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Officials Believe Baby Doe Deliberately Left at Shoreline; Obama Shares Song List on Spotify; High Court Ruling Allows Connecticut Killers to Escape Death Penalty; 3 Baltimore Boys Have Optimism; Pentagon Looks at Military Prisons for Possible Gitmo Detainees. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired August 14, 2015 - 14:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:31:43] RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: New developments today as to how the body of a little girl known only as Baby Doe ended up along the shore at the Boston Harbor. More than 50 million people shared this composite photo of the little girl believed to be around 4 years old. The Brown-eyed child with no name, no family to speak of, experts believe she may have been deliberately placed on that shoreline.

For more on this, let's bring in forensic scientist and CNN contributor, Larry Kobilinsky.

Leggings that she was wearing and the blanket that was with her, what can that pollen actually tell them?

LARRY KOBILINSKY, FORENSIC SCIENTIST & CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, we have a clue to her origin. There's limited information as to right now. Her height, her approximate age, hair color and eye color. Now, through the investigation of pollen found on these items that you mentioned, the zebra blanket and polka-dot leggings, they analyzed different types of pollen and know the distribution of these pollen species and what they have decided is she originated from the greater Boston area so she is not a missing child from the West. She's from that area.

KAYE: So just to follow up, they could determine if that pollen that's on -- that was found on her was from that area and she didn't come from somewhere very far away?

KOBILINSKY: That's correct. It's interesting, they did the same kind of analysis with to determine that it took over many, many years and now they are, again, looking at different pollen. They look different under the microscope so it's very easily identified and they need a database of where pollen is found and it's not just the finding of 39 different species of pollen but the relative proportions. And that's why they are focused in now on the metropolitan area around Boston.

KAYE: So if Baby Doe was actually placed on that shoreline, what do investigators then assume about the timeline? Can they figure out anything from that, how and when she got there?

KOBILINSKY: Well, as you know, it was first thought that she was floating in the water. Now they think that's not the case. They do know that we're talking about advanced decomposition. So the postmortem interval is probably known to the medical examiners. It's impossible for us to say because we don't know how extensive the decomposition was but I think they have a rough idea of when she was placed in that bag and on Deer Island, on the shore there.

KAYE: Larry Kobilinsky, thank you.

KOBILINSKY: Sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: President Obama, we know, likes his tunes and he actually crafts his list on Spotify. The commander-in-chief is giving us a peak at what he's looking at during his vacation on Martha's Vineyard, including 20 of his daytime and nighttime faves. Among the highlights, Dylan, special friend of the first family, Beyonce, and Al Green.

Listen to the sampling.

(SINGING)

[14:36:20] KAYE: Quite a mix there.

Here to go through all of it with us, Yahoo! music editor, Lyndsey Parker.

Lyndsey, Obama has some pretty eclectic taste, wouldn't you say? What did you make of his selections?

LYNDSEY PARKER, MUSIC EDITOR, YAHOO!: You know, I'm actually really impressed. A lot of times you would think the president is going to do this all-American summer play list and it's going to be the Beach Boys and the things that you would expect and he has left-field choices in there. He has Aquaville River. I'm sure they will gain more viewers with this publicity. Frank Ocean, Florence in the Machine, and what I think is cool is that not only is it eclectic, but it shows this was created by an actual human. I actually think he sat down with Spotify and really picked out his favorite songs. He's so good on social media, unlike any other politician we've ever seen. And I was listening to the daytime music in my car and I thought it was a good mix.

KAYE: There you go. The president is certainly no stranger to the music scene. He's often had Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen campaign for him and play at campaign events for him as well. What else do you think he's incorporated into his presidency? PARKER: Well, Beyonce, of course, performed at his last inauguration.

That was a pretty major thing. A joke aside, it's funny that this was a Spotify play list and not a title play list because jay-z is the title. But obviously he's just -- he's into music and that I think that makes him seem personable and cool and young. I think it makes him seem approachable. For better or worse, people are going to pay more attention to what he puts on Spotify than a speech he gives or a policy he's making. It's a great way to reach out to the masses. Even regardless of whatever your political affiliation is.

KAYE: Absolutely. This is purely a hypothetical question. I want to say that loud and clear. If Donald Trump -- if Donald Trump somehow becomes president, what would you expect to see on his play list?

PARKER: Cut your hair by pavement? I'm just kidding. Probably a lot of money songs. "Money" by the Beatles, you know, some songs that are big -- big and rich, maybe? Anything but big and rich. Definitely, some commerce themed. Actually, love and money is the theme to "The Celebrity Apprentice" show, maybe some Clay Aiken.

KAYE: There you go.

Lyndsey Parker, thank you very much. That was fun. Appreciate it.

PARKER: Thanks for having me.

KAYE: Still ahead, why there is speculation that Al Gore could be the next wild card to enter the race for president.

And next, they are two of the most notorious killers in American history, sentenced to die for the nightmare home invasion in Connecticut. But now they won't be put to death, and you'll hear why, ahead.

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[14:43:58] KAYE: The high court in Connecticut has declared the death penalty is unconstitutional. That means that every convict currently on the state's death row will live the rest of their lives in prison. But that ruling does not sit so well with the Connecticut doctor who lost his entire family in a very violent home invasion. Dr. William Petit's wife and two daughters were killed in 2007 by two men. They raped and strangled his wife, molested one of his teenage daughters and tied both girls to their beds and set the home on fire. Dr. Petit escaped. The killers were convicted and sentenced to death but now because of yesterday's ruling, their lives have been spared.

Dr. Petit had this response to the court ruling: "The dissenting justice clearly states how the four members of the majority have disregarded key structures. The death penalty and its application is a highly charged topic with profound emotional impact, particularly on the victims and their loves ones."

Joining me with reaction to this is, David Heilbroner, a documentary filmmaker who made a film about the Petit murders.

David, what is your reaction?

[14:45:08] DAVID HEILBRONER, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER: A lot of people saw this coming in Connecticut. The death penalty would never be imposed on Komisarjevsky and Hayes. This was deeply traumatizing to every involved and this adds one other level of suffering for one of the most upsetting criminal cases in the history of Connecticut.

KAYE: I remember for years I covered this case as a reporter there, and it was just horrifying. And covered the trial as well. I thought these two men would be put to death eventually. Why did they overturn it?

HEILBRONER: Well, they overturned the verdict because, according to the supreme court of Connecticut, the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. But another way to even look at it is, Dr. Petit was a very local advocate for the death penalty, and the legislature would have abolished the death penalty and would have done so if not for Dr. Petit's very high-profile lobbying. They crafted this weird law right after the verdicts came down and said, going forward, Connecticut won't have a death penalty, but for everybody previously convicted, we will have a death penalty, which means someone could go out and create a much worse crime than Komisarjevsky and Hayes and not get the death penalty.

KAYE: You're talking about the two killers. And they did originally want to plead guilty, from what I recall, to avoid the death penalty, right?

HEILBRONER: Yeah. The tragedy is, shortly after the crime, they confessed to everything and said we will plead guilty to life without the possibility of parole. This case would have been resolved in a month, would have been over. Instead, because of the state's insistence on seeking the death penalty, millions and millions of dollars were spent on the trials that lasted for years. They put everybody through the trauma of reliving terrible crimes. We were talking about girls who were raped, tied to their beds, and doused with gasoline and burned alive. It was a nightmare. And to go through all of the forensic evidence in court -- actually, the jurors in the case actually had to go to therapy after the trials because it was so deeply upsetting.

KAYE: It was so disturbing. As you said, to put everybody through that and to have it overturned in the end.

Appreciate your time, David, Heilbroner. Thank you.

HEILBRONER: That's right. My pleasure. Thanks, Brooke (ph).

KAYE: Next, at the height of the Baltimore riots, CNN sat down with three teenagers who have dreams of something bigger and better. Victor Blackwell joins me for an update that you do not want to miss.

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[14:52:03] KAYE: You can forget these images from Baltimore. It was April and the city erupted in riots after 25-year-old African-American man, Freddie Gray, died in police custody under questionable circumstances.

At the time of the unrest, CNN's Victor Blackwell sat down with three Baltimore teens who said they had little hope of any kind of future.

Victor joins me now from Atlanta.

Victor, you recently went back to Baltimore and checked in with these teens. What did you find?

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I found my city in a very difficult time. You know this. The homicide rate there is near crisis levels. But at least for these three boys, I found something refreshing, something encouraging -- optimism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My future brightened. I seen the sunshine.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): For the first time in a long time, these boys are excited about what is next.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just hit a whole 180. My whole thing around.

BLACKWELL: In their west Baltimore neighborhood, surprises rarely bring good news and most happy endings are reserved for fairytales.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This opportunity doesn't come to just anybody.

BLACKWELL: You'll hear more about that opportunity later, because to truly appreciate it, you first have to listen to their stories.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is (INAUDIBLE).

BLACKWELL (on camera): All right. How old are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 17.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): Stories they first shared in April when the world's attention was focused on the rioting and looting just blocks from their home. Crowds clashed with police, buildings were burned in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, a west Baltimore man who died in police custody.

At the time, these three were students and understood the reality that Gray and many others have faced.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When colored, you get certified in a certain trade but once you get out of high school, you have no exposure. As Freddie Gray, he didn't have a job as a carpenter. Certified in carpentry, where was his job?

BLACKWELL: And here to make money, some sell drugs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's easy to just go out there and start selling drugs. It's easy. It's an easy route.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First thing came to mind, do a little something but got to stay away from that.

BLACKWELL: All of the boys have stayed away from the drug game, in part, because some of their friends have been killed playing it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole Baltimore city is like what they call it Murder Land?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Murder Land.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Murder Land.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Murder Land.

BLACKWELL (on camera): Say that again?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Body More Murder Land.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): And the number of homicides is surging. In the three months since that interview there have been at least 116 homicides in Baltimore, a total not seen in at least 45 years, according to "The Baltimore Sun".

(on camera): Do you want to leave west Baltimore?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

[14:55:06] BLACKWELL: What about you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, I dream about leaving. Not going to say it's a reality for me right now.

BLACKWELL: How do you have hope?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hope, that's just -- you can have as much hope as you want. Doesn't mean it's going to change.

BLACKWELL (on camera): The initial interview was April 30th. The school year here was nearly over. Jamel was a junior, but Terry and Kareek were weeks from graduation. And once they crossed that stage, waiting for them at the other end were seemingly unbeatable odds and far too few opportunities. I know, because I grew up here in Baltimore. That's the case for too many young black men here.

But some get their chance at success. And that's where our story and their lives take a wholly unexpected and extraordinary turn.

DR. EDISON JACKSON, PRESIDENT, BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY: It was, to me, divinely ordered that I would see your show and be touched and moved by the conversation you've entered here.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): Dr. Edison Jackson is president of the Bethune-Cookman University in Florida.

JACKSON: These young men had potential for not opportunity. And the comment that struck me was there's no way out. They felt trapped. And so, Jackson, what are you going to do?

BLACKWELL: Well, they graduated in May. The next day, Jackson flew all three boys to Daytona Beach for what they expected to be a campus visit and a meeting. But there was so much more. He offered each admission to Bethune University and any costs not paid for by federal grants would be paid for by the university, a free education.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't even know what to say. He hit me with that and I was like -- I couldn't talk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just like surreal. It didn't feel real, like I was going to wake up at any second.

JACKSON: It was an easy thing for me. I didn't have to think about it. I saw promise. I saw opportunity and any young man that helped to become successful, there's one less young man that becomes a statistic.

BLACKWELL (voice-over): Terry and Kareek are roommates, members of the freshman class of 2019. Jamel will enroll next fall. They've been given academic coaches and an order from President Jackson simply stated:

JACKSON: Don't you mess up. This is a golden opportunity for you.

BLACKWELL: An opportunity, albeit daunting, these boys acknowledge is their chance to escape the gun trade and gun violence and take a shot at a better life.

(voice-over): It's real now. You've moved out of west Baltimore.

UM (voice-over): Yes. Yes, we did.

BLACKWELL: How do you feel about your futures?

UM (voice-over): I've been given an opportunity to do what I'm supposed to do so I'm going to do my best.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Kareek and Jamel have not yet decided on a major, but Terry says that he is going to major in early childhood education. I asked why, and he says he wants to go back to Baltimore to be a kindergarten teacher. It's his way of giving back.

Randi, you and I know that the costs of college are beyond tuition, room and board. They have to find money for sheets and detergents and travel home for the holidays. Go to CNN.com/impact to find a way to help -- Randi?

KAYE: Victor, that's a great story, a happy ending. I love the advice, don't mess up.

BLACKWELL: Don't mess up.

(LAUGHTER) KAYE: Good for all of us.

Victor Blackwell, thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: Sure.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

KAYE: Top of the hour now. I'm Randi Kaye.

We begin with breaking news out of the Pentagon. CNN has learned Defense Department officials are reviewing what it would take to move some prisoners out of Guantanamo Bay to the United States.

Let's get to CNN Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, for more on this.

Barbara, what have you learned?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Randi. Well, we have learned here at the Pentagon that today a Defense Department team is in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, visiting the military disciplinary barracks there, essentially the Ft. Leavenworth jail, prison, if you will. Looking at it not necessarily because they are going to move Gitmo detainees there but it gives them a baseline of what it would take to bring about half of the Gitmo detainees, about 116 there right now, to the United States.

There are two sites that we now know the Pentagon is going to visit. One is Ft. Leavenworth, which is being looked at today as we speak. The other one is the naval brig at Charleston, South Carolina. That will be looked at in the coming weeks.

This is very controversial. One of President Obama's promises from the start when he took office in his first term was that he wanted to shut down the facility at Guantanamo Bay.