Transcripts For KCSM Democracy Now 20161007

Reaction. But first, the death toll in haiti from Hurricane Matthew that continues to rise. More than 330 bodies have been discovered so far as waters recede from the most powerful storm to hit the caribbean in a decade. We will speak with haitianamerican novelist Edwidge Danticat. We will look at how the medias nonstop coverage of the storm has failed to address the role of Climate Change. Then, a serial killer of women goes to jail this week after a tip from a murder victims mother listening to democracy now there are those who would say that justice delayed is justice denied. I think we have now demonstrated that that is not always the case. Thatss my only regret is this could have happened 53 years ago, maybe there would have only been one victim. Amy we will speak with Jerry Mitchell, the johnson advocate reporter who broke the cold case and with mary rose, the mother of Annette Craver vail, one of the murder victims. All of that and more coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. The death toll is continuing to rise in haiti after the massive category 4 Hurricane Matthew hit the island over the weekend. More than 330 bodies have been discovered so far as the waters recede. Hurricane matthew was the most powerful storm to hit the caribbean in a decade. Across the country, 15,000 people have been displaced and 350,000 more are in need of assistance. The storm knocked out most electricity and phone Service Across haiti. It also washed out a major bridge connecting southern haiti to the rest of the country. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and still recovering from the devastating earthquake six years ago that left more than 300,000 dead and in twice as many displaced. We will have more on haiti after headlines with Edwidge Danticat. Hurricane matthew is now bearing down on the florida coast. The Tropical Storms wind gusts of 107 Miles Per Hour and torrential downpours have already knocked out power for 300,000 people. Meteorologists are warning of devastating storm surges. One wave 17 feet high has already been spotted off the coast near cape canaveral. President obama has declared a state of emergency for florida, georgia and South Carolina. , Florida Governor rick scott has activated the 3500 members of the national guard. Scott also urged residents living in mandatory evacuation zones to flee, warning this storm will kill you. More than 3 Million People in florida, georgia, and South Carolina are under evacuation orders. Well go to florida for more on the latest on Hurricane Matthew later in the broadcast. Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos has been chosen to receive this years Nobel Peace Prize for his role in pursuing a peace deal to end the nations 52yearold civil war. The move comes as a surprise after colombians rejected the peace deal just this past sunday in a nationwide referendum. Therc leader did not win Nobel Peace Prize. The conflict between the colombian government and the farc began in 1964 and claimed some 220,000 lives. More than 5 Million People are estimated to have been displaced. Last year, the Colombian Army was accused of a longrunning scandal of extrajudicially killing unarmed civilians and identifying them as farc rebels in order to pretrade the government as winning the war against the farc. President santos top military generals were accused of being implicated in the socalled false positive scandal. We will go to colombia for more on the Nobel Peace Prize announcement later in the broadcast. The United Nations special envoy for syria, Staffan De Mistura, is warning the entirety of eastern aleppo could be destroyed by christmas if the ongoing Bombing Campaign by russia and the Syrian Government is not stopped. In a speech in geneva, he called on russia and the Syrian Government to stop the airstres. The eyes of the world and the , are you really ready to continue this type of level of fighting using that type of weapons and effective destroy de facto destroy the aleppo, agent city 275,000 people for the sake of eliminating go Staffan De Mistura also said hed personally accompany alnusra fighters out of the city if that would end russia and the Syrian Governments Bombing Campaign, which he warned could become another srebrenica, another rwanda. The Italian Coast Guard says it rescued a staggering 11,000 refugees trying to make the deadly crossing from libya into europe this week alone amid the greatest refugee crisis since world war ii. The coast guard says at least 50 people died in the crossing, including 20 who reportedly suffocated in the hold of a boat. An aid worker has compared the conditions in the cargo holds of the overcrowded fishing boats used to transport refugees to those of slave ships. This is the deputy mayor of the italian coastal town of pozzallo. From what i know, among the hims there was also a very unlucky pregnant women who lost her life. I think the death of these people is to be blamed on the terrible conditions there may to travel in. Amy the Justice Department has launched an investigation into the alabama prison system, amid a series of strikes by both prisoners and guards. The probe focuses on Living Conditions and physical and sexual abuse of prisoners. Alabama prisoners have been leaders in the organizing of the nationwide prison strike launched on september 9. On september 24, guards at the holman correctional facility in atmore, alabama, also went on strike, refusing to show up for Evening Shift amid safety concerns and overcrowding. To hear our interview with incarcerated organizer Kinetik Justice speaking from inside holman about the prison strike, go to democracynow. Org. President obama has commuted the sentences of 102 federal inmates, bringing his total number of commutations to 774. Many of the 102 prisoners have been serving life sentences on drugrelated charges. Their sentences will now end in october 2018. Activists in cities across the country gathered for two days of action wednesday and thursday to support bresha meadows, a 15yearold girl who allegedly killed her abusive father. Jonathan meadows, breshas father, reportedly made life for his family a living hell, routinely attacking his wife, breshas mother, breaking her ribs, puncturing her blood vessels, blackening her eyes, and slashing her body. Meadows now may face life in prison. This week, activists gathered for rallies and letter writing campaigns to support meadows in chicago, boston, los angeles, milwaukee, wisconsin, and warren, ohio, and up and down california, including in los angeles, davis and riverside. Organizers say meadows is currently on suicide watch. To see our coverage of the case, go to democracynow. Org. In north dakota, land defenders opposing the 3. 8 billion Dakota Access pipeline are facing increasing repression. On thursday, Morton County sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier announced he may call on Law Enforcement agencies from outside north dakota to come assist north dakota deputies, saying we have basically tapped the resources to a level that weve never seen here in north dakota for one particular incident. The announcement came as land defenders again shut down construction at multiple construction sites thursday. In recent weeks, police have begun deploying militarygrade equipment, including armored personnel carriers and surveillance helicopters. Meanwhile, the first person to lock himself to active Dakota Access pipeline Construction Equipment is now facing felony charges after his misdemeanor case was dismissed and then refiled as a felony case. Dale happi American Horse locked himself to an excavator on august 31, stopping construction for hours. Democracy now spoke to him a a few days later on september 3 as we visited the sacred stone encampment in north dakota. I could not stand by and watch this pipeline go through, get torn through the mother earth. It is a hard thing to stand by and watch. I could not take it anymore, so we used nonviolent direct action to delay them in any way for his long as possible. Amy in south africa, growing student protests against a proposed 8 tuition fee hike for 2017 have shut down classes at campuses across south africa this week. The Fees Must Fall Campaign is demanding free education. Its facing an increasing crackdown by police, who deployed stun grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas against , protesting students in johannesburg on tuesday. This is Wits University student leader fasiha hassan. We have just been opened fire with stun grenades, tear gas. Amy this comes as a nationwide teachers strike continues in belize for a fifth day. On thursday, the Teachers Union held demonstrations in multiple cities. Teachers are demanding a 3 salary increase, as well as anticorruption measures and workplace safety. In its from the campaign trail, one in four americans will not be up to vote in the president ial election as a result of state laws that prohibit people with helena convictions from voting, even after they have served their full sentences. He states in which the greatest percentage of people will not be able to vote are florida, mississippi, kentucky, and tennessee. In san francisco, the council on americanislamic relations has filed a complaint against Southwest Airlines with the transportation department, calling for an investigation into whether the Airline Company is racially profiling muslim americans. This comes after recent uc berkeley graduate, khairuldeen makhzoomi, was pulled off a southwest Airline Plane after another passenger complained about him speaking in arabic on his cell phone. The passenger claimed he was using words related to an attack. In fact, he was using the word inshallah, which means god willing or hopefully and is one of the most common words in the arabic language. Makhzoomi is an iraqi who has been living in the u. S. Since 2010. He says he was pulled off the plane and then interrogated by police officers. And in virginia, 23 people were arrest amid a threeday protest in front of Governor Terry mcauliffes mansion wednesday, demanding action to address Climate Change. The protesters are demanding mcauliffe reject two proposed fracked gas pipelines, force companies to clean up toxic coal ash ponds, and invest in renewable energy. The protest was organized by chesapeake Climate Action network. The activists were arrested after they blocked the doors to his mansion. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Juan and im juan gonzalez. Welcome to all of our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. We begin todays show in haiti, where the death toll from Hurricane Matthew continues to rise. More than 330 bodies have been discovered so far as waters recede from the most powerful storm to hit the caribbean in a decade. Across the country, some 15,000 have been displaced and 350,000 more are in need of assistance. The storm not out most electricity and phone Service Across the country and also washed out a major bridge connecting southern haiti to the rest of the country. Eight organizations are warning that food and water are scarce. Amy haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and still recovering from a devastating earthquake six years ago that left more than 300,000 dead and twice as many people displaced. For more, we are joined by haitianamerican novelist Edwidge Danticat. She is speaking to us from miami, florida. Her new piece for the new yorker is headined, facing Hurricane Matthew. Edwidge danticat, welcome back to democracy now from one hurricane target in florida to another, haiti, can you talk about what has happened in your home country in haiti . Good morning. Thank you so much for having me once again. What i understand and what the world is starting to the is that parts of haiti has been decimated. The images that were just show that inerday some towns, for example, Something Like 90 of the houses are either flattened or have lost their roofs. There was an enormous sea surge. The sea came in pretty far inland. That means a lot of agitation has been lost, a lot of farming it was close to harvest time, so that harvest is gone. Livestock for which people, especially people in rural areas, livestock is basic. So much of that is washed away. Xtreme devastation we started getting very low numbers in terms of the death toll because there was no access to these areas. And there are areas where there is still no access. It is a very dire, grave situation. Equal for some of the towns affected to the earthquake in 2010. Juan Edwidge Danticat, how has the government been able to cope given the fact haiti is still recovering from the earth take in 2010 and also from the cholera epidemic that is continued to rage there . I am not in haiti at the moment, but ive been following very closely on the radio. I think as in the case of 2010, perhaps even more so now, i think no government, least of all the haitian government which is a provisional government, is prepared for Something Like that fully. It was so much more drastic. Haiti has not been hit by a storm like this in decades. So i think, you know, to what i have seen, the first job has been to assess the damage. The interim president yesterday was able to do a flyover, i believe, with u. S. Coast guard to seeastation and the devastation. I think theres going to be a lot of ordination needed to reach the most remote areas. Unlike the earthquake, which was primarily in an urban area a much more easily accessible, now you have the devastation in some very remote areas that i fear it will take the government or others, International Partners were eight organizations local and international, it will take longer to get people who are desperate because for example, people in rural areas have a strong interconnection and sometimes really have to rely on themselves. The staple of their survival has been wiped away and it is hard to get to them. That is going to be, i think, the biggest challenge. Right now, billy way to get to whatareas to even assess is happening is by air and we do not have access to a lot of airplanes and helicopters and so forth. Where would they land in him cases . I think the first focus theyre looking on working on is the road to make this accessible so that people who are willing to help were able to help connection access those places and provide immediate need like food and water to try to get them to the next place where they can actually start to rebuild their lives. how does poverty affect intensify what has taken place . Something like 330 bodies have been found as the water rece des. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Well, it is going to aggravate the poverty extremely. It is going to get so much worse. This is not an immediate disaster. It is not a today disaster. It is going to become an ongoing disaster. The first thing that will be affected, certainly, you will have an increase in the cholera which has become endemic and epidemic now because since it was introduced in haiti by the uns peacekeepers, which they admitted recently. The cholera, you will have a spike in the cholera because to cleanccess now water. The water sources have been eroded by the flooding. The Food Insecurity will certainly rise because not only are people pots peoples immediate supply reduce, but theyre not able to you know, people who farmed and were a lot of farmers and the resources have been wiped out. So i think you will have it is a longterm disaster and people are now going to go to seek help to think about, not just the immediate effects of this, but it will certainly my most certainly deep in the poverty, specially rural poverty, which has always existed but the fact that peoples few resources now have been wiped away and after rebuild a home and they have to now find other ways to send their children to school, i think it will certainly aggravate the poverty that already exist. You have to remember, the area of the south, an area i go to often a know quite well, it was going through droughts for quite a few years before this happened. It is really going to compound the difficulties of peoples lives. Juan you are speaking to us from miami where there is a large haitianamerican community, some of the poorest residents of miami, and now they are also facing, as the whole of florida is, the Hurricane Matthew. As has happened with other storms, this is the poorest folks in every city that end up suffering the brunt of these megastorms. Yes, which is what we are seeing in haiti. When people talk about haiti, all of these things are directed towards us. What is happening in haiti is showing also how the poorest really are the ones that carry the brunt of Climate Change and all of these effects. In florida, we were in south florida where there is a large haitian population. We were thankfully spared the hurricanes here. It was expected it would from a Tropical Storm to category 4 to 5, the thankfully, bypassed us and has gone up north. It is not as brutal as it was expected to hit up north. So we were spared here, which, thankfully, will allow people and a lot of us have family in cuti, some family that were off from communications that we have not been able to reach. Now that the fact has bypassed does, it will allow a lot of haitian families here to focus a little easier on helping families back in haiti and singh that we can do for all our loved ones. Amy were about to talk more extensively about Climate Change relationship with this hurricane. But i want to ask you, Edwidge Danticat, about the lack of discussion, about time it change. So often affecting countries that have not been the source, because of, change, but are so deeply affected by it, like your own, haiti. Absolutely. I think the discussion of Climate Change has to involve that aspect of it. And probably because the developing measures nations dont often have a voice at the table with Climate Change, but into being the people who get the brunt of it. People should see this storm as a kind of canary in the mine. The storms are getting more frequent and having a devastating effect. They are bearing the brunt of the aftermath of the storms. We also have to think so goes new orleans after katrina and years ago. That discussion of Climate Change always excludes these events. More and more, were seeing storms and people actually suffering as they are now in haiti as the result of Climate Change. Amy we want to thank you so much for being with us. Edwidge danticat is a haitianamerican novelist speaking to us from miami, florida. Her new piece for the new yorker , which we will link to at democracynow. Org facing , Hurricane Matthew. When we come back, where is Climate Change in the discussion of this devastating hurricane that has devastated the caribbean and now making its way up the southeast coast of the United States . Stay with us. [music break] amy this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. Juan Hurricane Matthew is bearing down on the florida coast. The Tropical Storms wind gusts of 107 Miles Per Hour and torrential downpours have already knocked out power for 300,000 people. Meteorologists are warning of devastating storm surges. One wave 17 feet high has already been spotted off the coast near cape canaveral. President obama has declared a state of emergency for florida, georgia and South Carolina. , Florida Governor rick scott has activated the 3500 members of the national guard. Scott also urged residents living in mandatory evacuation zones to flee, warning this storm will kill you. More than 3 Million People in florida, georgia and South Carolina are under evacuation orders. To discuss how the role of Climate Change has been largely toward in Media Coverage of Hurricane Matthew, we are joined now in our new york studio by may boeve, executive director of 350 action, the political arm of the Climate Organization 350. Org. May, it is great to have you with us. We so often see the words extreme weather and Severe Weather flashing in the lower thirds of the tv screens. Where the words Climate Change and Global Warming . You are right. Hurricane matthew, unfortunately, is the latest in april of a trend where the impacts of Climate Change get more serious, politicians continue to have a break and say not nearly enough about it. We have unequivocal reason to know that these kinds of storms are made worse by Climate Change. Particularly when we were look at the amount of storm surge from Hurricane Matthew is coming into these coast on seas a mistake for hire because of Sea Level Rise linked to Climate Change. They brings more rainfall and threatens further flooding. So without a doubt, we know we can make these connections. The science is clear. We are seeing a deafening climate silence from journalists and in this president ial cycle where there have been no questions asked in the debate about this issue and even today, we saw an oped from paul krugman suggesting if this weekend in the debate there is not a question about Climate Change, he said it is almost criminally responsible. Juan in the Vice President ial debates, there were no questions but mike pence, i dont know how many times to get talking about the war on coal that he believed Hillary Clinton was involved with, yet even then the journalist did not take it up. That is right. We know who is responsible for this problem. That is why the climate silence is such a serious issue and something we have to confront. It is not like we do not know why this is happening and dont have the solutions. The opposite is true. We know the false of fuel industry benefits when Climate Change is not discussed because storms scare people. People want to see leadership. When theres no discussion of the issue, it leaves the fossil fuel Industry Players Like exxon without any real focus on their activities. We know what needs to happen to reduce the threat of Climate Change, and it is leaving fossil fuels in the ground. These moments are times we need to talk about just how serious this problem is. The devastation in haiti is incredible. It is a reminder to us, just as Edwidge Danticat said, the poorest and most vulnerable are affected first. The Climate Science in the context is even more devastating. Amy i want to go to the first president ial debate between Hillary Clinton clinton and donald trump. Lester holt did not ask about Climate Change but it came up once in the brief exchange. Is. Clinton some country going to be the Clean Energy Superpower of the 21st century. Donald inks Climate Change is a hoax perpetrated by the chinese. I think it is real. Mr. Trump i did not say that. Mrs. Clinton we grip this and deal with it at home and abroad. Amy donald trump was asked about Global Warming on the hugh hewitt show. Do you think the chapter of the earth is increasing and what would you do if you do believe Climate Change . R andrump im not a believabl Global Warming. In the 1920s, people talked about global cooling. Earth washt the cooling. Now it is Global Warming. Actually, we have had times where the weather was not working out so they changed it to extreme weather and they have all different names. Amy in december, donald trump was asked a similar western by bill oreilly on fox. You believe in Global Warming and Climate Change . Do you think the world is going to change for the worst because it is getting warmer . There were behink little change here. It will go up, get cooler, get warmer like it always has for millions of years. It will get cooler, warmer. It is called weather. Dont know this, i have received many environmental awards. Many, many in criminal awards for the work i do in criminal awards for the work i do. I do not believe what they say i think it is a big scam for a lot of people to make a lot of money for the amy in 2012, donald trump tweeted the concept of Global Warming was created by and for the chinese in order to make u. S. Manufacturing noncompetitive. Yesterday, we reported on greenpeace revealing donald trump has multiple financial ties to the 3. 8 billion Dakota Access pipeline, which has faced months of resistance from the Standing Rock sioux tribe in north dakota, and members of hundreds of other tribes from across the u. S. , canada, and latin america. One of trumps Financial Disclosure forms shows he has between 500,000 and 1 million invested in Energy Transfer partners, the main Company Behind the Dakota Access pipeline. Trump also has 50,000 to 100,000 invested in phillips 66, which is slated to own 25 of the pipeline, if it is completed. What about Donald Trumps climate the nihilism denialism . We may consider calling Hurricane Matthew hurricane donald. Actually linking climate denial helps lead to an action and therefore, more problems. Debate moderators have not asked donald trump during the primary a single question about climate, so he has been left relatively off the hook on this issue so we have to hear from him. The people listening want to get involved, you can googl open questions, open debate and vote for a climate question. Right now it is ranked sixth in the order. Start tv networks do not making these links between Climate Change and extreme weather events, they will be one of the last tens of climate denial and that has to change. Juan trump has vowed to undo the paris climate accords if he becomes president. Can he or what could he do to sabotage the accord as it becomes resident . Italy entered into effect a few days ago. There is a lot of concern about what would happen if you were elected president. I think we have some mechanisms to stop that, but the most important thing is, we have to stop the outcome from happening. Donald trump in the white house is a disaster for the climate. It cannot be overstated. Amy lets talk about Hillary Clinton step in her own words on fracking from march during a debate with Bernie Sanders. Mrs. Clinton i dont support it when any locality were any state is against it, number one. I dont support it when the release of methane or contamination of water is present. I dont support it, number three, unless we can require that anybody who fracks has to tell us exactly what chemicals they are using. So by the time we get through all of my conditions, i do not think there will be many places in america where fracking will continue to take place. I think that is the best approach because right now, there are places where fracking is going on that are not sufficiently regulated. First, we have to regulate everything that is currently underway and we have to have a system in place that prevents further fracking unless conditions, like the ones i just mentioned, are met. Senator sanders mr. Sanders my answer is a lot shorter. No, i do not support fracking. Amy that was a town hall with Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton moderated by Anderson Cooper who will be the moderator of the town hall in st. Louis on sunday. By the way, democracy now will be broadcasting the town hall debate between donald trump and Hillary Clinton. But we will expand the debate. After each question is put to Hillary Clinton and donald trump, we will put the same question to green Party President ial candidate jill stein. Breaking the sound barrier. We will have a roundtable discussion at 8 00 Eastern Standard Time11 30 sunday night. We know to prevent the worst effects of Climate Change, there can be no fracking. A new report that just came out makes it abundantly clear, no more pipelines, no more mines, no more fracking. There is no rest and were going to push whatever is elected on this issue. Amy and the Dakota Access pipeline. In the midst of this debate, we see lockdown after lockdown, now the sheriff of north dakota in the area where the encampments are, thousands of people, is calling in Law Enforcement, possibly from other state. Theked this is a fight of store proportion. I want to thank you in particular for highlighting it. What were seeing on the ground in dakotas is the sign to keep also feels that the ground is stronger on the ground. Mr. Rall the time. The unity of these tribes has inspired people. We will continue to support their fight as much as we can. Juan a quick question about fracking. There are big battles in the u. S. , but what is happening in abroad . Too much. There is fracking throughout europe and north africa. For the next Climate Conference of the u. N. In morocco later this month, fracking will be a major issue that will be profiled as well. There is a lot of investment and fracking. You can see excellence for print all over that. Equally impressive are the groups standing up to fight fracking, just like they have in new york were more dream was announced. Moratorium was announced. Be democracy now will there. May boeve, thank you for being with us executive director of , 350 action, the political arm of the Climate Organization 350. Org. When we come back from the break, a cold case is solved. Serial killer of women. The solution started with a tech from a woman who was listening to democracy now when she made a call to a mississippi reporter. Stay with us. [music break] amy this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. Juan we turn now to whats been described as the oldest prosecution of a serial killer suspect in u. S. History. Late last month, 77yearold felix vail was sentenced to life in prison for killing his first wife, Mary Horton Vail, who died on a fishing trip in 1962 with vail. 11 years after mary died, felixs new wife Sharon Hensley mysteriously disappeared. Then 11 years later in 1984, felixs new wife Annette Craver vail disappeared. She was just 17 years old. Sharon and annette were never heard from again. All three women were last seen with felix vail, but felix was never charged in any of the cases. But that changed after the mississippi clarion ledger ran a multipart series reexamining the life sentences and disappearances. Amy and democracy now plays a small part in the story. The lead reporter on the series was the prize winning Investigative Reporter Jerry Mitchell, who has spent decades investigating cold cases, mostly civil rights killings. He has appeared on democracy now many times in the past, including one appearance in 2010 when he discussed the 1964 murders of civil rights workers james chaney, andrew goodman, and Michael Schwerner in neshoba county. Every day there seems to be another case that resurfaces around the country. Not just in mississippi, but the entire country. So that is why it is important. There needs to be an accounting, there needs to be some attempt to come back and document each one of these cases who was killed and what the circumstances were, even if intice cant be brought these cases because it is very important. Amy that was Jerry Mitchell on democracy now six years ago. Shortly after that program mitchell got a call from a woman , named mary rose who heard the interview. She was in massachusetts. She wanted his help in investigating the death of her daughter Annette Craver vail, the 17yearold wife of felix vail. She disappeared in 1984. She asked mitchell would you be interested in writing about a serial killer living in mississippi . Mitchell soon began investigating the case. Well, six years later, it is no longer a cold case. Vail was arrested in 2013 based on a tip given to mitchell. Given by mitchell. In august, vail was convicted of murdering his first wife. Authorities also now say they believe felix also murdered annette and sharon but no charges have been filed. Today we are again joined by Jerry Mitchell as well as mary rose, Annette Craver vails mother. We welcome you both to democracy now , can you describe when you first got in touch with Jerry Mitchell, what you knew at the time and what this week means to you with vail going to jail . Bywhat i knew at the time the way, hello, amy, and good morning, and thank you so much for all that you do. Mitchell afterry hearing him on your program. I knew there were two other women who were last seen with felix vail, and one of them had drowned and the other had also disappeared like my daughter. , and he askedthat for more information which i sent him. What was your other question . Happened about what iss week, the fact that vail now gone to jail, though not for the killing of your daughter. Right, right. Well, i feel even though he was only convicted for the death of Mary Horton Vail, because her body was found and my daughter and sharons bodies have never been found, i felt justice has been done for all three women. Ling has one life to spend he only has one lifetime to spend in prison. It is in a long time coming, but i feel justice has been done for all three women. Juan Jerry Mitchell, once you got the tip, did you immediately start investigating this story . And once you did start, what was it that really turned the case for you in terms of a cold case . Well, we had continuing conversations. In may 2012, mary rose came down to mississippi and said she wanted to confront vail. I told her i wanted to go with her. We literally went out to where he lived in a very remote part of mississippi. Went out with her. She knocked on the trailer. You did not answer. There was another trailer that was storm damaged. She walked over to that trailer in the back window was missing, so she crawled in and opened the front door. So i could see in. Started rummaging around, and she throughout a machete. It clank on the floor. Another machete. And another machete. And all of the swords. It was the beginning of it. It was wild. It was, what have i gotten myself into . That began the journey. I did the peace that ran about november 2012 and felix vail ended up being arrested seven months later. Mary saved all of these documents. The case would not have happened mary really became an investigator herself and collected all of these documents on these women and that really helped form the basis of the case. The disappearances were allowed into the evidence in this case, so it really was an important part of the case. Amy i want to turn to a clip from the usa today Mini Documentary gone, which accompanies the newspaper series. This is Mary Horton Vails brother bill horton, followed by fisherman Hubert Hooper who knew of the murder. Jerry mitchell then explains the autopsy results. Our Television Viewers will see the pictures of Mary Horton Vail after she was pulled from the river. We know they were out in the boat and she, according to him, had a flashlight and said, watch out, there is a stump. He jerked to avoid it and she fell out. Any implied she may have hit her head on the stock. I later learned that area was dredged to 60 feet in 1945 and there were no stops. He killed that woman before they got to the river. When they found her, she did not even have she did not have water in her lungs. She did not drown. What the autopsy shows is mary had a very large bruise on the back hd hig head exnder neck. It also shows she had a scarf stuffed four inches into her mouth. We alsos the that it appears from the photographs she had been dragged and there was no water in her lungs. Goneat is a clip from Mini Documentary. That was me report and vails brother, followed by a fisherman a new of the murder. I want to go to a second hard. This is billy vail, who was the only son of harry horton mary felix. Vail and this is billy recalling a conversation he overheard his father having with sharon. My father thought i was outside playing. I overheard him sobbing, which caught my attention, and he told her he had murdered my mother. End just shocked me to no and i heard the girlfriend saying, i know you must feel responsible for it. He confessed to her that he had actually murdered her. He said, no, you dont understand, i really did kill her. From that point on, i dont remember what else they said, i was in shock. It was too much for an eightyearold. Amy that is billy vail. He is describing this conversation his father, felix, had with his second wife, Sharon Hensley, who would disappear as would annette, the third why. Jerry mitchell, it is a little hard to follow. Youve spent thousands of words writing about this. Why wasnt this investigated before . Did it have to do with the fact these murder victims were women . Role. T may have played a with the first killing, Mary Horton Vail, the corner at the time had rolled it in a dental drowning. The District Attorney, turns out, was friends with felix vails family, the uncle and aunt. And it turned out, too, the District Attorney dismissed Something Like 800 something criminal cases in the year, so this was a common practice of him dismissing cases. Those kinds of issues were ones that i discovered. I know that mary rose talked to. He fbi in the 1990s as well it still do not go anywhere. I dont know all of the answers to that, actually. , this is a mitchell quite distinct cold case from the others you have uncovered throughout your career there were mostly civil rights cases. Did authorities act soon after your series came out to reopen the cases . Yes, actually, they did. He was arrested felix vail was arrested seven months after gone ran in the newspaper. Amy finally, your reaction, mary rose, to the trial and how you are feeling now . Did your daughter know what had happened this first two wives when she married felix vail . No. Annette knew nothing about his history, nor did i. I dont even think she knew about well, she possibly knew about a drowning of his first wife, but we did not discuss it. It seems like maybe she had some inkling that it happened, that all she felt for him with sympathy about it. But i did not suspect anything until much later when i spoke with one of his sisters. Your question about how do i feel now that the trial is over . Amy yes. Like i said earlier, justice has been done and i can rest in peace that there is no more that i need to do. Time coming, long but he is finally serving time and being held accountable. Deeds. Amy i want to thank you both for being with us, mary rose, mother of Annette Craver vail. She was the third wife of felix vail, was recently convicted of the 1962 murder of his first wife in the oldest cold case in u. S. History. Vail also implicated in the 1984 disappearance of annette and another partner, Sharon Hensley. Thank you so much, Jerry Mitchell, for all of your work over these decades with the clarionledger. We will link to your series gone. Let us know if you get another call after this interview. I definitely will. Amy both of them joining us from chicopee, massachusetts. Massachusetts is where mary rose lives. Juan colombian president Juan Manuel Santos has been chosen to receive this years Nobel Peace Prize for his role in pursuing a peace deal to end the nations 52yearold civil war. The move comes after colombians rejected the peace deal just this past sunday in a nationwide referendum. Nobel Peace Prize Committee chairperson kaci kullman five announced the award earlier this morning. The Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 to colombian president Juan Manuel Santos for his resolute efforts to bring the countrys for the 50 year long civil war to an end, a war that has cost the lives of at colombians and displaced close to 6 Million People. The award should also be seen as a tribute to the colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace and to all of the parties who have contributed to this Peace Process. This tribute is paid not least to the representatives of the countless victims of the civil war. The Nobel Peace Prize committee announcing this morning that this years award goes to colombian president Juan Manuel Santos for his role in pursuing a peace deal to end the nations 52yearold civil war. The conflict began in 1964 and has claimed some 220,000 lives. More than 5 Million People are estimated to have been displaced. Kullmann five was asked whether the Nobel Committee considered including the leader of the farc rebel group in the award, but she refused to comment on the selection process. For more, we go now to bogota, colombia, where we are joined by daniel garciapena. He was colombias high commissioner for peace from 1995 to 1998. A professor of Political Science at the National University in bogota. Professor garciapena is also the founder of the organization planeta paz, or planet peace, dedicated to building grassroots participation in the Colombian Peace process. Welcome back to democracy now response to the award to president santos . I response to the think it ie news. It highlights the colombia Peace Process has had much more support in the International Community than it has here in colombia. I think the hope is that this award will help motivate not only president santos that has been committed to this process, but all the parties involved so the process can continue despite the negative voter referendum. Juan where does colombia go from here after the rejection of process and the resumption of hostilities . The good news coming all parties, even those who voted for the no including the expresident uribe, has stated they do not want to return to the war. The ceasefire that was agreed upon has been continued and talks began a few days ago between the expresident uribe and those who supported the no in the referendum with president santos and the negotiating team to see what they can figure out to move the process forward. There is still no clear indication of how that can take place, of what the specific actions can be taken, but i think the first reaction on all parties that we look for solutions to move forward is positive. And the reaction of the colombian people has also been very important. Huge marches yesterday, the day before yesterday, that demanded the process continue. So we all hope this news of the Nobel Peace Prize can help to move things in the right direction. And your reaction to president santos receiving the award is not the leader of the farc . I was a bit surprised. There is no doubt that president santos has had a huge role. His preserve errands, his dedication perseverance, his dedication is very important and merits recognition. I think it is also important recognize the decision on the part of the farc. Their role in all of this has been very important from the beginning and the reaction come in fact, the defeat of the referendum has also, in my view, been very important. They do not want to return to work him at that theyre committed to peace. They state over and over again, they do not want to return to work, theyre committed to peace. Amy and finally, less than half of the population voted, maybe 40 . What is your sense if more people had been involved . It is hard to say, but i think there are specific issues you can look at. The fact that Hurricane Matthew that is now on the coast of the United States was just beginning in the caribbean. The day of the vote, the whole northern coast was swamped by ray. So the voter turnout was lowest precisely on the atlantic coast. That area voted overwhelmingly for the yes. But if the voter turnout had been to the same degree it had been throughout the country, maybe the vote would have endeavored. Amy daniel garciapena, thank you for being with us colombias , high commissioner for peace from 1995 to 1998. Professor of Political Science at the National University in bogota and founder of planet peace. Sunday night, the night of the second debate, it will be a town hall. We will behall. We will be broadcasting from 8 00 Eastern Standard Time until 11 30, a roundtable discussion and then break the sound barrier by having joel stein answer the same questions but to the major party candidates. Democracy now is looking for feedback from people who [announcer] P Allen Smiths garden to table is brought to you by the berry family of nurseries growers of edibles, hardy trees and shrubs, and fresh holiday greenery. And by the makers of jobes organic fertilizer now in spikes, granular and water soluble formulas easy gardener. Com. Have you ever looked in a cookbook and tried to find recipes for only two people . Well its a lot more difficult than you might think. Not everyone has an army of kids in the household or a lot of room in their freezers to store food, so what i thought we would do is take a look at recipes for two that are big on flavor. Were even going to take an ordinary recipe and whittle it down and make it perfect for a duo