>> Tonight, former President Trump making final preparations to travel to New York tomorrow for his arraignment. New details on his legal strategy described as gearing up for battle. The speech just announced he'll make in response on Tuesday and what we know about what will happen inside that courtroom when the former president stands before a judge. The death toll rising from the massive tornado outbreak. More than 30 dead now after nearly 100 possible tornadoes hit states from Iowa all the way to New Jersey. Entire towns completely leveled. And the terrifying new video, this woman nearly s***** away by a twister triumphant return. Pope Francis presiding over a 2 and a half hour Palm Sunday celebration just one day after leaving the hospital. Amazing rescue caught on camera. How a skier found a snowboarder buried beneath the snow. >> This is NBC Nightly News with Kate Snow. >> Good evening. We're just hours away from the beginning of what is likely to be a consequential and controversial week for this country. Former President Donald Trump is set to depart Florida tomorrow for his old home New York City where he will be the center of something this country has never seen before. A former president standing before a judge being arraigned on criminal charges today. The battle lines begin to sharpen on both the legal front and the political front. Mister Trump's lawyer appeared on Sunday shows previewing the former president's legal strategy. And while this case will certainly be determined in the court, it is already playing a part in the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump's potential GOP rivals have weighed in. And today another Republican threw his hat in the ring for 2020 for taking on Mister Trump directly. All this as New York City braces for the Giants security operation needed to get a former president in and out of a courthouse and for the possibility of protesters. We have 2 reports tonight beginning with Vaughn Hillyard in Mar-A-Lago. >> So they come out the best polls. I think the former president one day away from leaving his Florida compound to surrender to authorities on unexpected list of criminal charges. What I hope is that we get in and out of there as quickly as possible that it's at the end of the day. A typical rain where we stand before the judge. We say not guilty. Mister Trump calling the indictment and assault on our nation in a social media post. As he awaits his arraignment back at his golf club on Sunday. Handfuls of support are still gathering near his Mar-A-Lago property. Well, his attorneys, Leahy, TV networks, establishing an early defense for the former president. He's gearing up for a battle. You know, this is something that obviously we believe is a political persecution. Trump's own former attorney general saying he'd advise Trump not to take the stand at his eventual trial. I think it's particularly bad idea for Trump because he lacks will self control. And Republican Senator Bill Cassidy questioning the greater ramifications of focusing legal efforts on the former president is going to lead to all kinds of political theater. Trump already announcing that he won't be quiet when he returns to Florida on Tuesday. Just hours after his arraignment, he says he will use his private club as the backdrop for prime time remarks to the country. Well, many in the GOP have questioned the indictment. One prominent Republican says Trump should end his presidential campaign because of it. >> If we're looking at the president say in the future of our country, then we don't need that distraction and he needs to be able to concentrate on the legal issues that he faces. >> Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson at the same time declaring he intends to jump into the race himself as a Republican alternative. >> I'm going to run for President United States. >> And Vaughn joins us now from Florida. There's been some suggestion, van that Trump's attorneys could try to move his trial out of Manhattan. What his lawyers say today. >> Yeah, okay. Trump's lawyer today said that that there has been no such discussion at this point, but he also said he doesn't believe that the judge overseeing this case is bias. A direct contrast to the former president's own claims. Kate Vaughn Hillyard for us. Thank you. >> With the former president set to arrive in Manhattan tomorrow night, there are massive security plans. There are tens of thousands of officers on hand road closures and Secret Service agents involved the former president's every move carefully planned. Tonight, George Solis gives us a blow by blow of what's expected. >> Tonight, security in New York City is ramping up less than 24 hours from now. Mister Trump is expected to depart Mar-A-Lago arriving at LaGuardia Airport before his historic unprecedented court appearance in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday. Mister Trump will spend the night at his Trump Tower apartment already protected by Secret Service and enhanced NYPD detail. >> Along the busy 5th avenue, barricades have been set up as far as the eye can see. There's also growing press here from around the globe there mixed in with tourists that are flocking to the region. The police presence here also only expected to grow in the coming hours. >> A carefully coordinated security effort by the NYPD court officers, U.S. marshals and the Secret Service. >> The commute from Trump Tower down to the courthouse in lower Manhattan about a four-mile drive. Secret Service motorcade expected to lead the way. >> Visible will be nearly 35,000 NYPD officers in order to be in uniform and ready for deployment starting at 07:00AM Tuesday. >> You see the preparations be laid out here for blocks around in terms of Barry is very trucks and increased enforcement that's only going to ratchet up in the days to come. >> Come Tuesday afternoon, the courthouse here in lower Manhattan expected to be the epicenter of this historic indictment of the roads open now, but expect this area to be shut down and under heavy security wants to the doors at one Hogan place. The former president expected to head to the 15th floor where he will face a judge just as any other defendant would. He's expected to be fingerprinted but will not be handcuffed. And at this point it remains uncertain whether or not he will be getting a mug shot after his hearing. Mister Trump is expected to fly out of New York and return to Mar-A-Lago capping off a moment as much momentous as it is pure spectacle. This is something obviously that the whole world is going to be watching. >> George joins us now from outside that courthouse in lower Manhattan where large crowds protesters may gather. George, what's the safety concern there from law enforcement? >> Yeah, that's right. Kids top of mind for officials not just the size of any potential gatherings, but what may be said that could stir crowds into a frenzy. Now there is one large protests scheduled outside of the courthouse on Tuesday, but officials expect more could pop up ahead of Mister Trump's arrival. >> Okay. All right, George, thank you. The death toll is climbing following that violent tornado outbreak that barreled across the country this weekend. Take a look at this map. Nearly 100 possible tornadoes hit states from Iowa all the way to New Jersey. Today President Biden declared a disaster in Arkansas Emilie Ikeda reports from one of the hardest hit towns when Arkansas. >> Tonight, new images emerging of the furious funnels that tore across parts of the country. Oh, my God. I'm Kimberly Shaw was looking out the window in Little Rock, Arkansas when an EF 3 tornado suddenly engulfed the building 165 mile an hour winds lifting her off her feet. She grabbed onto her husband just in time. >> If your husband hadn't held on to you, what would have happened? I would have been s***** out the door and what in taken by the tornado. He saved my life. >> Harrowing moments from a storm system that killed at least 30 people across 7 states. Today President Biden declaring a major disaster in Arkansas in when 4 people dead. >> This high school a shell of what once was we were right here is very crystal. The says now it's hard to even recognize that how the door heartbroken. >> I mean, this was such a cute little town. Looks like a war zone right now. It in here. >> The same system that devastated the country's midsection powered eastward. Saturday spawning rare tornadoes in New Jersey and Delaware. Debris blocking roads. One person died. The first tornado victim in Delaware in 40 years. The FEMA administrator calling the magnitude of this monstrous band of storms. >> Historic right to see right where the tornado came through and you can just see the path through the town. >> In Mcnairy County, Tennessee, 9 people dead after buildings were reduced to rubble by a tornado that struck under the cover of night. Some of the most severe damage there, Adam spill. >> The devastation is catastrophic. And as for the way, whilst lives lost homes loss, very valuable possessions, things that cannot be replaced. >> I'm not. And in Illinois, 5 remain in critical condition after a roof collapsed during a concert at the Apollo Theater. Witnesses seen rushing to free those trapped below the governor today on the ground there as communities take on the towering task of rebuilding. >> Even though this is destroyed, we made it through. >> Emily is just so hard to see all these scenes with the cleanup process is starting now, right? >> That's right. And you can see it playing out around the right now. I'm walking down the steps to a church you can see is no longer standing. This historic site built more than 100 years ago crumble by an E EF 3 tornado here in when the damage so extensive even school has been canceled through at least this week. Kate. >> Emily, thank you. There is so much devastation across so many states. Jesse Kirsch is in Sullivan, Indiana, where a powerful twister killed at least 3 people imagine taking cover in the basement. >> Just minutes later, you hear the wind howling overhead. Eventually, though the tornado moves on and you come up the staircase and there is even a back wall. If you step outside and this is what you see, your community, your neighborhood in shambles. One man here in Sullivan, Indiana says that is what he experienced as what the National Weather Service's was. Preliminarily and E EF 3 tornado came through this community outside of Indianapolis. Wind gusts up to 155 miles per hour. Unfortunately, officials say 3 people lost their lives and now this community is bracing for another severe weather threat on Tuesday. Already, though, the mayor here says that recovery in this community is expected to take up to possibly years, Kate. >> Jesse Kirsch Force. Jesse, thank you. In Italy, Pope Francis Mark Palm Sunday in Saint Peter's Square today just one day after leaving the hospital where he was treated for bronchitis. Today, the 86 year-old pontiff greeted tens of thousands of worshipers for mass and for the start of Holy week. He also rode in the Popemobile for the solemn procession of Cardinals. Still ahead tonight, a major development in an alleged nightclub murder after NBC News reporting helped find other possible victims. We're back with breaking news about an arrest in a high-profile murder case. The suspect charged in connection with at least one death after a man visiting a New York City. Gay bar was robbed and drugged. Our own NBC News reporting has brought forward others who may have been targeted. Dana Griffin has details. >> Tonight, 30 year-old Jacob Barroso is behind bars, charged with the murder of 25 year-old Julio Ramirez, who was drugged and killed last spring after visiting a gay bar in New York City's Health Kitchen. According to police. In a separate incident, an unidentified victim survived. Ramirez had left the bar with 3 unidentified men before family says his bank account was drained of nearly $20,000. >> There's relief in our community that justice is being served. But New York City Council member Eric Boucher says they're concerned about the deadly trend. We're encouraging everyone to be vigilant and to be safe. Turn off your facial recognition on your phone. >> The medical examiner ruled Ramirez is death homicide by drug facilitated theft after finding multiple drugs in his system including fentanyl, white cane and cocaine. 33 year-old John Burger with a political consultant. He too, was drugged, robbed, then killed after visiting a New York City gay bar last spring. Police say we're hurting its. It's been hard. His mother connecting the dots with Ramirez is murder after seeing this NBC News article telling our Stephanie Gosk that she started looking into her son's credit card activity. Nothing added up. According to the indictment. Once the victims were incapacitated, the co-conspirators would steal their cell phones and credit cards and transfer the money to themselves. NBC News has spoken with several gay men who said they survived similar incidents from December 2021. To October 2022. Rosso's arrest comes shortly after police requested the public's assistance on Friday to find him and 2 other suspects Jayquan Hamilton and Robert de Mayo. Barroso has not been charged in the death of burger. No suspect has been named in his killing. 2 law enforcement sources tell NBC News that the suspects were targeting victims for financial gain and not because of their sexual orientation. However, the city's hate Crime Task Force is assisting in the investigation. And New York bar patrons are being warned. Dana Griffin, NBC News. >> We're back in a moment with the heart pounding moments caught on camera when a skier saved a snowboarder buried beneath the snow. Now to an amazing rescue caught on camera. Take a look at this. A skier in the northern Washington state had his body camera on when he comes across a snowboarder buried alive in a hole at the base of a tree. The skier you can see started digging with his hands until he finally sees the man. You can see the man's arm in a green coat. And then finally his face in blue goggles starting to emerge. The skier was carrying an emergency shovel, as you can see, was able to dig him out the rest of the way that snowboarder is now doing OK and says he's incredibly grateful to the skier that are now causing I hear. Oh, wow. When we come back, the incredible find inside this long last camera. This special photos, one woman never thought she'd never see. Again. There's good news tonight about the power of the past and a one in a million fund that's helping one woman relive last memories and make new connections. 35 year-old educator coral Aiea loves the outdoors and taking pictures of all her adventures. So when she lost her digital camera down the rapids on the tubing trip in Durango, Colorado, 13 years ago, she was heartbroken. What was on that camera that was so important to you. >> You know, pictures of my friends, baby that I just met for the first time because of the river trip was just it's so sad not to be able to see that again devastated. Yeah, definitely devastated. >> But then a few weeks ago, something amazing happened. An avid angler named Spencer Griner found corals camera stuck in the sand along the banks of that very same river. >> What made you pick it up when I see trash to try to pick it up and taking away. This is what the camera looks like. Completely corroded. You could just throw it away. You didn't. I brought it home and decided just try to see if I could see what's on there. You literally. You pulled out the smart car. Great in the print to compare. Yeah. What pops up 170 some odd pictures. I was. >> A shocked each one. A precious memory including photos of a puppy bachelor party and even a wedding. So Spencer posted on a Durango, Colorado, Facebook page writing, did you get married on 6/12/2010? and the Durango area. If so please contact me. I heard from the groom. >> Of the wedding and it was less than an hour. Less than an hour. Yeah. >> Friends who saw it contacted Coral who's now living in Arizona. She says it's been life changing. >> Did you cry? You saw the pictures. I cried the most of what I saw. The pictures of it. I thought I lost my dog getting to see the pictures of her as a puppy really brought tears to my eyes and getting to see my best friend's baby Delilah at such a young age that's actually >> open the gates for us to connect again. The snapshots treasured moments in time and a chance to rekindle long lost friendships. I'm just so grateful for Spencer. You know. >> It's been fun to kind of see how the connections, see how the photos all come together and bit been a fun wild ride together. >> I just love that story and talk about a small world. Once coral and Spencer got to talking, they realized they had mutual friends in common. That is NBC Nightly News for this Sunday night. Lester Holt will be with you tomorrow. I'm Kate Snow for all of us here at NBC News. Stay safe and have a great night