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Minister's Wife Says She Shot Husband in Argument Over Money; Disney Ride Death; Muddy Waters

Aired June 30, 2006 - 13:59   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: At the top of the hour, we go back to Fredricka Whitfield, working a number of developing stories there. This one coming out of Tennessee -- Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Out of Selmer, Tennessee, Kyra. An explanation in a statement now from a pastor's wife as to how and why her husband was killed not long ago.

In a statement read by an FBI agent by the name of Brian Booth (ph), the statement is according to Mary Winkler. When questioned shortly after the death and her arrest, she told police that she didn't remember actually getting the gun out of the closet, but remembers holding the gun and remembers hearing a boom.

She said that they had been arguing. She and her husband had been arguing over money, and in the statement Mary Winkler goes on to say that some of the dying -- the dying words from her husband were asking her why. And she replied only that she was sorry.

All of this revealed today during a bond hearing, where the FBI agent, Brian Booth (ph), read this statement, the statement of Mary Winkler in court.

We're hoping to get a little bit more tape of today's proceedings, and possibly even hear more of that statement being read in court. And, of course, when we're able to get that to you, Kyra, we'll be bringing it to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Fred. Thanks so much.

Well, tragedy, but maybe less of a mystery at Disney. We first reported the death of a 12-year-old boy yesterday, and today preliminary autopsy results showed no injuries, but they did return heart -- or they did turn up, rather, heart abnormalities. More definitive tests will be done. So, for now, no official cause of death is being announced.

CNN's Susan Candiotti has a closer look now at what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It has zip, and then some -- zero to 60 in less than three seconds. Disney says the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster propels passengers around hoops and corkscrews in the dark to the sounds of Aerosmith.

When the one-minute ride was over, vacationer Michael Russell had passed out.

BARBARA MILLER, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S SPOKESWOMAN: The father was in the backseat and his son Michael was in the front with his mom. He noticed that his son went limp. So he pulled him off the ride as they were exiting, and immediately he began CPR. So, evidently, he realized there was a problem early on.

CANDIOTTI: A call went out to 911.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little boy passed out on the train. He's over here (INAUDIBLE).

DISPATCHER: Is he still unconscious and is he breathing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is still unconscious right now.

DISPATCHER: OK. Is he breathing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Someone's doing CPR on him right now.

CANDIOTTI: The 12-year-old was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead. He was on the ride with his parents and 7-year-old brother. His father, a Green Beret, is stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

MILLER: As far as the father was telling us, what we know right now, that the child did not have any pre-existing medical conditions.

CANDIOTTI: Signs warn riders about Disney's high-speed rides. Park officials maintain the roller coaster was operating normally at the time.

JACOB DIPIETRE: Right now, our deepest sympathies are with the family. And we are doing everything we can to assist them.

CANDIOTTI: The young man's death is a third on a Disney ride since last June. Two other tourists died on Epcot Center's Mission Space, one as recently as April. Autopsies found those two victims had pre-existing medical conditions.

(on camera): The 911 tape says a portable defibrillator found around Disney parks was not available until after paramedics arrived three minutes after they were called. It's not known whether that would have made a difference.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Orlando.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: A surprise twist in a shocking case. A judge in Florida has thrown out the confession of a convicted sex offender charged with kidnapping, raping and killing a 9-year-old girl, Jessica Lunsford.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (voice over): A jury will never hear the chilling recorded words of John Evander Couey as he allegedly describes how he buried alive little Jessica Lunsford in February, 2005. This is the problem...

JOHN COUEY, CHARGED WITH MURDERING JESSICA LUNSFORD: I just want to talk to a lawyer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

COUEY: I want a lawyer here present. I want to talk to a lawyer.

WHITFIELD: That was Couey, repeatedly requesting a lawyer during his interrogation. He was not provided one. A judge calls that "a profound violation of one of the most bedrock principals of criminal law." So the judge has thrown out the confession.

Law enforcement officials defend their actions.

SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA: The day we interviewed John Couey in the investigation we still believed Jessica was alive. OK?

Those guys were on the premise of looking for a live child. I don't think they went up there maliciously. I don't think they were over emotionally involved. I think they were very methodical in the way they went about doing their business.

WHITFIELD: Couey's confession helped lead investigators to the young girl's body. A judge says the discovery of the body can be used as evidence.

Nine-year-old Jessica was found stuffed in a garbage bag, kneeling and clutching a stuffed animal. She had been sexually assaulted and buried alive. Authorities insist they have enough DNA and other evidence to get a conviction.

DAWSY: You will now see the evidence that this agency has compiled to convict John Couey and put him to death. OK? Yes, we would have liked to have the confession go in, but as I've told you guys privately and publicly, that was not what I would say the rock part of this case.

WHITFIELD: Jessica Lunsford's father says he is also confident.

MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA'S FATHER: I'm confident in the system. I am confident in the prosecutor and attorneys, state attorney's office. I'm confident in all those people.

WHITFIELD: Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: So how did this happen and who screwed up? I'm going to ask former prosecutor and CNN "Headline News" anchor Nancy Grace. Also, law enforcement expert Mike Brooks just a little later here on LIVE FROM.

Well, another day in court for a half-dozen terror suspects in Miami. You may remember they and the seventh man arrested in Atlanta allegedly plotted an Islamic holy war on the United States, allegedly targeting Chicago's Sears Tower and FBI buildings across the country. Well, the feds say the scheme was more aspirational than operational. Defense lawyers claim it was planted by an FBI informant.

CNN's John Zarrella is at today's hearing. He's going to join us a little later with an update.

U.S. troops, Iraqi civilians again entangled in a wrongful death investigation. Here's what we know right now.

A U.S. Army general ordered a probe into the reported killing of four civilians, all of them related, all living in a house in Mahmoudiya, just south of Baghdad. U.S. military sources tell CNN at least two GIs are suspected of rape and that one of the troops allegedly killed the rape victim, a child, and two other adults. The Army says facts from a preliminary inquiry warrants a full investigation now.

New York Governor George Pataki has also gotten an eyeful of the muddy waters. He says it will take weeks, if not months, to mop it all up. But he assures New Yorkers disaster aid will be coming their way.

CNN's Allan Chernoff is in Binghamton -- Allan.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, I took a tour from a helicopter with the governor earlier today, and certainly there is plenty of improvement. Roads and bridges that had been covered by floodwaters only a few days ago are now clear, but there's still remains plenty of damage.

First of all, many homes still isolated. Islands unto themselves totally surrounded by water. And we, in fact, saw some swift boats going from home to home, checking to see whether or not anyone is still stranded in those homes.

Trucks also stranded, isolated. Some even tipped over by the floodwaters in the roads. Well, many roads are still in big trouble. In fact, 64 portions of highways and bridges remain closed, and that includes a 12-mile stretch of Route 17, which is the main thoroughfare right around here.

So, that's a major problem, and the state certainly is working very hard to resolve that situation, doing whatever it can. But, of course, Mother Nature is the key. And a beautiful sunny day like this, that helps tremendously. Initially, the governor had estimated the damage at about $100 million, but now he's saying it's far higher.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: It's got to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. When you look at all the homes that have been lost, the businesses, and, of course, the infrastructure, the roads and bridges that have been washed out, it's got to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. But we'll do a thorough assessment.

I'm sure that the federal government will work with us to make sure that we get the disaster relief that we're entitled to. And we're going do everything we can to get the people back on their feet as quickly as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: In addition to asking for federal aid, the governor also is promising state aid, $35 million worth. And that will amount to about $5,000 maximum per family. Any family that can prove such flood damage.

And, of course, Kyra, there are certainly thousands and thousands of families that have been hit.

PHILLIPS: And they're going to need that money.

Allan Chernoff, thanks so much.

Well, mopping up, picking up, adding up, consider yourself updated on flood-stricken communities all along the Delaware River now. Now, the governor of Pennsylvania already has asked President Bush for disaster aid for half the state. At least nine deaths may be linked to that flooding. Thousands of people were forced out of their homes, and it could be days before they're able to get back in.

And waterlogged and weary, waiting for relief. About 6,000 people in New Jersey are still out of their homes. No power, no fresh drinking water, no idea when they'll be able to return.

Governor Jon Corzine is flying over the Delaware River right now before deciding which areas need that federal aid. We'll keep you updated about his trip.

All talk and no action in the Middle East. It's Israel's two- pronged tactic to win the release of a kidnapped soldier.

Details from Gaza on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: "We will continue to fight you." "We will drain your money." "We'll send you home defeated." New threats from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

A CIA analyst says the voice on the new tape posted on the Web site is indeed that of the world's most wanted fugitive. At one point, the speaker addresses President Bush, warning that the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq did little to slow his cause.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

OSAMA BIN LADEN, AL QAEDA LEADER (through translator): I say to Bush, you should deliver the hero's body to his family. And don't be to happy. Our flag hasn't fallen. Thanks to god, it has passed from one lion to another lion in Islam.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, the whole recording lasts more than 19 minutes. Bin Laden promises al Qaeda will continue to target Americans and U.S. allies in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan.

Speaking of Somalia, is there an African Taliban? Well, it's a growing concern in light of the capture by an Islamic militia of Somalia's capital city earlier this month. The movement's leader is the former head of a U.S.-designated terror organization.

The State Department says money and weapons are flowing in from groups in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other Arab nations. One U.S. observer says Somalia's stability is the most serious threat to the Horn of Africa in decades.

Israelis and Palestinians still locked in the six-day (INAUDIBLE) and worse over a kidnapped Israeli soldier. Leaders across the Middle East are working to head off a major escalation now.

CNN's John Vause is in Gaza City -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Israel may have put a ground offensive on hold for now, but the artillery barrages continue, mostly targeting the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Israel says it is firing at open fields used by Palestinian militants as launching areas to fire rockets from Gaza into Israel. And the Israeli air force continues to carry out multiple airstrikes, more than 30 in the past 24 hours.

And there may have now been the first fatality of this confrontation. An Israeli airstrike killing a militant from Islamic Jihad. Israel says he was about to fire an anti-tank missile at Israeli forces.

But for this embattled Hamas government, a show of support today. Thousands of Palestinians taking to the streets of Gaza after Friday prayers.

And in his first comments since this military offensive began, the Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniya, has accused Israel of trying to destroy his government, saying the objectives here are much bigger than simply trying to free one Israeli soldier. And he says this military action is endangering or complicating the efforts to try and free 19-year-old Gilad Shalit.

The Israelis, though, say they are showing a degree of restraint, trying to give diplomacy a chance. Negotiators from Egypt and Qatar have asked for more time, hoping for some kind of breakthrough. As for the 19-year-old corporal, so far there's been no sign of life, no video, no photograph. The assumption, though, is he is still alive, still being held somewhere in southern Gaza -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. John Vause, thanks for bringing us up to date.

Let's get back to Fredricka Whitfield. She's working another breaking story for us -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, Kyra, this time out of New York.

Two New York detectives convicted of murdering eight people between 1986 and 1990 are learning today that their convictions are being overturned. A U.S. district court judge says the five-year statute of limitations have expired. So the decision also means that a new trial on money laundering and drug charges for these two men, Louis Epolito (ph) and Steven Caracoppa (ph), will be taking place.

Prosecutors had argued that the killings were part of an ongoing conspiracy that lasted through 2005, a drug deal that took place with an FBI informant. But the judge apparently disagreed, saying statute of limitations has run out, and so, these guys deserve a new trial.

No reaction from either side as of yet.

PHILLIPS: All right, Fred. Thanks so much.

Well, two guys going to Graceland, it's not big news, unless it's these two guys, the president and the prime minister -- and the Elvis connection.

Don't be cruel. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A big question asked by most job applicants is whether their families will be covered by their health benefits. But different companies define families in different ways.

Susan Lisovicz joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange with a new study about same-sex health benefits.

What do we know, Susan?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we know that more than half of the nation's biggest countries offer health insurance to employees' same-sex domestic partners. That's according to a new study by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

The number of Fortune 500 companies offering the benefits has doubled in just the last six years, even though voters and lawmakers in 45 states registered their opposition to gay marriage.

Despite those votes, more than 200 cities, counties and other government organizations also provide benefits to same-sex partners. That's up significantly in the last six years.

Eight state governments grant some legal rights, including access to insurance benefits to same-sex couples. The figures show the growing economic clout of the gay community. Many companies are finding that it's more cost-effective to offer the benefits.

Companies reported that health insurance for same-sex partners adds less than 1 percent to their total benefit costs, a small price to pay to attract a more diverse workforce and customer base. Many gay consumers base their buying decisions on a company's workplace policies, and that community represents nearly $650 billion in buying power.

Kyra, a lot of companies just think it's simply good business.

PHILLIPS: Well, the gay community also represented on Wall Street today, right?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Susan.

Well, when it comes to the space shuttle, how safe is safe enough? Discovery is set to take off tomorrow with some well-known safety issues unresolved.

Our Miles O'Brien investigates when LIVE FROM returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, he told police he did it, but a jury will never hear it. Last year's monstrous killing of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford shocked the nation. Police say she was kidnapped, raped an buried alive. Convicted sex offender John Couey confessed to everything, but today a judge in Florida threw out the confession because investigators ignored Couey's request for a lawyer.

Jessica's father still believes Couey will be convicted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What if the confession is thrown out?

LUNSFORD: I don't care. I'm confident in the system, I'm confident in the prosecuting attorneys, the state attorney's office. I'm confident in all of those people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Prosecutors say even without the confession, they can use forensic evidence, including Jessica's body, to convict.

So, how did this happen and who screwed up? I'm going to ask former prosecutor Nancy Grace of CNN "Headline News" and law enforcement expert Mike Brooks just a little bit later on LIVE FROM.

Straight to Fredricka Whitfield, working two developing stories for us now -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, first, more is being developed -- more is being learned out of the developing story out of Selmer, Tennessee. This is the case about the pastor's wife and her statement after her husband was killed.

During a bond hearing today in Selmer, a statement from Mary Winkler was read by FBI agent Brian Booth (ph). In it, Winkler says she remembers hearing a loud boom. And then she says, "I remember thinking it wasn't as loud as I thought it would be."

She then went on to say and tell police that her husband rolled from the bed and on to the floor after being shot. Quoting now, "He asked me why, and I just said, 'I'm sorry.'"

Booth (ph) had read the statement during the court proceedings. He also went on to explain that in a statement Winkler said that the two had been arguing about a host of things, including the family finances. And she also felt like she had been criticized by her husband a lot lately.

She says, "He had really been on me lately, criticizing me for things, the way I walk, I eat, everything. It was just building up to a point. I was tired of it. I guess I got to the point and snapped."

This statement being read from the FBI agent during the bond hearing today.

The prosecutors are seeking no bond. Her attorneys are hoping that the court will be gracious and give her a very lenient bond. The prosecutors, however, have not indicated whether, indeed, they will be seeking the death penalty on this case.

We expect to get more tape and maybe even hear some of that read statement from the FBI agent momentarily.

And the other story, Kyra, we're working on, this one coming out of New York, and it involves these two New York police detectives who were convicted of murder. They were involved in -- or convicted of being involved in carrying out the deaths of eight people between 1986 and 1990.

Well, now a U.S. district court judge is saying that the five- year statute of limitations on those charges have passed. And so, thereby, the convictions are being thrown out and a new trial is going to be extended to these men here, Louis Epolito (ph) and Steven Caracoppa (ph).

The prosecutors had been trying to argue that those killings were also part of a 2005 drug deal that took place with an FBI informant. The judge disagreed. No reaction from either side as of yet -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Fred. We'll follow both stories. Appreciate it.

Did a child who died on a theme park roller coaster have problems that he never knew about? Well, an autopsy now on 12-year-old Michael Russell points to that, but more studies will be done before an official cause of death is announced.

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