[Tapper:] We're following today's court action in the horrific kidnapping rape and murder case that came to light in Cleveland, Ohio. Defendant Ariel Castro did not say a word. His attorneys entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to a staggering 329 counts, including some that carry the death penalty. CNN's Pamela Brown is in Cleveland Pamela.
[Pamela Brown, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, Jake, Ariel Castro walked into court making his second appearance before a judge. He walked in, devoid of emotion, with his head down the entire time. In fact, he didn't make eye contact with anyone. As expected, he pleaded not guilty to the 329 charges against him. But what his attorney said after the arraignment came as a bit of a surprise.
[Brown:] With his head hanging down, accused kidnapper, rapist and murderer Ariel Castro looked despondent as his attorneys pleaded not guilty on his behalf.
[Craig Weintraub, Castro's Attorney:] We'd like to enter a plea of not guilty.
[Brown:] After the brief arraignment, Castro's attorney, Craig Weintraub, spoke to reporters in the courtroom and admitted for the first time that some of the 329 charges are horrendous and indisputable. That's quite a shift from just a few weeks ago when he said Castro was not a monster.
[Weintraub:] The initial portrayal by the media has been one of a, quote, "monster," and that's not the impression that I got when I talked to him for three hours.
[Brown:] In court today, Weintraub not only sympathized with the victims, but he showed a willingness to work out a plea deal, as long as prosecutors take the aggravated murder charges off the table, essentially eliminating the death penalty.
[Weintraub:] And it is our hope that we can continue to work toward a resolution to avoid having an unnecessary trial about aggravated murder and the death penalty.
[Brown:] Both sides have a vested interest in not going to trial. The defense wants to avoid the death penalty. Prosecutors don't want to re-victimize the three women. But it's a delicate balance.
[Jeffrey Toobin, Cnn Legal Analyst:] What makes this case unusual is that, as much as prosecutors want to throw the book at Castro, they also have to consider the needs of the victims, who may not want to testify, who may not want to relive this experience. And that could open the door to some sort of plea bargain, at least one that doesn't involve the death penalty.
[Brown:] This as the prosecution prepares for trial, with FBI agents back at Castro's home, analyzing evidence and recreating a scene that includes a disco ball and silver garland hanging in the front room, shown here in this video. The attorney representing Gina DeJesus, Michelle Knight and Amanda Berry tell the CNN the women "continue to have confidence in the prosecutor's office and sincerely hope for a swift and just result." And the courage fund set up for the women has actually ballooned to nearly $1 million. We spoke to a family friend of one of the victims, and we're told that the women are enjoying their new- found freedom, that they're as happy as you can be after going through such a traumatic ordeal, that they've actually been able to leave their home, go to the nail salon, go to the park, and they're just enjoying a sense of relief, as well. That the man who is charged with locking them up for so long now faces a similar punishment for the rest of his life or even worse. Jake, the big question remains, whether or not Ariel Castro will face the death penalty.
[Tapper:] All right. Pamela Brown in Cleveland, thank you so much. A woman and her baby were not doing anything wrong. They were on a sidewalk, not in the street. But events beyond their control put their lives at risk, and a security camera saw it all. CNN's Mary Snow has the story behind the frightening video Mary.
[Mary Snow, Cnn Correspondent:] And Jake, you know, when you see this video and know that both mother and baby were not seriously hurt, it's nothing short of amazing. A teen mother heading to an exam at her high school Monday afternoon suddenly found herself racing to save her baby's life.
[Snow:] It's terrifying to watch, a young mother and her baby walking on the sidewalk. Then in a split-second, a car careens out of control and hits them both. Seventeen-year-old Alondra Gervacio is grateful for what is, that she's now safe at home with her daughter, Perla. But it's the nightmare of what could have been that keeps playing over and over in her mind. Alondra says when the car headed towards them, she tried frantically to get her baby out of the way, but the stroller was swept under the car. With no time to think, Alondra pulls herself up and rushes to get far enough underneath the car to bring her 8-month-old baby to safety. [on camera]: When you look at that videotape, what do you think?
[Alondra Gervacio, Mother:] God help us. I said, "God help us."
[Snow:] Alondra says she screamed for help, that everything happened so fast, she had already rescued her daughter by the time people ran to her.
[Unidentified Female:] We heard a big bang and all of a sudden I'm hearing a baby, a baby and then the car hit in front of our store.
[Snow:] The driver of the livery cab that hit them, police say, suffered a heart attack and lost consciousness behind the wheel. He later died. [on camera]: Does this all feel like a bad dream?
[Gervacio:] Normally, I don't want to remember it. But it keeps going around my head. So I'm scared now to go outside by myself.
[Snow:] You're scared to go outside by yourself?
[Gervacio:] Yes.
[Snow:] Both mother and daughter escaped serious injury. But baby Perla was kept in the hospital overnight for observation. Relatives like cousin Vanessa Sanchez are just grateful they're alive.
[Vanessa Sanchez, Alondra's Cousin:] It was just crazy. And we my mom were like, she reacted so fast. And we would have been so scared. And we wouldn't have known what to do. It looked like the stroller got completely crushed by the car, and it was just a miracle that Perla didn't get hurt.
[Snow:] Now baby Perla was released from the hospital earlier today. Alondra Gervacio says before returning home with her daughter she headed straight to church to say prayers of thanks Jake.
[Tapper:] All right. Mary Snow, that was a miracle they survived that. Coming up, every air traveler's nightmare. Al Qaeda terrorists with surface-to-air missiles. We'll tell you why there's new reason to worry.