cnn's jean casarez is here with the latest on this. jean, what is going on here?> well, this is the third amended complaint in this civil action, and these are brand-new allegations with more spes sif ti than we have heard. on august 29th is when allegation of this complaint states that brian laundrie called his parents from wyoming or on his way back to say that gabby is gone, and i need a lawyer. so then it is alleged that the parents called the attorney steven bertolino on that date, and then on the september 1st, he returns to florida. but then on the september 2nd, it is alleged that the attorney for the laundries called a firm in laramie, wyoming, and even giving them a retainer and previous to that, he had contacted public defender's office, right, and they defend those who are charged with crimes in wyoming, in this specific county where her remains were found, but her remains, as you say, john, they were not found until two weeks later, and not because of anything that the laundries did, but because of campers in the area, when everybody was trying to fin

jean casarez, keep us posted, because the impact statements are ongoing today. john?under pressure, the growing calls for the president of the university of pennsylvania to resign after her remarks on genocide, after her answers about genocide, and this is after the house opens up an investigation about the university's handling of the matter. >>> so what is the one thing that the presidential candidates keep on doing that may make no difference at all? we have surprising new data coming in, and a big jobs report in this morning beating expectations, and it is the economy that just keeps on giving. >>> all right. developing this morning, the leaders of three prestigious universities, will they have their jobs at the end of the day? the universities of harvard, pennsylvania and m.i.t. are facing backlash after saying that the call for the genocide of jews would not violate their code of conduct. so now, there is subpoena power into the investigation of all three schools, and now, the wharton board of advisers is urging liz mcgill to step down according to the board of

600 mass shootings in this country according to the gun violence archive. >>> and that is our jean casarezank you, jean. >>> and coming up the end of the free return, and why the retailers are pushing toward pushing the cost of shipping things back, back to the consumer. >>> also on our radar this hour, kanye west issued an apology to the jewish community. he posted the message in hebrew to instagram. he apologizes for any, quote, sbnd the outburst cause d by hi words and actions. he does not intend to, quote, hurt or disrespect anyone. it is not clear what prompted this apology now, but west has a long history of making anti-semitic statements, including tweeting last year he was, quote, going defcon 3 on jewish people. the antidefamation league responded saying this maybe the first step on a long journey toward making amends towards all those he hurt that actions will speak louder than words, but this initial act of contrition is welcome. >>> there's new research out this morning pointing to some surprising new risk factors for early onset dementia. researchers found that being socially

cnn's jean casarez has a look at the biggest crime and justice stories of the year. >> hundreds dead in mass shootings, cold case arrests, and murderers on the run, all part of the top ten crime and justice stories from communities around the country in 2023. number ten -- a young girl kidnapped and found alive. >> they have found her, and we're told she's in good health. >> reporter: the upstate new york elementary school student on a camping trip with her family, taken while riding her bicycle at the campground. >> we are leave nothing stone, no branch, no table, no cabin unturned. >> reporter: fingerprints on a ransom note left in her family's mailbox led to her and the arrest of 46-year-old craig nelson ross jr. he has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and other charges. number nine -- a daring escape leads to a weeks-long manhunt. 34-year-old convicted murderer dan low cavalcante got out of his pennsylvania prison by climbing sideways up the walls in the exercise yard. >> i want to reiterate this man is very dangerous. >> reporter: hundreds of law enforcement searched by land and

in pontiac, michigan, jean casarez, cnn. >>> still to come, u.s. lawmakers call for three college presidents to be ousted after they refused to say that calls for genocide cannot be tolerated on their campuses. details next. the power goes out, and we still have wifi to do our homework. and that's a good thing? great in my book. who are you? no power? no problem. introducing storm-ready wifi. now you can stay reliably connected through power outages with unlimited cellular data and up to 4 hours of battery back-up. plus, now through december 31st, eligible xfinity rewards members can get 25% off a storm ready wifi device. >>> a bipartisan group of more than 70 u.s. lawmakers demanding the removal of presidents of some of the country's top universities. they've been under intense scrutiny following a congressional hearing this week where they refused to take a zero-tolerance line on anti-semitic speech. as miguel marquez reports, it comes amid a rising number of apparent hate crimes. >> reporter: shots fired outside temple israel, a synagogue in alb

jean casarez has more. >> reporter: this is born out of the civil suit that according to legal documents was settled in 2017. but names have continued to remain redacted until this point. so what names will we now learn? according to the order, and let's show everybody, first of all alleged victims of jeffrey eps epstein. the court says the reason that they will be public now is because they already have been public. people have done interviews, there have been testimony by some of these alleged victims. some of documents have had these names in them. also alleged associates of epstein's that once again have gone public already, testified in the trial, detectives, assistant state attorneys, their names have been redactcted in se documents.s. a public figure who according to the court order is one of many names inin epstein's address bo. that will become public. journalists whose names have been redacted will become public. and an individual who allegedly recruited young women to give epstein epstein massages will be released. an individual whose role has been w widely repoported in tht m

daylight to new twists and high profile cold cases to an epidemic showing no signs of ending, jean casarez has a look at the top ten. >> reporter: hundreds dead in mass shootings, cold case arrests, and murders on the run. all part of the top ten crime and justice stories from communities around the country in 2023. number ten, a young girl kidnapped and found alive. >> they have found her and we're told she is in good health. >> reporter: the upstate new york elementary school student on a camping trip with her family, taken while riding her bicycle at the campground. >> we are leaving no stone, no branch, no table, no cabin unturned. >> reporter: fingerprints on a ransom note left in her family's mailbox led to her, and the arrest of 46-year-old craig nelson ross jr. he has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and other charges. number nine, a daring escape leads to a weeks long manhunt. 34-year-old convicted murderer danilo cavalcante got out by climbing sideways up the walls in the exercise yard. >> i want to reiterate this man is very dangerous. >> reporter: hundreds of law enforcement se

cnn's jean casarez was there. >> reporter: families finally getting their chance to be heard. >> our family has been navigating our way through complete hell. >> it feels like time slows down and everything arounds you speeds up. it's been two years but feels like yesterday. >> reporter: madisyn's mother the minute she learned her 17-year-old daughter was dead. >> it's a day that has forever changed my life. i look through the glass. my scream should have shattered it. my daughter's lifeless bodies with lying on a cold metal gu gurney. >> i felt like she was saying, i'm proud of you. i'm proud of you for taking the higher route, not going down that path of anger. >> reporter: madeline johnson didn't know walking to class that day would to be last time she would see her friend. >> i didn't know our good-bye would be permanent. i would i would see her next h hour. >> reporter: she thought a balloon popped. then she dropped. >> i fell to the ground. i heard screams, but i couldn't run. >> reporter: right next to her hana st. juliana. >> i told her, don't worry, please stay with me. i sa

let's discuss with cnn's jeanne casarez. jean, you've been following this case from the very beginning. what do we know about why this was filed now? >> reporter: the third amended complaint, because this case was originally filed last year in march of 2022. no reason is given. on his, face you could say there are more detailed factual accusations here from the petito's against the laundries because they are suing them for intentional infliction of emotional distress. but one thing i didn't know it, that a month ago, on the case summary online from the courthouse, because i always look at that to see with the latest is. there was a notice of possible and proposed plea offer from the laundrie's to the petito's. that has gone nowhere, there's nothing about that. we have really serious accusations here. let's look at the timeline, the timeline as focused, first of all on august 27th, that's when it is believed brian laundrie killed gabby petito. that was the date, august 27th in the complete. two days later is, when according to the

cnn's jean casarez is in pontiac, michigan, for us this morning. is is going to be an emotional day, jean. >> reporter: oh, john, you know, as the hearings of this prosecution have gone on and i have been at them, the victims' family members, they are in court, they are silent, they don't say anything. the focus is it completely on the defendant, ethan crumbley, but today is the day that we will hear from the families, those victim impact statements. we are expecting dozens of them and according to the michigan victims crime act, they are allowed to speak for as long as they want to in court. the state encourages that and madisyn baldwin's mother is number one. today is the formal sentencing of ethan crumbley and that is a very important aspect to this entire prosecution, but today is the day for the victims' families. now, if we talk about ethan for just a minute, this is precedent-setting today because he was 15 years old when he committed the mass murder at oxford high school. he pleaded guilty to all 24 charges. under the precedent-setting u.s.

jean casarez will l run down t e totop ten, nexext. >>> the past year did not lack for drama when ito crime and justice. >> we will not forget a kidnapping in broad daylight or some new twists and high profile cold cases. cnn's jeanne casarez takes a look at the top ten. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> reporter: hundreds dead in mass shootings, cold case arrests, and murderers on the run. all part of the top ten crime and justice stories from communities around the country. in 2023. . number 10, a young girl kidnapped and found alive. >> they have found her. we are told she is in good health. >> reporter: the upstate new york elementary school student on a camping trip with her family, taken while riding her bicycle at a campground. >> we are leaving no stone, no branch, no table, no cabin unturned. >> reporter: fingerprints on a ransom note left in her family's mailbox led to her and the arrest of the 46 year old craig nelson ross junior. he has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and other charges. number nine, a daring escape leads to a weeks long man hunt. 34-year-old convicted murder danelo cavalcante go

. >> jean casarez, thank you so much. >>> the next hour of "cnn this morning" starts now. >>> happy new year's eve. i'm victor blackwell. emma walker is anchoring later this afternoon. we are just hours away from 2024 in the u.s., but look at this -- sydney, australia, is celebrating right now. it's just after midnight there. we're seeing all the fireworks. let's take a moment and watch and listen. . ♪ ♪ ♪ >> all right. fantastic fireworks show over the sydney harbor. sydney one of the first major cities in the world to celebrate the new year heading into 2024. 16 hours before we do here on the east coast. happy new year to everybody there in sydney. >>> let's come back home now and start with new york city putting the finishing touches on its preparations for the iconic new year's eve ball drop in times square. brinn gingras is up early on a sunday morning for us. brinn, happy early new year to you. what were you seeing? >> reporter: you, too, victor. thanks for that introduction. i appreciate it. listen, i'm in the heart of times square right now. this is where the action is going to

. >> jean casarez, thanks very much. >>> something we hope brings you a little happiness.n sunday night's cnn heroes, an all starr tribute, where we honor ten people really making a difference in our world. tribute, , where wewe honor tenen people ry mamaking a dififference inin ou woworld. >>> this weekend i hope you'll join me and laura coates for "cnn all star tribute." we'll be honoring the ten extraordinary people who put others first all year long. one of them will be named the cnn hero of the year. get ready to be inspired. take a look at some of their work. >> sunday on cnn -- >> we provide bilingual education for migrant and refugee children at the u.s./mexico border. >> support the extraordinary people making a difference in our world. >> we are rebuilding the coral reefs here in the florida keys. >> i'm going to ensure that people in ghana have access to health care. ♪ a hero is in you ♪ >> i see a pet in need and a person who cares for them dearly. >> trauma can be a pathway for growth. >> we install child-friendly reading space in the barbershop. >> we all are

jean casarez takes a look back. >> reporter: hundreds dead in mass shootings, cold case arrests, and top ten crime and justice stories from communities around the country. in 2023. >> number ten, a young girl kidnapped and found alive. >> they have found her, and we're told she's in good health. >> the upstate new york elementary school student on a camping trip with her family, taken while riding her bicycle at the campground. >> we are leaving no stone, no branch, no table, no cabin unturned. >> fingerprints on a ransom note left in her family's mailbox led to her and the arrest of 46-year-old craig nelson ross jr. he's pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and other charges. >> number nine, a daring escape leads to a weeks-long manhunt. 34-year-old convicted murderer, danilo cavalcante got out of his prison by climbing sideways up the walls in the exercise yard. >> i want to reiterate, this man is very dangerous. >> hundreds of law enforcement search by land and by air while local communities lived in fear. >> cavalcante now armed but still on the lose. >> cavalcante on the run. spotte

our jean casarez has a look at the top true crime stories of the past 12 months. >> hundreds dead in mass shootings, cold case arrests, and murders on the run. all part of the top ten crime and justice stories from communities around the country. in 2023. number ten, a young girl kidnapped and found alive. >> they have found her and we're told she's in good health. >> the upstate new york elementary school student on a camping trip with her family, taken while riding her bicycle at the campground. >> we are leaving no stone, no branch, no table, no cabin, unturned. >> fingerprints on a ransom note led to her and to hthe suspect. he's plead not guilty to kidnapping and other charges. number nine. a daring escape leads to a weeks-long manhunt. 34-year-old convicted murderer danelo cavalcante got out of this pennsylvania prison by climbing sideways up the walls in the exercise yard. >> i want to reiterate this man is very dangerous. >> hundreds of law enforcement searched by land and by air while local communities lived in fear. >> cavialcante now armed, but still on the loose. >> caval