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U.S. Airways Plane Catches on Fire on Runway; Outer Band of Ernesto Drenching Coast of Carolinas; New Hope for Cancer Patients With Melanoma

Aired August 31, 2006 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More now on that U.S. Airways plane in Miami which catches fire. The fire extinguished.
Carol Lin is in the newsroom -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Just a little bit more information, Fred.

It appears, according to The Associated Press, that two of the plane's tires actually blew out on landing and it caused a small fire. So that may be where this actually all started. And also, we're learning that the flight originated in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was heading to Miami.

So a little bit of information there.

Some discrepancy also on the flight number, but John Zarella did say it was Flight 431. Some of the local TV stations, Web sites have different information, but that's what we know.

No one was injured. Those slides were deployed after the pilot reported this fire. The emergency response came in, those passengers taken safely to the terminal. We believe that 94 people were on board.

WHITFIELD: Well, good news. The emergency plan was in place. It all worked. And all of those people are able to be safe and on those buses.

And our John Zarella is in Miami as well.

John, you can bring us up to date on information you're now getting as well?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, a little bit more. Some of it a little more confusing and some of it we'll sort a little of this out.

Indeed, the flight did come in from Charlotte to Miami, was scheduled to land in Miami, and obviously did safely, just before 2:00 this afternoon. It originated, we believe, in Albany. It was Albany- Charlotte, Charlotte-Miami, and indeed it was -- a couple of tires did -- did blow, and it may well have been that those tires caused some sort of a fire in the wheel well when they blew, although that is unclear at this time, as well. This information is coming from U.S. Airways. And U.S. Airways also confirming or saying -- telling us there were actually now 109 people on board in total. Not the 94 that we have been saying. But 109, 109 on board, and it was, in fact, Flight 431.

The most important detail, though, of all, nobody was injured, according to U.S. Airways. That is the information that -- that we have just gotten here within the last few minutes -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. And many of those people still on those buses that you are seeing on the right-hand side of your screen as they are making their way to the main terminal there at the airport.

Well, good news, no reported injuries. And the fire is out. And now the investigation begins.

John and Carol, thanks so much.

We're also keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Ernesto, which is trying to build strength there in the warm waters off the Atlantic coast.

Our Reynolds Wolf is in the weather center -- Reynolds.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Fred, it's just amazing.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, Reynolds. Thanks so much.

A hurricane watch, tropical storm warnings, lots of rain and winds that are getting stronger by the minute, as we just heard Reynolds describe. It's that way all along the coast of the Carolinas and as far inland as Columbia and Charlotte.

Let's begin with reporter Anderson Burns with affiliate WCIV, braving the elements on Pawleys Island, near Charleston.

Anderson, bring us up to date.

ANDERSON BURNS, REPORTER, WCIV: Yes, it's a bit -- about 20 minutes ago, the rain and the wind picked up considerably. And then about the last five minutes, the surf has also picked up, even though high tide cleared through here about 20, 25 minutes ago.

Now, we're still about six hours away from the storm actually coming by Pawleys Island, which is about an hour and a half drive north of Charleston. So it looks like things could possibly get worse.

You can take a look over here. The surf swells here, going about six to seven feet at this point this. This is as bad as we've seen it. We've been here all day long so far.

There have been a few people out sort of watching us and watching the storm. Most of the people we're talking to here, they sort of laugh a little bit when they compare to it what Hugo did when it came through here in '89.

So, we'll just stick out here, see how things take place. But it looks like things might get a little bit worse before they get better.

WHITFIELD: Well, we're hoping it will just get better and it won't get worse.

Anderson Burns, thanks so much. And once the rain dissipates, hey hello to my old friends there at my own stomping ground, WCIV, when you get a chance.

He's like, I can't hear you, it's windy and it's raining.

Well, bracing for even bigger trouble in the Pacific, Hurricane John, a dangerous Category 3 storm, just off the coast of Mexico, lashing resort town after resort town as it barrels north. The Mexican government is warning coastal residents to protect life and property and get out while they can.

Already, about 10,000 people have been ordered out. And if they don't leave voluntarily, those in charge say the Mexican army will escort them out.

Well, in medical news, new hope now for some cancer patients, those with melanoma, a skin cancer that kills almost 8,000 Americans every year.

Our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, here with this just-released study.

Encouraging?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is. And it's pretty remarkable, as well.

If you think about cancer and you think about how you treat it, there's really three ways. There's surgery, there's chemotherapy, and there's radiation therapy. But for the vast majority of people, or a lot of people, I should say, that doesn't work. I shouldn't say the vast majority, but a lot of people, they just don't have response to that.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

GUPTA: So the question for a long time has been, can you do something else? Is there another way to treat this cancer?

Actually, I had a chance to spend some time with Dr. Steve Rosenberg. You see him there. He's the chief surgeon at the National Cancer Institute. He's been working on this for about three decades now, figuring out a way to actually go deep inside the body itself to figure out another way to treat cancer.

Here's what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DR. STEVEN ROSENBERG, WORKING ON POSSIBLE NEW TREATMENT: We're not using an external force to treat the patient. Rather, we're attempting to alter the body's own natural defenses so that the body can recognize the cancer as foreign and destroy it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: So, I mean, here's how it basically works. If you have somebody who has what's called metastatic cancer, cancer that has spread throughout the body, they might have a cancer and some lesions, for example, in the liver. With this therapy, you just take some blood, as you see there. What you're looking for is some of the body's immune cells.

You're taking those immune cells, and you're basically attaching this virus to those immune cells. You do that in the petri dish, in the laboratory there, then eventually you take those new cells and you put them back in the body.

So what's happening now is your body's own immune system attacks the tumor, as you can see on the right side of the screen there. It is your body's own system actually attacking the tumor.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

GUPTA: Again, no surgery, no radiation, no chemo. Some remarkable -- some remarkable stories here.

I got a chance to meet one of the patients that he's treated. Somebody who actually was told that he was not going to be able to survive his melanoma, was given six months to live, told to get his affairs in order, made a visit down to Dr. Rosenberg...

WHITFIELD: Wow.

GUPTA: He's doing great. And we're going to have his full story later on tonight.

WHITFIELD: Oh, everybody loves to hear stuff like that.

So this is considered a breakthrough in many communities. So, you have to wonder, what's next? I mean, where does this go now?

GUPTA: Yes. You know, and I would say Dr. Rosenberg is cautious about using the word "breakthrough" still...

WHITFIELD: Really?

GUPTA: ... because it's still in the infancy stage. But no doubt, Fredricka, I mean, scientists like Dr. Rosenberg don't get excited very often. He's been working on this for 30 years, he's very excited about this. The idea that you can use gene therapy to not only treat cancer, but maybe prevent it one day, is a remarkable thing.

The next step, September 15th, the FDA is going to decide if even a more powerful gene therapy can be used to try and treat more patients and different types of cancer. So far it's just been in melanoma patients.

WHITFIELD: So, say you were raising your hand and you were saying, "You know what? I want to be part of this trial." How do you get involved?

GUPTA: Well, for the time being it can be somewhat difficult and somewhat challenging. I asked him about this, but you have to be a patient who has not responded to any of the other conventional things.

WHITFIELD: Everything else ruled out.

GUPTA: So surgery -- everything else did not work, surgery, chemo, radiation. Then you have to basically get your doctor to refer you to the NIH, the National Institutes of Health.

I will say, as well, there's a Web site called www.clinicaltrials.gov. That's an important Web site, clinicaltrials.gov. You get a lot of information specifically on what clinical trials are going on.

WHITFIELD: Something tells me that list is going to be really long, if not already.

GUPTA: And I think it should be. I mean, there's -- there's some hope out here.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

GUPTA: You know, Dr. Rosenberg said something interesting -- interesting to me. He said it's not the National Institutes of Health, it's the National Institutes of Hope. And I think that this sort of story illustrates that.

WHITFIELD: I like that, renaming the NIH.

All right. Thanks so much.

GUPTA: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Well, this weekend, a special "CNN PRESENTS," "The Poverty Trap." Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses some possible solutions with former president Bill Clinton. That airs Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Let's go straight to Carol Lin again in the newsroom with more on a developing story.

LIN: Fred, I want to bring people the first live presence on a story out of Tel Aviv, Israel. An armed man apparently got into the British Embassy somehow with a weapon. He is threatening to commit suicide unless he gets some form of asylum. He wants to be taken out of that country. So, standing by at that embassy is our very own Chris Lawrence.

Chris, can you tell us more about what the situation is right now. Is he still inside?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He is, Carol.

I'm standing just literally a few feet away from the entrance to the British Embassy, no more than maybe 40 yards on the other side of that gate. The man is standing in the car park area, on the grounds of the British Embassy. He is armed, and he has said that they will either take him out of here to Europe or as a body.

Now, the man is from the West Bank town of Ramallah, and we're told that he had been working for years as an informer, helping the Israeli authorities identify and capture fellow Palestinians who meant to do harm to Israel. He has told several reporters that he is right now in some ways a man without a country. He is not an Israeli citizen, so he can't live here, and he has said that the Palestinians have told him that the only way he can come back home to the West Bank is to "kill some Jews."

Now, I spoke with several reporters who have talked to him on the phone. From what I'm told, he is standing there with his finger on the trigger, but the gun is down. It is not pointed up at anything. And he is having conversations, both on his cell phone, with some of the reporters who are nearby, and also with negotiators who are on the scene.

I listened to one of those conversations and, translated, the man basically said that he does not want to hurt anyone. He says he does not want to kill Jews. He just wants to go back to Britain. And he felt as if he had been abandoned by his handlers.

So that's the situation right now here just outside the British Embassy in Tel Aviv -- Carol.

LIN: Chris, do you know any back story as to how the Israeli security services were able to recruit him? This is very unusual and not common knowledge that Israeli forces, the Mossad, may actually try to recruit Palestinians to spy on their own people.

LAWRENCE: Well, from what I'm told, it's not all that unusual for -- for the Israeli authorities to use some Palestinians to identify others who may be trying to do harm to Israel. In this case, we're still trying to determine exactly, perhaps, when his cover was blown, so to speak.

Ironically, several of the reporters here on the scene tell me that this man called them three days ago and said that he was about to do something extreme because he felt abandoned and he felt like he had no place else to go. All these reporters say that they then called Mossad and called the intelligence agencies, called local police and let them know, gave -- gave the authorities the man's name, his cell phone, but they feel nothing was followed up on.

Then three days later the man comes here and he starts calling them, saying that, yes, see, I told you I was going to do something.

LIN: All right. A desperate situation there at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. Chris Lawrence standing by on this developing story.

Fredricka, this is something that we started reporting on earlier this morning. It is an ongoing situation. And we will keep you posted as to what happens next.

WHITFIELD: All right, Carol. Thanks so much.

We want to update you on another story taking place in Miami. Good news now that we know.

The 109 people on board this U.S. Airways flight all escaped injury after a fire took place on board. Apparently two of the tires on this plane blew out on landing. This plane making its way from Albany, New York, to Charlotte. Its final destination, Miami there.

An investigation is under way. The folks on board had to use those emergency chutes on the side of the plane in order to get out. They were boarded onto buses and then taken to the main terminal. The investigation still ongoing.

Meantime, deadline day, but Iran remains defiant, vowing it won't give up its nuclear program.

Plus, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Well, not if you're this man, Warren Jeffs. Details on today's extradition hearing and where the polygamist prophet is headed next.

Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

WHITFIELD: Say that one more time. I think we clipped your audio.

IKE WETHERILL, MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: The problem took place on landing. So the plane did not have a problem until it got on the ground.

WHITFIELD: OK. And so, give me kind of a blow-by-blow of what happened. The fire is sparked by these two tires that blew out, and then what?

WETHERILL: Well, the aircraft landed on runway 27. We really don't know exactly what happened at this time, other than about two- thirds of the way down the runway it appeared to have a problem and did blow tires, and there was some flash of fire. And the airplane stopped safely at the end of the runway.

Fire rescue responded immediately with operations and buses. And as you said, all the passengers were evacuated from the airplane safely. They were put in three buses and bused over to the terminal, to Concourse A auditorium.

WHITFIELD: So, initially, Mr. Wetherill, there was conflicting reports as to how the fire was extinguished, whether it was through measures on board or solely by those emergency crews there on the ground.

Can you straighten it out for us?

WETHERILL: It very well could have been both. We're really not sure at this time. But we did have fire rescue there in a very, very short period of time. And the crew on the aircraft did a great job as well. So it may have very well been a combined effort.

WHITFIELD: And tell me about the folks on board, had to use those emergency chutes. So many of us get on the plane, we -- we go through the pamphlets, or we see the videotape on what to do, but nobody really thinks they're going to have to execute it and do it.

What's you're understanding about how cooperative people were on board?

WETHERILL: We would think they were all very cooperative. And the flight crew on aircraft must have done a fantastic job.

Just the fact that everyone got off safely says an awful lot, doesn't it? So that flight crew did a great job. These people had to slide down those chutes to get on the ramp to then load on the buses. And we do not have any reports of injury at this time.

WHITFIELD: And all of those folks then put on the three buses that we were able to see earlier, videotape of the buses taking them to the main terminal?

WETHERILL: That's correct, and those buses are part of our operations group. That's what they're there for, to respond in emergencies when needed.

WHITFIELD: And then what happens? Just out of curiosity, what happens to those folks? How long do they have to wait before they get all their belongings and before everyone is checked out to make sure that everyone really is physically OK and mentally?

WETHERILL: Well, the airlines and several agencies will play a part in that. Getting them safely off the aircraft, of course, is our first concern. And then getting them somewhere where we can get them refreshments, make sure that we're meeting all their needs, if there's any injuries, tend to that.

And as far as the airline getting the bags to them and all that, the airlines will take care of that. They'll do it in an expeditious manner, I'm sure.

WHITFIELD: All right. And before I let you go, what does this do for air traffic there at Miami International Airport? Any delays as a result? Or is it smooth sailing from here on out? What? WETHERILL: It's smooth sailing. We have four runways. This closes one of them. And we'll get that airplane off the runway very, very quickly, I'm sure, and get that fourth runway opened up before our next bank (ph) comes in.

WHITFIELD: Ike Wetherill with the operations -- airport operations there at Miami International Airport, the supervisor.

Thanks so much for your time.

WETHERILL: Thank you and have a good day.

WHITFIELD: And glad it was a successful outcome and no reported injuries. That's good news.

A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms what many Western countries have long suspected, Iran is continuing its uranium enrichment activities in defiance of a U.N.-backed resolution. The IAEA delivered its report to the U.N. today, the deadline for Iran to suspend its nuclear program.

Our Matthew Chance is in Moscow with more.

What's the reaction there?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, thanks very much.

Well, it really is a crucial moment now when it comes to the international community, the United States and its European allies, in particular, deciding how they can best proceed to deal with Iran and its very controversial nuclear program.

You mentioned the IAEA, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog. They've issued their latest report. We've got a copy of it right here.

It's a very technical, very dense document. It brings out some very interesting facts that I'm sure the United States and their allies will be looking at very carefully as they discuss how best to proceed.

First of all, it makes the point that uranium enrichment has not been suspended in Iran, something the United Nations Security Council had called on the Islamic republic to do. But it also says that uranium enrichment has continued at the same level, they haven't increased the quantity or the quality of the uranium that's being enriched.

They also say that no progress has been made in this report, according to the IAEA, in answering any of the outstanding issues that have been asked by IAEA inspectors for the past several years. There's still big questions in Iran about where they got their equipment from and what scientists knew about how to produce enriched uranium, which, of course, can be used to produce nuclear weapons.

The final issue that's brought up in this latest report is that there are now additional questions after the most recent searches that IAEA inspectors have conducted on the ground in Iran. They say they've discovered new traces of highly enriched uranium.

All this is cataloged in this very dense report. And it's obviously the matter that now will be discussed at the United Nations Security Council and amongst the major powers in the country, Russia, China, European countries and the United States, of course, to decide what tough action they can now introduce against Iran to get it to comply with the will of the international community -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Matthew Chance from Moscow.

Thanks so much.

Well, known as a polygamist and a fugitive, Warren Jeffs now in custody. Will things change for his followers? We'll ask a former member of the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints. Carolyn Jessop joins me live to talk about how she got out.

Plus, powering up and pushing toward the Carolinas, a reenergized Ernesto nearing hurricane status again as it moves up the eastern coastline. The updated forecast straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, the fire's out, but still questions about what happened on U.S. Airways Flight 431 in Miami.

Carol Lin is in the newsroom with more -- Carol.

LIN: Well, let's find out from an eyewitness.

On the telephone with me right now is Ben McFarren. He was a passenger on that flight.

Ben, can you hear me?

BEN MCFARREN, U.S. AIRWAYS PASSENGER: Yes, I can hear you.

LIN: All right, Ben. So apparently this happened on landing, the tires blew out, and then there was a fire. How did you -- what was the first indication to you that you knew there was something wrong?

I'm sorry, they are starting to talk to us. They have us in a briefing room right now. You want me to put you on speaker to listen in?

LIN: I don't know if we can hear clearly.

Do you have a minute? Who's briefing?

MCFARREN: They have some people from the TSA briefing us right now.

LIN: The TSA briefing. I'll tell you what, we're hooked into the story in other ways.

Let me talk to you one-on-one directly right now, if you can. OK?

What happened first that indicated to you that there was something terribly wrong?

MCFARREN: Well, the flight was beginning to land, and then we touched down initially. And things started rattling pretty violently. It felt a lot like you're riding down the highway in your car, and basically the car just shakes violently.

I'm not signing that.

LIN: When you say violently, I mean, how badly did the plane shake?

MCFARREN: Pretty -- the ceiling panels on the top basically shook and fell down. All of the air masks kind of came down. And pretty (INAUDIBLE).

LIN: And then what happened next?

MCFARREN: I'm being told to be quiet just so everybody can hear.

LIN: All right. Ben, is there any way that you can walk out of that room?

All right. Ben, let's give this a try, OK? Otherwise, we'll try to call you back after that TSA briefing.

So, what happened next?

MCFARREN: Basically what happened next was the flight attendants did a great job to tell everyone to get off the plane as soon as you -- as soon as they could. Basically, they told everybody to leave their things behind, and everybody got up and got off.

And they inflated -- they inflated the chutes. And I slid down the chute and was off on to the runway and on to the grass. They put us into buses and we got bused away.

LIN: OK.

Ben, thanks so much for sharing these moments. I know you're probably going to want to hear what the TSA had to say about what happened, but I appreciate the time that you've spent with us and giving us an idea of what it was like for those passengers.

Ben McFarren on that flight from originally Albany, Charlotte, and now in Miami.

You know, Fred, I'm starting to whisper as if I'm in that TSA briefing. But basically, Ben was also telling our control room folks that, you know, passengers -- you know, the first reaction, if you could imagine, you know, you hit the ground, the plane is violently shaking. Ben already describing there briefly that the flight attendants were terrific in getting people organized and then they deployed that chute and getting all those people out. What, now, 104 passengers -- is that what we're saying?

WHITFIELD: A hundred and nine passengers.

LIN: A hundred and nine people on board that flight. So, Ben apparently hearing something from the TSA. Maybe we can get him back on the phone and see what they have to say as well.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right, thanks so much, Carol. Well, that number we were getting from an airport spokesperson, but John Zarrella is in Miami. He has been working his sources. Perhaps you have some better, more up-to-date information, John?

ZARRELLA: Hi, Fredricka. Yes, the number keeps changing on us. What we're hearing now -- and this again comes from U.S. Airways ...

WHITFIELD: OK.

ZARRELLA: ...is that the total number was 118 -- 113 passengers and five crew members is what they are telling us now were on the plane. Again, everyone's safe. And we're also understanding now, there's four runways at Miami International Airport.

So, from what we're understanding, there is no impact on other ingoing or outgoing traffic. They do have three other runways that they can use. Although this is, in fact, the longest runway. It's 13,000 feet and it's used primarily for landings. But that's the latest information we have -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, bottom line, we're just glad that the outcome is what it was, and that all of those people, 118 now, we're hearing, on board that U.S. Airways flight, all managed to escape uninjured and now they are trying to figure out exactly why those two tires did catch fire.

All right, still Tropical Storm Ernesto, at least we hope, but we understand it is trying to gain some strength. Our Reynolds Wolf is in the CNN Weather Center, and any chance that it really might gain enough strength to become or regain hurricane status, Reynolds?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much.

Well, as you mentioned, Reynolds, the folks in North Carolina, South Carolina are bracing for what could be a huge deluge of water from Tropical Storm Ernesto. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford right now.

GOV. MARK SANFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA: I spoke with both the mayor of Charleston, the mayor of North Charleston. Things seem to be going well down that way. There is some shallow flooding down in Charleston Proper, but for any of those who have spent time in Charleston Proper, that's not an unusual experience. I spoke with Mayor Riley. He thought things were going well. We saw high tide at Charleston at 1:45 today, and the good news is the tide is going down as those rains continue. There are somewhere between three and six inches down that way, fairly heavy rainfall in the Charleston metropolitan area.

As the storm tracks north, the other piece of good news would be it is projected to make landfall either in Horry County or probably, more likely based on the forecasts that we're hearing, maybe even into North Carolina, that it will be doing so at roughly low tide.

So the storm surge that we're hearing about is minimal, three to four feet. Again, some level of shallow, not riverine, but coastal flooding based on those different rain bands. I've spoken, again, with the mayor of North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, the folks at the O.C. in Horry County and Georgetown Counties, and they feel quite comfortable with the way that they're prepared and the way that things are moving along.

Schools are closing down an hour early in Horry County and are projected to reopen an hour later in Horry County tomorrow.

I guess the only other thing that I would make mention of is that, again, for whatever reason the -- some of the strongest winds in this storm, based on the numbers we're getting back, are to the southeast of the center.

This is particularly important as this storm is moving to the east of -- of basically Horry and Georgetown Counties and presently Charleston County. But typically these storms are up to the northeast. For whatever reason, some of the strongest winds are to the southeast in this storm to date. I'll hand off to Ron for a brief update. Yes, sir.

WHITFIELD: You've been listening to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford talk about the expectations from this Tropical Storm Ernesto. And at worst, he's saying the storm surge, they believe, may be between three and four feet in some areas.

Well, as you heard, residents in the Carolinas -- not just South Carolina, but North Carolina as well -- preparing for Ernesto. We'll go live to Pauley's Island, near Charleston, South Carolina, straight ahead. Stay with CNN, your hurricane headquarters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: An estimated 10,000 people do his bidding and the FBI had him on the same list as Osama bin Laden. It's kind of hard to reconcile those facts with the Warren Jeffs who appeared in a Las Vegas courtroom today.

The slight, soft-spoken man in shackles waived his rights and agreed to be sent to Utah to face felony sex charges. The charges stem from Jeffs' alleged practice of forcing underage girls into marriages with much older men. Jeffs goes first to Utah, where the charges and possible penalties are much more serious. He'll be held in the ironically named Purgatory Jail.

Carolyn Jessop was born into the bizarre world of the fundamentalist Latter Day Saints. As a teen, she was forced to marry a man more than 30 years her senior. Eight children later, she somehow gathered the courage to flee. Now that polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs is behind bars, we wanted to ask of her reaction.

Carolyn Jessop joins me now from Salt Lake City.

Good to see you, Carolyn.

CAROLYN JESSOP, ESCAPED FLDS CHURCH: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: So now that Mr. Jeffs is in custody, do you feel more at ease about speaking freely about what you went through and what this fundamentalist Latter Day Saints is all about?

JESSOP: Oh, absolutely. It makes a big difference. I mean, every -- even getting up in the morning, it just -- you know, it's like life has changed now. There's the process in place where there can be justice. And I still have a lot of family that he has power over, that I -- you know, I'm very concerned for. And hopefully things will open up and they'll be able to have the same freedoms in their lives that I now have in mine.

WHITFIELD: Since you left that group, how worried or fearful were you about, you know, going on and trying to raise your eight children? Did you fear for your life all this time?

JESSOP: I was terrified when I left. I had -- I had no way of knowing how I was going to survive in a world that was so foreign to everything I knew. And it's been challenging. It hasn't been easy, especially as a single parent with eight children, and then I also have a son who is severely handicapped.

My ex-husband, Meryl (ph) Jessop, has completely refused to pay anything for child support. He's had several thousands of dollars go through his hands; in fact, upwards of $1 million. And he has given all that money to Warren and refused to pay me anything for child support. So a lot of the hardships that I've experienced and my children has experienced is a direct cause of things that Warren had my husband do to us.

WHITFIELD: And now you have, I understand, 35 brothers and sisters. How might any of them be helping you with your eight children?

JESSOP: Well, a lot of my brothers and sisters that have left are -- have been an enormous support in many ways, multiple ways. It's one of the reasons I've been able to survive. And then I've also had a lot of just kind-hearted people from society at large come forward and offer help. And just between that and just the courage to stay with it and know that I deserve something better than what I was born to.

WHITFIELD: So do you think your children have a clear understanding about what's taken place with Warren Jeffs now, in custody, facing extradition? Do they understand that, you know, a trial may come and it may mean the testimony of other young people to talk about what they were subjected to? How much of this information are you willing to share with your kids?

JESSOP: Right now my children are actually quite confused as far as what is going on. They understand that Warren has hurt people, and they understand that there's things that he's done that even they will admit is wrong.

WHITFIELD: Uh-huh.

JESSOP: I don't think they entirely understand the justice system, and that he could go prison for things he's done. So, I -- you know...

WHITFIELD: And a moment ago, we were looking at videotape which involved some of the things that Mr. Jeffs was in possession of, everything from disguises, wigs, cell phones, eyeglasses and a lot of cash. When he was on the most wanted list, he was also considered to be armed and dangerous. Did that sound like the Warren Jeffs that you knew, that he might be armed and dangerous?

JESSOP: Oh, absolutely. Before I left, I never saw Warren in a public setting without men surrounding him, and they always carried guns.

WHITFIELD: Uh-huh.

JESSOP: He did have armed protection, and I was very concerned at what could occur when they caught -- captured him, that innocent people may be killed. And, so it was such a relief when I learned it had gone so smoothly. My stepdaughter, Naomi (ph), was with him, and it was just a true relief to know she was safe and that there was no resisting arrest and that it just went very smoothly.

WHITFIELD: But then you look at this man who was in court today, waif-like in his 6'2", 6'3" frame, very soft-spoken. And a lot of folks wonder, what is it about him that he was able to control so many people, brainwash as many people -- as you have said -- into following him, as they have? What is it about him?

JESSOP: Well, he doesn't actually have a charismatic personality. He comes across very polished, with perfect mannerisms. But he's -- he does not have a dynamic, charismatic personality or very much, if any, leadership abilities.

WHITFIELD: So how did he allegedly rope people in?

JESSOP: Well, he originally -- he inherited the position from his father, and his father inherited the position through being an apostle of the church and the only person who could possibly be the next prophet. Then Warren proclaimed himself a prophet after his father's death, and that worked fine, because he had been controlling the community for six years after his father's stroke. WHITFIELD: And so, Carolyn, before I let you go, you know, while he is facing charges of being an accomplice to two counts of rape, is it likely or possible that you would be asked to testify, given your experience with him?

JESSOP: I don't believe in this trial that there would be a place for that. I have witnessed underage marriages.

WHITFIELD: OK.

JESSOP: If the state wanted to pursue those charges, one being my stepdaughter that was married to him, I was there at the marriage.

WHITFIELD: All right.

JESSOP: So...

WHITFIELD: Carolyn Jessop, we're going to have to leave it right there. I know you're going to be on again, "LARRY KING LIVE" this evening. Thanks so much for your time right now. Carolyn Jessop joining Larry King for a rare inside look into Warren Jeffs' secretive community. That's tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.

The other big story, we continue to follow here, at least on the Atlantic coast, tracking Tropical Storm Ernesto, now nearing hurricane status again, as it pushes up the East Coast. We'll have a live report from South Carolina.

Plus, entertainment news with A.J. Hammer of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," there in the Big Apple, with all kinds of interesting stuff expected to happen tonight -- A.J.

A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Yes, just behind me, Fred, Radio City Music Hall, which is ramping up for the 23rd MTV Video Music Awards, always full of big stars and big surprises. I'll fill you in on what to expect, coming up next, when LIVE FROM continues.

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WHITFIELD: Correct me if I'm wrong -- does it seem a little ironic that MTV still televises a video music award show? Well, how often can you see music videos on MTV these days, anyway? Then again, the VMAs seem less about the video performances, and more about the performers pulling some sorts of stunts.

"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT"s A.J. Hammer joins me from New York to preview tonight's show, where already folks are crowding Radio City Music Hall.

HAMMER: Yes, it is kind of ironic, Fred, when you think about it. But this party is really always about what happens and the people showing up. It's the 23rd annual MTV Video Music Awards. I'm right here on Sixth Avenue in New York City. Radio City Hall, just behind me.

May I throw a cliche out at you? The energy is palpable, because already big stars are arriving at the side door of the stage to do their sound checks, a lot of the presenters who are going to be a part of the show tonight. It's expected to be wild. It's its first time back in New York City in two years.

Let's talk about some of the nominees, because leading the pack with seven each, Shakira, and that's all because of a little song called "Kids Don't Lie," and they don't, do they? Also ahead in the nominees this year, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They are frontrunners as well as Shakira. They are in up front for their song Dani California in seven categories, as I mentioned.

And Madonna who has been a part of this thing basically since it started is going to be here as well tonight with several nominations herself. But, you know, Fred, it's always not so much about who wins or loses at this thing, speaking of Madonna, it's about, you know, the memorable moments.

WHITFIELD: Yes, like the one we're showing right now, the kiss with Madonna and Britney and there was the kiss with M.J., not as part of a threesome or anything like that, but M.J. and, at the time, his wife. What kind of memorable moments might we be expecting tonight?

HAMMER: Well, I need to comment on that particular one, because it's hard to believe that was back in 1994 when Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson came out on stage. Michael said, "and they said it wouldn't last." They had their embrace, they kissed as we saw, and they were divorced just -- what, a couple of months later.

WHITFIELD: It didn't last.

HAMMER: And that was 12 years ago. But tonight we can definitely expect similar things, because those always become the clips that get played over and over when you are talking about this.

WHITFIELD: That's right. It's all by design, but sometimes those memorable moments aren't on stage but sometimes right there on the red carpet.

HAMMER: Absolutely, the most outrageous carpet of any award show. We've seen it go on year after year. Now last year in Miami, it was on the heels of Hurricane Katrina, they had to bring it inside. Being back here at Radio City Music Hall, they are trying something different this year.

It's going to be really interesting to see how they've set the red carpet in and around the area of Rockefeller Center where the skating rink is. And we're even going to see a performance by Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.

It's going to be a little interesting when they try to shut the whole thing down for five minutes to have her performs her big hit, but they are planning on it, and we can expect some outrageous outfits, and I like to call them costumes for this thing as well.

WHITFIELD: Oh, but the folks outside will be so happy, especially since they'll be regretting not having tickets to get inside. Let's talk about the performances or those that are expected to appear.

HAMMER: Well, we know Beyonce is always a favorite at the MTV VMAs. She's scheduled to be performing tonight. Justin Timberlake is also scheduled to be performing his new big hit song for the very first time.

Also, to note, I think it's worth making mention of the fact that both Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey -- who got more attention for their divorce over the last year than they did for their music -- are both planning to be here tonight. Whether they'll be hanging out, I kind of doubt it. Nick right now rumored to be dating an MTV veejay, and we still have to find out if Jessica Simpson got her voice back, as we were talking about yesterday.

WHITFIELD: That's right.

HAMMER: She lost her voice.

WHITFIELD: See if the voice conveniently comes back. A.J. Hammer, thanks so much. We'll be watching and watching you especially on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," 11:00 p.m. Eastern.

HAMMER: See you then.

WHITFIELD: There you go.

Something else we're watching, Tropical Storm Ernesto bearing down on the Atlantic coast. New video coming in to us from Charleston, South Carolina. Look at that. We expected some water to be sitting around, since they don't have much of a drainage system in parts of Charleston. A live report straight ahead. Stay with CNN, your hurricane headquarters.

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WHITFIELD: Let's go to New York one more time. It's time to check in with Susan Lisovicz.

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