Erica Hill
AC360° Correspondent
“He seemed totally normal.” That’s how one traveler described the man who beheaded a fellow passenger on board a Greyhound Canada bus. The man who was killed was sleeping at the time.
Why is it that horrific stories seem to involve phrases like, “He seemed totally normal.” Or “He seemed like such a nice, quiet guy.”? There is no universal answer to why people commit unspeakable acts, but I have to believe it is not because they are normal, quiet or nice.
This episode is almost too eerie to be true, yet sadly it is.
__________
Your tax dollars at work… but not working as well as they should. Sound familiar? In this installment of “Where has all the money gone?” we learn more than half a billion dollars was “wasted” in Iraq because of poor security. That’s the finding from the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. Apparently, the US government didn’t realize how unstable Iraq would be when reconstruction began.
While this new report has plenty of criticism for the way things were done in Iraq, there is a bright spot: oil.
__________
Plenty of criticism for ExxonMobil today after the oil giant released its latest quarterly report and a record profit of $11.68 billion, just barely topping its previous record of $11.66 billion, set in Q407. And when I talk about records, this isn’t just about company records – ExxonMobil has the highest quarterly profit in US history.
According to our friends at CNNMoney, that’s $1,485.55 a second. Wow.
But those numbers are actually less than what Wall Street was expecting.
I know, you’re probably thinking, “Now I know where my $4.50 a gallon is going”… and several other things we can’t post on this family-friendly blog. So where did all this money come from if it wasnt from you? Excellent question — here are some answers:
__________
And iReporters are fired up about Rep Barney Frank’s (D-MA) bill to end federal penalties on marijuana possession for those caught carrying less than 100 grams, about a quarter-pound. The Massachusetts Congressman says current laws place undue burdens on authorities, unfairly punish African-Americans and punish Americans who have been prescribed marijuana for medical reasons.
| Lorie Ann, Buellton, California |
July 31st, 2008 7:59 pm ET Hi Erica, Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif. |
|
| Cindy |
July 31st, 2008 8:00 pm ET I just can’t believe the story of the guy stabbing his seat mate then decapitating him. That is just so horrific! It’s like something out of a horror movie not something you’d ever think you’d see while riding a Grey Hound bus. Thank God they trapped him in the bus so he didn’t get away. There is no telling what he may have done! I hope y’all cover this on 360 tonight. Cindy…Ga. |
|
| Hannah Storm |
July 31st, 2008 8:20 pm ET WELCOME BACK ERICA!!!!!!!!!! The story about the murder on the Greyhound is just so creepy. It is just unimaginable. The people on the bus must have been so terrified. |
|
| Lilibeth |
July 31st, 2008 8:48 pm ET OK, that is really scary. I like to ride public transit, but I don’t want to have to worry about my seatmate. Does this mean that we might see a day when people will be required to go through a security process (much like the airports) before boarding a bus? I don’t know the answer. Very scary, though. So even with record profits, oil companies still complain that their margins are below those of S&P 500 and other companies? To them I say please…cry me a river. I missed you Erica. I’m so glad you’re back! Lilibeth |
|
| Jennifer - Michigan |
July 31st, 2008 8:49 pm ET Man! What a crazy story - The killer “dropped the victim’s head on the ground”!! That’s just unreal. Could you imagine being a witness to that. I’m not sure what to think about that. It’s so over the top. |
|
| Ann. Canada |
July 31st, 2008 8:51 pm ET Unbelievable Erica! Absolutely unbelievable!! No words can explain his actions!! P.S. Glad to have you have, we missed you!!!! |
|
| EJ (USA) |
July 31st, 2008 9:04 pm ET Hi Erica, welcome back. I read that story earlier today and I had to send it to a couple family members. Almost an unbelievable “horror-movie-like” story. I hope I never get to sit next to anybody like that anywhere! It kind of reminds me of that movie “The Hitcher” - old movie that had a creepy guy in it like that. |
|
| Annie Kate |
July 31st, 2008 9:26 pm ET No one should have as much profit as ExxonMobil when there are so many people suffering from the gas prices - sounds like they are the problem rather than the Middle East or the declining supply of oil. That net profit is obscene. Has the man who cut off the other man’s head on a bus offered a reason yet as to why he did it? That’s terrible. Glad you are back - we missed you!! Annie Kate |
|
| Megan Dresslar |
July 31st, 2008 9:39 pm ET Helloooo Erica!!!! |
|
| Jim- Kearny, NJ |
July 31st, 2008 9:46 pm ET Hi Erica! I always miss you when you’re not around, so welcome back. It’ll be good to see your gorgeous smiling face again : ) One of the things that makes a psycho a psycho is the ability to blend in and not appear psycho. You can never know what demons are crawling around in someone’s head. Except Warren Zevon. He sang about his. Oil profits? No surprise. We still don’t know what was discussed when Cheney met with the energy company honchos and then fought tooth and nail to keep the records secret, but I think I have a pretty good idea. Barney Frank is right about cannabis. Beyond the points he makes, the cost of processing and incarcerating pot smokers is staggering. Incarceration due to the failed “War on Drugs” has pushed prison populations well beyond capacity necessitating the early release of people who shouldn’t be out on the street. Further, like the prohibition of alcohol, while pot is illegal, the money being made off it is in the hands of the underworld. Weed is the backbone of funding for the street gangs of today just as booze was the thing that made the mob rich. It makes no sense to keep the profit from America’s largest cash crop in the hands people who kill anyone who gets in their way, much the same as it made no sense to allow Al Capone’s outfit to make ridiculous profit from bootlegging. Se ya later! Jim |
|
| Jim S |
July 31st, 2008 9:46 pm ET Hi Erica, |
|
| ching |
July 31st, 2008 9:48 pm ET erika, when will you have your OWN show? just lke the prime news, you know. you deserve MORE. you are SUPER intelligent, cute, beautiful, lovely… |
|
| Melissa, Los Angeles |
July 31st, 2008 9:55 pm ET I’m completely horrified by the story of the man decapitated while sleeping on the bus. What a horrible way to die. With such record profit in ONE quarter by these two oil giants, this is more proof that offshore drilling is not the answer. They’re making so much money a second no wonder they have done all they could to stifle alternative energy. Solar energy is the way to go and we must demand it. Cars running solely on solar panels already exist by novices who created it - car makers can definitely improve and sell it if they weren’t being bought off by the oil companies. |
|
| Janna |
July 31st, 2008 10:06 pm ET As a former regular Greyhound passenger, I am too disturbed to even read that story, let alone comment on it. |
|
| TEXAS |
July 31st, 2008 11:19 pm ET having TARA WALL on cnn with Rolling Martin was a drag ,not on Rolling part, but that want to be Erica Hill ,she will never be..Rolling |
|
| Kent Fitzsimmons,Kewanee, IL |
August 1st, 2008 12:33 am ET I would say that the killer knew the victim and stalked him onto the bus. That is really crazy. Again, if anyone watches the commodity markets at all you will notice ALL of the commodities are driven by futures traders buying and selling paper over and over again and driving the market. Oh………….but oil companies own some of these trading companies……….so in that way yes they are to blame. Our Govt should drill our own oil………leave Exxon out of it. |
|
| Peace Out |
August 1st, 2008 2:01 am ET Gees ! Are we funding enough on mental health ? Insane ! Hope you find a relaxing evening that’s peaceful after your day in media. Just read it and write it but don’t own it or take it home with you. Happy Thoughts ! You’re a pro at professional objectivity ! |
|
| Lou (Canada) |
August 1st, 2008 7:56 am ET Hi Erica, Welcome back. I agree with the other blogger about when will you have your own show? Or at least be able to host AC 360 when Anderson is away.. you could do so much better. |
|
|
Comments have been closed for this article |
||
A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper and the show’s correspondents and producers. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.
For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.
Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.
- Beat 360° - 1/8/09
- Tales from the backline: Waiting for the third shoe to drop
- An Unnecessary War
- Create a tech-friendly U.S. government
- Obama’s dire economic warnings…
- Rockets not from Hezbollah
- Q&A with Candy Crowley: President-Elect Obama, making it official
- The inauguration map
- Polygamists feeling under siege
- Keeping Them Honest: Blagojevich and Burris ties?

