welcome back to "prime news." we do a lot of bad stories, this is a good one. look at the smile on little d.j.'s face. he was badly burned. his family van erupts in flames and two offduty firefighters risk their lives to save his. the update is this guy will be able to go home now. that's what he said at the press conference, we're ready to go home. we'll talk with his father to find out how he's doing and one of the heroes in this case. and we're seeing the fruit of heroism, when we sacrifice for others, good things come. more on that coming up.

i want to hear from you on this one, a story we followed daily, a jury in kentucky has acquitte@ a former high school football coach in the death of one of his players. here was the verdict read moments ago. >> under instruction number one, reckless homicide, we the jury find the defendant david jason stinson not guilty under instruction number one. number two, wanton endanger. in the first degree, we the jury find the defendant not guilty on the instruction number two. >> again, sophomore linemen, 15-year-old collapsed at practice a year ago august. running a series of sprints, heat index 94 that day. max's body temperature 107. some speculate it could have been higher. he died three days later. want to hear from you on this verdict. joining us to talk about it,

former prosecute and mark ig lash. what was the reaction in the courtroom when the verdict was read? >> very emotional particularly from the stinson camp, his wife shook and was crying. the judge began orders not to have emotional outbursts in the courtroom but lots of sobbing, jason stinson turned and immediately hugged his attorney, brian butler and lots of emotion.@@ >> how about any comment or emotion from max's family. >> the family on max's side -- i don't know how to describe this other than i think maybe shock. there was not much reaction at all. they had straight faces as they were walking out. not much from them. nothing -- >> let's get our lawyers in on this one as we find out why this went this way. did not take the jury long to

come to their conclusion. thomas, i'll start with you, where did the prosecution drop the ball here? >> i don't know if it's so much what they did wrong, it was a tough case. you wanted to see this coach held account act for what people describe as grueling practice, the word barbaric was thrown around. there was the concern among everybody involved in the case or spek tating on the case through the media, if the verdict would have come down guilty in this case, what sort of effect would that have had on high school sports or amateur sports or youth sports all around the country. would a guilty verdict in this case chill you know, that enthusiasm that adults have to get involved in children's sports. >> that was a concern there. mark, as we look at this, i'll say this, if he was guilty and

then so be it and there needs to be a chill factor. that is a different argument. when i look at the case, i don't know if you have the rules in place to say coach, you violated x, y and z and by that you are guilty? >> that's correct, mike. the state has to have sufficient evidence. in this case they had a tough burden. it was a willful and wanton disregard for human life. and most people felt like this coach was a decent person. and second of all, that it didn't rise to that level. perhaps he was negligent and should have done things differently. to hold him accountable and send him to prison, the prosecution doesn't have it. >> let's go back to tony cons. he's been doing a great job reporting on them. tony, has the coach ever talked about any regrets of how he ran practice that day? we expect an interview from him any time soon? >> he did not give an interview today. there was lots and lots of

national media and local media. he came out and walked right past the media, did not talk to anybody. and now before the verdict, when we heard there was a verdict, they did do a huge prayer circle, that was the first time i heard jason stinston say anything throughout the trial -- >> go ahead, tony, finish up. he's never expressed a regret of how the practice was run that day, is that correct? >> not that i can tell, no. >> i hope at some point we'll get that open. i would love to talk with the coach, open invitation to talk with the coach about that. mark, let me finish. making a point. just that he will have an opportunity -- we can learn from this. my end goal was this. i don't think they had to find a guilty verdict, i hope we can learn as parents, as football fans what we can expect of our kids. we want responsibility from our coaches and wisdom as they train our kids. mark, go ahead. >> his attorney i'm certain

would have told him, listen, there will be time after the acquittal to tell the public how sorry you are and how you wish things had been done differently. i'm sure we'll hear that later. all of that would have affected his outcome. >> there is also a civil trial as well. >> by max's parents filing against not the school but coach stinson specifically? >> that's correct. against him and several other coaches and principal at the school. that will go to trial in february of next year. >> thomas, how do you see the civil going? do you think easier burden of proof, right? >> much easier burden of proof. a lot people thought that was what this was. as high as the supreme court has said that school districts and coaches act in places of parents, i should say. they have a duty in this case to guard after these children. one thing that is absolutely inexcusable in this case and brought this up last time.

not giving these children water. one thing coaches learn, anyone should know at this point, whenever you're doing some sort of strenuous training, water, water, you have to hydrate the athletes. >> safety first is hopefully what we'll learn out of this. do we want hard work on a football field? certainly we do. but we want to do it responsibly. >> we appreciate your insight. coming up, just a story -- we do a lot of stories to break your heart. this will do your heart good. a little guy, little d.j. rescued from a burning van because two men risked their lives. they laid down their lives and sag fised so this little guy could live. we'll talk to d.j.'s dad. if you want to call in, please do. (announcer) romano's macaroni grill has a way to get things cooking..... at home.

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welcome back. thanks to two heroics offduty firefighters, a boy is alive. they pulled d.j. harper outs of a burning suv two months ago. here was the scene. >> we need water! come back. there's a baby in here. >> so many people rushed to the aide of that little boy.

look how cute he is. don't you want to give him a hug. put a packers shirt on him. just a great story. this little guy is out of the hospital going home which is a ronald mcdonald house. it's because of the heroicses, instead of mourning and grief there's joy for a little boy.@@ on his way to the ronald mcdonald house. joining us now to talk about d.j.'s father chris harper and one of the heroes, he and his brother joel were the ones that went into the burning van and risked their lives. >> first off, chris harper, how is the little guy doing? i love the smile on his face. >> he's doing real good. he's got great spirits, looking forward to going to disnis world. he's healing better and moving around a lot better. he likes to play like a normal 5-year-old little boys do. really hasn't limited his activity.

he gets tired a little bit but other than that he's a normal 5-year-old. >> he's got a long road ahead of him, doesn't he? >> we have more surgeries scheduled and it's going to be more of recovery, mentally and physically. psych logally there's going to be years to recover. he seems to be doing real well. >> we were going to have you go to a studio, but you didn't want to leave his side. dad, we applaud you on that move. how are you doing as you've walked this road? right now there's hope. >> i'm real happy that i can have him back. i'm real happy, like the little things. we d@@o a lot of little things d a lot of kudling, just things that once he's not there, you know you realize you missed. and it's the little things that mean the most. i'm there for him and we're happy and trying to just get

over this, get through this the best we can. >> so well put, the little things. i just -- john, i just applaud you. because again our heart breaks on so many stories we do. for what you did, we can celebrate life today. let's see what john and his brother and so many volunteers, so sacrificing. let's listen again and we'll hear from john. >> we need water! i need water! >> come back. there's a baby in here! >> john, as you look at that and we here that again, has it all really sunk in a couple of months later what you guys did? i'm sure your heart, it's heart warming for you as well to see little d.j. yesterday? >> absolutely. tuesday was probably one of the

most joyous days of my life seeing him walk out of that hospital. and truly for me it was that day that i was looking forward to since the incident. dj. had a long recovery and remarkable, the progress that he did while he was in the hospital. children's hospital did a wonderful job with him. and with plenty of support from his parents. it was just amazing to see him recover that fast. >> how are you guys doing. you and joel each had injuries. how is the recovery for you? >> we're doing just fine. approximately one month after the incident i went back to work and today as a matter of fact is joel's first day back since the incident. his wounds are all healed up and looking good. >> are you going to be a part of dj.'s life? there's a bond there. >> absolutely. and you know, on tuesday night

you know, i was able -- i had the privilege of being able to take d.j. out fishing out on my boat. and truly, you know to be a part of his life. yes, the bond was created after the incident. but it was the fact now that he's healing and acting like a normal 5-year-old, it's just -- for me personally you know, i want to be a part of that and make sure he's going to have a good recovery and if he needs any help, i'll be there to help him. >> chris, anything to say to john. i'm sure you have developed a relationship as well? >> he's my brother in arms, him and joel, my guardian angels, d.j. considers both of them their uncles and their wifs the aubts. that's how he addresses them, aunt and uncle. they are a part of our family and will be a part of our family. >> in the same spirit of sacrifices, john and joel and others that helped little d.j.

in a dire situation, we want to invite everybody, helping david.com if you want to help out. chris, did i get it right? >> yes. >> forgive me for my emotions, i love the story. we do some tough ones and this is a good one. we just tip our hats to you and chris. tell little dj we're thinking about him. go packers. >> yes,@@ sir, our heart will g the other way, a woman beaten up at a restaurant by a guy twice her size and her little 7-year-old had to witness it. pe@

home from an errands instead of driving, one of many cost saving steps they are taking since the bread winner was laid off from her software job.

>> at first it's the instant panic, we'll lose the house tomorrow and live in a cardboard box. >> she decided to turn her loss into an opportunity. spend more time with the family while taking time to find ot job she loved. trying to stretch the unemployment checks and 13-week severance to last a full year, determined not to dig into savings. >> how do you do it? >> i have the rules posted at my desk. >> reporter: rules like live within your means, which they've always done. they are also do it yourselfers. chris, a stay at home dad builds toys for his son max. >> my dad made it. that's the best. for the first time, she said up a budget, to stick to it. the family shops only for absolute necessities. the library say frequent stop as are other free community

services. >> having adopted a frugal lifestyle, they say they now truly appreciate small luxuries. >> if you pick a couple of luxuries, like pick a couple luxuries, like, say, hershey bars, you really enjoy them. >> even as they stretch, the kubac kubackis still give 10% of their employees to the church. living only a few mile as way from the food pantry, the kubackis are reminded of their blessing. >> so i don't have a job right now. we have a house. we have food. we have nothing to complain about. >> reporter: allan chernoff, cnn. what can we do today to help you for your future?

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