know nothing will ever bring her back, but it's keeping her memory alive is all that really matters
  FRIENDS AND FAMILY REMEMBER MERCER LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE...LAUREN GIDDINGS...WHO DISAPPEARED ONE YEAR AGO TODAY..
     GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US..
I'M FRANK MALLOY..
    AND I'M LEAH JOHNSON..THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.
ONE YEAR AGO TODAY MARKED THE LAST TIME THE 27-YEAR OLD MERCER LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE  WAS SEEN ALIVE.
FIVE DAYS LATER.... OFFICERS FOUND GIDDINGS' DISMEMBERED TORSO IN A TRASH CAN... OUTSIDE HER GEORGIA AVENUE APARTMENT BUILDING.
 INVESTIGATORS WORKED FOR WEEKS TO LOCATE THE REST OF HER BODY... BUT FOUND NOTHING..
HER NEIGHBOR AND FELLOW MERCER LAW SCHOOL STUDENT STEPHEN MCDANIEL IS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER.
 MCDANIEL REMAINS AT THE BIBB COUNTY JAIL ON AN 850 THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A MERCER LAW GRAD SAYS HER LIFE CHANGED FOREVER THE DAY SHE LOST NOT ONLY HER CLASSMATE... BUT HER FRIEND LAUREN GIDDINGS.
 ASHLEY MOREHOUSE TOLD KATELYN HECK... EVEN THOUGH A YEAR HAS PASSED SINCE GIDDINGS DEATH... HER MEMORIES OF LAUREN WILL LAST FOREVER.
<<
(NATS: after she passed i got this framed, or put on canvas as a way to remember her by, sorry if i get choked up)
ASHLEY MOREHOUSE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO REPORT THAT LAUREN GIDDINGS WAS MISSING... AND A YEAR LATER... IT'S A TIME SHE STILL DOESN'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.
(SOT: i like to think about the good things, not how terrible those last couple months were)
NOW PICTURES AND STORIES ARE ALL SHE HAS LEFT OF HER FRIEND AND CLASSMATE.
(NATS: this is from a braves game, lauren actually took me to my first braves game)
SHE SAYS REMEMBERING ALL OF THE GAMES... WEDDINGS... AND OTHER TIMES THEY SHARED MAKES HER LAUGH... EVEN THOUGH GIDDINGS IS NOT AROUND.
(SOT: we all have different memories of lauren, so it's fun to talk about 'hey, remember when lauren did this?')
BUT SHE STILL FEELS THE LOSS OF HER FRIEND... EVERYTIME SHE STEPS INTO THE COURTROOM.
(SOT:i always think of her day to day, sometimes she's appreciate funny stories in court, because we always have funny stories in court and i think she would have gotten a kick out of all of them, and just to be able to text her what happened, i would love to do that, but i'm not able to
GIDDINGS DEATH ALSO BROUGHT TOGETHER ALL OF THE PEOPLE SHE CARED ABOUT MOST.
(SOT: she always wanted all of her groups to be together, and she's accomplished that through her passing. i think she would be proud of us, even though she's not here to be with us, i think she would be proud that we've all come together.)
AND NOW MOREHOUSE SAYS THEY SHARE AN UNBREAKABLE BOND... WITH GIDDINGS MEMORY...AS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THEM ALL TOGETHER.
(SOT: unfortunately nothing will bring her back, but it's keeping her memory alive is all that really matters)

KATELYN HECK
13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS
MERCER LAW STAFF AND CLASSMATES.. PLAN TO HONOR LAUREN LATER THIS SUMMER... BY HOSTING AN ACTIVITY THEY SAY SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE A PART OF.
 PROFESSOR SARA GERWIG-MOORE IS HELPING TO ORGANIZE THE EVENT.
 SHE SAYS LAUREN LOVED SECOND SUNDAYS.. WHERE CONCERTS ARE HELD IN THE PARK.. SO THEY DECIDED TO HOLD A SIMILAR EVENT TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE.
WASHINGTON PARK WILL COME ALIVE WITH MUSIC.. ON AUGUST 25TH... IT STARTS AT 6:30 AND IS FREE TO ATTEND.
 ALSO THAT DAY.. THE GRADUATES OF 20-11 PLAN TO DEDICATE A SIGN TO THEIR CLASSMATE
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11 WANTS YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THE FEDERAL SAFETY INVESTIGATION THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO NEARLY 2 MILLION LATE MODEL JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED.
 IT IS FOCUSED ON REAR END CRASHES - IN THE POPULAR SUVS - THAT RESULTED IN A DISPROPORTIONALLY HIGH NUMBER OF BURNING DEATHS LINKED TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE GAS TANK.
 AND, NOW THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OR NHTSA HAS EXPANDED ITS INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE 1993 TO 2001 CHEROKEE AND 2002 TO 2007 LIBERTY
MODELS.
   LESLI FOSTER OF OUR WASHINGTON D-C SISTER STATION BRINGS YOU PART 2 OF HER YEAR LONG INVESTIGATION ON THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE ...
sot: 1:27:41 raw lef jeep paul sheridan
"this is one of the most dangerous vehicles on the highway today in terms of rear end collision and fire injury or death probability. "

vo:
Paul Sheridan spent 10 years at Chrysler - his last as a Product Planning Manager - heading up safety leadership for the company.
Chrysler fired, then sued Sheridan - alleging he gave away confidential company information.
Sheridan countered with a whistleblower lawsuit that claimed he was demoted and then fired for speaking out about safety issues.
The court dismissed Sheridan's suit - and Chrysler dropped its suit against him.
Now, Sheridan works as a paid consultant in the industry and has shifted his sights to the safety of the 1993 to 2004 model Jeep Grand Cherokee's.

Sot: 1:16:30 raw lef jeep paul sheridan (fill some of his bite with video of the 1993-1998 gas tank video)
"folks don't understand that their fuel tank is hanging out behind the axle below the bumper. They don't know they're at risk when they drive down the road with their family members in this vehicle."

VO
A risk, safety advocates say occurs more often in the Grand Cherokee because of where the gas tank is positioned ... behind the rear axle.
The non profit Center for Auto Safety first brought the issue to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA back in 2009.
The Center used the government's database to track fatal fire crashes linked to 1993 to 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee's.
They have now tracked 51 accidents where 72 people died in rear, side and rollover crashes - where fire was the chief cause of their death.
Back in 2009, the Center for Auto Safety asked NHTSA to investigate the problem.
NHTSA did. Last week they expanded their probe.
And in this NHTSA document -- the safety agency says that rear impact related tank failures and vehicle fires are more prevalent in the late model Jeep Grand Cherokee's relative to their peer vehicles. 

Nats --
sot: 1:31:38, raw jeeps lef paul sheridan
"i'd like NHTSA to conduct their own crash tests..."

vo:
Sheridan observed the crash tests you see here.
They were performed by a California engineering firm and paid for by the Center for Auto Safety.
In this test, when a Ford Taurus strikes the Jeep Grand Cherokee you see what's called an underride.
The Taurus bumper is lower to the ground and does not line up with this Grand Cherokee's bumper .. Instead it goes "under" the vehicle, striking the gas tank and creating a fire risk.
Chrysler takes issue with these tests. They maintain their cars met the federal standard for the Grand Cherokee at the time it was manufactured, which is true, and that their vehicles are safe.

Sot: 1:04:21 raw lef jeep paul sheridan
"it's been known in the industry for many, many decades. So when this vehicle was actually delivered to the public, it wasn't that the underride accident scenario was unknown. It was known."

vo:
Sheridan gave NHTSA this once confidential Chrysler memo - that according to court documents - was widely distributed throughout the company.
It is dated August 24th 19-78, and details potential issues with passenger cars and trucks.
It was written months after the Ford Pinto was recalled, over similar issues with the gas tank placement and fiery deaths. 
In it, two development and safety managers for Chrysler wrote: "there is a concern with vertical height differences that create a mismatch with passenger car bumpers."
AND "where fuel tank location behind the rear axle is all that is feasible, a protective impact deflection structure may have to be provided whether or not a bumper is provided. The memo goes on to say: "An investigation whether to relocate the fuel tank or to provide impact deflecting structures is presently underway." When this memo was written, American Motors Corporation owned Jeep. In 1987, Chrysler bought Jeep and inherited the gas tank placement design. The design, for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, changed in 2005.

 

nats of him opening the skid plate box ... Then paul and lesli pull the skid plate out of the box 1:10:46 raw lef jeep paul sheridan
Lesli: "this is heavy..."

vo: (come back to this vo)
Sheridan and other safety advocates say a steel skid plate, like this, could be just the thing to help deflect the impact of a crash and prevent a fire. It can cost anywhere 200 dollars to 450 dollars depending on the manufacturer.

sot: 1:11:43ish, raw lef jeep paul sheridan
"this will completely protect the tank during a rear end collision, and rather than making direct contact with the tank, you have protection from this very strong device that bolts to the vehicle."

vo:
Sheridan and the Center for Auto Safety believe a skid plate is one relatively inexpensive fix. 
Chrysler offered skid plates on the 19-93 through 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee's as an option for off-roading. 
In 2005, the company moved the gas tank ahead of the rear axle and added the skid plate as a standard piece of equipment.
Chrysler says it "conducted rear impact testing without skid plates and the 93-04 Jeep Grand Cherokee exceeded the rigorous federal rear impact test requirements and performance, and that the overwhelming majority of rear impact fires over the life of the 93-04 Jeep Grand Cherokee were the result of high speed, high energy crashes in which a skid plate would have made no difference in the outcome of these tragic events."

nat to break this up ... Shots of Jeep Grand Cherokee's on the roads ...

Sot: 1:29:20 raw jeep lef paul sheridan
"I would not put a family member in this vehicle without some additional protection to the rear tank system."

Sot: 1:20:47 raw jeep lef paul sheridan
"lesli: chrysler could say, you know what, this guy is a disgruntled employee with an ax to grind. What do you think about you speaking out on these potential safety issues?"

sot: 1:20:58 raw jeep lef paul sheridan
"paul: the priority for me is making sure there are no more deaths and no more serious burn accidents regarding, with respect to this vehicle. I share my expertise in the area of automotive safety, and that's my primary purpose."
   IN FULL DISCLOSURE, PAUL SHERIDAN IS NOW AN EXPERT PAID BY TRIAL LAWYERS TO TESTIFY AGAINST CHRYSLER IN CASES THAT INVOLVE THE 1993 TO 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES, AND DEATHS OR INJURIES THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM FIERY CRASHES.
 WE QUESTIONED HIM VERY HARD CONCERNING HIS MOTIVES BUT WITH THE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT SUPPORTED WHAT HE WAS TELLING US, WE DECIDED YOU NEEDED TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
 NHTSA APPARENTLY IS CONCERNED ENOUGH WITH WHAT THEY HAVE REVIEWED SO FAR TO EXPAND THEIR FIRE INVESTIGATION.
 IT NOW INCLUDES 1993 TO 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE'S AND THE 2002 TO 2007 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES.
 EARLIER IN THE STORY, WE MENTIONED THAT CHRYSLER MOVED THE GAS TANK AHEAD OF THE REAR AXLE BEGINNING WITH THE 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE MODELS.
 SINCE THEN, ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY - WHICH WAS THE FIRST TO RAISE THESE CONCERNS - THERE HAVE BEEN NO FIRE RELATED DEATHS LINKED TO THE GAS TANK.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, RIGHT NOW, THIS IS JUST AN INVESTIGATION - NOT A RECALL.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 200 JOBS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO BIBB COUNTY... BY WAY OF A DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY.
THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR HIGH TECH FACILITY TO I-75'S INDUSTIAL PARK NEXT TO SARA LEE...
 THE ONCE CATALOGUE ONLY COMPANY HAS GROWN OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS.
 THEY HAVE ELEVEN HUNDRED STORES NATIONWIDE... WITH FORTY OF THOSE STORES IN GEORGIA.
 THE CENTER WILL BE FOUR STORIES HIGH... AND TAKE UP 650-THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.
  TWO MACON MEN ARE FACING ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES IN KENTUCKY...
    ACCORDING TO JESSAMINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY LARRY OLIVER... MARK AND MICHAEL BUCKLAND ARE ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AT A RELATIVE IN KENTUCKY THURSDAY.
   DEPUTIES SAY IT ALL STARTED WITH AN ARGUMENT WEDNESDAY AT THE HOBBY LOBBY IN NICHOLSVILLE, KENTUCKY..
   INVESTIGATORS SAY THE VICTIM WAS NOT HIT AND DIDN'T SUFFER ANY SERIOUS INJURIES.
   DEPUTIES SAY THE BUCKLANDS TURNED THEMSELVES IN AFTER DEPUTIES CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH.
   BOTH MEN ARE OUT ON BOND TONIGHT.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 A MACON POLICE OFFICER TOOK TIME OUT FROM HIS BEACH VACATION ON TYBEE ISLAND TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE..
    MACON POLICE SPOKESWOMAN JAMI GAUDET SAID MAJOR TONNIE WILLIAMS RESCUED A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD ATLANTA GIRL LAST THURSDAY..
    WITNESSES TOLD SAVANNAH TELEVISION STATION WTOC THEY SAW THE GIRL STRUGGLING IN THE WATER AND THEN GO UNDER..
    WILLIAMS RACED INTO THE WATER AND GOT THE GIRL BACK ONTO THE BEACH..
    WILIAMS SAID TWO NURSES PERFORMED CHEST COMPRESSIONS AND GOT THE GIRL BREATHING AGAIN..
    TYBEE POLICE SAID THE GIRL WAS IN TOWN WITH A CHURCH GROUP.. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
 TROPICAL STORM DEBBY IS STILL THREATENING THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE TONIGHT.
 DEBBY POUNDED THE TAMPA BAY AREA WITH HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN TODAY.
   FORECASTERS PREDICT TWO FEET OF RAIN IN SOME AREAS.
   THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI SAYS DEBBY'S TOP SUSTAINED WINDS HIT 45 MILES PER HOUR..
   A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA GULF COAST..