiers took no interest in the mother, but a strong interest in the girl, who was 20 years younger. He took her shopping, bought her expensive gifts, drove her to karate, and sent her flowers twice.

Leslie, a single mom, was suspicious at first. But Hiers assured her his intentions were good. She even planned to make Hiers the girl's legal guardian, should something happen to her mom.

LESLIE: He stepped in as a father to my daughter. And I used to -- I used to thank God for him. I would pray and think, my God.

KAYE: That all changed when, after watching a video about inappropriate touching at school, Leslie's daughter told her Hiers had been touching her.

LESLIE: I gave her a hug. And I told her everything was going to be OK.

KAYE (on camera): How tough was that moment?

LESLIE: That was hard.

KAYE (voice-over): According to police, Hiers would take the girl to places like this Wal-Mart parking lot, fondle her repeatedly, even make her touch him.

LESLIE: She said that every time that they passed by there, that she knew what was going to happen, especially -- when he -- noticed that the truck was slowing down, and that she was just too scared to do anything.

KAYE (on camera): Why didn't the little girl come forward sooner? Her mother told me Hiers threatened her. He told her, if she talked about the abuse, she would get in trouble, that no one would believe her because he was a police officer.

(voice-over): But investigators did believe her and moved to arrest Hiers and charge him with lewd acts with a minor. It was then they discovered Hiers had a wife, that had been leading a double life.

Hiers met Mila Cohe De Arujo in 1996. She was vacationing in Miami from Brazil. Hiers was 23, Mila just 15. They married two years later.

ALESANDRO COHE DE ARUJO, SISTER OF MURDERED WIFE: I believe -- I believe my family, my sister, everybody, we were fooled by him.

KAYE: Mila's sister Alesandro, remembers how charming Hiers could be. She also remembers how distant he became as his wife started to mature into a woman.

DE ARUJO: They didn't have a normal sexual life. They used to pass a month or three months without having any kind of contact.

KAYE: Hiers began to ignore his wife. The couple stopped going out together.

(on camera): Did you have any indication at all that he had a wife at home and was married?

COKERS: No. That's the biggest shock. We had no clue that he had a wife. None of us knew.

KAYE (voice-over): Dale Cokers owns the karate school where Hiers befriended Leslie's daughter. He talked with Hiers every week and there was never any mention of a wife.

COKERS: We never saw a wife. He never brought her here for any special events we had. We have never seen her.

KAYE: Leslie and her daughter never met Hiers' wife either. He told them she had gone back to Brazil to file for divorce.

DE ARUJO: He's mysterious, very much mysterious.

KAYE: Alesandro says her sister pleaded with Hiers to stop spending so much time with Leslie's daughter.

(on camera): Did your sister ever think that he liked little girls?

DE ARUJO: She thought that -- she used to told me, Dan loves to stay with the little girls. I think, when we have children, he want to be father of a girl. It's what everybody thought.

KAYE (voice-over): Then police began to uncover disturbing evidence of Hiers' treatment of Leslie's little girl. As he was about to face more serious charges of molestation, the case took a deadly turn.

(on camera): When Hiers didn't turn himself in the morning of March 15 to face a second round of molestation charges, investigators came here to his home. They found his wife dead and Hiers missing, launching an international manhunt.

(voice-over): According to police, Mila was shot while she slept. Neighbors reported seeing Hiers going in and out of the house at about the time of the murder.

Hours later, this surveillance camera captured Hiers at a South Carolina gas station. He calmly withdrew several hundred dollars from the store's ATM, waved to the cashier on his way out, and he hasn't been seen since.

In Hiers' hometown of Hampton, South Carolina, wanted posters hang in store windows and the manhunt is still front page news. But many who know him and his bride refuse to believe the charges.

TRACIE ANDERSON, HIERS FAMILY FRIEND: They were very happy. They would -- he would whisper in her ear and you know, hug up on her. And she was real shy. She was a shy girl. And it was cute, you know, to watch them. And he was very loving to her. KAYE: Pastor Kelly Fox is the family's spiritual adviser. He hopes Hiers turns himself in and proves his innocence.

PASTOR KELLY FOX, HIERS' FAMILY SPIRITUAL ADVISER: It would have to have a picture of him doing it before I could believe it. It just does not make sense to me.

KAYE: But as the charges against Hiers mounted, authorities say he may have been preparing for life on the run. This grainy picture, taken with a friend's cell phone shortly before he disappeared, authorities say show Hiers experimenting with altering his appearance. He grew a beard and gained weight. Still, the U.S. Marshall say they're developing strong leads, as they hunt for a man many now believe was leading two lives.

LESLIE: We're stuck here until he's found and at least we know that he's not going to hurt anybody else.

KAYE (on camera): The waiting is very hard for your family?

DE ARUJO: Yes. It's terrible. Something that we don't have words to say what we are feeling.

KAYE (voice-over): Two families, trying to cope with two tragedies. Both are haunted by a man they once trusted, a police officer. Did Hiers harm Leslie's little girl? Is he really capable of murder? And most important, where is he?

Randi Kaye, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Hiers' attorney did not respond to repeated calls for comment. His family also declined to talk with CNN. More LIVE FROM after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Live pictures of B Control, that's half of Johnny and Alan's pidaea (ph) class there. Murrah O'Brian at the center with the baseball cap to the rear. Gabe Modane (ph) on the board. Gabe, ready. Hit the button, Gabe.

It's Friday, which means it's time to start thinking about the weekend. Those kids are certainly. Interested in a movie? You may want to consider the Ridley Scott epic "Kingdom of Heaven." Its leading man is the busy actor Orlando Bloom. CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas talked with the rising star. She joins us from L.A.

Hello, Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good, Miles. That's right, I did speak to him. And not sure if you got to see Orlando Bloom in the film "Troy." Well, he plays a real coward. Now the actor is getting a second chance to redeem himself in 12th Century crusades epic "Kingdom of Heaven." I talked to him about his larger than life character and taking on such a sensitive subject.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be without fear in the face of your enemies.

VARGAS (voice-over): In "Kingdom of Heaven" Orlando Bloom plays a blacksmith who finds himself defending Jerusalem from invading Muslims during the 12th Century crusades. A sensitive topic in a post-9/11, post-Iraq world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What God desires is here and here.

VARGAS (on camera): This film has a little controversial attached to it. How do you feel about the timing?

ORLANDO BLOOM, ACTOR: You know, I think that this is a very important movie for the time. I mean, Ridley Scott makes movies that are relevant to the times. I think you get quite an even opinion and view of the Muslim and the Christian side of the story. And ultimately, you know, you have this guy Balien, who is not a hero in contemporary -- in the conventional sense either, he's really a reluctant hero.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What becomes of us?

BLOOM: The world will decide. The world always decides.

VARGAS (voice-over): With his role as the mighty Balien, Bloom joins the ranks of veteran actors Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe in headlining an epic.

(on camera): This is a huge film for you and you're so young in your career.

BLOOM: I know. I keep pinching myself, because I feel like I'm only five, six years out of drama school and have gotten to do so much.

VARGAS (voice-over): An opportunity that will not only raise his profile as a leading man, but no doubt boost his hunk status.

(on camera): I hear you are just bombarded with mobs of people that love you, the girls. How do you deal with that, though?

BLOOM: You know, it's all an adjustment really. There's always going to be young people who want to pin their hopes and dreams on the next young actor or boy band or whoever it may be. And if it's you for that window of time, then I guess it's a real privilege. It's an honor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VARGAS: Of course, he's no Miles O'Brian, but I don't foresee his hunk status dwindling any time soon. He's currently working on two back- to-back sequel installments of "Pirate of the Caribbean." "Kingdom of Heaven" opens in theaters today. It's rated-R for strong violence -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: I'm blushing. What can I tell you? Thank you, Sibila.

VARGAS: You're great. You're great.

O'BRIEN: You have a great weekend. All right, Sibila, you can come on any time, all the time.

PHILLIPS: She got a hair cut just for you.

O'BRIEN: She looks fantastic. That's all -- I'll just leave it at that.

VARGAS: Kyra, don't start stuff. Don't start stuff, you.

PHILLIPS: All right. OK. I'll keep my mouth shut. Sorry. All right. I'm going to be good.

Americans, showing mom love this Sunday. If you judge by how much they intend on spending.

O'BRIEN: Kathleen Hays has the numbers from the New York Stock Exchange. It's not about how much you spend, is it?

KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's still pretty impressive, though, Kyra and Miles. And it looks like we are planning to shower mom with gifts this Sunday, as all moms deserve.

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, the average person plans to spend over $104 on mom. Men -- listen to this, Miles -- they take the lead on spending with an average of $139. Women, plan to spend half as much, about $74.

Overall, spending is expected to rise more than 9 percent from last year. And this is good news for retailers. Got to get that side in. They reported mixed results for April and the federation predicts that florists, jewelers, greeting card stores are all going to see more business. I don't know about you two, but I think I haven't spent quite enough on mom yet. I haven't gotten to the average.

O'BRIEN: Oh, come on. Money can't buy you love. Money can't buy you love. It's the thought that counts, right?

HAYS: Absolutely. I hope my mom agrees.

O'BRIEN: Oh, yes. Exactly.

Let's talk about Paul Allen. This is -- I'm trying to figure out whether this is, you know, just outright charity or if he sees some sort of payback on this multibillion-and-a-half dollar investment in Bangladesh?

HAYS: Well, that's a very good question Miles, because certainly there's got to be some good heartedness here. But you know, India is becoming a power house, Bangladesh next door, a low wage country. That's a big factor these days.

And we're talking, folks, about Microsoft's co-founder Paul Allen. He's reportedly investing $1.6 billion in building power and fertilizer plants in the southern Asian nation. Allen's investment in the power plant is equivalent to nearly half of Bangladesh's entire national capacity. Just to give you a sense of how poor that country is.

Half of Bangladesh's population lives below the poverty line. The nation is home to the third highest number of poor people in the world behind India and China. So, this is certainly an interesting and heart warming story.

(MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Thank you, Kathleen. Appreciate it.

PHILLIPS: All right. Saddle up, we've got a great story next hour in LIVE FROM. It's the thrilling career of Kentucky Derby jockey Jimmy "Wink" Winkfield. And what happened when he left the track. If you haven't heard about him, you're going to want to stay tuned.

O'BRIEN: It's got Hollywood written all over it, doesn't it?

PHILLIPS: It's pretty awesome.

O'BRIEN: All right. The runaway bride, she gets a job offer. She would have to leave town again, though, and I'm sure that John there on the left wouldn't be happy about that. The story is just ahead as LIVE FROM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired May 6, 2005 - 14:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Checking stories "Now in the News."
The insurgent onslaught continues in Iraq. In the latest violence, at least 23 people are killed in two separate suicide bombings, one south of Baghdad, the other in Tikrit. Police also found the bodies of 14 men shot to death in Baghdad.

President Bush leaves Washington on his way to Latvia. He's due to land in just about 15 minutes. It's the first stop on a four- nation trip to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. He will visit the Netherlands, Russia and Georgia.

A new turn in the case of an Australian woman imprisoned in Indonesia on drug charges. An Australian prisoner who testified on her behalf has been stabbed in a Sydney jail. Schapelle Corby said she was framed by drug smugglers. She faces death or life in prison if convicted in Indonesia.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's been three months now since North Korea stunned the world, announcing it has nuclear weapons. Now it may be taking the next step. The next shoe may drop. "The New York Times" reporting recent satellite photos appear to show the country is preparing for a nuclear weapons test. Well, is it a bluff, is the for real?

David Albright, joining us now from Washington. He is a former United Nations nuclear weapons inspector. David, good to have you back with us.

DAVID ALBRIGHT, FMR. U.N. NUCLEAR WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Good to be here.

O'BRIEN: This is not an easy thing to detect, because what we're talking about here is the potential for an underground test. What can satellites see?

ALBRIGHT: Well, you can see tunneling activity. I mean, you can -- I mean, one of the things that "The New York Times" pointed out is that there's a reviewing stand being built a couple miles from this tunnel complex. But the bottom line is, you can't see that much and so it is still, from what I understand, a suspect nuclear test site. But it -- but because of the increased activity at the site, the reviewing stand, North Korean statements, there's great concern that North Korea may be preparing to conduct a nuclear test.

O'BRIEN: And in retrospect, it was discovered after a missile test a few years ago. The viewing stand was actually the real tell- tale sign, because otherwise, it's easy to camouflage a lot of the other activities?

ALBRIGHT: That's right. And it -- and just because they move material back in or move material in, you really don't know what's going on. I mean, North Koreans tunnel everywhere and they build lots of things inside those tunnel complexes. So they're going to be not only taking dirt and rock out, but they'll also be bringing lots of things to build structures and other facilities

O'BRIEN: A couple of hours ago, Mohammed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was on Wolf Blitzer's program, noon Eastern. Let's listen to what he had to say to Wolf.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL: I am very, very concerned about that possible development. When I read that story Friday morning, I really got quite worried about it. It would have disastrous political repercussions. I'm not sure how much environmental impact it could have, in terms of radiological fallout. So I do hope that the North Koreans would absolutely reconsider such reckless steps.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: And I misspoke. That's the Wolf Blitzer program that airs this Sunday, "LATE EDITION," noon Eastern. David, when you hear Mr. ElBaradei talking about the possibility of environmental effects, radiological fallout, that's a big concern. But underground testing, in theory, shouldn't present that problem, right?

ALBRIGHT: No, that's right. And North Korea should be able to design a test site where there's no venting. Accidents can happen and so you could have venting coming out the tunnel entrance or a fissure in the ground. So you have to worry about that. But typically, you can design it so that does not happen.

O'BRIEN: All right. The first part of his statement. Disastrous political repercussions. Would you agree with that?

ALBRIGHT: Well, if North Korea does test, it's going to be a tremendous strain on the international community. I mean, will we put a blockade around North Korea? Will Japan start to think about getting nuclear weapons? What is South Korea going to do? So I think it could be disastrous if it isn't handled very carefully.

And I think one of the important things that the United States and people in Northeast Asia should be doing right now is preparing -- and just in case North Korea does test. I mean, we don't want this to be a big surprise that leads countries to take very drastic actions, particularly with North Korea, where you never can really predict how they're going to respond. I mean, we know, you push them, they push back harder. I mean, that's their philosophy. So we have to worry that if North Korea tests, that the situation is managed very carefully so we don't inadvertently end up in a war. O'BRIEN: As you were talking at the beginning, we were showing some of their previous missile tests. They just had one over the past weekend. What do we know now about North Korea's capability to loft any sort of weapon, nuclear or otherwise, outside of its own boarders?

ALBRIGHT: Well, it certainly has ballistic missiles that can carry some amount of payload, conventional weapons, some place into the region. I mean, Japan and even further. The key issue is can they put a nuclear warhead on the missiles? And there's a debate. Certainly, I would -- we would assess -- I used to say, probably can put a crude nuclear weapon on one of their shorter-range missiles. Perhaps it could reach Japan.

I don't believe that they could put a warhead on a missile that could reach the continental United States. So I think there's a view that they're increasing their capabilities to make nuclear weapons, but we remain very uncertain about what they've actually accomplished.

O'BRIEN: David Albright, thanks for your insights, as always. We appreciate it.

ALBRIGHT: OK, thank you. And CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. You can see the full interview with Mohammed ElBaradei, as I mentioned, this weekend on "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer. It begins at noon Eastern all around the world.

PHILLIPS: Michael Jackson's defense team now in full swing. CNN's Rusty Dornin is in the courtroom. She's going to give us an update straight ahead on LIVE FROM.

O'BRIEN: An epic battle between Christians and Muslims comes to the big screen this weekend. Will the movie's timing cause some controversy? . PHILLIPS: And show mama the love. How much do you plan to spend on Mother's Day this weekend? Just two shopping days left. Better get busy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Now to South Carolina. From the picture postcard city of Charleston, a story of child sex abuse, murder and deception and the hunt for a cop who apparently led a double life.

CNN's Randi Kaye has our report, only on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was once a respected police officer in Charleston, South Carolina. Now Daniel William Hiers is the focus of an international manhunt, accused of molestation and murder.

LESLIE, MOTHER OF ALLEGED VICTIM: I was scared. I was in shock.

KAYE: This woman, Leslie, asked us not use her last name. Her 11-year-old daughter is one of Hiers' alleged victims.

Hiers and the little girl met in this karate class. Hiers took no interest in the mother, but a strong interest in the girl, who was 20 years younger. He took her shopping, bought her expensive gifts, drove her to karate, and sent her flowers twice.

Leslie, a single mom, was suspicious at first. But Hiers assured her his intentions were good. She even planned to make Hiers the girl's legal guardian, should something happen to her mom.

LESLIE: He stepped in as a father to my daughter. And I used to -- I used to thank God for him. I would pray and think, my God.

KAYE: That all changed when, after watching a video about inappropriate touching at school, Leslie's daughter told her Hiers had been touching her.

LESLIE: I gave her a hug. And I told her everything was going to be OK.

KAYE (on camera): How tough was that moment?

LESLIE: That was hard.

KAYE (voice-over): According to police, Hiers would take the girl to places like this Wal-Mart parking lot, fondle her repeatedly, even make her touch him.

LESLIE: She said that every time that they passed by there, that she knew what was going to happen, especially -- when he -- noticed that the truck was slowing down, and that she was just too scared to do anything.

KAYE (on camera): Why didn't the little girl come forward sooner? Her mother told me Hiers threatened her. He told her, if she talked about the abuse, she would get in trouble, that no one would believe her because he was a police officer.

(voice-over): But investigators did believe her and moved to arrest Hiers and charge him with lewd acts with a minor. It was then they discovered Hiers had a wife, that had been leading a double life.

Hiers met Mila Cohe De Arujo in 1996. She was vacationing in Miami from Brazil. Hiers was 23, Mila just 15. They married two years later.

ALESANDRO COHE DE ARUJO, SISTER OF MURDERED WIFE: I believe -- I believe my family, my sister, everybody, we were fooled by him.

KAYE: Mila's sister Alesandro, remembers how charming Hiers could be. She also remembers how distant he became as his wife started to mature into a woman.

DE ARUJO: They didn't have a normal sexual life. They used to pass a month or three months without having any kind of contact.

KAYE: Hiers began to ignore his wife. The couple stopped going out together.

(on camera): Did you have any indication at all that he had a wife at home and was married?

COKERS: No. That's the biggest shock. We had no clue that he had a wife. None of us knew.

KAYE (voice-over): Dale Cokers owns the karate school where Hiers befriended Leslie's daughter. He talked with Hiers every week and there was never any mention of a wife.

COKERS: We never saw a wife. He never brought her here for any special events we had. We have never seen her.

KAYE: Leslie and her daughter never met Hiers' wife either. He told them she had gone back to Brazil to file for divorce.

DE ARUJO: He's mysterious, very much mysterious.

KAYE: Alesandro says her sister pleaded with Hiers to stop spending so much time with Leslie's daughter.

(on camera): Did your sister ever think that he liked little girls?

DE ARUJO: She thought that -- she used to told me, Dan loves to stay with the little girls. I think, when we have children, he want to be father of a girl. It's what everybody thought.

KAYE (voice-over): Then police began to uncover disturbing evidence of Hiers' treatment of Leslie's little girl. As he was about to face more serious charges of molestation, the case took a deadly turn.

(on camera): When Hiers didn't turn himself in the morning of March 15 to face a second round of molestation charges, investigators came here to his home. They found his wife dead and Hiers missing, launching an international manhunt.

(voice-over): According to police, Mila was shot while she slept. Neighbors reported seeing Hiers going in and out of the house at about the time of the murder.

Hours later, this surveillance camera captured Hiers at a South Carolina gas station. He calmly withdrew several hundred dollars from the store's ATM, waved to the cashier on his way out, and he hasn't been seen since.

In Hiers' hometown of Hampton, South Carolina, wanted posters hang in store windows and the manhunt is still front page news. But many who know him and his bride refuse to believe the charges.

TRACIE ANDERSON, HIERS FAMILY FRIEND: They were very happy. They would -- he would whisper in her ear and you know, hug up on her. And she was real shy. She was a shy girl. And it was cute, you know, to watch them. And he was very loving to her. KAYE: Pastor Kelly Fox is the family's spiritual adviser. He hopes Hiers turns himself in and proves his innocence.

PASTOR KELLY FOX, HIERS' FAMILY SPIRITUAL ADVISER: It would have to have a picture of him doing it before I could believe it. It just does not make sense to me.

KAYE: But as the charges against Hiers mounted, authorities say he may have been preparing for life on the run. This grainy picture, taken with a friend's cell phone shortly before he disappeared, authorities say show Hiers experimenting with altering his appearance. He grew a beard and gained weight. Still, the U.S. Marshall say they're developing strong leads, as they hunt for a man many now believe was leading two lives.

LESLIE: We're stuck here until he's found and at least we know that he's not going to hurt anybody else.

KAYE (on camera): The waiting is very hard for your family?

DE ARUJO: Yes. It's terrible. Something that we don't have words to say what we are feeling.

KAYE (voice-over): Two families, trying to cope with two tragedies. Both are haunted by a man they once trusted, a police officer. Did Hiers harm Leslie's little girl? Is he really capable of murder? And most important, where is he?

Randi Kaye, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Hiers' attorney did not respond to repeated calls for comment. His family also declined to talk with CNN. More LIVE FROM after this.

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O'BRIEN: Live pictures of B Control, that's half of Johnny and Alan's pidaea (ph) class there. Murrah O'Brian at the center with the baseball cap to the rear. Gabe Modane (ph) on the board. Gabe, ready. Hit the button, Gabe.

It's Friday, which means it's time to start thinking about the weekend. Those kids are certainly. Interested in a movie? You may want to consider the Ridley Scott epic "Kingdom of Heaven." Its leading man is the busy actor Orlando Bloom. CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas talked with the rising star. She joins us from L.A.

Hello, Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good, Miles. That's right, I did speak to him. And not sure if you got to see Orlando Bloom in the film "Troy." Well, he plays a real coward. Now the actor is getting a second chance to redeem himself in 12th Century crusades epic "Kingdom of Heaven." I talked to him about his larger than life character and taking on such a sensitive subject.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be without fear in the face of your enemies.

VARGAS (voice-over): In "Kingdom of Heaven" Orlando Bloom plays a blacksmith who finds himself defending Jerusalem from invading Muslims during the 12th Century crusades. A sensitive topic in a post-9/11, post-Iraq world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What God desires is here and here.

VARGAS (on camera): This film has a little controversial attached to it. How do you feel about the timing?

ORLANDO BLOOM, ACTOR: You know, I think that this is a very important movie for the time. I mean, Ridley Scott makes movies that are relevant to the times. I think you get quite an even opinion and view of the Muslim and the Christian side of the story. And ultimately, you know, you have this guy Balien, who is not a hero in contemporary -- in the conventional sense either, he's really a reluctant hero.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What becomes of us?

BLOOM: The world will decide. The world always decides.

VARGAS (voice-over): With his role as the mighty Balien, Bloom joins the ranks of veteran actors Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe in headlining an epic.

(on camera): This is a huge film for you and you're so young in your career.

BLOOM: I know. I keep pinching myself, because I feel like I'm only five, six years out of drama school and have gotten to do so much.

VARGAS (voice-over): An opportunity that will not only raise his profile as a leading man, but no doubt boost his hunk status.

(on camera): I hear you are just bombarded with mobs of people that love you, the girls. How do you deal with that, though?

BLOOM: You know, it's all an adjustment really. There's always going to be young people who want to pin their hopes and dreams on the next young actor or boy band or whoever it may be. And if it's you for that window of time, then I guess it's a real privilege. It's an honor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VARGAS: Of course, he's no Miles O'Brian, but I don't foresee his hunk status dwindling any time soon. He's currently working on two back- to-back sequel installments of "Pirate of the Caribbean." "Kingdom of Heaven" opens in theaters today. It's rated-R for strong violence -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: I'm blushing. What can I tell you? Thank you, Sibila.

VARGAS: You're great. You're great.

O'BRIEN: You have a great weekend. All right, Sibila, you can come on any time, all the time.

PHILLIPS: She got a hair cut just for you.

O'BRIEN: She looks fantastic. That's all -- I'll just leave it at that.

VARGAS: Kyra, don't start stuff. Don't start stuff, you.

PHILLIPS: All right. OK. I'll keep my mouth shut. Sorry. All right. I'm going to be good.

Americans, showing mom love this Sunday. If you judge by how much they intend on spending.

O'BRIEN: Kathleen Hays has the numbers from the New York Stock Exchange. It's not about how much you spend, is it?

KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's still pretty impressive, though, Kyra and Miles. And it looks like we are planning to shower mom with gifts this Sunday, as all moms deserve.

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, the average person plans to spend over $104 on mom. Men -- listen to this, Miles -- they take the lead on spending with an average of $139. Women, plan to spend half as much, about $74.

Overall, spending is expected to rise more than 9 percent from last year. And this is good news for retailers. Got to get that side in. They reported mixed results for April and the federation predicts that florists, jewelers, greeting card stores are all going to see more business. I don't know about you two, but I think I haven't spent quite enough on mom yet. I haven't gotten to the average.

O'BRIEN: Oh, come on. Money can't buy you love. Money can't buy you love. It's the thought that counts, right?

HAYS: Absolutely. I hope my mom agrees.

O'BRIEN: Oh, yes. Exactly.

Let's talk about Paul Allen. This is -- I'm trying to figure out whether this is, you know, just outright charity or if he sees some sort of payback on this multibillion-and-a-half dollar investment in Bangladesh?

HAYS: Well, that's a very good question Miles, because certainly there's got to be some good heartedness here. But you know, India is becoming a power house, Bangladesh next door, a low wage country. That's a big factor these days.

And we're talking, folks, about Microsoft's co-founder Paul Allen. He's reportedly investing $1.6 billion in building power and fertilizer plants in the southern Asian nation. Allen's investment in the power plant is equivalent to nearly half of Bangladesh's entire national capacity. Just to give you a sense of how poor that country is.

Half of Bangladesh's population lives below the poverty line. The nation is home to the third highest number of poor people in the world behind India and China. So, this is certainly an interesting and heart warming story.

(MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Thank you, Kathleen. Appreciate it.

PHILLIPS: All right. Saddle up, we've got a great story next hour in LIVE FROM. It's the thrilling career of Kentucky Derby jockey Jimmy "Wink" Winkfield. And what happened when he left the track. If you haven't heard about him, you're going to want to stay tuned.

O'BRIEN: It's got Hollywood written all over it, doesn't it?

PHILLIPS: It's pretty awesome.

O'BRIEN: All right. The runaway bride, she gets a job offer. She would have to leave town again, though, and I'm sure that John there on the left wouldn't be happy about that. The story is just ahead as LIVE FROM continues.

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