i m amara walker. i m paula reed in for boris sanchez. you re live in the cnn newsroom. this morning, more than a million people are without power in the eastern united states, as a deadly storm system continues to move north. over the last 24 hours, at least 12 people were killed in multiple states, due to the severe weather that brought tornadoes and major flooding to parts of the south. the majority of those deaths were in kentucky. where hurricane force winds toppled trees and even toppled tractor-trailer trucks. in indiana, the high winds tore the roof off of a church. and in one town, a man says god saved his life, after a tornado swept through his property but left him and his home untouched. the back door started shaking. the house started shaking. and i could see nothing but white. we didn t have time to get anywhere. it was right on top of us, the house was shaking, and we were all close together, in the middle room of the house, still, but wow, this is the
path of destruction across three states. 80 million under wind alerts. hundreds of thousands without power. we re tracking it. the white house revealing president biden had skin cancer removed at walter reed. what his doctor is saying about the procedure. the infant death linked to a common device used by so many moms, the cdc s warning to parents. chris rock ready to break his silence in a first of its kind live special. what he s expected to say about will smith s infamous oscar slap. and my conversation with the vietnam war hero who received a long overdue honor today at the white house. announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. good evening, and thank you for being with us. in barely 15 hours, alex murdaugh went from disgraced attorney to convicted killer to a man who tonight is condemned to life in prison. the wheels of justice moving rapidly in south carolina where the jury began its deliberations only midafternoon yesterday. three hours later
murdaugh which wrapped up a short time ago, and the judge sentenced the disgraced attorney to two consecutive life sentences for the mirder of his w wife maggie and his son paul. i will tell you again, and i respect this court, and i am innocent. i would never again under any circumstances hurt my wife maggie or hurt my son paw-paw. and it might not have been you. it might have been the monster that you have become when you take 10, 20, 50, 60 opioid pills that you become another person. this is all one day after the jury convicted murdaugh on four murder charges. it took just three hours. we will go out to dianne gallagher. walk us through what happened in court this morning. it was incredibly remarkable to hear from judge clifton newman reflecting in a measured way talking about this these crimes that murdaugh has been convicted of, but also the person that he saw hymn become. amara, we have talked for so long why this particular case is capturing nation, and it is
[ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please receive this benediction. gracious and everlasting god, as we depart this had ceremony inspired by the create can jous actions of colonel davis, help us to follow his selfless example as we serve our nation s people. hay our participation in today s ceremony couple with the strength and shaping of your spirit to compel us to live lives of integrity and valor for the good of the nation, for the gad of our families and the good of human kind around the world. bless and protected our armed forces as they preserve our freedoms. keep the lamp of liberty burning bright on the united states of america and our allies around the world. and grant us all your grace to meet the challenges ahead, the strength to overcome every obstacle and um part the wisdom and will to do justly and walk humbly before you all the days of our lives. it is in your most holy and precious name i pray, amen. you re watching a simply remarkable moment there at the
maggie and i would never hurt my son paw paw. murder of your wife maggie murdaugh, i sentence you to a term for the rest of the natural life. for the murder of paul murdaugh, i sentence you to prison for murdering him for the rest of your natural life. john: convicted double murderer alec murdaugh set to spend the rest of his life and after life behind bars after a south carolina judge handed down two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. john roberts in washington. good friday to you. gillian: good friday, that s an awful long time, two life sentences. i m gillian turner, i m in for sandra, this is america reports. so in this fairly dramatic sentencing hearing, judge clifton newman admonished him, called the defense not credible and assault on the integrity of the judicial system. john: murdaugh repeatedly claimed he did not murder his wife and son. his conviction capped off a stunning fall from grace for his family which the judge described