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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview With Husband of Olympic Bombing Victim

Aired June 15, 2002 - 12:42   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: One woman died in the Olympic Park bombing, Alice Hawthorne. She was in the park along with her daughter Fallon when the blast occurred. Joining me now on the set is Alice Hawthorne's husband, John Hawthorne.

It has to have been a very difficult time since 1996 that given the fact the families had to deal without Alice and that terrible tragedy, but no one has been able to -- no one has been captured who is responsible for the death of Alice Hawthorne.

JOHN HAWTHORNE, ALICE HAWTHORNE'S HUSBAND: That's correct. And it has been difficult. We've been talking to the FBI periodically, just to try to stay abreast of what's going on, but it is difficult not having the person that was responsible for it.

WHITFIELD: And even more difficult given that this $1 million reward is still out for the arrest of Eric Rudolph, the only person who has been the named suspect in connection with that, yet somehow the investigation has also had to have been paired down because over so much time, investigators say they feel like they're not able to get any closer to actually capturing him.

HAWTHORNE: Yes, you would think that a million dollars would loose some lips so to speak. But as we were told, everyone in that community or certain people in that community said that they would not turn him in.

WHITFIELD: In western North Carolina?

HAWTHORNE: Yes, for whatever the reasons were, there were some people that were determined to not turn him in if they did have information.

WHITFIELD: That has been frustrating, but you and the family have found a way in which to respect the legacy of Alice Hawthorne by Alice's Wonderland. Tell us a little bit about that and this project for kids in your community, in your Georgia community.

HAWTHORNE: Alice's Wonderland began as a much smaller tribute to Alice. But when I wasn't able to acquire the property, it was very frustrating, but then another piece of property, approximately 71 acres, became available. And the owner of the property suggested the development instead of the 10 to 15 acres that I was looking for. And Alice's life interests were based primarily on children, recreational activities and helping to build the self-esteem of those kids.

WHITFIELD: And this is a park for those kids.

HAWTHORNE: This is a park for those kids. We have a concept called "recreducation" which is a combination of recreation and education. Or using recreation as an incentive for education. We will bring the kids to the center. They will go through all the educational activities that is planned for them before they have access to the recreational activities.

We also have plans for the parents. So this development combines recreation, education and retail in an area of Albany that is marked for redevelopment.

WHITFIELD: Now where are we on a timeline as to when this might be in place or do you still need some funding?

HAWTHORNE: Timeline, we're still seeking funding and we're using venues like this to now put a positive spin on what happened to Alice rather than to dwell on the morbid details of her death. We're seeing this as a rebirth. Doing something positive so that we can move on because that ears to be the only way we're going to get closure.

So we're actually looking to perhaps break ground sometime late this year or early next year with the timeline of about three years for the completion of the entire project.

WHITFIELD: And how is Fallon doing?

HAWTHORNE: Fallon is doing well. She is -- she's getting ready to attend Albany State University. And she's doing well.

WHITFIELD: Good. All right, thank you very much, John Hawthorne and best to you on your Alice's Wonderland. Hopefully we'll be able to cover that so, let us know.

HAWTHORNE: I look forward to it.

WHITFIELD: Be in touch with us. All right, thanks very much.

HAWTHORNE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: For more on the hunt of Eric Rudolph, tune in tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time for "CNN PRESENTS" the hunt for Eric Rudolph.

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