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Outlaw Mom Arrested; Trump Surging; Jury Considering Death Penalty in James Holmes Trial. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired August 3, 2015 - 15:00   ET

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


[15:00:08] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: BALDWIN: Top of the hour, breaking news here on CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

And this story involves CNN's reporting here. Police have arrested this outlaw mother as a direct result of the CNN series "THE HUNT." Megan Everett has been radicalized by pro-Confederacy groups. And she kept a 2-year-old daughter from the girl's father, specifically saying she had to leave because she did not want this girl to be vaccinated. This is just some of the backstory here.

Police arrested Everett from a trip that came in hours after this episode from John Walsh's "THE HUNT."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Megan was very bubbly. Things become a little more personal and it just kind of progressively became more than just a friendship. When Megan found out she became pregnant, that was the game-changer. That was the big change. Lilly was always outgoing. She always a bundle of joy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After they broke up, it seemed like she definitely was trying to cut him out of her life completely.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got my daughter that first week and then I brought her back. I went to pick her up on May 13. I knock on Carlos' door. He opens the door and he says, Megan doesn't live here. She moved. And he slammed the door in my face.

So I called the Sunrise Police Department and went there and there was no sign of a child or Megan or any clothes or baby stuff or anything. And then the reality kind of hit me. And then a panic hit me. What am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to find her? Where do I go from here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a very likelihood that she had assistance both financially and logistically to get out of this area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The longer she stays away, the worst this gets. If she ever expects to have any kind of a relationship with her daughter in the future once she's caught, it's better if she just turns herself in and she will be caught. It's just a matter of time.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: And on that note, we have an update. John Walsh will join me about this incredible, incredible update and also on this little girl. Stay with me. That's coming up.

Also, we have this next story about this armed and dangerous cop killer who is on the run, this story happening out of Memphis, Tennessee. This is the man who is on the run. This is the man police want to find, 29-year-old Tremaine Wilbourn now listed on the state's most top 10 wanted list.

He's accused of shooting and killing a police officer. Officer Sean Bolton was approaching this illegally parked car when he interrupted a small-time drug deal, a deal so petty it was barely $20 worth of marijuana, but it was apparently enough for the suspect here to pull out a gun and shoot and kill this police officer.

A witness using the officer's own radio to relay the news that the officer had been shot. CNN now has part of that disturbing audio exchange.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Four-eight-seventy Summer Lane. Four-eight- seventy Summer Lane. He's shot.

911 OPERATOR: Officer is shot? (INAUDIBLE) now advising there is an officer down in front of the location. (INAUDIBLE) at this time.

911 OPERATOR: Thirty-six-four Delta, you are on the scene with 3-6-4 Delta?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) the subject bolted out.

911 OPERATOR: Checking, you are advising that the officer is down or the suspect the suspect?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call the ambulance! Call the ambulance!

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Officer Sean Bolton died after being rushed to the hospital. He was an Iraq war veteran.

And just a short time ago, I talked to a very close friend of his and fellow veteran about the real risks he faced day to day helping to make sure the streets of Memphis were safe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN CLEMENTS, FRIEND: I did the math one time and he and I were seven times less likely to die a violent death in Iraq in a combat zone in Iraq than we were in the city of Memphis, where we lived. The important thing to him was, if he had to have an encounter with a suspect was, if he could, let them come out nobody coming out the worse for wear, as long as they understood why what they were doing wrong and not to do it again. He would do that. You absolutely had to give him no other option for any sort of

physical -- for the encounter to get physical.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let me go straight to our correspondent who has been on this, Nick Valencia.

And as far as the investigation goes in looking for this individual, do they have any leads, any clue where he is?

[15:05:01]

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is an aggressive manhunt. If they have any ideas about his whereabouts, Brooke, they are not making it known publicly, 29-year-old Tremaine Wilbourn wanted for the first- degree murder in the shooting death of 33-year-old officer Sean Bolton.

It all happened on Saturday night shortly after 9:00 p.m. when Bolton noticed an illegally parked car. He approaches the vehicle, at which point, according to point, the man you are looking at there on your screen gets out of the car, confronts the officer, a struggle ensues and Bolton is left shot multiple times.

There were people in the area, witnesses, residents who overheard the commotion, ran towards the scene and used the officer's radio to call into police. But it was simply too late. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Now a $10,000 reward is being offered for information lead Wilbourn's arrest.

There was another man in the car we should mention, a man that turned himself into police, initially listed as a person of interest. But according to the man's attorney, he was instrumental in leading police to this arrest warrant for this 29-year-old who we should mention, Brooke, was on supervised probation for a 10-year sentence of robbing a bank. He's no stranger the police.

This really underscores a sobering number. The police director, Tony Armstrong, there in Memphis took a moment right after the shooting to talk about gun violence in that city, saying that three officers in that city in Memphis in the last four years have been gunned down in the line of duty, really underscoring the dangers that officers face every day -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: And $10,000 bounty for this man, I bet you that number will go up. Nick Valencia on the manhunt, thank you.

VALENCIA: You bet.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BALDWIN: And the other breaking story we are watching for you on this Monday afternoon, the trial of James Holmes, the gunman behind the Colorado movie theater massacre from July of 2012. Here's the news just into CNN. The jury there in Colorado has now agreed to consider the death penalty for this convicted killer, moving officially now from phase two in the sentencing of this trial to phase three. You remember, Holmes was convicted last month on all 165 counts against him after murdering 12 people and wounding 70 others when he opened fire during that midnight screening of "The Dark Knight" in Aurora, Colorado, as I mentioned, in the summer of 2012.

Let's go straight to Sara Sidner, who is in Centennial, been following this trial.

In the last 15 minutes here as you have been walking us through the 24 counts, tell me what has happened.

Sara, I can't hear you.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (INAUDIBLE)

BALDWIN: I think we're having an issue. I think I'm hearing you off a camera mike. Just -- is your mike on?

SIDNER: Hold on a second.

BALDWIN: Here we go.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Go ahead. We got you.

SIDNER: Sorry about that, technical difficulties.

Basically, what we're hearing from the jury is that all 24 counts, they have unanimously agreed that the mitigating circumstances, i.e., you can kind of read into that the mental health issues that James Holmes has, does not negate the aggravating circumstances, which means that this will go on to phase three, and they will decide whether or not he gets the death penalty. This will be the final phase of this trial that's gone on now for more than 60 days, more than two months.

We will hear from them. The judge said that they will start speaking and listening to victims' impacts. This court will start tomorrow at 10:00 local time, which is noon Eastern time. This has been an incredibly long trial, an incredibly emotional trial. The last people that we heard from on the stand were the parents of James Holmes, lastly his mother, who begged for his life. Now the jury is going to have to decide just that and then, after that, the judge will hand down the final sentencing depending on what this jury decides in phase three, which prosecutors say their case will take about three days -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right. Life or death here for James Holmes. We will be watching with you in Centennial. Sara Sidner, thank you.

Next, more on the story we broke here at the top of the hour, this capture of a mother on the run, profiled in CNN's original series "THE HUNT WITH JOHN WALSH," how she was caught and is her daughter safe? We will have that full report with John Walsh coming up next.

Also ahead, a top adviser to Joe Biden's late son, Beau, is now joining a group trying to get the vice president to run for 2016. How will Biden react to that?

And stunning new poll numbers that show just how far out front Donald Trump really is. You're watching CNN. Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:14:05]

BALDWIN: Let's talk about the race for the White House, shall we?

Political insiders hoping Vice President Joe Biden will launch a campaign for the White House just actually got a huge boost, because his former top adviser to Biden's son Beau, a consultant by the name of Josh Alcorn, says he's joining the draft Biden group that is raising cash for a potential Joe Biden candidacy.

The vice president has been out of the political spotlight really since his son Beau lost his battle with cancer just two months ago, but we are told he has not ruled out a presidential run.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny has been our point man on this story, so let me bring him in from Washington. Also with me, Democratic strategist and CNN politics commentator Donna Brazile.

Great to have both you on.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brooke.

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Jeff Zeleny, the man with the scoop, what's the latest you're hearing on this?

ZELENY: Look, the fact that Josh Alcorn, who is very close to the Bidens and country close to Hunter Biden as well, is a sign -- the fact that he's joining the draft Biden movement is a sign that this is very much an active conversation. This is very much a live round.

[15:15:08]

There is part of Biden world that very much would like to see the vice president go forward with this and try his hand at a third presidential campaign. It's important to point out, Brooke, it's not the entirety of Biden world and the vice president himself, I'm told, has not yet made a decision.

But the fact that someone who is close to him, who is close to his inner circle from Delaware is moving forward with the draft Biden movement, that sort of blesses it and paves the way forward for them to explore it over the next month or so. But we're a long ways away yet from knowing if Joe Biden is going to be a candidate for president. BALDWIN: But it does leave you wondering sort of, if this slice of

Biden world, why now? And it's left me wondering, Donna Brazile, if they do sense a vulnerability, specifically when it comes to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Before I get you to marinate on that, I want to play an ad, because she's already releasing her first TV ads both in Iowa and New Hampshire, biographical pieces, talking about her life, her mother's influence, for example. Here's one of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NARRATOR: The senator who made sure the heroes and families of 9/11 got the care they needed, the secretary of state who joined the Cabinet of a man who defeated her because when your president calls, you serve. And now a new type, grandma.

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe that when families are strong, America is strong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: There is a sense, Donna, that Hillary Clinton, someone, you know, the nation has known for many a decade, is almost like reintroducing herself to this country with these ads. I'm wondering why she feels the need to do this. What does that say?

BRAZILE: Well, first of all, we have a new generation of voters who did not participate in the 2008 campaign. And I think it's important that she continue to define her candidacy in ways that will allow that generation to feel a part of it.

That being said, look, as you know, 80 percent of Democratic voters like Hillary Clinton, they like Joe Biden. Joe Biden is a natural. There's no question that the Democratic Party would like to have a robust debate about the future of the country. And if the vice president decides to run, I think he will be a very formidable candidate in his own right. People know him. They like him. He's authentic. He's natural.

He's the kind of person that walks into a room and knows everybody's name. But that being said, to run for president, you need money. Hillary Clinton not only -- you know, she has money, she has an organization in those early states. I'm sure that the Biden campaign could put together an organization. You have a lot of good strategists who are still out there. Some of them are close friends to Joe Biden.

So I'm not shocked that this conversation is being held today, but let's see what happens at the end of the summer if he decides to jump in.

BALDWIN: But that's really -- I know I'm hearing Jeff Zeleny saying a second ago, he hasn't publicly stated what he wants. He has a while. But I'm also wondering, does he really have a while to really sort of get enough money together and then have a formidable push against Hillary Clinton? Really, time wise, Jeff Zeleny, how much longer would he have to decide?

ZELENY: Brooke, I think Joe Biden is the unique figure here, pretty much the unique figure of someone who could get in after Labor Day, at this late period.

He's so well known. He has a reservoir of support among the Democratic activists. Don't forget he ran for president back in 1988 and then again in 2008. He spent so much of his time in 2007 across the state of Iowa in many of its 99 counties, across the state of New Hampshire as well. I think he's a unique figure in the sense that he could jump in somewhat late, but not too late.

The reality is, the ball is moving along here. As Donna mentioned before, money. Campaigns take money, more than any of his other campaigns certainly were. That would be one of his challenges here should he decide to run.

BRAZILE: Jeff, I have got to tell you all something. It's not a secret. But did you know that to fly Air Force Two is quite expensive? When I managed Al Gore's campaign, I told Mrs. Gore, the second lady, I said, I'm sorry, but you have to get Southwest. We can't afford it.

So, yes, it's a lot of money. But you know what? There's a lot of goodwill. Joe Biden is a good soul. Nowadays, being someone who makes gaffes or whatever, so-called his liabilities, in a campaign season like the one that we're experiencing, that might be his strength, that he's not like the politicians. He makes mistakes and he sometimes speaks before he thinks.

So I think there's a lot of goodwill. He can get in. The Democratic Party is meeting in Minnesota at the end of the month. If Joe Biden is interested, let me just tell you there are about 450 superdelegates and we're all ears.

BALDWIN: Final question, then, Donna Brazile. If he does, how would the president handle this? How would he pick a side?

[15:20:00]

BRAZILE: God, that's like -- that's a tough one, because Joe Biden has been indispensable. He's been a great friend, still a wonderful friend to the president, a good person, as you know.

But, also, Hillary Clinton has been a good friend and a wonderful person, someone the president has relied on and continued to reach out to. I don't have any bets on that one.

ZELENY: If he was smart, he would stay out of it.

BRAZILE: Right. I would.

BALDWIN: He may. He may not. I don't know if Reagan did ultimately, right? He finally did endorse Mr. Bush, I believe.

Donna Brazile and Jeff Zeleny, thank you both very much. BRAZILE: Thank you.

ZELENY: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Next, on the Republican side, the 2016 race of candidates will answer to voters tonight in New Hampshire. But Donald Trump will not be on that stage. He's now the front-runner by nearly double, according to this new poll. A member of his team in New Hampshire will join me next to explain why Trump is sitting tonight out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:25:05]

BALDWIN: Donald Trump keeps moving up and up. Take a look at the latest polls. Trump has a huge new lead with 26 percent. That puts him up by more than a 2-to-1 margin, Jeb Bush coming in with 12 percent. Just under him, you have Scott Walker at 11.

The rest of the huge 17-person field in the single digits, all of this as some -- not all, but some of these Republican candidates are getting ready for the candidate forum tonight in New Hampshire and Trump will be one of the few who will not be there. This is not a debate tonight, but it is looked at as an opportunity to really hone your skills for the real debate. That is Thursday night. This is the first Republican debate here.

So with me now to talk about this, Lou Gargiulo with the Trump New Hampshire campaign, and Jennifer Horn. She's the chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Hampshire.

So wonderful to have you both on. Welcome.

LOU GARGIULO, TRUMP CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRMAN, ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Thank you, Brooke. Good to be with you again.

JENNIFER HORN, CHAIR, NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY: Thank you. It's great to be here, Brooke. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

Lou, first to you. I know what I have read, but I want to hear you explain it to me. Why is Donald Trump not doing this forum tonight?

GARGIULO: It's my understanding that Mr. Trump had a business commitment that was longstanding. And unlike the other political candidates attending, Mr. Trump has the welfare of thousands and thousands employees and billions of dollars in assets and he has to strike a balance and I think that's what he is doing.

And he has a very large firm to run and it takes certainly a good part of his effort. But you can be assured that he will be in Cleveland on Thursday and people will get a firsthand look at what a formidable candidate he will make for the Republican Party.

BALDWIN: Let me get to Thursday in a second. But hang on a second. You're telling me it's a business commitment, because he told "The Union Leader" something totally different. The fact that they are not throwing their support behind him, they're not endorsing him, or he can sense that they are not a Donald Trump fan, that's the reason why he's not showing up, Lou.

GARGIULO: I believe that to be necessarily the case.

I think "The Union Leader" certainly has not taken a very positive approach to Mr. Trump. But, be that as it may, Mr. Trump has to run a business and he has other commitments. And I think that that certainly is his first priority at this point. While the other candidates are pandering for votes, Mr. Trump is out there working both his business and being the front-runner in the presidential campaign.

BALDWIN: OK. Despite what Trump said, listen, whatever it is, he's not going to be there tonight.

Jennifer, my question to you. There is a stereotype. I think this is actually kind of a great thing in New Hampshire where the voters there, they want to meet these candidates. They want to sit across at a diner, and eat with them, get to know them. I'm wondering if it's risky by Donald Trump not coming that one impression it could give off is that he's sort of blowing them off. What are you hearing? Is this turning off New Hampshire voters or nah?

HORN: Well, look, Brooke, it's not my job to speak on behalf of candidates or behalf of the campaigns.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: You're talking to voters.

HORN: Well, and here in New Hampshire, forums like this are very, very important.

It's important not just that you take the voters seriously. It's not about pandering. It's about earning the vote of the American voters, starting in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina. Tonight is an important part of that and we're very excited that the majority of the candidates will be here to speak directly to the people directly of New Hampshire.

BALDWIN: I will say, Lou, one of my first thoughts when I read about this is that this could benefit Donald Trump by not being there because the anticipation just continues to mount for when he is center stage Thursday.

GARGIULO: Certainly. And Mr. Trump has been in New Hampshire a number of times and he has certainly reached out to the people of New Hampshire. And I think the polls certainly substantiate that fact.

I think we have a good seven months before the primary and there will be plenty of time for Mr. Trump to be in New Hampshire and in Iowa and everywhere else in the country. So his inability to be here tonight, in my opinion, is really not anything negative. In fact, it will be very positive when he comes back again.

One only had to be in Laconia a few weeks ago when Mr. Trump was there with overflow crowds. I was there. I saw it firsthand. I was astounded by the number of people. There is a huge outcry in New Hampshire for a person like Mr. Trump, a person who has run a very successful business and who has said it like it is.

Unfortunately, a lot of the other candidates are saying what they think the voters want to hear. Mr. Trump's words are resonating because he's not sheltering them in the talking points or he's not couching them in what the pollsters are telling him. He's doing it from the heart.

BALDWIN: OK.

GARGIULO: And that's what people want.

BALDWIN: Jennifer, I heard your voice a second ago. Did you want to jump in and respond to any of that?

HORN: Oh, no, listen, I like I said a second ago, I'm not here to debate other candidates. I'm not here to tell people who is the right candidate to vote for.

We are very excited.