to share in it. it's -- it's hard. about my mom that has captured the heart of so many people. there's just something to her that people connect with. what was so beautiful about her, it made her a target, too. >> she was the queen of the million dollar listing, the real estate broker who sealed the deal. >> her customers love her. >> hands downs most genuine person you ever met. >> she headed out to show a house that day and never made it

home. >> i'm texting her, i'm calling her. >> oh, gosh, what's happened here? >> something's wrong. >> was she in danger? was someone behind this? >> please don't call the police. if you call the police, it could be bad. >> you can hear how scared she was. >> suddenly an all-out manhunt. >> this is like a movie, this chase and this kidnapping. >> oh, yeah. >> could anybody reach her in time? >> i had to be strong for everybody. i had to be. >> emotions were everywhere. >> i know she pleaded. i know she pleaded. >> did you find her? is she alive? beverly carter was well known in little rock, arkansas. she was a beloved mother, wife and a successful real estate broker with a long list of clients. then she vanished.

like all too many missing persons cases, police knew it was a race against time to find her before it was too late. here's andrea canning with "the client." >> beverly carter was making a name for herself in little rock, arkansas. >> her face was in the paper every week. >> she had a billboard on one of the busiest interstates with her face on it. >> as a top selling realtor, beverly carter had become somewhat of a local celebrity. with her smile, he put house hunters at ease, trusted to find the perfect home like she often did. >> nobody can do it like beverly could. >> but there was a down side to celebrity. >> this realtor had a target on her back. >> she did and she didn't know it. >> for beverly, being a realtor was more than closing the deal. was see in the perfect job for her personality? >> yes.

>> her son and his wife were amazed at how much they loved her. >> one of her clients, she went to their baby shower. she just sold them a house. >> she a beautiful smile. >> she had a smile that would fill the room. >> beverly's youngest son said it was like his mother glowed. >> i think that's what stood out was that confidence. she was naturally beautiful. >> it was that natural beauty that caught the eye of her husband, carl. they met when they were just kids. >> she was 16. i was 19. >> where did you meet her? >> splendora, texas. she was working at a little hamburg are joint named the bionic burger.

wow, i didn't know i would get me a wife when i got me a burger. >> a wedding soon followed at city hall. their young love led to three children, all boys and later six grandchildren. they had their share of marital problems, including money issues and infidelity, but they worked them out. so when their 20th anniversary rolled around, they decided to renew their vows and throw their big party. >> i said would you marry me again if i asked you to? she said, well, yeah. i says, okay. >> you know, they wanted to renew their love, show everybody. >> and it was a way for her to get her dream wedding. gosh. >> a few years after that, she got her real estate license and her best friends, stacy, brenda

and denise say it didn't take long for beverly to build a loyal clientele. >> did she sell a lot of property? >> she was the top listing in 2013. she did over $12 million, which in central arkansas is very well. >> what was it that made her good at closing the deal. >> she had that magic about her. >> she had the bubbly personality that it made you fall in love with the house. >> the women worked together in the same office, though they often said it felt more like play than work. >> we would laugh about anything. you know how it is whether you get with your girl friends, you talk about things you find funny, we would tell stories. she had this huge, goofy laugh you could hear all the way down the hall. >> and as realtors, they looked out for each other. their office even came one a secret code, a text that signalled there was trouble. >> so red folder was the code? >> you would say "do you have the red folder on 123 main street?"

>> the code they hoped they would never have to use. as her 50th birthday approached, beverly was determined to get in shape. she started running, working her way to up 5k races. >> the reason she started running was the medal. she had this fascination with medals. >> she lost nearly 60 pounds and gave herself a present, cosmetic surgery. >> she'd have the tummy tuck but she'd also have implants because she had a lift. and it was kind of a joke because when they put the implants in, they were a little bit larger than she wanted them to me. we had some big laughs about that. she's going to have them reduced because they hadn't fallen and they were sitting up here. >> but she did look good. >> she looked fabulous. >> and being a real estate agent, she felt it was important to look her best.

on an unseasonably warm day, beverly was easing back into work. she was going to show a house near her home. the potential buyers were offering cash. >> she really didn't want to go, she was tired. she wanted to get a fast close. if it's a fast close, you can get a closing quicker. >> beverly led left the office and headed off to show the property to a young couple. she told her husband she'd be home for dinner. but you didn't hear from her? >> no. >> carl started to worry. beverly had given her the address so he decided to take a ride over. >> if she was over there, her car would be there. i went over and didn't see her car. >> so this is panic time for you. >> right. i thought it was weird. because beverly wouldn't leave unless she was in her car. >> did you call the police? >> yes.

>> that call set off a frantic search for beverly carter. where was she? coming up, what happened to beverly? >> all of a sudden, beverly texted me. >> and all of a sudden our phone started lighting up. she said, i'm sorry, my phone was dead. >> i still can't feel the same pain. and reward points on prescriptions. so no matter where you're going or who you are, it's worth the trip. we'll help you find low cost prescriptions including zero dollar copays on select medicare part d plans. walgreens. trusted since 1901.

pssst. what? i switched to geico and got more. more savings on car insurance? a-ha. and an award-winning mobile app. that is more. oh, there's more. mobile id cards, emergency roadside service... more technology. i can even add a new driver... ...right from her phone! geico. expect great savings and a whole lot more.

i'm and i'm an emt.erer when i get a migraine at work, it's debilitating. if i call out with a migraine, that's one less ambulance to serve a community. i just don't want to let these people down. excedrin migraine. relief that works as hard as you do.

the red one is more haribogooder to me cos it tastes like berries. they're really squishy. and then i'm gonna fly it in to my mouth. ♪ kids and grown ups love it ♪o ♪ the happy world of haribo ♪ your hair is so soft! did you use head and shoulders two in one? i did mom. wanna try it? yes. it intensely moisturizes your hair and scalp and keeps you flake free. manolo? look at my soft hair. i should be in the shot now too. try head and shoulders two in one.

>> it was dark now, she wasn't answering her phone, and at the property foresale, her war was in the driveway but no sign of her. karl says he called the police. then his son. he says, son, i haven't heart from your mom, have you heard from her. i'm texting her and calling her and i can't get any response. and my first thought was dad, this is the nature of the business. >> carl jr. and his wife kim drove over to beverly's office hoping she'd be there. >> there was no one there.

compla place is completely black. dad let mow know he had made it to the property. >> they thought maybe she had gone with the potential buyers. >> we went to the two vacant houses that were the listings. we checked the lockboxes and nobody had opened them. >> as the hours ticked by. beverly's friend denise couldn't sleep. there was an e-mail that said it is with a very heavy heart that i let you know that we can't find beverly. she went to show a house and she is missing. >> i still can read that and feel the same pain. >> police and beverly's family gathered at the property trying to figure out where see was.

>> how was your dad handling everything? >> feel like he was hard to read. he would sneak away sometimes. >> then around 1:00 a.m. >> word that beverly was texting gave everyone hope. >> i was ecstatic. i was like this is done. her phone died. >> across down, her friends got texts of their own. >> i mean it was such anne -- >> >> i said can you tell me if you left the red folder on the desk.

>> if beverly was in trouble. she would know to text back the location. >> there was no response. >> the one that i got was out having drinks with friends. i'm like we're right here. >> the texts on her husband's phone were just as deflating. sorry, phone dead, having drinks. carl jr. knew his mom would never go out and not tell anyone. >> she's okay, this is all over to the second we saw that screen and saw what these texts said, we knew someone has her phone. >> totally flipped me out. i said she's been took. >> the patrol division who had responded to the call decided they needed backup. detective rushed over to the property. >> she hadn't been missing for in a long so why were you called that quickly. >> they started speaking with the husband and determined that some of the factors in the case were odd. >> not only was beverly's car

parked in the driveway, her purse was locked inside. did you have just a grim feeling right out of the gate that this woman did not disappear voluntarily? >> i was hopeful but i did have a feeling, yes. >> the detective searched the vacant house. it was pitch black. the electricity was off. >> i got down on the floor and with my flashlight when it's dark you can shine a light at a specific angle, you could see disturbances in dust. it just looked like somebody had walked through there. >> no signs of a struggle inside but he did discover a clue outside the front door. >> there was a tire track in the grass. looked look somebody had pulled up into the front door or backed into a back door. >> the maybe across the street had seen something? >> yes, she looked out the window and saw a vehicle pulled into the driveway and later looked outside and saw a skinny white male at the house with a vehicle backed to the door.

>> the detective found more in the back of beverly's car. >> i found a note back that she kept with realtor information on it that showed a listing on that house. >> was there anything show anything clues? >> attached to the listing was an e-mail address and phone number. >> did you call it right away? >> i did not call it right away. >> he did not pick up the phone for a good reason. the detective had a theory. >> i felt that beverly, wherever she was, she was being held against her will. >> he knew they had to tread lightly with any suspects. like the couple at the house. if they were involved, the last thing he wanted to do was tip them off. and the detective said there was someone else he had his eye on. >> coming up -- >> people were saying, oh, the >> they were asking questions like you're the husband, why did

you just completely contaminate our crime scene? >> i knew that i was a suspect. you know what's awesome? gig-speed internet.

you know what's not awesome? when only certain people can get it. let's fix that. let's give this guy gig- really? and these kids, and these guys, him, ah. oh hello. that lady, these houses! yes, yes and yes. and don't forget about them. uh huh, sure. still yes! xfinity delivers gig speed to more homes than anyone. now you can get it, too. welcome to the party.

>> as the sun rose the next morning, there was still no sign of beverly carter. her family and friends were out searching. >> we had beautiful 8 x 10 color fliers that we were posting everywhere. >> she had just had some new head shots done. >> we had hundreds. >> and hundreds of people joined

search parties all over the area. >> her family, her office family came together and we had realtors from all over the state helping us. and by that afternoon, we had the search set up and everybody had an assignment. >> many realtors felt this was personal. one of their own while out doing her job had gone missing. and agents were already on alert. in recent years there had been a rise in crimes against real estate brokers across the country, brutal assaults and even murder. >> how often did you talk about safety? >> i mean, we always talked about it but a lot of times if someone called us and asked us to go show a house, out of instinct you'd jump up and go. >> beverly said she'd been in contact with the client for the few days. >> she wanted to make sure the wife was going to be there also. i think it made her more comfortable that the wife would be with him.

the wife got on the telephone and told her, yes, she would be there. >> her friends pointed out the neighborhood where she was showing the house she knew well. >> she had sold several houses on that street. she was very familiar with the area. >> her pastor lived on that street. >> and that street was now a crime scene. >> an arkansas real estate agent remains missing this evening. >> did that become the lead story? >> the biggest story online, the biggest story on facebook. >> shannon miller covered the story. she said finding beverly became a local obsession. >> people came out in droves, looking for her, wondering where she had gone. to not come home from work after doing something you do every day

left a huge mystery. what happened to her? >> beverly's husband, carl, even made a plea. he sounded heart broken but not everybody was buying the distraught husband story. >> people were saying, oh, the husband must have had something to do with it, must have hired somebody. we all watch a lot of "dateline." >> carl jr., so worried about his mom, now feared his dad could become a suspect. >> they were asking questions like, okay, you're the husband and you just went into this home to search for her, you've gone up in the attic. your fingerprints are everywhere. you just completely contaminated our crime scene, why did you do that? and so you could just see their wheels turning. it was like, oh, no. >> he was right to worry. detective allison brought carl sr. in for questioning. >> did you put carl in an interview room? >> yes.

>> and treated him like this is someone we need to tack seriously? >> yes. >> any time you do an interview like that, it's best to do it in that setting. it plays on their emotions. >> did you ever consider the possibility that carl could have paid somebody to do this? >> yeah, i thought about it. >> did you know why you were considered somebody that they needed to talk to? >> once i got in there and they started questioning me, then i knew that i was a suspect. >> as detective allison continued to question carl, he discovered some skeletons. they were having financial issues? >> yeah. >> how much money did beverly carter have in her checking account in. >> i don't know exact dollar amount but it want much. >> $126? >> that sounds about right. >> was there a life insurance policy? >> yes, several thousand dollars. $100,000. >> $100,000? >> yes. i don't remember the exact dollar amount. >> the detective learned about other issues he found

disturbing. >> he said, well, did you have any kind of affair? >> i said, yes, i had one. >> and carl said he got violent with beverly when he tried to stop her from driving drunk. >> i even hit her one time. that's when she got out of the truck and said i'm not going to ride with you. i said stay here then. i just drove off, just straight into a ditch. >> did you regret it? >> oh, yeah. like i felt like poo-cocky as far as that goes. >> so did you worry did it a little bit? >> no, i didn't worry about a thing. i wanted to find beverly. i wanted to find beverly. i hit her and that was it. just one time in 34 years, one slap upside the head isn't bad.

>> and he said beverly never held it against him. >> she never held it against me. >> detective allison had other work to do. the client's phone number and address in her book were fake. and eerie photos taken inside the house just before she went missing. >> what had happened i side that house? a new lead morphs into a all out man hunt. >> when "dateline" continues. jake... ♪ seresto, seresto, seresto whatever your dog brings home to you,

it shouldn't be fleas and ticks. seresto gives your dog 8 continuous months of flea and tick protection in an easy-to-use, non-greasy collar. ♪ seresto, seresto, seresto oh no, jake. seresto. 8-month... ♪ seresto, seresto, seresto

i'm dara brown with the hours top stories, president trump back on the campaign trail

saturday. he showed up to rile up the crowd in support of rick saccone. president took the stage for over an hour where he relived his election night victory, touted a strong economy, tax cuts and progress with north korea. he also took jabs at what he called the fake media. now, back to "dateline." the hours had turned into days since family and friends had seen real estate agent beverly carter. and it was some good old fashioned detective work that gave police their first big clue. once again, here's andrea canning with "the client." >> detectives searched computer and phone record and data was pouring in. they were hoping it would lead to the missing real estate agent. beverly carter's cell carrier turned over everything on her

phone. and there was one thing that caught investigator's attention. these blurry and dark pictures she took of the house she was trying to sell. not exactly showcase material. when her daughter-in-law had a chance to see them -- >> you have a theory about why they're badly taken photos. >> you can just tell that it was like quick, just quick. >> like she knew -- >> i knew she knew something was wrong. >> she believed beverly was scared of those potential buyers and was rushing to fin, showing the house. it was all bad news. beverly carter had now been missing for three days. >> i've never felt that kind of loss of control. you feel utterly hopeless. >> and helpless. you can't do anything. >> yeah, yeah. >> what they didn't know was that detectives were about to crack this case wide open. the team that had discovered the buyers' contact information was fake kept investigating. >> and they were able to start taking the e-mail address and

phone numbers and sending out search warrants and obtaining subscriber information to that e-mail and phone number. >> did names pop up? >> yes. >> their real names, aaron lewis and his wife, crystal lowrie. police raced over to put the couple's house under surveillance. >> this was a very delicate operation. >> yes. we were working with the expectation with the hope that she was still alive. >> detective allison said he wasn't sure if the couple was even involved. they wanted to see what he looked like. remember the eyewitness had seen a skinny man with short brown hair the night beverly disappeared. they hadn't been there long when a man matching that description walked out the door but this didn't approach him. >> were you hoping he would lead to you beverly? >> yes. we felt if we made contact too early, if he was the one we were looking for, everything is shot. >> louis got into his car and the plan fell apart.

>> he saw us sitting there. that's when he started speeding off. he was out of the vehicle before the time we saw him. >> louis was injured. police photographed him and rushed him to the hospital. >> the detective is taking aaron back to get an mri or whatever they're doing, he decide to leave the hospital. >> aaron doesn't come back. >> he doesn't come back. >> aaron louis bolted from the hospital. what seemed the closest link to beverly carter slipped through their fingers. police launched a citywide manhunt. >> was that one of the first things you did was get photos out to the media? >> yes. >> and her life is astake? >> yes.

>> reporter shannon miller cuts in with breaking news. >> was the whole city glued to their tv sets as the hunt for beverly was on? >> absolutely. so many people knew this picture, knew this face. >> and. >> was on the lookout. these men who knew beverly were discussing the case from this office. >> as we're standing in front of this window with the window aaron lewis walks in front of the window. >> they immediately called 911. >> 911. >> they're looking for a guy here that was involved in the realtor being kidnapped and this guy looks like him and he is nervous and he's out here at a bus stop. >> conan went out to the bus stop to conform it really was

lewis. >> i approached him. he was a little standoffish. i made quick conversation about the bus routes, which put him at ease. and i went inside and told my colleagues, absolutely that is aaron lewis without a doubt. >> they saw louis ducking inside a sandwich shop. and when louis left -- >> someone from a distance outside made a comment "i think that's him" and that spooked him. lewis took off across the street toward this apartment complex. >> i think we were confident where he was. luckily as soon as we turned the corner, we saw the police coming in. >> when the police get there, aaron takes off running into an apartment and jumps out of a second story window before he's taken into custody. >> this is like a movie, this chase and kidnapping. did it feel like that? >> oh, yeah. still does. >> the cops finally had a suspect. and what he revealed would send detectives on a hair-raising

ride to find the missing real estate agent. coming up -- a haunting recording. >> i just want to let you know i'm okay. i haven't been hurt. >> could beverly still be alive? >> i had hoped. it's what keeps you going. >> when "dateline" continues. the moment you realize you have enough food for your guests, but not enough fridge. at lowe's, we have more appliances to choose from, so you'll find the right one at the right price, and we'll deliver it for free. all projects have a starting point. start with lowe's. save $802 on a whirlpool black stainless kitchen suite at lowe's.

you wouldn't accept from any one else. why accept it from your allergy pills? flonase relieves your worst symptoms including nasal congestion, which most pills don't. flonase helps block 6 key inflammatory substances. most pills only block one. flonase.

olay regenerist shatters the competition. hydrating skin better than prestige creams costing over $100, $200, and even $400. for skin that looks younger than it should. fact check this ad in good housekeeping. olay regenerist. ageless.

police had a suspect in custody. he was an unemployed truck driver. roller coaster ride was far from over. >> i can remember the feeling when he was captured. where are you? >> as investigators focused on aaron louis, they backed off on beverly's husband as a suspect. now detective allison was keeping carl in the loop. >> he said we got him. i said, well, where's beverly? he said we're still questioning him. we're going to find out. we're going to keep on till we find her.

>> then did you have a little burst of hope? >> just a little bit of hope. that's all i had. >> really your biggest task was to find out where beverly was? >> that was my biggest task and concern at that time. >> did louis know where beverly was? if he did, would he tell the detective? what was his story? where was beverly? >> he said that he kidnapped beverly and it was because of money. he said he found her on the internet, searched her out, saw that she was a broker and felt like she had money. >> louis described in detail what he claimed happened. he said when he contacted beverly, she didn't feel comfortable meeting just him. so he got his wife, crystal on the phone and told her she was going, too. aran tells me he had beverly

take photographs of the house with the phone. >> louis said he'd asked beverly to send pictures to crystal because she couldn't be there. >> he said when they got to the top of the stairs, he pulled out a flashlight taser and said she was about to have a bad day. he said what are you talking about? he said you're being kidnapped. lewis then claimed he had an accomplice and he wasn't talking about his wife who had set up the meeting with beverly. it was someone else. >> he said if anything happened to beverly, trevor done it. >> who's trevor? >> trevor is a guy that aaron lived with for a short period of time. >> did this give you hope there was an accomplice here and mean he did have beverly? >> i had hope we were going to find beverly alive. you have to. that's what keeps you going. >> lewis said the last time he saw beverly, he was with trevor

and offered evidence she might still be alive. lewis played a recording from his phone and it was chilling. >> carl, it's beverly. i just want to let you know i'm okay. i haven't been hurt. just do what he says and please don't call the police. if you call the police, it could be bad. i just want to let you know, i love you very much. >> it was encouraging but it only proved beverly was alive at the time of the recording. the detective told lewis he needed more. >> that's when he finally says i'll take you to the last place that she was. >> so this is a big moment now. >> yup. >> in this whole case. this is it. >> yup. that's when we load him up and he start going to cabot, arkansas. >> beverly's family prayed this nightmare was about to end. >> did you know that aaron lewis was saying your mom was alive? >> yes. we knew that after they had him and they were interrogating him. >> there was a big boost of energy. when he was telling us, it was

so uplifting. he was like we're about to get her back. it's great. >> u on a nail biting road trip 30 miles out of town, the last place he claimed to see beverly alive. >> what are you thinking as you're approaching the shed? there's a really good chance she could be here or you're not so sure? >> i'm hoping like hell she's there. we go in and she had never been in there. >> that's such a letdown. >> tell me about it. it was bad. it was bad. >> but lewis wasn't done. he had a captive audience and he knew it. he took the police to a new location, a house about 35 miles away. >> and he says, well, this is where i initially took her after i abducted her. as soon as we walked in, there

was nothing. >> another letdown. >> another letdown. >> are you feel like this guy is taking us on a wild goose chase? >> yup. i was so mad that i couldn't drive him back. i had to ride back with another detective. >> there's a woman's life that could be at stake, he's messing with the police. >> playing games. playing games. >> while lewis was leading detectives on this wild goose chase, another cop had tracked down this trevor, the man louis claimed was his accomplice. >> we figured out he was in the military here in little rock, assigned to the little rock air force base. we did make contact with him. >> they interrogated trevor for several hours, then let him go. >> he wasn't even in town. >> he had an ironclad alibi? >> absolutely. we confirmed with the military's office of special investigation he was on base that day. >> lie after lie. there was no accomplice.

police were running out of options. then detective allison thought of one more possibility, a see meant plan called argo's where lewis had previously worked. i point blank asked him if beverly was at argo's. at that point he looked up and had this stupid look on his face and i figured that's where she was at. police rushed to hope to find beverly alive. >> coming up, another gain from aaron lewis. i was so mad about how dare you try to tarnish her reputation. >> at last, an answer for her family. >> they said we found bevelry. >> when "dateline" continues. feel the power of theraflu expressmax.

new power... ...to fight back theraflu's powerful new formula to defeat 7 cold and flu symptoms... fast. so you can play on. theraflu expressmax. new power. see ya. -take care. ♪ so probably take it at night. and if you have any questions, the instructions are here in spanish as you requested. gracias. ♪ at walgreens, how we care will change over time, but why we care remains the same

treating everyone with the care and attention they deserve. walgreens. trusted since 1901. hey, sir lose-a-lot! thou hast the patchy beard of a pre-pubescent squire! thy armor was forged by a feeble-fingered peasant woman... your mom! as long as hecklers love to heckle, you can count on geico

saving folks money. boring! fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.

>> you know have a gut feeling that's where she's at? >> yeah. >> shortly after arriving an officerer stumbled on something straight out of a crime novel, an elbow sticking out of a

shallow grave. it was beverly. >> you never forget the look on someone's face when you tell them that you found their spouse. beverly's family. >> he said, "we found beverly." >> reporter: four days after >> we really tried to do right and it wasn't enough. >> i know she pleaded. i know she pleaded for her life and to come back to us and for her grand babies. >> aaron lewis was charged with murder and kidnapping and his wife charged as his accomplice. they pleaded not guilty. his words to reporter shannon miller outside the sheriff's office didn't sound like an

innocent man. >> why beverly? why beverly? >> she was a rich broker. >> it was just as chilling in person as it was on tv. and then he gets into thor car and you're going, what did he just say? >> reporter: two weeks later, shannon interviewed lewis in jail and he told a vastly different story than the one he'd told detectives. >> was he willing to cop to anything? >> no. >> i didn't kill her, i didn't murder her and anything that did occur was an accident. >> reporter: then he tried to say beverly played a role in her own death. he implied she willingly met him at the house for a sexual hook-up that went wrong. >> it's didn't have nothing to do with her showing the home. just a place to meet. >> in your opinion, how farfetched was this new story about the sexual encounter? >> well, it was 100% made up. so it was completely farfetched. >> reporter: assistant district attorney john johnson was assigned the case.

he believed it was a kidnapping gone wrong, but needed help proving it in court. he turned to lewis's wife, crystal lowery. >> i thought from -- from the very beginning that we would need to flip crystal, and it would be important for the case for her to testify. >> reporter: he made a deal with with crystal. she agreed to testify against her husband and plead guilty plea to murder and kidnapping -- in exchange for a reduced sentence of 30 years. >> it's good for the jury to be able to hear, you know, the the backstory of what went on and the why of what went on. >> reporter: in january of this year, arron lewis went on trial. the prosecution's star witness, crystal lowery, took the stand and told the jury all the grisly details. she claimed it was all about money, not sex. >> she said he came up with the idea of kidnappin' someone. but she even went so far as to suggest real estate agents. >> reporter: she testified that she was in class at nursing school when lewis abducted

beverly. >> she got a text from arron lewis saying, "look at this," or something like that. and it was a picture of ms. carter bound in the trunk of the car. she said that when she got home he had brought ms. carter back to the house. >> reporter: she told the jury when she got home beverly was locked in their bathroom. and what she said next showed how little thought went into this plan. lewis had forgotten beverly's purse with her atm card at the property, so he went back to get it. crystal says when he got close to the house cops were everywhere. one even pulled him over. >> this particular officer just stopped a car that was comin' in to say, "hey, if you -- have you seen --" you know, just to ask questions and to put the person on alert. >> reporter: the officer couldn't have known that arron lewis was the man they were looking for. >> ms. carter was still alive, and -- and he just didn't know it. >> reporter: when lewis returned home, crystal told the jury that's when the couple ran out of options.

>> she was in the bathroom with crystal's medication, and so that she knew crystal's name. >> reporter: beverly had seen too much. they agreed she had to die. >> arron took ms. carter from their house in -- and put her in the back of the -- of the car and drove her out to the cement plant. >> reporter: that's when prosecutors believe lewis did something horrific. he wrapped beverly's face in duct tape and let her suffocate >> he came home and told crystal that she was dead. >> reporter: and then the heart of the prosecution's case -- that recording of beverly pleading to her husband. they played it for the jury. >> just do what he says and please don't call the police. if you call the police it could be bad. >> reporter: prosecutors argued the recording proved beverly had been kidnapped and contradicted lewis's claim of a hookup. so how would the defense explain that tape? attorney bill james chose to ignore it. >> i was unable to come up with any plausible explanation for

that recording that helped us. >> so was this one of your biggest obstacles then? this recording? >> i mean, everything came back to the recording. >> reporter: instead he led jurors in a different direction beverly's personal life. >> you said this case is about secret lives. what did you mean by that? >> in order for our defense to -- to be correct, she would have had to be living a life that was basically secret or at least doing something that other people didn't know about. >> reporter: here's where lewis's story got even stranger. he was no longer implying that he had sex with beverly. he claims he was out of the house at the time? >> that's i mean that's what he said, yes. >> reporter: lewis said the tryst was between beverly and crystal he said beverly accidentally died during rough sex. >> she died while with his wife and that he was only just protecting his wife and trying to cover up for her. >> reporter: to further bolster this story, james suggested to the jury that beverly had been prone to poor judgment.

he pointed out that she was broke but driving a brand new cadillac and getting expensive plastic surgery. >> i'm just saying, she made some bad decisions. maybe she made another one. >> reporter: finally, arron lewis took the stand and told the jury the story about the alleged rendezvous with beverly and his wife. during cross examination, prosecutors pounced. they questioned him about every detail including that one piece of evidence that seemed to contradict his entire story beverly's voice on that tape telling her husband she'd been kidnapped. >> what he ultimately told the jury was that -- he had -- he had done it himself. he had synthesized her voice and created this tape. >> you'll forgive me if that sounds maybe a little silly? >> well, you'll forgive me if i'm -- in -- i remind you that i didn't say it happened. i'm just tellin' you. what the evidence was. i'm just saying what happened in the trial. >> reporter: to beverly's friends and family lewis's story was not only preposterous -- it

was painful to listen to. >> we had been victimized over and over again by him. and i was angry that -- not only that he was able to do it, but that he continued to be able to hurt my mom. >> i was so mad. because i thought, "how dare you try to tarnish our sweet beverly's reputation." >> reporter: the verdict was back in less than an hour. >> we hear footsteps running. and they were like, "the verdict's in." what -- what? it was very quick. >> good -- good sign? >> yes. >> great sign. >> great sign. >> reporter: aaron lewis was found guilty on all counts and given two life sentences. >> i felt relief -- instantly relief that we got him. >> reporter: and beverly's family is working to make sure this doesn't happen to someone else's family. they started the beverly carter foundation. her son travels the country training real estate agents about safety. >> it's a blessing for me.

because i get to -- to not only raise awareness, talk about safety, best practices, but then i also use that as an opportunity to sort of slide in some great stories about my mom and so kind of keep her alive. >> that's all for this edition of "dateline." i'm craig melvin. thank you for watching. ♪ i'm craig melvin. >> and i'm natalie morales. >> and this is "dateline." thanks for joining us. she had missed a meeting and then not to hear from her, this isn't right. it would have been impossible to get up every day knowing that she was gone. i had to believe we would find her alive. >> text her, she always got right back. >> i've seen her step out of the shower to answer her phone. >> then one day she didn't. >> immediately my spidey senses