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CNN NEWSROOM

Serial Killer Probe Spans States Decades; Pistorius Gets Five Years for Killing Girlfriend; Witness May have Spotted Fugitive; Massive Car Recall for Exploding Airbags; Lewinsky Recalls Shame, Torment

Aired October 21, 2014 - 09:00   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: NEWSROOM starts now.

Happening now in the NEWSROOM. A break in the case of possible new sighting of police ambush suspect Eric Frein. A woman walking in the woods sees a man carrying a rifle with mud covering his face.

Also, I was patient zero, Monica Lewinsky speaking out against online bullying saying she wants to put her suffering to good use and give purpose to her past, but is she too late?

And air bag danger. A massive new recall affecting millions of you. An urgent alert about a deadly defect, recommending you take action as in right now.

Let's talk. Live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. We begin with breaking news and a chilling investigation into a possible serial killer.

Police tracked down Darren Deon Vann after a weekend murder inside a motel room in Hammond, Indiana. The victim, 19-year-old Afrika Hardy. You're going to see her in a minute, she's on the far left. Police say Vann, the suspect, led them to six more bodies.

All these women appear to have been recently dumped like garbage in abandoned homes in nearby Gary, Indiana. All were found within a five-mile area in the rust belt town.

The mother of one victim says the killer likely preyed on women who lived on the fringes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORI TOWNSEND, MOTHER OF VICTIM AFRIKA HARDY: They're not forgotten because they're not nobodies. They're somebodies. They're somebody's daughter, somebody's mother, somebody's sister.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And the boyfriend of Teaira Batey -- you're going to see her on the far right -- says he doesn't know how to tell their 2-year- old son their mother would not be coming home. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARVIN CLINTON, VICTIM'S BOYFRIEND: Right now he's at school, you know, I've got to figure out, he's been asking for mommy a lot, and the only thing I could tell him, mommy's not here right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Poppy Harlow is in Gary, Indiana, this morning.

Tell us more, Poppy.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol. This is incredibly troubling, what we know at this time is that the Gary, Indiana Police, the Hammond Police Department are scouring this area looking for potentially anymore bodies because they do not know if this string of murders ends at those seven bodies that have been found.

Look, when you talk about the 43-year-old suspect, Darren Vann, you're talking about someone with a very long criminal history. Convicted of aggravated rape in 2009, served five years in prison. Has a criminal record going back to 1993.

A police affidavit that we just obtained, Carol, says that in 2004 he grabbed a woman in front of police with gasoline in his hand and a lighter, and threatened to burn him and the woman if police came any closer.

That is the man we are talking about. We know the names of four of his alleged victims. We are waiting for the names of the others.

I had a chance late last night to talk to the chief of police here in Gary, Indiana, about why this man is on the street. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Was Darren Vann monitored by your police department? Someone who served five years in jail, a registered sex offender?

CHIEF LARRY MCKINLEY, GARY, INDIANA POLICE: Well, the sex offenders are monitored through the Lake County Sheriff's Department, and Mr. Vann was monitored in September, and they did make contact with him in September.

HARLOW: Given the fact that Darren Vann was monitored as recently as September, and everything you're saying checked out, do you think that the system needs to change so something like this doesn't happen again?

MCKINLEY: Well, it's a possibility that it can always be tweaked. And there can always be some changes.

HARLOW: I mean, what do you think? You're the police chief of this town that's going through this nightmare.

MCKINLEY: Uh-huh.

HARLOW: Right now. Does this make you want to change things, say we need to keep a closer eye on people like this who've been convicted of violent sexual crimes in the past?

MCKINLEY: Most definitely. I mean, whenever you get someone of this nature who can do this, I mean, you want those balances, those checks and balances in place, and you want them to be sure.

HARLOW: So what -- what are you guys going to do about it?

MCKINLEY: We'll see. We'll see if we can go to legislation and see what we can do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: So, Carol, now he's in police custody, but clearly this is someone who served five years in prison, has a very, very troubled history, and clearly the monitoring failed.

COSTELLO: Well -- well, the thing that I'm astounded by, so he threatens this woman with gasoline, I don't know if he served any time for that, but for aggravated rape, he served only five years in prison? Only five years?

HARLOW: Yes. Yes, Carol, and that is -- that is what we're very surprised about. We're trying to figure out if he served any time for what he did to that woman, grabbing her, threatening her life back in 2004. I asked the police chief what is Darren Vann's mental state? And he said it was, quote, "normal."

Apparently he has been incredibly cooperative with police, leading them over the last few days to these six other houses, abandoned homes where they found those other bodies. And he has not specifically said there are more bodies, but we know that he -- that police are still looking for more. And the question is, is this going to cross borders into another state? If so, this is going to become an FBI investigation, Carol. It is incredibly troubling and you can imagine for this small community of Gary and Hammond, now knowing that at least seven people have been murdered.

We know he's been charged in the murder of Afrika Hardy, and we're waiting to see if there are charges in the other murders where he's led to those bodies.

COSTELLO: All right, Poppy Harlow, reporting live from Gary, Indiana, this morning.

Oscar Pistorius is being processed in prison at this hour after a judge sentenced the one-time Olympic athlete for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for culpable homicide. That charge in South Africa means the person was killed unintentionally, but unlawfully. Pistorius can ask for parole after serving 10 months of his sentence.

CNN's Robyn Curnow has been covering the trial. She joins us live from Pretoria, South Africa.

Tell us more, Robyn.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, from a very windy Pretoria, I must say. Extraordinary scenes in court because there was so ordinary, anticlimax, in fact, as we were sitting there waiting and as the judge was delivering that decision. There really was an overall lack of emotion, there was silence. Pistorius himself was stoic, stony-faced. None of that crying, and even vomiting we've seen at some of the key moments of the trial.

He seemed to really understand and accept what he was about to go to. He was led down into the cells, into the holding cells as he said, he is now in prison, being processed. I spoke to him in the last few weeks, there was an acceptance that he might have to go to jail. He said he wasn't scared, that he wasn't afraid, that he hoped he could contribute while he was in jail, perhaps help people to read or do some sort of gym club or whatever.

But beyond that, there's also the sense of his family. Acknowledging the pain that he's caused, not just them, but also Reeva Steenkamp's family.

Take a listen to what Oscar Pistorius's brother said to me yesterday, just before the sentencing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: This has been a trial thick by drama at times, changes, delays. What has been the most difficult, though, for you guys watching it from that front row in the court?

CARL PISTORIUS, OSCAR PISTORIUS' BROTHER: It is a heart-wrenching thing. And having lost our mother at a young age is -- it's an anguish that you feel. When you know that someone else is going through deep, deep pain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: So the anguish of the Steenkamp family, they've been sitting in court, her mother particularly, there nearly every day. Also, often quite unemotional, but definitely very brave, very strong, through some very gruesome, quite telling evidence of the condition of her daughter's body at some stages.

So this is a family whose obviously gone through a lot of heartache, but it's interesting that they've issued a statement through their lawyers where they say effectively they are satisfied with the sentence. They're glad this is all over. That justice has been done. And interestingly also, the judge kind of spoke to them saying that she hoped they'd find closure through this judgment.

COSTELLO: All right, Robyn Curnow, reporting live from South Africa this morning.

Should Jodi Arias die by lethal injection or get life in prison? Juries in Arizona will decide if the sentencing retrial begins today.

As you well know, Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder last year in the brutal killing of her ex-boyfriend, but that jury was unable to reach a unanimous vote needed for the death penalty, a 12-0 vote will also be needed in this retrial. If all jurors can't vote for death, they'll then decide whether Arias gets life without parole or the possibility of release after 25 years.

Schools are closed this morning in parts of northeast Pennsylvania in the wake of a second reported sighting of alleged cop killer Eric Frein. Pocono Mountains School District, the largest school district in northeastern Pennsylvania, did not explain their closure in this morning's alert, but they weren't alone. Two other schools in the area also shut their doors after a local law enforcement official apparently spotted the fugitive near a local post office.

On Friday, another witness says she came within feet of the killer who was in the woods near his former high school. She said he was covered in mud, and he was carrying a scoped rifle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, he was kind of like holding the gun down and facing away from me, and then when he had turned is when I was able to -- as soon as I saw that gun, I ran. It was very alarming and, you know, creepy.

How he showed no, like reaction, and like it was like avoiding contact. Maybe he was closer this way because on either, A, doing something or he's just done. He's done and he doesn't care. Obviously cared enough to get away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN's Alexander Field joins us now with more.

Good morning.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Well, we've seen in the last day based on those recent sightings is the entire search area shifting. We're now about 10 miles south of where the search is focused over the last five weeks in this sixth week now, we're in Swift Water, Pennsylvania. This is an area near Frein's former high school. Formerly. Searchers have been looking in the area near his family home.

Again, this switch being prompted by two recent sightings, just yesterday, law enforcement officer reported seeing a man in the woods dressed in green, they tried to follow that person, lost track of him, but we saw a big swarm of police activity in the area as they swept this area looking for the suspect whose been on the run since September 12th.

We actually saw the search lead right up to one home owner's back door. We spoke to the homeowners, he said he came home and found U.S. marshals in his yard looking at the nearby woods. And also then going into his house. They told the homeowner that a canine had traced for you, scent to the door. Of course that house was cleared. But they did not find the suspect there. But this is what we are routinely seeing in the search Sighting Tip.

Something reported that will prompt a massive search of an area. Authorities try to clear the area and they look through the next possibly sighting. Again, authorities came to this area after reported sighting on Friday. That was when a woman, out for a walk near at empty house so she saw someone, whose face covered in mud, that person carrying a rifle.

Police thought it was credible enough to turn their attention here to the swift water area -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Scary stuff. Alexandra Field, reporting live this morning.

7.9 million cars, yes, 7.9 million cars have now been recalled because of exploding air bags. Don't think a defective air bag is a threat to you or loved ones, well, think again. Federal safety regulators warned that if any one of those airbags explodes, it can send metal fragments flying into your face and neck.

Chief business correspondent Christine Romans joins me live with details.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: And this is urgent. I mean, this federal safety regulators are saying, Carol, this is an urgent situation that car owners need to take very seriously for millions of you, you are driving a car that could have an air bag when it inflates, pieces of plastic and metal go flying through, can flies through the cabin and can seriously harm or injure you.

Here are the automakers reflected. I want to affected here. I want to show you what these Ticotta air bags are in these cars here. And the U.S. government is telling you to get them fixed immediately. Here's one of the concerns. There might not be all the parts out there, Carol, to get them fixed immediately.

COSTELLO: Great.

ROMANS: Toyota in some cases is saying it's going to disable the air bags and tell people not to put a passenger in the front seat, that it is safer not to drive with the air bag than to the air bag inflated. You need to check, you need to check the VIN number of your car, you need to make very -- take very close care that if this is one of your cars, you need to talk to the manufacturer.

COSTELLO: And frankly don't have an accident, right?

ROMANS: Well, there was an accident just this -- earlier this month. There was a woman in Florida, her family is convinced

When they accidently was discovered, police thought it was a homicide because she looked like she had been stabled. It had not been in a car accident because actually the think meant to protect her had set projectile to her.

I mean, very, very dangerous situation. Now what the governments is saying, what these automakers are saying, And it's really a problem in this humid Arias. So Florida, the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico. This is where they're very concerned about specifically this kind of inflator of this airbag, so in this humid areas, the Gulf Coast, that's where you really to pay attention here.

Most people don't take their cars in, by the way, to be recalled. One in five cars on the road right now is under a recall. Is this airbag thing -- is your car do not, do not overlook it.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Christine.

ROMANS: You're welcome.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Top Stories this Tuesday morning. Your flight back home for Thanksgiving will cost you a whole lot more this year. Domestic fares are up 17 percent, averaging $467. This as airlines just approved a $4 round trip fare hike.

Turkey now says it will allow Iraqi Kurdish fighters to use its territory to across into Syria and help defend Kobani against ISIS. The Turkish government had previously refused to let fighters or weapons across the border.

This morning's "L.A. Times" is reporting the fight against Afghanistan's opium trade is failing. An inspector general report being released today says the U.S. spent more than $7 billion in the last decade, while opium profits are soaring, producing almost $3 billion in just a year.

Toys R Us under fire from parents groups for selling action figures based on the "Breaking Bad" TV show. Complete with meth bag and a sack of cash. The toy seller responded by saying the packaging clearly notes that the items are intended for ages 15 and up.

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: The sound track to the hit "Guardians of the Galaxy" is going to be released on, wait for it, cassette. So you can get your own '70s mixtape, that Chris Pratt listened to in the movie.

Those are your headlines this morning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Monica Lewinsky calls the online harassment she received after her affair with President Bill Clinton, the first real moment, bad moment of social media. And she views herself as, quote, "patient zero" -- the first person to have their reputation destroyed by the Internet. Now, the former White House intern is back in the spotlight with a new mission inspired in part by her experiences. That mission: to end cyber bullying.

CNN's Martin Savidge has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MONICA LEWINSKY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN: If I seem nervous, forgive me because I am, and a little emotional.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPNDENT (voice-over): It is surprising to hear a woman famous for intimate sexual acts with the president sounding shy, but there was no mistakes who she is.

LEWINSKY: My name is Monica Lewinsky.

SAVIDGE: The once 22-year-old White House intern is now 41, and launching a mission to combat online bullying.

LEWINSKY: I want to put my suffering to good use and give purpose to my past.

SAVIDGE: It was her 1995 affair with President Bill Clinton that made her, as she put it, patient zero, when it came to cyber harassment, long before Facebook or Twitter.

LEWINSKY: But there were gossip news, and entertainment Web sites replete with comment sections and e-mails could be forwarded. Of course, it was all done on the excruciatingly slow dial up. Yet around the world, this story went -- a viral phenomenon that you could argue was the first moment of truly social media.

SAVIDGE: At times, Lewinsky got emotional.

LEWINSKY: Staring at the computer screen, I spent the day shouting, oh my God, and I can't believe they put that in, or that's so out of context. And those were the only thoughts that interrupted a relentless mantra in my head -- I want to die.

SAVIDGE: Instead, it was the death in 2010 of Tyler Clemente she says prompted her new life. The Rutgers freshman killed himself after his roommate used a web cam to stream an Internet encounter online. Clemente's story deeply hurt Lewinsky's mother and Monica understood why.

LEWINSKY: She might very easily have lost me, when I too might have been humiliated to death.

SAVIDGE: She also used the speech to give her take on the affair that made her a household name.

LEWINSKY: Sixteen years ago, fresh out of college, a 22-year-old intern in the White House, and more than averagely romantic, I fell in love with my boss, in a 22-year-old sort of way. It happened. But my boss was the president of the United States. That probably happens less often.

Now, I deeply regretted for many reasons, not the least of which is because people were hurt, and that's never OK.

SAVIDGE: After nearly a decade of self-imposed seclusion, a strong- sounding Monica Lewinsky sounds to be launching a comeback, taking on a cause she knows only too well.

LEWINSKY: Having survived myself, what I want to do now is help other victims of the shame game survive too.

SAVIDGE: Martin Savidge, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Let's talk about that, the shame game. Lewinsky made those games at Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit.

Joining me now as the editor of "Forbes Magazine", Randall Lane.

Good morning, Randall.

RANDALL LANE, EDITOR, FORBES MAGAZINE: Good morning.

COSTELLO: I found is really fascinating that Monica Lewinsky joked that most of them probably didn't know who she was because they're too young. Why did you choose her as a speaker?

LANE: In some ways, that was the beauty of it. They all know who she was, 100 percent of them didn't know who she was. They didn't know all the details, but that's what made it a pure moment, these are people who knew that she was famous and knew why, they didn't know the back story, but they all relate. People under 30, there's not a single person under 30 who has not been cyber bullied or knows somebody that's been cyber bullied.

So to them, to hear from the first person ever to have, and it's indisputable, you know, those of us a certain age, the Drudge Report link was forwarded and whatnot, that this was the first person ever to have her reputation trashed worldwide instantly via the Internet for them to hear that story, it was incredibly relatable, it was incredibly powerful, and what happened at the end, I mean, you had 1500 people of the biggest, greatest, young entrepreneurs and game changers in the world gave her a standing ovation.

COSTELLO: Wow. And it must say, you know, you talk about cyber bullying and reading Twitter. She was cyber bullied all through her speech.

LANE: By people who weren't there. People who were there were tweeting how amazing it was. And that's the beauty of the speech, when you hear her story, then you realize how coarse it is, how coarse some people can be via the internet, and it just makes them look so much worse when you hear how she receives it as the person in the middle of it. It was an incredibly powerful moment -- and even the people who were

slinging hate on her, they just look awful because when you hear her story in that room, there were hundreds of people crying through that speech. It was an incredible moment. It was incredibly brave speech in many ways, she really opened up.

COSTELLO: Wow. So what part of her speech struck the audience the most, do you think?

LANE: I think the idea -- everybody of course knew, you know, why she was famous. And the mistake you made, her being at the end of 30 summit, here's somebody who made a huge mistake in her 20s. So when you're young, you can make mistakes that'll change your life.

But what she'd had to live through, and how she experienced in a way that's very relevant to today, that connection -- I mean, people afterwards were coming up, hugging her, and applauding her. It was -- it was amazing to see her through the eyes of these people who again, knew who she was, knew the basic stories, but got to live it now through a different lens which is what was it like to be her?

COSTELLO: Randall Lane, editor of "Forbes Magazine" -- thanks. I really appreciate your being with me this morning.

LANE: Thank you. Of course.

COSTELLO: I'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)