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Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien
MTV Star Found Dead; Arias' Lawyers Seek Mistrial Today; Sanford In Runoff Election Today; Arkansas Critters Covered In Crude; Third Arrest In Brazil Gang Rape; Biggest Opening Day Winners And Losers; World Autism Awareness Day; Oil Tanker Hits Bridge; Heidi Klum Saves Son From Drowning; Interview with Stana Katic
Aired April 02, 2013 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Nischelle, what do we know this morning?
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, things are becoming a little bit clearer, Brooke. Like you said you mentioned that the truck was found partially submerged in mud and the muffler was under the mud. That could lead us to a little bit of a clue into what happened here.
But the sheriff's department tells us that Gandee was found dead Monday in a wooded area in West Virginia. They did find the body of his 48-year-old uncle and a third victim, 27-year-old Donald Robert Myers. The causes of death still under investigation, but the sheriff's department said there are no signs of foul play.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. Now investigators say like you mentioned, the 1984 Ford Bronco was found partially submerged in deep mud. The muffler was completely below the surface of the mud. And of course this community is in shock over Gandee's death.
Earlier the county commissioner said this is a very sad and tragic event. He said we live in a very small community and our thoughts and prayers are with the Gandee family today.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: So Nischelle, "Buckwild" is a very popular show on MTV. Actually pretty controversial from even before it launched, but has the network had any reaction to Gandee's death?
TURNER: Yes, they have, John. You know, they released a statement yesterday and they said in part that we are shocked and saddened by the terrible news about Shain Gandee and those involved in this tragic incident. We are waiting for more information, but at this time our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Shain had a magnetic personality with a passion for life that touched everyone and he will be missed dearly. You know, a second season for "Buckwild" was recently given the green light by MTV. But production on the show has now been reportedly halted after this loss.
BERMAN: All right, Nischelle Turner for us in Hollywood this morning. Thanks for being with us. Christine Romans now for the rest of the day's headlines.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: All right, the death penalty still in play for the suspected Colorado movie theatre killer James Holmes. The prosecutor rejecting a plea deal to avoid execution if Holmes is convicted saying he will seek the death penalty. Last summer's rampage left 12 people dead, 58 wounded. Holmes' trial won't begin until next year. His attorneys say they intend to pursue an insanity defense.
Could the Jodi Arias trial end in a mistrial? The judge expected to make that call today. Arias' lawyers say a juror five has been talking to other jurors about the murder case and that it amounts to misconduct. At the very least they want the woman booted from the jury.
Ten people injured when a car crashed into a crowded Las Vegas restaurant at lunch time. Witnesses say the man behind the wheel came barreling into the "Egg and I" restaurant, just a few blocks off the strip yesterday. Witnesses held down the driver for police when he tried to run away two of the victims are in serious condition and we have no word yet on what caused that crash.
Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford finds out today if voters in his state are able to forgive and forget. Sanford left office in disgrace after lying about an extramarital affair in 2009. He's in a Republican runoff election with former Charleston County Council Member Curtis Bostic.
The winner will face Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch next month for the open congressional seat in South Carolina's first district. She is the sister of TV personality Stephen Colbert.
Minding your business, new signs the recession in Europe is getting worse, but the recovery in the U.S. is picking up. The unemployment in the eurozone hitting a record high of 12 percent, the debt crisis there still hitting the European economy, 12 percent.
Here in the U.S., though, features point to a 60-point increase in the Dow with the opening bell follows a strong first quarter for stocks and comes ahead of auto sales today. Edmunds.com forecasts March to be the strongest month for car and truck sales in almost six years. Sign again things are going in the right direction in the United States and the wrong direction in Europe.
An exciting new show is airing all this week on CNN and it gets right to "The Point." One of the hot topics on last night's debut broadcast, devastating leg injury suffered by Louisville guard Kevin Ware. Jason Taylor understands what Ware's going through after watching a former NFL quarterback suffered a similar fate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON TAYLOR, FORMER NFL PLAYER: Joe Theismann went through a very horrible situation, and thankfully medicine has changed nowadays where Kevin Ware has a better chance of coming back. Joe had a very hard time talking about it. He didn't want to speak about it. I'm sure he's dealt with it and moved on from it. But it's, it's, it's, it's very hard to see it. We have to understand when you take the field whether it's the basketball field, the football court, whatever sport it is, you're taking a risk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: And you can catch "THE POINT" tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN. The next hour of STARTING POINT, you guys are going to talk to the former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann.
OK, Australian police looking for a purse snatcher who made a painful exit from the scene of his crime. Surveillance cameras captured him smashing through a window.
BERMAN: Unbelievable.
ROMANS: Instead of the sliding glass door. He is knocked out and shoppers run to help him, purse snatcher or no. But then an accomplice scares them off, drags the dazed partner in crime to a getaway car, investigators are checking DNA provided by blood at the scene. It's a very clean glass. He didn't see it at all.
We're getting a close-up at wildlife that's been impacted by an oil spill in Arkansas. Ducks, a muskrat covered in crude and the rescue center says it's expecting an onslaught of animals today.
Oil began spilling through a neighborhood in the town of Mayflower last week after a pipeline was damaged. About two dozen families have been forced out of their homes while crews clean up the mess.
And of course, people who are opposed to expanding pipelines in this country, you know, like the keystone pipeline look at things like this and say you know, we told you. We told you, this is what happens when you have oil crisscrossing the country in pipelines.
BERMAN: All right, Christine Romans, thanks very much. It's 35 minutes after the hour right now and a third suspect in the brutal kidnapping gang rape and robbery of an American woman in Rio De Janeiro now reportedly in custody. Investigators say the woman along with a male companion were held captive for six hours on Saturday.
BALDWIN: During that time, they say this man was handcuffed and beaten and the woman was gang raped over and over in a mini bus. Shasta Darlington is following the developments for us from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Shasta, good morning.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Brooke. Good morning, John. That's right. The latest news as you mentioned is that a third suspect has been arrested, and this case is just having a rouge repercussion here in Brazil.
In fact, the Rio De Janeiro police chief, a woman, has already started firing different police commissioners. And that's because with the news of this case, the photos of these men, the perpetrators, have been put on TV, and women are coming forward and saying, that happened to me, too.
So the question is being asked, could this have been investigated a couple of weeks earlier? Could some of these crimes have been stopped? And now they're still investigating to make sure that these women were, in fact, attacked by the same people. But certainly the image of Rio De Janeiro is being tarnished.
It's a city that has struggled over the years to try and clean up its reputation as a center for violent crime. In fact, they've sent troops and army into shantytowns to really tackle the drug problem there.
But now people are going to be looking it and saying, with these events like the world cup, the Olympic Games and Pope Francis visiting in July for World Youth Day, is it a city safe enough for international tourists to visit?
BERMAN: Well, what about those questions, Shasta? As you said, the World Cup next year, the Olympics in 2016, you know, what is Rio doing to prove to the world that they can make things safe?
DARLINGTON: Well, part of the problem, John, is they've really tackled the issue of the drug violence, the drug gangs, and they have done a good job of that. They've seized control of dozens of shantytowns. But the fact is Rio De Janeiro has other problems.
It is considered a center for robbery, for pickpocketing, and even violent theft. While it isn't a hot spot in general known for rape, it obviously happens and maybe it's been brushed under the carpet.
This is something that the police chief will have to investigate, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see more heads roll as she digs to find out whether some women's reports have just really been ignored.
BERMAN: All right, Shasta Darlington for us in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Thanks for being with us this morning.
It's 38 minutes after the hour. Ahead on STARTING POINT, home runs rule opening day. Bryce Harper, the Washington Nats, he had two of them and Clayton Kershaw, a pitcher, had one, was even bigger. Our "Bleacher Report" breaks it all down.
BALDWIN: And I did this interview yesterday. My Twitter feed absolutely blew up, any castle fans, a lot apparently. I sat down with the star of "Castle Stanacatic" coming up. You're watching STARTING POINT. Very exciting.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Welcome back, everyone. I'm John Berman.
BALDWIN: Good morning. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
BERMAN: Big news this morning for the coach of the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles. He's leaving the team he led to the sweet 16. Vince Cellini has all the big money details in the "Bleacher Report." Hi, Vince.
VINCE CELLINI, "BLEACHER REPORT": Hi, John. Yes, we're going to find out if dunk city travels. Like his team, Andy Enfield burst onto the national scene and now he will move from Fort Myers, Florida to Hollywood.
After just a couple of seasons at Florida Gulf Coast, Enfield is headed to USC. His 15th seeded Eagles made that crazy sweet 16 run with a high-flying, wide-open style that appealed to Southern Cal and they swept up the 43-year-old coach.
He'll go from making around $157,000 a year at Florida Gulf Coast to a six-year deal reportedly at over $1 million per. Enfield is central casting for L.A. young coach, exciting style of play, ex-model wife, three kids.
Meanwhile, Florida Gulf Coast star guard Brett Comer tweeted this. I love Coach Enfield to the end. I was his first recruit. He made me the player I am today. Well, Enfield was the Eagles' feel-good story.
But the gruesome story of the tournament right here, Louisville guard Kevin Ware against Duke suffering that awful leg injury on Sunday, later had surgery to repair a compound fracture of his left tibia.
On Monday, Ware was moving around on crutches. He was in good spirits, and he could be released from the Indianapolis hospital on Tuesday. He hopes to join his team in Atlanta midweek for their final four excursion. Ware's mother, Lisa, talked about her son's ability to come back from injury.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA JUNIOR, KEVIN WARE'S MOTHER: I have no doubts that he would be back, stronger, and even better than he was. Like I said, he's had to overcome a lot of obstacles, and it seems as if every obstacle that he has to go through, he becomes a better man because of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CELLINI: Certainly wishing him well. Meanwhile the Nationals Bryce Harper accepting his rookie of the year award opening day, Monday, and he's not a rookie anymore. What a swing Harper takes. He blasted not one but two monster home runs leading the Nationals over the Marlins.
At 20 years old, Harper became the youngest player in Major League history to hit two homers on opening day. I think it's safe to say Harper has the highest approval ratings right now in D.C.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers, they put on a show not far from Hollywood opening day. Magic Johnson on the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch when skipper Don Mattingly came out, gave him the hook, and instead went with the Dodger legend and baseball icon Sandy Koufax.
However, it was current Dodger ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw carrying the day. Kershaw hit his first career home run in the eighth giving the Dodgers the lead. He followed that up with a complete-game shutout of the defending world champion, San Francisco Giants.
No one has thrown a shutout and hit a homer on opening day since Cleveland's Bob Lemon in 1953. And guys, Bryce Harper unbelievable talent, he is a beast when he swings that bat. I mean that in a good way.
BERMAN: Yes, you know, as we said on pace to hit 324 home runs this season after two on opening day.
CELLINI: He may slow down during the season.
BERMAN: All right, Vince Cellini, thanks so much.
BALDWIN: So far who is undefeated?
BERMAN: The Boston Red Sox.
BALDWIN: There you have it. So far. Still ahead this morning on STARTING POINT --
The hit show "Castle" celebrating its 100th episode next I will talk to the star Stana Katic about the too hot to handle romance tension between her character and co-star.
Also this morning find out why Heidi Klum is being hailed a hero. It's 46 minutes past the hour. You're watching STARTING POINT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Welcome back to STARTING POINT. I'm Christine Romans. Stories we're following today, today is world autism awareness day. People across the globe talking about the disorder and how it affects patients and their families, about one out of every 100 people in this country is now diagnosed with autism.
The Coast Guard is investigating why an oil tanker broke away from a pier and slammed into a bridge linking Maine and New Hampshire. The collision damaged the heavily traveled bridge yesterday closing it to traffic. The Coast Guard says there is no sign of a spill or injuries.
Super model Heidi Klum turns super hero after a sunny day on the beach in Hawaii turned nearly tragic. Klum's 7-year-old son, Henry, and two nannies were reportedly sucked into the ocean by a rip tide off the coast of Oahu.
The "Project Runway" star and her body guard boyfriend reacted quickly, jumping in and helping them all to safety. Terrifying when you're caught in a rip tide how you feel when you're caught out there in the water, but she jumped in there.
BALDWIN: On ABC's "Castle," actress Stana Katic plays detective Kate Beckett. She investigates crime in New York City with novelist Richard Castle played by actor, Nathan Fillion. And the show focuses on the romance, sort of the tension between the two here, so solving crimes is the least of their problems. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STANA KATIC, ACTOR, "CASTLE": Right fist in left palm.
NATHAN FILLION, ACTOR, "CASTLE": Shot too soon.
KATIC: You know, we could always just cuddle, Castle. Closest I came to taking an art class was posing for one as a model.
FILLION: Wait, posing in?
KATIC: Not a stitch. What's the matter, Castle, afraid of a little role play? I don't know, Castle, me in a swimsuit, hot blistering sun.
FILLION: I'd be happy to rub lotion on you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: The show celebrated its 100th episode this week and joining me is actress Stana Katic. Stana, nice to meet you.
KATIC: Thank you, nice to meet you.
BALDWIN: Congratulations.
KATIC: Thank you.
BALDWIN: One hundred episodes is no small feat, fifth season. Did you have any idea at the time you had the makings for such a successful show?
KATIC: No, gosh no. We were starting off just trying to make it through our days. We work many long hours, as I'm sure you do at CNN, but that was it. You just kind of make it one step at a time. All of a sudden we turned to two weeks ago, wow, we're filming the 100th episode.
So, it's a surprise and also really exciting for everyone that a show has made it that far, especially now. And we have gained enough viewership so that it's, like, I guess, our best viewed year, best viewed season so far.
BALDWIN: That's fantastic.
KATIC: Yes.
BALDWIN: Then I want to talk about the relationship, the relationship here between your according to, Beckett, and this -- between Castle. Romance, tension filled. Was it always there? Was it there in the audition? Obviously, it's there now. Give me the goods.
KATIC: The goods are that when we filmed the pilot and they showed the network head the pilot, they said, the big fat note was, can you pull it back, because they look like they are about to get together in episode two.
BALDWIN: Really, pull it back?
KATIC: Yes. So I think that bounce and that chemistry was there from the start. Otherwise, I don't know if we would have had a show. The thing everyone has responded to, as well, it is a murder mystery and sort of a procedural and, of course, there's a dramatic element.
But I think the romance between the two characters is a strong draw for a lot of the audience and makes it fun, the sword play between the guy and the girl makes it interesting to be involved in week after week.
BALDWIN: I want to sort of spring board off this relationship of your characters, this is a clip from the 100th episode, which is also based upon Alfred Hitchcock's film "Rear Window." This is a clip here, because now we know not only are you working together, but you're --
KATIC: Sleeping together.
BALDWIN: Smooching, take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIC: I know that you're lonely and that you miss me, I miss you, too, but you don't have to keep making up things to have me come back here.
FILLION: You think this is a ploy to get you here?
KATIC: I don't mean --
FILLION: I know what you mean, and I know what I saw.
KATIC: You know what? I have to get back to the precinct.
FILLION: Wow, you really don't believe me.
KATIC: I'll be back later.
FILLION: You know what, don't worry about it. I'm fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Now, Stana, in real life it's very typical to, you know, smooch someone, work with someone.
KATIC: I love smooching people.
BALDWIN: Smooching is fun. Can your characters pull it off, that's what everyone wants to know?
KATIC: Yes, people seem to really enjoy this season. Like I said, the best season thus far, so I think it's working. And it's really fun kind of navigating what does it mean to work together and be in a relationship?
BALDWIN: It's delicate. KATIC: It is a delicate dance, but it also plays into the comedy and drama of the story, because it's not easy, and the two characters have a point of view and most of the time the point of view is on opposite ends, opposing ends. So it's been a lot of fun to kind of navigate the early relationship waters as characters together.
BALDWIN: Stana Katic, thank you so much. Nice to meet you again. Congratulations, 100 episodes. You can watch her on "Castle" on ABC.
KATIC: Thank you. Nice to meet you.
BALDWIN: Cheers, appreciate it.
Quickly for all the Stana fans, she's coming out on "Heebie-Jeebies," the movie. So she's a big music nerd, if you didn't know that.
BERMAN: My wife is a big "Castle" fan.
BALDWIN: Guilty pleasure.
BERMAN: All right, 55 minutes after the hour, ahead on STARTING POINT, NFL legend, Joe Theisman, he is joining us. We're going to talk him, of course, about Louisville star Kevin Ware's horrifying broken leg, the incident so similar to what so many of us remember when Joe Theisman had his leg broken on the football field.
BALDWIN: Then we will hear from the hiker who was trapped on Mount Hood for six days with a leg injury before she was rescued. Coming up, just about 8:00 on the dot, you're watching STARTING POINT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Good morning. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Our STARTING POINT this morning is North Korea's latest threat it is planning to expand its nuclear arsenal. We are live at the Pentagon with details.
BALDWIN: New this morning, powerful reaction to reports the man behind the murder of a Colorado prison chief and (inaudible) driver was released four years early accidentally. This morning, the driver's wife is speaking out and you can imagine --
