beth lochtefeld there is a real sense of closure this time. the trial behind him, beth's father the artist john lochtefeld finish the book he and beth had worked on together. it was published after she died. he illustrated her words and dedicated the book to beth and her dreams. the dream she lived and those that died too soon with her. >> that's all for this edition of "dateline", i'm natalie morales, thank you for watching. for watching. it was horrifying. hello, i'm craig melvin, and this is "dateline." this was my mom, a vibrant woman, >> i'm craig melvin. >> and this is dateline. >> it was my mom. it's horrifying. just ripped out of the world.

everything that he thought her life, it was all shattered. betrayed us to our very core. >> they were stunning couple. a doctor in the beauty queen. >> she won homecoming queen. she did modeling. >> the day she was found dead set and mr. in motion. >> my father said, racial, come home. and then he hung up. >> so many secrets, uncovered. by detectives. >> you have two inches? phone >> yeah. things like a mistress. was she motive for murder? in court, an epic showdown father against daughter. >> why were you seeking information as to mothers death? >> because i believe my father killed her. >> was the evidence on his

side? >> the medical examiner for portland as she did as a cause of death. >> who do you believe? o you be? martin and michele macneill were a dream couple. he was a handsome doctor. she was a whip smart former model. hello, and welcome buto datelin martin and michelle mcneill were a dream couple. he was a handsome doctor, she was the whip smart former model. together they group to leveling home and filled it with many children. but the seemingly happy family, would be taught by a sudden death and suspicions of foul play. was it a result of natural charges? or a cold blooded murder? here's keith morrison with secrets and pleasant grove. >> the story are about to witness is all too human. oh what people will do to each other.

and yet puzzling. there were these three women, we would never story to tell without them. two sisters and their aunt. what they discovered, of course, it might make you wonder, can you ever really see the truth in the face in the mirror? or the facebook side to embed at night? the story begins with a beauty queen, a former beauty queen named michelle mcneill. and she was -- look at this! she was truly lovely. but this is what happened to michelle, the year she turned 50. the very last year of her life, though she couldn't possibly have known it. as she contemplated the question a lot of people do as youth fades, plastic surgery, should she or shouldn't she? she answered, for one reason or another, yes, yes i will. and before long -- >> everything that we thought in our life, it just all

shattered. >> reporter: what happened to michelle mcneill? what was behind that breathless a play by play in a utah courtroom, the royal family drama played out in full public view, the hidden sins of, well, you will see. here, this is a picture of their magical beginning. both beautiful, michelle and martin mcneill, everybody liked smart charismatic michelle. from childhood on, said her sister linda clothes. >> she and her different pageants. she won homecoming queen. she did modeling, she was an exchange student over in switzerland. she excelled at everything. >> martin did, to. in his own way. it took a little while, but eventually he became a doctor and then a lawyer, and then a leader in his local board of the church of latter day

stains, the mormons. but before he did any of that, back when this picture was taken, it was just unstoppable love. did they eloped or something? runoff together basically? >> they got married under the justice of the peace. >> reporter: they had four children. eventually set up house in a place called pleasant grove in utah and loved their family life so much they adopted for more little kids, three of them from ukraine. alexis, from the first set of four, followed her father everywhere, was his little shadow. you kind of idolized? >> i did. i wanted to follow in his footsteps in some way. i became a doctor because of him. >> reporter: so for people on the outside looking in, what would they see? >> a very happy family. a wonderful mother who doted on her children and a father who was a physician and an attorney, and present a lot and

their children's lives. >> reporter: rachel, the eldest, shared her father's love of books. >> i remember, when i was little, just holding on to my father's hand and just to walk with him, daddy's little girl. >> reporter: and their mother, michelle? >> she was an amazing and beautiful person on the outside and in. >> so it went for nearly 30 years. as he built a career, and they together raised their big family. then, here is how martin reacted to middle age. >> around the time he turned 50 he lost a lot of weight, turned for tanning. it was very out of the ordinary, very abnormal for him. >> reporter: that is when her mother, michelle, confronted that question, the one about looking younger, getting something of the past back. the facelift question. >> she's like i don't want it,

but if your dad is getting all fixed up and looking good, then maybe i should? >> reporter: what did you say to her? >> i said mom, you don't need that. you are beautiful. she was incredibly beautiful. >> reporter: but, decision made, on april 3rd, 2007, michelle checked into the hospital in bountiful utah. the doctors worked on her for nearly nine hours, a long time for a facelift. still, they proclaimed it a complete success and the very next day she went home again. her face covered in bandages. but, otherwise, apparently imperfect health. alexis had been with her mother for the surgery, stayed for a week to nurse or through her recovery, and now, relieved, alexis returned to her medical studies in nevada. >> my mom and my father dropped me off at the airport and i looked back, my mom was doing well. i smiled and i said i'll call you soon. >> reporter: which she did. >> i asked her how she is

doing, she was fine. she was getting up. she told me, alexis, your dad is being so sweet to me, he's being so sweet to me. that was the last time i talked to her. >> reporter: that was april 11th, eight days after the surgery. >> when i came home from work i checked myself phone and saw that i had missed, i believe it was 20 something calls. i called my father, i said dad, what has happened? he said rachel, come home. i said, dad, tell me what has happened. it is mom, is she okay? my father said, rachel, come home. and then he just hung up. >> what happened to michelle mcneill? the events of that day would launch a long running mystery. coming up -- >> who is in the bathtub? >> my wife.

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ying] keith morrison: she was just 50 years old. she lived a clean, healthy, mormon life. all she wanted was to look a little younger, a little prettier for her husband. and now-- she was just a 50 years old. she lived a clean, healthy, mormon life. all she wanted was to look a little younger, a little prettier, for her husband. and now? >> pleasant grove please department. what is the problem, sir?

sir, what's wrong? >> my wife falling in the bathtub. >> who is in the bathtub? who is in the bathtub? >> my wife. >> dr. martin mcneill. panic in his voice. struggling to make the 9-1-1 operator understand. >> i need help! >> okay sir, they're on their way. is there a wife breathing? >> she is not. i am a physician. i've got a cpr in progress. >> [inaudible] >> how old is your wife? >> my wife is 50 years old. she just had surgery a week ago. >> what kind of surgery did she have? >> she had a facelift. >> she had a facelift? >> yeah. okay. do you know how to do cpr? >> i'm doing it! >> okay don't hang--. >> martin performed cpr on his wife. until the first responders arrived. it was too late. >> i called alexis, and i said what's happened? something's happened with mom!

i said mom's dead, isn't she? and alexis said, yes. she is. >> martin said he left the house early in the house for work. later, he accepted an award at a safety fair. then about 11:30, he left the office to pick up his six -year-old daughter, ada, out from school. when they got home, she washed up the stairs to see her mother. and found her in the bathtub, unresponsive. >> it was horrifying. i mean this was my mom. vibrant, healthy woman. who was just ripped out of the world. >> what happened? michelle was a young 50. did not drink, did not smoke. she was carrying more weight than she wanted to, but the only thing out of the ordinary was the surgery she just had. >> i wasn't concerned about the health aspect of her doing the facelift. i just didn't think she needed it. >> so, if a complication from the surgery seemed unlikely. perhaps this theory from martin made more sense? maybe michele had taken too much pain medication. and while running a bat fell

headfirst in the tub. >> they said she was slumped first into the tub, her head down into the water, her legs out of the water. >> but something about that didn't sound right to alexis. for one thing, six year old eta, who also saw her mother in the tub. had a slightly different memory. >> she said that she found her laying back. her head by the faucet. facing up. fully clothed in her jogging suit. >> a strange discrepancy, not hard to explain though, given the turmoil of that day. but then she remembered how after the face left, michele's doctor described hydro code on, promises the, in and mbn. but her father them to prescribe percocet and valium as well. to alexis, that seemed like too much medication. >> he told the plastic surgeon how much in that occasion to describe to her. >> isn't it the surgeon he

usually makes? that >> yes. it was strange. >> stranger than, what happened. after michelle died. when alexis went looking for those pills. asked her dad about them. >> where were they? >> he told me that, oh, the police must have taken them. but i later found out that he had my brother and his girlfriend flush them down to the toilet, and throw the bottles away. and the reason for that, it was that having her medication there. >> some very unpleasant thoughts rattled around in alexis's head. and then there was the business of the funeral. >> my father was very adamant to have the funeral right away. >> and at the funeral, says his daughters, he talked less about his wife of nearly 30 years, then he did about himself. >> lord, i thought i was your boy. lord, i thought i was doing a good job. lord are you there? as the hours pass last night,

the answer came to me. i've had such a good life. >> alexis and rachel were appalled by that. and angry. but even as they pondered what to do with their blossoming suspicion, the autopsy results were released. and to then police chief michael smith, the result seemed crystal clear. >> the medical examiner's report indicated that michele had died of myocarditis and hypertension and listed it as a natural cause of death. >> in other words, classic heart disease. a cause of death all too common around women michelle's age. especially someone with blood pressure that is high. the doctors, it determined, whereas not based on any possible flat. they were therapeutic level. as far as the state of utah was concerned, the matter was coast. >> the matter in the state of utah, is the ultimate say when it comes to the cause in the manner of death. >> the tension in the mcneil

family worsened. maher won an alexis disagreed on how to care for the younger children. now that michele was gone. >> he kept saying, i'm gonna need a nanny. i can't take care of these kids myself. >> coming up! martin mcneill hires help. >> oh i found the perfect nanny. and i said, dad what's her name? he said oh it's--. i said dad, i know that woman. >> when dateline continues! dat . kiddo: here! daddy: oh, carvana! announcer: buy your car the easy way with carvana.

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keith morrison (voiceover): there are many kinds of grief. you could stay undetectable with fewer medicines. alexis and rachel were struggling with the angry kind. not angry with their mother for dying, no. there are many kinds of grief. alexis and rachel were struggling with the angry kind. not angry with their mother for dying. no. it was what grew from the suspicion they felt that their father was hiding something very bad. but still, there were practical models to deal with. such as who should care for the smaller mcneill children. alexis returned to medical school, so rachael volunteered. when there father insisted they find a nanny instead. right away. >> he asked me, demanded that we go to the temple to pray for having a nanny. which is very strange, because my father is not very spiritual at all. >> and they're outside the temple. they were approached by a mysterious brunette. >> she said oh, i was at the

funeral and i am so sorry for your loss. and my father said, oh, i'm sorry. i know. i know. what is your name? >> and she said my name is jillian. and my father said oh, okay. >> about a week after that encounter, martin hired that friendly, sympathetic woman. and told his daughters. >> oh i found the perfect nanny. i found somebody who's going to be great. and, i said dad what is her name? and he said, oh it's gillian. i think it's gillian. >> the name, gillian, didn't mean anything to rachael. but alexis? >> i said dad. i know that women. i know mom was concerned you are having affair with her. >> an affair? well. yes. or at least, before michele died, that is certainly what she suspected. so worried about it, she asked alexis to help to find out for sure. >> my mom confided in me about

everything. all of her feelings, her concerns. and so, i took his cell phone and was able to download his password, and we did see a number that my dad had been calling quite a few times. >> you hacked into his phone? >> yeah. we call the number. and a woman answered. and then hung up right away. so i paid for an online search. and it came up with a name. and it was gypsy jillian willis. >> gypsy jillian willis? >> yeah we thought maybe it was a stripper? but anyways, my mom, with that information, with the ladies name went to my dad and confronted him. >> martin denied everything. said alexis. and then the very next day he made a curious suggestion. >> my father came to my mom and told her that she needs a facelift. >> that is, i mean, lots of women decided they want

faceless but. when their husband comes and says, you need one? >> yeah. it was really out of the blue. >> the facelift. that preceded michel's death. and now, here was gypsy jillian. martin's choice for a live in nanny. someone he just happened to find. >> so she got the job. she moved into the house, and this was just a couple weeks after my mom's death. >> martin's daughters were furious. they wanted to know what other secrets their father had been keeping. they expanded their investigation. >> my sister put a blog up. and was asking anyone with any information about my father to contact her. we discovered that he had had so many different affairs. there was a lot of different things that came out. >> with her aunt linda they took all of their information that they gathered on martin, and brought it to the authorities. >> pushing and pushing to get them to investigate. >> the local police had never investigated michel's death at a crime. not since the very first day. and remember that coroner's

report? her death was caused by heart disease. >> for us to be able to overcome something like a medical examiners office that said she died of natural causes, is a huge task. >> but the women were relentless. they met with jeff robinson, and doug whitney. who worked for the county attorney. >> you took them seriously right off the top? the daughters? >> not really. >> but then they started to looks at some of the evidence the amateur sleuths had gathered. not evidence of murder, but still. >> they started to challenge a lot of things that her father, who he was, when he was, when he was doing. and so we thought, you know what? i would like to find out if he really is a doctor. >> yes, martin did have a medical degree. but. >> he fraudulently got in some medical school? >> yes. >> after faking the results from college? >> he took somebody else's marks because there was a different date of graduation, a different date of test.

>> and it got deeper. before he faked his college transcripts, he was convicted of forging checks. now, said the investigators, the respective doctor was looking anything but respectable. >> it tells me that this is not the guy that goes to church every sunday with his family. >> so there's two martin meals? >> there's two of them. >> still, -- >> but martin's daughters? they went to their fathers list of offenses. the fraud, the infidelity. how they encouraged his mother to have surgery, and take so many drugs afterwards. and they were certain, their father killed their mother. >> he betrayed us to the very core. i mean, everything that we thought in our life is just all shattered. >> it's all a sham? >> it really is. it's been a whole sham. >> but not everyone in the family felt that way. damien, martin's only son,

stuck by his father. >> he had a hard time after my mom died. i had talked to him about my concerns and, he didn't want to believe that my father was capable of killing my mom. >> but alexis's conviction was absolute. every time she set foot in her parents home, only one thought went through her mind. >> he's already killed her. >> and yet? there was still no hard evidence that martin had killed michelle. almost two years went by, martin and gypsy still carrying on in plain sight. but then, in january 2009? >> certainly they're both arrested? >> yes. >> but not for what people might have thought. >> no, no. >> coming up! two lovers cook up a secret crime. >> she stole gisele's identity? >> for gypsy. >> when dateline continues! >> when dateline continues! feel the power of contrast therapy.

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dermatologist-recommended welcome back to dateline. i'm craig melvin. the forgery conviction, the faked college transcripts, the alleged affair. welcome back i'm craig melvin! the forgery conviction, faked college transcripts, the alleged affair. the more investigators looked into martin mcneill, the more the good doctor seemed like a fraud. and another scheme was about to be able revealed, making detectives question if martin was capable of much worse. once again, here's keith morrison with secrets in

pleasant growth. >> martin mcneill's daughters seethed. their father had turned the father home into a taudry love nest for so called nanny, though mistrust, gypsy willis. for nearly two years they had been laser focused on proving his guilt and trying to persuade the police, or anyone, that martin had murdered michelle and sure enough they discovered a crime. not murder. but shocking nonetheless. >> it's gisele! >> it all started when martin sent his 16 year old daughter gisele to ukraine to visit her biological sister. >> gisele called my daughters phone. and then they started talking and gisele started crying and told her story, that she got left there. >> abandoned basically? >> right. >> why would he do that? well, a bit more digging reveal that martin and gypsy had cooked up a scheme, and it involved taking over daughter gisele's social security

number. >> she stole the social security? >> for gypsy. >> yes gypsy, who emerged, was financially challenged. the new forged a density wiped her debts away. it also gave her a brand-new name. jillian mcneill. but the lies did not end there. they started posing as husband and wife. >> gisele is out of the picture, martin wants to make gypsy look like his wife. >> now that was low but even worse? >> they used the date of my mom's funeral as the marriage date. they were arrested in january 2009. >> not for murder, but for fraud. they both pleaded guilty. martin got four years, gypsy 21 months into a any more charges gypsy promise that she would terrify against martin in any future legal issues.

it was a victory for alexis . well >> it's me all by myself. >> like the wedge that it drove between sisters, and their brother damien. >> it put a strain on your relationship? >> it did. once my dad was sentenced. he didn't want any thing to do with us. and then he killed himself. >> damian mcneill died by suicide, january 2010. >> he was such a wonderful guy. >> but, the murder investigation continued. picked up steam in fact. the two investigators debriefed gypsy in prison. >> that was a treasure trove of information that she gave us. >> she confirmed that chance meeting at the temple with rachel was a setup, a ruse together into the house after michelle was gone.

how long had she and martin been planning it? >> i said so, you stayed scripted that meeting. this and when did you script it? was it during the funeral, before the death? >> so? >> no comment. >> the investigators went back to the prosecutor. over and over to urge him to charge martin with murder. but. >> one of the prosecutor say with to you? >> see this medical examiner's report? >> death of natural causes? >> that's right. >> there was a new medical examiner. they showed him the report. the file, the and for fraud. >> i said, these reports are scanned it. you cannot scan the support, just read this much. and he did, and he goes, i think i'm in a look at this deeper. >> after his review, the m e did make one small change. in the manner of death. from manner of death natural, to undetermined. but it hardly broke the case

wide open. he refused to call it a homicide? >> sure. >> absolutely. >> but mcneill was released from federal prison. so in 2012, martin mcneill was once again a free man. he turned his time for fraud. and we spoke to alexis after-- >> he was a free man. how did that make you feel? >> very scared. >> you've been the chief accuser all these years? >> yeah. i'm not concerned. i'm not only concerned for my family, but anyone who comes into contact with my father because i know he is a dangerous man. >> investigators agreed. but the prosecutor wanted more. something that they could take to court. >> show me how she died. show me how she died. >> i said, i believe i know how she died but i can't prove it yet. >> and then? that one little detail. jumped out and said, look at me! >> the time that came to me is when we heard from the hospices

and emt to guys when she threw up water. >> if michelle threw up water when the emts did cpr, that meant that martin, the doctor, had not done it properly. if at all. >> okay, do you know how to do cpr? >> i'm doing it. >> and with that, all of the circumstantial bits seemed to line up and support the idea of a planned murder. a plot that began after martin took up with gypsy. >> his wife finds concrete evidence that he is doing it. he is trapped. why do i do? i can't lose my good name, because i'm gonna lose my job, i'm gonna lose my reputation, and lose everything else. so does he do? >> drugs her and drowns her, they now believe. and finally, the prosecutor agreed. so in august 2012, martin's daughter sat in a utah courtroom. holding up pictures of their

dead mother. as their father appeared in court on charges of first degree murder. >> if she hadn't pushed, if she hadn't started making those calls. would this have gone anywhere? >> i don't think it would've come to me. >> so they would've just. >> they probably would've close it out as unfounded. >> now, the family drama would play out for a jury. but the outcome? at that point, it was far from certain. >> coming up! a mistress turned witness. and one more secret, mistress number two! when dateline continues! when dateline continues! looks right. [thud] [rushing liquid] nooo... nooooo... nooooooo... quick, the quicker picker upper! only bounty absorbs spills like a sponge. and bounty is 2x more absorbent so you can use less and get the job done with one. this works. [thud] kind of.

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keith morrison (voiceover): what a strange thing it was that the day martin macneill was charged with murdering his wife, his daughters only regret was that it what a strange thing it was. that the day that martin mcneill was charged with murdering his wife, his daughters only regret was, that it had taken more than five years. >> i think my dad really got off on seeing what he could get away with. >> when the trial began, on october 17th 2013, in utah, martin was noticeably pale. and the prosecutor was a little worried. >> it seemed like a case where, you kind of got the impression that maybe the guy was guilty. but proving it was not going to be an easy matter. >> it's going to be difficult to wrap it up all early and give the jury this nice little box, with a bow on top.

>> the prosecution told the jury that martin drugged and drowned his wife michelle. that he made a plan to get rid of her, when he had a love affair with that woman, named gypsy. and that once he dispatched michelle, it was practically gleeful. even on the day of her funeral. >> the defendant was jovial, laughing, smiling. again remarking that he was going to have to get used to the life of a bachelor. >> how callous, said the prosecutor. but as for evidence that he murdered her? remember, the autopsy said the heart disease was the cause of death. not murder. >> this case is a puzzle piece with many pieces. >> your wife is unconscious? >> she's unconscious. she's underwater. >> the first piece they said, was martin's behavior during that 9-1-1 call. he seemed angry.

he hung up on the operator. >> okay, do you know how to do cpr? >> i'm doing it! >> okay. to not hang. >> first responders had trouble finding the house. and when they finally did arrive, the police said martin was acting so irratically, it made them nervous. >> i was concerned about my safety, actually. >> and while martin, the doctor, was performing cpr. >> he was kind of yelling at her. why did you do this? why did you do this? and then he struck her in the chest with one of her hands. >>but when the police took over, you remember. >> she dispels 3 to 4 cups of water. >> and what would have happened since he would've done cpr? she would've already expelled that? >> i believe so. >> how martin said he found his wife hidden in the tub. the legs over the edge? prosecutors show how'd his account differed from every other witness. even his six-year-old daughter eta. this is the police interview with ada recorded in 2008.

>> was she all the way in the bathtub or just in the bathtub? >> all the way. >> please raise your white hand and take an oath. >> and then prosecutors called to the stand the woman at the center of it all. the woman who so captivated martin. the mistress. and, they said. the motive. >> my name is gypsy willis. >> gypsy told the story of an online relationship turned sexual. >> it was a casual thing, whenever we had time and it could be arranged. and it was, i think we probably had sex half the time. sometimes it was just lunch. >> the very day after michele's death. gypsy tooka sexy selfie and send it to martin. >> it's a picture, it's a little bit suggestive. >> showing your buttocks? >> yes. >> as we know, it wasn't long before gypsy moved into the house. supposedly hired as a nanny. >> if i told you that others had testified that you are not

much of a nanny, in terms of cookie, cleaning, taking care of the children. and just staring goo eyed at the defendant. what would be the response? >> my response is this. when the adult children were home, i would defer to them and went back to studying my nursing. i did help with the children. >> though gypsy said she never did mary martin, they did hear about all those fake documents. the marriage dated april 14th 2007. the day michele was buried. and remember, gypsy had testified as part of a plea deal. didn't want to. >> she clearly minimized their relationship, but i think in so doing. the jury saw that. >> but just to be sure, the prosecutor had gypsy read love lovers that martin wrote to her from federal prison. >> i love and miss you every minute. i can think of nothing but how

wonderful you are. >> so gypsy, said the prosecutor, was martin's motive for murder. that is, if it was a murder. and, if it was, was she involved? >> in light of all this information. are you telling us that you don't know anything more about michelle's death? >> that is correct. >> do you believe she had something to do with it? >> well as far as the actual death, we have no evidence to show that she did. as far as being a coconspirator, talking about it? that speaks for itself. >> and so, gypsy star turned was over. outside the court, she said, she was so overwhelmed by all the attention. >> testifying here today? >> being in court at all. i've never had more than a speeding ticket to this point. >> of course, as we, know that wasn't even close to being true. and back in the courtroom, the jury was finding out that gypsy wasn't martin's first mistress. >> is it fair to say that you and dr. mcneill began an affair? >> yes. >> this woman said that she can

doodled with martin. before he took up with gypsy. and their pillow top, she told the jury, including what's sounded like, a prescription for murder. >> did martin ever describe a process of making someone have a heart attack? >> yes. >> specifically what did he tell you? >> there is something that you can give someone that is natural so that it is not detectable after they have a heart attack. >> miss summers, please raise your right hand. >> and then? the much anticipated showdown. daughter versus father. after years of digging, collecting, and persuading others that her father was an evil, guilty man. alexis was about to take the stand. but the defense was about to argue, alexis had her own problems with the truth. >> coming up! the doctor's defense. >> you still conclude that the manner of michele mcneill's death is undetermined?

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judge: ms. somers, if you'll come forward here to the clerk's desk. keith morrison (voiceover): for six years, alexis somers had been the strongest most persistent voice arguing that her father murdered her mother. miss summers if you will come forward? >> for six years, alexis summers had been the strongest, most persistent voice arguing that her father murdered her mother. prosecutor jack. >> her testimony was huge. >> under oath, alexis told the same story that she told us.

>> why were you seeking information as to your mother's death? >> because i believed my father killed her. >> but now, the defense was going to try to prove that alexis was wrong. in fact, they were gonna question if there was a murder. at all. and they would start by using some of the accusing daughter's own words. remember alexis's claim that her mother was feeling fine? just before she died? well it turns out that wasn't what she said at her mother's funeral. >> the last time i spoke to my mom. she was happy. she wasn't feeling good. she was feeling a little sick but. >> she was feeling a little sick? that's what you said. right? >> i don't remember her saying that she was feeling a little sick. i remember her being up and getting ready for the day. >> but you remembered it on the day of her funeral. right? three days later. and since that time you said over, and over, and over again that your mother was feeling

great. there was no problems on april 11th. >> the indication? if michelle was feeling sick, press before she died, there could be a medical explanation for her death. and, that alexis's memory was flexible. >> i just don't remember her feeling bad at all. >> well, you don't remember accurately in this case right? >> and then the defense honed in on the biggest problem. here they were prosecuting a man for murder, went according to the states own medical examiner, the cause of death was most likely heart disease. coroner med made it that he never classified michel's death as a homicide. and even his decision to call it undetermined was not exactly based on science. >> you met with the investigators in your office, correct? >> yes that is correct. >> and they were trying to persuade you to change it? >> they gave me an extensive an in-depth conversation on why they thought this was a

homicide. >> then the prosecutor took an extra step to hire another -- the defense showed on prosecution that he was no more definitive. >> when you consider all the circumstances of the case, you still conclude that the manner of michele mcneill's death is undetermined? >> yes sir. >> and remember that water in michelle's lungs? the defense co-counsel randy spencer had an answer for that to. >> michelle was found in the bathtub, and it's very difficult to do cpr in the bathtub. >> so why did he pull it out of the tub? >> he couldn't. barring some god given grant of his superhuman strength, very few people would be able to lift 182-pound person out of the tub in that situation. >> just in that moment, in that scene, whatever he would have done in this character. in that moment, where was the strongest evidence he did not

kill her? >> i think the strongest evidence was likely the time of death and where martin was that morning. >> please raise your right hand and be there. >> the defense called witnesses, that's they said they saw martin right before she collapsed in the bathtub. in other, words she wasn't there. couldn't kill her. >> this is the six years old kindergarten teacher. >> and mr. mcneill picked her up that day? >> yes. >> so he was there between 11:30 and 11:35 to pick up? >> yes. >> and all of those facts took the closing to put it together. it was aggressive. >> make no doubt, we believe he intentionally, and knowingly, cause the death of his wife. the evidence supports it. the motive is there. the means are there. and the opportunity is there. >> and the defense?

had to concede that martin was a --, and a cheat. but insisted that the prosecution didn't even prove there was a murder. let alone that martin committed it. >> i assert to you that none of the circumstances that the prosecution submitted is consistent with homicide. they don't rise to the level of beyond a reasonable doubt. >> and then, the jury began deliberating. they huddled. hour after hour. late into that friday night. midnight came and went. they were still talking. >> the longer the deliberations would go, the more worried i got. >> the quicker the deliberations the better? >> in this particular case, i thought so. because our case with simple. >> then after 11 hours, a verdict. two quick, thought the prosecutor. >> when they were coming back after 11 hours, i was a little bit nervous. >> it was one in the morning, on saturday november 9th, 2013. >> we the jury have reviewed the evidence in the case, and

find the defendant, as to count one, murder, guilty. >> that woman, the michele's family couldn't hide the relief. after years of fighting they had gotten what they wanted. what they demanded. but until that moment, martin's defence attorneys believed more than martin himself that he would be acquitted. >> i think martin took it better than we did. the he's like, i'm okay. and i was thinking, i'm not okay. >> and then, according to the defendant, randy spencer, martin said something quite remarkable. >> this may seem strange but he even respects what's his daughter's dead. not because he killed his wife, but because if they really believe that he killed his wife, he would expect them to advocate for her. so he understands. >> he told you?

>> he did. yeah. >> i'm just so happy he can't hurt anyone else. we miss our mom, we'll never get her back. but that courtroom was full of so many people and who loved my mom. >> you found your family got justice? >> there's justice for my mom today. >> martin mcneill was sentenced to 17 years to life. but he would not serve his time in full. in april 2017, martin died of suicide. a dark ending for the story of a family that began with so much hope. >> that is all for this edition of dateline. i'm craig melvin, thank you for watching! for watching! this sunday, law and order. >> today we proved that no one is above the law. >> a judge orders donald trump to pay over $350 million after finding him liable for fraud. >> a fine of $355 million for