captioned by los angeles distribution and broadcasting, inc. tonight, breaking news on the eve of the historic impeachment vote. a short time ago, president trump firing off a six-page letter to house speaker nancy pelosi, accusing democrats of waging a partisan impeachment crew said, an attempted coup. tonight, the ap and "the washington post" reporting democrats have the votes to impeach. and just in tonight, speaker pelosi's response to the president's letter, calling it really sick. the deadly storms. the tornadoes, children running from a school to a church. snow, ice and rain in the northeast, dangerous driving. and the brutal cold sweeping in next. ginger times it out. news in the deadly attack of an 18-year-old freshman in a new york city park. for the first time tonight, police now reveal what a 13-year-old in custody says happened in that park.

tonight, the young brother and sister missing nearly three days and what the major just revealed, calling it a christmas miracle. the other search tonight for a missing mom and her newborn. what authorities said today when asked about the tearful fiance. concern tonight off the east coast of the u.s. the coast guard tracking a russian spy ship, operating in a, quote, unsafe manner. the outrage tonight, an on-duty officer who admitted being drunk, who passed out behind the wheel, but was never investigated for driving under the influence. the chief defending the move. the deadly accident near times square a woman struck and killed by falling debris from a 17-story building. the new shipping concerns tonight involving amazon and fedex. and made in america is back. we take you to the famous windows on fifth avenue, as we ask your one thing. good evening and it's great to have you with us here on a very busy tuesday night. and we begin on the eve of that

historic vote set for tomorrow, the full house vote, voting on two articles against president trump, abuse of power and obstruction of congress. about on the, the democrats appear to have secured the votes to impeach. late today, president trump firing off a six-page letter to house speaker nancy pelosi, saying the democrats are waging a partisan impeachment crusade. the president writing he penned the letter for the purpose of history and to put my thoughts on a permeanent record. and tonight, even as the house vote grows near, the senate is already preparing for the trial that would come next. abc's mary bruce leading us off from the hill. >> reporter: on the eve of his impeachment, president trump incensed, lashing out with fury and frustration. >> mr. president, you take any responsibility for the fact that you are about to be impeached? >> no. i don't take any. zero, to put it mildly. >> reporter: the president ranting tonight in a scathing six-page letter to nancy pelosi.

"dear madam speaker," trump starts, "i write to express my strongest and most powerful protest against the partisan impeachment crusade." he accuses pelosi and the democrats of "declaring open war on american democracy. you are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our republic for your own selfiish personal, political and partisan gain," he writes. the president calls the charge he abused his power "a completely disingenuous, meritless and baseless invention of your imagination." and he even takes issue with the fact that pelosi often says she prays for him. >> i was raised in a way that is full -- a heart full of love and always pray for the president, and i still pray for the president. i pray for the president all the time. >> reporter: "you are offending americans of faith by continually saying i pray for the president," trump writes. "when you know this statement is not true, unless it is meant in a negative sense." and trump warns democrats will pay in 2020, saying voters "will not soon forgive your perversion

of justice and abuse of power." with the house set to impeach tomorrow, tonight, the fight over a trial in the senate is well under way. today, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell rejected the democrats' request to call four witnesses the white house has blocked, including acting chief of staff mick mulvaney and former national security adviser john bolton. >> the house chose this road. it is their duty to investigate. if they fail, they fail. >> i listened to the leader's speech. i did not hear a single sentence, a single argument as to why the witnesses i suggested should not give testimony. what is leader mcconnell afraid of? what is president trump afraid of? the truth? >> reporter: mcconnell called the house investigation "slapdash" and is promising to work in "total coordination" with the white house. >> i'm not an impartial juror. >> reporter: but mcconnell still refuses to say if he approves of the president's actions. do you believe that the president acted completely

appropriately when he asked ukraine to investigate his rivals? >> all of those issues will be argued here in the senate in the coming days and my assumption still is that we will turn to this after the first of the year. >> reporter: but what do you believe, sir? >> mary bruce with us now. speaker pelosi tonight responding to the letter? >> reporter: the speaker called it ridiculous and really sick, and in her own letter tonight, pelosi writes to her democratic colleagues, quote, if we do not act, we will be derelict in our duty, saying in america, no one is above the law. david? >> mary, thank you. you'll be right here with us tomorrow. of course, abc news will have live coverage of the house impeachment vote when it happens tomorrow. in the meantime, to the other news tonight, that massive and deadly storm stretching from the gulf all the way up to the northeast and this evening, the bitter cold now sweeping in right after. freezing rain and treacherous drivingrom pennsylvania all the way up to maine. multiple accidents south of boston. and more than two dozen reported tornadoes, part of this system,

an ef-2 tornado with 115 mi 115-mile-an-hour winds in mississippi. and in louisiana, one tornado on the ground for 63 miles, destroying this church. the track and the timing of this brutal cold that comes next, and abc's gio benitez in the storm zone tonight. >> reporter: tonight, freezing rain and black ice are making travel treacherous for millions in the northeast. in north haven, connecticut, this multivehicle crash shutting down part of i-91 for a time. in massachusetts, this pickup truck colliding with a tree on cape cod. two teens taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. and this is what makes freezing rain so dangerous. sheets of ice all over the place. and when this is on the road, it's almost invisible. the same system bringing more than two dozen reported tornadoes in four states. >> yep, there it goes. >> reporter: west of huntsville, alabama, a frantic search for survivors. two people killed. and in louisiana, this twister killing one and prompting a

tornado emergency in alexandria, leaving behind a damage path more than 60 miles long. this church school taking a direct hit. our alex perez is there. >> if you look around here, you'll see schoolbooks all over the place, in that area, you see some toys. and underneath all of this, the students' desks. those students scrambling to get to a safe location, just moments before a huge part of this building collapsed. >> reporter: teacher stacey cudd helped get the students to safety. >> when we could hear the noises getting louder, all of us crawled underneath the pews to try to just take cover. >> reporter: many families in the region left with nothing, just before the holidays. and david, the forecast calls for more freezing rain tonight, then temperatures just plummet, which means you will see ice on the roads well into the morning. david? >> gio benitez, thank you. let's get right to chief meteorologist ginger zee on this brutal cold coming next. hey, ginger. >> reporter: hey, david. you can see the icicles behind me. the tree branches everywhere,

covered in a quarter to a half inch of ice. that's how we all feel back into pennsylvania, maryland and still tonight in new england, connecticut, rhode island, massachusetts, you still have hours left of this freezing rain. it will all be moving out by tomorrow, just a few lake effect snow showers behind it. the strong storms off the coast of south carolina and georgia now. but behind it, you know it's coming. 10 below is what it will feel like thursday morning in scranton. david? >> ginger, thank you. and here in new york tonight, the hunt for a 14-year-old suspect in the murder of that college freshman, tessa majors. authorities say when he was on his way to meet police, he jumped out of the car and escaped. and tonight, for the first time, a 13-year-old suspect who is in custody, and what he told police about what happened in that park. here's erielle reshef. >> reporter: tonight, the desperate manhunt intensifying for the 14-year-old suspect accused of killing barnard college freshman tessa majors. the teen expected to turn himself into police monday,

accompanied by a guardian. instead, jumping from a vehicle as it stopped at an intersection and taking off. >> sometimes it takes a little bit longer. even though he's a young man at 14 years old. they'll get him in. it's just a question of time. >> reporter: a 13-year-old already charged in the heinous crime, appearing in family court. tonight, new details emrging from that hearing. police claiming the boy told them he and two others teens initially set their sights on a male victim, but grabbed majors from behind instead. the suspect allegedly telling authorities majors yelled for help and refused to give up her property. according to police testimony, the 13-year-old saw one of the other teens stab majors with a red-handled knife and saw "feathers coming up from the chest area" of her jacket. detectives saying majors tried in vain to fight back, leaving bite marks on the hand of the 14-year-old suspect now on the run. investigators in a race against time to track him down to test for dna. >> it's also important to document before it heals so we

can put this all together and know who exactly the perpetrator was who stabbed her. >> reporter: and david, the 13-year-old suspect's attorney out with a statement tonight, urging people not to rush to judgment, saying their client is a juvenile who should be presumed innocent. they also say they are troubled by the fact that he was questioned without an attorney present, but police do say that his aunt has accompanied him throughout this entire investigation. david? >> erielle reshef on this case again tonight. thank you. and next, to the amber alert in jacksonville, florida. 6-year-old braxton and his 5-year-old sister briah, vanished while playing in front of their home sunday morn pg. well, nearly three days later, we learn eed late today what they're now calling a christmas miracle. abc's victor oquendo from jacksonville. >> we have both kids. we're heading out of theed woos. >> reporter: tonight, a wave of relief in jacksonville, florida, after 6-year-old braxton and his sister, briah, were found alive, nearly three days after

vanishing out of their yard. >> i just want to say thank god for it. >> reporter: for days, rescue teams searched and heard a voice. >> one of the team members heard what they thought was a child's voice. they started looking and actually found them and heard them talking. >> reporter: they were mound in an old pump house in thick, swampy woods where they had taken shelter just a quarter mile from home. >> both are in very good condition. >> reporter: for the family, it was an agonizing wait that's now over. >> they're alive and they're well and -- >> reporter: right before christmas. >> right before christmas. right before. so, this is an awesome christmas gift for everybody. >> reporter: at this point, authorities believe the kids just wandered off and they were by themselves the entire time. they're here at this hospital now, a little dehydrated, but they are happy and when they were rescued, they had two requests, candy and a cheese pizza. david? >> victor, thank you. and new developments tonight in the desperate search for a missing mother and her newborn baby in austin, texas. the fbi now joining the search

font. heidi broussard and her 3-week-old daughter were last seen last thursday. authorities today saying they're working on a number of leads but have no suspects. they say her fiance, who made a tearful plea before the cameras, is not considered a person of interest. tonight, the coast guard warning of a russian spy ship off the southeastern coast of the u.s. the ship is said to be operating in an erratic and, quote, unsafe manner. officials are now warning the u.s. to take extreme caution. and here's abc's chief global affairs correspondent martha raddatz. >> reporter: the russian spy ship "victor loenev" spotted in international waters, sailing down the coast of the southeastern u.s. its behavior erratic, and dangerous. sailors from charleston, to savannah, to the port of jacksonville, warned to use "extreme caution" because the ship is operating in an "unsafe manner." the russians, now east of the bahamas, failing to respond to calls from commercial vessels

trying to coordinate safe passage and failing to use running lights, even in low visibility. the u.s. has been tracking increased russian activity in international waters. while overseas in the eastern mediterranean, u.s. navy reared a madmiral william houston telling david, the u.s. is aware the russians are trying to send a message. >> they absolutely are, and we're watching them very, very closely. >> you are. >> yeah. there's really not a day where we're not watching them every single day. >> reporter: tonight, the u.s. has a navy destroyer, "the uss mahan," shadowing the russian ship off the coast. >> and martha reporting in. you and i talked about what the navy told me several weeks back, that they were operating with stealth, tracking the russian subs. but in this case, you've learned the u.s. navy wants the russian ship off the u.s. coast to know we're right there. >> reporter: in this case, they do, david, because they want to make sure there are no collisions. it was just last june that a russian ship in the philippines

seen nearly collided with a u.s.-guided missile destroyer, coming within 100 feet, david. >> martha raddatz reporting tonight. martha, thank you. and we move on now, and word that president trump's former campaign chairman paul manafort has been hospitalized for a cardiac event. manafort is serving seven years at a federal prison in pennsylvania on charges that came out of the mueller investigation. manafort is 70. meanwhile, paul manafort's business partner rick gates was sentenced for his part in the same scheme. gates testified against manafort and roger stone. he was sentenced to three years of probation, 45 days of community service. there is still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this tuesday. the new shipping concerns with amazon and fedex. also ahead tonight, the deadly accident near times square. a woman struck and killed by falling debris from a 17-story building. also, the outrage tonight over an on-duty officer who

admitted being drunk, passed out behind the wheel, but was never investigated for dui. the chief defending the move. and the warning from health officials tonight. passengers at two major american airports who may have been exposed to measles. a lot more news ahead tonight. a lot more news ahead tonight. stay tuned. reliable phone company. but to businesses, we're a reliable partner. we keep companies ready for what's next. (man) we weave security into their business. (man) we weave security into their business. (man) we weave security into their business. (second man) virtualize their operations. (second man) virtualize their operations. (woman) and build ai customer experiences. (second woman) we also keep them ready for the next big opportunity. like 5g. like 5g. like 5g. almost all of the fortune 500 partner with us. almost all of the fortune 500 partner with us. almost all of the fortune 500 partner with us. (woman) when it comes to digital transformation... (woman) when it comes to digital transformation... verizon keeps business ready. verizon keeps business ready. verizon keeps business ready. little things can be a big deal. psoriasis, that's why there's otezla. otezla is not a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. with otezla, 75% clearer skin is achievable. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

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skip to the good part with alka-seltzer plus. now with 25% more concentrated power. nothing works faster for powerful cold relief. oh, what a relief it is! so fast! your money, and christmas is one week from tomorrow. and a new shipping showdown between amazon and fedex, and the question, will it effect your packages? abc's chief business correspondent rebecca yajarvis with what you need to know. >> reporter: tonight, with just a week to get those gifts delivered and under the tree, the pressure's on. amazon now blocking third-party sellers from using fedex ground shipping for prime customers, citing falling delivery performance. fedex says it's faced bad weather and the highest volume of holiday packages ever, but says they're still able to "accommodate the surge." so how do you ensure your packages arrive on time? first, know the deadlines. walmart, target and best buy orders must be placed by early friday, macy's by noon saturday,

amazon and nordstrom by sunday. >> if you're willing to pay a lot extra, you could presumably ship something as late as the 23rd and get it in time for christmas. that's going to cost you more though. >> reporter: david, another alternative is buying online and picking up in-store, that way you beat the crowds and you get it on time. david? >> all right, rebecca, thank you. when we come back tonight, passengers at two major american airports warned that they may have been exposed to measles. and we'll have more on that deadly accident in times square, falling debris.

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drunk vodka and blacked out. the chief standing by his decision not to fire the officer, saying the officer took responsibility for his actions. a somber tribute for jersey city detective joseph seals, killed in that shooting rampage that officials are calling a domestic terrorism attack. thousands gathered in the rain today, including a sea of officers to pay their respects. he was yufl jazzed as a hero. he was a husband and a father of five. a salute from one of his sons. and we do have a medical warning tonight involving two major airports. travelers at l.a.x. and denver have been warmed they may have been exposed to measles. several people possibly infected passing through the airport in wednesday. anyone at terminals four and five before noon that day may be at risk. when we come back here tonight, made in america is back, and we take you to the famous windows on fifth avenue also we ask for one your one. ke. xeljanz xr, a once-daily pill for adults with moderate

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finally tonight here, our made in america christmas. a trip down fifth avenue, the windows and tourists from all over the country. as we ask for your one thing. our made in america christmas is back. the famous windows on fifth avenue, frozen, the windows at saks. the children lining up. and from the lobby at the st. regis, you could hear it. ♪ let it snow ♪ let it snow ♪ let it snow even the nypd from the tenth precinct in on it. >> made in america. >> don't forget him. bill and sherry, they saw our made in america last week. celebrating tree farms across the country. christmas tree story. you bought your tree? >> we got two. >> two this year? >> yes. >> aside from your tree, what is your one thing made in america

this year? >> um -- let me think. >> i can't tell you, because it's your christmas present. >> but it's made in america? >> it is. >> it is, he told me and i won't ruin the secret. as we left -- >> love your made in america. >> yes. >> you love made in america? >> we love made in america! >> they know our series, too. >> yeah! >> made in america! >> stephanie and kathleen from cincinnati. you buy any made in america gifts? >> tough question. >> that's a tough question. >> yeah, but i don't -- because i don't know. i never thought about that. >> but there's still time. and viewers tonight to the rescue. >> hi, david. >> denise. >> my made in america gift are these delicious chocolate bars from what that talk chocolate. >> husband and wife joel and allie from arkansas making 1,000 chocolate bars a week during the holiday. >> we made 100% of our chocolate right here in america. >> hi, david. >> connie modeling her one

thick. michigan mittens. nine american workers. >> with a map of michigan's upper peninsula on one and the lower peninsula on the other. so, you'll always have a map onhand. >> and peggy and the gift for her grandchildren. the homemade piggy bank made in ohio. >> american made in ohio. >> which brings us back to the young singers at the st. regis, and those three words. >> it's a made in america christmas! >> keep your ideas, your videos coming. you can tweet me our find me on facebook. your one thing. and we'll have more of your ideas to come right here this week. i'll see you tomorrow. good night.

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37 years ago this friday. two 16 year-old cousins from fremont were kild. the case went cold until now. the family has answer thanks to detectives and dna testing. >> they would have been 53 years old today. they were both killed in 1982. their killer has been identified. >> mary jane met up with her cousin as he was ending his shift. they walked along north able street and stopped at this store to buy food. they continued to walk northbound that's where they were last seen. 250 hours of advanced testing done at two labs. led them to suspect who was 31 yeol