Its what you do. If you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. Its what you do. When Australian Police and the fbi showed up at lees doorstep she didnt seem surprised. But her 20yearold daughter was about to receive the shock of her life. I couldnt fathom what was going on. It happened so fast that, you know, it keeps replaying in my mind. Reporter savanna, or samantha, as she knew herself, was away at college when her boyfriend brad handed her the phone and said her mom was on the line. She talked about that moment of truth with australias 7 network. And brad said, shes crying. Shes a very strong woman. So she said, look, im being arrested. And of course, i went, oh my goodness, you know . Id never expect out of anyone in the world my mom would have done anything. It was a brief conversation about how she was married previously in america and she conceived me with him, and then something became unsafe, and she just took me and ran. So the first thing that popped into my head, i said, does that mean dad isnt my dad . Reporter as far back as savanna could remember, Juan Geldenhuys had always been by her side. She believed he was her biological dad, something lee kept reinforcing. Mom would relay things, you know . Like, you sleep like your dad. Or you know, you look like your dad. So ive always grown up with that. Reporter but tragedy struck in 2011 when juan, by then divorced from lee, fell sick with cancer. The man savanna thought was her dad died just a week before lee was arrested. He fought very long and very hard, but it was inevitable. Words i said to him was i love you and the same with him. Reporter savanna said she had barely begun to mourn her fathers death when the news came that she was someone elses daughter. Ive never heard harris todd. Ive never heard savanna. I found out that i was biologically related to him, and hed been helping the authorities to find my mom and i. Reporter imagine finding out that your mom was an International Fugitive wanted by the fbi. Imagine realizing that you were living a life you were not meant to live. And savanna said it was a good life. I grew up in mainly cape town, south africa. And that was just great. We used to go down to a beach in cape town and just spend family. Moms very into going to the beach and having fun there. Reporter she remembered going to game reserves in botswana and competing in swim races in new zealand. I had a lot of friends. I had animals. I was educated. Did piano. I had a mom. I had a dad. I had a brother. I had a house. And i was given everything they possibly could afford. It was just it was normal. It was so normal. Reporter so normal. And, as savanna now discovered, so different from the chaos of her first year as a baby back in charleston. She scoured the internet for articles written in the u. S. About the life she never knew. Read about the custody battle. About how harris and others described her mom as mentally ill and violent. Ive never, ever seen anything like that in my entire life. Shes not got a mental illness. Shes not violent. You know, unless she did this whole 180 and changed her entire attitude, then thats not who she is. Reporter so who was the mother that savanna knew . The most important thing i think is her compassion and the ability to encourage anyone and everyone. Everything i am is because of that i have had. Reporter she was afraid, she said, that with the revelation her mother was a fugitive, lees australian friends would abandon her, but they did not. Everyone stepped up and they said, what can we do, you know . I had about 20 People Living at the house trying to help me with everything. And you know . So it really, really shows that everything that shes given to them, theyre giving back to her. Reporter word of lees capture had reached charleston. Savanna was flooded with supportive emails and phone calls from lees former friends and from family. She had often wondered about her relatives in the United States, like her grandmother and her uncle. Now suddenly she was meeting them for what seemed like the very first time. Beautiful house and my beautiful granddaughter. Hello. Oh my goodness. Looks like her mommy did. Reporter now, the biggest reunion of all seemed like it was about to happen, too. Lee was in an australian jail u. S. , and the man she wanted to keep away from savanna all those years was just a few miles away asking to meet his longlost daughter. The fbi interviewed my daughter, and they informed her of me. I was told that she was looking forward to meeting me. Reporter but savannas priority was to get her mom out of jail, not meet the man who helped put her behind bars. So i slept on it for a couple of nights, and i created an email. And i just said i appreciate everything, but right now i cant even sit down to eat, you know . So i appreciate him coming over. But im sorry, you know. Thats pretty much what it was. Reporter there would be no emotional meeting between father and daughter, at least not in australia. If harris was disappointed, he didnt show it. Hed learned long ago to keep his emotions at bay. Was it heartbreaking for you there and she wasnt ready to see you . No. Reporter but were talking about your daughter and seeing your daughter and hugging her and telling her, im your dad. Yeah. Well, i didnt give up on that. I was there for about a month. And it wasnt until the third week that i finally realized that that just wasnt going to happen. Reporter so harris flew home, wondering if hed ever see his daughter. After nine months in an australian jail, lee was extradited and flown back to charleston to face three federal counts of International Parental kidnapping and passport fraud. And hot on her heels was savanna, returning to the city of her birth. Going home to defend the mother who raised her and perhaps to meet the father she never knew. Emotionally, i think that its a decision i will make when coming up at last. I need to see for my own eyes what kind of person he is. A moment 20 years in the making. When she came to the door, i held my hand out. I didnt know whether she wanted in december 2014, savanna, with her boyfriend along for support, returned to charleston for the first time in 20 years. She came for her mother, who was behind bars facing kidnapping charges and a prison sentence. For 20 years, all of americas been like shes crazy. Or shes stolen a kid and no one knew whether i was safe or not. So first off, me coming back happy, healthy and grounded would have to raise some questions, you know . Reporter samantha has gone on record as saying she never saw anything wrong with her mom. She had a loving childhood. Great relationship. It really flies in the face of everything that we heard early on. Well, theres a saying. Wasnt a fish. And a lot of times you can be raised in an environment and not necessarily know what it was until you happen to get outside of that environment and look back in. Reporter savanna returned home to a big welcome as lees old friends gathered around to see her baby daughter all grown up now. To patty roth, lees close friend who had held savanna the minute she was born, and pattys daughters who would have been her friends. And to charleston, the beautiful city that could have been savannas home if life hadnt taken such a turn that ultimately led here, the charleston jail where her mom was awaiting trial. We dont know whats going to im looking forward to going to trial, to be honest. I think were going to give it all we got and thats all we can really say, right . It is. Thats it. So we can only hope. And she said to me, ive done this all for you and ive succeeded, you know. She doesnt care what happens to her. Reporter lees defense for what she did had not changed from the allegations she had made 20 years before, namely that harris had abused savanna that time when she picked her up with the bloody nose. Lead prosecutor Nathan Williams said he reinvestigated the incident but, like the original inquiry, found no evidence to support lees charge. The first doctor said there was no problem with it, they didnt think a Second Opinion was needed. The defendant in this case got a Second Opinion from their pediatrician, who said the same thing. And so there was an indication that she was looking for an answer that wasnt there. Reporter not only that, williams investigation revealed that lee had started to plan her harris of harming baby savanna. We know contemporaneously, with this allegation of abuse that was unfounded, she was also getting false documents, false drivers licenses, false passports and setting the table to flee the country with her child. To try to rationalize it and claim that it was based on something that isnt true, to me, is a clear indication of guilt. Reporter dateline asked lee for an interview, but she declined. In the end, she pleaded guilty to all the charges against her. Savanna spoke at the sentencing. She began by giving her name. I didnt know which one to give. So i gave all of them. And i said, samantha mulga geldenhuys. I said savanna lee barnett, savanna catherine todd. And i spoke the truth. I spoke from the heart. I remember saying that she gave me every opportunity. And shes given me the most reporter the judge sentenced lee to 21 months in prison. What did you think should be the punishment for lee . Over a third of my life was essentially taken from me. The most important thing in my life. Even if my daughter disagrees with it, i think her mother deserved to spend more time in jail for what she did. If for nothing else than a warning to any other abductive parent. Reporter theres been a lot of claims of revenge, that you put on this facade of trying to find your daughter when it was really about finding lee and making sure she paid. No. Im not seeking revenge, not seeking revenge. All i wanted was my daughter, thats all. I love my daughter. And unfortunately, my exwife took her. And its not revenge to want my daughter back. Reporter the daughter harris lost 20 years ago had been in charleston for several weeks. Seemingly meeting everyone who had played a role in her past but then a little after christmas 2014, he got the email hed been longing for. Savanna wanted to meet. Just one rule, she said. No talk about her mother or the case. And no photos. Im not going to be ditching my mom by any means. But i wouldnt expect them to ever see each other again. But i need to have a mature, adult relationship and see for my own in my own eyes, and gauge myself what kind of person he is. Reporter harris happily agreed, and a few days later, y were, father and daughter facetoface on the doorstep of the house that once was savannas home. When she came to the door, i didnt know whether she wanted to shake my hand or not. But so i held my hand out. And she said, no, i want a hug. Reporter that must have felt so good when she said that. Oh, shoot, felt great. To what was once her bedroom, with its little wooden crib and baby toys. A place where time had stood still until now. To be honest, i was trying to make sure that i didnt fall apart. I didnt want to just stand there and cry or anything like that. Heres a daughter who remembers nothing about her father. Heres a father who remembers everything about his daughter and has longed for her for years and years. Well, its very hard to put those two things together. Its reporter its like two different worlds coming together. Right. You know, life is not like a hallmark movie. It was natural. No, there was no uncomfortable. There was no awkwardness. I think that im a naturalborn speaker. And it seemed to be that he is too. I learned very much a lot about him and my family on his side. And yeah, it was very pleasant. From prison in may and has to spend two years of probation in the charleston area. Shell have to build a new life in the u. S. As a convicted felon. She may never be allowed back into australia. But savanna returned there, to the place she calls home, to continue her college studies. Since her visit she has not been in touch with her father. But if there is anything that harris has learned in the last 20 years, it is that there is always hope. You know, my daughters her own person now. She can make her own decisions. And whether my daughter wants to contact me or not, she knows where i am. And she knows i want to hear from her, whatever happens. Thats all for this edition of dateline. Thanks for joining us. This sunday morning, Donald Trumps call to temporarily ban muslims from entering the country may have thrilled his supporters but its disgust it had establishment. You really have no choice. Its so out of control. Its so terrible. Why republicans fear a ticket headed by trump is a ticket headed for disaster. Plus, could we be looking at a contested convention . Our new nbc news wall street journal poll on the republican race shows a serious threeway contest developing with new signs that ted cruz and marco rubio are on the move. Rubio joins me exclusively. Also, a global deal on Climate Change. Ill talk to secretary of state john kerry about the agreement in paris and about fears of homegrown terror. And joining me this morning for insight and analysis are veteran journalist and author of a new book about cyber terrorism, ted koppel. Times. Molly ball of the atlantic and jerry seib of the wall street journal. Welcome to sunday, its meet the press. Good sunday morning. Expressing their opinion. We have two new polls on the republican race for president. According to what may be developing into a threeman race, lets get to these numbers. Donald trump is back on top in our new national nbc news wall street journal poll sitting at 27 . Up four points since late october, the highest number hes had in our poll so far. Ted cruz is surging, now in second, sitting at 22, more than double where he was in october. Marco rubio also on the rise. And look at old ben carson, the onetime leader. Believe it or not, he led in the last nbc news wall street journal poll. Hes dropped dramatically to 11 . Heres the rest of the candidates who picked up at Jeb Bush Still stuck in Single Digits. Then this bombshell out of iowa. Cruise surging into the lead with 31 , a 21point gain since october. Trump is Holding Steady at 21 followed by carson who, here, too has crashed. Hes down 15 points since october. Then rubio and bush. So what we think were seeing thats emerging here is perhaps a threeway race with trump and cruz representing the insurgents at the republican gate and marco rubio counting on becoming the candidate of the faction he needs but is reluctant to acknowledge, the republican establishment. I caught up with senator rubio in greenville, South Carolina and i asked him if donald trump had been good for the Republican Party and rubios candidacy. Obviously i dont agree with everything he says. Theres a lot we have a difference of opinion on but we cant ignore hes touched on issues people are concerned about. If you look at the statement he is made this week, obviously i think he made them to recapture the limelight after having lost of the focus on the attacks in San Bernardino and focused on a plan that isnt a plan and is never going to happen. But he is reminding us in that process that people are really upset and scared. Theyre worried. And i think the president made things worst with his speech, not better. Thats what hes focused in on. You call the comments offensive and outlandish. Thats different than the tone you took with me right now. Its offensive and outlandish for example that its not going to happen, number one, i violates the things we think about in our country. But also the practical reality. That in order for us to eididentify homegrown violent extremism, well need the cooperation of muslim communities in this country. They may be the first ones to see it. Theyre the ones that will see radicalization happening at a mosque or in the community or even among their own family members so and the other smart theres a narrative that isis and other jihadists pose that this is a war between muslims and the rest of the world and that sort of victimization narrative is something we shouldnt contribute to. Acknowledge that there is a radical element in islam, jihadism, that needs to be called by name and needs to be confronted. About three months ago you were asked whether donald trump was qualified to be president and you said so far you hadnt heard anything to make him qualified but give it time. Where have you in heard today. The most important thing for a president is to be commander in chief and that means having an understanding of the complex issue on foreign policy. Foreign policy presents with us hard choice, not black or white choices. Often times choices are down to two less than ideal outcomes but you have to choose which is the best for the country. I personally believe he continues to struggle to articulate that. So that makes him unqualified . Well, obviously i think im the most qualified. Thats why im running. Is he qualified at all . I have very strong reservations about what hes expressed about his understanding on these Critical Issues before our country so he has another month before the iowa caucus. Do you think in a month he can learn . Hes not alone. I think others in the field have where they stand on these issues. You just said that the president s speech made it worse. If you were president in a moment like that, what would you have done . What would you have said . Well, first i would have acknowledged why people are concerned and i would have acknowledged that he acknowledged it. Beyond just acknowledging it in the way he did. I would have said, look, i know people, i personally know people that have told me theyre not taking trip this is new years because of theyre afraid of what theyre reading in the press, people in have always taken a tress. Perhaps its anecdotealanecdotal. We can defeat them. What were doing now is not enough. And i honestly believe we need more air strikes, you cant defeat them from the air. You must do two additional things we are not doing now. Number one is put together a Global Coalition on the ground made up primarily of arab sunnis. Well work with the kurds in the kurdish areas and even with christians but isis needs to be feeted on the ground and arab themselves. It will require embedding alongside them special operators from the u. S. And other international partners. And we need to start cross messaging these people, countermessaging, propaganda has played a war in every conflict. I think this is critical. Isis is portraying themselves that has extraordinary caliphate, that life is glorious under isis rule, nothing can be further from the truth. So we need to invest more time, for example,