turn it over to my colleague, brooke baldwin, who is going to carry the torch from here as we await that homecoming. brooke? and welcome. i'm brooke baldwin live here in cleveland for special coverage of the fast moving story of three long lost women. and, of course, the three brothers arrested here in this case. we're watching the story, we're also watching for you today this hearing on capitol hill, two live pictures, both on your screen here, we know that in washington, whistle-blowers are testifying about the attack in benghazi from september of a year ago. but, first, just over my right shoulder here, seymour avenue this is the home police say was a prison. but not too far from here, let's go to the pictures, absolute jubilation, not too far from where i stand in cleveland as we are hearing that gina dejesus, who went missing ten years ago, when she was 14 years of age, she was leaving her middle school, last seen at a pay

phone, wanted to spend the night with a friend of hers, the mom said no. and then according to reports she was plucked off the street. tremendous media presence here. you can see cleveland affiliates have this story covered for you from the air and from the ground. we will not go too far from the scene as we're awaiting first pictures of gina dejesus coming home to her family there in cleveland. and for nearly a decade, inside the house here, back here on seymour avenue in the home behind me, amanda berry's movements were seen by a select few. and now as a free woman, the world watched her every step as she arrived at her sister's home in cleveland, the sister stepped out, i was there, the sister was surrounded by a crush of media and she gave just a very brief statement just about an hour or so ago. listen. >> i just want to say we are so happy to have amanda and her daughter home. i want to thank the public and the media for their support and

encourage over the years and at this time our family would request privacy. so my sister and niece and i can have time to recover. we appreciate all you have done for us throughout the past ten years. please respect our privacy until we are ready to make our statements. and thank you. >> look at that scene. it was quick, it was short. respect our privacy. understandable request as berry experiences moment after moment of life altering reconnections with loved ones, who thought for all these years that she was dead. 27-year-old came home to a wall of flowers. you saw the home. flowers and balloons and signs welcoming her, celebrating her return. the end of her nightmare here on seymour avenue. cleveland's police chief talked to nbc and told them that the women were bound. his investigators did find chains and ropes inside the home

here. and at the home of gina dejesus' family, more signs of celebration and thanks as we continue to look at these live pictures. but the third woman rescued here in cleveland, her name is michelle knight, she's still in the hospital this afternoon. a relative of one of the women says that knight appears weak, and unwilling to meet with her mother. but as these women, these three young women continue to move forward and recover, the men under arrest in the case, the castro brothers here are the three of them, could be charged soon. and this hour you will learn how the main suspect here, the one on the far left-hand side -- ariel castro, 52 years of age, how he has a troubling history of alleged violence. we're digging into that for you this hour on cnn. but let's go back to gina dejesus. as we mentioned, she is expected any minute now to arrive there at home here in cleveland and that is where we have poppy harlow who is standing outside of this home. poppy what do you know?

i know you and i both were at the amanda berry home earlier today and you could feel the excitement in the air and the quick statement from the sister and no amanda berry. do we think we'll see gina? >> it really depends how she pulls up to the house. what we know is we're not going to hear from gina today. we have been told that. but we are going to hear from one of her family members after she arrives home. the scene for you, hundreds of people outside. media, friends, neighbors, here to welcome home this girl that they last saw when she was 14 years old. gina dejesus, i spent pretty much all day yesterday at her home, speaking with her family members, with her brother, also with her sister, and her aunt about this. they were elated, shocked, relieved that their daughter and sister and niece was found. and now she's going to come back into this family home. this is a home where she grew up. she lived in this home, with her two parents. nancy and felix, also with her older brother, ricardo and her

older sister, myra. and we are going to see her walk in there any moment now. i'm told by a local councilman here, good friends with the family, that they expected her just about 2:00, a few minutes ago, so could be any moment and we are here for you to see it happen. but, again, we're not going to hear from her. i would suspect we're going to hear from sandra, that is the aunt of gina. she's been the family spokesman throughout. so we could likely hear from her. we do know some family member is going to come out and address the media, brooke. but people are just relieved. and i don't know what shot you're showing now. we have aerial shots of some of the crowds, but if you can see the front of the home, there is a sign there under all those balloons, a picture of a smiling 14-year-old girl, this and is gina, we're told by neighbors that that poster of gina's face has been up on this house for years. the entire time that she has been missing. that has been there. the family has not last hope and it is still there today to welcome her back.

>> yeah, you know. today i was retracing the final locations of all three of these young women and it was actually -- one of the original -- presumably missing poster for gina dejesus and on top of it, a thank god she's home. one more question. earlier i harken back to the scene at amanda berry's house and you and i were both in this crush of family and neighbors and also we see as the scene there, the media. and i was talking -- trying to talk to some of the cuzzens of amanda berry who i could see with pen and paper were scrawling out notes because they weren't allowed yet to go inside the home to see their long lost cousin and they were very clearly frustrated. they were writing notes. i saw one woman writing hi, pumpkin, long time, no see. are you seeing family members out there where you are? >> we are. from the vantage point write am, i'm across the street of the home, i see robert, one of gina's cousins, he's been someone we have been talking to

throughout yesterday and i see him in the back of the home, on the phone, waiting for her. so we know that they have family members in the home. we don't know how many at this point in time, don't know who is over there. but i can tell you from yesterday morning when i arrived here, this family was home of family and friends and supporters. >> so many people elated to see these young women home. poppy harlow, stand by. we'll be coming back to you as soon as we see any more activity there at the home of gina dejesus. thank you so much. at age 32, michelle knight is the oldest of these three women who were rescued just a couple of days ago. she is back in an ohio hospital today. she is in good condition. this is what we're told. but a hospital spokeswoman would not say what knight is being treated for today, specifically. wouldn't go into that. knight's family's situation does appear to be a bit murky because her mother says she has not spoken with her daughter yet in these past 48 hours since she's

been free. the mother did talk to nbc and she told nbc what she wants to say to her daughter. take a listen. >> that i love you. and i missed you all this time. and hopefully whatever happened between us, if something did, i hope it heals. because i really want to take her back to florida. and i don't want to leave her up in cleveland. >> the mother now lives in florida. the mother says some people believe knight originally disappeared years ago because knight lost custody of a baby son shortly before she vanished. knight's brother freddie, he says he's been estranged from their mother for years and year. didn't even know his sister had been kidnapped until he saw the story unfolding on television. he says his mom never tells him anything. >> i was shocked when i found out, yeah. i was shaking, yeah.

realizing that my sister is found. >> what did you do when you saw her? did you run up to her and hugger? did you -- >> yes, i hugged her. she wanted a hug. she's like -- like -- but she's doing good. >> knight's cousin describes her as mentally challenged. >> michelle told my niece she was going to use the pay phone. and that she would come back to my sister's house. which she didn't. that was the last time michelle was seen. >> michelle had a mind of a child. >> knight was the first of the three women to disappear. she disappeared off the street august 22nd, 2002. and as the victims recover and are reuniting with their families near cleveland this afternoon, investigators are focusing on these three men, the brothers suspected of an

absolutely atrocious crime. 52-year-old bus driver ariel castro, 50-year-old onil castro, and 54-year-old pedro castro, in the coming hours, these brothers are expected to be charged. a former secret service agent is in new york for me. i know you've been involved in interrogations. can you walk me through what law enforcement will be asking of these three brothers? what is priority number one? >> well, the main thing is first thing you want to do is split them up, right? the three brothers. don't want them to have time to get together, to rehearse story or put a story together. that's the key element n this particular situation, law enforcement hhe upper hand. when you're dealing with multiple suspects, then you have three different people who could be potentially telling you information and then you can play them off one another. so what their concern is who is going to speak first. who is going to break first. it could be the alpha in the

group, where he's the one who is the ring leader and he may say, you know what, i'm the one who is going to take the bigger blame, i'm going to speak up first and so that way i can work something out with law enforcement or the weaker person in the group who breaks down and speaks. this helps law enforcement. when you're dealing with a singular suspect, you have one person to work off of. >> i see. so that is how you get hopefully one of them to slip up. inside this room, can you paint the picture for me of what the room is like, what the atmosphere inside this room is like? >> so in general when you do any interview or interrogation, you want a very generic looking room. want to minimize any windows, don't want windows, nothing on the walls, any distractions. and interrogator themselves shouldn't have really anything on them. they typically dress almost parallel to the person they're interviewing. no law enforcement paraphernalia on them, any symbolism like that. when you come into that room, you present yourself as an objective seeker of the truth. it is almost like you separate yourself from the investigation.

and you speak to them and say, hey, i'm not here, i'm not part of the investigation, i'm a neutral entity, that is here to get the information i need to put this piece together. so you want to establish rapport, a relationship with that person, and try to get them to speak to you as openly as they can. so you want to create this pseudo safe environment really is what you're doing. >> helping us understand what is happening in this interrogation room. thank you. again, just a reminder, the three brothers are in custody. they have yet to be charged. we're watching that. also, cnn has learned more about ariel castro's disturbing history of violence. a mug shot. let me show this to you. this was taken when he was arrested for alleged domestic violence. this was back in 1993. that charge was later dropped. but 12 years later, in 2005, more allegations surfaced of a brutal side of this man. when we look through court documents, filed in a custody

battle over his daughters, this man is accused of severely beating his then wife grimilda. quote, castro fought with his former wife over the custody of their children. castro's wife twice suffered a broken nose as well as broken ribs, a knocked out tooth, a blood clot on the brain, and two dislocated shoulders. these documents quoting the now deceased ex-wife's attorney grimilda has full custody with no visitation from castro. nevertheless, castro frequently abducts his daughters and keeps them from their mother. this is what we got from going through court documents in cleveland. coming up next, as we await this happy homecoming, gina dejesus' arrival back home, i will take you to the street where the three women were abducted all these years ago. i retrace their steps. and made some chilling discoveries along the way, including this one. >> look at what we just found

this is one of potentially an original missing poster, says underneath here, where is gina? where tonight we've switched their steaks with walmart's choice premium steak. it's a steakover. it's tender. good flavor. it just melts in your mouth. mine's perfect -- man! we're actually eating walmart steaks. to tell you the truth -- they're pretty good. are you serious? that was a good cut of meat! [ earl ] these are perfectly aged for flavor and tenderness. i would definitely go to walmart to buy steaks. walmart choice premium steak in the black package. it's 100% satisfaction guaranteed. try it. welcome to the new buffalo... walmart choice premium steak in the black package. where new york state is investing one billion dollars to attract and grow business... where companies like geico are investing in technology & finance. welcome to the state where cutting taxes for business... is our business. welcome to the new buffalo. welcome to the new buffalo. welcome to the new buffalo. new york state is throwing out the old rule book to give your business a new edge, the edge you can only get

in new york state. to grow or start your business, visit thenewny.com to help protect your eye health as you age... would you take it? well, there is. [ male announcer ] it's called ocuvite. a vitamin dedicated to your eyes, from bausch + lomb. as you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients. ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. ocuvite is uniquely formulated to help protect your eye health. now that's a pill worth taking. [ male announcer ] ocuvite. help protect your eye health. and now there's ocuvite eye + multi. an eye vitamin and multivitamin in one. and now there's ocuvite eye + multi. i i had pain in my abdomen...g. it just wouldn't go away. i was spotting, but i had already gone through menopause. these symptoms may be nothing... but they could be early warning signs of a gynecologic cancer, such as cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer. feeling bloated for no reason. that's what i remember. seeing my doctor probably saved my life. warning signs are not the same for everyone.

if you think something's wrong... see your doctor. ask about gynecologic cancer. and get the inside knowledge.

welcome back here to cleveland and back to our special live coverage here in ohio. we are potentially minutes away from seeing gina dejesus, these are live pictures. look at the balloons. the balloons, the police presence, wanting to make sure the media stay on one side of the street, the family eagerly awaiting this 23-year-old's return at this home, signs of welcome home, gina. so we have obviously that story covered for you on the ground. and from the air. so as soon as we start to see any activity there, so exciting here in cleveland, after this woman has been gone basically apparently living as a prisoner for ten years here in this home we'll take you back to that. now, these women, these three young women who were kidnapped and held captive for a decade, they are free. they are returning home as we see. reuniting with their families. the three suspects, the castro brothers, could be charged at any moment. ma amanda berry, gina dejesus and michelle knight disappeared from the same cleveland street, would you believe, called lorain

avenue. this all happened three year ins a row. august of '02. april of '03 and april of '04. the home where they escaped monday, three miles away. today, i just took a walk down the street, this lorain avenue to get a sense of where they were last seen. take a look. here in cleveland, this is 106th street and lorain avenue. and this, here, is the last time anyone saw michelle knight. the year was 2002. she was just 21 years old. fast-forward one year, six blocks away, right here on lorain avenue, amanda berry had just finished her evening shift here at work. this was the eve of her 17th birthday. and she was last seen walking along the street in her burger king uniform. and then exactly one year later, 14-year-old gina dejesus is plucked off of the same street here, lorain avenue, where michelle and amanda were taken

and we have come to this corner and just found this. i want to show you. underneath all of this is a sign that says where is gina? this is possibly one of the original missing posters, down to the details. juror ge georgina dejesus, wearing blue jeans and a cream shirt, the details of her disappearance down to this very corner, and the reward that was offered. and finally, look at this, a picture of her as a baby and this handwritten note, this is my baby, happy birthday, gina, love mom. and today, now that we know how the story has ended, celebratory balloons and a sign down here, thank you, god, gina is free. >> i'm just overwhelmed with emotions. i don't know what to say. i'm just so happy for the family and that she's okay. >> for a decade, these three girls once strangers were united by fear and now amanda berry is home. her neighbors, her family, the

world wants to hear from her. but for now, when it comes to amanda berry and these other two young women, the world has to wait. several neighbors told cnn that they did notice some strange happenings inside this home here on seymour avenue. years ago, even picked up the phone and called police. so next we're asking a member of the cleveland police department about how department such as these go through the tips and leads, how they're followed up on. plus, we're awaiting the exciting arrival of gina dejesus. i'm here at my house on thanksgiving day, and i have a massive heart attack right in my driveway. the doctor put me on a bayer aspirin regimen. [ male announcer ] be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. go talk to your doctor. you're not indestructible anymore.

as the investigation into the horrific crimes move forward, more information is coming out about this house here on seymour avenue. and several neighbors in the area say they told police strange things were happening at the castro home and police, they say, didn't do a thing about it. >> november of 2011, there was an incident when my niece was

going to work and my sister was walking back, she told me, somebody is upstairs in the house yelling. i'm saying, ariel doesn't have any girls in there. i walk back over. i felt bad, so i called police. the cops come half hour, later on. five, ten minutes. no answer. they look around. they can't see in the windows. they get back in the squad car and leave. >> there are other reports from other neighbors here in the neighborhood indicating they saw a naked woman in the backyard of the home, playing with one of these elderly men. they claim to have made calls to police, but a cleveland police spokesman told cnn that they had zero records of any calls of that nature. they went back, they looked. they couldn't find it. today, thomas mccartney from the police department responded to the questions of could more have been done here? here is what he said.

>> i believe that the information that we were given, that we executed as best we could, and the tactics we used, i do not question the investigation. i will not question. certainly there is always could have, would have, should have. anyone would have that. but i think the cleveland division of police has done a very good job. >> want to bring in cleveland police detective jeff fulmer, so, welcome. >> thank you. >> before we talk about these four officers, i know you want to give credit where credit is due from a couple of days ago, let me be clear to the viewers this isn't your district, you're not working this case, we're not really able to talk to those officers quite yet. but that said, how do you respond, detective tork t, to t criticism that the police were called to this house and they never once went inside. >> we don't know they were called to the house. so far nothing has been there to back it up. everybody is going to come out of the wood work now and say they called the police. until we find facts to say they

were in the house or by the house for a call, it is not true. we take missing children very seriously. and amanda and all the other girls were -- it was a media case, we all work professionally together. any tips that come in, they'll follow up on those. >> i want to follow up on the tips that were called in. let's give you the opportunity. four of your officers, four cleveland police officers were the ones who went in this home, here on seymour avenue, what was this now, two days ago. tell me what they said, how it was seeing these women what they saw in the home. >> it was -- they did a heroic job and amanda did a heroic job too. getting them there, they went inside the house. they had to break down a door. they didn't know what was on the other side. they didn't know if there were suspects in there. they didn't care. they went in there to save these girls. four officers went in there. they did a heroic job, went upstairs, two of the females were up there. they just hugged them and emotional time up there, just happy to see the police. and the police to get them out there. our officers acted very

professionally, got them to the ms wagon. went to metro with them and that's when the emotions started flowing into the police officers. >>s they . this is the first time i'm hearing this. amanda berry comes through the front door. you're telling me the cleveland officers found these two other women presumably michelle and gina on the top floor of this home. >> yeah, they were inside the house and that's -- yeah, found inside the house and did a heroic job keeping it professional and getting down there, keeping their cool. they're searching the house for suspects and come across the girls, had to switch everything up to victims now to get them out. they just did a great job. >> did they tell you what the girls were saying to them at the time? >> no, i don't know that. we really didn't get into that. i found out the details and i just didn't want to go and mention that, you know, amanda did a great job, the call takers did a great job. the dispatcher got everything out, did a great job. got everything done in a timely manner where there were four lif lives saved and three people

placed under arrest. they put the bad guys in jail and saved these other people. >> i heard different numbers as far as specifics, three bad guys as you call them are not charged yet. i heard three different things. have to be charged within 36 hours, 48 or 72. set it straight for me. >> i don't know what the fbi and what -- >> okay. >> that's -- >> okay. back to the all these tips. you say all the people are coming out of the wood work after the fact. i talked to a woman here yesterday, and she was the woman who we had on camera saying, yes, i live next door to this home, i saw this naked fully formed, fully matured woman in the back with a man, she started yelling, it seemed wrong, the man ran, the girl ran inside, she says she called police. what -- foregive mgive me, i'm myself. she said she called police. police are saying, no, we don't have a record of that. but what is the process on the other end of the phone, with all these tips, how did police take them all? >> well, a lot of these tips

would go -- if it is a call like that, it goes to a dispatcher where they keep records. if our manager says there is no record of that, they're pretty thorough about these things, keeping the record of every call and every address. >> every record of every call. >> we have a computer system where we can put in an address in and that's updated every year, it has been around for a little while. unless there is a call for service or 911 tape, i can't see it being true. but you never know what happened out there. they're telling us that it didn't happen. >> again, another example, a neighbor called, saw some fishy, 2011, no one was home, as we have seen, there are boarded up windows police didn't go inside. do we know -- you may not know why not in this case? but at what point did police bang down a door and go in? >> you need a -- >> a search warrant. >> you need probable cause, something to go into the house. we're on the other side of the law then if we're not following our rules out here as far as with law enforcement. >> these are just questions

people here in cleveland are asking and i'm glad we have you to help us understand sort of the legal processes and seriously congratulations to those officers for doing what they did and freeing those three women. we appreciate it. quickly, if you can hear and see what is happening in between us, there is this massive group of people. there has been this prayer vigil that started happening here on seymour avenue. i'm sure because of these three women. and, again, police, sheriff office, still here in front of this home on seymour avenue. coming up next, the question that everyone is asking here, and that is this. why couldn't the women have escaped sooner? they were there for ten years? why not bang down the door themselves? my next guest says, it is extremely hurtful and dangerous for the victims to hear that asked. plus, we are waiting for gina dejesus now a 23-year-old woman, look at the crush of media, family members, the balloons, the signs. welcome home. any minute now we could be seeing this young woman. switch your car insurance to geico and we could help you

save on boat and motorcycle insurance too. other insurance companies are green with envy. oh, no, no, no...i'm sorry, but this is all wrong? i would never say that. writer: well what would you say? gecko: well i'd probably emphasize the savings. ya know...lose that green with envy bit. rubbish. it's just a reference about my complexion. writer: but the focus groups thought that the... gecko: focus groups. geico doesn't use focus groups. uhh...excuse me. no one told me we were using focus groups. vo: geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.

want to show you these pictures again as we're watching and waiting. these are aerial pictures. we have cameras on the ground right outside of gina dejesus' family home. she's been held captive for a decade. and any minute now we should be seeing activity there and her finally getting home. let's talk about this prime suspect here, this is ariel

castro, who lived in this home, apparently, again, not been charged, but according to reports held these women hostage. no matter, though, what he did allegedly, jocelyn, the child believed to be his daughter, apparently has affection for him. listen to what charles ramsey, this is castro's neighbor here in this neighborhood who helped amanda berry break down this front door told anderson cooper last night. >> that little girl came out the house, and she was crying. and i'm looking at her, like, your mama trying to help you, shut up. i don't know. she said, i want my daddy. i said, who's your daddy? she said, ariel. >> she said that? >> yeah. >> with me now is the program director for bellfair jcb in ohio. nice to meet you. let's begin with this idea. we hear it here and elsewhere,

these are women in their teens, now 20s, who we think could have just left. and you're frustrated by that question. >> my concern is that people cannot -- most of the public can't compare this to any experience they ever had in their life. these girls or victims as a whole are often kept under horrible, horrible circumstances. and they really experience this learned hopelessness and learned helplessness and the trauma beyond that they have with this alleged offender is very, very powerful. so they have been belittled, they have been abused physically, they have been abused sexually and it is just constant. i mean, many of us never have to worry about how we're going to survive day to day. but these victims of human trafficking -- >> i got to stop you, forgive me. i'm going to totally switch gears here and tell you as we have been waiting for months and months, jodi arias, phoenix, arizona, as we have been watching this trial unfolding,

we now know that a verdict has been reached in the jodi arias trial. you know the story. she is accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend, travis alexander, stabbing him, bullet to the head, slash across the throat. she had been charged, we're waiting to see what the jury has found. the jury has been deliberating ever since friday afternoon. what are we, now, wednesday? so friday, monday, tuesday, wednesday, we are waiting. this is huge, huge news. we know that we have seen this play out for a number of weeks. the issue here now is whether or not she is convicted of first degree murder because that throws everything into multiple phases after that. because, keep in mind, in arizona, this could be a -- there could be capital -- this could be death penalty. she could face death. if she is convicted of first

degree murder, it goes into other phases and we're getting legal experts to help us understand what could happen next for her as we await this verdict to be read inside this courtroom in phoenix, arizona. she, as you know, if you've been following this case, she took the stand many, many, many days in a row. and she lied. and she said that she did this, ultimately, she claims it was self-defense. and the prosecution, they were not buying that. ashleigh banfield, live in phoenix, arizona. ashleigh, we know a verdict has been reached. tell me what more you know. >> a technical process, brooke, that literally was just a quick tweet from the pio office here in phoenix, arizona, saying a verdict has been reached and it will be read at 1:30 local time. so that's 4:30 eastern time.

but there is a couple of reasons you may need lead time from the time a verdict is reached and the time you read it out in open court. the prosecutors in this case have offices here in the downtown vicinity. they can be here very quickly. the defense attorneys on the other hand have offices closer to about half an hour away. the families are also awaiting this information from their respective positions in their homes. they need the lead time to get into court as well. and here is a very unusual part of how court proceedings work and jury deliberations and verdicts transpire as well. oftentimes jurors who have worked very hard will want to have a shorter break and sometimes even get a final lunch or a dinner or whatever the next meal might be. take a breath. think it all through, even though they reached their verdict, and have that meal and then actually, you know, give that verdict out. strangely enough that's oftentimes how this will happen. here we have it, the verdict has been reached according to this jury. it will be read according to the

judge in open court 1:30 pacific time. >> ashleigh, what a day. let me welcome our viewers back. i'm live in cleveland, you're live in phoenix, arizona, as we were anticipating this verdict being reached in the jodi arias trial. two major stories we're following for you today. you see the small box on the screen, live pictures outside of the home of one of the three young women who was held inside this home here in cleveland on seymour avenue, held as prisoner for ten years. gina dejesus, we're waiting to see her happy home arrival. stay tuned for that. we have poppy harlow and crew there and if you hear this over me, let me just be transparent with the viewers, there is a massive crowd next to me, singing. this is all part of some sort of prayer vigil that was explained to me. so i don't know what's going on. we'll see what's going on there. and we have ashleigh banfield in phoenix, arizona.

and we have ted rowlands, tell me where you are. >> brooke, i'm right outside the courthouse, actually, and when word of a verdict came, a lot of court watchers who have been here for four months off and on and gathering here during the deliberations jumped up and cheered. one woman started to break down and cry. this is one of those trials that has been watched religiously by thousands of people across the country. and for whatever reason it has clicked with them to the point where they have basically stopped their lives. so a lot of people watching this and will be watching when this verdict comes. we expect it will take some time for the family members to come here to the courthouse. they are going to announce the verdict at 1:30 local, so in about two hours and you have the attorneys have been summoned as well. they'll bring jodi arias into the courtroom. she's been brought here every day and has been kept at a holding cell while this jury of eight men and four women have been deliberating for some 15

hours in total. they have reached a verdict. so we'll find out very soon what jodi arias' fate is. >> let me pull away from you. because now back here in cleveland, as we mentioned, busy news day on this wednesday, watching for this verdict for jodi arias, also now watching this motorcade here approaching, just stay with me. i'm going to walk you through this. here you go. live pictures thanks to our cleveland affiliates. you can see multiple cars. i can't tell you for sure if gina dejesus is in one of these cars. but you see the crowds here in this corner, police, that's a sign that this could be her as we see the police escort. and as we watch, the doors open, police, family, media, look at that. arms pumping in the air. >> just getting out of the car, pumping his fist. >> gina's dad. is that the voice of poppy

harlow?

>> gina! gina! gina! gina!

>> and there she went, presumably that was gina dejesus in the yellow hoodie. i don't know about you, i just got goosebumps. we saw the father, believe some of the brothers outside of this home, what a moment for this family. there are no words. we just wanted the moment to breathe. look at this. poppy harlow, i know is somewhere in this scene there. here with me in cleveland. poppy, what a moment. >> what a moment. what a day, brooke. it was raining an hour ago. the sun is now out. it came out. the return of gina dejesus to her home, i hope i'm on air with you that you can see us live here. behind me is the van that gina

dejesus showed up to her home in. she was in the home -- in the van with some fbi agents. the same agents that were with amanda berry earlier today when she was returned to her home. those same agents came out. also, brooke, we believe her father felix was one of the men in the van, he got out and he put his arms in the air and was cheering with the crowd. chanting gina, gina, gina, applauding her. he saw her sister myra who we have been talking to throughout this, her brother ricardo also here with her to welcome her home. she came out. we did not see her face. she was wearing black pants and a neon green hooded sweatshirt, the hood was up over her face. this is overwhelming. the family is a bit concerned she will be too overwhelmed with the media and the family members and friends here to welcome her, but her sister myra gave her a big bear hug and ran her into the home. this is where she grew up with her two siblings and her parents and now this is where she has returned for the first time in

nine years that she's been gone. >> wow. what a scene. i think it bears reminding our viewers, her back story, she was 14 years old, the year was 2004, she was the final of these three young women, first michelle knight, then it was amanda berry, then gina dejesus, and she was walking home from -- walking home from middle school about a couple of miles from where i am here in cleveland, poppy. and then that's the last anyone really saw of her. >> that's the last anyone saw of her. and she was 14 as you said, a young girl, very, you know, well liked in this community, this family, very tight knit community, and, you know, yesterday, last night when i was talking with her sister, myra, she told me, i said how is she doing, she spent time with gina at the hospital and all day yesterday, and she said, she is in good spirits. so all things considered, to

hear gina is in good spirits is pretty amazing. i can also tell you that nyra told me that she looked at her sister who is 23 years old, this is nine years later. i said, she's a young woman now. and myra said she looks to me just like the young girl she was. she is still her little sister. we do know that at least as of last night myra and her brother ricardo did not talk to their sister about the ordeal. their focus is family, their focus is being together, their focus is not on that at this point in time. they did not go into that. what we do know that investigators have been talking to all three of the women. so obviously going over what happened, but the focus here is the jubilation and welcome home to her childhood home that she grew up in, brooke. and we're about to -- i'll tell you, we're about to -- >> i appreciate you for being there and we're thrilled for the gina dejesus family. what an emotional homecoming for her and for this family.

awesome news there. so that's the scene in cleveland. we're juggling stories this afternoon. want to take you back now to phoenix, arizona. ashleigh banfield was reporting, we have ted rowlands outside this courthouse, we have now learned that a verdict has been reached in the jodi arias trial. and so that verdict will be read alt 4:30 p.m. eastern time, 1:30 p.m. local. ashleigh banfield, here is my next question, we both have been, you know, geeking out on this in terms of legally speaking and i've talked to a number of lawyers who say sort of the unwritten rule is depending on however many weeks of the trial, sort of equates into how many days juries deliberate. so if you were to do that math, it would be something like 16 days of deliberation. this is day four. are you surprised by that? >> you know, i'm never surprised anymore. i have to be honest, brooke. the rule of thumb generally speaking that doesn't apply universally is about for every week of trial testimony, you can

expect about an hour or so of deliberation. or at least -- let me rephrase that, a day of deliberation. i'll tell you what, after o.j. simpson and nine months of trial, and only up to three hours of actual deliberation before their not guilty verdict, that theory is heavily tested. in this particular case, i will say this, a lot of people were saying we're at the 15-hour, 5-minute mark where the clock stopped and a verdict has been reached and a lot of people are saying, wow, they sure are deliberating a long time. sometimes that's subjective from those who believe it would be a short deliberation because the case was seemingly so strong for the prosecution. but i'll be honest with you, i've seen deliberations all over the map. i expected it could have been possible to have a verdict yesterday. and here we are today, just -- day four, but only hour 15, only one hour or so on that first day so the fact we're awaiting under two hours until that verdict is reached and i should remind you,

there were 18 weeks of testimony in this case. 19 days of those trial days alone were jodi arias herself on the witness stand under, you know, direct testimony, cross examination, redirect, recross, redirect, recross. it was really quite remarkable in that respect. >> it is unique rules and laws and even the jury asking the questions specifically in the state of arizona. ashleigh banfield, don't go too far. i want to bring in another voice here, senior legal analyst jeff toobin on the phone with me now. i want to walk through sort of the possibilities post verdict. but before i do that, as ashleigh pointed out this is day four, but really 15 hours of deliberation. what do you make of that timing? >> you know, juries spend a long time on short trials and short time on long trials. i really just don't have any

reaction to how long a jury takes. it is just all about the internal dynamics and it doesn't tell you one way or another which way they're leaning. shorter deliberations can lead to guilty or not guilty verdicts. i think until we hear from the jurors about what they were thinking, we just can't draw any conclusions at all about the deliberations. >> so on the table we're looking at the screen, possibly first degree murder, maybe second degree, maybe manslaughter. i was reading about all this a couple of days ago because obviously number one is whether or not she's convicted of first degree murder. let's play the if game. if she is, that then goes directly to -- it is like another trial this is the death phase. >> and, frankly, that's that this case has mostly been about. this is a case not about whether jodi arias is going to get acquitted. it is a case of whether she's

going to get the death penalty. we'll know obviously today whether she is even eligible for it. but the idea -- the evidence is far too overwhelming to allow for a verdict of not guilty on everything. but the question now becomes does she get convicted of first degree murder, and then you would move to a penalty phase, which would decide whether she would get life in prison or the death penalty. >> jeff toobin, don't go too far from the home. ted rowlands, another voice i want to bring in. he's outside this courthouse in phoenix. ted, set the scene for me. >> reporter: well, brooke, as you can imagine, it is a bit chaotic. word of a verdict and everybody jumps up and sprints over here not only the media, but people

who have been watching this case. and this young woman here has been -- is one of them. what is it about this case that drew your attention, took time out of your day to follow? why did you follow it so closely? >> i just think it has been so captivating because it was on tv. i'm sure there is cases like this every day. but it being with the news media, catching this on tv, and the tension, everywhere you go, everyone is talking about it. and just based on the evidence that i've seen, it caught my attention even more and made me just feel attached to the case. and so -- >> do you watch every day? >> every day. every day. go home, i've got everything recorded and i watch it. >> reporter: and your thoughts on this verdict? what do you think is going to happen here? >> i'm hopeful that justice is served and travis' family gets what they're hoping for and that would be first degree. >> reporter: have you ever been in the courtroom? >> no, i have not. >> reporter: a lot of people, brooke, have come down here and have waited in long lines, getting here at 4:00 in the

morning and they're trying to get into the courtroom. if you look over here, there is a group of people wedged in the corner behind the police lines. these are folks that want to be inside the courtroom once this verdict is read in just about an hour and a half. the sheriff deputy is outside the courthouse there too. it is hard to explain. every now and then one of these cases comes up that really captures people's imagination. and hooks them. and this is one of those cases. we have seen the ratings on our sister network hln have been through the roof for last few months. people are absolutely dialed into this case and we're seeing it outside the courthouse right now and we'll see it inside the courtroom in just about an hour and a half when the verdict is read. and, of course, as jeffrey was talking about, this could be just the first phase. if they come back with a first degree murder, if they come back guilty on a first degree murder, this jury is not finished. they'll have to go to the aggravation phase and possibly the penalty phase because she would be eligible for the death penalty if they come back first

degree, if it is second degree or manslaughter, this jury's work is done. our producer was up outside the courtroom when these jurors walked out after the verdict had been read and he says that one of or two of them had a feeling -- a look of relief and one person had a huge exhale as they were getting on the elevator because they had come to a decision. >> a look of relief after all of these many, many, many weeks of this trial. and then 15 hours here of deliberation. ted rowlands, thank you. we'll come back to you again. reminding our viewers, if you're just tuning in, we're balancing two different breaking stories here. the story developing here in cleveland. but secondly and more urgently at this hour what is happening there in phoenix, arizona, as we have learned a verdict has been reached in this jodi arias case. we know that it will be read. you heard ted rowlands and his producers' color on the

happiness, the -- they're happy they're finished with the whole situation, the jurors. and we now know it will be read 4:30 eastern, 1:30 local. ashleigh banfield, she is someone else who is there for us in phoenix. i have to be honest, i was having a tough time really hearing jeff toobin on the phone. so i just want to sort of pose the similar question to you. because initially it is whether or not she's convicted of first degree murder. if she is convicted of first degree murder, that kicks off a -- there are witnesses, almost like a whole other trial in which the defense, the prosecution has an opportunity to go back and forth. walk me through that phase. >> it is the penalty phase so to speak. let's start here. when the jury in an hour and a half or announces its verdict through open court, it is probably going to be the judge who reads it. oftentimes the foreman will pass the verdict to the bailiff, the bailiff will take it across to the judge, the judge will read what that verdict is in open

court. it can go two ways. this jury can be about to go home if they decided she's not guilty. or they could be about to settle in for a couple of more jobs. job number one, and this is sort of unique to this jurisdiction. i'll be honest with you, i had not seen this interim phase before a penalty phase, but it is part of the penalty phase. they have to do another -- they have to make another decision. it is a critical small decision. was there what they call cruelty proven beyond a reasonable doubt in that -- in that crime if they decided she's guilty of first degree meditated murder. they must decide whether there was cruelty involved beyond a reasonable doubt. my guess is they would decide yes because they reached this premeditated murder. that must be done. if they decide, yes, there was cruelty, they move on to aggravation, mitigation. in all of this second phase, this will be some of the most

dramatic material that you hear in this case. because it is no longer, if they decided she's guilty, it is no longer a case of did she, but more a case of is she or isn't she worthy of the death penalty. this is the time when that mitigation specialist who has thus far been essentially silent in this trial becomes very prominent. this is the woman who was visited her i think over a dozen times in prison over the last four and a half years, collecting thoughts, collecting anecdotes, collecting facts about jodi arias' existence on this earth. anything that this jury might hang on to decide, you know, maybe she i wwas a girl scout, maybe she volunteered once at a senior's home, maybe there is something to save, some nugget that is worthy in this young woman that we shouldn't sentence her to the ultimate punishment, to the death sentence. but then there is also the aggravators. and that is an ugly, ugly series of facts.

this is when juan martinez and his team can really go to town in that courtroom. and list out over and over again the suffering that this victim went through in the course of this crime. and there was plenty of it. that is not at question at this point. this man died a painful death, more than likely. and these are the things that this prosecutor would bring forth in a mitigation aggravation phase. and then it is all the question of just weighing it. no mather formula. no points system you don't outweigh the numbers of one against the other. the jury takes it all back and just does what their gut tells them, whether she's worthy of living the rest of her life in prison, no parole, or whether she should die for the crime. all of that if they decide she's guilty. >> all of it if they decide she's guilty. and, again, as you've been reporting, we'll know that verdict, it will be read on 1:30 your time, 4:30 eastern time.

ashleigh banfield, stand by as we walk through the possibilities of what jodi arias' future may look like there in phoenix, arizona. i want to bring in lisa bloom, attorney lisa bloom, and, lisa, what do you make of all of this here? day four deliberations. 15 hours, all the weeks and weeks and weeks and the questions from the jurors. what a trial it's been. your reaction? >> i think this is about the right amount of time. we know that jurors like to go through the evidence piece by piece, all the studies indicate jurors typically rise to the occasion and take these kinds of cases. first degree murder cases is very serious. and 15 hours, they would have had time to go through all of the evidence. not a quick verdict, not something they took a very long time that would indicate a possible compromise. i followed this trial from the beginning. i think this is a first degree murder case. i think the prosecution proved that beyond a reasonable doubt. but i wasn't in the trial. i respect what juries have to say and they see a different trial than we see, even if we watch it on tv. they see, for example, the

bloody horrible crime scene photos over and over again that we don't broadcast. they hear some of the very salacious sexual stuff on the audiotapes that we don't hear because it is not appropriate for tv. and they're in the courtroom. they can really see the demeanor of witnesses in a way that we can't. i think that anything less than a first degree murder conviction is a compromise verdict. jurors aren't supposed to do that, but it happens all the time. >> lisa bloom is giving us her analysis. i'm ashleigh banfield live in phoenix, arizona at the maricopa county courthouse where at this superior courthouse they have made a decision, a jury of eight men and four women have made a decision on the guilt or innocence of jodi arias. a woman facing the ultimate punishment, if found guilty of the first degree murder of her former boyfriend travis alexander. there were days upon days of crying on the stand.

testimony on the stand. admission of lies. admission of secondary cover-up lies. there was graphic and gruesome testimony of a grisly murder inside travis alexander's condo and the cover-up, admittedly the cover-up of why that woman lied twice to investigators. her ultimate defense in this case in phoenix, arizona, has been battered woman, reacting, self-defense. the evidence on both columns has been fascinating, intriguing, and at times so disturbing, many have left the courtroom. this case is coming to a close. in just an hour and a half, less than an hour and a half, this jury will finally render its verdict after four months of trial. and make no mistake, they do not get more serious than this in american jurisprudence. the death penalty is the ultimate punishment. it does not get more serious, it does not get more critical and a jury like this does not have a more serious decision on their hands. so the fact that they delivered

15 hours and five minutes, some may say too long if they believe she's guilty. some may say too short if they believe the weight of the evidence couldn't possibly be assessed in that much time. others just waiting to hear. i've talked to so many people on these streets who said we just want it over with. many who said we want her put away. many saying they can't wait to hear what this jury finally decides. the family of travis alexander has been waiting nor verdict as well. many of them in their homes, in communities that are not far from here, but needing enough lead time to be able to make it downtown in phoenix. able to just get in place to hear this jury render its decision. the prosecutors in this case are nearby. their office is just within walking distance. but the defense attorneys are also quite a distance away. their office is up to half an hour away. the lead time was crucial. we thought we might get a half hour lead time. we were given an hour and a half. there you have it. we're expecting this verdict to

come down at 1:30 eastern time -- or 1:30 local time, 4:30 eastern time. i told you about the people on streets of phoenix, arizona, just walking by. many of them congregating at the courthouse itself. many of them have been there for weeks upon weeks. several have waited through the night to get a seat in the courthouse. and in that courtroom to watch this testimony live. our ted rowlands has been covering this for weeks upon end. he is outside those front doors of the maricopa county superior court. he's surrounded by the many who turned out awaiting this verdict as well. ted, set the scene for me, if you will, where you are. >> reporter: we're outside the courthouse as you mentioned. and people are starting to gather here and there are people from around the country have come here, including janice here, from kentucky. got hooked on the trial back in kentucky. she came to phoenix and, boy, here you are on verdict day. >> yeah. >> reporter: what is it about this trial that captured your

imaginetion? >> i don't know. why did it capture everybody else's -- >> reporter: people would say that -- >> because she's such a liar, for one thing. and just listening to her change of story every day. and the jury part is what got me. >> reporter: the jurors asking questions. >> i didn't know it. >> reporter: that was one thing fairly unique about this trial. the jurors had the opportunity to ask questions, more than 200 questions of jodi arias during her 18 days on the stand. you don't believe anything that jodi arias said about being a victim here of ptsd and acting in self-defense? >> she's just nuts. no. i don't. >> reporter: why the connection? why do you think you came down here to the courthouse? because you really were concerned that she wasn't going to be found guilty or what compels you to come down here? >> i was just worrying me, really, after taking two days to get a verdict here, and i thought, uh-oh, but they better

find her guilty. if not, something's wrong. >> reporter: well, obviously, ashleigh, as you know, people have been -- not only been coming out to the courthouse and in the courtroom, we're watching it on television, but on the internet and specifically on twitter, this has been going nuts. and this lady here is the queen tweeter, kenzie schofield, you've been in this courtroom every single day, keeping people abreast of this. but more importantly, you're getting a lot of feedback. what is it about the case that had people so just enthralled? >> they can relate to this case. a lot of girls can relate to somebody not wanting them back. so i think that that began the chaos. but it is the sex, it is the religion, it is all of those things that people become engrossed in, it is almost like a soap opera. >> reporter: and kenzie, normally tweets about justin bieber and other things. and you're here. it doesn't make sense.

>> it doesn't come together. i just was enthralled with travis. travis had so much potential. he was a guy on the rise, and this woman wanted him, wanted him to be hers and no one else's and it is like that lifetime movie, you get sucked into it and that's what got me involved. >> reporter: and jurors, as we have been saying, ashleigh, are on a lunch break here. when they were headed to the elevator according to casey wian, our correspondent up on the fifth floor of the courthouse here, he said that you could tell that they were relieved. relieved that they had come to a decision. their work may not be finished, if they come to a first degree murder verdict, then that kicks in the next phase here. aggravation. and then the penalty phase. so while they may not be completely done, they seem to be relieved they have gotten over this hurdle and we'll find out what they decided in just a bit. ashleigh? >> and quite frankly, ted rowlands, one of the more difficult decisions may yet to come, as you just mentioned, if they decide this is a first degree murder, they have a very

difficult decision next. and that's life or death. we're going to get to that in a moment. we're juggling so many big breaking stories today from washington to phoenix, all the way to cleveland, arizona. i want to rejoin my colleague brooke baldwin live in cleveland, outside of the home of gina dejesus, who we have been waiting to return joyfully, hopefully triumphantly and watching as this family, jubilation, joins their child, now a woman, who has been gone for almost a decade. brooke, tell us what you know from there. >> what a past 48, 72 hours here in cleveland, ohio. you're looking at live pictures, aerial pictures. we have cameras on the ground here. we saw within the past hour, the jubilation. there are no words. there are no words for this h e homecomi homecoming. it has been ten years in the making. gina dejesus, 14 at the time when she was last seen. let's listen in. this is presumably her family.

>> -- vigil to commemorate and to bring -- >> for being patient. we would like to thank everyone, especially the missing and exploited children, john walsh from "american most wanted," judy martin, lydia spota, also the guardian angels, cleveland police, fbi, that have been here through thick and thin, 24/7 hours a day whenever we needed them. okay? also, the extended family, friends, community, thank you. thank you, again, for your prayers and support. there are not enough words to say or express the joy that we feel for the return of our

family member gina. and now, amanda berry, the daughter and michelle knight who is our family also. now we need to, as a whole, to rally together, to look next door, and bring our other family member that is missing, ashley summers, okay? i want to especially thank phil, sorry if i'm pronouncing your name wrong. torsney, the fbi, cleveland police, you know. i know it can be rough, but we couldn't have done it without them and we have to support them any way we can because they have

supported us in bringing those girls back. once more, i want to say thank you, but i'm also going to put my foot down as the mean one of the family. okay. we're asking for your support to be patient with us, give us time and privacy to heal, okay? when we're ready, i promise you every single one of you guys that you guys will -- we will talk to you. okay? last but not least, i'm asking god to watch over all of us, and -- and the last thing the family and, you know, is asking is that we as a community do not go retaliate against the family or the suspects of this crime.

we are asking that as they have been doing their job, and might not be today when we want it, it may not be tomorrow, but they will get the job done. we need to let them do their job. thank you. >> that was sandra ruiz, the aunt of gina dejesus. wanted to hear -- okay. so this is the aunt of gina dejesus, who we saw come home. let's listen -- let's continue listening. [ speaking in spanish ] >> so this is another speaker,

perhaps a member of the family, saying thank you for everyone, speaking in spanish. this is much of this community as we have been here in cleveland the last couple of days, predominantly hispanic community and you heard from sandra ruiz, the aunt of gina dejesus. she went missing just about ten years ago. she was 14 years at the time. i was just at the exact street corner that she was last seen at 105th and lorain avenue a couple of miles from where we are in cleveland and she was walking from middle school, last seen using a pay phone with a girlfriend of hers. they wanted to spend a night, have a sleepover party and the mom said no and that's the last anyone saw of her. poppy harlow, let me go to you. i know you're there in the crowd. i think it is important to point out, this is another name, this is a fourth girl's name that people here in cleveland have been talking about the last couple of days, and we just heard sandra ruiz mention her name. ashley summers, because she was last seen -- she's been missing since 2007 and wasn't she last

seen very, very close to that same street where these other three women were snatched? poppy, let's listen in. >> -- the families, not only the dejesus family, but the mcknight family, the berry family, there has been a fund that has been established through the cleveland foundation. it is called the cleveland courage fund. because these were three courageous women. the cleveland courage fund. so if anyone wants to make a donation, 100% of the proceeds will go to the families. if you would like to make a donation now, you can mail it to 1422 euclid avenue, suite 1300, cleveland, ohio, 44115. we are going to post this on facebook. it will be on cleveland city council's website. i'm joined today with my council colleague brian comments. i'm matt zone.

we're fortunate to serve this community. these two individuals i met and a very horrific day when they lost their daughter and felix and nancy never gave up hope and always knew that their baby was alive and today they have her and reunited with their son ricky. i would ask -- i would ask also for all of you who are either watching or live in this neighborhood to respect this family. respect their privacy. they have been through a lot. not only for the past 72 hours, they have been through a lot for the past ten years. we as a community owe it to them to respect them in that regard. >> first of all, i want to say that as matt zone said, i don't

need to repeat the condolences and the heart felt issues to the family. i want to speak a little bit about the fact that we want to thank, first and foremost, second district commander keith seltzer. he's been -- i think the families know and this community knows how hard this gentleman and how hard the officers that are behind him or a lot of times in front of him, work. i want to thank the tree monte west development safety committee, they havefeed ing and giving beverages to the officers on the crime site scene now, assisting them. we have got the second district community relations. these are all very community-based organizations that are stepping up and helping out with this obviously very complicated and very intense

situation. as i said, as matt zone said, the cleveland courage fund, the facebook page is up and running as we speak. they are simultaneously going to be posting the address. this cleveland courage fund is being managed by the cleveland foundation in concert with wkyc and other news affiliates. we'll be making a more formal announcement relative to how that fund is going to be operating. but we are going to be encouraging people to do that. i would also say that there has been calls for in kind contributions. we had a dentist call, medical calls, they want to help the victims. what i would tell you is we already have an e-mail address up and running. it is basically this. clevelandcouragefund@gmail.com. if anyone has any in kind contributions, assistance that they want to provide the

victims, please have them e-mail that account and we can be in direct contact with them relative to in kind donations. lastly, i want to say, we are planning a community meeting with the attorney general, the ohio attorney general's office with the cleveland division of police and all of our partnerships, law enforcement agencies. additionally with the assistance of the interfaith movement within this -- >> so these are a couple of different city council men here in cleveland, speaking. we heard from the aunt, gina dejesus. you see members of the police force and you see just over them as well, members of the community. i was at amanda berry's home, very similar situation earlier today where you have, of course, members of the media. but you have for every member of the media someone from the neighborhood there who just wants to see maybe just a glimpse of the women who the world hasn't seen for ten whole years. poppy harlow is there.

and, poppy, just listening to the aunt, you know, so, so grateful for all of this. >> so grateful for all of this, brooke. she has been the one of this family that -- been talking to the media, addressing questions about her family. she's really been like the rock of this family, you know, the siblings of gina tell me, our aunt is in charge and she's speaking for the family. she came out yesterday and said to us, if you don't believe in miracles, you better start believing because this is a miracle. and what we saw today was just joyous and it brought tears to her eyes and to the eyes of a lot of people here, watching 23-year-old gina dejesus walk into her home. the aunt reiterating her thanks for all of the law enforcement that did so much to help find gina over the last nine years. she thanks the fbi, the cleveland police, the guardian

angels who have been outside of this home. family and friends, thanking them but then also, of course, asking for privacy. they wanted to address the press. they talked about where you could spend in donations, how to help, but they're not ready to put gina or her parents through the to make public statements right now. they have said they're going to time it right. they will address the media when the time is right, brooke. >> right again that was cleveland courage fund if you would like to help these young women and this whole road ahead of them. poppy harlow, thank you very much. i'm brooke baldwin live in cleveland. the stories continue to percolate and we see the young women finally reunited with their families. we're also watching another story as we have learned that the verdict will be read in the jodi arias trial. i'm going to send it to my colleague ashleigh banfield in phoenix, arizona, for that. >> such an incredibly busy day. there is just breaking news really from coast to coast and

in between as well as we go from cleveland to d.c. and capitol hill, right here to phoenix. that courthouse, the jury of eight men and four women have achieved a verdict. reached that verdict just recently and will announce it in exactly one hour and 29 minutes. so we are awaiting that verdict. at this point, a decision is a critical one. we are findingut whether they have decided if she is guilty of first degree rder, which would mean they move on to a death penalty phase, or if she is guilty of a lesser included, or if she is not guilty at all, effectively that woman would walk out those doors, be processed where she's being held, and then walk out those doors after four and a half years of awaiting trial behind bars. we're waiting for that verdict. and also i can report to you some of the jurors who left the jury room to get lunch. some looked very relaxed, smiling. others breathed a big sigh of relief. i'm told by our producers who witnessed this at the elevators as they went down to the

cafeteria to get their lunch. one juror on the other hand returning from getting her lunch was seen wiping her eyes. this is a momentous moment for them, after four months, they have reached a verdict. and we will find out soon. quick break and we're back with all of this breaking news in a moment. are everywhere these days. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 but there is one source with a wealth of etf knowledge tdd: 1-800-345-2550 all in one place. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 introducing schwab etf onesource.. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 it's one source with the most commission-free etfs. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 one source with etfs from leading providers tdd: 1-800-345-2550 and extensive coverage of major asset classes. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 all brought to you by one firm with tdd: 1-800-345-2550 comprehensive education, tools and personal guidance tdd: 1-800-345-2550 to help you find etfs that may be right for you. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 schwab etf onesource. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 for the most commission-free etfs, tdd: 1-800-345-2550 you only need one source and one place. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 start trading commission-free with schwab etf onesource.

tdd: 1-800-345-2550 call, click or visit today. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 carefully consider prospectus information, tdd: 1-800-345-2550 including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 request a prospectus by calling schwab at 800-435-4000. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 read it carefully before investing. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 commission-free trades are only available online at schwab. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 fees and expenses apply. tdd: 1-800-345-2550 investing involves risks, including loss of principal. i'm also a survivor of ovarian a writand uterine cancers. i even wrote a play about that. my symptoms were a pain in my abdomen and periods that were heavier and longer than usual for me. if you have symptoms that last two weeks or longer, be brave, go to the doctor. ovarian and uterine cancers are gynecologic cancers. symptoms are not the same for everyone. i got sick...and then i got better.

i'm ashleigh banfield reporting live in phoenix, arizona, outside of the superior

court of maricopa county, inside that courtroom, after more than four months of trial testimony, a jury of eight men and four women has reached its verdict in the case against jodi arias, a woman facing the most severe penalty that the justice system can offer. the death penalty in the murder, the first degree murder allegation against her, in the death of travis alexander. first she lied and said she was nowhere near the scene. then she told a story that intrudes her killed him, and then in court, on the first day she took the stand, she changed that story for the third time saying she indeed killed travis, that she did it in self-defense, and after that came 19 days of testimony from the stand, tearful at many times, suggesting she was a battered woman. it is no secret that most often in a defense like this, a victim is beaten and bloodied in a case like this.

a reputation taking a hammering in a case like this. but in this particular case, it is almost unlike any other. travis alexander, the victim of this murder, the victim of this killing, if you believe her story, reputation has suffered terribly in the last four months of testimony. and now this jury is going to tell us if they believe her or if they believe the prosecutors who say travis was nothing like she says, travis instead was viciously killed by a woman who deserves no less than to be killed by the state, herself. we're about to hear that verdict in fact in just over an hour and four minutes from now, that verdict is going to be read in open court, when that jury is able to first settle down, have some lunch, and take a break. once the jury reaches a verdict, that is not unusual for them to just want to take some time in between reaching that verdict and actually delivering it in court. also, all those who are involved in this case must reconvene in the courthouse behind me. and they don't all have offices nearby and the family members

involved on both sides of that bar, they also must make it here from their respective homes or offices or where they're waiting out this verdict as well. prosecutors are close by in their offices, defense attorneys are somewhere up to half an hour away where their offices are as are the families, quite a distance away. understandable there would be a lengthy delay between reaching the verdict and announcing the verdict. logistically, oftentimes, not sure about this particular judge and her courtroom, but what will happen is the jury will file into that rocourtroom, they wil give to the jury foreman, to hand over the verdict itself, a bailiff will deliver that verdict to the judge and the judge will read out the answers on the verdict form that the jury has come to their conclusion on. i want to go live to ted rowlands, who is standing behind me, and just over the last 45 minutes since we got word that a verdict had been reached and it was broadcast that a verdict had been reached, dozens upon dozens

of court watchers and onlookers have begun to amass. i see them behind you, ted. give me a sense of what is happening where you are. >> reporter: well, as you mentioned, people are getting word that there is a verdict, and they are starting to come here to the courthouse. a lot of people were actually camped out for the past few days, people have been camped out, waiting for a verdict. a lot of cameras and microphones and a lot of people in the public -- from the public who have been monitoring this case, not only from phoenix, but around the country. we talked to somebody from kentucky a bit ago. this is kathy brown, she's from phoenix. kathy has been here for most of the trial and been watching it for all of it. and as you can see, she's very invested in it with her justice for travis necklace, the bracelet, picture of travis on her button here. and kathy brown has something that a lot of these court watchers would love to have, that's juan martinez's signature. going to into a little bit of trouble with the court because of it. she was out here and he signed her cane. kathy first off, you and your friends were very emotional when you heard there was a verdict.

you don't even know what happened. why so emotional? >> of course. i just -- we are here every day to support travis' family. 100%. and emotional because i really feel in my heart that there is going to be first degree murder conviction. >> reporter: how did you get so hooked into this? >> to be honest with you, i started coming down here to see how the whole thing works. i have a cousin here. and i just got caught up with everything and i just can't imagine what this family is going through. and what is going through. >> reporter: you have a cousin on death row who obviously was found guilty of, i assume, a heinous murder of some sort and yet you have sided with, and not the defendant in this case, like your cousin, but with the alexander family. why? >> yes. i don't feel that it is okay to take a life. no matter who it is. if it is your friend, your family, it is not okay. >> reporter: you want to get into this courtroom? >> i do. not that we earned spots, because i can support from

outside, but, you know, it has been a lot of time and we pray that our verdict is what we are hoping. >> reporter: and, ashleigh, courtroom seats will be at a premium. you mentioned what will happen inside that courtroom. the actual verdict will be read by the clerk. but you described it perfectly what will happen. you've been in this courtroom. you know there is limited seating. so people like kathy are here, hoping that they will get an opportunity to see this unfold because they have been inside that courtroom and watching this for so long. this is one of those cases, ashleigh, that for whatever reason, has struck a chord with hundreds of thousands of people around the country, and they have just been absolutely glued to it. it has become a bit of a soap opera. and we're going to find out what happens in just over an hour, whether this jury of eight men and four women will come back with a guilty or not guilty verdict on the first degree murder charges, which would, of course, then propel it into the next step, the penalty phase.

>> and clearly, you know, the judge will be presiding over a courtroom, ted. and you've seen this over and over. she will likely admonish that courtroom before hand to stay calm. because as you and i have seen in many of our viewers have witnessed first hand, a live verdict, anything can happen. when it is devastating, families can erupt. violence has erupted in courtroom in first degree murder cases and even less. so there will likely be some sort of admonishment from the judge, fascinating you point out it is the clerk who reads in this jurisdiction that verdict. but i will bet my life on this, na verdict will be handed to the judge for her to read before it is read out by that clerk. this is her courtroom, and she runs this show and so she will be apprised of it, likely apprised of it well in advance as well. it is fascinating. ted rowlands outside of the maricopa county superior courthouse. i want to bring in two people who have been watching this case since the beginning. both of them attorneys.

one a prosecutor, former federal prosecutor at that, sunny hostin on the right of your screen live in philadelphia right now. and dannie savlas, a defense attorney. sunny, first to you, as a prosecutor, you look at this through a different prism. it is hard not to think that 15 hours, according to some, is actually quite short, a deliberation period n notwithstanding the course over four days, but there was an enormous amount of evidence. >> i think that's right. and certainly you try to read the tea leaves and determine what is enough? what isn't enough? we know with casey anthony, they deliberated, know, one full day, less than 11 hours, and there was an acquittal there. we know there was an acquittal in the o.j. case after two hours. i think 15 hours, four days of deliberations, means this jury certainly looked at these charges. this is i think a case that was

pretty strong for the prosecution. it was never a question as to who did it. not a who dun it type case. it is a question of why. we know jodi arias tried to convince this jury she was an abused woman and she feared for her life. and that's why she did this. but i've got to tell you in looking at this case for so very long, i think that the prosecution did a very good job of not really showing she did it, but she thought about it. that's what first degree murder is. it is about premeditation. this jury has a lot of options on their verdict sheet. they can go with first degree murder, premeditation, to second degree murder, which is intentional but doesn't require the forethought, premeditation and can also go with manslaughter, which is, you know that sort of heat of passion. when you look at all of the options, before this jury, i just can't imagine even with my -- taking my prosecutor hat off, that there is an acquittal in this case. it just doesn't seem to fit the amount of evidence that was

presented here. >> i said that before. and i now know that i won't say it again because i have been so wrong in so many cases where it seemed like many people describe slam dunk only to find that these jurors had a completely different perspective, having sat through everything is very different inside a courtroom, even than it is on live television, even wall to wall live testimony can be very different inside a courtroom and oftentimes in a death penalty case as well. i'm sure both of you will agree when a panel of people, of peers, faces the person, a real person, not a television image of a person, it is extraordinarily burdensome for them to make that decision of life or death. and that is what the next phase could include if they decide first degree. danny, to you, you're a defense attorney. often times those tea leaves sunny was talking about are weighed no matter what. and many say a quick verdict is oftentimes good for the prosecutors and a lengthy verdict deliberation is better for defense. in this case, can you get a

feeling one way or another at 15 hours and 5 minutes. >> 15-hour deliberation is not a long deliberation. many people have been saying that this is a lengthy deliberation. 15 hours is not at all. remember how much evidence this case involved. and jurors taking their obligation seriously will have reviewed a substantial amount of that evidence. even though maybe they wanted to walk into that room and say what do you all think, let's get out of here, she did it. i agree with sunny on many points. number one, this is a huge amount of evidence against the defendant. and there needs to be a very clear distinction. yes, like you said, ashleigh, with other cases we have been surprised. but whether casey anthony, even jerry sandusky, fundamentally those were who dun its. there was a -- the question, the issue was did this person do what they're accused of doing? that's not the case here. make no mistake about it, the entire trial was about the psychology of jodi arias. what was in her mind at the moment she killed because we

know that she did kill. so all of this evidence has gone towards one thing. what was her state of mind at the time of the admitted killing. this is different from all the other cases we have been talking about, because ultimately the jury will decide whether jodi arias is number one credible, and number two, what was going on in her mind when she committed a killing that nobody disputes. and that's what this case is ultimately about. so with that being said, probably not a lot of surprises in this one. >> and we -- we're about 54 minutes by my math here from the verdict being read live here at the maricopa county superior courthouse here in downtown phoenix, arizona. i can only imagine what some of these jurors are going through. i can tell you this, that some of our producers who are able to see them first hand as they're able to come and go under the watchful eye of a guard who escorts them when they leave the

jury deliberation room and they have left today to pick up some lunch and come back, some of them appear very relaxed, according to our producers. some of them actually were giving a sigh of relief while waiting for the elevator. one juror who returned with her lunch among the others as she was going back into the deliberation room to await this moment of reading the verdict, she was wiping her eyes. look, this can be a moment of the relief of a burden, and this can also be a moment of great sadness because those who are the ultimate arbiters of someone's guilt or innocence know exactly the weight of what that entails. in this case, it does not get more serious than this. this is a death penalty case. that is not lost on these jurors. what you don't see on television, oftentimes, are those jury instructions, wall to wall, where that judge beseeches this jury to understand the weight of what they're doing. and make no mistake, every juror i have ever interviewed after a case has said that they have never taken anything so

seriously in their life. it is extraordinarily stressful. even in cases that are not death penalty related. as we continue to watch this clock and we await the final decision from this jury on the fate of jodi arias, we're going to take a quick break and be right back after this. when we made our commitment to the gulf, bp had two big goals: help the gulf recover, and learn from what happened so we could be a better, safer energy company. i've been with bp for 24 years. i was part of the team that helped deliver on our commitments to the gulf - and i can tell you, safety is at the heart of everything we do.

we've added cutting-edge safety equipment and technology, like a new deepwater well cap and a state-of-the-art monitoring center, where experts watch over all our drilling activity, twenty-four-seven. and we're sharing what we've learned, so we can all produce energy more safely. safety is a vital part of bp's commitment to america - and to the nearly 250,000 people who work with us here. we invest more in the u.s. than anywhere else in the world. over fifty-five billion dollars here in the last five years - making bp america's largest energy investor. our commitment has never been stronger.

and we are live in phoenix, arizona, at the superior courthouse of maricopa county, where inside a jury of eight men and four women has reached a verdict in the case against jodi arias, a woman who has been on trial for four months, who has been incarcerated for four and a half years, awaiting this decision by this panel of her peers. the decision is set to be read in about 45 minutes from now. we're going to carry that decision live. right now that jury is getting lunch and having a chance to sort of settle down before this all transpires in open court. but after weeks upon weeks, months upon months of very disturbing testimony, graphic,

painful, uncomfortable, and emotional testimony on both sides of the bar, now we are seeing they have come to a decision after 15 hours and 5 minutes of deliberations over the course of four days. they began this process, this odyssey, so to speak, just among themselves on friday. after about an hour on friday, they broke for the weekend, they reconvened yesterday. after a full decision -- or they reconvened on monday. and after a full day of deliberations on monday, and ensuing day as well, we're hearing today we have this final decision from them to be read shortly. miss arias, herself, in case you're wondering where she awaits this verdict, it is behind me. i just spoke with one of the marshals, actually, i asked about the labyrinth of cells that exist here at the maricopa superior courthouse and he said she's in one of those cells and often she'll be escorted through the tunnels when she has to be in court or in the cell. she awaits this verdict in one of those cells.

i asked if he had a chance to guard over her, and he said, not himself, but that his colleagues and his friends certainly had. and there has been a lot of guarding over the course of four months. i want to bring in some colleagues working on this case as long as anyone, that's sunny hostin, former federal prosecutor who is live for us in philadelphia. danny savales also on this case for several months s as well. he's in philadelphia. and lisa bloom, a former prosecutor herself and defense attorney and has worked many years doing legal analysis on court tv, in session and now on cnn. lisa, to you first of all, i want to alert our viewers it is starting to get very noisy where i am. it is not a surprise that the helicopters are starting to come out in full force because the crowds are really starting to gather. there are more than 100 people out in front of the courthouse waiting the verdict.

they have been watching the trial for months. 15 hours, 5 minutes, an overwhelming amount of evidence, any surprise to you that we have a verdict today? >> no, i think this is absolutely right. i think the jury had enough time to go through all of the evidence, to analyze it carefully and to come to the right decision. this is not a snap judgment by any means. it is also not one that they had to weigh over for weeks and weeks and perhaps come to a compromise decision. so, you know, i say 15 hours is about right. we have eight men, four women on this jury. a lot of people wonder if a predominantly male jury will be softer on a female defendant, especially an attractive young female defendant. we'll have to wait and see if that's the case. but i think this jury is going to get it right. i have faith in them. >> i also want to bring in danny savales, as a defense attorney, i'm wondering if you're thinking about the lesser includeds at this time and if there is any possibility given the volume of evidence against her that this

jury could end up on a lesser included second degree or manslaughter or even that most less of the included, that's not guilty, given what we heard in this courtroom. >> yeah, remember, the jury has essentially four options. first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, or acquittal. now, that manslaughter, the defense has to have that read to the jury. that was a victory for them. why? because the jury could then potentially hang their hat on a manslaughter conviction, which is a much lesser charge if they find that the killing was committed in a heat of passion. i think that term throughout legal jurisprudence has been misinterpreted, maybe confused, and that confusion could enure to the benefit of jodi arias. if nothing else, it was a heat of passion killing, they could potentially hang their hat on that issue. however, before anyone gets too nervous, there has been a jubilee of evidence of premeditation in this case,

including turning license plates upside down, dyeing hair, missing guns, all of those are elements of a potential premeditation verdict. i think that those out there who are concerned about another casey anthony can probably relax because of all of the elements of premeditation that have been put out there. even if they don't find that premeditation, they could also find second degree murder and although manslaughter would be a victory for the defense, it is also a conviction for the killing of travis alexander. >> and it is fascinating, you bring up the casey anthony trial, there were great similarities in the public fascination, in the length of time it took to try casey anthony, in those who turned out at the courthouse and i dare say the helicopters overhead were similar during the casey anthony verdict as well. here what he is here's what's very different. there was a very different prosecution case in casey anthony's trial.

there was a giant gap and it was a gap that jurors told me directly was too big to leap. i don't know that there is that kind of gap that exists in the case against jodi arias, it is very comprehensive. there is extraordinary evidence and we have an accused woman who admits to lying over and over again. similar to casey anthony, but then again, very, very different in terms of what her story ended up being at trial. there is another massive story that is also under way in cleveland, ohio, right now. my colleague brooke baldwin is standing by at the home of gina dejesus, who may have heard triumphant return. and, brooke, i was listening to your live reporting as gina made her way out of that vehicle and into that house and you said you got goosebumps. i'm here to tell you, that thousands of miles away, not only did i, but the people i'm working with here on this set, we all gathered around our monitors watching that moment as well. i think the entire country is behind that family and the others as we go through this

terribly traumatic story. >> it was a similar situation for us, looking at this tiny monitor and watching this young woman presumably to be gina dejesus and her yellow hoodie, getting out of the car, and finally coming home, not having been seen by her family since. here she is, since 2004. in last few minutes, we have now heard from her parents, we will play this emotional sound from mom and dad after this quick break.

breaking news here this afternoon. we will take you back to phoenix, arizona, in a matter of minutes. ashleigh banfield is standing by as we now know the jodi arias verdict will be read in just about 40 minutes from now here. but again, just to reset, i'm brooke baldwin in cleveland and i'm standing on seymour avenue. there is a home over my right shoulder which has been the home in focus now that we've seen these three young women and a daughter, 6-year-old, emerging. we have a closer shot. there all of a sudden has been a bit of activity. you see we have the sheriff's department here on scene and also some of the people in these protective white suits. we saw them here yesterday but all of a sudden today we're seeing these white suits. here is something else interesting i just wanted to point out.

in addition to the people in suits, i've seen shovels. i've seen several shovels. i also know that there are k-9s back here on the scene today and several people here have cameras. what they will do with the shovels, i don't know yet. there's a dog. we know yesterday they went through the home. we know that they did not find according to the safety director here in the city of cleveland any human remains. they said they reported finding chains and ropes. no human remains. we will have to wait and see and hear from cleveland police as far as what could be found perhaps in the back of the home. there is a massive, grassy lot next to the home. what will happen with the shovels. that's happening here on seymour avenue a couple miles from me. also here in cleveland was a much different scene, a thrilling, jubilant scene that elicited goose bumps from so many of you finally seeing one of these three young women gina

dejesus 14 at the time when she went missing back in 2004. here she is in the yellow, hooded sweatshirt being taken, shielded from the crowds in front of the home, the media, the family, the community all rallying around her, and we heard, we did not hear from gina, but we heard from her mother and father minutes ago. here it is. >> i'm not going to mention names but i will say, thank you to the fbi for always believing me and being there and the police. i always went to the commander even with my grand daughters. i participated in a lot of activities that all of you know. i'm going to repeat this. august 6th is a night out against crime. it is going to be held down at the steel yard. please take your child.

do everything that you can to protect them. please. and another thing, if they knock on your doors, the law, they knock on your door, open it. don't be afraid. answer their questions. that man that helped amanda, had the courage that she had, these three young women are at home. don't ignore a plea for help. because if you was to come to me and say i need help, i am here. i am going to help you. please. do it. again, i'm going to say thank you. i'll probably have to say this

in spanish -- [ speaking in foreign language ] that was there for us from beginning to end. whenever we needed something we went there. i want to thank my neighbors. i want to also thank the -- i got to thank my neighbors. that watched over me even when i went to the store by myself everyone was peeking and watching and i thank them for that. i want to thank everybody that believed, even when i said she was alive, and believed. and i want to thank them. even the ones that doubted, i still want to thank them the most. because they're the ones that made me stronger. the one that made me feel the most that my daughter was out

here. >> applause and cheers and sheer joy there at the home of gina dejesus as her mom and dad now finally have their little girl now 23 years of age, now a young woman, back home with them. so now we know these three young women apparently they said she is in good condition. so i want to also pass along the fact that again we're here on seymour avenue. there is a home over my shoulder that has been the focus of the whole investigation. you see fbi and sheriff's deputies here on scene. it was ariel castro, 52-year-old ariel castro who lived in this home. we now know he and his two brothers all in their 50s had been taken into custody but, still, we haven't heard any news on charges. i can tell you this. we have learned that there will be a 5:00 p.m. eastern cleveland press news briefing, so we'll have to wait and see exactly what comes out of that. that happens at 5:00 eastern time. we'll monitor that. we are also juggling this huge, breaking story out of phoenix, arizona in which we now know

jodi arias, her fate is sealed at least thus far in this initial phase. the verdict will be read in just about half an hour from now in this courtroom in phoenix, arizona. i have cnn legal analyst paul cowan with me now. paul, let me just first begin with right now with half an hour to go, tell me, where is the jury and where is jodi arias as they await this final half hour? >> well, the jury is probably still back in the jury room and it's a moment of great tension for them because they know it's a high profile case. they've been putting an awful lot of their lives into this case and they'll be let into the courtroom. they're kind of pacing around wondering what's the delay? why aren't we being brought into court? as all the players are assembled. this is sort of a very, very nerve-racking time for the lawyers and the jurors and the judge, everybody else, as the cast of characters involved in the trial process is all

assembled in the courtroom. now, jodi arias on the other hand of course is -- go ahead -- is in custody. in a jail cell. >> certainly she is in custody. she is awaiting her fate here in half an hour. the issue really here with this trial is not a matter of if she did it but why she did it. this isn't a whodunit. this is a why did she do it. and so remind us, the argument from the prosecutors at least in order to prove first-degree murder they have to prove not only the why but the fact that she thought about it. it was premeditated. >> yes. they have to prove premeditated murder and generally that means a planned murder. she thought about it. she deliberated on it. then she executed the plan and killed another human being. the law punishes that with very severe penalties including the death penalty. it then drops down to the second charge that they can consider if they don't go with first degree which of course is second-degree murder. that requires no advanced

planning. you have to have an intent to kill but you don't have to have the elaborate advanced planning. there is also a strange count that she broke into the house or she committed a burglary. she didn't actually break in but she entered the house without the permission and authority of the owner and then killed him, so if she did that in the course of a burglary, that would be second-degree murder as well. then we get to the manslaughter count and that's a heat of passion thing. that's two people suddenly have an argument. one loses her temper and kills the other. the law says that's manslaughter. those are the range of charges that were being debated by the jury in this case. >> paul callan, i appreciate your legal perspective here. one of our cnn legal analysts paul callan, thank you so much. again, just a reminder here in cleveland we will be getting that cleveland police press conference at 5:00 eastern time awaiting the news that could be made there in just about an hour

from now. also this huge, huge story out of phoenix, arizona. that verdict will be read in half an hour from now. we have cruise e crews all over stories for now. let me toss things to my colleague, jake tapper in washington. "the lead" starts now. good afternoon. i'm jake tapper. this is a live picture of the maricopa county courthouse in phoenix, arizona. jurors have reached a verdict in the jodi arias murder case. we expect that verdict to be read at 4:30 p.m. eastern, 1:30 pacific. you will see it live right here on cnn. we already know that jodi arias killed her on again/off again boyfriend travis alexander back in 2008. that is not in dispute. what we're waiting to hear a half hour from here is what the jury will or will not convict her on. jurors began weighing the case