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ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES

Police Search Canada, U.S. for Child Pornographer; Sleep Disorders Plague Millions

Aired April 28, 2005 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

COOPER: The clues flood in, but are police any closer to catching a child porn predator? 360 starts now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Who is this girl? The search intensifies for a victim of child porn. Phone tips pour in, but should cops show her face? Or would that put this abused girl in even more danger? Tonight the latest on the case. And crime fighter John Walsh weighs in.

Day two on the witness stand for Michael Jackson's ex-wife. What she said and how she said it had court watchers stunned. Tonight, did the prosecution make a mistake by putting Debbie Rowe on the stand?

Tired of being tired? Maybe you need to readjust your sleeping patterns. Tonight, find out if you are a night owl or an early bird. And how that affects the way you feel all day. 360 M.D. Sanjay Gupta will help you get more out of your night's sleep.

ANNOUNCER: Live from the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is ANDERSON COOPER 360.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: And good evening, again. At the White House this hour, final preparations for President Bush's first primetime news conference in more than a year. The topics, two issues close to the president's heart: Social Security reform and energy policy. The timing of the press conference was actually moved up 30 minutes so broadcast networks would carry it.

There's a live picture of the White House. It is the first night of the may rating period, but we are covering it. CNN's live coverage will begin in 30 minutes.

We begin tonight, however, with a story we've been following here for several days now. The desperate search for a young girl whose shocking abuse has been posted on the Internet. Child porn photos for more than three years now.

Just yesterday the authorities released this picture. Now, take a close look. We're going to show awe closer image. This is another young girl who may know the abused girl. Police believe the couch on which this girl is sitting is the same couch seen in some of the pornographic photos. And they hope someone will recognize either the couch or this little girl who may be a witness.

Authorities today say there response has been overwhelming. There have been a flood of calls to the tip line they provided. We're going to give you that number in a moment. But they say a number of the calls do look like promising leads. Still one day later, there remains a little girl out there, anonymous being abused.

David Mattingly takes us beyond the headlines and into a desperate and dark search.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. So that's identified?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the girl with the rubber ball in her mouth, right?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Every week, detectives in the Toronto Police Department Child Exploitation Section try to identify child pornography victims. From some of the vilest Internet postings imaginable.

(on camera): Do you remember clearly that first time you saw this kind of material?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought I was going to cry. It took a lot just to hold it in. My stomach just flipped. And that still happens.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): But out of the 50,000 anonymous faces that officers have to endure, there is one that offers hope.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do believe she has grown up with this. I don't think this is new to her. You can often tell when children appear to be abused, or when they are abused, whether or not it's the first time or not.

MATTINGLY: She's a girl no more than 12. But when detective Sergeant Paul Gillespie directed officers through dozens of the girl's photographs in search of clue, they came up with an idea.

DET. SGT. PAUL GILLESPIE, TORONTO POLICE SEX CRIMES UNIT: When you look at one of the horrific pictures of abuse, unless you put your thumb over it, you just can't even concentrate on anything that might be in the background. So when we see these images, we actually paint out the victims ourselves. And that led to, well, let's try to rebuild the picture without her in it.

MATTINGLY: It was so simple, they wondered why no one had done it before. Erase the girl from the photograph and then fill in the parts of the room that her image had covered up. What they got, were surprisingly accurate pictures of crime scenes. Pictures they could release to the public. Something police rarely do with evidence in cases of child sexual abuse. (on camera): Were you taking a risk when you went to the public with these photographs?

GILLESPIE: I think you have to recognize there is a potential risk. The risk being that what happens if the offender sees them and recognizing that we're on to him. Could he do something? Could he do something to the victim?

Oh my gosh.

MATTINGLY: Gillespie believes the girl is being sexually abused by someone as close as a father or an uncle. But with the reconstructed photos, he decided the chances of a breakthrough were too great to keep the photos from the public.

GILLESPIE: We now know where a crime scene was.

MATTINGLY: The gamble paid off. It was this picture of a hotel room that was the turning point. Someone recognized this bed spread from a Disney resort in Orlando and tipped off the police.

GILLESPIE: I do believe in this large list of names that we have of people that were at the hotel within this time frame. I absolutely believe he's in that list.

MATTINGLY: It could still take precious time, perhaps months, before police could check out the thousands of guests who stayed there during that time. All the while, Gillespie is forced to sit on even better evidence that he knows could possibly end his search tomorrow.

(on camera): It's got to be so tempting knowing that you could just put her picture out there and almost instantly maybe get a tip.

GILLESPIE: Yes. I do sense that's the way this has to go.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): For Gillespie and the Toronto detectives, it's an agonizing dilemma. Releasing the girl's face to the public would almost certainly help find her, but could easily put her life in jeopardy. And the shame of being revealed could do her lasting harm.

(on camera): The one thing that could break this case wide open is the one thing police have been so afraid to do -- they fear that in holding back, they have made a decision that may haunt them for many years to come.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that worse than allowing them to suffer for the next five years every day of their life?

MATTINGLY: At a event conference in Texas, law enforcement and child welfare professionals made clear to Gillespie that they believe the time for caution is over.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they are being put in these positions that they are putting in with this child pornography, my word, what could be worse than that¯ MATTINGLY: It was exactly the answer he wanted to hear.

By traveling and raising the question, Gillespie is building support for more aggressive use of the public in child pornography cases.

(on camera): There were clearly people in the audience who strongly believe you need to put that girl's picture out there right now.

GILLESPIE: I was truthfully shocked that there wasn't one person in the audience made up of law enforcement and child protection workers that didn't think we should.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Authorities in the U.S. and Canada may soon put faces of child pornography victims among those of missing children. And make them public without revealing why. But for now, while the girl's face remains out of the public eye, pedophiles around the world daily seek out her photographs, depicting acts of graphic sexual abuse.

David Mattingly, CNN, Toronto.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well the thought that there is a little girl out there who has been for years abused and photographed is sickening. And we just want to put that picture up again of the other little girl who may have witnessed something. Take a close look. If you have any information about this little girl, call the Central Florida crime line at 1-866-635-HELP. That's 1-866-635-HELP.

I talked about the case earlier today with John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: John, this child porn case that we've been following is a good example of police really working together -- Canadian and U.S. officials teaming up to find this little girl. I know you're at a missing persons conference that the Department of Justice is running. In general, in these kinds of cases, is there enough cooperation between agencies?

JOHN WALSH, AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: No, absolutely not. You know, Anderson, I never thought I would see something like that's going on here today. This is a conference of coroners, medical examiners, state legislators, cops, prosecutors. And you know this is something that I was hoping would happen.

This group in Toronto has a tremendous unit up there in Toronto that deals with child pornography and exploitation. They work with the National Center for Missing and Exploiting Children in Washington, but the lack of information between state, local and federal agencies in the United States is appalling. It's absolutely appalling. COOPER: Well you know, I heard a statistic which blew my mind last night. The police, the Toronto police officials involved in this child porn case was saying there were pictures of 50,000 children on the Internet involved in child porn. They've only really been able to find 500 and identify 500 of those children. So there's -- there's a huge backlog of cases. Is it just a matter of money of these agencies not working with each other?

WALSH: I say it is absolutely money. The national center here in Washington, D.C. dealt with 600,000 images in the United States last year of child pornography. And we are so far behind.

Just as the Toronto police say -- to only identify that small amount of children we're way behind the 8 ball. It's an national billion dollar business, child pornography, and we don't have a clue of how to exchange information, particularly on the global basis.

COOPER: Well, let's talk about this case the police are now tracking in Florida. This young girl, who for years, has been showing up. And is described by the police who are investigating this as a collectors item among pedophiles. Police have released a picture of a possible material witness. Another girl who they don't -- they don't know whether or not she was abused, sitting on the same sofa also photographed on the Internet.

Is that the right strategy to release that picture? And do you think they should release the face picture of the girl who is being abused?

WALSH: Well, I do, Anderson, because what is the alternative? I hope that there isn't a sad ending to this. But let's say that someone identifies this little girl that's on the couch that wasn't the victim.

I'm sure -- and so are the police, almost positive -- that she will be able to identify the victim and then will able to identify the horrible person that has been molesting the girl over years. He's been selling these pictures over the Internet, abusing this little girl. And look at the weirdos and creeps that are buying this pornography all over the world. And as you say, it's disgusting.

This little girl, the girl that the picture -- the pictures they're showing, I know from "America's Most Wanted." We've caught 840 fugitives, because what do we do, Anderson? We show people's faces on Saturday nights, missing children, fugitives. It works. I'm hoping that somebody has the courage to say, I know this little girl, she probably knows the girl that is being abused, and catch this lowlife.

COOPER: You know, for three years, the police, as you said, have been looking at pictures of this girl, trying to solve this crime. And one description I read, which breaks my heart, is that they say her eyes appear as the years have progressed and she has aged, her eyes appear more dead than ever, that her eyes have deadened. She once smiled; she no longer smiles. The flip side to this, John, as you well know, is that some police say, look, if you release the picture of the girl who is actually being abused, that might endanger her, that some pedophile might feel he's going to get caught soon and might kill her in order to try to cover up a crime. Do you think -- is that a real danger? And is the risk worth it?

WALSH: I don't -- personally, I don't think it's a real danger. That little girl's eyes are dead because that creep is ruining her and destroying her soul. And the pictures do work. The showing that girl's picture might save the other little girl's life.

COOPER: You know, what police seem to know about the person who has taken this picture or persons, they seem to be some sort of professional photographer, at least an experienced photographer. A motorcycle enthusiast, based on a kind of bike that one of these pictures showed. And clearly not afraid of public places.

And the thing that I found -- again, just so sickening about this is that most likely they say this is a relative or a close friend of the family of this little girl. How common is that in these cases?

WALSH: Very, very common, Anderson. Very common. He has access to this little girl. You know, the big stories that hit the headlines are Jessica Lunsford, where it's the registered sex offender that's not adhering to his parole and he's the predator. But most of the cases are someone that these the children know. It could be a relative. Could even be her own father or stepfather. But whoever it is, is destroying this person's life and is making money selling these horrible pictures.

COOPER: And needs to pay for this. John Walsh, it's always good to talk to you. Appreciate it. Thank you very much.

WALSH: Thank you, Anderson.

COOPER: Well, next tonight on 360, the mother of Michael Jackson's two kids testified again today. Tonight, we take you behind the masks. A look inside his kids' veiled world.

Also tonight, "Sleepless in America." Are you an early riser or a night owl? 360 MD Sanjay Gupta reveals how your sleep pattern could be harming your health.

Also, a little later tonight, President Bush preparing to address the nation at the top of this hour. Stay right here for special coverage. All that ahead. First, your picks, most popular stories on cnn.com right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Well, it was muted colors today in a muted courthouse entrance for Michael Jackson. Quite frankly, we're a bit surprised by his dour expression. Today, like yesterday, his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, testified that Jackson was a great father and a great person. And she's a witness for the prosecution. This is one of the most popular stories all day on cnn.com. And every day, Rudi Bakhtiar gives us an angle you won't find anywhere else. Rudi, what did you come up with today?

RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, a lot has surfaced about Jackson and the trial, but there are three figures that remain a mystery, his children.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BAKHTIAR (voice-over): The baby under that green veil is Michael Jackson's third child. His name is Prince Michael Jackson II, but Jackson prefers calling him Blanket.

Blanket was born by a surrogate mother, whose identity remains unknown. And in fact, much of what we know about all of his children remains a mystery.

Before Blanket, there was Prince Michael Jackson, born in 1997. The world first saw him on the cover of a magazine with Jackson and his second wife, Debbie Rowe.

Jackson said when his son was born, he cried. Then in 1998, Rowe gave Jackson a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine. It's reported that Jackson was so anxious to bring her home that after cutting the umbilical cord, he rushed her out of the door with the placenta still attached, and washed her off when he got home.

We've seen very little of the children, and when we do get the chance, they are hidden, often behind masks and scarves and umbrellas.

Of course, there was one appearance in 2002 that we all remember -- Jackson holding his infant son Blanket over the ledge of a hotel balcony. Jackson admitted it wasn't wise, but insisted he would never hurt his child. A sentiment echoed by his brother Jermaine.

JERMAINE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S BROTHER: He was caught up in the moment. And I say it again, you judge a person by their intentions. He's a wonderful father. He's a great dad. He's great to our kids, my kids. And that wasn't his intent at all. And I think the media has taken things out of context.

Yes, it wasn't the wisest thing to do. But at the same time, he was caught up in the excitement. But they never showed the 60,000 some fans down there being excited about his presence.

BAKHTIAR: Despite living the life they do, Jackson says he tries to give them a normal upbringing. And in an interview, he insisted they will be able to adjust to being the children of Michael Jackson.

MICHAEL JACKSON: That's the way it is. And it's worked successfully in the past many times. It's all in how you shape and sculpt and mold their world. You know? And many people have been very successful at it.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BAKHTIAR: And as for the trial, Anderson, Santa Barbara County D.A. Tom Sneddon says that he expects to wrap up the prosecution's case against Jackson by next Tuesday, which is two lay days later than they had previously announced.

COOPER: All right, Rudi Bakhtiar, thanks very much.

Erica Hill from HEADLINE NEWS joins us with the latest at about 18 past the hour, the latest headlines. Hey, Erica.

ERICA HILL, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Hey, Anderson, good to see you. Iraq now has a cabinet, and the government that will eventually write the country's constitution. Nearly three months after elections, Iraq's transitional leaders finally agreed on a list of cabinet members. We should point out, there's still some work to do. Four positions are being filled only on a temporary basis, because a compromise couldn't be reached.

On to Santa Ana, California. A guilty verdict in the Samantha Runnion case. Just minutes ago, a jury convicted Alejandro Avila of kidnapping, murder, and two counts of sexual assault. Runnion, a 5- year-old, disappeared from her home in July of 2002. Her body was found the next day.

In St. Petersburg, Florida, police speak out about the handcuffing of an unruly 5-year-old girl. Chief Chuck Harmon says officers shouldn't have been called in to handle that situation. Harmon says an investigation is ongoing, but adds it's against police policy to use handcuffs to get a child to behave.

And Florence Township, Minnesota. Four tigers maul a 37-year-old woman. She is in serious condition. Her boyfriend, it turns out, has kept seven tigers at his home. The couple was cleaning out their cages when the attack happened. The boyfriend, meantime, has been arrested for illegally housing the big cats.

And that's a look at the headlines for HEADLINE NEWS. Anderson, back to you. What is it with the animal stories this week, by the way?

COOPER: Well, also, you know, I mean, by now everyone should know, don't keep tigers and lions at your home.

HILL: Exactly, and if you're going to clean the cage, make sure they are not in there.

COOPER: That's a good -- also, another little trivia. Did you know what Jermaine Jackson's son name is?

HILL: Prince Michael III?

COOPER: Jermajesty.

HILL: Oh.

COOPER: Just going to leave you with that. Erica Hill, thanks very much.

Coming up next on 360, are you an early riser or a night owl? Jermajesty. Your sleeping habits may be harming your health. 360 MD Sanjay Gupta explains. Part of our special week-long series, "Sleepless in America."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: You are looking at a live shot of the White House where President Bush is preparing to address the nation in about 40 minutes from now. He's expected to focus on Social Security and his energy plan. CNN's special coverage begins on the half hour, about eight minutes from now, with Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn.

Here in New York, you know, the sun rose at 5:59 this morning. It was beautiful, birds were singing, car alarms were blaring, and me, I was out like a light. Not really an early riser. I'm one of those wicked night owls whose stay up late watching bad things like infomercials and reruns of "Mama's Family." It's true. That could be a mistake, however, because experts say it is much healthier waking with the sun than sleeping through it.

360 MD Sanjay Gupta tells us why, tonight, as we continue our week-long series, "Sleepless in America."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL EXPERT: It's just before 7:00 a.m. and the sun is about to rise. Fitness trainer Kathy Murray's day began almost three hours ago.

KATHY MURRAY, PERSONAL TRAINER: I'm a natural early-riser, even when I was at another career. I just -- one of these people that get up, doesn't like -- don't like to waste the day and get a lot of things done.

GUPTA: But John Dowhy is still asleep. John has to be at work by 8:00 but he just went to bed a few hours ago.

JOHN DOWHY, NIGHT OWL: I have always been a night owl, ever since I was a little kid.

GUPTA: John and Kathy are both successful working adults, but because Kathy's up by dawn, she is able to be more productive during the day.

John, on the other hand...

DOWHY: I start laundry at 12:00. I'll start cleaning out the bathroom or cleaning up the kitchen and it's, you know, 11:30.

GUPTA: Even though he gets the housework done, he's dragging through his most productive hours of the day. His late-night lifestyle is catching up with him.

DOWHY: I find myself bolting out the door at the last minute with clothes halfway on, with a soda or something like that in my hand.

GUPTA: A recent study has shown that night owls are less likely to stick to routines, and this puts them at greater risk for conditions like high blood pressure, obesity and depression. But there is more hope. Becoming more of a morning lark can boost your immune system and increase your chances of sticking to a diet, as well as exercise plans. So John decided it was time to get some help.

This is John's sleep boot camp.

We introduced him to a sleep specialist Dr. Russell Rosenberg. He says John's problem is very common.

RUSSELL ROSENBERG, SLEEP SPECIALIST: He's typical of people who have what is known as a delayed sleep phase. The individuals has (SIC) really an inability to go to sleep at earlier hours, ideally would like to go to bed late and then sleep in later like 10:00, 11:00 or 12:00, that's their more natural tendency. So, in some ways they're swimming upstream against their own circadian clock, if you will.

GUPTA: But the doc says even some pretty minor behavioral modifications can help night owls like John be more productive during the day.

ROSENBERG: So, John, here's what I want you to do, is to think about getting into a better routine for sleep. Choose activities that are relaxing for you, that aren't going to be more exciting or rev you up, per se. Just start winding yourself down.

GUPTA: The doc suggests things like reading, listening to music or watching TV, as long as it's not in the bedroom. He also recommends staying away from caffeinated beverages in the afternoon and staying away from alcohol for the three hours before bedtime. And...

ROSENBERG: I would recommend your use of what is known as a bright light therapy or bright light box, and to sit in front of this light box, get the exposure which will help tell your brain that you are supposed to be up a little bit earlier.

DOWHY: Sounds good.

GUPTA: So, off he went.

DOWHY: This is the light.

GUPTA: Just a little skeptical about that light box, but John gave Dr. Rosenberg's plan the old college try, and we checked back with him four days later.

DOWHY: Hey, doc, how are you?

ROSENBERG: Hey, good to see you.

DOWHY: Good to see you. ROSENBERG: So, how did it go this week?

ROSENBERG: It -- as I was explaining before, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

GUPTA: When we first met John, his bedtime was usually around 1:00 a.m. Now it's 11:30. He's cut out the afternoon caffeine, manages to fit all the housework in before 10:00, and winds down with a little TV time. As far as that lightbox John was worried about...

DOWHY: I was really surprised by it. It just, sort of, got things going.

ROSENBERG: Do you think you'll continue to use the light?

DOWHY: Oh, yes.

GUPTA: But, by far, the biggest benefit...

DOWHY: ...being able to get up in the morning, get something to eat, have a cup of coffee, check the e-mail and, you know, have that light there to, where -- it's just sort of, OK, now I'm ready to start the day.

GUPTA: Even though John still getting up at the same time, his waking hours are far more productive. Huh, seems that mom was right, early to bed, early to rise.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (SINGING): Groovy. Hey!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Groovy -- I need a light box. Our "Sleepless in America" series continues tomorrow with, how sleeping together may be driving you apart. From snoring to tossing, the problems that keep spouses up at night. Some couples give up, but there is hope. We'll show you some hopeful signs tomorrow.

Coming up next on CNN, live coverage of President Bush's news conference from the White House. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Live shot of the White House where President Bush is about to address the nation to lay out his plans, for Social Security, and on energy. I'm Anderson Cooper. Special coverage with Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn starts right now.

END

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