no signal, crime and intimidation, even murder all ordered from behind bars from inmates using cell phones. >> scanning the cell phones are really our only options. there tonight, they begin to fight back, taking the first step on the controversial plan to cut off the signal. >> hello everybody. >> i'm vic carter. here is what people are talking about tonight. cell phones in pre. and how to fix the deadly problems. the issue is coming up in our nation's capitol this week. lead by maryland representatives. eyewitnesses, at five, they are explaning why many say that this is vital, kelfully >> well, denise, hundreds of contraband cell phones have been found inside area prisons in just the last year. but instead of stopping them from coming in, lawmakers want the cell phones to stop

working. prisons have become hubs for the contrabands and the headquarters for them outside. >> you can get anything that you want out there, cell phones. >> they have been pushed into action, after drug dealers, patrick, they were convicted of using the cell phone from prison. to order the murder of all of them who was about to testify against him. >> it was a tragic and awful failing, i think, by all of us. >> in the department of the corrections, they are trying to stop phones from coming in. now that the solution, it is something to stop them from working here. the congressional bill is asking them to jam the cell phone signals in prison. >> there is nothing more than what is important as of right now. >> maryland's secretary of public safety and correctional services, they will testify for the u.s. senate this week. and asking for an exception to the law that forbids interfering by the phone. ctia represents the cell phone companies and their interest on

its web site -- website. >> they are jamming and with good reason. that is a sledge hammer solution. when the scalpel is more appropriate. >> that is one demonstration that took place showing that they could be do that with them. >> they know that they could get those cell phones in prison. and jamming the communications from prison, jamming the signals are really our best options. >> the state attorney's office deals with the affects of hundreds of cell phones found in jail. >> in april, some gang members showed up here to the courthouse to intimidate the witnesses and jurors. a federal affidavit shows it was all set up in president with an inmate with a cell phone. >> it is absolutely outrageous that in the time of, you know, communications or telecome profits that we would not be jamming those cell phone signals. >> reporter: if this law was to

be passed, it'd be up to each state governor from each facility where the signal would be jammed. reporting live, wjz eyewitness news. >> thank you so much, kellye lynn. >> a total of 26 states have signed a petition in signing this legislation. a murder puts the northeast baltimore on lockdown. they were overif mt alley in the 2900 block around 3:30 this afternoon. and the man was found dead. shot a number of times. police got a tip that the suspect ran into a home on east 29th street. the area was shutting down and neighbors evacuated for several hours. but when the s.w.a.t. went in, they did not find the suspect. and that person remains on the loose. a plane heading out there, making an emergency landing in charleston, west virginia tonight. a spokesperson for the central west virginia airport, they said that southwest airlines, flight 2904 was diverted around 6:30 this morning after a whole opened up in the few salons. that depressurized the area. and 126 people, they were on

board and no one was hurt. and another plane brought everyone to baltimore. they landed about an hour ago. and what caused the whole is under investigation. >> the body of the 83-year-old and the county woman, what stored inside the freezer for weeks. police, they say that her family, they put her there. and that is what they did for them and that might not be illegal. >> the 83-year-old, doris cook called the country club's apartment out there until their death was a few weeks ago. police say at that time, for an unknown reason, family members, they decided to put her body into the freezer. but when her grandson found out, he called police. >> the person was no longer living. i mean, that was the right thing to do. i'm not going to cover up anything. that would be ridiculous. >> if the medical examiner finds that there was no foul play. sources tell wjz that it is unlikely that there will be charges. that's because in maryland, there's no penalty for not reporting a depth. and exceptions include if the person is under age one or they died in the medical facility, where they have to fill out

this detailed paperwork that we found in a state website. and you also don't have to report a depth of the area that was stillborn. and that caused controversy back in 2007. and an international media frenzy, when police, they arrested christy freeman in ocean city. they dug up her yard and found four fetuses. they showed that they had never been alive, so charges were dropped. >> the community, they have been extremely supportive. i just want to say thanks for everybody giving me a fair shot. >> reporter: now, in the county, the state's attorney office wants to work with lawmakers to change the law regarding the disposal of the dead. they point to one case that wjz covered in august of 1999. it involved little marshall, her father lead police to her grave in the woods. authorities say he buried her there months before she suffered a seizure and died. and under the law, he could not be charged. >> why didn't you come to me? he said he was so afraid, he didn't want to go to anyone. >> reporter: in the freezer case, the woman's grandson said

he doesn't want to speculate on why her body was placed there, but police say that their investigation is active. >> as of right now, the family is just trying to cope with what's going on and we're trying to all come together and figure everything out. >> now, police, they are asking that anyone with any knowledge of her case contact them right away. from the state medical's examiner office, mike holmgren. >> they suffered from many medical problems. for the investigation tonight, as for a number of democratic lawmakers, outraged over the counterterrorism plan, keeping secrets from congress by ordering the president, dick cheney. they say that the cia, they learned about the program last month. they killed it immediately. then they called an emergency to tell about that. and according to the government sources, the secret cia plan, they were hashed after 9/11. and involved taking out major al qaeda figures at close range. they never got off the ground. and under the law, well, congress, they are suppose to

be kept and informed, unless telling congress, they are putting classified information in jeopardy. right now, it's unclear whether the former vice president, they broke the law. >> hours of grilling and tough question -sz, from lawmakers, they are all that stand in the way of the supreme court nominee. the historic confirmation hearings, they began today. and eyewitness news, they are live as they explain that maryland's senator, they were one of the first to question them. >> senators on both sides of the aisle admit that her confirmation appears likely, but that it is not stopping the scrutiny's process from going forward. >> after waiting seven weeks to defend a record. sonia sotomayor, the nation's first hispanic nominee to the supreme court, by giving credit to her mother. >> i am here as many of you have noted, because of her sacrifices for both my brother and me. >> in a day filled with the speech making, they revealed their different approaches to

judging the judge. the senator, they had this to say. her well-rounded background, including extensive experience as a prosecutor, a trial judge, and the pellet judge, proving the valuable area. it's the number one standard that conservatives use and apply as judicial, modesty, and humility. they should judge for them unanimously. >> if confirmed, they would make history, by becoming the first latino -- latina to the supreme court. republicans are saying that they are going to make sure that sotomayor and the process are properly vetted. judge sotomayor's criticism for saying she believes a wise latina woman would reach a better conclusion than a white male. >> i think that your experience could add a lot to the courts, but it won't make it any better. >> right. too many. there you have it. and i did not perceive it that way. i thought what she was saying was from her experience and her

experience, of struggling, and her experience as the minority, in this particular country. she's well prepared. >> i think that it is good that they are nominating her. hopefully she gets it. i don't know too much about it. but i hear that it is outstanding and everyone deserves a chance. >> p many senators have asked me about my judicial philosophy. it's simple. fidelity to the law. >> reporter: judge sonia sotomayor spent 17 years on the federal bench. back to you. >> all right, thank you. the republicans, they are planning on focusing on charges brought by the gun rights activists that sotomayor's hostile to keep in bear arms. pge is getting smart about your energy bills. it's called smart grid. and bge says they will help bring down the high energy bills. they allow bge to record how much energy that you use on an hourly basis during the peak times, they can tell you to cut back on your usage.

and approved by the public's area, they would start paying a surcharge now. theyed would not be in placed for at least a year. the playing career of the popular baltimore raven is up in the air tonight. the sports director, they are joining us on the latest of the status of derek mason. >> well, after 12 years, he says that he is done. and posting the website for them  and saying he's quitting. but the ravens, they say toed hold on. nothing is official until he fires the retirement papers with the league. >> derek mason says that he wants to be remembered as someone that plays hard. it's a quality that he showed this past season while playing through the pain of the shoulder injuries. in four years, he has become the most prolific wide receiver in the history. and they have asked for a new contract in their retirement statements. mason says that it has nothing to do with the money. and that is their issue that they have lost their enthusism

for the game -- enthusiasm for the game. >> you guys think that this is a season that, you know, that i have made? and the state, if i do change my mind, then that will be out there? and because of the ravens? i think that it will be because of the different things. you know, my families, and talking about other people. >> the ravens, their website, they report that mason, they were at the team complex for them today, where they worked out and met with the team executives. and mason, they posted their retirement announcement on the internet, minutes after that meeting. they say that there is no official retirement. >> it sounds like they are keeping their options open. >> the secret spying, the thieves, stealing your blankets right from the atm. the warning that you need to hear before the next time you make the withdrawal. the mystery for them and the mother and children found brutally killed in their homes. tonight, the red van that is playing in the investigation.

that is a terrific tuesday on tap. the first forecast coming up next.

it is 68 degrees and clear in central maryland right now. the first complete weather forecast is coming up. but first, it was a chilling scene. that's how police in florida described what they found in the home of the murdered parents of 12 adoptive children and four of their own. they opened thaw homes to children with disabilities. authorities say armed men in a red van entered the house. so far, four arrests have been made and police say several more vims are -- individuals are involved. none of the children were hurt in the attack. gang violence is invading our community. they are revealing that they could find the city. the suburbs are the next frontier. they are speaking with the parents of the young man who's death proves the dangers

are real. >> i need someone here. >> chaos, in this suburban neighborhood. >> not as safe as people think it is. >> they lay lifeless, beaten to death, not far from their home. >> it shouldn't happen. it just should not happen. >> police, they say that gang members, they cornered them on their bike. they would be here and they died trying to get away. >> thinking we did everything right. >> a month before the deadly attack, they pulled them out of the h fearing that he was caught in a dispute between the rival gangs which he did not belong to. >> did you know that your son was in danger and that they were bullied at school? >> that is why we pulled them out of the school. because the administrators, they told us that their life was in danger. >> they are now suing them claiming they did not do enough to protect their son. completely failing us. and they could not have gotten out of the police. they could not have gotten their parents involved. they could not have gotten the bang force involved. >> it's a very big problem. i don't think that people understand how big of a problem it is. it is where we live in the

suburbs. >> by all accounts, jenny and dave, they were hands on parents who kept very close watch of their kris her -- christopher. knowing where they were. and the frustrating part that was not enough. >> now, we have hounded them every day, making sure that he was where he was suppose to be. >> christopher's death, that is awakening in the community to see that gangs, they are thriving here. a local gang insider says that many suburban communities are in denial. >> a lot of them are joining gangs. >> it is the pop culture for them. and that is a lot of peer pressure for them, doing it for the sense of families. a lot of the suburban kids, they want to sit in. >> just like the city, gang violence in the suburbs, they are claiming the innocent lives. their say that they need to wake up from their self-absorbed lives. if they see something that is going on in the neighborhood, don't just drive by because you will be late for that. stop and get involved. because you could save somebody's life. >> they need to look at their

myspace, see who their friends are. >> that is exactly the advice that they give, after serving time in federal prison, he found a program to help kids stay out of gangs. >> ask themselves the question, this could happen to my child. let me pay more attention to my child and who he is hanging out with, the videos he listens to. >> everyone touched by this, they are key to combating the gangs. >> they need to be aware that they could be their kids. and just as easy as it was our kids. >> and mary, wjz eyewitness news. they cannot comment on the case because of the lawsuit, the 16-year-old, they are charged with throwing the punch. they will be tried as an aadult. the 14-year-old is also charged. now, the latest to the christopher jones area. before you go to the atm, they have a warning for you. and they say to be on the alert for skimming devices like the one that is shown here. and they were placed over an

existing bank and the marine and to record the information out there on your cards. and a hidden camera that video tapes your pin number. and they need to pay close attention before using that atm. and their bags, they are packed and they are ready to go with four legs, beginning tomorrow, they will start offering the flights for dogs and cats. and the airlines, they are allowing them to ride the carriers on the pain cabin, not in the cargo hole. and they are not allowed on board. they are also serving new york, chicago and denver, and they have plans to expand. >> they are ordering, you think? >> what they would like for lunch? >> right. >> and i was checking the price for them. to see that. >> just one chihuahua to l.a. for them and 269. they don't have a job. >> that is one pound chihuahua. >> all right. and how to be the first. let's take a look at them and the conditions, rather than that. and that is not tonight, but

68. dropping it down there for them. that is 68 coming out there for them and 62. and some spots, they will need to do that in the 50s. and expect them out there for about 46 in the morning, believe it or not. and the local area. that's about 54 and 55, a chilly start for the day. up to the 60s for them and out there causing you to the water. the most places, right now, they need to be a factor out there for them. that is the storms that they are continuing. the activity out there for them and to maybe, well, thursday afternoon, the humidity, they will come back. and they do not have much help. it looks like they need to do that and rather warm and to grab that area and with that walkway for them.

that is high and dry. and the humidity, they are picking up, becoming more southwesterly. and a risk for them to come to the cloudy showers. northwest winds tomorrow. nice, beautiful sunny day, five to ten knots. big temperatures, 78. overnight tonight, and clear, comfortable, cool 58 by morning. low 60s. and in town, 60 to 86 tomorrow. low humidity with sunshine all day long. the next five days, it will warm up. 88, kind of humid on thursday with that thundershower chance. friday and saturday, mid-80s. slight chance of a pop up shower. although not much here west and north of the bay. mostly south and to the east out there once again. >> all right, thank you, bob. coming up, more questions for the ravens. it is not just derek mason. >> mark has more coming up next in sports.

is he or is he not? a little drama for the ravens.

retirement or plans to get paid? the ravens, they did make a retirement announcement on a website, owned by his agent. ask shortly after the -- shortly after they met with the team officials out there. but the team cautions that mason is not officially retired. in the statement made from them and you have seen it all, doing it all and time to see what life offers. and then later on today, they suggested that they could change their mind, butt ravens -- but the ravens, they won't make him change his mind. if mason is done, they have mark clayton and all of them as the ton man receiver. and they also saoeupbd kelly washington in the offseason -f. now, for one raven's uncertainty to another. the linebacker, they have a wednesday deadline to agree to a long-term contract and no indication to deal with them. and the ravens, they have tagged them. so have the franchise players, remaining for the team for one more year at $10 million if that new deal is not done in two days. but that new contract, they could be worked out once the season began. and baseball, their all-stars, they are gathered in st. louis.

the games tomorrow night, the home run derby tonight. they are buying in the home run contest. that is albert, both the crowd fifth and the odds on fifth to win. now they did not make the finals of the derbies that came down to nelson cruz of the rangers who watched while prince fielder did that. and he's a big fellow. he won the derby with this home run. and this is the one that gets it done. and the two men final, his name is prince, and he is king of the 2009 all-star home run derby. give him a hug. home run derby as the pitcher's nightmare. they are naming the starters for the all-stars, idling the stories surrounding him, that they are trying to trade him. unusual for the all-star. >> will, i'm not saying that it will not be them. and you know, it is just, you know what is going to be best for the organization. and are we going to be able to do that and how we move forward? >> san francisco, giants pitcher, they will be the national league all-star

starter. acing among those, he may face them who is in st. louis as baltimore's all-star representatives. in other baseball news, they inspired them had as their manager today. and they have the worse record in the majors. 26 wins, 61 to defeat them in their first season. they are replaced by the guide to the right hand side of the screen. they will be the manager for now. as they get hired to be fired and so it is. >> right, thank you. pardon the interruption. >> president obama's words, falling into the ground. literally, find out what happens

that would never happen here.

that is it for tonight. thank you for watching eyewitness news on wjz for