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There are pictures posted on Wednesday's blog, but I took none of them. They were taken by a colleague — FOX News producer/booker, Shayla Bezdrob. Shayla was in Baton Rouge (search) and New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina (search) and took a bunch of pictures that she forwarded to me and now I have posted some for you. Since I did not take them, I am not 100 percent certain what each depicts... but you can get enough of an idea by looking at them. I have attempted to label them but could be wrong about some of them.
In at least one image Shayla is with FOX News correspondent Molly Henneberg — they never knew each other until meeting in Baton Rouge (and sharing sleeping quarters.) Molly works out of the D.C. bureau and Shayla works out of the New York bureau and I hooked them up in the first few hours after the storm hit. Molly had no place to stay that first night and planned to sleep in a car and I knew that Shayla had found a place to stay... so I hooked them up. Incidentally, Shayla is from Bosnia and after her weeks in New Orleans and Baton Rouge went home to Bosnia to visit her family — so she is really "on the road!" I am not sure why she bothers to rent an apartment. I got to be friends with Shayla covering the "Runaway Bride" and Michael Jackson stories. Shayla admired my point and shoot camera and bought the same one. Now I receive the fruits of her work via e-mail.
I have also posted today a short video that I did myself (so don't expect a lot!) When we were in New Orleans we traveled around the heavily flooded Ninth Ward in several feet of water with some military police. The military police rescued a pup from the roof of the house and we showed you that video on the show. The video we aired was shot by our professional shooter with us.
Well, someone in my group also used my Handycam and shot the rescue (maybe I did it? I don't know...) so I put it on a DVD and posted it today. Somehow in my efforts to do it, I also managed to put a title on it... and an ending. I have no idea how I did it and it looks like an amateur did it... but, since I love the puppy, I am posting my amateur work. Click on the icon for the video on the Web site. If you love animals, you will love this video. It shows a very happy puppy wagging her tail non-stop.
I have tried to figure out if Joran van der Sloot's (search) father, Paulus, is a judge or not. One day I hear he is, the next I hear he is not. Here is what a lawyer in Aruba has written in an e-mail:
"To get appointed as a judge for life, one goes to a profound screening and training of six years. During each of these years there is an extensive evaluation of the apprentice judge. When the court needs a position filled for a judge it advertises in the newspaper that it is looking for an apprentice judge. To this position one can apply.
Joran's father was such an apprentice. In the second year the court informed him he did not make it (this was before the disappearance of Natalee). No influence there..."
So apparently he is not a judge. If I hear differently, I will let you know.
Now for some e-mails from you. And at the end of the e-mails, some updates on two stories we have covered:
E-mail No. 1
Hi Greta,
You know usually I disagree with those who write in and criticize your interviewing style or demeanor on your show. However, this time I have one.
I just watched your interview of the brother of the pizza deliveryman who was killed in '03 by (I can hardly say it…) the bomb mysteriously placed around his neck. Although it was clear that you found it a somber subject, I felt that you showed little sympathy neither for this man nor for his poor brother, visibly upset and shaken by the horrific killing of his brother.
I appreciate the fact that suspicion still remains, but unless and until evidence shows the man's involvement in his own death, you should express much more empathy for the man and his family, similar to that shown for the missing young woman's families on your show, as well as disdain for the killers.
Now for something really important: About a week or two ago, you wore some sort of bright blue suit or outfit that I thought was particularly flattering! Please repeat!
Thanks for listening. Always, a big fan!
Lucille Fresco-Cohen
Tel Aviv, Israel
E-mail No. 2
Hi Greta,
Your posting of Taylor Behl's photos did to me exactly what you intended. It made her human, it made me very sad, so much more sad than when I look at one recent picture of someone missing. It made me realize how horrific a time her family must be going through. The baby pictures, the first day of school, etc.
You are so right in the fact that we've become immune.
Great job at putting the pictures up.
Steve Kern
E-mail No. 3
I was watching you interview Behl's mother tonight. If you talk to her again maybe you can ask her if she can recall the interview that she did for the Richmond Times Dispatch last Friday. In that interview it was stated that she paused as a white Ford Escort drove by. Her reply was that it looked like Taylor's car but a different license plate. Is it possible that she actually saw Taylor's car being driven by someone but did not think it was her car because of the different plate? Now we know the plate had been changed. It would be interesting to see if she remembers who was driving that car and if she remembers if the plate was out of state.
Thanks,
S. Scott
Here is an update on a case we have covered. Apparently there are some "raw" pictures of teacher Debra Lafave (search) that a judge has now ordered should be kept out of the public domain. While I am a member of the media and I don't like censorship, I am also a lawyer and a citizen... and frankly, keeping these photos sealed means there is a greater likelihood of a fair trial. Yes, even a defendant accused of unthinkable conduct must get a fair trial. We need to be vigilant in making sure trials are fair. I am not sure what the public gains from seeing these "raw" pictures... but I do know that the pictures in the public domain could make it more difficult to pick a jury. Perhaps after the trial is over, when there is no risk of a tainted trial, there will be no reason to withhold the pictures from the public... although I am uncertain why anyone is anxious to see them. Nonetheless, the First Amendment is meant to protect even the unpopular, rude or even raw. So click here to read the St. Petersburg Times article.
Click here to read another article updating a story we covered recently — the murder of Dr. Moonda on the highway near Cleveland, Ohio in May.
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