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CNN Live Today

'Person of Interest' in Case of Missing Florida Girl Now in Custody; Funeral for David Wilhelm

Aired March 17, 2005 - 11:00   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 ANCHOR: In the news right now, developments in the case of a missing Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford. Authorities have told CNN -- in fact, just moments ago on our air -- that John Evander Couey has been picked up.
He's been a person of interest. He's now in custody on an unrelated warrant. A live update on this story as the information continues to come in is just moments away.

Also, some of the biggest names in professional baseball have been summoned to Capitol Hill today for what will likely be an all-day hearing on steroid use. These are live pictures you're looking at from that committee now. Lawmaker have been openly skeptical of the sport's ability to police itself. CNN is going to be following this developing story this hour and throughout the entire day.

Also, President Bush is heading to Capitol Hill today himself for the traditional St. Patrick's Day luncheon. Last hour he hosted the Irish prime minister, Bernie Ahern, at the White House for the shamrock ceremony. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is not invited this year.

And a short time ago, President Bush nominated Congressman Robert Portman as U.S. trade representative. Portman would become the White House point person for free trade agreements. He must be confirmed by the Senate. The Ohio Republican has served six terms thus far in the House.

We are hitting 'em out of the park. It's 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Rick Sanchez.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. Happy St. Patrick's Day to you, too.

SANCHEZ: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan.

Up first, we continue our developing story that we're following. Florida authorities saying a convicted child molester is in custody. He's in Georgia today. They want to talk to this man, John Couey, about the disappearance of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.

CNN's Sara Dorsey live now from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office in Florida -- Sara. SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, 46-year-old Couey was picked up not too long ago. We're hearing just about an hour ago in Augusta, Georgia.

Now, he was taken in on an unrelated warrant of violation of probation. But the Citrus County Sheriff's Office wants to talk to this man. And that's because he is a convicted sex offender and he was not living where he was supposed to be living, where he was registered to be staying.

In fact, he was staying with a family member at a home just across the street from where Jessica Lunsford disappeared from three weeks ago. And what makes this man a person of interest, police say here, is that he has an extensive record.

He has a criminal record going back more than three decades, with one charge of fondling a child that's on there from 1991. Also what makes this man a person of interest is that when authorities went looking for him and knocking on the family's door, saying, was he, in fact, staying here, the family told investigators that he hadn't been.

So they lied on the first try when investigators tried to get information. Then they found out that Couey's niece put him on a bus to Savannah, Georgia, under a different name, an assumed name altogether. Also something that raised a red flag to police. As well as when Couey was leaving this town, he told people that investigators might be looking at him.

Those things, all put together in the proximity to where Jessica Lunsford disappeared from, are the things the sheriff's office says makes him a person of interest in this case -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. We're continuing to track this from Georgia and Florida. Sara Dorsey, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Guess what they're doing in Congress today? They're playing hardball. A half-dozen big-name players are called to testify today on steroid use in Major League Baseball. We could see Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jose Canseco and others perhaps this hour. We're going to be dipping in from time to time.

CNN congressional correspondent Ed Henry is going to be following this hearing for us. And he's joining us now live to bring us up to date on the very latest.

Ed, over to you.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.

Some of those sluggers you mentioned will be coming up to bat in a little while. As you mentioned, we're going to be waiting for them.

Right now, the committee is hearing very strong, very compelling testimony from a former player who's now a senator, Jim Bunning. And the hall of famer was saying that he believes that his former -- his former employer, in fact, in the national pastime have been taking baby steps on reform. And he thinks that if they don't clean up their act, Congress is going to have to step in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JIM BUNNING (R), KENTUCKY: When I played with Henry Aaron and Willie Mays and Ted Williams, they didn't put on 40 pounds and bulk up in their careers, and they didn't hit more homeruns in their late 30s than they did in their late 20s. What's happening in baseball now is not natural and it isn't right. Baseball has to get its act together or else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Throwing some tough questions at some current and former players. This committee will also be asking tough questions of Bud Selig, the baseball commissioner. Congress, some lawmakers, being very strong in their criticism in the last couple of days. They think that baseball misled Congress and the public about how tough its new steroid testing and punishment program is.

Also, we'll hearing from six current and former players. Perhaps the most interesting time will be when Jose Canseco, who has a new book out, will sit at the same witness table with Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, among others. Those two people, Palmeiro and McGwire, have been accused of using steroids by Canseco. They will get the opportunity to respond here today.

Canseco, though, is upset that these players have not gotten immunity from prosecution from the committee. I spoke a short time ago with Canseco's attorney, Robert Saunooke, and he said this should not be about trying to nail someone under oath. It should be about reforming the system.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT SAUNOOKE, CASECO'S ATTORNEY: As Jose has said, if his book saves one life and draws attention to this then it's been a success. We hope and we've always hoped that this issue about steroids will come out, that these players who have been denying their involvement, today will testify truthfully and say they did do them and move on. Let's change the system, change the way it's testing, get it out of the sport and go back to playing baseball as it was years ago.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: And Senator Jim Bunning urged the current player to come forward and tell the truth today. He said that the national pastime does not belong to the players, it belongs to the entire country -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Yes, but, you know, Ed, if they don't have immunity, it's kind of tough for them to tell the truth. If the emphasis, as you say, and as you report, and as you quote Senator McCain and Senator Bunning saying, we need to go after Major League Baseball and make sure they clean up their act, why not give the players immunity? HENRY: Well, the committee chairman, Tom Davis, has said that he wants everyone to give truthful and straightforward testimony, regardless of whether or not they get immunity. He's been saying that they shouldn't have to get immunity in order to be straight with this committee.

Jose Canseco's attorney in particular, you're right, to raise that subject, he says that Jose Canseco is in a unique position because he already has a criminal history and he is in more jeopardy if, in fact, he comes forward and testifies directly on steroids. And that's why he's concerned in particular. But there are others on this committee who are saying that the bottom line is people like Mark McGwire, they set major league records, and they now need to come forward and tell the truth -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: All right. Ed Henry, following that story for us from the Hill. We thank you, Ed.

Daryn, over to you.

KAGAN: Want to get back to our developing story out of Florida, also out of Georgia. Our Susan Candiotti joining us now on the phone from Savannah, Georgia, with the latest for the search for Jessica Lunsford -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.

You'll recall that this is where he was last seen by police. The new information, according to law enforcement sources, is that John Couey was picked up by authorities, discovered at a homeless shelter in Augusta, Georgia.

As you know, he was taken into custody there. And according to a law enforcement source, "He says he wants to talk to us." So we'll have to see what develops from there.

I have also learned from law enforcement sources that John Couey back in Florida, that John Couey's vehicle and residence are being examined as we speak. This examination started some time ago. They're both being looked at for possible evidence in the disappearance of Jessica Lunsford. That is all that sources will say at this time.

So they're looking that over, to see whether, in fact, searching the car thoroughly, looking through his house to see what, if anything, they can find. The information in particular about the car is important and is new.

Now, what happens from here, apparently they are waiting for authorities to get there, as we know, from Citrus County Sheriff's Office. The FBI is also traveling to Augusta, Georgia, to help in the questioning. And from there, of course, there will be an attempt to extradite him back to Citrus County in Florida.

When I asked what possible connection he might have had to Augusta, I was told they don't know of any at this time. In Savannah, according to source, the relatives of John Couey would say he would go to Savannah whenever things would, as they put it, "get hot" back in Florida.

Again, why he went to Augusta, we don't know. How he got there we don't know. And we don't know what he's using for money -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and those pictures, I want to say, that we've been looking at, those are picture of his arrest that took place earlier this morning in Augusta, Georgia. And just to be clear, he has been arrested on a probation violation and is a person of interest, has not been named as a suspect in the disappearance.

And the red flag here, Susan, that he's a registered sex offender and was not living where he had told authorities that he would be living. In fact, he was very close to the Lunsford home.

CANDIOTTI: That's right. And at a time was living -- one time was living with relatives at a home, as we know, within view of the Lunsford home.

While the relatives say they -- the relatives of Jessica Lunsford say they're not familiar with this man, sources tell me that they're looking into, in fact, whether there was any possible connection. But they haven't been able to confirm that as yet.

KAGAN: Susan Candiotti on the phone from Savannah, Georgia. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: We have an update now on another case of a missing Florida girl. Her name Rilya Wilson.

Miami-Dade authorities charged caregiver Geralyn Graham with killing the 4-year-old. Now, Graham is already serving time on fraud charges related to the case. She has a long criminal history and was diagnosed with psychosis. But a state background check failed to find that before Rilya was placed in the Graham home in her custody.

Police now believe that Rilya was suffocated and beaten to death in December of 2000. But they have no body or crime scene in this case.

Graham claimed that she returned the girl to the state care in early 2001, social workers just lost track of her. The incident generated outrage and led to a shakeup in Florida's Department of Children and Family Services.

KAGAN: And now on to actor Robert Blake. Today his first full day of relief in a long time.

That relief clearly visible late yesterday as the jury foreman spoke the words "not guilty." That ending the long legal ordeal that began with the shooting death of Blake's wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in May 2001.

After the verdict was read, Blake said he just wants to get out of town. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT BLAKE, ACTOR: I'm going to go out and do a little cowboying. Do you know what that is?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

BLAKE: No, you don't know what that is. Cowboying is when you get in a motor home or a van or something like that and you just let the air blow in your hair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The jurors in the case were also talking. They say the prosecution failed to prove their case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CECILIA MOLDONADO, BLAKE TRIAL JUROR: Everyone was not in agreement right away. So what we did was we had to go through all the facts.

And yes, we did have our discussions. It was a complete discussion. Everyone put in their opinions.

We all answered any questions. We dissected the evidence. We dissected the testimony. Went through everything and came back with the fair decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK SAFCO, BLAKE TRIAL JUROR: I felt Robert Blake was an innocent guy. I think the prosecution did the best job that they could do with what they had. They didn't really have a lot to go on. I mean, that's one reason why we had a circumstantial case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Another high-profile case also wraps up with Scott Peterson being sent to San Quentin's death row early this morning. Almost all of the jurors were on hand yesterday as the judge accepted their recommendation that Peterson be executed for killing his pregnant wife Laci. San Quentin overlooks San Francisco Bay, which is where the bodies of Laci and their son eventually washed up.

KAGAN: Back to our developing story, Citrus County, Florida. We expect a news conference any minute on the case of Jessica Lunsford.

This man, John Evander Couey, a registered sex offender, arrested earlier today in Augusta, Georgia. He has been named as a person of interest because he was living close by to the Lunsford home, has not been arrested in the case, and has not been named as a suspect. But we do expect to learn more from authorities when they hold that news conference. You'll see it live right here on CNN. SANCHEZ: And they're questioning him as we speak.

Also, President Bush is marking St. Patrick's Day at the White House today. So who was left out of this year's celebration? You're going to find out because we're going to have a live report for you from the White House.

KAGAN: Martha Stewart's latest move. She's done her time. Now why is she back in court?

And this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Do it Ahh!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Well, we froze it, but it does get a little more strange, should I say?

KAGAN: Yes. Your wife didn't pay to have that happen, right?

SANCHEZ: It's a shocking story. We'll bring you the details.

Stay with us.

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(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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KAGAN: We're about a half-hour, 25 minutes away from a news conference beginning in Citrus County, Florida. It will be latest on the search for Jessica Lunsford and the arrest of this man, John Evander Couey, a registered sex offender picked up this morning in Augusta, Georgia.

Pictures of that happening right there on your screen. We expect the latest of why police are calling this man a person of interest. You'll see that news conference right here on CNN.

SANCHEZ: This being St. Patrick's Day, President Bush has a number of events that are penciled into his calendar. In about an hour, he's going to go to Capitol Hill for the annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon that we've been telling you about. Earlier this morning, President Bush hosted Irish Prime Minister Bernie Ahern at the White House for the traditional shamrock ceremony.

CNN's Elaine Quijano is live at the White House for us. And she's been following these events.

Elaine, over to you.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Rick. That's right, just a short time ago, in fact, President Bush did take part in that traditional St. Patrick's Day event here at the White House, the shamrock ceremony. And as you mentioned, the Irish prime minister was there, as well as first lady Laura Bush.

But noticeably absent, though, was Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, the political arm of the Irish Republican Army. And U.S. officials say that was no accident. They say it was a deliberate move to express the administration's displeasure and what the White House perceives as a movement away from the peace process.

That absence of Gerry Adams is much of a statement as the president's own comments. The president in talking today with the Irish prime minister, the president saying that the U.S. supports those whoa re serious about trying to end the conflict in northern Ireland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... for peace, our government and the American people will stand with you.

Today, America and Ireland are united in many way. The economies of our two countries are closely tied. We're working together to bring freedom and justice to Afghanistan and the Balkans and other countries that have not known it. We share a common commitment to the values preached by St. Patrick, liberty under god and the dignity of all human persons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, this is the first time since 1995 that Gerry Adams has been frozen out of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House. U.S. officials say that the Irish Republican Army's ongoing paramilitary activity and "thuggery" stand in the way of peace in that region. Officials here at the White House are also quite mindful of the IRA's purported involvement in a multimillion-dollar bank robbery in Belfast in December.

Now, the president today is welcoming the sisters of Robert McCartney. They are here at the White House this hour.

These are sisters who on a campaign to bring to justice the people would murdered their brother, Robert, back in January. He was killed outside of a bar in Belfast. And the sisters believe that members of the IRA stabbed and beat their brother and then cleaned up the crime scene, they believe, and tried to intimidate witnesses, telling them not to talk to police.

Now, yesterday, they met with lawmakers here in Washington, with U.S. senators Kennedy and Clinton. And there you see, also, John McCain as well.

And this hour, they are meeting with President Bush. But White House officials, the U.S., very much wanting to send the message to the IRA and also members -- people in that region that they, in fact, feel the time for the IRA is up -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Elaine Quijano following that story for us from the White House. We thank you, Elaine.

KAGAN: Martha Stewart is back in court today. We will tell you why. She might even have something to say. We'll bring it to you live.

Right now a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Turning now to the tragic aftermath of last Friday's killing spree in Atlanta. Services are going to be held today for three of the victims. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent David Wilhelm is believed to have been the fourth victim of suspected gunman Brian Nichols.

Let's put up some live pictures if you can see them now. This is a funeral that's going on as we speak.

It's Wilhelm's funeral. It got under way just a little short time ago. It's in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Many of his colleague, federal agents, are there, as well as his family and friends. He was killed while working alone at his home in northern Atlanta, which is still under construction.

CNN's Susan Candiotti spoke with some of those who knew him best.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): By all accounts, David Wilhelm was a lawman in his prime and still climbing after snagging the Customs Service highest national honor for taking down smugglers.

GRETCHEN SHAPPERT, U.S. ATTORNEY: David Wilhelm was the real deal. He was able to make connections and see patterns that other people didn't.

CANDIOTTI: The special agent was so good at his job, those are his feet in this photo showing off more than $1 million. And here, seizing four tons of marijuana. Colleagues say even some of the bad guys he bagged called Wilhelm friend.

SHAPPERT: He didn't hate drug dealers. He hated drugs.

CANDIOTTI: How did Wilhelm, who grew up in this unassuming home in rural North Carolina, wind up in such a dangerous job? Some say it started in high school, where one teacher said he had an intense interest in government.

TERRY OSBORNE, HISTORY TEACHER: Whatever he did, he did it, you know, like there was no tomorrow. I mean, he put everything he had in -- his entire being into it.

CANDIOTTI: His math teacher says that intensity made him a memorable student.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think David Wilhelm is the reason teachers teach. He was so focused. He was a very determined young man.

CANDIOTTI: Wilhelm, number 52, took that determination on to the football field. His teammate says they used to see would could throw the hardest, who was the strongest.

LANE YATES, WILHELM'S FRIEND: I just couldn't imagine David's life being taken in such a -- in such a way.

CANDIOTTI: Lane Yates and Wilhelm met as teenagers and stayed close friends to the end. Together, they worked as bouncers and other jobs of adventure.

YATES: We'd go out and repossess cars for dealerships throughout Charlotte. And had a lot of time, a lot of great fun doing that. It was upholding the law.

CANDIOTTI: Now prosecutor Gretchen Shappert will uphold the law without a key asset, going to court soon without the agent who helped build the case.

SHAPPERT: I'm sure that we will feel his presence as we get ready for trial.

CANDIOTTI: And months ago, upbeat, despite a trial setback, Wilhelm left a phone message for an office worker. She says she kept it as an inspiration.

DAVID WILHELM, CUSTOMS AGENT: I am flabbergasted. And it's the first time in my whole career of 18 years that I ever had a hung jury. We did our job and then we'll go out again when we convict the bastard.

CANDIOTTI: Then David Wilhelm added this...

WILHELM: It looks like I'll be coming back to Charlotte one more time.

CANDIOTTI: But not the way anyone expected.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Charlotte, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And once again, we'll be checking in on this situation, this funeral that we've been following for you for Wilhelm. It's a funeral that's taking place right now in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Interestingly enough, there's also another memorial service that's going to be taking place in just a couple of hours for superior court Judge Rowland Barnes. He and court stenographer Julie Ann Brandau were the first fatalities of last Friday's shooting spree at the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta. Today's service for Barnes is going to be at 2:00 p.m. Eastern in suburban College Park. The third victim, Sergeant Hoyt Teasely of the Fulton County Sheriff's Department is going to be remembered at a service tonight at 6:00 p.m., also in Atlanta.

KAGAN: We're about 15 minutes away from a news conference that's going to begin in Citrus County, Florida. The latest on the search for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Also, the arrest earlier today of John Couey. He has been named a person of interest in this case. He was arrested in Augusta, Georgia, far north of Citrus County.

On the phone with me right now, Renita Crawford, a reporter with WJBF television.

Renita, I understand you can tell us more about the arrest.

RENITA CRAWFORD, REPORTER, WJBF: Yes, Daryn. I can tell you I am just outside the Richmond County law enforcement office in downtown Augusta.

John Couey was brought in about 10:30 this morning after a worker at the Salvation Army -- Salvation Army, a shelter for the homeless, recognized his picture. They notified the sheriff's office, and he was brought in, again, 10:30 this morning.

Right now, he is sitting in a holding cell. He is not actually in a jail cell. He's expected to be processed probably within the next half-hour or so.

Of course, authorities are expecting to hold a live -- a live news conference sometime after lunch to talk about Mr. Couey, this person of interest in Jessica Lunsford's case. They are -- all they will tell me at this point is that they are working with Florida authorities.

So right now he's sitting in a cell. Apparently, he was brought in without any incident.

KAGAN: So officials there in Augusta, Georgia, plan on having their own news conference as well?

CRAWFORD: Yes, they do. The sheriff, Sheriff Ronnie Strength (ph), will only tell us sometime after lunch, so we're expecting that to be perhaps between 12:30 and 1:00. We'll find out a lot more.

KAGAN: Renita Crawford. Renita, thank you, WJBF television, the latest on the arrest of John Couey. Once again that news conference out of Citrus County, Florida set to begin in about 15 minutes.

CNN's John Zarrella has been on this story for the better part of the last two weeks. He's joining us from Homosassa Springs.

John, are you there? This is Rick.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They lost me.

KAGAN: Well, you didn't lose us. John, we still have you, can you hear us?

John Zarrella in Homosassa Springs is not there. We'll try and do that in just a little bit. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be back in just a bit, and hopefully we'll take care of that problem with the communication. We'll get with John Zarrella. He's standing by in Homosassa Springs. We're told he's spoken to the family, so we'll be looking forward to hearing what he has to say. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: As we were saying before we went to the break, CNN's John Zarrella handles many of our stories in the state of Florida. He's been on this missing girl story in Homosassa Springs for a couple of weeks now.

He's on the phone with us now.

And we understand, John, that you may have spoken with the family. What did they have to say?

ZARRELLA: That's right, Rick, I actually was inside the house a few minutes ago, and spoke with the grandparents, Ruth and Archie Lunsford. A police officer had just left when we went inside, just one police officer, and they seemed more distraught, a little bit more upset than they were last night when we spoke with them.

But they really did not have anything to add, other than they seemed very nervous. They said they still don't know if this is the man. They still don't know if he is the one that may have taken their granddaughter. In fact, last night, Rick, Archie, the grandfather said to me he didn't think this was the man, he didn't think this was the man who could have gotten into their house -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting. That's interesting. Did he amplify on his theory at all? I'm also interested, John, in knowing if they know this guy, have they been in contact with him in the past?

ZARRELLA: I asked them that as well in an interview I did last night with them, and neither one of them said -- and the father as well, Mark Lunsford, said even though he lived literally catty corner across the street from them, they had never seen him before. He was staying at that residence. Had never seen him before. They did not believe that Jesse ever had any contact with him, other than the grandmother actually interjected at one point that Jesse had a yard sale in December, and maybe -- maybe back in December, she had run across him, but that was just a speculation on the grandmother's part.

And why they don't think it was him, Archie said to me, he said, well, I just don't think this man knew us well enough, could have just slipped into the house, could have gotten to our granddaughter. Apparently, the belief being that she didn't know him that she would have been screaming, they would have heard it. It doesn't seem to add up to them.

KAGAN: And before we let you go, John, how are they doing emotionally?

ZARRELLA: Well, emotionally, Ruth seemed much more distraught today, very upset. She was walking in and out of the bedroom and just said, look, I really don't want to talk right now, we don't know anything more. Archie was on the phone, talking with a friend or a relative, and basically, you know, saying the same thing to us, that they just don't know.

KAGAN: John Zarrella, thank you for bringing us up to date on that. And we'll be checking back -- Daryn.

And we do expect to learn more at this news conference that's set to begin in just a few moments. Sara Dorsey standing by in Citrus County, Florida with more on what we're looking to hear -- Sara.

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, hopefully, the sheriff is going to come out and give us some more information, other than what we have right now on John Couey, possibly more information on why they want to talk to this man and where investigators go from here. But of course what we do know is he is in custody. Now, this is on a warrant that has nothing to do with this case. But investigators from Citrus County want to get down there and talk to him.

CNN sources are telling us that investigators are searching Couey's car and his home. Last night, in a press conference the sheriff did confirm some items were taken from the home he was staying in for testing. He would not go any further than that with us. In fact, actually pushed the media off those questions, saying this is an ongoing investigation, he's not yet a suspect, and we're not going to talk about those things.

Now remember, this is a man with a lengthy criminal history, and the sheriff started seeing things adding up. People were lying to the sheriff's department as they were trying to get information. This man was register at one home and was not staying there. The home, he, in fact, was staying in, was very close to the one that Jessica Lunsford lived in, in fact, just really across the street. When investigators went to that home to get more information about how long he had been staying there, the family lied to them. The man then told some friends, hey, investigators are looking for me, I'm getting out of town. He left on a bus to Savannah, under an assumed name on that bus ticket. All of those things added up, according to the sheriff and that's what made this man a person of interest.

Now, we need to repeat, he's not a suspect yet. Investigators just want to grab hold of him and question him and our sources are telling us that he is going to talk, that he is cooperating.

KAGAN: Sara Dorsey, live from Citrus County, Florida. We expect that news conference to begin probably within the next five, 10 minutes. We'll bring it to you live.

SANCHEZ: So we're what we're going to do for you. We're going to a break. When we come back, we're going to be able to take you to Citrus County. Hopefully by then, the officials will be out at the microphones and you'll be able to hear what they say.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: More breaking news for you. This one out of Eatontown, New Jersey. The search for a police van, a hijacked police van. Here are the details as we know it. This van was transporting five inmates from Northern State Prison in Newark when a man approached at gunpoint, telling the officer and inmates to get out of the vehicle. Then the person with the gun took the vehicle away. We understand it has a flat tire as it was driving down the freeway, down the highway, and yet the vehicle still unaccounted for. No reports of any injuries. We are monitoring with state police. But a police vehicle taken at gunpoint.

SANCHEZ: Wow. And we're also going to be monitoring the situation taking place down in Citrus, Florida -- Citrus County, Florida, I should say. That's around Homosassa Springs. That's where, as you can see, news crews are setting up for a live news conference to be delivered by Citrus County law enforcement officials on the investigation going on right now for the little girl who's been missing for sometime and a man who's been picked up in Georgia, to be questioned about little Jessica Marie Lunsford's disappearance. What are officials going to say? Stand by. We'll have it for you shortly.

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SANCHEZ: She has done her time. Now Martha Stewart wants to clear her name. Federal appeals court is taking up her case today to see if she can do just that. Senior correspondent Allen Chernoff is in New York. He's following this story for us. Allen, what you got?

ALLEN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Rick, the hearing is still going on in the courthouse behind me on the 17th floor, but so far I can tell you it's not going all that well for Martha Stewart. Her attorney, her appellate attorney, Walter Dellinger is trying to the judges to focus on what he claims are procedural errors during the trial. But instead, two of the judges -- and there are three on the panel -- two of the judges have been focusing, in fact, on holes that they've found in Martha Stewart's story as to why she sold her ImClone stock.

Remember, Martha Stewart sold shares of ImClone back in December of 2001 and she was convicted of lying about that. One of the judges said he found it an unbelievable coincidence that Martha Stewart was selling the stock at the same time that the daughter of the former chief executive of the company, Sam Waksal, was dumping her shares.

SANCHEZ: Hey, Allen, we're going to interrupt you, because we understand we've got this news conference now. We'll get back to you if we can. We take you to Citrus County, Florida, with more on the story. Here it is.

SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTRY, FLORIDA: ... in Augusta, Georgia, which is in Richmond County, as you're very well aware. I've had some -- little bit of conversation with the undersheriff there, just making him aware of what may occur up there, reference to media interest. I've had conversation with my investigators and the FBI and they are en route. And I would imagine they'll be arriving there, here sometime early afternoon to start to debrief Couey, to see whether or not he remains part of the investigation.

QUESTION: We had CNN sources telling us that Couey's home and vehicle are being searched. Will you comment on that?

DAWSY: Couey doesn't have a vehicle, OK? But the place he lived at was looked at. We were given permission. And as I stated last night, we did remove some items. I can't tell you what items and I'm not going to go into the fact. And they have been gathered and have been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

QUESTION: Sheriff, your concerns that Couey -- right now that he is in custody, may decide to just shut up completely and wait for a lawyer. What does that do to your investigation? This is the only lead, really, you've had in three weeks.

DAWSY: That's correct. I mean, and that's a possibility and I think you know the answer as well as I do, in all seriousness. If he shuts down, well then, he still becomes part of the investigation. But there's not a whole lot we can do, that's his right to not speak with us.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) being done up there, or do you have any sense of when that will (OFF-MIKE)?

DAWSY: Well, he'll come on back. I don't know -- it depends on the interview, when we will bring him back. And I guess, really we'll just have to leave it at that. But he will come back here to face the charges that we have the warrant on.

QUESTION: Sir, give us a timeline...

DAWSY: Hold on for a second. Excuse me?

QUESTION: Is there a possibility he could fight it?

DAWSY: Oh, sure. . He could fight extradition and then we have to go through the governor's warrant and that process there.

QUESTION: Sheriff, give us a timeline. How long do you think it's going to take for your investigators to interview him and then decide whether or not he will still be a viable person in this investigation?

DAWSY: I believe they'll start the investigation or the interview today, this afternoon. And I would imagine by later on this afternoon, they'll have a feel. It may be just a gut feel, but they'll have a feel as too what direction we need to go.

QUESTION: Which house have you looked at? Is it the original residence that he was registered to or the house he was staying at with his half-sister? DAWSY: The house he was staying at with his half-sister.

QUESTION: Are they cooperating now.

DAWSY: Hold on.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) outside of Augusta?

DAWSY: I really didn't know how the contact occurred. I was talking with the undersheriff, he really wasn't made aware of that time. He just knew that they had him and he was being brought into the jail.

QUESTION: Is the family now cooperating? I know you ran into some problems with -- when the investigation first started. Are they helping you now?

DAWSY: They're cooperating now, after conversations with a couple of our investigators of the seriousness and what could face them if they failed to investigate.

QUESTION: Sheriff, other than your person of interest here, what else do you have to go on right now?

DAWSY: Well, right now, you know, there isn't any specific direction. We're still following certain leads and I know I've said that over and over again. But that's true, what we're doing. We received probably several hundred leads from the news conference yesterday about bringing Couey out. And we're still looking at all the possibilities. And I've always said that there is somebody out there that has some information. Couey may play out not even to be in the mix. And we'll know that better. As I said this morning, I'm working for Jessica right now. Everybody is in this investigation.

QUESTION: Sheriff, there are some 40-plus registered sex offender in the area. Have your folks accounted for every single one, other than Couey, up to this point?

DAWSY: To my knowledge, yes, that's correct. And we had numerous conversations the first 72 hours of this investigation. And Couey was one of the ones that we could not find.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: Not to my knowledge. Again, I talked with the undersheriff. I did not get a chance to talk to the patrol officers. You guys had him coming into the sally port, at least one of the news media had him being brought into the sally port. So we had the (INAUDIBLE) debrief the patrol officer that got him.

QUESTION: Sheriff, you were saying yesterday that there were several building blocks that had you concerned that maybe this guy does have some information that could help, whether or not he was a suspect, person of interest, maybe he knew something. What is your gut, sir, standing here right now about this man? Based on what you said yesterday based on the fact you got him now? DAWSY: Well, your gut always leads you no certain direction, but I can tell you that I'm very happy we have him. You know, if you look at the building blocks alone, it does elevate the concerns of this individual. But I don't want to become tunnel-visioned. One of the basic issue of losing a case is if you become too tunnel-visioned and do not look at every possible avenue, possibly every issue that comes in place and the case becomes stymied.

We're not stymied now. We're still following lead. We are aggressively, like I said, we're probably following about 40 really quality leads today. And you know, one of those heads may be the answer, and then Couey doesn't -- not even in the game. Right now, Couey is one of the hottest lead, and we need, as I said, we need to take him out of the mix.

QUESTION: Couey's still in trouble.

DAWSY: Yes, he's in trouble anyway.

QUESTION: Right, I think that's the truth.

DAWSY: That's right. He's in trouble. And, you know, we've got him off the street. And I'm -- I'm excited about that.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: We have somebody. I've not spoken with them, but somebody has had a conversation.

QUESTION: Do you know if he's cooperating with deputies in Georgia?

DAWSY: Again, I don't know. I wish I could tell you yes or no, but I don't know. All I can tell you is my guys are en route and I expect them to be there shortly.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: Well, the initial charges that we have on him, he's facing and there's another charge that's coming out, and I apologize, I don't know the correct verbiage. I will have Rhonda get with you on that. It's a no-bond charge that we're issuing on him. So he'll have at least two charges, possibly three, all surrounding his VOP, his absconding, and I believe that's the second one, the absconding as a sexual offender.

My main concern was really just getting one charge I could hold him on. I got that charge, put it in the system, and then we'll just funnel in more charges.

The VOP, the reason why it was only for a certain specific area, initially, was a misdemeanor. And as you well know, you don't see a nationwide pickup. We initiated that, and we got good cooperation to get that initiated.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) DAWSY: As soon as I talk to my investigator, I'll either make him a suspect for you or take him out of the mix, OK?

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: Absconding, I believe, is a felony, and I'm not sure what degree, and I know there's a no bond.

OK, there may be a third charge, we've been told, but it had nothing to do with this case; it has to do with the -- and like I said, Rhonda can get with you on that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, thank you, sir.

DAWSY: Thank you, everybody.

SANCHEZ: Well, there you have it, you heard the term VOP, referred to on several occasions. What the officer was referring to is a violation of parole, which seems to be the only charge they really have now on Mr. Couey.

Let's go back to Sara. In fact, she's been there following this news conference. We heard her voice at the very beginning of this, Sara Dorsey, CNN correspondent, following this development for us.

What did you pick up on this, Sara? It sounds like they don't really have much on this guy related to the case, but they do want to know if there is something there so they can rule it out, right?

DORSEY: That's right, Rick. Not a lot more coming out in this press conference than we knew already. And that is that Mr. Couey, who is a person of interest, has been picked up.

Now, investigators from Citrus County are making their way and are actually already down there in Augusta, Georgia. They plan on interviewing him today if he does cooperate. And the sheriff tell us he's confident that once these investigators have a little time with him, they will know, in fact, whether this man will be a person of interest, or whether he's going to be a suspect or whether he'll be thrown out of this mix altogether. The sheriff says he does intend on telling that to us as soon as they get some more information.

Now he, again, talked about some evidence that was taken out of the home that Couey was staying in, evidence that he will not comment on, other than to say that it's been taken for testing.

And then, again, we need to talk about this record of Mr. Couey's. It goes back nearly three decades. He's a registered sex offender that lied to authorities about where he was living, when in fact he was staying in a home just really right across the street from where Jessica Lunsford disappeared. That paired with some lies from family to investigators made him a person of interest.

And what we learned now, investigators are now in Augusta, Georgia, interviewing Mr. Couey, and hope to get more information to determine whether, in fact, he had anything to do with this case or if he will be cleared altogether -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: You know, we were talking to CNN correspondent Susan Candiotti not long ago, and she was saying that they did do a search of his vehicle, as well as his house. Wondering if this -- if you've seen or heard of any forensics investigations that have been going on in this area, regarding Mr. Couey, and if they found anything.

DORSEY: Well, again, they just have told us they've taken some items from the home. I asked about that vehicle because sources have been telling us that. The sheriff said in front of everyone out here that he didn't have a vehicle. Now there could be some other circumstances, maybe another vehicle that doesn't belong to him that they're not commenting on. So right now, the sheriff has taken that vehicle out of the mix here for us. Susan may be getting more information from where she's at.

What we do know and what the sheriff did confirm was some evidence, of some kind -- and they won't tell us what it is -- was taken from that home and is being tested. What we do know about that evidence is that it is nothing from Jessica Lunsford as far as maybe the toy she's missing. We asked all of that last night, and he said it was not her items.

SANCHEZ: Sara Dorsey, all over the story for us. We do thank you for bringing us up to date, a story we will no doubt stay on top of here, the latest, and of course the headline is that Mr. Couey has been picked up in Augusta, Georgia on an unrelated case.

DORSEY: Absolutely, but they do want to talk to him. That's going to do it for us.

I'm Daryn Kagan.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. We're going to turn things over to Wolf Blitzer now. He's going to be picking things up, taking the next hour. And we'll looking for you Monday. We'll see you. And Wolf will be here after the break.

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Aired March 17, 2005 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: In the news right now, developments in the case of a missing Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford. Authorities have told CNN -- in fact, just moments ago on our air -- that John Evander Couey has been picked up.
He's been a person of interest. He's now in custody on an unrelated warrant. A live update on this story as the information continues to come in is just moments away.

Also, some of the biggest names in professional baseball have been summoned to Capitol Hill today for what will likely be an all-day hearing on steroid use. These are live pictures you're looking at from that committee now. Lawmaker have been openly skeptical of the sport's ability to police itself. CNN is going to be following this developing story this hour and throughout the entire day.

Also, President Bush is heading to Capitol Hill today himself for the traditional St. Patrick's Day luncheon. Last hour he hosted the Irish prime minister, Bernie Ahern, at the White House for the shamrock ceremony. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is not invited this year.

And a short time ago, President Bush nominated Congressman Robert Portman as U.S. trade representative. Portman would become the White House point person for free trade agreements. He must be confirmed by the Senate. The Ohio Republican has served six terms thus far in the House.

We are hitting 'em out of the park. It's 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. out West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Rick Sanchez.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. Happy St. Patrick's Day to you, too.

SANCHEZ: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan.

Up first, we continue our developing story that we're following. Florida authorities saying a convicted child molester is in custody. He's in Georgia today. They want to talk to this man, John Couey, about the disappearance of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.

CNN's Sara Dorsey live now from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office in Florida -- Sara. SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, 46-year-old Couey was picked up not too long ago. We're hearing just about an hour ago in Augusta, Georgia.

Now, he was taken in on an unrelated warrant of violation of probation. But the Citrus County Sheriff's Office wants to talk to this man. And that's because he is a convicted sex offender and he was not living where he was supposed to be living, where he was registered to be staying.

In fact, he was staying with a family member at a home just across the street from where Jessica Lunsford disappeared from three weeks ago. And what makes this man a person of interest, police say here, is that he has an extensive record.

He has a criminal record going back more than three decades, with one charge of fondling a child that's on there from 1991. Also what makes this man a person of interest is that when authorities went looking for him and knocking on the family's door, saying, was he, in fact, staying here, the family told investigators that he hadn't been.

So they lied on the first try when investigators tried to get information. Then they found out that Couey's niece put him on a bus to Savannah, Georgia, under a different name, an assumed name altogether. Also something that raised a red flag to police. As well as when Couey was leaving this town, he told people that investigators might be looking at him.

Those things, all put together in the proximity to where Jessica Lunsford disappeared from, are the things the sheriff's office says makes him a person of interest in this case -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. We're continuing to track this from Georgia and Florida. Sara Dorsey, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Guess what they're doing in Congress today? They're playing hardball. A half-dozen big-name players are called to testify today on steroid use in Major League Baseball. We could see Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jose Canseco and others perhaps this hour. We're going to be dipping in from time to time.

CNN congressional correspondent Ed Henry is going to be following this hearing for us. And he's joining us now live to bring us up to date on the very latest.

Ed, over to you.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.

Some of those sluggers you mentioned will be coming up to bat in a little while. As you mentioned, we're going to be waiting for them.

Right now, the committee is hearing very strong, very compelling testimony from a former player who's now a senator, Jim Bunning. And the hall of famer was saying that he believes that his former -- his former employer, in fact, in the national pastime have been taking baby steps on reform. And he thinks that if they don't clean up their act, Congress is going to have to step in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JIM BUNNING (R), KENTUCKY: When I played with Henry Aaron and Willie Mays and Ted Williams, they didn't put on 40 pounds and bulk up in their careers, and they didn't hit more homeruns in their late 30s than they did in their late 20s. What's happening in baseball now is not natural and it isn't right. Baseball has to get its act together or else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Throwing some tough questions at some current and former players. This committee will also be asking tough questions of Bud Selig, the baseball commissioner. Congress, some lawmakers, being very strong in their criticism in the last couple of days. They think that baseball misled Congress and the public about how tough its new steroid testing and punishment program is.

Also, we'll hearing from six current and former players. Perhaps the most interesting time will be when Jose Canseco, who has a new book out, will sit at the same witness table with Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, among others. Those two people, Palmeiro and McGwire, have been accused of using steroids by Canseco. They will get the opportunity to respond here today.

Canseco, though, is upset that these players have not gotten immunity from prosecution from the committee. I spoke a short time ago with Canseco's attorney, Robert Saunooke, and he said this should not be about trying to nail someone under oath. It should be about reforming the system.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT SAUNOOKE, CASECO'S ATTORNEY: As Jose has said, if his book saves one life and draws attention to this then it's been a success. We hope and we've always hoped that this issue about steroids will come out, that these players who have been denying their involvement, today will testify truthfully and say they did do them and move on. Let's change the system, change the way it's testing, get it out of the sport and go back to playing baseball as it was years ago.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: And Senator Jim Bunning urged the current player to come forward and tell the truth today. He said that the national pastime does not belong to the players, it belongs to the entire country -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Yes, but, you know, Ed, if they don't have immunity, it's kind of tough for them to tell the truth. If the emphasis, as you say, and as you report, and as you quote Senator McCain and Senator Bunning saying, we need to go after Major League Baseball and make sure they clean up their act, why not give the players immunity? HENRY: Well, the committee chairman, Tom Davis, has said that he wants everyone to give truthful and straightforward testimony, regardless of whether or not they get immunity. He's been saying that they shouldn't have to get immunity in order to be straight with this committee.

Jose Canseco's attorney in particular, you're right, to raise that subject, he says that Jose Canseco is in a unique position because he already has a criminal history and he is in more jeopardy if, in fact, he comes forward and testifies directly on steroids. And that's why he's concerned in particular. But there are others on this committee who are saying that the bottom line is people like Mark McGwire, they set major league records, and they now need to come forward and tell the truth -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: All right. Ed Henry, following that story for us from the Hill. We thank you, Ed.

Daryn, over to you.

KAGAN: Want to get back to our developing story out of Florida, also out of Georgia. Our Susan Candiotti joining us now on the phone from Savannah, Georgia, with the latest for the search for Jessica Lunsford -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.

You'll recall that this is where he was last seen by police. The new information, according to law enforcement sources, is that John Couey was picked up by authorities, discovered at a homeless shelter in Augusta, Georgia.

As you know, he was taken into custody there. And according to a law enforcement source, "He says he wants to talk to us." So we'll have to see what develops from there.

I have also learned from law enforcement sources that John Couey back in Florida, that John Couey's vehicle and residence are being examined as we speak. This examination started some time ago. They're both being looked at for possible evidence in the disappearance of Jessica Lunsford. That is all that sources will say at this time.

So they're looking that over, to see whether, in fact, searching the car thoroughly, looking through his house to see what, if anything, they can find. The information in particular about the car is important and is new.

Now, what happens from here, apparently they are waiting for authorities to get there, as we know, from Citrus County Sheriff's Office. The FBI is also traveling to Augusta, Georgia, to help in the questioning. And from there, of course, there will be an attempt to extradite him back to Citrus County in Florida.

When I asked what possible connection he might have had to Augusta, I was told they don't know of any at this time. In Savannah, according to source, the relatives of John Couey would say he would go to Savannah whenever things would, as they put it, "get hot" back in Florida.

Again, why he went to Augusta, we don't know. How he got there we don't know. And we don't know what he's using for money -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and those pictures, I want to say, that we've been looking at, those are picture of his arrest that took place earlier this morning in Augusta, Georgia. And just to be clear, he has been arrested on a probation violation and is a person of interest, has not been named as a suspect in the disappearance.

And the red flag here, Susan, that he's a registered sex offender and was not living where he had told authorities that he would be living. In fact, he was very close to the Lunsford home.

CANDIOTTI: That's right. And at a time was living -- one time was living with relatives at a home, as we know, within view of the Lunsford home.

While the relatives say they -- the relatives of Jessica Lunsford say they're not familiar with this man, sources tell me that they're looking into, in fact, whether there was any possible connection. But they haven't been able to confirm that as yet.

KAGAN: Susan Candiotti on the phone from Savannah, Georgia. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: We have an update now on another case of a missing Florida girl. Her name Rilya Wilson.

Miami-Dade authorities charged caregiver Geralyn Graham with killing the 4-year-old. Now, Graham is already serving time on fraud charges related to the case. She has a long criminal history and was diagnosed with psychosis. But a state background check failed to find that before Rilya was placed in the Graham home in her custody.

Police now believe that Rilya was suffocated and beaten to death in December of 2000. But they have no body or crime scene in this case.

Graham claimed that she returned the girl to the state care in early 2001, social workers just lost track of her. The incident generated outrage and led to a shakeup in Florida's Department of Children and Family Services.

KAGAN: And now on to actor Robert Blake. Today his first full day of relief in a long time.

That relief clearly visible late yesterday as the jury foreman spoke the words "not guilty." That ending the long legal ordeal that began with the shooting death of Blake's wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in May 2001.

After the verdict was read, Blake said he just wants to get out of town. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT BLAKE, ACTOR: I'm going to go out and do a little cowboying. Do you know what that is?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

BLAKE: No, you don't know what that is. Cowboying is when you get in a motor home or a van or something like that and you just let the air blow in your hair.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The jurors in the case were also talking. They say the prosecution failed to prove their case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CECILIA MOLDONADO, BLAKE TRIAL JUROR: Everyone was not in agreement right away. So what we did was we had to go through all the facts.

And yes, we did have our discussions. It was a complete discussion. Everyone put in their opinions.

We all answered any questions. We dissected the evidence. We dissected the testimony. Went through everything and came back with the fair decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK SAFCO, BLAKE TRIAL JUROR: I felt Robert Blake was an innocent guy. I think the prosecution did the best job that they could do with what they had. They didn't really have a lot to go on. I mean, that's one reason why we had a circumstantial case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Another high-profile case also wraps up with Scott Peterson being sent to San Quentin's death row early this morning. Almost all of the jurors were on hand yesterday as the judge accepted their recommendation that Peterson be executed for killing his pregnant wife Laci. San Quentin overlooks San Francisco Bay, which is where the bodies of Laci and their son eventually washed up.

KAGAN: Back to our developing story, Citrus County, Florida. We expect a news conference any minute on the case of Jessica Lunsford.

This man, John Evander Couey, a registered sex offender, arrested earlier today in Augusta, Georgia. He has been named as a person of interest because he was living close by to the Lunsford home, has not been arrested in the case, and has not been named as a suspect. But we do expect to learn more from authorities when they hold that news conference. You'll see it live right here on CNN. SANCHEZ: And they're questioning him as we speak.

Also, President Bush is marking St. Patrick's Day at the White House today. So who was left out of this year's celebration? You're going to find out because we're going to have a live report for you from the White House.

KAGAN: Martha Stewart's latest move. She's done her time. Now why is she back in court?

And this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Do it Ahh!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Well, we froze it, but it does get a little more strange, should I say?

KAGAN: Yes. Your wife didn't pay to have that happen, right?

SANCHEZ: It's a shocking story. We'll bring you the details.

Stay with us.

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(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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KAGAN: We're about a half-hour, 25 minutes away from a news conference beginning in Citrus County, Florida. It will be latest on the search for Jessica Lunsford and the arrest of this man, John Evander Couey, a registered sex offender picked up this morning in Augusta, Georgia.

Pictures of that happening right there on your screen. We expect the latest of why police are calling this man a person of interest. You'll see that news conference right here on CNN.

SANCHEZ: This being St. Patrick's Day, President Bush has a number of events that are penciled into his calendar. In about an hour, he's going to go to Capitol Hill for the annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon that we've been telling you about. Earlier this morning, President Bush hosted Irish Prime Minister Bernie Ahern at the White House for the traditional shamrock ceremony.

CNN's Elaine Quijano is live at the White House for us. And she's been following these events.

Elaine, over to you.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Rick. That's right, just a short time ago, in fact, President Bush did take part in that traditional St. Patrick's Day event here at the White House, the shamrock ceremony. And as you mentioned, the Irish prime minister was there, as well as first lady Laura Bush.

But noticeably absent, though, was Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, the political arm of the Irish Republican Army. And U.S. officials say that was no accident. They say it was a deliberate move to express the administration's displeasure and what the White House perceives as a movement away from the peace process.

That absence of Gerry Adams is much of a statement as the president's own comments. The president in talking today with the Irish prime minister, the president saying that the U.S. supports those whoa re serious about trying to end the conflict in northern Ireland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... for peace, our government and the American people will stand with you.

Today, America and Ireland are united in many way. The economies of our two countries are closely tied. We're working together to bring freedom and justice to Afghanistan and the Balkans and other countries that have not known it. We share a common commitment to the values preached by St. Patrick, liberty under god and the dignity of all human persons.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, this is the first time since 1995 that Gerry Adams has been frozen out of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House. U.S. officials say that the Irish Republican Army's ongoing paramilitary activity and "thuggery" stand in the way of peace in that region. Officials here at the White House are also quite mindful of the IRA's purported involvement in a multimillion-dollar bank robbery in Belfast in December.

Now, the president today is welcoming the sisters of Robert McCartney. They are here at the White House this hour.

These are sisters who on a campaign to bring to justice the people would murdered their brother, Robert, back in January. He was killed outside of a bar in Belfast. And the sisters believe that members of the IRA stabbed and beat their brother and then cleaned up the crime scene, they believe, and tried to intimidate witnesses, telling them not to talk to police.

Now, yesterday, they met with lawmakers here in Washington, with U.S. senators Kennedy and Clinton. And there you see, also, John McCain as well.

And this hour, they are meeting with President Bush. But White House officials, the U.S., very much wanting to send the message to the IRA and also members -- people in that region that they, in fact, feel the time for the IRA is up -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Elaine Quijano following that story for us from the White House. We thank you, Elaine.

KAGAN: Martha Stewart is back in court today. We will tell you why. She might even have something to say. We'll bring it to you live.

Right now a break.

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SANCHEZ: Turning now to the tragic aftermath of last Friday's killing spree in Atlanta. Services are going to be held today for three of the victims. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent David Wilhelm is believed to have been the fourth victim of suspected gunman Brian Nichols.

Let's put up some live pictures if you can see them now. This is a funeral that's going on as we speak.

It's Wilhelm's funeral. It got under way just a little short time ago. It's in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Many of his colleague, federal agents, are there, as well as his family and friends. He was killed while working alone at his home in northern Atlanta, which is still under construction.

CNN's Susan Candiotti spoke with some of those who knew him best.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): By all accounts, David Wilhelm was a lawman in his prime and still climbing after snagging the Customs Service highest national honor for taking down smugglers.

GRETCHEN SHAPPERT, U.S. ATTORNEY: David Wilhelm was the real deal. He was able to make connections and see patterns that other people didn't.

CANDIOTTI: The special agent was so good at his job, those are his feet in this photo showing off more than $1 million. And here, seizing four tons of marijuana. Colleagues say even some of the bad guys he bagged called Wilhelm friend.

SHAPPERT: He didn't hate drug dealers. He hated drugs.

CANDIOTTI: How did Wilhelm, who grew up in this unassuming home in rural North Carolina, wind up in such a dangerous job? Some say it started in high school, where one teacher said he had an intense interest in government.

TERRY OSBORNE, HISTORY TEACHER: Whatever he did, he did it, you know, like there was no tomorrow. I mean, he put everything he had in -- his entire being into it.

CANDIOTTI: His math teacher says that intensity made him a memorable student.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think David Wilhelm is the reason teachers teach. He was so focused. He was a very determined young man.

CANDIOTTI: Wilhelm, number 52, took that determination on to the football field. His teammate says they used to see would could throw the hardest, who was the strongest.

LANE YATES, WILHELM'S FRIEND: I just couldn't imagine David's life being taken in such a -- in such a way.

CANDIOTTI: Lane Yates and Wilhelm met as teenagers and stayed close friends to the end. Together, they worked as bouncers and other jobs of adventure.

YATES: We'd go out and repossess cars for dealerships throughout Charlotte. And had a lot of time, a lot of great fun doing that. It was upholding the law.

CANDIOTTI: Now prosecutor Gretchen Shappert will uphold the law without a key asset, going to court soon without the agent who helped build the case.

SHAPPERT: I'm sure that we will feel his presence as we get ready for trial.

CANDIOTTI: And months ago, upbeat, despite a trial setback, Wilhelm left a phone message for an office worker. She says she kept it as an inspiration.

DAVID WILHELM, CUSTOMS AGENT: I am flabbergasted. And it's the first time in my whole career of 18 years that I ever had a hung jury. We did our job and then we'll go out again when we convict the bastard.

CANDIOTTI: Then David Wilhelm added this...

WILHELM: It looks like I'll be coming back to Charlotte one more time.

CANDIOTTI: But not the way anyone expected.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Charlotte, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And once again, we'll be checking in on this situation, this funeral that we've been following for you for Wilhelm. It's a funeral that's taking place right now in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Interestingly enough, there's also another memorial service that's going to be taking place in just a couple of hours for superior court Judge Rowland Barnes. He and court stenographer Julie Ann Brandau were the first fatalities of last Friday's shooting spree at the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta. Today's service for Barnes is going to be at 2:00 p.m. Eastern in suburban College Park. The third victim, Sergeant Hoyt Teasely of the Fulton County Sheriff's Department is going to be remembered at a service tonight at 6:00 p.m., also in Atlanta.

KAGAN: We're about 15 minutes away from a news conference that's going to begin in Citrus County, Florida. The latest on the search for 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Also, the arrest earlier today of John Couey. He has been named a person of interest in this case. He was arrested in Augusta, Georgia, far north of Citrus County.

On the phone with me right now, Renita Crawford, a reporter with WJBF television.

Renita, I understand you can tell us more about the arrest.

RENITA CRAWFORD, REPORTER, WJBF: Yes, Daryn. I can tell you I am just outside the Richmond County law enforcement office in downtown Augusta.

John Couey was brought in about 10:30 this morning after a worker at the Salvation Army -- Salvation Army, a shelter for the homeless, recognized his picture. They notified the sheriff's office, and he was brought in, again, 10:30 this morning.

Right now, he is sitting in a holding cell. He is not actually in a jail cell. He's expected to be processed probably within the next half-hour or so.

Of course, authorities are expecting to hold a live -- a live news conference sometime after lunch to talk about Mr. Couey, this person of interest in Jessica Lunsford's case. They are -- all they will tell me at this point is that they are working with Florida authorities.

So right now he's sitting in a cell. Apparently, he was brought in without any incident.

KAGAN: So officials there in Augusta, Georgia, plan on having their own news conference as well?

CRAWFORD: Yes, they do. The sheriff, Sheriff Ronnie Strength (ph), will only tell us sometime after lunch, so we're expecting that to be perhaps between 12:30 and 1:00. We'll find out a lot more.

KAGAN: Renita Crawford. Renita, thank you, WJBF television, the latest on the arrest of John Couey. Once again that news conference out of Citrus County, Florida set to begin in about 15 minutes.

CNN's John Zarrella has been on this story for the better part of the last two weeks. He's joining us from Homosassa Springs.

John, are you there? This is Rick.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They lost me.

KAGAN: Well, you didn't lose us. John, we still have you, can you hear us?

John Zarrella in Homosassa Springs is not there. We'll try and do that in just a little bit. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be back in just a bit, and hopefully we'll take care of that problem with the communication. We'll get with John Zarrella. He's standing by in Homosassa Springs. We're told he's spoken to the family, so we'll be looking forward to hearing what he has to say. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: As we were saying before we went to the break, CNN's John Zarrella handles many of our stories in the state of Florida. He's been on this missing girl story in Homosassa Springs for a couple of weeks now.

He's on the phone with us now.

And we understand, John, that you may have spoken with the family. What did they have to say?

ZARRELLA: That's right, Rick, I actually was inside the house a few minutes ago, and spoke with the grandparents, Ruth and Archie Lunsford. A police officer had just left when we went inside, just one police officer, and they seemed more distraught, a little bit more upset than they were last night when we spoke with them.

But they really did not have anything to add, other than they seemed very nervous. They said they still don't know if this is the man. They still don't know if he is the one that may have taken their granddaughter. In fact, last night, Rick, Archie, the grandfather said to me he didn't think this was the man, he didn't think this was the man who could have gotten into their house -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting. That's interesting. Did he amplify on his theory at all? I'm also interested, John, in knowing if they know this guy, have they been in contact with him in the past?

ZARRELLA: I asked them that as well in an interview I did last night with them, and neither one of them said -- and the father as well, Mark Lunsford, said even though he lived literally catty corner across the street from them, they had never seen him before. He was staying at that residence. Had never seen him before. They did not believe that Jesse ever had any contact with him, other than the grandmother actually interjected at one point that Jesse had a yard sale in December, and maybe -- maybe back in December, she had run across him, but that was just a speculation on the grandmother's part.

And why they don't think it was him, Archie said to me, he said, well, I just don't think this man knew us well enough, could have just slipped into the house, could have gotten to our granddaughter. Apparently, the belief being that she didn't know him that she would have been screaming, they would have heard it. It doesn't seem to add up to them.

KAGAN: And before we let you go, John, how are they doing emotionally?

ZARRELLA: Well, emotionally, Ruth seemed much more distraught today, very upset. She was walking in and out of the bedroom and just said, look, I really don't want to talk right now, we don't know anything more. Archie was on the phone, talking with a friend or a relative, and basically, you know, saying the same thing to us, that they just don't know.

KAGAN: John Zarrella, thank you for bringing us up to date on that. And we'll be checking back -- Daryn.

And we do expect to learn more at this news conference that's set to begin in just a few moments. Sara Dorsey standing by in Citrus County, Florida with more on what we're looking to hear -- Sara.

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, hopefully, the sheriff is going to come out and give us some more information, other than what we have right now on John Couey, possibly more information on why they want to talk to this man and where investigators go from here. But of course what we do know is he is in custody. Now, this is on a warrant that has nothing to do with this case. But investigators from Citrus County want to get down there and talk to him.

CNN sources are telling us that investigators are searching Couey's car and his home. Last night, in a press conference the sheriff did confirm some items were taken from the home he was staying in for testing. He would not go any further than that with us. In fact, actually pushed the media off those questions, saying this is an ongoing investigation, he's not yet a suspect, and we're not going to talk about those things.

Now remember, this is a man with a lengthy criminal history, and the sheriff started seeing things adding up. People were lying to the sheriff's department as they were trying to get information. This man was register at one home and was not staying there. The home, he, in fact, was staying in, was very close to the one that Jessica Lunsford lived in, in fact, just really across the street. When investigators went to that home to get more information about how long he had been staying there, the family lied to them. The man then told some friends, hey, investigators are looking for me, I'm getting out of town. He left on a bus to Savannah, under an assumed name on that bus ticket. All of those things added up, according to the sheriff and that's what made this man a person of interest.

Now, we need to repeat, he's not a suspect yet. Investigators just want to grab hold of him and question him and our sources are telling us that he is going to talk, that he is cooperating.

KAGAN: Sara Dorsey, live from Citrus County, Florida. We expect that news conference to begin probably within the next five, 10 minutes. We'll bring it to you live.

SANCHEZ: So we're what we're going to do for you. We're going to a break. When we come back, we're going to be able to take you to Citrus County. Hopefully by then, the officials will be out at the microphones and you'll be able to hear what they say.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: More breaking news for you. This one out of Eatontown, New Jersey. The search for a police van, a hijacked police van. Here are the details as we know it. This van was transporting five inmates from Northern State Prison in Newark when a man approached at gunpoint, telling the officer and inmates to get out of the vehicle. Then the person with the gun took the vehicle away. We understand it has a flat tire as it was driving down the freeway, down the highway, and yet the vehicle still unaccounted for. No reports of any injuries. We are monitoring with state police. But a police vehicle taken at gunpoint.

SANCHEZ: Wow. And we're also going to be monitoring the situation taking place down in Citrus, Florida -- Citrus County, Florida, I should say. That's around Homosassa Springs. That's where, as you can see, news crews are setting up for a live news conference to be delivered by Citrus County law enforcement officials on the investigation going on right now for the little girl who's been missing for sometime and a man who's been picked up in Georgia, to be questioned about little Jessica Marie Lunsford's disappearance. What are officials going to say? Stand by. We'll have it for you shortly.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: She has done her time. Now Martha Stewart wants to clear her name. Federal appeals court is taking up her case today to see if she can do just that. Senior correspondent Allen Chernoff is in New York. He's following this story for us. Allen, what you got?

ALLEN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Rick, the hearing is still going on in the courthouse behind me on the 17th floor, but so far I can tell you it's not going all that well for Martha Stewart. Her attorney, her appellate attorney, Walter Dellinger is trying to the judges to focus on what he claims are procedural errors during the trial. But instead, two of the judges -- and there are three on the panel -- two of the judges have been focusing, in fact, on holes that they've found in Martha Stewart's story as to why she sold her ImClone stock.

Remember, Martha Stewart sold shares of ImClone back in December of 2001 and she was convicted of lying about that. One of the judges said he found it an unbelievable coincidence that Martha Stewart was selling the stock at the same time that the daughter of the former chief executive of the company, Sam Waksal, was dumping her shares.

SANCHEZ: Hey, Allen, we're going to interrupt you, because we understand we've got this news conference now. We'll get back to you if we can. We take you to Citrus County, Florida, with more on the story. Here it is.

SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTRY, FLORIDA: ... in Augusta, Georgia, which is in Richmond County, as you're very well aware. I've had some -- little bit of conversation with the undersheriff there, just making him aware of what may occur up there, reference to media interest. I've had conversation with my investigators and the FBI and they are en route. And I would imagine they'll be arriving there, here sometime early afternoon to start to debrief Couey, to see whether or not he remains part of the investigation.

QUESTION: We had CNN sources telling us that Couey's home and vehicle are being searched. Will you comment on that?

DAWSY: Couey doesn't have a vehicle, OK? But the place he lived at was looked at. We were given permission. And as I stated last night, we did remove some items. I can't tell you what items and I'm not going to go into the fact. And they have been gathered and have been sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

QUESTION: Sheriff, your concerns that Couey -- right now that he is in custody, may decide to just shut up completely and wait for a lawyer. What does that do to your investigation? This is the only lead, really, you've had in three weeks.

DAWSY: That's correct. I mean, and that's a possibility and I think you know the answer as well as I do, in all seriousness. If he shuts down, well then, he still becomes part of the investigation. But there's not a whole lot we can do, that's his right to not speak with us.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) being done up there, or do you have any sense of when that will (OFF-MIKE)?

DAWSY: Well, he'll come on back. I don't know -- it depends on the interview, when we will bring him back. And I guess, really we'll just have to leave it at that. But he will come back here to face the charges that we have the warrant on.

QUESTION: Sir, give us a timeline...

DAWSY: Hold on for a second. Excuse me?

QUESTION: Is there a possibility he could fight it?

DAWSY: Oh, sure. . He could fight extradition and then we have to go through the governor's warrant and that process there.

QUESTION: Sheriff, give us a timeline. How long do you think it's going to take for your investigators to interview him and then decide whether or not he will still be a viable person in this investigation?

DAWSY: I believe they'll start the investigation or the interview today, this afternoon. And I would imagine by later on this afternoon, they'll have a feel. It may be just a gut feel, but they'll have a feel as too what direction we need to go.

QUESTION: Which house have you looked at? Is it the original residence that he was registered to or the house he was staying at with his half-sister? DAWSY: The house he was staying at with his half-sister.

QUESTION: Are they cooperating now.

DAWSY: Hold on.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) outside of Augusta?

DAWSY: I really didn't know how the contact occurred. I was talking with the undersheriff, he really wasn't made aware of that time. He just knew that they had him and he was being brought into the jail.

QUESTION: Is the family now cooperating? I know you ran into some problems with -- when the investigation first started. Are they helping you now?

DAWSY: They're cooperating now, after conversations with a couple of our investigators of the seriousness and what could face them if they failed to investigate.

QUESTION: Sheriff, other than your person of interest here, what else do you have to go on right now?

DAWSY: Well, right now, you know, there isn't any specific direction. We're still following certain leads and I know I've said that over and over again. But that's true, what we're doing. We received probably several hundred leads from the news conference yesterday about bringing Couey out. And we're still looking at all the possibilities. And I've always said that there is somebody out there that has some information. Couey may play out not even to be in the mix. And we'll know that better. As I said this morning, I'm working for Jessica right now. Everybody is in this investigation.

QUESTION: Sheriff, there are some 40-plus registered sex offender in the area. Have your folks accounted for every single one, other than Couey, up to this point?

DAWSY: To my knowledge, yes, that's correct. And we had numerous conversations the first 72 hours of this investigation. And Couey was one of the ones that we could not find.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: Not to my knowledge. Again, I talked with the undersheriff. I did not get a chance to talk to the patrol officers. You guys had him coming into the sally port, at least one of the news media had him being brought into the sally port. So we had the (INAUDIBLE) debrief the patrol officer that got him.

QUESTION: Sheriff, you were saying yesterday that there were several building blocks that had you concerned that maybe this guy does have some information that could help, whether or not he was a suspect, person of interest, maybe he knew something. What is your gut, sir, standing here right now about this man? Based on what you said yesterday based on the fact you got him now? DAWSY: Well, your gut always leads you no certain direction, but I can tell you that I'm very happy we have him. You know, if you look at the building blocks alone, it does elevate the concerns of this individual. But I don't want to become tunnel-visioned. One of the basic issue of losing a case is if you become too tunnel-visioned and do not look at every possible avenue, possibly every issue that comes in place and the case becomes stymied.

We're not stymied now. We're still following lead. We are aggressively, like I said, we're probably following about 40 really quality leads today. And you know, one of those heads may be the answer, and then Couey doesn't -- not even in the game. Right now, Couey is one of the hottest lead, and we need, as I said, we need to take him out of the mix.

QUESTION: Couey's still in trouble.

DAWSY: Yes, he's in trouble anyway.

QUESTION: Right, I think that's the truth.

DAWSY: That's right. He's in trouble. And, you know, we've got him off the street. And I'm -- I'm excited about that.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: We have somebody. I've not spoken with them, but somebody has had a conversation.

QUESTION: Do you know if he's cooperating with deputies in Georgia?

DAWSY: Again, I don't know. I wish I could tell you yes or no, but I don't know. All I can tell you is my guys are en route and I expect them to be there shortly.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: Well, the initial charges that we have on him, he's facing and there's another charge that's coming out, and I apologize, I don't know the correct verbiage. I will have Rhonda get with you on that. It's a no-bond charge that we're issuing on him. So he'll have at least two charges, possibly three, all surrounding his VOP, his absconding, and I believe that's the second one, the absconding as a sexual offender.

My main concern was really just getting one charge I could hold him on. I got that charge, put it in the system, and then we'll just funnel in more charges.

The VOP, the reason why it was only for a certain specific area, initially, was a misdemeanor. And as you well know, you don't see a nationwide pickup. We initiated that, and we got good cooperation to get that initiated.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) DAWSY: As soon as I talk to my investigator, I'll either make him a suspect for you or take him out of the mix, OK?

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

DAWSY: Absconding, I believe, is a felony, and I'm not sure what degree, and I know there's a no bond.

OK, there may be a third charge, we've been told, but it had nothing to do with this case; it has to do with the -- and like I said, Rhonda can get with you on that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, thank you, sir.

DAWSY: Thank you, everybody.

SANCHEZ: Well, there you have it, you heard the term VOP, referred to on several occasions. What the officer was referring to is a violation of parole, which seems to be the only charge they really have now on Mr. Couey.

Let's go back to Sara. In fact, she's been there following this news conference. We heard her voice at the very beginning of this, Sara Dorsey, CNN correspondent, following this development for us.

What did you pick up on this, Sara? It sounds like they don't really have much on this guy related to the case, but they do want to know if there is something there so they can rule it out, right?

DORSEY: That's right, Rick. Not a lot more coming out in this press conference than we knew already. And that is that Mr. Couey, who is a person of interest, has been picked up.

Now, investigators from Citrus County are making their way and are actually already down there in Augusta, Georgia. They plan on interviewing him today if he does cooperate. And the sheriff tell us he's confident that once these investigators have a little time with him, they will know, in fact, whether this man will be a person of interest, or whether he's going to be a suspect or whether he'll be thrown out of this mix altogether. The sheriff says he does intend on telling that to us as soon as they get some more information.

Now he, again, talked about some evidence that was taken out of the home that Couey was staying in, evidence that he will not comment on, other than to say that it's been taken for testing.

And then, again, we need to talk about this record of Mr. Couey's. It goes back nearly three decades. He's a registered sex offender that lied to authorities about where he was living, when in fact he was staying in a home just really right across the street from where Jessica Lunsford disappeared. That paired with some lies from family to investigators made him a person of interest.

And what we learned now, investigators are now in Augusta, Georgia, interviewing Mr. Couey, and hope to get more information to determine whether, in fact, he had anything to do with this case or if he will be cleared altogether -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: You know, we were talking to CNN correspondent Susan Candiotti not long ago, and she was saying that they did do a search of his vehicle, as well as his house. Wondering if this -- if you've seen or heard of any forensics investigations that have been going on in this area, regarding Mr. Couey, and if they found anything.

DORSEY: Well, again, they just have told us they've taken some items from the home. I asked about that vehicle because sources have been telling us that. The sheriff said in front of everyone out here that he didn't have a vehicle. Now there could be some other circumstances, maybe another vehicle that doesn't belong to him that they're not commenting on. So right now, the sheriff has taken that vehicle out of the mix here for us. Susan may be getting more information from where she's at.

What we do know and what the sheriff did confirm was some evidence, of some kind -- and they won't tell us what it is -- was taken from that home and is being tested. What we do know about that evidence is that it is nothing from Jessica Lunsford as far as maybe the toy she's missing. We asked all of that last night, and he said it was not her items.

SANCHEZ: Sara Dorsey, all over the story for us. We do thank you for bringing us up to date, a story we will no doubt stay on top of here, the latest, and of course the headline is that Mr. Couey has been picked up in Augusta, Georgia on an unrelated case.

DORSEY: Absolutely, but they do want to talk to him. That's going to do it for us.

I'm Daryn Kagan.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. We're going to turn things over to Wolf Blitzer now. He's going to be picking things up, taking the next hour. And we'll looking for you Monday. We'll see you. And Wolf will be here after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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