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EARLY START WITH ASHLEIGH BANFIELD AND ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN

New Search For First "Milk Carton Boy"; George Zimmerman Back In Court; Birds Cause Air Scare; Ousted Secret Service Agents Identified

Aired April 20, 2012 - 06:00   ET

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


ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Zoraida Sambolin.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kate Bolduan in for Ashleigh Banfield again today. Thanks for having me back. It is just about five seconds to 6:00 a.m. in the east, so let's get started, shall we?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN (voice-over): Searching for America's first child to have his face on a milk carton. Police in New York are using jackhammers to dig of a basement in Lower Manhattan hoping to find Etan Patz, the six-year-old boy who disappeared over 30 years ago while walking to the bus stop alone for the very first time.

SAMBOLIN: Freedom for George Zimmerman, it could happen today at his bond hearing in Florida and the parents of Trayvon Martin will be in the courtroom.

BOLDUAN: And more fallout from the Secret Service prostitution scandal. The identities of two supervisors who lost their jobs have now been made public and in Washington, new calls for more firings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a stunning thing. It's actually disgusting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Ahead, why the Secret Service scandal has Sarah Palin fired up.

SAMBOLIN: And a too close encounter between a plane and a flock of birds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We lost our right engine due to the ingestion of birds.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: Good gracious. A passenger captures that moment of impact that could have turned into an incredible disaster.

New clues in the search for a missing child who vanished more than 30 years ago. Etan Patz was the face of missing kids in America the first ever child pictured on a milk carton. Patz was just 6 years old when it he disappeared back in 1979 in New York City.

Now federal agents have new information about what may have happened to him. Police are now ripping down drywall of a New York City apartment and using jackhammers to tear up the floor, as well. A source says, Patz is believed to have been there right before he disappeared.

Susan Candiotti joins us now live with the very latest details on what authorities believed happened here. I know you've really been working this since late last night. What is threat last on the investigation because the big question is, why are they there now?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Well, they were looking after the Manhattan district attorney's office reopen the case back in 2010. The FBI has been looking at all the new information.

That, in turn, led them to have interest in a carpenter, a man who had, according to law enforcement sources, had befriended that little boy, had given him a dollar and had that little boy in the basement.

Authorities brought in a cadaver dog. It picked up a human scent and that sent into action a whole other chain of events, which led to a huge team of forensic experts coming to this site yesterday and working all day long starting to use those jackhammers and tear into the basement.

Authorities say they are looking for any signs that that boy, they're working with this theory, that he may have been killed there and buried there or killed somewhere else and then buried in that basement.

They got a search warrant to examine this area and, of course they need good, solid information and good probable cause to get that search warrant. That's what led to the excavation and the FBI tells me they feel cautiously optimistic that they'll find something. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM FLANNELLY, FBI: I don't want to qualify cautiously optimistic. Again, there is probably cause to believe that there is evidence at this location regarding the Etan Patz disappearance. Whenever law enforcement executes a search warrant it's hopeful that they're going to find what they're looking for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: A law enforcement source tells me that, in fact, this man did spend time with the FBI yesterday. They picked him up here locally and brought him back to the apartment where he is staying. He has not been charged in this case.

But here the work goes on and it will for about five more days. They'll be arriving here on site to resume their excavation work in just a couple hours -- Zoraida.

SAMBOLIN: I know mentioned this handyman, Susan, but for years the key suspect in this case was another guy. His name is Jose Antonio Ramos. He's a convicted child molester who is now in jail and apparently, maybe the boyfriend of a woman who used to take care of this little boy. What do we know about him? We heard that perhaps there was a civil suit against him. Could you tell us more about that?

CANDIOTTI: There was. Yes, he was a prime suspect in this case and the family sued him successfully in a civil wrongful death lawsuit. And they were awarded a ton of money, millions of dollars.

Of course, they never collected, but the parents at the time said this is all about finding justice for our son. Again, that man was never charged in this case and he's set to be released from prison on an unrelated child molestation conviction after serving 20 years in prison.

Now, obviously, the focus has shifted as the FBI and other investigators have been re-examining this case file. And, you know, interesting as to how close this place is to where the parents live.

They live just a half a block down the street in this direction. And a half a block in the other direction from this building where the search is going on is that bus stop where the little boy disappeared on his way to that bus stop so many years ago.

SAMBOLIN: This must be so difficult for that family, Susan. Thank you very much for all the details. We appreciate having you there.

BOLDUAN: Now to the Trayvon Martin shooting and the big question today, will George Zimmerman get out of jail? Zimmerman's attorney will ask for bail at a hearing this morning, but prosecutors have all the heavy lifting to do, really.

They need to show that Zimmerman is a flight risk or a danger to the community. Trayvon Martin's parents will be in the courtroom the first time coming face-to-face with the man who killed their son.

George Zimmerman requested a private meeting with the Martins, but they declined this. Their attorney tells CNN the request coming at this time was self-serving in their view.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR TRAYVON MARTIN'S FAMILY: He never once apologized on his web site, on any of the voicemails he left with his friends and never expressed any remorse during police interviews the several times that they interviewed him. So we question his motive at this time saying he wants to apologize.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: CNN's Martin Savidge is live outside the courthouse in Sanford, Florida. Hi, there, Marty, tell me what do you expect? What do we should expect to come from today's hearing?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kate. It's going to be a very interesting day and potentially a dramatic day as George Zimmerman could essentially be set free on bond.

Here's what's going to happen. We know that George Zimmerman is going to be in the courtroom that according to his attorney. We know that Trayvon Martin's family is going to be in the courtroom, the first time they've been face-to-face since the shooting of their son, 17- year-old Trayvon Martin.

Also, we understand that Mike O'Mara is going to argue several points for his client, George Zimmerman. He's going to say, number one, he's not a flight or risk flight, meaning he's not going to flee the country.

And, number two, he's not a danger to the community. He doesn't have a long criminal record. In other words, he's not a threat. The state, if they want to keep George Zimmerman behind bars, they will have to come up with some of the evidence that they have for charging him with second degree murder.

In other words, they have to have to essentially say, here's why we not only charged him, but here's why we also believe will convict him. That could get interesting because it could be some evidence that we have not seen so far.

However, the state may not want to tip its hand at this particular point so that could mean that they've already worked out with some sort of deal with the defense as to figure for bond making it a reasonable amount.

We'll just have to wait and see. It could be two hours of very interesting court testimony or it could be a done deal by 9:00 a.m. one way or another. We'll find out in about three hours from now.

BOLDUAN: Exactly. It could go one of two ways, absolutely. Now specifically looking at the Martin family, as well as the Zimmermans kind of possibly being part of this hearing today. The Martin family will be in the courtroom. The Zimmermans, they'll be speaking at the hearing by phone. Why is that?

BOLDUAN: Yes, well, you know, apparently, it's because they do not feel safe showing up in person. This has been a claim that the Zimmerman family has made for some time that the threats have been made against not only their son, but against their family, as well.

We know that Trayvon Martin's family is going to be there. Apparently, at the direct request of Special Prosecutor Angela Curey. Does that mean that they are somehow going to testify or speak out, we don't know.

Maybe it is just that she feels the presence of the victim's family is essential as part of this bond hearing.

BOLDUAN: Any chance that we could hear from George Zimmerman himself during this hearing?

SAVIDGE: You know, a lot of us have been wondering that. We have only heard him say, I believe, yes, sir, when he appeared for his first appearance. What more does he have to say? Would he make an appeal on his own behalf?

We don't know, but you can bet all eyes will be glued on him, as will all the cameras inside the courtroom as we watch what happens.

BOLDUAN: You took the words right out of my mouth. Marty, I was going to say all eyes will be on this to see exactly what happens today. Well, you'll be there and we'll be coming back to you. Thank you so much, Martin. We'll talk to you soon.

SAMBOLIN: It is 8 minutes past the hour. A scare in the air in the skies over New York City. A passenger captures a brief glance of the birds a split second before they were sucked into the right engine of Delta Flight 1063.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Delta 1063 clear the right. We lost our right engine due to the ingestion of birds. Due a quick courtesy inspection and please return to the gate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: The plane safely returned to JFK. Coming up in our next hour on "STARTING POINT," passengers talk about the scare in the air.

We're going to also hear from CNN's Ali Velshi who was on that plane when it happened. As well as, Grant Cardone, the passenger who actually made that video recording, as well. You were asking what's he doing just running the video recorder. Probably saw birds and decided --

BOLDUAN: Perfect timing just rolling at the very same moment. We'll have to ask him. Coming up on EARLY START, the prostitution scandal at the Secret Service, it continues to develop. Two ousted supervisors have been identified and one of them has a Facebook photo that has Sarah Palin speaking out.

SAMBOLIN: Plus a confrontation at the crossing. An Oklahoma woman suing Union Pacific Railroad after a run-in with one of their officers. You're watching some of it there. We're going to share more details. You're watching EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAMBOLIN: Welcome back. It's 13 minutes past the hour. It's time to check the stories that are making news this morning. A search of a pond in North Carolina failed to turn up any evidence in the search for a missing soldier from Fort Bragg. Private Kelli Bordeaux was last seen leaving a local bar early Saturday.

Police have interviewed the man who gave her a ride home who says she asked to be let out a short distance from her home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLAS HOLBERT, GAVE MISSING SOLDIER A RIDE HOME: Around 1:00, 1:30 she told me, I'm tired, I want to go home. I said, OK, so we got in a car and as soon as I pulled in to Meadowbrook she said you can stop right here and let me out, I'll walk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: Bordeaux's husband is believed to be out of town at the time of her disappearance.

Ted Nugent cleared by the U.S. Secret Service after making controversial comments about President Obama. Agents interviewed the rocker after he said he would be, quote, "dead or in jail if President Obama was re-elected."

Nugent had this to say in an editorial in the "Washington Times" quote, "by no stretch of the imagination did I ever threaten anyone's life, or hint of violence or mayhem. Metaphors needn't be explained to educated people. I personally have never been prouder."

BOLDUAN: And the car plowed through a shopping center in Miami luckily crashing into a vacant storefront that used to be a grocey store. The cops say the driver was in his 80s and accidentally a hit the accelerator instead of the brakes. Witnesses say they saw something flying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We saw when he hit the car and we saw something flying. I thought it was a person, but it's just the bumper of the car and then the car over there and it was like a big bang.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Goodness, the driver did hit one person before he slammed through the store, but that person only suffered minor injuries. The driver was not hurt, he was given a ticket.

And an Oklahoma woman is filing a lawsuit against the Union Pacific Railroad, claiming one of their officers assaulted her. Mary Hill, there you see there, she said she was crossing the tracks on her way home from work when Officer Allen Simmons stopped her and accused her of trespassing.

The struggle that followed was caught on surveillance tape. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARY HILL, SUING UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD: What are you doing? Get off of me! I did not, sir!

ALLEN SIMMONS, RAILROAD OFFICER: Quit, quit.

HILL: I did not do that!

SIMMONS: Quit.

HILL: Let go of me.

I wasn't thinking at that time that this man wants to do harm to me. I wasn't thinking like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: My goodness. Mary wound up getting arrested and charged with assault and battery of an officer, as well as trespassing. She, though, was found not guilty. Her lawsuit asks for a minimum of $10,000 in damages. Pretty amazing video.

For an expanded look at all of our top stories, head to our blog, CNN.com/EarlyStart.

ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN ANCHOR: Nowadays, it seems like there's always a camera rolling.

BOLDUAN: Oh my goodness.

SAMBOLIN: Yes.

Sixteen minutes past the hour here.

We now know the names of two senior supervisors at the Secret Service who were forced to leave the agency this week in disgrace. This is a photo from the Facebook page of 48-year-old former supervisor David Randall Chaney. He just retired from the Secret Service under pressure. That's him standing behind Sarah Palin in 2008.

In the comments section, right beneath this picture, Chaney writes, quote, "I was really checking her out, if you know what I mean." Chaney is married with an adult son.

Greg Stokes has been identified as the other senior supervisor who's been forced out of the department. He was assistant special agent, in charge of the K9 division.

On Capitol Hill, they're calling for more heads to roll.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: Those people who are responsible had brought disgrace and it's disgusting. I haven't been briefed, but I don't se how those who are involved in this should be able to continue in their work. REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: It does appear that you will have more employees leaving either today or tomorrow. Exact number, I don't know. But I do expect more employees will be leaving the Secret Service.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: Jill Dougherty is joining us live from Washington this morning.

And, Jill, I got to tell you, this one has bipartisan support. It seems like both Republicans and Democrats want this mess behind them.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRSPONDENT: Yes, definitely. And, you know, getting back to that Facebook page, Sarah Palin was not mincing words when she fired back. Let's hear what she said on FOX.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: This agent who was kind of ridiculous there in posting pictures and comments about checking someone out. Well, check this out, bodyguard, you're fired. And I hope his wife kicks his ocolly (ph) and sends him to the doghouse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOUGHERTY: OK. So, a moment of levity in a very serious story.

And we've got, as we know, 11 Secret Service people implicated in this. Three of them have already left. That is supervisor, who was allowed to retire, another person who resigned and another person who was essentially forced out.

And then you have eight people left and they are on administrative leave. They have their security clearances pulled, at least temporarily. And they are investigations and coming out of the woodwork, too. You've got at least five investigations, Zoraida. So, this is really spreading.

SAMBOLIN: I got to tell you, we are really talking about that Facebook posting and whether that's unusual for a Secret Service agent to be able to post like that. And I don't think we have the answer to that.

But you normally cover the State Department and you were saying that there are even international implications because of the scandal, even though the agents did not break the law. Could you explain that?

DOUGHERTY: Right, well, number one, you have the criticism of the country in which this happened, in Colombia. Excuse me. The former President Uribe saying that he's really questioning the ethics of the people who were involved.

And then you have, of course, the news around the world. This is being watched by other countries and some people just, you know, in shock and horror. But other people you can imagine who were looking at this, perhaps governments and with malevolent intent who might want to take advantage of something like this. We'd been talking about security implications. What if these women had been spies, things like that.

And then also, Senator Ben Cardin mentioning perhaps the Senate looking into the connection that this might have to trafficking, human trafficking. No one is saying that that definitely is happening, but you see the pattern. This is not just something that's affecting the agents. It can really spread pretty far, the implications, at least.

SAMBOLIN: Absolutely. A lot of layers to this story.

Jill Dougherty, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

BOLDUAN: So, the rumors are flying, is s a new iPad on the way? I know you can barely handle the excitement.

SAMBOLIN: I was really excited about this this morning.

BOLDUAN: Could Apple be introducing a smaller iPad? We'll have details coming up. You're watching EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAMBOLIN: Twenty-three minutes past the hour. We are minding your business this morning.

The Apple rumor mill is running at full capacity this week.

BOLDUAN: It feels like it always does, though.

SAMBOLIN: Yes. Anyway. I like this one.

BOLDUAN: You do. You've been very excited.

Lots of buzz about whether the next iPhone model release, as well as the possibility of a smaller iPad.

Felicia Taylor is in for Christine Romans this morning.

So, isn't a smaller iPad an iPhone?

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: A smaller iPad, an iPhone well kind of. But it's not going to be that small. You kind of threw me there, thanks a lot, Kate.

(LAUGHTER)

SAMBOLIN: It's too early.

BOLDUAN: It was not supposed to be a brain teaser. These are all rumors, though, right?

TAYLOR: Yes, absolutely. We got to stress this, these are rumors.

Evidently, the iPhone 5 is not going to come out until October, it was slated for August. So, we're going to have a delay on that.

The other thing that's in the rumor mill is that we're going to will see a mini iPad which is quite interesting. This is something that Steve Jobs really was very much against. He said a mini iPad would be like a tweener, not a smartphone, it can't compete with that and it's too small to compete with the iPad.

But the competition has come up with the Kindle Fire, which is what this is, this has been very popular at a price point of $199. But, yet, that obviously doesn't really compare to the iPad which is a lot more expensive and been extremely popular.

So, the question is, do people really want a smaller iPad?

BOLDUAN: They're buying the kindle.

TAYLOR: But not as much can fit on this. You don't have the apps you have and not as many opportunities for different applications, et cetera. So, yes, it's going to fit into a handbag, but is that really the --

SAMBOLIN: I have to tell you. The key for me, we were talking about it this morning. Oh, yes, I want it to be smaller. Maybe I don't want it to be smaller, just thinner.

TAYLOR: The Kindle is thinner.

BOLDUAN: How much thinner can you get.

TAYLOR: You are demanding.

(CROSSTALK)

SAMBOLIN: You cannot just put that in your purse, you to have to a cover over it. It doesn't fit into a bag.

BOLDUAN: What was the thinking behind Steve Jobs' -- now get into the mind of Steve jobs, but is it limiting the menu, if you will, because then you're hurting sales of iPad if you're offering the tweener. I mean, is it kind of keep it simple and offer, you know, the iPhone, the iPad, not too much in between.

TAYLOR: The resolution can be just as good, but it gets a lot more expensive because, obviously, the software gets a lot more expensive. The rumors have come out because suddenly we're hearing out of South Korea, China and Taiwan that Apple has ordered from Samsung these smaller screens. That's where the rumor is coming from.

SAMBOLIN: OK.

TAYLOR: So, whether or not, you know, Steve Jobs is really going to be -- his feeling is going to translate into this is still a major question.

But take a look at how much Apple means to the marketplace. In the last three months, year to date, stocks has gone up 45 percent. It's remarkable. Remarkable.

So, clearly, Apple knows what it's doing regardless of whether Steve Jobs is still here on earth.

SAMBOLIN: We'll see, right? We don't know.

TAYLOR: So many stress that this is a rumor.

BOLDUAN: Well, believe me the rumor mill Web sites having to do with Apple rumors. I mean, they're all over the place. Everyone is reading a Web site to do with Apple rumors. I mean, I'm always looking at it as well. We'll find out.

SAMBOLIN: Thank you. Thanks, Felicia.

All right. Twenty-six minutes past the hour.

BOLDUAN: He was the face of missing children everywhere in America and now, there are new clues in what may have happened to 6-year-old Etan Patz who vanished more than 30 years ago. More details ahead.

Plus, we'll talk live with the president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

You are watching EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAMBOLIN: Thirty minutes past the hour. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Zoraida Sambolin.

BOLDUAN: And I'm Kate Bolduan.

Let's get a check of the stories making news this morning.

There's a new search this morning for America's first milk carton boy. Police and federal officials are digging up a basement in Lower Manhattan looking for Etan Patz, the 6-year-old boy who became the first missing child to be pictured on a milk carton in 1979 when he disappeared while walking to the bus stop for the very first time alone.

SAMBOLIN: Two Secret Service agents who lost their jobs over the Colombia prostitution scandal have been identified. David Chaney and Greg Stokes were supervisors with the Secret Service detail for the president's trip. Members of Congress expect more heads to roll and they say as early as today.

BOLDUAN: And George Zimmerman charged with murdering Florida teenager Trayvon Martin could be released on bail after a hearing today. Martin's parents rejected Zimmerman's request for a private meeting, they say it won't happen any time soon.

SAMBOLIN: And little tyke, big hero. You will not believe how this 4-year-old saved his family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDRA MCGOWAN, SAVED FAMILY FROM FIRE: I was just in the house and I saw a fire coming out of the plug. I just yelled, I just yelled, get out of the house. So, the fire wouldn't get on her hands, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: Oh my goodness. We're going to hear what the mom thinks of her little life saver, just ahead.

SAMBOLIN: In just a few hours, investigators would resume digging in the basement of that New York building that authorities believe holds the answer to what happened to Etan Patz. It's been almost 33 years since the 6-year-old vanished without a trace back in 1979. He was the first missing child to appear on the back of a milk carton.

The police received a tip about the concrete floor that allegedly was laid by a handyman who had connection with Patz. An FBI dog indicated the possible human remains resulting in officials digging for clues in this cold case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL BROWNE, NEW YORK POLICE DEPT.: We're looking for human remains, clothing or other personal effects of Etan Patz in trying to find out where he disappeared, why he disappeared and where.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared May 25th National Missing Children's Day, the day Etan disappeared. And the following year, he established the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Ernie Allen is joining me now. He is the president and CEO of that organization.

Mr. Allen, thank you so much for joining me.

I guess, first off, what is your reaction to the recent developments. It has been 33 years since Etan disappeared.

ERNIE ALLEN, PRESIDENT & CEO, NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN: Well, Kate, we think it's very encouraging. We think it sends a message to searching families everywhere, that just because it's been a month or a year or 10 years or even 33 years, you never close these cases until you find the child or you learn with certainty what happened. So, I think it's a very positive step.

SAMBOLIN: And talk to me, take me back. Talk to me about the impact of Etan's disappearance. What did his case do? He really became the face of missing children nationwide.

ALLEN: It was the beginning of a missing children's movement. Etan's was the first of several high-profile cases, the missing and murdered children in Atlanta and Adam Walsh in Florida. But I think it ended an era of innocence in this country, parents around the nation saw how it happened and thought, there but for the grace of God go I or my child. It really awakened America.

BOLDUAN: And really in awakening America, this case did seem for the first time to drive home the scary truth to parents of the very real danger of child abductions and because of that, you've talked about the concern of paralysis through fear. What do you mean by that?

ALLEN: Well, we tried very hard for 30 years to put these kinds of cases in perspective. What happened to Etan is not the norm -- 800,000 children are reported missing every year in this country, but many of them run away or lost. The vast majority come home safely.

So, while we want parents to be alert, we want parents to talk to their children about their safety. We don't want them to be frightened. They simply need to be alert and be prepared.

BOLDUAN: Talk to me about, what is the best advice you can give to parents? Obviously, every case of a child abduction is very different and very unique in and of its own. What advice do you give to parents? In this day and age, there are new laws on the books. But what advice do you give to parents listening to this and listening to you here this morning?

ALLEN: Well, I think the most important thing that parents can do is simply be alert and be aware. Talk to your children about their safety. Monitor and supervise the little ones, but make sure you empower your children as they grow up. Make sure they know they have the right to say no and to tell you if they ever have suspicions or concerns about what's going on.

Children protect themselves with their heads, and parents need to make sure that their kids are educated about what to do.

BOLDUAN: You, more than anyone, you know more about this than most anyone in the country. Would you say that the country is safer today than when Etan disappeared?

ALLEN: Kate, absolutely. When Etan disappeared, most police departments had mandatory waiting periods. They wouldn't even take a report of a missing child for 24/48 hours.

Today, we had better law. Law enforcement is better prepared and effectively, more swiftly. We have new tools like the AMBER Alert.

In 1979 when Etan disappeared, there was no National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. There were (INAUDIBLE) right now. So, more children come home today than in any time in the nation's history.

BOLDUAN: And one thing that comes to mind is the AMBER Alert and how many children have been helped or how many abductions have been avoided just because of that simple ability to communicate quickly with the people in the community.

Ernie Allen, the CEO, the president of the national center for missing and exploited children -- thank you so much for coming in and thank you so much for your work.

ALLEN: Thank you, Kate.

SAMBOLIN: Indeed.

Thirty-six minute past the hour. He is just 4 years old, but this little guy is a true hero. After saving his family in Indianapolis from a fire. You see, Andra McGowan was in his bed. Andra, is that his name? He was watching TV when he saw flames and sprang into action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDRA MCGOWAN, SAVED FAMILY FROM FIRE: I was just in the house and I saw a fire coming out of the plug. I just said, fire, mommy.

ANICA DUKE, ANDRA'S MOTHER: That's my man. I'm just glad that he had wisdom. It was the alarm of my child that let me know, OK, there's something going on because he's not just going to yell and keep continually yelling my name.

MCGOWAN: I just yelled, I just yelled, get out of the house so the fire wouldn't get on her hands, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: Did mama say that's my man?

BOLDUAN: That's my man.

SAMBOLIN: So, that boy, his mother and two others managed to escape that fire. Mom says she talks to her son about all aspects of safety. It seems one of those lessons really paid off.

BOLDUAN: No kidding.

SAMBOLIN: Smart little kid.

BOLDUAN: Smart little boy.

Still ahead, George Zimmerman's attorney is looking for bail today for his client and also he'll come face-to-face for the first time. George Zimmerman, that is, with Trayvon Martin's parents.

SAMBOLIN: But, first, a quick check of the weather with Reynolds Wolf. He's in for Rob Marciano this morning.

Nice to see you.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, back at you.

Let's take a look at forecast. We're going to see some rain popping up in parts of Pacific Northeast and into the Southeast. At the same time, look for scattered showers across the Great Lakes and the Midwest, and even into south Texas. And South Texas, even central Texas, you could get strong storms especially into the afternoon notice damaging wind and large hail and maybe even an isolated tornado.

Now, in terms of temperatures, very quickly, you can expect in parts of Central Plains to range into the 50s, 60s, 70s and even some 80s in south Texas, 75 in Albuquerque, 58 degrees in Portland, 76 in San Francisco, and Atlanta 77, and Washington, D.C., with 76, and New York with 72.

That's your forecast. We've got so much more coming up. You're watching CNN. Good morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAMBOLIN: Forty-two minutes past the hour. Welcome back to EARLY START.

New information this morning as the lawyer for the family of Trayvon Martin speaks out, all as George Zimmerman faces a judge in just a few hours to ask for his freedom at a bond hearing. Zimmerman has been jail since he was charged with second degree in the Trayvon Martin.

And, today, for the first time, Trayvon Martin's parents will be face- to-face with the man who killed their son. The Martin's lawyer, Benjamin Crump, confirmed to CNN's Anderson Cooper that they will be there and they hope Zimmerman will be staying behind bars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN CRUMP, MARTIN FAMILY LAWYER (via telephone): It's a situation where moral grounds, public safety grounds and legal grounds, we think that it's best that he be kept without bond until these matters have concluded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: And the new judge in the case, Kenneth Lester, will preside over the hearing where prosecutors will have to prove why Zimmerman should be kept in jail.

And here to talk more about this is Jayne Weintraub. She's a criminal defense attorney in Florida.

Nice to have you, again. Did you --

JAYNE WEINTRAUB, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Good morning.

SAMBOLIN: Good morning.

Curious whether you know Judge Lester. And given what you perhaps know about him or have read about him, how do you think that he is going to rule in this?

WEINTRAUB: Well, Judge Lester is known to be a very tough judge. He's been there for over 15 years. Most judges are not inclined to give bond in murder cases and I don't expect Judge Lester to vary from that. His wife is a homicide prosecutor. I don't expect to see a bond in this case. Although, I think, I mean, obviously, I would argue for one and I think there probably should be one.

SAMBOLIN: Do you think that we'll hear any new evidence today?

WEINTRAUB: It's a tough call. I mean, the prosecutor will have to weigh whether or not she wants to put her lead detective on the witness stand and subject the lead detective to cross-examination or submit the probable cause affidavit and have the lead detective there so that Mr. O'Mara will be able to cross examine some of it.

She may have had Mrs. Martin come into the courtroom today and ask her to identify the voice of Trayvon, just for the emotional effect or the impact of proving that the case is a strong case. That will be the first showing. Prosecutor has to show that the proof is evident, presumption is great, which means the state has a great case to go forward, beyond a reasonable doubt.

SAMBOLIN: And what about George Zimmerman. Do you think we'll hear from him today?

WEINTRAUB: No, I don't. I don't expect you would have to hear from George Zimmerman in any way, if I were the lawyer. His family would be there to be able to say that he's not a risk of flight, obviously. He voluntarily surrendered which would counter argument of any risk of flight by the prosecutor and, as well as, is he a danger to the community -- the other prong of the factors for the court to consider. Here I think the community is more a danger to George Zimmerman than he to them.

SAMBOLIN: Well, let's argue that for a minute here. Because that is exactly what his lawyer has said all along, right, that he was worried about his client being out in the public. Yet he wants bond for him. So, do you find that unusual?

WEINTRAUB: No, I don't find that contradictory at all, because he needs him out, and he wants him to be available so that he can come to his office, sit for hours at a time, poring over records, discussing experts, strategy, theories. It's a lot easier when the client is out of custody.

At the same time, he is, of course, concerned for his safety. As Mr. Crump said, you know, there is a big outcry there. We have seen what's going on. We've seen a town meeting once or twice a week there by the Martin Family understandably. But as far as the safety of the defendant, that could be solved in many ways.

ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we are also hearing that Mr. Zimmerman actually requested to speak to Trayvon Martin's family. They've declined. Here's what the lawyer had to say, and then, I want to ask you about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR TRAYVON MARTIN'S FAMILY: We think Zimmerman's request is very self-serving at this time, 50 days later, the day before he's going to have a bond hearing.

It's a situation where, you think about it, he never once apologized on his website, on any of the voice mails that he left with his friends, and never expressed any remorse during police interviews the several times that they interviewed him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: If you were Zimmerman's attorney, would you have requested that?

WEINTRAUB: Well, it's always hard to sit and play Monday morning quarterback. I don't think I would have. I think it does look rather contrived. But again, I'm sure that Mr. O'Mara has a good reason for doing it --

SAMBOLIN: What could his strategy be? What could it have been?

WEINTRAUB: If it were done, really, in private and before the bond hearing, I would suspect that it would have been in the terms of negotiating an agreement or global settlement for civil and criminal case.

SAMBOLIN: All right. Jayne Weintraub, criminal defense attorney, thank you so much again for joining us this morning. Always great to hear your perspective. All right. Kate, back to you.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Zoraida. And Soledad O'Brien is joining me now to take a look at what's ahead on "Starting Point."

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So much. So much ahead this morning. Got a new lead in what was a cold case for a while. The disappearance of Etan Patz 33 years ago really launched the missing child movement. He was literally the first milk carton kid.

Today, investigators are combing through the basement of New York City building for new clues, maybe even the boy's remains. We're going to talk this morning with New York Police Commissioner, Ray Kelly.

Also Marc Klaas, when I was a reporter in San Francisco back in 1993, I covered the story of his daughter's disappearance. Another terrible, terrible story.

Then, there was this scary moments onboard a Delta Airline flight. Bird strike forced an emergency landing just after takeoff from JFK. You see the birds right there. CNN's Ali Velshi was on that plane and described what happened.

BOLDUAN: Of course --

O'BRIEN: Yes, I know. It ended well, I should add.

And then, "Freaky Deaky" (ph) is the name of a new movie with Chris McClover and the director, Charles Matthau. Of course, he's the son of Walter Matthau. The name of their new film is "Freaky Deaky" based on the book, "Freaky Deaky," which is -- I love just saying that.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: I'm going to do it a lot today. Did you ever read that? It's an Elmore Leonard book?

BOLDUAN: No, no.

O'BRIEN: And you know, -- yes, as Pete's nodding his head. So, it is -- you cannot possibly articulate like the plot of an Elmore Leonard's novel. It's just impossible, but I've got to say --

BOLDUAN: But you're going to try.

O'BRIEN: We're going to try. It's a lot of fun and it's just complete and other craziness. It's going to premiere on Sunday at the Tribeca Film Festival. They'll join us live this morning to talk about --

Also, anybody who wants to catch us on our live blog at CNN.com/StartingPoint. We'll see you at the top of the hour. Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Sounds great.

O'BRIEN: Freaky Deaky --

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: It's 10 minutes to the top of the hour. Let's get a check of the stories making news this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN (voice-over): Federal agents are now digging up the floor of a New York City apartment. They're on a new search for a boy who has been missing since 1979. A six-year-old Etan Patz was the first missing child featured on a milk carton. A source says Patz met a carpenter in a basement the day before he vanished. Cadaver dogs have reportedly picked up the scent of human remains in that building.

And a scare in the air for passengers and crew of a flight out of New York. Moments after takeoff, an apparent bird strike knocked out one of the plane's engines. A passenger with a video camera shot several birds outside the plane just before the incident.

SAMBOLIN (voice-over): Did Florida senator, Marco Rubio, make a Freudian slip when he mistakenly referred to himself as vice president after repeatedly denying he wants the job. You decide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO, (R) FLORIDA: Three, four, five, six, seven years from now, if I do a good job as vice president, I'm sorry.

(LAUGHTER) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys all got that, right?

RUBIO: As a senator --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAMBOLIN: Oops.

(CROSSTALK)

SAMBOLIN: After correcting himself, Rubio went on to recommend Ohio Republican, Senator Rob Portman for that job.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAMBOLIN (on-camera): Maybe he didn't mean now, he meant --

BOLDUAN (on-camera): I don't know.

SAMBOLIN: -- few years from now.

BOLDUAN: That was Major Garrett doing that interview. He's a good reporter. Maybe Major got it out of him. Either way, pretty interesting.

Coming up next, moms outraged over the kiss in a catalog for teens. Picture (ph) there. We'll talk about it more. You're watching EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAMBOLIN: Fifty-six minutes past the hour. Time to take a look at what is trending on the web.

Urban Outfitters under fire for photo of two young women kissing in its latest catalog. The group, One Million Moms, launching an attack on the company now. The conservative group called it offensive and inappropriate for a teenager. Back in February, One Million Moms also bashed JCPenney and threatened to boycott after the company hired Ellen DeGeneres, which you know is an open lesbian, as a spokesperson.

BOLDUAN: One of the biggest pregame celebration of all time planned in Boston to mark the 100th birthday of Fenway Park. Happy birthday. Every man who wore the Red Sox uniform in history has been invited, at least, every former player they could track down, because that's quite many. The legendary, John Williams, will conduct the Boston pops before the game.

There will be a flyover with two modern planes, F-16s, and two World War II era, P-51 mustangs. That is going to be a sight to see. And of course, the Sox will be playing their forever rivals, the New York Yankees at three o'clock eastern. Both will be wearing vintage uniforms.

Let's just hope for a good game. Let's not decide who we want to win.

SAMBOLIN: (INAUDIBLE) but anyway --

(CROSSTALK)

SAMBOLIN: And it's not very cute when it's a drunk dude doing this, but look at this. The crowd giggled when a little boy jumped the wall and started running around the outfield. This is at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago yesterday afternoon. The White Sox outfielder made a nice play scooping him up in his arms and taking him over to security.

So cute. We're not sure why this little boy did this whether he was told to or whether he just was super excited and have to run on the field. But rules are rules. He was booted along with the rest of his family.

BOLDUAN: The rest of his family.

SAMBOLIN: So, that's sad. I got to tell you, I sent an e-mail this morning, because I really wanted the background on this.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

SAMBOLIN: To find out whether the parents actually plopped him down because how does he really jump over, right?

BOLDUAN: Kids can do the darnedest things. There shows that -- you know. you're a mother. They do --

SAMBOLIN: They do. But I would be holding my kid back saying, don't do that. There are consequences.

BOLDUAN: Dad was looking away for one second. He had a great idea. He was put up to it by his brothers and sisters, and off, he went.

SAMBOLIN: Here's the bottom line.

BOLDUAN: OK.

SAMBOLIN: He has a big smile on his face. He has the baseball glove.

BOLDUAN: He's loving that.

SAMBOLIN: I'm hoping that the guys gave him the baseball, and at the end of the day, the worst that happens is that they got booted from that game, but they'll be back.

BOLDUAN: I'm not promoting this, but he has a really good story to tell his friends at school.

SAMBOLIN: On national television.

BOLDUAN: On national television. That does for EARLY START this morning. I'm Kate Bolduan.

SAMBOLIN: Thanks for being with us.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, Zoraida. SAMBOLIN: It was nice to have you. I'm Zoraida Sambolin. "STARTING POINT" with Soledad O'Brien starts right now.