Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Sunday
Toogood to Be Arraigned Tomorrow
Aired September 22, 2002 - 17:02 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.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Madelyne Gorman Toogood admits it was inexcusable for her to strike her child. But she says that surveillance video that caught her doing it made the incident look worse than it was. In South Bend, Indiana, CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman joins us with more on the woman who is telling the world, she's no monster. A very emotional woman, hey, Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No question about it, Kris. The woman who we saw in video beating her 4-year-old daughter in the back of her SUV will likely have a day in court tomorrow here in South bend, Indiana. An arraignment has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. local time for Madelyne Toogood, where she'll issue a plea of guilty or not guilty.
We've all seen a video. It has been on television a lot. The prosecutors here credit the playing of the video nationally for creating an atmosphere which inspired this woman to surrender. Indeed, she surrendered yesterday with her attorney, and with her 4- year-old little girl Martha who also came in with her.
Now, this woman, 25 years old, is angry right now, angry because while she knew she would lose temporary custody of her daughter, she was hoping the custody would go to her husband, her mother or her mother-in-law. But instead, the custody, for the time being, has gone to a foster family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADELYNE GORMAN TOOGOOD, MOTHER: I've never been on vacation without Martha, I've never been anywhere without Martha for four years. She didn't deserve what -- she didn't deserve it. I shouldn't have did it. It was my fault. But give her to somebody that she knows. My baby right now is with people she don't know, on top of what I did, she's been took away. She never did nothing wrong, and she's going to want to know why we haven't come and got her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: The most important part of the story, authorities say medically the child does look good, although medical tests are continuing. Now, the mother says, this is the first time she's ever beaten her child in such a fashion. It just so happened she got caught on videotape. But prosecutors have said, based on the ferociousness of this, they tend to doubt that. Kris, back to you.
OSBORN: Hey, Gary, I wanted to ask you about the prosecutors, and what's the rationale for the reason little 4-year-old Martha is not going to go with the father? Aren't there two other children who are living with the father?
TUCHMAN: Right. They have a total of three children. They also have a 5-year-old son and a 6-year-old son, and the two sons are with the father.
However, they're saying at this point, this daughter needs to be away from the family. They believe if the daughter is with the father, obviously the mother is with the father, and that would be a problem.
One thing the mother did say today was that if custody of the girl was given to the father, she would separate from her husband for her daughter's well being. So that is something that could eventually be considered down the road.
OSBORN: Yeah, Gary, that certainly could have been a factor.
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 September 22, 2002 - 17:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Madelyne Gorman Toogood admits it was inexcusable for her to strike her child. But she says that surveillance video that caught her doing it made the incident look worse than it was. In South Bend, Indiana, CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman joins us with more on the woman who is telling the world, she's no monster. A very emotional woman, hey, Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No question about it, Kris. The woman who we saw in video beating her 4-year-old daughter in the back of her SUV will likely have a day in court tomorrow here in South bend, Indiana. An arraignment has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. local time for Madelyne Toogood, where she'll issue a plea of guilty or not guilty.
We've all seen a video. It has been on television a lot. The prosecutors here credit the playing of the video nationally for creating an atmosphere which inspired this woman to surrender. Indeed, she surrendered yesterday with her attorney, and with her 4- year-old little girl Martha who also came in with her.
Now, this woman, 25 years old, is angry right now, angry because while she knew she would lose temporary custody of her daughter, she was hoping the custody would go to her husband, her mother or her mother-in-law. But instead, the custody, for the time being, has gone to a foster family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADELYNE GORMAN TOOGOOD, MOTHER: I've never been on vacation without Martha, I've never been anywhere without Martha for four years. She didn't deserve what -- she didn't deserve it. I shouldn't have did it. It was my fault. But give her to somebody that she knows. My baby right now is with people she don't know, on top of what I did, she's been took away. She never did nothing wrong, and she's going to want to know why we haven't come and got her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: The most important part of the story, authorities say medically the child does look good, although medical tests are continuing. Now, the mother says, this is the first time she's ever beaten her child in such a fashion. It just so happened she got caught on videotape. But prosecutors have said, based on the ferociousness of this, they tend to doubt that. Kris, back to you.
OSBORN: Hey, Gary, I wanted to ask you about the prosecutors, and what's the rationale for the reason little 4-year-old Martha is not going to go with the father? Aren't there two other children who are living with the father?
TUCHMAN: Right. They have a total of three children. They also have a 5-year-old son and a 6-year-old son, and the two sons are with the father.
However, they're saying at this point, this daughter needs to be away from the family. They believe if the daughter is with the father, obviously the mother is with the father, and that would be a problem.
One thing the mother did say today was that if custody of the girl was given to the father, she would separate from her husband for her daughter's well being. So that is something that could eventually be considered down the road.
OSBORN: Yeah, Gary, that certainly could have been a factor.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
