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CNN Sunday Morning

Four Arrested in Connection With Gruesome Killings in Florida; Is America Safe From Terrorism?

Aired August 08, 2004 - 09:00   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. It is Sunday, August 8. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Hello, everyone I'm Catherine Callaway.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Drew Griffin. Thanks for starting your day with us. It's turning out to be a busy news morning, here's what's happening now in the news.

Just announced, four people in custody this mourning in Florida in connection with the killings of six people in Deltona. The bodies were found Friday in a blood spattered rental home. Authorities say the four arrests happened overnight. There is no word this morning on how the victims were killed or a motive. The county sheriff's office will have a news conference this hour which we will bring it to you live as soon as it starts.

CNN has learned an Iranian diplomat is missing in Iraq. An embassy official in Baghdad tells CNN that the official has not been heard from since leaving for the city of Karbala four days ago. There's growing fear he has been kidnapped. Wire Services report claims on an Arab (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Iranian council has been taken hostage and an Arab TV station is reporting the Iranian council , but there's no specific evidence to that effect now.

Iraq's interim leaders are getting tough on crime. This morning the government announced it's bringing back the death penalty. It'll apply to a limited set of crimes including murder and kidnapping. In the meantime interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, this morning, made a surprise visit to Najaf. The holy city has been torn by deadly fighting between U.S. forces and militia fighters. Allawi called on the militants to leave the holy sites and lay down their weapons.

Pakistani sources hoping a recent arrest will help them hunt down terrorist leaders. A Pakistani al-Qaeda agent is now back in Pakistan after being arrested Friday in the United Arab Emirates. Sources say he's been linked to assassination attempts on Pakistan's leader, he's also said to have been close to Osama bin Laden.

CALLAWAY: Here is what's coming up this hour. Terror warnings have everyone on alert from the arrests worldwide to every day citizens doing their part. What's being done to keep America safe?

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

OPERATOR: (SNORING) (END AUDIO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: Sleep emergency, what's got this 9-1-1 operator so wiped out? Maybe it's the overnight hours on the job. We'll talk about the problem of catching your Zs when you're on the clock.

And painting a clear picture: How one young artist overcame mental obstacles to clear his future in the world of art.

Also we are awaiting on a news conference from the sheriff's department in Florida where four arrests have been made in the brutal killing spree that left six people dead in a Deltona, Florida home. Soon as that news conference begins, we'll bring it to you live.

GRIFFIN: Our top story, another terror suspect in custody in Pakistan. Some of those rounded up recently are talking. Others had computer files that Pakistanis hope will lead them to top al-Qaeda leaders, maybe Osama bin Laden, himself. Details now from CNN's Maria Ressa covering the story in Islamabad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pakistani authorities are working overtime in unraveling several key cells of al-Qaeda globally, on that has already lead to heightened terror alert levels in the U.S. and U.K. another that may lead directly to Osama bin Laden, himself. The first cell, here in Pakistan, authorities are looking for two north African al-Qaeda operatives, part of the 1998 east Africa bombings connected to a man who was arrested here earlier, a man named Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, he's on the FBI's most wanted list, a reward on his head. It was on his computer that Pakistani authorities discovered the pictures of Heathrow Airport, that has since been turned over to the British.

Separately, Dubai authorities at Pakistan's request, arrested an al-Qaeda operative named Qari Saifullah Akhtar. Pakistani officials say he was linked to the two assassination attempts last December on the life of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, but more importantly, they believe that he knows both Mullah Omar the Taliban leader and Osama bin Laden. They hope that information from him could lead to their whereabouts. He has now been extradited to Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities say more arrests are expected. So far they've already discovered cells from the information of the men they've arrested. They've discovered cells in the U.S., the U.K., in Pakistan, itself, in the UAE, as far to the Far East as Indonesia and Malaysia. More arrests expected in the coming weeks.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Here at home, just out this morning, "Time" magazine with a chilling report "Target America" an exclusive look about what investigators have discovered about al-Qaeda's plans for it's next big attack. A senior intelligence official tells the magazine this is looking more like the real deal every day.

And joining us now from Washington, "Time's" congressional correspondent, Doug Waller.

Thanks for being with us, this morning.

DOUG WALLER, "TIME" CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good to be here.

CALLAWAY: A frightening report. Now, most of this information was gathered from three laptops and 51 discs that were confiscated during a raid in Pakistan in July -- July 24, right?

WALLER: That's right. And that really provided all the surveillance reports that have FBI officials and Homeland Security officials so upset because those surveillance reports had really astonishing detail and sophisticated detail on buildings to be targeted in New York, New Jersey and Washington.

CALLAWAY: Let's talk about some of those buildings that they have been checking out for possible attacks. One was Citigroup?

WALLER: It was. One possibility is they're -- at least in the reports they were talking about, was some type of truck bomb going into Citigroup. In another case, the Prudential building, the planners were sophisticated enough to know that maybe trucks would be identified too easily, so they talked about clearing out a limousine and packing it with explosives, thinking that would be less noticed if it drove under the garage at the Prudential building.

CALLAWAY: Prudential building is in New Jersey. Why this building? Certainly not a landmark.

WALLER: Well, it isn't. I think what they are looking for is soft targets, here. And what struck the intelligence analysts that were looking at this is there was such detailed survey datas on each of these soft targets. For example, at the Prudential building they even planned their escape routes in a nearby train to get out.

CALLAWAY: And Doug, also some things in this was the major desire to have this attack occur before this election.

WALLER: Well, that's what they're picking up from other e-mails. These are e-mails from individuals, in some cases, who claim they have been talking to Osama bin Laden, that they want to do something before the November election. I was talking to one counter-terrorism official who says we've gotten a number of e-mails like this. We can vouch if all of them are for real or legitimate, but it's enough that it's really got folks worried.

CALLAWAY: And this should really worry people, the discussion of possibly using helicopters in Manhattan? Speed boats in the New York harbor?

WALLER: Yeah, one of the things they found in the surveillance reports were that they were checking out helipads and heliports in New York and they were also checking out the possibility of using divers and speed boats.

CALLAWAY: All right, what about al-Qaeda recruiting? What is this about possibly looking for non-Arabs, South Africans?

WALLER: That's one thing, yeah. They've started to -- we've been told, looking for non-Arabs that they could have an easier time infiltrating into the United States. Also they're starting to recruit more women.

CALLAWAY: Doug, I hate to interrupt you but we've got to take a Florida news conference on the arrest of four people in connection with a brutal murders down there.

SHERIFF BEN JOHNSON, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA: ...one of them confessed to the murders in Deltona. Last night the other two were picked up in Deltona and brought in and they have also confessed to this brutal murder. The instrument used was baseball bats, aluminum baseball bats. That they provide -- they did severe trauma to all the victims, as matter of fact one of them was so badly damaged that we have not been able to officially identify her. At the moment all the subjects are in Volusia County jail charged with first degree murder. Now, I'll answer any questions.

QUESTION: Which suspects confessed to you?

JOHNSON: All but Troy Victorino.

QUESTION: He is the subject you focused on first?

JOHNSON: He is the ringleader of this incident. This was over missing some items of clothing and an X-Box that he felt belonged to him, and he went to those scene with the intention of killing these individuals to get his property -- X-Box and clothing.

QUESTION: Last name?

JOHNSON: Victorino, you all have all of that in the press release.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

JOHNSON: No, no, but it just never surprises me some of the ridiculous things that happen. But this is a crime, probably -- I hope we never see another one like this in my career. This is the worst thing I've ever seen in my career. The, just the brutal forced used, involved against the victims in this thing, it's indescribable.

QUESTION: Can you characterize the role of the other three? You said Victorino was the ringleader.

JOHNSON: All of them were active participants.

QUESTION: Did they know the victims or have any beef with the victims that you're aware of?

JOHNSON: I know that some of them knew the victims. I don't know if they all knew the victims or not.

QUESTION: Did the victims have a chance to struggle? Was this a surprise?

JOHNSON: There was forced entry through the front door. They were overtaken while they were all apparently, you know, lying down, I believe. I'm -- and they were overpowered because all these individuals were carrying baseball bats. They came in and immediately started the assault on the individuals and spread throughout the house. So the victims really had no chance, they had no chance to arm themselves, it doesn't appear. No way to really defend themselves against four individuals versus the six, but all the individuals were carrying aluminum baseball bats, so it was -- there was no way they could really defend themselves.

QUESTION: Sir, you said the victims were also stabbed, but the blunt force trauma was also used. Any idea where the knives came from, were they found in the home?

JOHNSON: In the home, I believe.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) here is ongoing reports that this was brewing for several days before the murder.

JOHNSON: I'm not absolutely sure at the moment that I can address that. It was something that -- it was something ongoing and it was something that, as I said a minute ago, was planned by Troy Victorino and they set out to go over and recover his stuff. He felt like one of the individuals in that house was mainly responsible for his property and he set out to get even.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

JOHNSON: I'm sorry?

QUESTION: Only four that you know of are involved in this crime?

JOHNSON: There was four individuals involved in the crime. No other names have surfaced. And we have had, from the individuals actually involved, they have only implicated these four.

QUESTION: Will you continue to look for other people?

JOHNSON: There's no indication anybody else was involved. And we're talking -- this is out of confession from the individuals involved in it. They -- all of them, there was four of them.

QUESTION: As far as capturing the people, you're done?

JOHNSON: We're not done with the investigation, no. We have a lot of mop-up to do. You know, we have to take and make sure that -- there is still evidence collection going on. There's still going be interviews to be done because of whoever they may have talked to, anybody else they may have made these threats to. So, we have more investigation.

QUESTION: So, you believe that everyone involved in perpetrating this crime is under your custody?

JOHNSON: Yes. Yes. I have -- I feel like everyone involved with good authority, I feel like everyone involved was taken into custody. And I want to commend our department. Our people have been working on this thing since early Friday morning with no rest, and they have done an absolute great job. They keep on going. Finally our investigators were able to go home for a few minutes this mourning to rest. Our crime scene people are still at it. Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime scene people have been heavily involved all the way through. And I want to thank them for the job well done. They have done one super, super job. And I can't say enough for them.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

CALLAWAY: You've been listening to Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson giving details on the arrests that were made today in connection with the brutal slayings of six people in Deltona, Florida, which is the town between Orlando and Daytona, Florida. The sheriff saying there are four suspects in the Volusia County jail, that three of the four have confessed to the murders.

These victims were brutally murdered. The sheriff says they were beaten to death with aluminum baseball bats. The motive, according to the sheriff, was to retrieve an X-Box and clothing that one of the suspects said belonged to him. Again, four suspects now in Volusia County jail accused in the murder of six people in Deltona, Florida -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: We move on with campaign news now. It's one of the major battleground states in the election for president and John Kerry is getting ready to fight. The democratic challenger is in New Mexico this morning continuing a "Whistle Stop" train tour across the country. Meantime, his running mate, John Edwards is heading back to Laurence, Kansas to say he is sorry. Kerry and Edwards had road through the town on Saturday, but did not stop to say "Hi" to an unexpected crowd that turned up at the railroad tracks.

A full campaign plate is on President Bush's agenda this coming week, as well, after spending the weekend with his family. Jill Dougherty is live near the Bush compound in Kennebunkport, Maine -- Jill.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Drew, that -- the weekend, brief weekend here in Kennebunkport is coming to an end, the president spending it at the family compound, Walker's Point, and then going off to church today, briefly in church listening to a sermon called "Stewardship Today." He went there with his wife, family and his father, the former president.

He did have a brief respite here in Maine going off on a fishing boat earlier yesterday. His daughter, catching a fish, a 38-inch fish, stripped bass, in fact. But he does have to eventually get back to that campaign trail. And if you look at some of the polling numbers, you can understand why. Very tight, in fact, the latest numbers coming from "Time" magazine polls showing Senator John Kerry at 48 percent, President Bush at 43 percent, and Ralph Nader at four percent.

This week the president will be having some intense -- intensive campaigning. Monday he will be in Virginia, then he sets off on a multi-state swing beginning in Florida, then New Mexico; Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; California; Portland, Oregon; Washington state; and Sioux City, Iowa.

So this is really, Drew, the way it is going to be. The race began early, it's been very intense and we're going to see this pretty much up until Election Day.

GRIFFIN: Jill, it's going to be very busy, as you say, for the next couple of months. Thanks for that live report from Maine and a little bit later on CNN, the president's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, is a guest on "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer, that comes your way at Noon eastern.

CALLAWAY: Well, keeping an eye out on our nation's highways: How the men and women on the road are doing their part to keep America safe.

GRIFFIN: And China looks to the U.S. to help them win gold in Athens. International flavor of the Olympics, a bit later.

(WEATHER BREAK)

ORELON SIDNEY, METEOROLOGIST: The rest of your weather when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL DAVIES, AUSTRALIAN CENTER FOR ASTROBIOLOGY: People have speculated about life beyond Earth for centuries, but it's become a scientific venture only relatively recently.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: Is there anybody out there? The question has been asked before, but now a closer look at life on our planet. A preview of tonight's "CNN Presents" special a bit later on -- on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Here's a look at what's happening this Sunday morning. We've just learned in Florida four people are in custody in connection with the killings of six people in Deltona. The bodies were found in a blood spattered rental home. The sheriff just said the victims were all killed with baseball bats. The Volusia County sheriff says one of the suspects initiated the attack to get some clothes and a video game. He says three of the four suspects have confessed to the killings.

Appeals from the pulpits for peace in the streets of Boston, at state of violence has rocked the city, 42 killings so far this year, 26 of those victims under the age of 24.

And also in Florida, divers in Boca Raton are searching this morning for one person still missing after a collision between an SUV and a church bus filled with teenagers. Three people died when that bus plunged into a canal.

CALLAWAY: Most drivers watch for stop signs, and red lights, but police want to train thousands of truckers to watch out for a lot more. CNN's Alina Cho has more from Albany, New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Every time Scott Harris climbs into his truck, every time he's on the road, he's watching for anything that seems suspicious.

SCOTT HARRIS, TRUCK DRIVER: A truck that will be underneath this railroad trestle we keep an eye out for that.

CHO: Harris has been driving trucks for 19 years. He knows what to watch for because he has been through this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're looking to make you more aware of security threats.

CHO: Highway Watch, a class for truck drivers teaching them what to look out for when they're on the road.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you spot suspicious activity, we want to know about it.

CHO: Everything from a lesson on chemical threats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sarin is a nerve-type gas.

CHO: To getting in the mind of a terrorist.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what the bad guys are up to.

CHO: Take this al-Qaeda training tape.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you are driving down the road are you see a pick-up truck with the tarp over it? Who knows. Who knows. These kind of things -- just to kind of to put a spark in your mind.

CHO: The goal is simple.

JOHN WILLARD, AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION: Make the trucking industry safe. Try to ensure that no truck is used as a weapon.

CHO: Trucks have been used as weapons before, the first World Trade Center attack, Oklahoma City. Now police are hoping watchful drivers can be a first line of defense like in 2002 when a trucker called in a tip that led to the arrest of the Washington, D.C. sniper. (on camera): So far, 10,000 now truckers have gone through this program. The department of Homeland Security recently announced a $19 million grant to train 400,000 more truckers and as many pairs of eyes.

(voice-over): There are more than 3 million truckers in the U.S., people like Tim Maryniak who says truck drivers work 24/7.

TIM MARYNIAK, TRUCK DRIVER: So, we sort of become security blanket for people while they're asleep.

CHO: Others say post 9/11 patriotism plays a role. Joe Todd drives for Wal-Mart.

JOE TODD, TRUCK DRIVER: I'm American and I have a lot of pride, and I take a lot of pride in what I do.

CHO: Scott Harris says:

HARRIS: Just be observant of your surroundings.

CHO: It could help save lives.

Alina Cho, CNN Albany, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Have you ever had a problem getting help over the phone?

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the problem?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I told you. You don't remember me telling you what was wrong?

(END AUDIO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: What had this 9-1-1 operator so confused? Here's a hint, it had something do with sleep or the lack thereof. We'll have that story coming up. And talk with a doctor about the issues of sleep disorders. That's all ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CALLAWAY: Americans know that when they dial 9-1-1 they will get a rapid response to their emergency, at least that's the way it usually works. But the experience of one woman in Baltimore was a real wake-up call. David Collins of affiliate WBAL has the 4-1-1 on the 9-1-1 gone wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OPERATOR: Anne Arundel County 9-1-1.

DAVID COLLINS, WBAL REPORTER: A call to 9-1-1 is usually a relief that help is on the way, but not in this case.

OPERATOR: Do you need police, fire or ambulance.

COLLINS: On July 29 around 2:40 a.m., Patricia Berg found herself startled awake.

PATRICIA BERG, CALLER: Ah, I was waken up (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you know when someone runs their hand across a pane of glass, who it makes that noise? The only place I can think of is my, um, sliding glass door and I woke up to check it out. I didn't see anything.

OPERATOR: (SNORING)

COLLINS: The 9-1-1 operator fell asleep. It went on for a minute, 48 seconds before Patricia regained his attention.

BERG: Hello?

OPERATOR: Yes.

BERG: Are you still there?

OPERATOR: Yes (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what's the problem?

BERG: I already told you. You don't remember me letting you know what was wrong?

COLLINS: Patricia complained to a 9-1-1 supervisor.

SUPERVISOR: Hello, this is PCO Suitar (ph) can I help you?

BERG: I called there and he too the information. I told him what happened and then he was silent and then I hear (SNORING) then I said "hello?"

COLLINS: The operator, an employee since 1993 is on a permanent midnight shift no disciplinary action has been taken. The operator is on vacation and apparently didn't say much before he left.

LT. JOE JORDAN, ANNE ARUNDEL CO. POLICE: We're talking to him, we're going to continue to talk to him, we're going to find out was there a medical reason why he may have fell asleep? We don't know.

COLLINS: Police are reviewing procedures, the work history of the operator, and his training.

JORDAN: Well, I'm not sure that you can train someone to stay awake. You know, that's something that we got to find out exactly why that occurred.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: OK. Most of us can relate to that urge to dose off, lack of sleep is a growing problem with many people, especially those of us working crazy hours. Joining us with some insight on all this is Dr. Joyce Walsleben, the director of Sleep Disorder Center at New York University's School of Medicine, the school and the city that never sleeps, I might add.

Doctor, thanks for joining us. We've got a whole newsroom of people who want to know the answer to this, but how much sleep do we actually need day-to-day?

DR. JOYCE WALSLEBEN, NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Well, the data really shows for good performance we need about eight hours of sleep, and sadly few of us get that.

GRIFFIN: Does it matter the type of sleep you get? Does it have to be the deep dream sleep that we are really after?

WALSLEBEN: Well, it's nice to have all the stages of sleep, and that includes dream sleep and nondream sleep and the less fragmented or broken up your sleep is the better. For someone in a shift work situation, they frequently sleep in two blocks so they don't get a solid eight hours.

GRIFFIN: Let's talk about those people who work odd hours and different shifts. Is there a way to deal with that? Is there a way to work overnights and still get the sleep you need?

WALSLEBEN: Well, being on a standard shift helps, but few of us can do that, go home and sleep for the day. When we try to sleep in the day our biology gets in the way as well as environmental noises and other things we have to do, so it makes it very difficult. But the more standardized our schedules the better, usually. And there are just some people who cannot adapt to night work.

GRIFFIN: And do they face physical problems, as well? Do their bodies begin to deteriorate or show signs of this?

WALSLEBEN: They certainly can. We know there's more stroke and high blood pressure in that group and GI upsets. Clearly someone on shift work who has a sleep disorder, like that, will suffer from sleepiness. And 60 percent of night workers will tell you they fall asleep on the job. In this situation it was rather dangerous.

GRIFFIN: In your research, and also in your treatment, are we seeing more and more people falling into the sleep disorder categories because of the kind of 24/7 economy we're living in?

WALSLEBEN: I think that's certainly a possible cause and part of it is that -- that we're all pressured to do more and we all think that we can do without sleep. And part of it is our awareness. We're much more clear now about excessive daytime sleepiness and the ramifications of it.

GRIFFIN: What are some common sleep disorders that we're talking about and what are the signs? And what do we do as friends of somebody who's suffering from this to try to do some kind of intervention and maybe help that person realize they need to get sleep?

WALSLEBEN: Well, if you're sleepy in the daytime or during your work time hours, it means probably one of two things, you're not sleeping enough, which is simple. You can add 15 minutes each night for every week and keep adding as you go. Otherwise you may have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea or restless legs or periodic limb movements, all of which disrupt sleep so it's never solid and never refreshing.

GRIFFIN: And should friends butt in and tell their cohorts that, hey, you are nodding off?

WALSLEBEN: I think it would be very helpful, and certainly urging them to go to their physician for care. Because now we have a number of things we can do to correct the situation, and that's really meaningful.

GRIFFIN: Dr. Joyce Walsleben from New York University, thank you so much for joining us this morning, and I'm going to get some sleep on your behalf.

WALSLEBEN: OK. Thank you.

CALLAWAY: Stay with us, everyone. Coming up, an Iranian diplomat becomes the latest kidnapping victim in Iraq. We'll have the latest on that.

Also, all of the violence in the holy city of Najaf has prompted a visit from the interim prime minister. The latest in a live report from Baghdad ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: From a dark past to a brighter future, an artist who has overcome the odds.

CALLAWAY: We'll meet him in just a moment. But first, here's what's happening in the news at this hour.

An Iranian diplomat is the latest kidnapping victim in Iraq according to Reuters. Iran now confirms that the official has been taken hostage. An Iranian official in Baghdad tells CNN the man was last heard from four days ago en route to the city of Karbala. We'll have a live report from Baghdad coming up in just one minute.

Iraq's interim government says it is reinstating the death penalty for certain crimes. That announcement made in Baghdad just hours ago. Officials say the restored sentence will cover crimes such as murder, kidnapping and drug offenses. Capitol punishment had been suspended last April after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

And here in the states, former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes is expected to announce his bid for the U.S. Senate from Illinois, even though he lives in Maryland and has no ties to the state. His bid would fill a hole left open after the former Republican nominee, Jack Ryan, bowed out amid embarrassing sex club allegations.

There is a tentative deal this morning between Bellsouth and workers. They reached the agreement last night just hours before a midnight strike deadline. A union representing 45,000 workers had called for a walkout if the deal wasn't reached.

And many are mourning the death of renowned firefighter Paul "Red" Adair who died of natural causes yesterday in a Houston hospital. Adair was well known for fighting oil well fires and revolutionizing the science of capping exploding and burning wells. He battled more than 2,000 oil well fires over his career. He was 89 years old.

GRIFFIN: Iraqi leaders have announced an amnesty program for so- called minor criminals. Well, today it went the other way, announcing reinstatement of the death penalty. Joining us live from Baghdad to talk about that and other news out of Iraq is our John Vause -- John?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Drew. Yes, that announcement from the interim Iraqi government coming just within the last two hours.

Now, the death penalty was suspended after the toppling of Saddam, but now it looks like it will be reinstated, effectively almost immediately, and will apply for very serious crimes: murder, kidnapping and drug distribution. The European Union, for one, had pleaded for the Iraqi interim government not to do this, but a spokesperson today, the justice minister, said this law was necessary to try to bring the lawlessness under control, the fighting that we've seen throughout Iraq for the last 15 months.

Meantime, the interim Iraqi prime minister, Ayad Allawi, made an unannounced visit to Najaf, the scene of serious fighting since Thursday. He did not meet with the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Al- Sadr, but did call on his militia, the Mahdi army, to stop the fighting and leave the holy city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, INTERIM PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ (through translator): We hope that this situation will end as soon as possible. We believe gunmen should leave the holy site quickly. Lay down their weapons, and return to the rule of order and law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Now, a sign that the Mahdi army is not willing to lay down their weapons nor willing to walk away, as the interim Iraqi prime minister met with the governor of Najaf, fighting could be heard about a mile away from their location.

Now, this has been a violent 24 hours here in Iraq, especially in Sadr City where members of the Mahdi army have been firing mortars and rocket-propelled grenades on U.S. and Iraqi forces. Also here in Baghdad, not far from Sadr City, a U.S. reconnaissance helicopter was brought down by small arms fire. There were two crewmembers on board. Both escaped that emergency landing without any injury. And the helicopter has since been recovered.

According to the Iraqi health ministry, in the last 24 hours, 54 people have been killed, more than 300 wounded. That is across Iraq. Those figures do not include what is happening inside Najaf right now. They say it's too difficult to get precise figures. That death toll, that number of wounded, it's difficult to tell who, in fact, are the dead policemen or dead national guardsmen, or in fact are civilians or even for that matter, Iraqi insurgents - Drew?

GRIFFIN: John, I also want to ask you about the Iranian diplomat who is missing. Do you have any more information on whether or not this is a kidnapping?

VAUSE: It certainly is looking as if it is a kidnapping. We did speak with the Iranian embassy here in Baghdad. They said that one of their diplomats has been missing now for four days. He left Baghdad four days ago en route to Karbala. Fereidoun Jahani is the diplomat with the embassy there.

Now, videotape has emerged on Al Arabiya television, the Arabic network. Apparently it's the Islamic Army in Iraq who have shown this diplomat's passport and his business card. But what is interesting about this is so far it appears they are making no demands, instead just accusing this diplomat of inspiring and inciting sectarian violence.

GRIFFIN: All right. John Vause reporting live from Baghdad this morning. Thanks for that report.

The Olympic games have an international appeal, which may explain why an American coach is trying to bring some basketball glory to team China.

And it's your last chance to weigh in on today's e-mail question of the day, "Of the summer games of 2004, what events are you looking forward to?"

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin. Here's a look at what's happening this busy Sunday morning. In Florida, four people are in custody in connection with the killings of six people in Deltona. The bodies found in a blood-spattered rental home. Minutes ago the Volusia County sheriff said three of the suspects have confessed. The victims were beaten with aluminum baseball bats. The sheriff said the motive for this crime was to retrieve some clothes and a video game that was belonging to one of the suspects.

It is induction day for John Elway and Barry Sanders. The former Denver Broncos star quarterback and the Detroit Lions' record setting running back get pro football's highest honors at the hall of fame. And Greg Maddux, a shoe-in for the baseball hall of fame. The Chicago Cubs ace hurler picked up win number 300 in an 8-4 win over the Giants.

CALLAWAY: How do you say slam-dunk or nothing but net in Chinese? Just days before the Olympics in Athens begin, one group is learning popular basketball lingo and hoping to learn the meaning behind another word, victory. Here's Mike Chinoy. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE CHINOY, CNN SENIOR ASIA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Del Harris is the most popular American in China. And he's coaching the most popular Chinese in America. NBA star Yao Ming and the rest of this country's 1.3 billion people are hoping the Dallas Mavericks' assistant coach will lead China to its first Olympic basketball medal.

(on camera): But translating that ambition into success is no guaranteed slam-dunk, or, as the Chinese would say, hualong (ph).

(voice-over): Harris is trying to master hundreds of basketball terms in Chinese.

DEL HARRIS, OLYMPIC COACH, CHINA: Believe me, I know hundreds of them. But transmission of information has to be so rapid fire that I can't think of the Chinese word quickly enough. By the time I say what I want to say, the translator says it, the moment has passed.

CHINOY: That's not the only coaching challenge.

HARRIS: Basically they're not an aggressive, violent type of mentality.

CHINOY: But Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets says the team is thrilled.

YAO MING, BASKETBALL PLAYER, CHINESE OLYMPIC TEAM: he teach us many new plays, many new ideas to help us grow.

CHINOY: It's clear Beijing isn't Dallas. Standing at attention for the Chinese national anthem, the boys from the Ministry of Public Security in the stands. The team, not yet at NBA level. But there's time, because Harris knows the goal really isn't this year, but 2008, when the Olympics will be held here in Beijing, and the Chinese get the home-court advantage.

Mike Chinoy, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: All morning long we have been asking you your thoughts on our e-mail question of the day, which is, which event in the summer Olympics will you be looking forward to? And we've got a couple of responses.

Mike from Woodmere, New York, says, "I'm especially looking forward to track and field events being held among the ancient Greek ruins."

CALLAWAY: Here's what Susan has to say from Charlotte, North Carolina. "I like the quirky sports you don't see any other time. Rhythm gymnastics, synchronized swimming, running around with a gun, then stopping to shoot targets. The weirder the better!" Good luck with that, Susan.

Not sure they televise everything. Do they, Drew?

GRIFFIN: They will televise a lot, apparently.

CALLAWAY: All right. A check of weather coming up.

Good morning, San Francisco. Your forecast is in about five minutes as CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: You're looking live at San Francisco Bay this morning. Good morning to our friends out on the west coast. Bay area residents getting a chance to enjoy life in the outdoors this weekend. It's called the Sundown Safari at the Oakland Zoo; families actually camp out with the animals and get a behind the scenes look at the animals after dark. A beautiful morning out in California.

Now to our American dream update, a story of a family who left California in search for a place to call home and where they can raise their son. CNN SUNDAY MORNING is riding along with them. The Sprys are from Silicon Valley. Earlier this year, they sold their house, packed up their stuff and headed out on the road. So far Steve, Colleen, and 4-year-old Ryan have traveled to the Grand Canyon, to New Orleans, through Atlanta, Key West, Cape Cod. Right now they are parked in northern Virginia. That's a perfect opportunity to drop in on one of the sights of our nation's capital. Ryan with the capitol as a backdrop. And at the offices of California Senator Dianne Feinstein. The family had a one-on-one with the senator Friday and had a chance to ride the Senate subway.

We'll have an update with the Sprys next week. They have a very important date at a very important D.C. Address. We'll hear about that next week on CNN SUNDAY. If you want to keep up with them, learn more about their American dream, check them out at www.luvtohavefun.com.

CALLAWAY: We saw San Francisco a minute ago. What a beautiful day out there. Orelon Sidney is here with the forecast.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's going to be a gorgeous day today. 57 right now. You can add about 20 degrees to that and you'll get your afternoon temperature. Skies expected to be clear all day long. Of course, you're going to see the fog off the coast. But it's just a gorgeous day there. Not much to complain about at all.

Not much to complain about in the tropics as far as the Atlantic is concerned. Nothing really active in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico. This here is the remnants of tropical depression number two, but it just isn't doing much at all. In fact, the hurricane center not even discussing that in their last update.

We do have a little tropical wave here, here are the Leeward Islands, you can see how far out to sea that one is. If any development occurs, it will be a while before we have to worry about it. So, not worrying about that much at all. And I bet you are not worried in Asheville, North Carolina, either. Great temperature this morning, setting a record low of 49 degrees. Lynchburg tied their record of 53. Greenville, Spartanburg at 56. You're still going to see your temperatures on the warm side today, but the humidity will be less. Don't look now because warmth and moisture will work in from the Gulf of Mexico over the next 24, 36 hours. So you will be starting to feel a little bit more humid.

You'll see highs in the 70s across New England and the northern Plains. There may be a bit of a cool-off this afternoon with thunderstorms stretching from Minnesota down into eastern parts of Colorado. Some thunderstorms could be severe, especially Kansas, Nebraska, that's where we're looking for mainly large hail. A one in four chance of damaging or large hail. Not much chance of tornadoes, which is good news.

Here is that warm air coming from the Gulf of Mexico. Houston, Lake Charles, back to New Orleans, you will be a bit more humid today. Tomorrow the warm front advances as far as Jackson and it will get out towards Atlanta and cover much of the eastern U.S. as we go towards the middle of the week. Your fall-like taste that you got is pretty much over with; enjoy it for maybe one more day.

Chance of severe thunderstorms again tomorrow in the Rockies, and also across the Great Lakes. Otherwise sunny skies in the east. New England finally gets a chance to really clear out tomorrow. Temperatures there in the 70s and 80s. You will be in the 70s through the northern plains and hot out west.

GRIFFIN: Orelon, thanks. Have a great Sunday.

SIDNEY: Thank you. You're welcome.

CALLAWAY: Time now to "Fast Forward" to some news that you'll see in the week ahead.

Convicted Oklahoma City bombing participant Terry Nichols will be sentenced on Monday. A jury failed to impose the death penalty earlier this year. Nichols is already serving life in prison from an earlier federal conviction.

And in New York on Tuesday, pre-trial hearing on larceny charges for Tyco International executives Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Schwartz. You might remember, the judge declared the case a mistrial back in April.

And catch the Olympic spirit on Friday. Opening ceremonies in Athens kick off the 2004 summer games. 10,500 athletes from around the world expected to participate in this year's competition. Those games continue through August 29th.

GRIFFIN: Space men meeting little green men or an extraterrestrial creature trying to phone home, you've seen all those in the movies, now see the real facts in the search for life out in space in a CNN special airing tonight at 8:00 eastern. Our Miles O'Brien asks the question "Is anybody out there?" It airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern, 5:00 p.m. pacific, right here on CNN.

And still ahead, finding the right balance to create beautiful art. One artist's struggle to overcome the odds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: There's plenty more ahead today on CNN. Up next, it's "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY," followed at 11:00 eastern by "CNN LIVE SUNDAY," and at 11:30, it is "RELIABLE SOURCES."

CALLAWAY: Researchers have made great strides in recent years in finding new medications to treat mental illness. New therapy research has also found that mentally ill patients often have a gift for artistic expression that could aid in their recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEROME LAWRENCE, ARTIST: I never know what I'm going to paint.

CALLAWAY (voice-over): Jerome Lawrence is a successful artist. In the last few years, he's sold hundreds of paintings for thousands of dollars, and recently had his first one-man show.

But his promising career almost ended before it had a chance to take off. While just a senior in college, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized. He credits his recovery to new medications, and equally as important, a free art program at a local church that allowed him to paint.

LAWRENCE: To get back to what I love to do. It's something that I wanted to get up in the morning to go and be a part of the class, get in there and paint. Everybody was so pleasant. And it made me feel welcomed.

CALLAWAY: Lawrence and his artwork are flourishing. His influential supporters include former First Lady Roselynn Carter, who began spearheading mental health program more than 30 years ago, when her husband was governor of Georgia. She continues her work with programs around the world through the Carter Center in Atlanta. She believes strongly in the benefits of the arts in treating mental illness.

ROSELYNN CARTER, THE CARTER CENTER: When they do something creative, like paint a picture or compose a song or something like that, it gives them a feeling of self confidence, it gives them a feeling of being able to control situations. And it can bring something really positive into their life.

CALLAWAY: The Carter Center recently held a forum on the healing power of artistic expression.

CARTER: Tonight we've invited some musical and fine artists with mental illness to be with us.

CALLAWAY: Lawrence was part of the panel of artists that have battled illnesses like bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, but have found careers in the arts.

Research has shown a connection between mood disorders and creative ability. A ten-year study of prominent professionals by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine found between 52 percent and 87 percent of the artists, writers and musicians suffered from mental illness, compared to just 25 percent to 49 percent in the less artistic professions.

(on camera): Many of the artists here say their mental illnesses made it difficult for them to communicate effectively with people, but through their art, music, and writing, they found a therapeutic way to express themselves.

LAWRENCE: It's always been what I do. It does not have another meaning besides, I guess, survival. The thing that keeps me going, which makes my life meaningful.

CALLAWAY (voice-over): For many suffering from mental illness, art is more than paint and canvas. It is their healing force, their reason for being.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And Lawrence is now actually painting that free art program at the church that helped him so much. So now he's helping others.

GRIFFIN: Great story.

Thanks for joining us. "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" is next, but first, here is what's happening now in the news.

And Iraqi government minister announced the reinstatement of the death penalty for murder, drug dealing, and endangering national security. It was suspended briefly during the U.S. occupation.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired August 8, 2004 - 09:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. It is Sunday, August 8. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Hello, everyone I'm Catherine Callaway.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Drew Griffin. Thanks for starting your day with us. It's turning out to be a busy news morning, here's what's happening now in the news.

Just announced, four people in custody this mourning in Florida in connection with the killings of six people in Deltona. The bodies were found Friday in a blood spattered rental home. Authorities say the four arrests happened overnight. There is no word this morning on how the victims were killed or a motive. The county sheriff's office will have a news conference this hour which we will bring it to you live as soon as it starts.

CNN has learned an Iranian diplomat is missing in Iraq. An embassy official in Baghdad tells CNN that the official has not been heard from since leaving for the city of Karbala four days ago. There's growing fear he has been kidnapped. Wire Services report claims on an Arab (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Iranian council has been taken hostage and an Arab TV station is reporting the Iranian council , but there's no specific evidence to that effect now.

Iraq's interim leaders are getting tough on crime. This morning the government announced it's bringing back the death penalty. It'll apply to a limited set of crimes including murder and kidnapping. In the meantime interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, this morning, made a surprise visit to Najaf. The holy city has been torn by deadly fighting between U.S. forces and militia fighters. Allawi called on the militants to leave the holy sites and lay down their weapons.

Pakistani sources hoping a recent arrest will help them hunt down terrorist leaders. A Pakistani al-Qaeda agent is now back in Pakistan after being arrested Friday in the United Arab Emirates. Sources say he's been linked to assassination attempts on Pakistan's leader, he's also said to have been close to Osama bin Laden.

CALLAWAY: Here is what's coming up this hour. Terror warnings have everyone on alert from the arrests worldwide to every day citizens doing their part. What's being done to keep America safe?

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

OPERATOR: (SNORING) (END AUDIO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: Sleep emergency, what's got this 9-1-1 operator so wiped out? Maybe it's the overnight hours on the job. We'll talk about the problem of catching your Zs when you're on the clock.

And painting a clear picture: How one young artist overcame mental obstacles to clear his future in the world of art.

Also we are awaiting on a news conference from the sheriff's department in Florida where four arrests have been made in the brutal killing spree that left six people dead in a Deltona, Florida home. Soon as that news conference begins, we'll bring it to you live.

GRIFFIN: Our top story, another terror suspect in custody in Pakistan. Some of those rounded up recently are talking. Others had computer files that Pakistanis hope will lead them to top al-Qaeda leaders, maybe Osama bin Laden, himself. Details now from CNN's Maria Ressa covering the story in Islamabad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pakistani authorities are working overtime in unraveling several key cells of al-Qaeda globally, on that has already lead to heightened terror alert levels in the U.S. and U.K. another that may lead directly to Osama bin Laden, himself. The first cell, here in Pakistan, authorities are looking for two north African al-Qaeda operatives, part of the 1998 east Africa bombings connected to a man who was arrested here earlier, a man named Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, he's on the FBI's most wanted list, a reward on his head. It was on his computer that Pakistani authorities discovered the pictures of Heathrow Airport, that has since been turned over to the British.

Separately, Dubai authorities at Pakistan's request, arrested an al-Qaeda operative named Qari Saifullah Akhtar. Pakistani officials say he was linked to the two assassination attempts last December on the life of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, but more importantly, they believe that he knows both Mullah Omar the Taliban leader and Osama bin Laden. They hope that information from him could lead to their whereabouts. He has now been extradited to Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities say more arrests are expected. So far they've already discovered cells from the information of the men they've arrested. They've discovered cells in the U.S., the U.K., in Pakistan, itself, in the UAE, as far to the Far East as Indonesia and Malaysia. More arrests expected in the coming weeks.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Here at home, just out this morning, "Time" magazine with a chilling report "Target America" an exclusive look about what investigators have discovered about al-Qaeda's plans for it's next big attack. A senior intelligence official tells the magazine this is looking more like the real deal every day.

And joining us now from Washington, "Time's" congressional correspondent, Doug Waller.

Thanks for being with us, this morning.

DOUG WALLER, "TIME" CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good to be here.

CALLAWAY: A frightening report. Now, most of this information was gathered from three laptops and 51 discs that were confiscated during a raid in Pakistan in July -- July 24, right?

WALLER: That's right. And that really provided all the surveillance reports that have FBI officials and Homeland Security officials so upset because those surveillance reports had really astonishing detail and sophisticated detail on buildings to be targeted in New York, New Jersey and Washington.

CALLAWAY: Let's talk about some of those buildings that they have been checking out for possible attacks. One was Citigroup?

WALLER: It was. One possibility is they're -- at least in the reports they were talking about, was some type of truck bomb going into Citigroup. In another case, the Prudential building, the planners were sophisticated enough to know that maybe trucks would be identified too easily, so they talked about clearing out a limousine and packing it with explosives, thinking that would be less noticed if it drove under the garage at the Prudential building.

CALLAWAY: Prudential building is in New Jersey. Why this building? Certainly not a landmark.

WALLER: Well, it isn't. I think what they are looking for is soft targets, here. And what struck the intelligence analysts that were looking at this is there was such detailed survey datas on each of these soft targets. For example, at the Prudential building they even planned their escape routes in a nearby train to get out.

CALLAWAY: And Doug, also some things in this was the major desire to have this attack occur before this election.

WALLER: Well, that's what they're picking up from other e-mails. These are e-mails from individuals, in some cases, who claim they have been talking to Osama bin Laden, that they want to do something before the November election. I was talking to one counter-terrorism official who says we've gotten a number of e-mails like this. We can vouch if all of them are for real or legitimate, but it's enough that it's really got folks worried.

CALLAWAY: And this should really worry people, the discussion of possibly using helicopters in Manhattan? Speed boats in the New York harbor?

WALLER: Yeah, one of the things they found in the surveillance reports were that they were checking out helipads and heliports in New York and they were also checking out the possibility of using divers and speed boats.

CALLAWAY: All right, what about al-Qaeda recruiting? What is this about possibly looking for non-Arabs, South Africans?

WALLER: That's one thing, yeah. They've started to -- we've been told, looking for non-Arabs that they could have an easier time infiltrating into the United States. Also they're starting to recruit more women.

CALLAWAY: Doug, I hate to interrupt you but we've got to take a Florida news conference on the arrest of four people in connection with a brutal murders down there.

SHERIFF BEN JOHNSON, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA: ...one of them confessed to the murders in Deltona. Last night the other two were picked up in Deltona and brought in and they have also confessed to this brutal murder. The instrument used was baseball bats, aluminum baseball bats. That they provide -- they did severe trauma to all the victims, as matter of fact one of them was so badly damaged that we have not been able to officially identify her. At the moment all the subjects are in Volusia County jail charged with first degree murder. Now, I'll answer any questions.

QUESTION: Which suspects confessed to you?

JOHNSON: All but Troy Victorino.

QUESTION: He is the subject you focused on first?

JOHNSON: He is the ringleader of this incident. This was over missing some items of clothing and an X-Box that he felt belonged to him, and he went to those scene with the intention of killing these individuals to get his property -- X-Box and clothing.

QUESTION: Last name?

JOHNSON: Victorino, you all have all of that in the press release.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

JOHNSON: No, no, but it just never surprises me some of the ridiculous things that happen. But this is a crime, probably -- I hope we never see another one like this in my career. This is the worst thing I've ever seen in my career. The, just the brutal forced used, involved against the victims in this thing, it's indescribable.

QUESTION: Can you characterize the role of the other three? You said Victorino was the ringleader.

JOHNSON: All of them were active participants.

QUESTION: Did they know the victims or have any beef with the victims that you're aware of?

JOHNSON: I know that some of them knew the victims. I don't know if they all knew the victims or not.

QUESTION: Did the victims have a chance to struggle? Was this a surprise?

JOHNSON: There was forced entry through the front door. They were overtaken while they were all apparently, you know, lying down, I believe. I'm -- and they were overpowered because all these individuals were carrying baseball bats. They came in and immediately started the assault on the individuals and spread throughout the house. So the victims really had no chance, they had no chance to arm themselves, it doesn't appear. No way to really defend themselves against four individuals versus the six, but all the individuals were carrying aluminum baseball bats, so it was -- there was no way they could really defend themselves.

QUESTION: Sir, you said the victims were also stabbed, but the blunt force trauma was also used. Any idea where the knives came from, were they found in the home?

JOHNSON: In the home, I believe.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) here is ongoing reports that this was brewing for several days before the murder.

JOHNSON: I'm not absolutely sure at the moment that I can address that. It was something that -- it was something ongoing and it was something that, as I said a minute ago, was planned by Troy Victorino and they set out to go over and recover his stuff. He felt like one of the individuals in that house was mainly responsible for his property and he set out to get even.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

JOHNSON: I'm sorry?

QUESTION: Only four that you know of are involved in this crime?

JOHNSON: There was four individuals involved in the crime. No other names have surfaced. And we have had, from the individuals actually involved, they have only implicated these four.

QUESTION: Will you continue to look for other people?

JOHNSON: There's no indication anybody else was involved. And we're talking -- this is out of confession from the individuals involved in it. They -- all of them, there was four of them.

QUESTION: As far as capturing the people, you're done?

JOHNSON: We're not done with the investigation, no. We have a lot of mop-up to do. You know, we have to take and make sure that -- there is still evidence collection going on. There's still going be interviews to be done because of whoever they may have talked to, anybody else they may have made these threats to. So, we have more investigation.

QUESTION: So, you believe that everyone involved in perpetrating this crime is under your custody?

JOHNSON: Yes. Yes. I have -- I feel like everyone involved with good authority, I feel like everyone involved was taken into custody. And I want to commend our department. Our people have been working on this thing since early Friday morning with no rest, and they have done an absolute great job. They keep on going. Finally our investigators were able to go home for a few minutes this mourning to rest. Our crime scene people are still at it. Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime scene people have been heavily involved all the way through. And I want to thank them for the job well done. They have done one super, super job. And I can't say enough for them.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

CALLAWAY: You've been listening to Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson giving details on the arrests that were made today in connection with the brutal slayings of six people in Deltona, Florida, which is the town between Orlando and Daytona, Florida. The sheriff saying there are four suspects in the Volusia County jail, that three of the four have confessed to the murders.

These victims were brutally murdered. The sheriff says they were beaten to death with aluminum baseball bats. The motive, according to the sheriff, was to retrieve an X-Box and clothing that one of the suspects said belonged to him. Again, four suspects now in Volusia County jail accused in the murder of six people in Deltona, Florida -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: We move on with campaign news now. It's one of the major battleground states in the election for president and John Kerry is getting ready to fight. The democratic challenger is in New Mexico this morning continuing a "Whistle Stop" train tour across the country. Meantime, his running mate, John Edwards is heading back to Laurence, Kansas to say he is sorry. Kerry and Edwards had road through the town on Saturday, but did not stop to say "Hi" to an unexpected crowd that turned up at the railroad tracks.

A full campaign plate is on President Bush's agenda this coming week, as well, after spending the weekend with his family. Jill Dougherty is live near the Bush compound in Kennebunkport, Maine -- Jill.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Drew, that -- the weekend, brief weekend here in Kennebunkport is coming to an end, the president spending it at the family compound, Walker's Point, and then going off to church today, briefly in church listening to a sermon called "Stewardship Today." He went there with his wife, family and his father, the former president.

He did have a brief respite here in Maine going off on a fishing boat earlier yesterday. His daughter, catching a fish, a 38-inch fish, stripped bass, in fact. But he does have to eventually get back to that campaign trail. And if you look at some of the polling numbers, you can understand why. Very tight, in fact, the latest numbers coming from "Time" magazine polls showing Senator John Kerry at 48 percent, President Bush at 43 percent, and Ralph Nader at four percent.

This week the president will be having some intense -- intensive campaigning. Monday he will be in Virginia, then he sets off on a multi-state swing beginning in Florida, then New Mexico; Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; California; Portland, Oregon; Washington state; and Sioux City, Iowa.

So this is really, Drew, the way it is going to be. The race began early, it's been very intense and we're going to see this pretty much up until Election Day.

GRIFFIN: Jill, it's going to be very busy, as you say, for the next couple of months. Thanks for that live report from Maine and a little bit later on CNN, the president's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, is a guest on "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer, that comes your way at Noon eastern.

CALLAWAY: Well, keeping an eye out on our nation's highways: How the men and women on the road are doing their part to keep America safe.

GRIFFIN: And China looks to the U.S. to help them win gold in Athens. International flavor of the Olympics, a bit later.

(WEATHER BREAK)

ORELON SIDNEY, METEOROLOGIST: The rest of your weather when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL DAVIES, AUSTRALIAN CENTER FOR ASTROBIOLOGY: People have speculated about life beyond Earth for centuries, but it's become a scientific venture only relatively recently.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: Is there anybody out there? The question has been asked before, but now a closer look at life on our planet. A preview of tonight's "CNN Presents" special a bit later on -- on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Here's a look at what's happening this Sunday morning. We've just learned in Florida four people are in custody in connection with the killings of six people in Deltona. The bodies were found in a blood spattered rental home. The sheriff just said the victims were all killed with baseball bats. The Volusia County sheriff says one of the suspects initiated the attack to get some clothes and a video game. He says three of the four suspects have confessed to the killings.

Appeals from the pulpits for peace in the streets of Boston, at state of violence has rocked the city, 42 killings so far this year, 26 of those victims under the age of 24.

And also in Florida, divers in Boca Raton are searching this morning for one person still missing after a collision between an SUV and a church bus filled with teenagers. Three people died when that bus plunged into a canal.

CALLAWAY: Most drivers watch for stop signs, and red lights, but police want to train thousands of truckers to watch out for a lot more. CNN's Alina Cho has more from Albany, New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Every time Scott Harris climbs into his truck, every time he's on the road, he's watching for anything that seems suspicious.

SCOTT HARRIS, TRUCK DRIVER: A truck that will be underneath this railroad trestle we keep an eye out for that.

CHO: Harris has been driving trucks for 19 years. He knows what to watch for because he has been through this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're looking to make you more aware of security threats.

CHO: Highway Watch, a class for truck drivers teaching them what to look out for when they're on the road.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you spot suspicious activity, we want to know about it.

CHO: Everything from a lesson on chemical threats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sarin is a nerve-type gas.

CHO: To getting in the mind of a terrorist.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what the bad guys are up to.

CHO: Take this al-Qaeda training tape.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you are driving down the road are you see a pick-up truck with the tarp over it? Who knows. Who knows. These kind of things -- just to kind of to put a spark in your mind.

CHO: The goal is simple.

JOHN WILLARD, AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION: Make the trucking industry safe. Try to ensure that no truck is used as a weapon.

CHO: Trucks have been used as weapons before, the first World Trade Center attack, Oklahoma City. Now police are hoping watchful drivers can be a first line of defense like in 2002 when a trucker called in a tip that led to the arrest of the Washington, D.C. sniper. (on camera): So far, 10,000 now truckers have gone through this program. The department of Homeland Security recently announced a $19 million grant to train 400,000 more truckers and as many pairs of eyes.

(voice-over): There are more than 3 million truckers in the U.S., people like Tim Maryniak who says truck drivers work 24/7.

TIM MARYNIAK, TRUCK DRIVER: So, we sort of become security blanket for people while they're asleep.

CHO: Others say post 9/11 patriotism plays a role. Joe Todd drives for Wal-Mart.

JOE TODD, TRUCK DRIVER: I'm American and I have a lot of pride, and I take a lot of pride in what I do.

CHO: Scott Harris says:

HARRIS: Just be observant of your surroundings.

CHO: It could help save lives.

Alina Cho, CNN Albany, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Have you ever had a problem getting help over the phone?

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the problem?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I told you. You don't remember me telling you what was wrong?

(END AUDIO CLIP)

CALLAWAY: What had this 9-1-1 operator so confused? Here's a hint, it had something do with sleep or the lack thereof. We'll have that story coming up. And talk with a doctor about the issues of sleep disorders. That's all ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CALLAWAY: Americans know that when they dial 9-1-1 they will get a rapid response to their emergency, at least that's the way it usually works. But the experience of one woman in Baltimore was a real wake-up call. David Collins of affiliate WBAL has the 4-1-1 on the 9-1-1 gone wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OPERATOR: Anne Arundel County 9-1-1.

DAVID COLLINS, WBAL REPORTER: A call to 9-1-1 is usually a relief that help is on the way, but not in this case.

OPERATOR: Do you need police, fire or ambulance.

COLLINS: On July 29 around 2:40 a.m., Patricia Berg found herself startled awake.

PATRICIA BERG, CALLER: Ah, I was waken up (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you know when someone runs their hand across a pane of glass, who it makes that noise? The only place I can think of is my, um, sliding glass door and I woke up to check it out. I didn't see anything.

OPERATOR: (SNORING)

COLLINS: The 9-1-1 operator fell asleep. It went on for a minute, 48 seconds before Patricia regained his attention.

BERG: Hello?

OPERATOR: Yes.

BERG: Are you still there?

OPERATOR: Yes (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what's the problem?

BERG: I already told you. You don't remember me letting you know what was wrong?

COLLINS: Patricia complained to a 9-1-1 supervisor.

SUPERVISOR: Hello, this is PCO Suitar (ph) can I help you?

BERG: I called there and he too the information. I told him what happened and then he was silent and then I hear (SNORING) then I said "hello?"

COLLINS: The operator, an employee since 1993 is on a permanent midnight shift no disciplinary action has been taken. The operator is on vacation and apparently didn't say much before he left.

LT. JOE JORDAN, ANNE ARUNDEL CO. POLICE: We're talking to him, we're going to continue to talk to him, we're going to find out was there a medical reason why he may have fell asleep? We don't know.

COLLINS: Police are reviewing procedures, the work history of the operator, and his training.

JORDAN: Well, I'm not sure that you can train someone to stay awake. You know, that's something that we got to find out exactly why that occurred.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: OK. Most of us can relate to that urge to dose off, lack of sleep is a growing problem with many people, especially those of us working crazy hours. Joining us with some insight on all this is Dr. Joyce Walsleben, the director of Sleep Disorder Center at New York University's School of Medicine, the school and the city that never sleeps, I might add.

Doctor, thanks for joining us. We've got a whole newsroom of people who want to know the answer to this, but how much sleep do we actually need day-to-day?

DR. JOYCE WALSLEBEN, NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Well, the data really shows for good performance we need about eight hours of sleep, and sadly few of us get that.

GRIFFIN: Does it matter the type of sleep you get? Does it have to be the deep dream sleep that we are really after?

WALSLEBEN: Well, it's nice to have all the stages of sleep, and that includes dream sleep and nondream sleep and the less fragmented or broken up your sleep is the better. For someone in a shift work situation, they frequently sleep in two blocks so they don't get a solid eight hours.

GRIFFIN: Let's talk about those people who work odd hours and different shifts. Is there a way to deal with that? Is there a way to work overnights and still get the sleep you need?

WALSLEBEN: Well, being on a standard shift helps, but few of us can do that, go home and sleep for the day. When we try to sleep in the day our biology gets in the way as well as environmental noises and other things we have to do, so it makes it very difficult. But the more standardized our schedules the better, usually. And there are just some people who cannot adapt to night work.

GRIFFIN: And do they face physical problems, as well? Do their bodies begin to deteriorate or show signs of this?

WALSLEBEN: They certainly can. We know there's more stroke and high blood pressure in that group and GI upsets. Clearly someone on shift work who has a sleep disorder, like that, will suffer from sleepiness. And 60 percent of night workers will tell you they fall asleep on the job. In this situation it was rather dangerous.

GRIFFIN: In your research, and also in your treatment, are we seeing more and more people falling into the sleep disorder categories because of the kind of 24/7 economy we're living in?

WALSLEBEN: I think that's certainly a possible cause and part of it is that -- that we're all pressured to do more and we all think that we can do without sleep. And part of it is our awareness. We're much more clear now about excessive daytime sleepiness and the ramifications of it.

GRIFFIN: What are some common sleep disorders that we're talking about and what are the signs? And what do we do as friends of somebody who's suffering from this to try to do some kind of intervention and maybe help that person realize they need to get sleep?

WALSLEBEN: Well, if you're sleepy in the daytime or during your work time hours, it means probably one of two things, you're not sleeping enough, which is simple. You can add 15 minutes each night for every week and keep adding as you go. Otherwise you may have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea or restless legs or periodic limb movements, all of which disrupt sleep so it's never solid and never refreshing.

GRIFFIN: And should friends butt in and tell their cohorts that, hey, you are nodding off?

WALSLEBEN: I think it would be very helpful, and certainly urging them to go to their physician for care. Because now we have a number of things we can do to correct the situation, and that's really meaningful.

GRIFFIN: Dr. Joyce Walsleben from New York University, thank you so much for joining us this morning, and I'm going to get some sleep on your behalf.

WALSLEBEN: OK. Thank you.

CALLAWAY: Stay with us, everyone. Coming up, an Iranian diplomat becomes the latest kidnapping victim in Iraq. We'll have the latest on that.

Also, all of the violence in the holy city of Najaf has prompted a visit from the interim prime minister. The latest in a live report from Baghdad ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: From a dark past to a brighter future, an artist who has overcome the odds.

CALLAWAY: We'll meet him in just a moment. But first, here's what's happening in the news at this hour.

An Iranian diplomat is the latest kidnapping victim in Iraq according to Reuters. Iran now confirms that the official has been taken hostage. An Iranian official in Baghdad tells CNN the man was last heard from four days ago en route to the city of Karbala. We'll have a live report from Baghdad coming up in just one minute.

Iraq's interim government says it is reinstating the death penalty for certain crimes. That announcement made in Baghdad just hours ago. Officials say the restored sentence will cover crimes such as murder, kidnapping and drug offenses. Capitol punishment had been suspended last April after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

And here in the states, former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes is expected to announce his bid for the U.S. Senate from Illinois, even though he lives in Maryland and has no ties to the state. His bid would fill a hole left open after the former Republican nominee, Jack Ryan, bowed out amid embarrassing sex club allegations.

There is a tentative deal this morning between Bellsouth and workers. They reached the agreement last night just hours before a midnight strike deadline. A union representing 45,000 workers had called for a walkout if the deal wasn't reached.

And many are mourning the death of renowned firefighter Paul "Red" Adair who died of natural causes yesterday in a Houston hospital. Adair was well known for fighting oil well fires and revolutionizing the science of capping exploding and burning wells. He battled more than 2,000 oil well fires over his career. He was 89 years old.

GRIFFIN: Iraqi leaders have announced an amnesty program for so- called minor criminals. Well, today it went the other way, announcing reinstatement of the death penalty. Joining us live from Baghdad to talk about that and other news out of Iraq is our John Vause -- John?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Drew. Yes, that announcement from the interim Iraqi government coming just within the last two hours.

Now, the death penalty was suspended after the toppling of Saddam, but now it looks like it will be reinstated, effectively almost immediately, and will apply for very serious crimes: murder, kidnapping and drug distribution. The European Union, for one, had pleaded for the Iraqi interim government not to do this, but a spokesperson today, the justice minister, said this law was necessary to try to bring the lawlessness under control, the fighting that we've seen throughout Iraq for the last 15 months.

Meantime, the interim Iraqi prime minister, Ayad Allawi, made an unannounced visit to Najaf, the scene of serious fighting since Thursday. He did not meet with the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Al- Sadr, but did call on his militia, the Mahdi army, to stop the fighting and leave the holy city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, INTERIM PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ (through translator): We hope that this situation will end as soon as possible. We believe gunmen should leave the holy site quickly. Lay down their weapons, and return to the rule of order and law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Now, a sign that the Mahdi army is not willing to lay down their weapons nor willing to walk away, as the interim Iraqi prime minister met with the governor of Najaf, fighting could be heard about a mile away from their location.

Now, this has been a violent 24 hours here in Iraq, especially in Sadr City where members of the Mahdi army have been firing mortars and rocket-propelled grenades on U.S. and Iraqi forces. Also here in Baghdad, not far from Sadr City, a U.S. reconnaissance helicopter was brought down by small arms fire. There were two crewmembers on board. Both escaped that emergency landing without any injury. And the helicopter has since been recovered.

According to the Iraqi health ministry, in the last 24 hours, 54 people have been killed, more than 300 wounded. That is across Iraq. Those figures do not include what is happening inside Najaf right now. They say it's too difficult to get precise figures. That death toll, that number of wounded, it's difficult to tell who, in fact, are the dead policemen or dead national guardsmen, or in fact are civilians or even for that matter, Iraqi insurgents - Drew?

GRIFFIN: John, I also want to ask you about the Iranian diplomat who is missing. Do you have any more information on whether or not this is a kidnapping?

VAUSE: It certainly is looking as if it is a kidnapping. We did speak with the Iranian embassy here in Baghdad. They said that one of their diplomats has been missing now for four days. He left Baghdad four days ago en route to Karbala. Fereidoun Jahani is the diplomat with the embassy there.

Now, videotape has emerged on Al Arabiya television, the Arabic network. Apparently it's the Islamic Army in Iraq who have shown this diplomat's passport and his business card. But what is interesting about this is so far it appears they are making no demands, instead just accusing this diplomat of inspiring and inciting sectarian violence.

GRIFFIN: All right. John Vause reporting live from Baghdad this morning. Thanks for that report.

The Olympic games have an international appeal, which may explain why an American coach is trying to bring some basketball glory to team China.

And it's your last chance to weigh in on today's e-mail question of the day, "Of the summer games of 2004, what events are you looking forward to?"

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Drew Griffin. Here's a look at what's happening this busy Sunday morning. In Florida, four people are in custody in connection with the killings of six people in Deltona. The bodies found in a blood-spattered rental home. Minutes ago the Volusia County sheriff said three of the suspects have confessed. The victims were beaten with aluminum baseball bats. The sheriff said the motive for this crime was to retrieve some clothes and a video game that was belonging to one of the suspects.

It is induction day for John Elway and Barry Sanders. The former Denver Broncos star quarterback and the Detroit Lions' record setting running back get pro football's highest honors at the hall of fame. And Greg Maddux, a shoe-in for the baseball hall of fame. The Chicago Cubs ace hurler picked up win number 300 in an 8-4 win over the Giants.

CALLAWAY: How do you say slam-dunk or nothing but net in Chinese? Just days before the Olympics in Athens begin, one group is learning popular basketball lingo and hoping to learn the meaning behind another word, victory. Here's Mike Chinoy. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE CHINOY, CNN SENIOR ASIA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Del Harris is the most popular American in China. And he's coaching the most popular Chinese in America. NBA star Yao Ming and the rest of this country's 1.3 billion people are hoping the Dallas Mavericks' assistant coach will lead China to its first Olympic basketball medal.

(on camera): But translating that ambition into success is no guaranteed slam-dunk, or, as the Chinese would say, hualong (ph).

(voice-over): Harris is trying to master hundreds of basketball terms in Chinese.

DEL HARRIS, OLYMPIC COACH, CHINA: Believe me, I know hundreds of them. But transmission of information has to be so rapid fire that I can't think of the Chinese word quickly enough. By the time I say what I want to say, the translator says it, the moment has passed.

CHINOY: That's not the only coaching challenge.

HARRIS: Basically they're not an aggressive, violent type of mentality.

CHINOY: But Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets says the team is thrilled.

YAO MING, BASKETBALL PLAYER, CHINESE OLYMPIC TEAM: he teach us many new plays, many new ideas to help us grow.

CHINOY: It's clear Beijing isn't Dallas. Standing at attention for the Chinese national anthem, the boys from the Ministry of Public Security in the stands. The team, not yet at NBA level. But there's time, because Harris knows the goal really isn't this year, but 2008, when the Olympics will be held here in Beijing, and the Chinese get the home-court advantage.

Mike Chinoy, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: All morning long we have been asking you your thoughts on our e-mail question of the day, which is, which event in the summer Olympics will you be looking forward to? And we've got a couple of responses.

Mike from Woodmere, New York, says, "I'm especially looking forward to track and field events being held among the ancient Greek ruins."

CALLAWAY: Here's what Susan has to say from Charlotte, North Carolina. "I like the quirky sports you don't see any other time. Rhythm gymnastics, synchronized swimming, running around with a gun, then stopping to shoot targets. The weirder the better!" Good luck with that, Susan.

Not sure they televise everything. Do they, Drew?

GRIFFIN: They will televise a lot, apparently.

CALLAWAY: All right. A check of weather coming up.

Good morning, San Francisco. Your forecast is in about five minutes as CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: You're looking live at San Francisco Bay this morning. Good morning to our friends out on the west coast. Bay area residents getting a chance to enjoy life in the outdoors this weekend. It's called the Sundown Safari at the Oakland Zoo; families actually camp out with the animals and get a behind the scenes look at the animals after dark. A beautiful morning out in California.

Now to our American dream update, a story of a family who left California in search for a place to call home and where they can raise their son. CNN SUNDAY MORNING is riding along with them. The Sprys are from Silicon Valley. Earlier this year, they sold their house, packed up their stuff and headed out on the road. So far Steve, Colleen, and 4-year-old Ryan have traveled to the Grand Canyon, to New Orleans, through Atlanta, Key West, Cape Cod. Right now they are parked in northern Virginia. That's a perfect opportunity to drop in on one of the sights of our nation's capital. Ryan with the capitol as a backdrop. And at the offices of California Senator Dianne Feinstein. The family had a one-on-one with the senator Friday and had a chance to ride the Senate subway.

We'll have an update with the Sprys next week. They have a very important date at a very important D.C. Address. We'll hear about that next week on CNN SUNDAY. If you want to keep up with them, learn more about their American dream, check them out at www.luvtohavefun.com.

CALLAWAY: We saw San Francisco a minute ago. What a beautiful day out there. Orelon Sidney is here with the forecast.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's going to be a gorgeous day today. 57 right now. You can add about 20 degrees to that and you'll get your afternoon temperature. Skies expected to be clear all day long. Of course, you're going to see the fog off the coast. But it's just a gorgeous day there. Not much to complain about at all.

Not much to complain about in the tropics as far as the Atlantic is concerned. Nothing really active in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico. This here is the remnants of tropical depression number two, but it just isn't doing much at all. In fact, the hurricane center not even discussing that in their last update.

We do have a little tropical wave here, here are the Leeward Islands, you can see how far out to sea that one is. If any development occurs, it will be a while before we have to worry about it. So, not worrying about that much at all. And I bet you are not worried in Asheville, North Carolina, either. Great temperature this morning, setting a record low of 49 degrees. Lynchburg tied their record of 53. Greenville, Spartanburg at 56. You're still going to see your temperatures on the warm side today, but the humidity will be less. Don't look now because warmth and moisture will work in from the Gulf of Mexico over the next 24, 36 hours. So you will be starting to feel a little bit more humid.

You'll see highs in the 70s across New England and the northern Plains. There may be a bit of a cool-off this afternoon with thunderstorms stretching from Minnesota down into eastern parts of Colorado. Some thunderstorms could be severe, especially Kansas, Nebraska, that's where we're looking for mainly large hail. A one in four chance of damaging or large hail. Not much chance of tornadoes, which is good news.

Here is that warm air coming from the Gulf of Mexico. Houston, Lake Charles, back to New Orleans, you will be a bit more humid today. Tomorrow the warm front advances as far as Jackson and it will get out towards Atlanta and cover much of the eastern U.S. as we go towards the middle of the week. Your fall-like taste that you got is pretty much over with; enjoy it for maybe one more day.

Chance of severe thunderstorms again tomorrow in the Rockies, and also across the Great Lakes. Otherwise sunny skies in the east. New England finally gets a chance to really clear out tomorrow. Temperatures there in the 70s and 80s. You will be in the 70s through the northern plains and hot out west.

GRIFFIN: Orelon, thanks. Have a great Sunday.

SIDNEY: Thank you. You're welcome.

CALLAWAY: Time now to "Fast Forward" to some news that you'll see in the week ahead.

Convicted Oklahoma City bombing participant Terry Nichols will be sentenced on Monday. A jury failed to impose the death penalty earlier this year. Nichols is already serving life in prison from an earlier federal conviction.

And in New York on Tuesday, pre-trial hearing on larceny charges for Tyco International executives Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Schwartz. You might remember, the judge declared the case a mistrial back in April.

And catch the Olympic spirit on Friday. Opening ceremonies in Athens kick off the 2004 summer games. 10,500 athletes from around the world expected to participate in this year's competition. Those games continue through August 29th.

GRIFFIN: Space men meeting little green men or an extraterrestrial creature trying to phone home, you've seen all those in the movies, now see the real facts in the search for life out in space in a CNN special airing tonight at 8:00 eastern. Our Miles O'Brien asks the question "Is anybody out there?" It airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern, 5:00 p.m. pacific, right here on CNN.

And still ahead, finding the right balance to create beautiful art. One artist's struggle to overcome the odds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: There's plenty more ahead today on CNN. Up next, it's "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY," followed at 11:00 eastern by "CNN LIVE SUNDAY," and at 11:30, it is "RELIABLE SOURCES."

CALLAWAY: Researchers have made great strides in recent years in finding new medications to treat mental illness. New therapy research has also found that mentally ill patients often have a gift for artistic expression that could aid in their recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEROME LAWRENCE, ARTIST: I never know what I'm going to paint.

CALLAWAY (voice-over): Jerome Lawrence is a successful artist. In the last few years, he's sold hundreds of paintings for thousands of dollars, and recently had his first one-man show.

But his promising career almost ended before it had a chance to take off. While just a senior in college, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized. He credits his recovery to new medications, and equally as important, a free art program at a local church that allowed him to paint.

LAWRENCE: To get back to what I love to do. It's something that I wanted to get up in the morning to go and be a part of the class, get in there and paint. Everybody was so pleasant. And it made me feel welcomed.

CALLAWAY: Lawrence and his artwork are flourishing. His influential supporters include former First Lady Roselynn Carter, who began spearheading mental health program more than 30 years ago, when her husband was governor of Georgia. She continues her work with programs around the world through the Carter Center in Atlanta. She believes strongly in the benefits of the arts in treating mental illness.

ROSELYNN CARTER, THE CARTER CENTER: When they do something creative, like paint a picture or compose a song or something like that, it gives them a feeling of self confidence, it gives them a feeling of being able to control situations. And it can bring something really positive into their life.

CALLAWAY: The Carter Center recently held a forum on the healing power of artistic expression.

CARTER: Tonight we've invited some musical and fine artists with mental illness to be with us.

CALLAWAY: Lawrence was part of the panel of artists that have battled illnesses like bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, but have found careers in the arts.

Research has shown a connection between mood disorders and creative ability. A ten-year study of prominent professionals by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine found between 52 percent and 87 percent of the artists, writers and musicians suffered from mental illness, compared to just 25 percent to 49 percent in the less artistic professions.

(on camera): Many of the artists here say their mental illnesses made it difficult for them to communicate effectively with people, but through their art, music, and writing, they found a therapeutic way to express themselves.

LAWRENCE: It's always been what I do. It does not have another meaning besides, I guess, survival. The thing that keeps me going, which makes my life meaningful.

CALLAWAY (voice-over): For many suffering from mental illness, art is more than paint and canvas. It is their healing force, their reason for being.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And Lawrence is now actually painting that free art program at the church that helped him so much. So now he's helping others.

GRIFFIN: Great story.

Thanks for joining us. "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY" is next, but first, here is what's happening now in the news.

And Iraqi government minister announced the reinstatement of the death penalty for murder, drug dealing, and endangering national security. It was suspended briefly during the U.S. occupation.

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