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NANCY GRACE - On Devlin Connections
Aired April 13, 2007 - 20:00:00 ET
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Tonight, in another unexpected twist, the parties square off for a legal showdown in the case of covergirl Anna Nicole Smith and her 7-month-old baby girl and only heir, Dannielynn Smith, that baby set to inherit nearly half a billion dollars and growing.
Just days ago, California photographer Larry Birkhead passes the test, the DNA test, DNA science backing his claim he`s the biological father. But even after months of stonewalling, court delays and appeals, it`s not over yet. Now paternity aside, the custody battle lands back in court, with grandmother Virgie Arthur staying in the fight.
And tonight, a lawsuit filed claiming defamation on behalf of Anna Nicole Smith`s live-in lawyer and would-be dad Howard K. Stern, filed against lawyer John O`Quinn, who represents Anna Nicole`s mother, Virgie Arthur. The gloves are off! Stern also wants the covergirl`s personal diaries back. Remember they were found in the trash? At the same time, the inquest commences on the mysterious death of Anna Nicole`s young son, Daniel, who dies eerily, like his covergirl mom.
And tonight breaking news, a 41-year-old pizza parlor manager, Michael Devlin, facing 81 state and federal charges in the kidnap and multiple assaults of two Missouri boys. Tonight, police work overtime, formally asking the public for help. The question looms: Are there other victims?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On October 6, 2002, in Richwoods (ph), Missouri, Michael John Devlin abducted SBH (ph) utilizing force for the purpose of terrorizing the victim. Michael Devlin then transported him out of the county and concealed his whereabouts for four years and three months.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re here because you are charged with a class A felony, child kidnapping.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When Mr. Devlin was taken into custody, he did confess that he had kidnapped Ben Ownsby from Franklin County.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We filed a total of 71 counts again Michael Devlin. The first 18 counts, we filed one count of kidnapping and 17 counts of forcible sodomy relating to an abduction that occurred in January of this year. The remainder of the counts include a kidnapping and forcible sodomy counts for an abduction that occurred in 2001. Each involving a separate victim. Those are the only two victims. And as I said, a total of 71 counts. Each is a felony, each carrying up to life in prison.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: Very quickly, let`s head out to our Missouri story, startling developments. Newly revealed information suggests a 41-year-old pizza parlor manager may be connected to numerous missing children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What if the prosecutors were to say, if you nail the case, but your son gets on the stand?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`ll do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He`ll do it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`ll do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shawn will do it. He`s agreed to...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He feels the same way that we do, that this man cannot be allowed to do this to anyone else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: Is it true that Michael Devlin now connected to more missing children? Police are asking for your help tonight. Melanie Streeper, what`s the latest?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What, the stolen diaries? The new ones?
GRACE: I`m looking with Melanie Streeper with 550 KTRS Radio. Melanie, can you hear me?
MELANIE STREEPER, KTRS RADIO: Yes, I`m here, Nancy.
GRACE: Hi, dear, what`s the latest?
STREEPER: Well, I can tell you that representatives with the task force that are investigating Michael Devlin, they`re going to a news conference Tuesday morning to discuss whether or not Devlin played a role in six other missing or unsolved child cases.
GRACE: Go ahead, Melanie. I couldn`t hear you.
STREEPER: Yes, they`re going to be holding a news conference on Tuesday. We`re learning that the Washington County prosecutor could announce new charges against Devlin at that news conference. If so, they would involve the first boy, who is now 15 years old.
GRACE: Named?
STREEPER: We cannot give you the name.
GRACE: You`re talking about the two current boys. I thought you were referring to other missing children.
STREEPER: No, this is in Washington County.
GRACE: OK. What can you tell me about a possible connection to other missing children?
STREEPER: Well, they are investigating six other missing child cases, but I am told that, on Tuesday, they`re going to rule out one, possibly two, of those cases involving Michael Devlin. They say there is just not enough evidence.
GRACE: Joining us tonight is Michelle Mesarchik. This is Dalton Mesarchik`s mom. Thank you for being with us again. Thanks for being with us again, Ms. Mesarchik.
MICHELLE MESARCHIK, MOTHER OF DALTON MESARCHIK: Thanks for having me, Nancy.
GRACE: What is your response to the possibility that police now tonight asking the public`s help trying to connect Devlin to more missing children?
MESARCHIK: Well, in Dalton`s case, I believe we just passed the four- year mark. Somebody out there has to know something at this point, and I`d like to ask them to please come forward.
GRACE: To you, Jane Velez-Mitchell, what are the latest developments?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, my understanding is there are several children whose disappearances remain unsolved. And they have commonalties, a lot of things in common, with the abductions of Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby, the two young boys who were discovered in Devlin`s apartment of this past January.
For example, Arlan Henderson (ph) was 11 and on a bike when he was abducted. Well, Shawn Hornbeck was 11 and on a bike when he was abducted. So police are trying to connect the dots, and they`re asking for the public`s help. They want somebody who may have seen something.
Remember, it was a student who saw the truck from which Ben Ownby was abducted that broke the case. That`s the only way we found these boys, because a student was alert. So they`re hoping some other alert person will come forward and help them connect the dots.
GRACE: Back to the mother of Dalton Mesarchik, Michelle, Ms. Mesarchik, do you believe Devlin is connected to your son`s disappearance?
MESARCHIK: At this point, I really don`t know, but he can`t be ruled out by me or anyone else until, you know, we can prove that he was or wasn`t in the area at the time.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRACE: What a week in America`s courtrooms. Take a look at the stories and the people who touched our lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Thanks to our guests, but most of all to you for inviting us into your homes. A special good night from the New York control room. Night, Liz. Night, Brett. And also, good night from master control in Atlanta. Night, Grayson and David. Aren`t they handsome? NANCY GRACE signing off for tonight. See you tomorrow night, 8:00 sharp Eastern. Until then, good night, friend.
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