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American Morning
Interview with Kathleen, Rick Grenfell
Aired June 20, 2002 - 07:53 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: She is a career Forest Service worker, but this morning, Terry Lynn Barton is facing a possible future behind bars. Barton indicted on Wednesday for intentionally setting the largest wildfire in Colorado state history. She admitted starting the Hayman fire accidentally by burning a letter in an abandoned campfire. Authorities now say she staged that scene.
Kathleen and Rick Grenfell live next door to Terry Barton in Florissant, Colorado. They are our guests this morning out west -- good morning to both of you. We appreciate your time.
KATHLEEN GRENFELL, TERRY BARTON'S NEIGHBOR: Thank you.
RICK GRENFELL, TERRY BARTON'S NEIGHBOR: Good morning.
HEMMER: You have been neighbors with Terry for about six years. What kind of a person is she?
K. GRENFELL: Well, she is just a real warm person, very active, very loving neighbors, to us.
HEMMER: How did she feel about her job, Kathleen?
K. GRENFELL: Oh, she loved it. She looked forward to going out every day doing her job.
HEMMER: Was that the same with you? Was that your read, Rick?
R. GRENFELL: Yes. She was very dedicated. She just always talked about how she loved her job and the outdoors, and that's where she wanted to be.
HEMMER: How does this news strike you?
K. GRENFELL: We were really shocked, really shocked.
HEMMER: Rick?
K. GRENFELL: We just didn't...
R. GRENFELL: Yes, it was kind of like this can't be true. I mean, that's just not Terry, you know, it's just not in character I would say. HEMMER: Yes. The rest of the neighborhood, I am wondering if they have the same reaction that you do. I'd be surprised if they didn't. What have neighbors been saying about this right now?
K. GRENFELL: Well, they also have been in real shock about the whole thing. Just -- mainly just keeping an eye out for her family, even though they are gone right now. Just keeping an eye out for her house. The community just getting together and just supporting each other while we are here.
HEMMER: Yes, Kathleen, she has two teenage daughters. Have you spoken with them at all?
K. GRENFELL: No, I have not.
HEMMER: Rick, you are standing in an area where I understand from that neighborhood you can actually see the forest burning nearby. What is your reaction when you know that the state of Colorado, half of the state was under an extreme warning, everyone in that part of the country knows that indeed this could be the burning season, how do you react when you know those facts?
R. GRENFELL: Disbelief. You know, I mean, the people in this community, you know, that live in the mountains know that during this time of year, you don't light fires of any kind outdoors.
HEMMER: Kathleen, have you thought about the motivation here?
K. GRENFELL: No, I have not. I am baffled and don't understand how or why she could have done it, if she did do it. I don't understand. Like I said, it's not in her character. I would have never put her in that spot to begin with.
HEMMER: Did you know about her marital problems?
K. GRENFELL: No, I did not.
HEMMER: And, Rick...
K. GRENFELL: We...
HEMMER: Go ahead -- I'm sorry.
K. GRENFELL: We just -- we live next door to each other, but we have a lot of trees between us, so they can't see us and we can't see them. And they can't hear us, and we can't hear them either. So what went on in their walls of their house is theirs.
HEMMER: Can you describe your relationship with a little more in depth? I know you talked about the neighborhood there, but also you took care of each other's pets, you watched each other's home. I am assuming you brought in each other's mail when they were away.
K. GRENFELL: Right. Yes, they would go on vacations, and we would watch their dogs and cats. And you know, they would do the same for us. And pretty much the whole neighborhood would do anything for anybody, and they were part of it.
HEMMER: Well, listen, thanks for letting us get a better understanding of the neighborhood and your relationship there and certainly this situation with Terry Barton. That's Rick and Kathleen Grenfell there in Colorado. Thank you, and hang in there, OK? I know it's tough going out there.
K. GRENFELL: Thank you very much.
R. GRENFELL: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right.
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