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CNN Live Today
Suicide Bomber Kills Over 125 in Iraq; Accused BTK Killer Cooperates with Police; Opening Statements Begin in the Michael Jackson Trial
Aired February 28, 2005 - 10:00 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.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: "Million Dollar Baby," now million- dollar newscast.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: You ready?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: I'm ready.
SANCHEZ: Here's what's happening right now in the news.
In Iraq today, the single deadliest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein. It's a suicide bomber; he drove his car into a group of police recruits while they were in line waiting for a medical checkup outside a government office building in Hilla. Now, at least 125 people are dead at last count. More than 150 people wounded. The death toll on this, expected to climb.
The Vatican reported today that Pope John Paul II is recovering from last week's tracheotomy. Vatican officials also say the pontiff is eating well and has begun therapy to help his breathing and his speaking. The Holy Father surprised the faithful yesterday by making a brief appearance at his hospital window.
Big winter storm is bearing down on the northeast today. In fact, we've got live pictures up for you. We're going to do this throughout the newscast, by the way. These are coming in from Roanoke Virginia. This is the TV affiliate there WSLS. It's a slow-moving storm. It could dump more than a foot of snow, we're told, in some regions in the northeast. And some of the Atlantic states.
Snow, sleet, rain, all predicted from North Carolina all the way to Maine. Heavy winds may produce near-blizzard conditions in some places as well. And we will get an update on our weather in a couple of minutes for you.
Also, more than a year after being charged, Michael Jackson goes on trial today. Opening statements in the singer's child molestation trial begin next hour. We are going to have a live report from Santa Maria, California. That's coming up in just 10 minutes.
There is so much to talk about. So much news on this day. We welcome you. I'm Rick Sanchez.
KAGAN: And good morning on this Monday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
The insurgents' most deadly single attack thunders south of Baghdad, as the fight for Iraq claims dozens of lives.
And we begin in Iraq. In Hilla, the staggering death toll continues to climb. At least 275 people are dead or wounded after a suicide bomber plows his car into a group of police recruits.
Let get the latest from Baghdad and CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.
Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, an eyewitness who was in Hilla today said that he saw the suicide bomber drive that car full of explosives, right into a line of police recruits. As he described it, at the scene at time, he said at least 50 people were dead. He said many, many more than expected.
One of the reasons the death toll is so high, we are told by police, is that the medical center where all of these police recruits were lined up outside, waiting to get medical checks, was right in the middle of Hilla very close to a busy outdoor market.
The blast happened at 9:30 in the morning. The market we are told would have been very, very busy. One hundred and twenty-five people are dead, according to police. That figure may change. They also say that over 200 people have been wounded. And the bodies and injured people have already begun to arrive in the hospital in the city of Hilla. There, officials trying to cope with that many wounded people.
This is the deadliest single blast since the insurgency after the fall of Saddam Hussein -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And Nic, of course, it probably is no accident he targeted people in line to be police recruit. That is an uphill challenge trying to secure Iraqis and trying to build the Iraqi security forces.
ROBERTSON: Absolutely. We've seen this over the recent weeks and months that police recruitment centers have been targeted time and again by the insurgents. Perhaps what makes this stand out is that it wasn't a recruitment center. It was a medical facility where the recruits had been sent to have their medical tests done.
An apparent indication that perhaps the insurgents had wind of this. Perhaps they knew that there would be a lot of police recruits all in one place at all one time. And that may be why this bomb has been so particularly deadly and taken such a large toll on the recruits.
But we are told by government officials here, and by U.S. military commanders, that recruitment for the police and the army here is up, it's doing very well, that the attacks haven't had an impact on recruitment. Indeed, one military general here over the weekend said that the recruitment was doing so well, they're getting more police and army recruits. And they're actually able to train at this time -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson with the latest live from Baghdad. More from you in the next hour. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Here in the states, police are saying an infamous serial killer has been caught. And they go on to say that he's cooperating. Police in Wichita, Kansas are saying this man, seen here in file video from local TV station, is the BTK killer. BTK stands for "bind, torture, and kill." This longtime churchgoer and city employee is accused of a 17-year killing spree that started back in 1974.
CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is in Wichita, Kansas.
Bob, we understand the murder charges are now up to 10. Is that right?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're up to 10. Of course, they are investigating other unsolved murders. Murders that is par for the course. Also par for the course is a very tedious legal process, which would begin with a first hearing possibly later today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Now he awaits his first appearance before a judge. Accused of brutal, sadistic murders that spanned decades arrested Friday. Just two days before that, Dennis Rader stopped off before Lenten observances the Christ Lutheran, where he's president of the church council.
PAUL CARSTEDT, CHURCH MEMBER: He brought spaghetti sauce and a salad and said, "Here, this is for the congregation." To go from Wednesday to Friday and to have that conversation with him on Wednesday night, it's 48 hours of just disbelief.
FRANKEN: It has been widely reported that Rader antagonized many neighbors. But a church seen as a loving member of the congregation, family man. The pastor says he has spoken with the family.
REV. MICHAEL CLARK, PASTOR, CHRIST LUTERAN CHURCH: At the present time, the family is in a bewildered stage totally, trying to make sense and to understand what is happening in their lives right now.
FRANKEN: Which is what members of Christ Lutheran Church are trying to do. Every Sunday Bob Smyser and Dennis Rader passed the collection plates together. Smyser spent lots of time with Rader so did his children.
BOB SMYSER, CHURCH MEMBER: They saw the picture on the news and my 5-year-old said, "Daddy, isn't that guy who collects money with you in the plates." I said yes. That's Dennis. And we usher together. And he was fairly quiet. And I'm not sure what to tell him. I'm not sure what to tell myself. And he said, "Daddy, he tricked us didn't he?"
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Now, at the church, Rick, there are professional crisis counselors who are going to be helping the really bewildered members of the congregation, as the congregation a community, and the justice center try to unravel the story of Dennis Rader -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Bob Franken following that story for us. We certainly thank you. We apologize for some of the audio problems there as well.
Daryn, over to you.
KAGAN: More now on BTK. Investigators say they have linked Rader to two cases that had not been attributed to the BTK killer: the 1985 killing of a Marie Hedge and the 1991 murder of Delores Davis.
Here now is reaction from Davis' son.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF DAVIS, VICTIM'S SON: It was interesting that what had been in the past a mindless, faceless image, all of a sudden this devil masquerading as a human being had a face. And it made sick to my stomach to look at him, and still does. He makes me sick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Rader is expected to be formally charged with those killings, as well.
In Wichita, the mood is bitter sweet. Locals are greatly relieved by an arrest yet they are unnerved, as you were hearing in Bob Franken's piece, that the suspect had been in their midst the entire time.
On CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," we heard from Wichita mayor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR CARLOS MAYANS, WICHITA, KANSAS: First of all, I think the community is relieved. I think that the relatives of the victims are beginning a new chapter. It's going to be very challenging for them as they face the trial of this person. But I think that the community is relieved. I think people are able to sleep much better at night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: The mayor appeared with Wichita's police chief. He told CNN that Rader is cooperating but there will be no formal release of what he has said before his trial.
In the next hour, we're going to talk to our law enforcement specialist about the case. And then at tonight at 10:00 p.m., Aaron Brown will host "Catching BTK, a special edition of "NEWSNIGHT."
SANCHEZ: There is no good news; there is no new information as well about that little girl missing in central Florida. In fact, the volunteer search for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford will be called off today.
Lunsford vanished from her Homosassa Springs bedroom north of Tampa in the middle of the night. That's in western Florida. Four days of canvassing had yielded no clues. And authorities say it's unclear whether the third grader was either abducted or simply ran away.
Now, here's her father and her grandmother earlier today on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUTH LUNSFORD, GRANDMOTHER OF JESSICA LUNSFORD: The community has been great and our law enforcement that we've had here has been the very best. And I know that they have -- they have to move their command center. But that doesn't mean that this investigation has stopped. It's ongoing until we bring Jesse home.
MARK LUNSFORD, FATHER OF JESSICA LUNSFORD: I know my daughter. She's not much different than anybody else's. She's, you know, she's in a fairly good home. There's no reason for them to leave.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You may have heard about the reports. We want to just clear it up for you. Over the weekend, the sheriff's department, they had released a photo from a convenience store camera. Investigators are now saying the man and the girl that were seen in the photo have absolutely no connection to this case.
Now, these are the contact numbers for the sheriff's department there in Citrus County, Florida. If you have any information as to whereabouts or the condition of little Jessica Marie Lunsford you're being asked to dial these numbers. Again, if you have any information at all, contact the Citrus County Sheriff's Office with that information.
KAGAN: We head south now. In Florida, a tornado ripped into Florida's Space Coast yesterday. There were no serious injuries but at least 14 homes in Palm Bay suffered major damage. In fact, some of those in Brevard County had been damaged, then repaired after hurricanes raked across the state last summer. They have had enough over the last year.
SANCHEZ: Boy, isn't that amazing? Trouble on top of trouble.
KAGAN: Today though, the weather story is in the northeast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: Jackson on Jackson. We're going to tell you why the reverend is upset, as opening statements are expected in just over an hour in the singer Michael Jackson's molestation case. We will get a live report.
KAGAN: And a makeover for Oscar. Did you watch last night? Did you like Chris Rock as the host? And what about this thing of making the nominees...
SANCHEZ: Stand up there.
KAGAN: ... stare at the audience or standing...
SANCHEZ: Looking uncomfortable?
KAGAN: Yes. We're going to talk about that. Still to come a look at the night's highs and lows.
SANCHEZ: And then later, CPR with man's best friend. The things that some people do to try and keep their dogs alive.
KAGAN: And the problem is?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Opening statements in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial set to begin a little more than an hour interest now.
Our legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is outside the courtroom in Santa Maria, California.
Jeff, good morning.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning D.K.
KAGAN: Let's start with the opening statements. What will you be looking for with each side?
TOOBIN: I think from the prosecution the message is going to be very simple: believe the boy. Believe the accuser. That don't get distracted by anything else because if the accuser's testimony is believed by the jury, this trial is over and Michael Jackson is guilty. So I think you're going to just see a lot of focus on the boy's story and whether it's believable.
KAGAN: So then does Thomas Mesereau go after the boy or the boy's family?
TOOBIN: See, that's where I think things are going to be...
KAGAN: The defense attorney, for those who...
TOOBIN: That's what I think things are going to get very interesting. Tom Mesereau, Michael Jackson's lead attorney, I think will focus a lot of attention on the woman we're going to be calling Jane Doe, who is the excuser's mother. Because she has a colorful, to put it mildly, background, she has been involved in a lot of litigation. Particularly a very controversial lawsuit where she sued J.C. Penney for allegedly falsely accusing her of shoplifting. And that case of the defense will argue shows that not only is she a liar, but she puts her children up to a lie. I think that's going to be the way that Thomas Mesereau can attack the credibility of the prosecution without attacking the boy himself, who is a cancer survivor. Who is now only 15 years old, who is not someone the jury is going to want to see attacked. They'll attack his mother instead.
KAGAN: I think a lot of people were surprised to see how quickly the jury came together, the jury selection. How does this jury stack up? Ultimately, we won't know until a verdict is in. But by the looks of things, who won out in jury selection?
TOOBIN: Well, Daryn, count me among the surprised too, about how short jury selection was. It was a very short questionnaire, only about eight pages, 10 minutes of questioning per juror per side. That's not a lot of voir dire.
I think on the surface, this looks like a pretty sympathetic jury to the prosecution. These are people with children. But you know, we know much little -- much less about this jury than we usually know about jurors in high-profile cases.
KAGAN: All right. Well, you have a seat in the courtroom. We will be checking back with you. I think a thousand media credentials have been issued for this trial.
TOOBIN: There are a lot of folks here, Daryn.
KAGAN: We're glad you have one of them.
TOOBIN: OK.
KAGAN: Jeffrey Toobin in Santa Monica, thank you.
SANCHEZ: You love your dog.
KAGAN: It goes beyond that.
SANCHEZ: Yes?
KAGAN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Because there's a guy, we're going to bring a story to...
KAGAN: I would do for my dog what was done for this dog. I'll tell you that.
SANCHEZ: I'm glad you said that. Still to come, how one man went to extra lengths to save his dog.
KAGAN: Don't even think twice.
SANCHEZ: Huh!
KAGAN: Gerri Willis is here to help us, to save us, to help us out.
Hey, Ger.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, guys. Do your finances need a resuscitation? We'll tell you more when CNN LIVE continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You know, there's some new legislation -- we're going to get into our "Five Tips." There's new legislation that's being adopted and debated in Capitol Hill today. Could, could, make it tougher for you declare personal bankruptcy. And perhaps you're already in debt. Or maybe you've been a victim of identity theft, as we've been telling you about here in last couple of weeks, like those in the Choice Point fraud case.
Whatever your situation, our personal finance editor Gerri Willis can help. She has today's "Five Tips." She's joining us now.
Now, if you want to clean up your credit, the first thing you've got to do is get your credit, right?
WILLIS: That's right. And people think it's complicated. The good news here is that the federal government is making it easier, even free to get your credit report. You want to make sure you get yours. Remember, some 9.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year. You've got to know if you are.
Check out annualcreditreport.com. This is where you can go to find out if you can get yours free right now. If you live in one of the Western states you can get it free now. If you live in the Midwest, typically you're going have to wait until March 1, as you can see on this map right now. The East Coast, you all have to wait until September 1 to get that free credit report.
But that's definitely the place to start, Rick.
SANCHEZ: And you have to really understand the bottom line on these things even if it's bad news. Right? Which for a lot of people it could be if they've missed a couple of payments?
WILLIS: That's right. It's all about your credit score. That's what you're looking for. Typically scores range from 350 to 800. You really want to score that's 620 or over, because that's when you start getting the really good deals on interest rates.
Understand that everything you do feeds into this credit score, whether it's how you're paying credit cards off, what you pay your landlord. Any numbers of ways that you interact with money, it become a part of this report. If you want to understand more go to myifico.com.
SANCHEZ: What if you've had a problem that really wasn't your fault? It had to do with someone stealing your identity, as we've been reporting on. Where do you go to clear up your identity, for example -- Gerri?
WILLIS: This is really difficult. It will take a lot of work. But you want to start by putting a fraud alert on your report. You've got to contact the credit bureaus, tell them you want a fraud alert. This will let you know if someone's trying to take out credit in your name. You'll get a phone call.
Now, these fraud alerts typically last 90 to 180 days. But you can extend that up to seven years. And if you've actually been a victim of fraud, your identity has been stolen, you'll definitely want to do that.
SANCHEZ: And you probably have to understand just how deep the problem is or how deep you're into it. Right?
WILLIS: Well, if your real issue is you've got a lot of debt, you need to understand when it's a problem, how much is too much. Understand if you have credit card debt, the average amount is $12,000. That's a lot of money to have out when you're paying 12 percent, 10 percent on that money.
Now, the rule of thumb here, if you can't pay that debt off in a year and still keep up with your other obligations you're in trouble. You really need to go for more help.
SANCHEZ: Good information as usual. Gerri Willis, thanks so much for being with us.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Two shot.
KAGAN: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
KAGAN: As we say in the biz. Two shot.
The White House ready to join Europe and shake hands with Iran. Still to come, a possible agreement on the table. The sticking points as well.
Plus a look at the domestic issues that have President Bush's attention this week.
And later...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAIME FOXX, OSCAR WINNER: Oh!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh! FOXX: Ah!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ah!
FOXX: Yes, you ready.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: He had them singing in the aisles, didn't he? Once again, Jamie Foxx pulls in a win and harmonizes with the crowd. A look at the winners, the losers and everything in between. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're getting some breaking news now in from the northern West Bank. Apparently, Israeli defense forces have discovered a car they say was packed with explosives. They believe it's linked to Islamic Jihad. That is the same group that claimed responsibility for Friday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and that car discovered today in the West Bank.
We're going to have more on that out of West Bank as it becomes available.
SANCHEZ: And as we begin this next half hour, I'm Rick Sanchez.
KAGAN: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what else is happening now in the news.
A suicide car bomber has carried out the deadliest single attack since U.S.-led invasion. This is in Iraq. The vehicle plowed into a crowd of police recruits outside of a government building in Hilla, south of Baghdad. At least 125 people were killed at least and more than 150 others wounded.
In New York, jurors could hear today from Bernie Ebbers, the man at the held of WorldCom, and one of the largest bankruptcies in corporate history. Ebbers is accused of masterminding the $11 billion accounting fraud. Ebbers, if convicted could face up to 85 years in prison.
And we have a major merge merger to report with two groups of legendary department stores coming under one umbrella. Federated Department Stores, they own Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Rich's, has announced an $11 billion deal to buy May stores. The St. Louis-based May owns Marshall Fields and Lord and Taylor among other retailers. Together, they trail only Wal Mart and Sears in total sales.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 28, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: "Million Dollar Baby," now million- dollar newscast.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: You ready?
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: I'm ready.
SANCHEZ: Here's what's happening right now in the news.
In Iraq today, the single deadliest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein. It's a suicide bomber; he drove his car into a group of police recruits while they were in line waiting for a medical checkup outside a government office building in Hilla. Now, at least 125 people are dead at last count. More than 150 people wounded. The death toll on this, expected to climb.
The Vatican reported today that Pope John Paul II is recovering from last week's tracheotomy. Vatican officials also say the pontiff is eating well and has begun therapy to help his breathing and his speaking. The Holy Father surprised the faithful yesterday by making a brief appearance at his hospital window.
Big winter storm is bearing down on the northeast today. In fact, we've got live pictures up for you. We're going to do this throughout the newscast, by the way. These are coming in from Roanoke Virginia. This is the TV affiliate there WSLS. It's a slow-moving storm. It could dump more than a foot of snow, we're told, in some regions in the northeast. And some of the Atlantic states.
Snow, sleet, rain, all predicted from North Carolina all the way to Maine. Heavy winds may produce near-blizzard conditions in some places as well. And we will get an update on our weather in a couple of minutes for you.
Also, more than a year after being charged, Michael Jackson goes on trial today. Opening statements in the singer's child molestation trial begin next hour. We are going to have a live report from Santa Maria, California. That's coming up in just 10 minutes.
There is so much to talk about. So much news on this day. We welcome you. I'm Rick Sanchez.
KAGAN: And good morning on this Monday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
The insurgents' most deadly single attack thunders south of Baghdad, as the fight for Iraq claims dozens of lives.
And we begin in Iraq. In Hilla, the staggering death toll continues to climb. At least 275 people are dead or wounded after a suicide bomber plows his car into a group of police recruits.
Let get the latest from Baghdad and CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.
Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, an eyewitness who was in Hilla today said that he saw the suicide bomber drive that car full of explosives, right into a line of police recruits. As he described it, at the scene at time, he said at least 50 people were dead. He said many, many more than expected.
One of the reasons the death toll is so high, we are told by police, is that the medical center where all of these police recruits were lined up outside, waiting to get medical checks, was right in the middle of Hilla very close to a busy outdoor market.
The blast happened at 9:30 in the morning. The market we are told would have been very, very busy. One hundred and twenty-five people are dead, according to police. That figure may change. They also say that over 200 people have been wounded. And the bodies and injured people have already begun to arrive in the hospital in the city of Hilla. There, officials trying to cope with that many wounded people.
This is the deadliest single blast since the insurgency after the fall of Saddam Hussein -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And Nic, of course, it probably is no accident he targeted people in line to be police recruit. That is an uphill challenge trying to secure Iraqis and trying to build the Iraqi security forces.
ROBERTSON: Absolutely. We've seen this over the recent weeks and months that police recruitment centers have been targeted time and again by the insurgents. Perhaps what makes this stand out is that it wasn't a recruitment center. It was a medical facility where the recruits had been sent to have their medical tests done.
An apparent indication that perhaps the insurgents had wind of this. Perhaps they knew that there would be a lot of police recruits all in one place at all one time. And that may be why this bomb has been so particularly deadly and taken such a large toll on the recruits.
But we are told by government officials here, and by U.S. military commanders, that recruitment for the police and the army here is up, it's doing very well, that the attacks haven't had an impact on recruitment. Indeed, one military general here over the weekend said that the recruitment was doing so well, they're getting more police and army recruits. And they're actually able to train at this time -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson with the latest live from Baghdad. More from you in the next hour. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Here in the states, police are saying an infamous serial killer has been caught. And they go on to say that he's cooperating. Police in Wichita, Kansas are saying this man, seen here in file video from local TV station, is the BTK killer. BTK stands for "bind, torture, and kill." This longtime churchgoer and city employee is accused of a 17-year killing spree that started back in 1974.
CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is in Wichita, Kansas.
Bob, we understand the murder charges are now up to 10. Is that right?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're up to 10. Of course, they are investigating other unsolved murders. Murders that is par for the course. Also par for the course is a very tedious legal process, which would begin with a first hearing possibly later today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): Now he awaits his first appearance before a judge. Accused of brutal, sadistic murders that spanned decades arrested Friday. Just two days before that, Dennis Rader stopped off before Lenten observances the Christ Lutheran, where he's president of the church council.
PAUL CARSTEDT, CHURCH MEMBER: He brought spaghetti sauce and a salad and said, "Here, this is for the congregation." To go from Wednesday to Friday and to have that conversation with him on Wednesday night, it's 48 hours of just disbelief.
FRANKEN: It has been widely reported that Rader antagonized many neighbors. But a church seen as a loving member of the congregation, family man. The pastor says he has spoken with the family.
REV. MICHAEL CLARK, PASTOR, CHRIST LUTERAN CHURCH: At the present time, the family is in a bewildered stage totally, trying to make sense and to understand what is happening in their lives right now.
FRANKEN: Which is what members of Christ Lutheran Church are trying to do. Every Sunday Bob Smyser and Dennis Rader passed the collection plates together. Smyser spent lots of time with Rader so did his children.
BOB SMYSER, CHURCH MEMBER: They saw the picture on the news and my 5-year-old said, "Daddy, isn't that guy who collects money with you in the plates." I said yes. That's Dennis. And we usher together. And he was fairly quiet. And I'm not sure what to tell him. I'm not sure what to tell myself. And he said, "Daddy, he tricked us didn't he?"
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Now, at the church, Rick, there are professional crisis counselors who are going to be helping the really bewildered members of the congregation, as the congregation a community, and the justice center try to unravel the story of Dennis Rader -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Bob Franken following that story for us. We certainly thank you. We apologize for some of the audio problems there as well.
Daryn, over to you.
KAGAN: More now on BTK. Investigators say they have linked Rader to two cases that had not been attributed to the BTK killer: the 1985 killing of a Marie Hedge and the 1991 murder of Delores Davis.
Here now is reaction from Davis' son.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF DAVIS, VICTIM'S SON: It was interesting that what had been in the past a mindless, faceless image, all of a sudden this devil masquerading as a human being had a face. And it made sick to my stomach to look at him, and still does. He makes me sick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Rader is expected to be formally charged with those killings, as well.
In Wichita, the mood is bitter sweet. Locals are greatly relieved by an arrest yet they are unnerved, as you were hearing in Bob Franken's piece, that the suspect had been in their midst the entire time.
On CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," we heard from Wichita mayor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR CARLOS MAYANS, WICHITA, KANSAS: First of all, I think the community is relieved. I think that the relatives of the victims are beginning a new chapter. It's going to be very challenging for them as they face the trial of this person. But I think that the community is relieved. I think people are able to sleep much better at night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: The mayor appeared with Wichita's police chief. He told CNN that Rader is cooperating but there will be no formal release of what he has said before his trial.
In the next hour, we're going to talk to our law enforcement specialist about the case. And then at tonight at 10:00 p.m., Aaron Brown will host "Catching BTK, a special edition of "NEWSNIGHT."
SANCHEZ: There is no good news; there is no new information as well about that little girl missing in central Florida. In fact, the volunteer search for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford will be called off today.
Lunsford vanished from her Homosassa Springs bedroom north of Tampa in the middle of the night. That's in western Florida. Four days of canvassing had yielded no clues. And authorities say it's unclear whether the third grader was either abducted or simply ran away.
Now, here's her father and her grandmother earlier today on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUTH LUNSFORD, GRANDMOTHER OF JESSICA LUNSFORD: The community has been great and our law enforcement that we've had here has been the very best. And I know that they have -- they have to move their command center. But that doesn't mean that this investigation has stopped. It's ongoing until we bring Jesse home.
MARK LUNSFORD, FATHER OF JESSICA LUNSFORD: I know my daughter. She's not much different than anybody else's. She's, you know, she's in a fairly good home. There's no reason for them to leave.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You may have heard about the reports. We want to just clear it up for you. Over the weekend, the sheriff's department, they had released a photo from a convenience store camera. Investigators are now saying the man and the girl that were seen in the photo have absolutely no connection to this case.
Now, these are the contact numbers for the sheriff's department there in Citrus County, Florida. If you have any information as to whereabouts or the condition of little Jessica Marie Lunsford you're being asked to dial these numbers. Again, if you have any information at all, contact the Citrus County Sheriff's Office with that information.
KAGAN: We head south now. In Florida, a tornado ripped into Florida's Space Coast yesterday. There were no serious injuries but at least 14 homes in Palm Bay suffered major damage. In fact, some of those in Brevard County had been damaged, then repaired after hurricanes raked across the state last summer. They have had enough over the last year.
SANCHEZ: Boy, isn't that amazing? Trouble on top of trouble.
KAGAN: Today though, the weather story is in the northeast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: Jackson on Jackson. We're going to tell you why the reverend is upset, as opening statements are expected in just over an hour in the singer Michael Jackson's molestation case. We will get a live report.
KAGAN: And a makeover for Oscar. Did you watch last night? Did you like Chris Rock as the host? And what about this thing of making the nominees...
SANCHEZ: Stand up there.
KAGAN: ... stare at the audience or standing...
SANCHEZ: Looking uncomfortable?
KAGAN: Yes. We're going to talk about that. Still to come a look at the night's highs and lows.
SANCHEZ: And then later, CPR with man's best friend. The things that some people do to try and keep their dogs alive.
KAGAN: And the problem is?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Opening statements in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial set to begin a little more than an hour interest now.
Our legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is outside the courtroom in Santa Maria, California.
Jeff, good morning.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning D.K.
KAGAN: Let's start with the opening statements. What will you be looking for with each side?
TOOBIN: I think from the prosecution the message is going to be very simple: believe the boy. Believe the accuser. That don't get distracted by anything else because if the accuser's testimony is believed by the jury, this trial is over and Michael Jackson is guilty. So I think you're going to just see a lot of focus on the boy's story and whether it's believable.
KAGAN: So then does Thomas Mesereau go after the boy or the boy's family?
TOOBIN: See, that's where I think things are going to be...
KAGAN: The defense attorney, for those who...
TOOBIN: That's what I think things are going to get very interesting. Tom Mesereau, Michael Jackson's lead attorney, I think will focus a lot of attention on the woman we're going to be calling Jane Doe, who is the excuser's mother. Because she has a colorful, to put it mildly, background, she has been involved in a lot of litigation. Particularly a very controversial lawsuit where she sued J.C. Penney for allegedly falsely accusing her of shoplifting. And that case of the defense will argue shows that not only is she a liar, but she puts her children up to a lie. I think that's going to be the way that Thomas Mesereau can attack the credibility of the prosecution without attacking the boy himself, who is a cancer survivor. Who is now only 15 years old, who is not someone the jury is going to want to see attacked. They'll attack his mother instead.
KAGAN: I think a lot of people were surprised to see how quickly the jury came together, the jury selection. How does this jury stack up? Ultimately, we won't know until a verdict is in. But by the looks of things, who won out in jury selection?
TOOBIN: Well, Daryn, count me among the surprised too, about how short jury selection was. It was a very short questionnaire, only about eight pages, 10 minutes of questioning per juror per side. That's not a lot of voir dire.
I think on the surface, this looks like a pretty sympathetic jury to the prosecution. These are people with children. But you know, we know much little -- much less about this jury than we usually know about jurors in high-profile cases.
KAGAN: All right. Well, you have a seat in the courtroom. We will be checking back with you. I think a thousand media credentials have been issued for this trial.
TOOBIN: There are a lot of folks here, Daryn.
KAGAN: We're glad you have one of them.
TOOBIN: OK.
KAGAN: Jeffrey Toobin in Santa Monica, thank you.
SANCHEZ: You love your dog.
KAGAN: It goes beyond that.
SANCHEZ: Yes?
KAGAN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Because there's a guy, we're going to bring a story to...
KAGAN: I would do for my dog what was done for this dog. I'll tell you that.
SANCHEZ: I'm glad you said that. Still to come, how one man went to extra lengths to save his dog.
KAGAN: Don't even think twice.
SANCHEZ: Huh!
KAGAN: Gerri Willis is here to help us, to save us, to help us out.
Hey, Ger.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, guys. Do your finances need a resuscitation? We'll tell you more when CNN LIVE continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You know, there's some new legislation -- we're going to get into our "Five Tips." There's new legislation that's being adopted and debated in Capitol Hill today. Could, could, make it tougher for you declare personal bankruptcy. And perhaps you're already in debt. Or maybe you've been a victim of identity theft, as we've been telling you about here in last couple of weeks, like those in the Choice Point fraud case.
Whatever your situation, our personal finance editor Gerri Willis can help. She has today's "Five Tips." She's joining us now.
Now, if you want to clean up your credit, the first thing you've got to do is get your credit, right?
WILLIS: That's right. And people think it's complicated. The good news here is that the federal government is making it easier, even free to get your credit report. You want to make sure you get yours. Remember, some 9.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year. You've got to know if you are.
Check out annualcreditreport.com. This is where you can go to find out if you can get yours free right now. If you live in one of the Western states you can get it free now. If you live in the Midwest, typically you're going have to wait until March 1, as you can see on this map right now. The East Coast, you all have to wait until September 1 to get that free credit report.
But that's definitely the place to start, Rick.
SANCHEZ: And you have to really understand the bottom line on these things even if it's bad news. Right? Which for a lot of people it could be if they've missed a couple of payments?
WILLIS: That's right. It's all about your credit score. That's what you're looking for. Typically scores range from 350 to 800. You really want to score that's 620 or over, because that's when you start getting the really good deals on interest rates.
Understand that everything you do feeds into this credit score, whether it's how you're paying credit cards off, what you pay your landlord. Any numbers of ways that you interact with money, it become a part of this report. If you want to understand more go to myifico.com.
SANCHEZ: What if you've had a problem that really wasn't your fault? It had to do with someone stealing your identity, as we've been reporting on. Where do you go to clear up your identity, for example -- Gerri?
WILLIS: This is really difficult. It will take a lot of work. But you want to start by putting a fraud alert on your report. You've got to contact the credit bureaus, tell them you want a fraud alert. This will let you know if someone's trying to take out credit in your name. You'll get a phone call.
Now, these fraud alerts typically last 90 to 180 days. But you can extend that up to seven years. And if you've actually been a victim of fraud, your identity has been stolen, you'll definitely want to do that.
SANCHEZ: And you probably have to understand just how deep the problem is or how deep you're into it. Right?
WILLIS: Well, if your real issue is you've got a lot of debt, you need to understand when it's a problem, how much is too much. Understand if you have credit card debt, the average amount is $12,000. That's a lot of money to have out when you're paying 12 percent, 10 percent on that money.
Now, the rule of thumb here, if you can't pay that debt off in a year and still keep up with your other obligations you're in trouble. You really need to go for more help.
SANCHEZ: Good information as usual. Gerri Willis, thanks so much for being with us.
WILLIS: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Two shot.
KAGAN: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
KAGAN: As we say in the biz. Two shot.
The White House ready to join Europe and shake hands with Iran. Still to come, a possible agreement on the table. The sticking points as well.
Plus a look at the domestic issues that have President Bush's attention this week.
And later...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAIME FOXX, OSCAR WINNER: Oh!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh! FOXX: Ah!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ah!
FOXX: Yes, you ready.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: He had them singing in the aisles, didn't he? Once again, Jamie Foxx pulls in a win and harmonizes with the crowd. A look at the winners, the losers and everything in between. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're getting some breaking news now in from the northern West Bank. Apparently, Israeli defense forces have discovered a car they say was packed with explosives. They believe it's linked to Islamic Jihad. That is the same group that claimed responsibility for Friday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and that car discovered today in the West Bank.
We're going to have more on that out of West Bank as it becomes available.
SANCHEZ: And as we begin this next half hour, I'm Rick Sanchez.
KAGAN: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what else is happening now in the news.
A suicide car bomber has carried out the deadliest single attack since U.S.-led invasion. This is in Iraq. The vehicle plowed into a crowd of police recruits outside of a government building in Hilla, south of Baghdad. At least 125 people were killed at least and more than 150 others wounded.
In New York, jurors could hear today from Bernie Ebbers, the man at the held of WorldCom, and one of the largest bankruptcies in corporate history. Ebbers is accused of masterminding the $11 billion accounting fraud. Ebbers, if convicted could face up to 85 years in prison.
And we have a major merge merger to report with two groups of legendary department stores coming under one umbrella. Federated Department Stores, they own Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Rich's, has announced an $11 billion deal to buy May stores. The St. Louis-based May owns Marshall Fields and Lord and Taylor among other retailers. Together, they trail only Wal Mart and Sears in total sales.
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