prod too much, but what happen inside your stomach when you hear it? >> i just get a lot of anxiety i have flashbacks of me runnin down the ramp and just going t the cement >> she showed us the spot wher she looked death in the eye an struck back. this wasn't an easy thing to do >> i'm just taking it all in right now. >> i think you are a tough cookie, aren't you >> yeah, that's what a lot o people say [laughs] i guess so >> and dirty john meehan is an ever more distant memory now this trail of victims say from his terror thanks to a young woman, and a little dog who fought for he life, and won. >> that's all for this edition of dateline. i'm natalie morales. thanks for watching.

>> she was a message light i this dark world. that is what she was about, sh was just a cup of love and i am like, who saw thi coming >> a beautiful young student gunned down. >> things like that just didn' happen there >> why? who? who would want to do this? >> i thought i had my man. >> her fiance was a police officer. >> anyone knew how to do thi and get away with it, wouldn't it be him? >> then someone told polic what he saw. >> he told me he saw a femal that was about 5:10, she pulls off and takes off at the complex. >> what did she know >> she said i'm in fear of m life the story starts to unravel. >> a secret tape >> why are you whispering? >> you know why. because somebody's listening. >> a secret lover >> he wanted her to come bac

to him and she didn't. >> and a secret reveal >> as we're getting ready to finish up, someone hands me note >> who killed denita >> you've told me some thing you'd only admit to a priest and you can't tell me this las little piece of the puzzle. why? ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the dark room is where photographer's vision comes to life. allowing others to see the world through their eyes and with these shots, we can learn a little about the world this young photographer saw. and her sense of exactly whe to snap the shutter to capture the world in front of her. it' an impressive portfoli belonging to a young woman named denita smith. she bega looking through a lens i childhood. and never stopped a

her mother sharon remembers. >> she's always loved th camera. the camera was her friend. the camera was her way of expressing herself. >> denita was beginning to tur all that talent into a successful trade. working as a photo journalist on the studen newspaper at north carolin central university in durham >> she would see things that probably the average perso wouldn't see >> but there was something denita didn't see coming. blind spot in her seemingl perfect life. something sh never anticipated. never imagined. but maybe no one could. it was january 4th, 2007. a crisp carolina morning denita had a busy day ahead as classes were about to resume after christmas break. >> denita loved school. and sh

was planning to go back and ge her doctorate. and get married and have a family. >> and somewhere along the line, work in this business. >> exactly >> in fact, denita had won a "new york times" fellowship. her close friend and classmate edith kerns. >> denita just always knew wha she wanted. she always had a vision and a goal and she woul make a plan and stick to it an take it step by step until she met that goal. >> denita lived in the campu crossings apartments near th university. around 8:00 a.m., 911 call came in from anothe student at the same complex. >> 9-1-1. what is your emergency? >> i think this girl just fell down the stairs. she's at th bottom of the stairs bust up and blood everywhere >> she responding to you at all? >> she's not even moving. do you want me to get her i.d. out? >> if you can. >> her name is denita smith. denita! she ain't moving, man. >> denita seemed to have

perhaps lost her balance and fallen down the stairs. police and paramedics rush to the complex. but college was quickly notified, as was denita's family. >> ms. smith, denita fell. she is unconscious but they're trying to revive her. he sai are you coming to durham? an i'm still trying to wrap m head around you fell unconscious, revived. i said yes, i'm coming. >> sharon and her other tw children lived in charlotte, almost a three-hour drive from durham >> on my way there, i did call jermeir. >> that was jermeir straud, he fiance, a police officer who worked in greensboro. much closer to durham >> i said i need you to get to durham now. denita has fell. she's unconscious. they're trying to revive her. so h said okay. because i knew from greens greensboro to durham, h would be there

before i would >> could you tell he had any idea of this he >> did not lead on that h was aware. >> word spread fast that something had happened at th apartment complex. edith calle to check on denita >> she wasn't answering, which was, you know, after i cal your phone several times as best friend, you know, somebody's going to call you back. so i was like that's strange. so my instinct just said call jermeir really quick just to touch bases with him >> by now, jemeir straud had left work and was racing t durham >> i spoke so jermeir and i' like have you made contact wit her? but i felt like i didn' get a definite answer. i seemed like it was a little bi of confusion >> what do you mean? >> like, when i said did you speak with her? he didn' really give me a yes or no. he just sound a little rushed like edith's, you know, just sit tight, stay calm. i'm sure we'll get to her >> also, rushing to get to denita was her mother, sharo smith, who was driving t durham from charlotte.

>> you're thinking this is a accident >> uh-huh. >> but she's going to be okay. >> uh-huh. i just thought sh was at the hospital. >> durham police arrived and taped off the scene. >> we found denita at the -- a the bottom of the steps. and w were basically -- there was pretty large police presence a the time >> detective shaun pate wasn't sure exactly what he was dealing with. but it was beginning to look a lot more serious than just an acciden on the stairs. >> we weren't able to determin what the injuries were. we saw there was blood coming from he head. she had her purse. she had a water bottle. lipstick keys. that kind of thing all coming down the staircase. and the first thing i'm wonderin is, was there a struggle >> was her wallet there? >> the wallet was there. >> and money in it >> it must've been because a first, we didn't think it was robbery. >> edith, who knew none of this, now rushed to denita's buildin where she hoped to find he close friend. but instead, was

greeted by several of th university's professors. >> i was like what are you all doing here? and they were like you know, unfortunately, she's not alive. everything in me, you know, just went into shock of course. and i -- i was -- i kept saying, you know, i wan to see her, maybe it's a stake in identity, she's not, that this can't be. >> denita monique smith wa just 25 years old. and engaged to be married. now, her fiance jermeir straud, who had also arrived on scene, was given th awful news >> how'd he look >> like a blank expression. he was calm. and he was like, you know, it's going to be okay. he's like calm down. i was lik my heart is breaking right now i'm like and it's breaking for you too. because i'm like this is your future wife. i'm lik who saw this coming?

>> but edith didn't know the worst of it. her close frien denita hadn't died in a tragic accident. police discovere denita had been murdered. shot at almost point-blank range. >> clearly, intentional. >> and shot in the back of the head >> dead center >> this was an execution >> exactly >> meanwhile, denita's mothe sharon had arrived fro charlotte. still unaware o what had happened. >> where's my baby? and is she all right? >> now, police had to break th horrible news about her oldest daughter >> and so that's when they explained that denita was found, and she had been shot. and she was dead. and at that point, m life just changed. completely.

>> nothing prepares you fo that, does it? >> uh-uh. because i'm wonderin who? why? who would want to do this? why would they want to d this? it just doesn't make sense. >> coming up. why would anyone want to kill the popular and lovely denita? >> he says, let me call th police, and then she goes, off and takes off out the complex. >> when dateline continues spray flonase sensimist daily for non-drowsy, long lasting relief in a scent-free, gentle mist. (psst psst) flonase. all good. ♪ icy hot pro starts working instantly. with two max-strength pain relievers. ♪ so you can rise from pain like a pro. icy hot pro. ♪ i gotta good feeling about this, yeah ♪ ♪ i'm with it ♪

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on that landing. i think tha someone was there. pretendin they were knocking on the door or fumbling for keys >> so denita probably woul have had to walk right past th shooter? >> probably, good morning. how are you? and turn to go down the steps. >> dang. >> and that's it >> denita murdered. executed i broad daylight. it made no sense. her bff edith say denita simply didn't have an enemies. >> denita was a light in thi dark world. she had a beautifu spirit. she was loving. she wa kind. she was supportive. sh embodied everything that was positive and about supportin people >> there was no one who didn't like her >> right. she was real respected and well-loved >> especially, by her fiance jermeir stroud, who appeared devastated by denita's death >> jermeir didn't say anything jermeir cried. we all cried. h

didn't really say a whole lot. >> jermeir and denita had me back in college and became the it couple on campus. >> they had been dating for few years. and, you know before i even met him, denit spoke very highly of him >> what'd she say? >> like, he's a gentleman. he' intelligent. he's active involved, well-rounded, he's kind, he respects me, he protects me. he's loving >> the perfect guy >> the perfect guy. the perfec guy. >> he was, apparently, eve perfect enough for denita' cautious mother, sharon smith. who came to trust that jermeir was the right guy for he precious daughter. >> i knew what he would be getting. but i didn't know wha she would be getting. so i tried to find every reason t not like him >> how'd you do? >> i failed because he was ver

polite. he was very respectful i would always tell jermeir, you take care of my baby. this is precious cargo. and h promised me that he would. tha he wouldn't let anything hur her. i said, okay. >> now, police wanted to tal to jermeir stroud. >> greensboro police hav confirmed smith was engaged to officer jermeir stroud. stroud has been an officer with the greensboro police department for four years >> the fact that he was he fiance, immediately made strou a person of interest. jermei insisted he knew nothing about who killed denita. >> jermeir was at home aslee because he had just worked night shift the day before >> so he was off duty. >> he was off duty. it's not unbelievable. it just makes it harder to rule him out >> so there's no proof that he was anywhere >> except for the fact that hi phone was, you know, at hi house on his nightstand plugge in >> but by all accounts, jermei

stroud loved denita dearly. it didn't make sense that he woul kill the woman to whom he ha just proposed. they were planning a big wedding. now, after speaking with detectives jermeir headed back home t greensboro. his life changed forever. and then two hour after the murder, detectives got a lead >> 9-1-1. where is you emergency? >> campus crossing apartments. >> they discovered a secon 9-1-1 call that had come i around the time denita was killed >> i'm hearing gunshots coming from somewhere around here >> the caller was th apartment's maintenanc supervisor, who had been working near denita's unit >> when he heard the shot, h looked up in that direction. and he told me he saw a female that was about 5'10", hair in pony tail, and had some kind o emblems on her clothing.

>> young lady, she's like upse and shaking, and stuff lik that >> she was covering her face and she went and got into he truck and started driving away >> this woman looked frightened? or - >> he said like she wa distraught. she had her hand over her face. and -- an moving quickly >> like they're horrified by what they've seen. >> correct >> so more witness tha perpetrator maybe. >> that's exactly what h thought. >> then, according to th maintenance man, the woman got into a burgundy colored ford explorer, which he the followed in his truck. >> he pulls up beside her. s they're kind of like looking directly at each other. eyebal to eyeball and she still has her hands over her face. and h says, ma'am, did you hear shot or something? and she shakes her head up and dow yes. and he says, where -- where'd it come from? and sh points her head in one direction. and he says why are you nervous? and she's like, you heard the shot. and he say

let me call the police. an then she pulls off and takes off out the complex. >> what do you make of that? >> that's kind of like make th hair on the back of our neck stand up >> so now, police call jermeir stroud, who was on his way bac home to greensboro. and aske one simple question. >> do you know anyone that drives a burgundy ford suv? an he said, oh my god, i'm turnin around now >> coming up. a secret affair. >> they start having a relationship that actually started kind of like friendl but then turned sexual >> what, if anything, did it have to do with denita's matter? when dateline continues. get pregnant in the future. find it yourself in the family planning aisle no prescription, no id. i've got this. ♪♪ so, you're 45. that's the perfect age to see some old friends, explore new worlds, and to start screening for colon cancer. yep.

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♪ ♪ ♪ >> just a few hours after hi fiancée's murder, roger meir stroud made the biggest u-turn of his life. he was headed hom to greensboro to mourn the los of denita smith when detective called him about a break in th case. a woman driving burgundy suv had been spotte at the crime scene. did jermei know her? yes, he said, he did starting with her name. shanno crawley. and one more thing. like jermeir, she also worke in law enforcement >> he met shannon back in 2000 when he was in the polic academy. shannon was a 9-1-1 communicator and she was one o the people that was in the training session >> shannon was 21 then. tall striking, and single. raisin two kids. and this is he

family. brother keith, jr., an her parents anne and keith crawley. >> she was determined to giv the kids a good life, a nice home, and a good education very caring and -- and lovin mother >> and if you ask her, she say i'm just a mom. and that's how -- i'm just a mom. >> now, at the durham police department, detectives wante to know more about shannon's relationship with jermei stroud. so they interviewe jermeir, who was cooperative but guarded. >> he said, yeah, she caught m eye. i mean, she's 5'10". long pretty hair. thin. we spoke fo a short time. that was in 2000 around 2004, they bumped i again through work. and he asked her for her number >> and at this point, he's involved with denita >> involved with denita. and h actually said that he told shannon in 2000 that he wa involved with denita. well, in

2004, they start having relationship that actually started kind of like friendly. but then turned sexual towar the end of 2004. >> and shannon drives burgundy suv >> correct >> first, detectives had a murder. now, a love triangle detective pate pressed jermeir for more details about the two women in his life. >> i said, well, have they eve met? and he said, no, they'v never met. but i used to have picture of denita in my hous on -- on my television and whe shannon would help me move in, she saw the picture. >> shannon knew about denita >> shannon knew about denita but denita had no clue, an everyone i spoke to abou denita said if she eve suspected, she would have been out of that relationship. sh had too much dignity for that. >> this was an affair jermei was hiding >> correct >> remember, jermeir lived i greensboro, near shannon. bu 50 miles away from denita. the woman jermeir was officially involved with at the time. i

was a tale of two cities and two women. jermeir and denit were dating, though not ye engaged. and he was also seein shannon and that seemed more serious than just a fling. >> did jermeir disclose to you that he had gotten shannon pregnant >> he did. >> and that she had an abortion? >> correct >> shannon's mother anne say her daughter had the abortio because her pregnancy wasn't viable. but she claims tha when jermeir found out - >> and he was very upset. he had contacted the doctor t find out if -- if what she sai was true about the -- th pregnancy being viable. and th doctor refused to talk to hi and that made him angry. >> jermeir wanted to keep th baby and raise the baby with shannon. >> yeah. >> didn't sound to me like their relationship was over. sounds to me like it was going pretty well. >> no. in fact, he had said to her that if you don't want the baby, you know, i'll take th baby

>> shannon went through with the abortion. but by this time jermeir told detectives, his relationship with shannon ha taken a big turn >> there was no more sleepin together. going shopping together. that kind of thing it was more just a voice on th phone. or see you in passing a work >> so basically, they broke it off. >> they did. >> a year before denita wa killed >> a year. >> now, after the murder, word of jermeir's two timing spread quickly. denita's mother sharon >> i'm angry. i'm mad. because it never should've happened. you were in a seriou relationship. why you felt you had to step out, don't understand. you don't hurt the ones you love. >> the divorce rate in thi country would suggest that w hurt the ones we love all th time >> that's true. but it's kin of bad when you going into the

marriage being foul. not sayin it's okay once you in it buch. you would like to think, tha you're starting things off right. >> edith kerns was barel beginning to process the los of her close friend. and now had to cope with something els she had never imagined >> i was just sad. and i was hurt. and i was in shock. just disbelief because i had -- i had nothing bad to say about him. >> this wasn't jermeir >> yes. i mean, that's exactly more or less, how i felt. it was just like a nightmare. like, this wasn't reality. >> denita had trusted jermeir. the man investigating her deat did not. now, the man who once made denita so happy was in th cross hairs of a murde investigation that was quickly ramping up. and though jermeir stroud seemed genuinel devastated by denita's death openly crying throughout his

interview with detectives, h wasn't getting much sympathy >> when i first spoke with him i thought i had my man >> jermeir >> jermeir >> coming up. what does shannon know and what is she hiding data? >> as we're leaving, getting ready to finish up the interview with her, someon hands me a note. >> when "internal affairs" continues. i lowered my a1c, cv risk, and lost some weight. in studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. and you may lose weight. adults lost up to 14 pounds. ozempic® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take ozempic® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction.

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york here is what is happening. donald trump said saturday tha quote unquote, illegal leagues indicate he will be arrested o tuesday. related to a new yor investigation of alleged hus money payments msnbc news cannot confirm cu trump's claim, and trump's old lawyer and spokesperson says there has been no communicatio from the prosecutors overseas, a 6.7 magnitud earthquake struck the second largest city of ecuador on saturday dozens of people were killed

and it caused major, widesprea damage to homes and building there. now let's go back to dateline! >> whoever killed the denita smith, left very littl evidence behind. no fingerprints, no dna, n murder weapon. the metal coal exam or did fin one thing. the bullet that killed goa denita police now hoped that mangle slug would provide a lead on who pulled the trigger >> who called the need assessment >> all we can say is that th bullet itself, that had enough weight to be a 38 calibe round. >> by now, this was big news across the world assistance attorney was keepin

a close eye on this now, hig profile case when that he might actuall prosecute. if the killer was ever caught. >> it was so obvious that it was not a robbery, and so if she was targeted for som reason, there was a very, very very, very limited number of people who would target denita for something like this. and jermeir certainly could've bee one of'em. >> jermeir stroud. denit smith's fiance. on the day o the murder, stroud had reveale to police his romance with shannon crawley. the woman who owned an suv similar in mode and color to the one see leaving the crime scene with a distraught woman behind th wheel. >> so if the maintenance guy doesn't see the burgundy suv then you never ask jermeir about the burgundy suv >> exactly. wouldn't have went to greensboro looking for suspect when durham has plenty of people here >> so the day after the murder detective pate headed westboun on interstate 40. anxious to

speak with shannon crawley, th other woman in jermeir stroud' life. by now, shannon's parents, her father keith and her mothe anne, were shocked to hear their daughter was about to be interviewed by police. she was a responsible single mom who lived quietly raising he children >> being a young mother, you know, she worked six month straight. 12-hour shifts. to buy a house. at 27 years old that's quite an accomplishment for -- for a single mother >> it sounds undeniable that all of you are really proud of her. >> yes >> and her life was certainl headed in the right direction. >> yes >> absolutely. >> yes >> shannon worked in greensbor as a 9-1-1 operator for th emergency call center where sh was often in close contact wit law enforcement. and was, by all accounts, a model employee >> her supervisors really like her. she was dependable. she came to work. she did what she was supposed to do. did it in professional manner. n

complaints really. >> detective shawn pate also found shannon to be cordial an cooperative as they settled in to discuss where shannon was o the day denita died. >> pretty calm. easy going kind of like us sitting here i'd ask a question. she woul give me an answer. >> what'd you ask her? >> first, i asked her abou jermeir or whatever. and she admitted that she knew him and -- and about the relationshi that they had had. >> shannon wasn't shy abou corroborating what jermeir had already admitted. they met through work. it got physical. she got pregnant. she had an abortion. and the romantic par of their relationship ended year before denita's murder. >> they both agreed to end i in january of 2006. that relationship was over. the both gave the same date, the same incident and reason tha it ended >> shannon said she didn't think jermeir was capable of murder. and insisted she didn'

even know denita smith. then detective pate zeroed in on th last time shannon was in durham. the city where denit was murdered >> she said she's never been t durham. i ask her about owning a gun. and she tells me that i've never owned a gun. i can' stand guns. i'm scared of them i said, okay. i can understand that. a lot of people feel tha way. >> and as for where she was on that chilly january morning? >> she told me she was at doctor's appointment with on of her children. that was easy to check out. her supervisor was on scene and she did tel her supervisor that she wa taking her child to the doctor >> shannon's story seemed to add up. maybe she wasn't the distraught woman the eyewitnes saw leaving the scene of denita's murder 50 miles awa from where shannon lived and worked. detective pate was jus about out of questions. an then >> an interesting thin

happened. as we're leaving getting ready to finish up the interview with her, someon hands me a note. and it's from a supervisor and it says a gentleman, one of he co-workers, would like to spea with you before you leave. >> and what that co-worker had to say would raise serious questions not just for shannon crawley but also for her forme lover, jermeir stroud. comin up did someone want shannon dea as well? >> she says, you, know i'm kin of in fear of my life. >> when dateline continues if it's covid, paxlovid. authorized for emergency use, paxlovid is an oral treatment for people 12 and up... who have mild-to-moderate covid-19 and have a high-risk factor for it becoming severe. my symptoms are mild now, but i'm not waiting. if it's covid, paxlovid. having even one risk factor, like being over 50, diabetes, or smoking

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investigation had now switched from durham to greensboro, where detective shawn pate was now talking to shannon crawley's colleague at the 911 call center. he said shannon had been getting a lot o disturbing personal phone call at work. >> he said jermeir stroud woul call up here all the time. and want to speak to her >> this is going back months now. >> months. months. months. and on one particular occasion, sh says, you know, i'm kind of in fear of my life. i'm scared. i don't know what he might do to me. he's shown up at my hous and he has a gun with him at all times. >> shannon's co-worker was concerned and wanted to help >> it gets to the point that h offered to sell her a gun,

which he did. he named the exact model. and tells me that he gave her bullets to accompany the gun and offere to teach her how to use it >> what kind of gun? >> it was a.38 caliber revolver >> the same type of gu detectives thought denita' killer might have used >> you know, wait a minute. just finished an interview wit her five minutes ago and she told me i never owned a gun. and in that same interview, asked her do you think tha jermeir is capable of murder and she said no. not at all. just like that. no, not at all but you're telling a co-worker that you're in fear for your life from jermeir. >> conflicting stories tha cast suspicion on shannon an on jermeir. so that next day detective pate spoke wit jermeir stroud once again. h denied ever harassing shanno at work. and said there was no reason why she would be afraid of him. but jermeir's answer t

one particular question go detective pate's attention >> i asked him, do you think that shannon is capable of killing someone? and he said yes. >> as the investigatio continued in durham, polic showed shannon crawley's photo to that maintenance man, who had seen a woman driving awa from the crime scene on th morning of the murder. and h could not identify shannon a the driver. then they showed him a picture of shannon's burgundy ford explorer >> he was very positive abou the vehicle. he said, yep, that's the vehicle that i saw. >> and that wasn't the onl thing the witness noticed, say assistant d.a. david sacks >> he remembers a patch or something kind of on the shirt >> a patch like on the uniform shannon wore as a 91 dispatcher. and there was more investigators discovered shannon clocked in at abou

10:00 a.m. some two hours afte denita smith had been murdered more than enough time for th 55-mile drive from durham to her job at the 911 center in greensboro. so police obtained a search warrant for shannon's house. >> and we do find a greensboro communication 911 center uniforms. and they are exactly as described by the maintenanc supervisor. down to the colo of the patch and the shape >> you find a gun? >> no gun was found. no bullet were found. nothin incriminating other than - than that. >> and then came this. shannon had told police she had neve been to durham. but her cell phone records clearly indicate she had been there. not on the day denita was killed. shannon or at least her phone, had bee there the day before >> she was hitting a tower tha placed her no less than 10 feet away from where denit would be found dead the next morning.

>> and you think what's goin on there >> thinking it's recon >> shannon showed up a day early to find out exactly whic apartment denita lived in. >> you have to know when to be there and where to place yourself. where to stand without looking suspicious because if you just linger for hours, someone's going to say, you don't even live here. what are you doing? >> police also check jermeir stroud's cell phone and police radio. and found he was nowher near durham that day before th killing. only shannon. s police impounded her suv >> we did gunshot residue test on the car. the steering wheel the gear shifter, and come back there is gunshot residue. >> and if all that didn't look bad enough, shannon's alibi no started to fall apart. she had told her supervisor an detectives she was taking he child to the doctor at the tim of denita's murder. but th pediatrician told police shannon didn't show up tha

day. >> the story starts to unravel nothing is adding up >> shannon was looking like prime suspect. but one thing was missing. motive. the detective pate remembere shannon's account of how she and jermeir had decided that she would have an abortion. an the way she told the story mad an impression on pate. >> when shannon said, jermeir, i'm pregnant, what are we gonn do? he said i don't want t have a baby with you. he tol me that's how he said it and she quoted it back to me verbatim. and she said i -- remember those words >> not just i don't want t have a baby. or i don't want t have a baby right now. >> i don't want to have a baby with you. i imagine that sucke just a little bit of her sou out. >> is that your motivation right there? >> i think that's where th seed was planted. i really do. because that implies that ther is someone else that you would like to have a child with.

>> maybe someone like jermeir' fiancee, denita smith. detective pate now thought shannon crawley had the means, the opportunity, and the motiv to commit murder >> it got to the point we -- w thought this is all we're goin to get right now. and it's mor than enough. >> well, was it enough? police had no dna, no fingerprints, n murder weapon, and no forensic at the crime scene that linked shannon to denita's murder. bu detective pate was als thinking about denita's family >> the family is suffering let's go ahead and give them a little peace right now >> five days after denit smith's murder, detective pate drove back to greensboro with warrant to arrest shanno crawley. she and her childre were staying at her sister's house when police arrived. >> shannon comes out. they cuf her. she walks out the door as though she's going to check th

mail >> pate says shannon did not seem surprised to see him. >> there's no -- no sad look o anything like that. she stan in the driveway, she looks a her family and says -- waves t to them. >> those are the word of a woman who does not expect to b raising her own children >> shannon's family watche their daughter be cuffed and taken away >> more upsetting. i was angry i was afraid for her. knowin in my heart that my -- m daughter could never ever have done that. >> shannon was just 28. she' never been in trouble with the law. now, she was being charge with first-degree murder and could face life in prison. whe she arrived at the polic station, shannon was, again, cool and calm. and had littl to say. except this, t detective pate >> i didn't do this. but you need to worry about wher

jermeir was when this happened coming up. jermeir had said hi affair with shannon was over was it >> he wanted her to come back? >> he wanted her to come bac to him and she didn't. >> when dateline continues with new flonase headache and allergy relief! two pills relieve allergy headache pain? and the congestion that causes it! flonase headache and allergy relief. psst! psst! all good! ♪ ♪ to all the chevy silverado owners out there. the adventurers and the doers. to everyone that works hard and plays hard. whether it's your first silverado or your tenth. thank you for making chevy silverado the #1 best-selling retail full-size pickup. my asthma felt anything but normal.

♪ ♪ it was time for a nunormal with nucala. nucala is a once-monthly add-on treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma that can mean less oral steroids. not for sudden breathing problems. allergic reactions can occur. get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. infections that can cause shingles have occurred. don't stop steroids unless told by your doctor. tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. may cause headache, injection site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. ask your asthma specialist about a nunormal with nucala. >> they called it a "home-goin

service, " the final farewel to 25-year-old denita smith, who had departed this worl under the worst of circumstances. just a week earlier denita's mother, sharon, was starting to plan her daughter's wedding. now she wa attending denita's funeral >> no parent wants to see thei child laying in -- in a casket and denita's life was -- it wa snatched from under her, stolen >> it seemed the whole tow turned out on that january day

in 2007. denita's close friend edythe kearns, spoke at th funeral. >> the home going was an emotional day. it wa definitely some sadness. but w were trying to, you know, be happy and think about he spirit and life legacy and the way that she would want all of us to go on. but at that time, i think it was just too much and it was overwhelming. >> denita's fiancé, jermei stroud, was there as well. >> jermeir was sad and he wa crying. and he appeared -- clearly, he was devastated. an i think reality was starting t sink in and that it hit hi that the love of his life wa no longer with us. >> it was of little comfort to denita's family and friend that the woman accused o killing her was sitting in the durham county jail. shanno crawley had been arrested th day before and charged wit first-degree murder. now her family was mourning, too >> it's devastating, the fea that you have at that point fo your child >> and no one can convince m that my child did that. i know

her. >> shannon's dad, himself former deputy sheriff, was convinced his daughter was a victim of a shoddy investigation by the durha police, perhaps deliberately so >> i'm not saying that the framed her. i'm saying tha they simply allowed themselves to be led in that direction. and if they had any suspicions that another police officer wa involved, they decided not t follow that up >> you were in law enforcement you cover up crimes by other officers >> no, i never did >> and what you're suggestin is that durham cops, who didn' even know jermeir, looked away from a murder committed by a guy who worked for another department in another city they're risking prison time fo this guy they don't even know? >> cops will protect other cop regardless of what departmen they're in. there are always that few, not many >> to the contrary, assistan

district attorney david saacks who was assigned to prosecute, says he was extra careful in building his case agains shannon precisely becaus jermeir was a police officer >> i needed to make sure tha everything was done by the boo and we vetted everything a well as we could, and delved into everything as deep as w could because he was a cop >> because if you clear him, you know you're going to get that criticism >> absolutely. we ended up having to have several different interviews wit jermeir. and each time we woul get maybe a little something more. and so it took a littl while sometimes to pull al that stuff out >> investigators say h appeared devastated. jermeir stroud insisted he had no idea that his secret romance migh place denita in danger. bu detective pate still thought jermeir was not entirely forthcoming. >> jermeir would tell me the truth, but you had to ask it >> he wasn't volunteerin anything >> absolutely not.

>> they interviewed jermei both at the greensboro pd an over the phone. and each time little bit more informatio would emerge, including what happened after he and shanno ended their romantic relationship. following thei breakup, about a year before denita's murder, jermeir sai he went on a church retreat. there his pastor encouraged hi to apologize to anyone he ha wronged. so jermeir called shannon. >> he said i apologize in grea detail about everything that he's sorry for. he said, "i wa on the phone for 12 hours. m cell phone went dead. i charge it -- i mean, had it plugged in. and we talked until i fell asleep." 12 hours. >> apologizing >> sorry for everything. >> interesting that he talke to shannon about it but no denita >> of course not. she didn't know that there was somethin he needed to apologize for

>> but pate believes all tha apologizing to shannon may hav jump-started something else. >> that's where th relationship kind of picked up again. because there were a lo of feelings that were shared >> so they start talking again >> exactly >> jermeir insisted he and shannon did not become romanti or sexual again. but clearly there was something. >> he was always there for shannon. if shannon wa distraught or wanted to call i the middle of the night, you know, and knew that jermeir wa working, she would call him an he would put up with it. >> maybe he didn't want to b the bad guy? >> maybe didn't want to be the bad guy. >> he doesn't see that he' leaving the door open. as long as you keep doing all th things that a boyfriend woul do, then in her mind she still has a chance >> there's still a shot. >> exactly. i honestly thought hubris made him believe that h could control it >> but police say jermei wasn't able to control the situation with shannon. some three months before denita was

murdered, shannon bought thi house near where jermeir lived and when police searched tha new home of shannon's, the were surprised by what they sa and what they didn't see >> kids'rooms, beds, everythin you expect to be in a nice children's room. mom had a mattress on the floor. there was little to no living room furniture, no dining room set, nothing in the kitchen >> suggesting what? she wa overspending so she could live near jermeir >> just to be near jermeir that's the only reason. ther was a clear pattern of her placing herself near him a every turn. it seemed kind o stalkerish >> coming up, shannon' brand-new story. >> he said i'll make it real simple. either you children di or you die for your children >> it could turn the entir case on its head. but was sh telling the truth? >> when dateline continues

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crowley, and jermeir strap wer involved in a love trial before denita was shot to deat in her apartment complex police wondered if sheena wa obsessed with jermeir. shannon's family is emphatic that jermeir was the one who couldn't let go. harassing shannon with phone calls, at all hours of the day and night. >> he called constantly. >> he would threaten her, he would ask her questions. what are you doing up there? it got to a part where she didn't want to answer th phone. >> he wanted her to come bac to him >> and she didn't. he was so possessive. she just didn' want that type of relationship >> police coaxed more detail from jermeir, and he insiste shannon had been demanding mor and more attention. a woman he

really wanted to be with, he said was denita. but shannon would not go away. >> he complained on her coming around the house and kep calling had a relationship. we agree not to do this >> jermeir insisted he won't take no for an answer. it got to the point where he needed help. >> he filed an internal affair complaint against her? >> i don't know if it's what was official, he had a buddy i the department he did say that she just keeps calling, and i don't know what to do. she just won't let it go >> as far as detective pet could determine, it all came t a head on christmas eve. >> jermeir walked into the greensboro church with the needle on his arm, and a diamond ring on her finger he had proposed and denita was over the moon. >> she walked in proud as

peacock. feathers completely on display showing anyone who would look. and shannon was in the back of the church at the time, and sa that >> we heard that that was th first time shannon realize the were engaged >> shannon's family says the d and the detective heard wrong. >> the day that you ar referring to in the church shannon wasn't there. we wer there. >> less than two weeks later denita smith would still b wearing that engagement ring a she lay dead at the bottom o her apartment steps. >> durham police thought the had the right person sitting i the lock-up, they had arrested shannon crawling, and charge with the murder of her ex-boyfriends new fiancée, denita smith. investigators ha not completely taken their eye off of jermeir. the man who wa involved simultaneously with both women. shannon crawlies father, keith, her mother, and her brother keith junior, neve doubted her.

>> is it possible that you guy don't want to believe that she is a murderer? >> no. she is not a murderer >> no. not in her nature, no her character. >> if i thought that she was lying about, it i wouldn't b out here saying it >> no. >> i wouldn't be saying her -- waving a flag for her, if thought that she had anythin to do with this. >> in may of 2007, shannon crawly was out on bail she and her attorney walked into the durham police station. >> this wasn't just anothe interview, shannon was preparing to share all new information with the potential to change the whole focus of the case. assistant da, davi sacks. >> she wanted to give up her side and we wouldn't allow her to do that. the idea was the -- >> her idea, and the attorney' idea was then they'll drop the charges of this? >> i certainly thought it wa

her idea, if they don't sa anything, then we'll go back because she's already charged. >> the tape world, as shanno began telling a new stor surrounding the death of denit smith. and in this version, shannon said that she had been framed. >> she did show some emotion not a whole lot. she was ver matter-of-fact, and talked a lot. i think the interview wen on for hours, and hours, and hours. shannon said the troubl began after she and jermeir ha broke up he was upset that she had boarded the pregnancy, and h began stalking her >> he would call me, on myself and it would interrupt the radio. he would come into communication stand in the hallway and stare at me. h said it may have a good idea t be -- have something to do wit it >> in her first interview in greensboro, shannon denied eve owning a gun now detective pate challenge

on the changing story. [inaudible >> she felt compelled to buy a weapon from a coworker. becaus she said jermeir, threatened not just her but her children. >> i'd protect them at any cost, he knew that >> and she said jermeir us that fact against her. when he forced her to driv with him to win denita apartment. >> and he said, i will make it real simple, you either have your children die, or you di for your children. >> shannon told detective paid that on january 3rd, the day before the murder, jermeir coerced her to drive to durham to case denita apartment then the next day, she, said jermeir forced her to driv back there again >> [inaudible] >> she said after they put u

two denita apartment, jermei got out. she stayed in the suv. >> he went up the stairs, i sa there. a few more minutes past and heard him arguing and yellin at someone i got out of the car, stood on the sidewalk two -- away and then i heard gunshot. >> the lawyer said, larger mer rush past her and into the driver seat. which explains why gunshot residue was found there. >> he got out of the drive seat, by sliding the back over the seat and got in th backseat. and i'm the driver and i started to leave >> she says that's when sh encountered the maintenance ma who according to shannon didn't see jermeir hiding in the backseat. soon after the left the apartment complex and drove back to greensboro >> i kept asking what happened what the problem was. what happened. i was crying. he was yelling at me. >> she wasn't rehearsed, and

she would not rush to answer a question it was, i would ask a question she gave a moment, she would respond. not too long to make me thin that she was making somethin out. >> in the back of the mind, yo may not want to admit, i jermeir swung and you did this >> yes >> wow, that's a story tha fits all the facts and exonerate. o and in its shannon's not guilty? >> exactly so when she's telling the story, i'm thinking wow, this actuall sounds pretty decent so far. then i think, wait a minute, back up. >> pete raised an obviou question if shannon had had a story tha proved her innocence, why di she wait so long to tell it? >> when i asked, where was the story when i arrested you? her exact words were, he threatene my children in the past. i was scared for their safety. h knew how to get to my children and i asked her, what is changed? he still knows where you children are, he still knows how to get them. he could still hurt them >> and her answer?

>> she just looked at me >> everything i told you is th truth. >> lying you are laying the first time. >> yes i did >> the second time we talked >> the second time we talked, did not lie to you i promise you, i did not lie t you. that was an ally, i told you that he did. >> he was jermeir, shannon's story made him the guilty party, but her story also needed to b checked out. >> this is a fantastic kind of story. if i will dismiss her case, i need to make sure i' filling it out and saying th reason why. i will not do it just because she said sh didn't do it. shannon and he attorney were emphatic tha jermeir was the killer, an also said that, even now months after the murder. he was making threatening phon calls to shannon telling her to stay silent about his role >> i had told them that i'

really willing to look a anything they have, if the bring me something, but i can' just except her word for it. i need some kind of proof to back it up >> the prosecutor challenged them shannon, bring me proof he cannot have imagined what was coming next. sex, lies, and audiotape and maybe, shannon crawlie take it to freedom >> coming up, a cooler conversation >> i spent four months in jail because of you. because yo lied >> i told you i didn't do it [bleep] now, says shannon' father there's no question that his daughter is innocent when dateline continues! need a backup plan? get plan b one-step. plan b helps prevent pregnancy before it starts by temporarily delaying ovulation—and

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the choice is clear: make your business future ready with the network from the most innovative company. >> shannon crawley had told he comcast business. story, the da wanted her t prove. it proved that he former lover had killed hi only fiancée denita, smith. and that he used threats and intimidation to bring shanno along as an unwillin accomplice she told investigators that he was still arresting her whil

she was out on bail. so with their blessing, sh brought a tape recorder an conducted a do-it-yourself sting operation. >> i had four months in jail because the you because yo lied >> i did when i had to d [bleep]. >> just tell the truth please, don't do this to me. >> shannon's family members wh had always supported her, said they could cooperate many of the calls. >> i would say, 99% of the phone calls i was a witness to i was on the other side and you. >> you could see shannon's reaction and this was no someone who is play acting >> no question, i knew it wa him. >> and they said it did no take long for jermeir to incriminate himself. [inaudible >> i'm sure you can. someone like you i am sure. [inaudible >> and what about me i didn't do anything here. [inaudible >> was she afraid? >> yes, oh sure.

>> all told, more than 3 minutes of conversations wer put on tape. did you think that this was th evidence that was going to >> oh yeah that was the whole purpose o them >> there were more police an prosecutors who can talk about this [inaudible >> i think there was one par of the conversation where he said -- i killed her, i will kill you as well. how much mor proof do you need? >> to her family, and to shannon, this was an audio smoking gun that shoul convince the da to exonerate her, and prosecute him >> you know, god is all seeing in all knowing, remember that. how many times did i pray with you? >> every day >> you remember that >> yes >> i'm sorry >> goodbye >> the da's office would now listen carefully to those phon tapes, to see if they were a

conclusive evidence that shannon said they were while that was happening investigators were looking a one other phone call this one especially intriguing because it happened on the day that denita was murdered shannon had arrived at the 9-1-1 phone call one o personnel call came in for her from a man who did not identif himself. >> he has to speak to shannon. when they said hold, on shanno said hello. her phone went click. i asked jermeir, i said did you make that call? an jermeir said yes i did why did you make that call i wanted to know where she was >> he suspected. >> he told me he did thing without knowing. he tells me h did make that call to make sur she was at work. this wa before we had said anythin about a burgundy suv but there was nothing in the past where she ever indicate where she would do harm to denita, that does not add up >> why would jermeir need to know shannon's whereabouts jus

after he found out denita wa killed. investigators though about a variety of scenarios whatever it was, jermeir was not volunteering much. >> sometimes when you tell people, you know, ally o omission, it's still a lie some people do have to ask the correct question to get th answer that you are lookin for. if you do not ask, if you ar not going to get it. >> investigators had to wildly different stories. he said, sh said. who is telling the truth and, who wasn't. >> it was clear we were down t two people. it was one of thes two people. they both had th same allegations of the othe one. >> there is only one way t sort it out, and make sure tha denita smith received th justice that she deserved. >> if we can ever prove who wa stocking home, i think we have our case solved. >> and soon, something would

provide that very answer >> all of a sudden, then the rape allegation happens. >> coming up >> she kept crawling into my bedroom. hysterical and i am asking, what is wrong what is wrong? >> shannon reports a crime this time, she says, she was the victim >> they tested her clothes everything they could. >> who did she say had raped her? >> when dateline continues pic® tri-zone, i lowered my a1c, cv risk, and lost some weight. in studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. and you may lose weight. adults lost up to 14 pounds. ozempic® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take ozempic® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop ozempic® and get medical help right away

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i'm jessica layton in new york and here is what is happening. russian president, vladimi putin, travel to crimea on saturday a day after the internationa criminal court issued an arres warrant against him for allege war crimes putin is accused of bearin responsibility for overseein the illegal abduction an exploitation of children fro ukraine to russia. and over in france, protesters took to the streets for a thir straight night on saturday this comes after president

emmanuel macron forced his proposal to raise th retirement age through the parliament without a vote. and now back to dateline >> it is rare for women to murder. more often they can -- convince their man to do it fo them a kind of homicidal honeydew list that was exactly wha investigators were debating in june 2007. it had been six months since denita smith, murder and sitting on the desk of assistant da david sacks, ther was a phone recording, tha shannon crowley and her family insisted was jermeir stroud, copping to the crime and tryin to cover it up [inaudible >> this is wrong

i did not do anything. >> you know i will find you. >> police were not present whe shannon recorded the calls, bu they were able to trace wher they originated from, payphone. so, there was no way to confirm that jermeir ha made them. assistant da davi sacks listen carefully to th tapes, and soon came to his ow conclusion >> is there any way that could be jermeir's name on the case? >> not that i could see, and h would have to be clearly disguising his voice to make i seem that way. it just did not sound like him at all >> why are you whispering? >> you know why. >> [inaudible] >> if he's calling t intimidate her, what is th point of discussing his voice? >> correct. there is no way in my mind that that was jermeir. when i heard these tapes, knew i had the right person. >> the crowley family wa

infuriated, they were certai that the calls clear their daughter, and revealed jermeir as denita killer they also insist that jermei was working in the charlotte neighborhood where shannon was staying. >> what we went through in charlotte, with him stalking her, because to me, it was stalking me as well. honestly i believe that it was his intention to kill both o them i do i think they both have rejecte him, and he was going to kil both of them >> then, something happene that seem to bear out thei where's fears. shannon was out on bail, and living in family with charlotte, some 100 miles in greensboro where jermeir stroud still worked and lived for the polic department and july 2007, around 2 am shannon said she took her do for a walk in the backyard >> she came crawling into my bedroom, hysterical. i a

asking, what's wrong, what's wrong? >> shannon told her mother she had been raped >> who did she say had raped her? >> she said it was him >> jermeir >> yeah. >> charlotte police were alerted and rushed to th seeing shannon was bleeding, an appeared traumatized she was taken to the hospital, and given a rape exam. >> no witnesses? >> now i think there were maybe fou people that lived in the neighborhood at that time. >> word of shannon's reporte rape traveled quickly to durha where detective -- and yay sacks were now preparing for her child. they wondered i shannon was certain that the attacker was jermeir >> i asked her, well, how do you know that you are gonna be walking the dog at 3:00 in the morning? >> she said that he stop the

house and saw his opportunity. so, if four hours he raped or, if it was 3:00 then when doe the sun come up? it was 7:00. >> it would've been daylight then >> yes, dog doesn't bark anything like that >> shannon said she was sure and then added one mor horrifying detail, jermeir had used a knife to rape her it would take ten days for the results to come back, so in th meantime police of cours question jermeir. he insiste he was in greensboro tha morning, nowhere nea charlotte. when you go t jermeir, and say, shannon said she was raped by you, what's his answer >> he says, no. that's preposterous. you can check my phone, check my work logs an you could see where i was yo can do what you need to do >> but shannon told police tha all the evidence they need, it

just might be sitting in jermeir garbage can. which is where she suggested h stashed the knife. >> and sure enough, he is goin out to put the garbage in hi can, and he sees the knife i there. that's when the neighbor sai they saw the knife before, someone drove up and threw something in this can. and shannon said of no and then-ification was made abou that >> was the knife planted there was no proof either way, but it was tested, and there was nothing that connected t jermeir. as for his whereabouts at th cone - >> he was on the phone, did no get off the phone till six i the morning. so we knew he was in greensbor at the time the call was placed so, to be involved in the rape it just seemed a physica impossibility. then came the results of the rape kit. >> there was no seaman on th virginal swab, nothing tha would be conclusive proof that the rape had occurred. >> it just wasn't there?

>> it wasn't there. they teste for everything they could an the medical personnel confirme that they did not see that kin of injury to her that woul occur. >> there were knife cuts on he body, but -- >> they were superficial >> the crowley family wa outraged all over again that once again shannon's version o events was dismissed, whil charges against her were standing >> police thought she wa making it up >> yeah, yeah. >> i believe they said tha after they talk to prosecutors >> yes >> after they did. everything changed >> this is one big conspiracy? >> sounds like it >> assistant da, david sachs, says the rape was properly investigated, and seem to be nothing more than a hoax. whic also, for him, finally answers of who was stalking whom >> everything was pointing t

her, and the only thin pointing to jermeir was that h was in this affair wit shannon. i don't believe he wa involved in the murder. i do not think he was involved in the planning, or the execution of this murder at all. >> and even if jermeir wante denita out of his life, what could possibly be the motive t kill her >> this is exactly what thought, why? all he had to do is call denita up until it's over >> there's no property, no alamo knee >> and it doesn't make sense h seems genuinely crushed by wha happened >> absolutely. >> as the trial approached, th da facing a circumstantial cas with a seemingly, the -- defendant. offered shannon a plea deal. plead guilty to denita murder, and be sentenced to a maximu of 12 years in prison. today denita mother shannon wa not happy. >> what did you say?

>> no. >> don't let her off >> now, my words were my mom h didn't get to play for lif that morning, so, no no plea deal >> she did not need to worry shannon was not going to take deal she insisted that she wanted t clear her name, and would no take her chances in court. coming up! >> shannon would look at m with this little's murky loo on her face, saying that she was going to get off >> shannon, on the stand >> [inaudible] >> well, for one, he's told me since that he did. >> versus the one that she say is jermeir on the tape >> you're gonna get me too >> you keep talking. >> who would the jury believed when dateline continues. if it's covid, paxlovid. authorized for emergency use, paxlovid is an oral treatment for people 12 and up... who have mild-to-moderate covid-19 and have a high-risk factor for it becoming severe.

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at starting relationships then ending them. we don't like to break up, t be the bad guy and whe confronted with a woman's tears, we sometimes yield to the urge to tell her what she most want to hear whether it is true o not. is that what he did? and that he unknowingly brin shannon crawly and the neede together that dreadful day i 2007 when she was murdered now three years later, two families filed into th courthouse, one family hopin for a conviction, the other an acquittal. reporter john mccain covered the trial for the durham sun >> the tone was somber shannon's family here, you hav

denita still people on the other side, tense is a goo word,. >> especially counts for her mother shannon who for the first time made eye contac with the woman accused o murdering her daughter >> shannon would look at m with this little smoky look on her face, very cocky, she knew she was going to get off no remorse she didn't feel she had done anything >> only been engage for tw months - >> assistant da david sachs an experienced savvy prosecutor would now square off against a younger court appointed defens attorney >> it's important, i think, to see the world's, tried to se the world from the eyes of shannon on the days that led u to end the day that this happened >> the whole trial was basically us saying that shannon crowley committed this murder, the defense saying tha he committed the murder, tha

was basically the trial. >> detectives shawn was worrie that shannon crawly could walk after all, the case against he was largely circumstantial her dna was not at the crime scene, there was no murder weapon and she hardly looked like a killer. >> i thought she might be able to sell the story, i figured she would be true as conservative, dress like she came off the mayflower and somebody would be sympathetic. >> from the beginning th prosecution portrait shannon a a woman scorned, who couldn' have him to herself so she mad sure denita smith wouldn't either >> shannon suggested prosecuto sacks was either carrying church for him or trying t burn down his whole world, b killing his fiancée and pinnin it on him. >> for whatever reason, sh couldn't handle the situatio between jahmir and denita an

to resort to this just to me speaks of desperation. >> the prosecution star witnes jahmir stroud whose courtroo testimony was broadcasted on local tv >> jim meir confessed unde oath this shameful scene he ha kept for so long, his office affair with shannon crawly even revealed that when he heard something that happene to denita, he immediatel suspected shannon. >> one of the things tha popped in my head based on m recent interactions with shannon was that maybe she had done something >> it told everything on the stand -- >> but he didn't hold back >> no. he really didn't hold back, th stories out. so, you have to go ahead and tell the truth because if yo don't you look like a liar now >> in that sense, jahmir did d the right thing? >> he did. >> the defense argued shanno was being framed for a murde jahmir, alone, committed >> shannon's crawlies lawyer i

trying to pinch a as a crooked cop, you know, everythin elevates shannon crawly that she couldn't do anything lik this it had to be the bad co over here. >> i didn't know what he had done and i didn't know what he was going to do to me. >> it's often considered risky for a murder defendant to take the stand. >> but shannon quality insiste on telling her story that sh was a victim and not a killer. >> how do you know now tha jimmy or did it? >> for now he's told me says that he has done it. >> and you tried to tell the jury that you had no idea what just happened there? >> i didn't see anyone >> just to hear how sh presented the information, her poise and her demeanor and all that kind of stuff, she was credible witness she tells a credible story >> and the defense did hav those phone conversation recorded in which she insist she mere threatened her an

incriminated themself. >> you know already got away with murder once you think i can do it again? >> i'm sure you can. >> shannon's defense attorne ultimately chose not to play them instead, they were presented b the prosecution, as proof that shannon story was all one bi lie. >> you're gonna kill me too? >> you keep talking, you know will >> the jury had already hear jimmy or testifying with his deep gravelling voice. >> it's possible but i don't recall the amount of times i called >> now they listen to th tapes. was this the same guy? >> if they find out i shot her man that's life right there. >> you heard junior testify, and you heard the tapes, doe anybody really believe tha that is jahmir talking on thes tapes? >> i know. but you got a better shot than me >> to me that sounded like michael jackson, at this hig pitched voice it was clearly not jahmir's voice and it clearly was not something jahmir would say o

how he would say it, it just was obvious to me that it wa fake >> the jury laughed. that's the first trial i'v ever been on when i heard jury members snickers >> the colleagues who were i court when those tapes wer played or not laughing, they say they've heard many of thos calls firsthand and believed they were the real thing the jury heard jamir testifying, the voice, and the person on the tape doesn't have a deep voice. >> exactly, he discussed his voice. >> you think he can discuss hi voice that well? >> yes he did it. >> we are convinced that was jahmir >> it was jahmir >> yes sir >> so, whose voice would ultimately ring true a three year investigation was now in the hands of 12 people. two families now waite anxiously inside the durha county courthouse, as di assistant da david sachs >> i'm never confident when th

case goes to the jury -- >> you've been slapped in th face by dirt before? >> to many times, that's the lesson here, you never know. >> then after just one day the jury we should decisio shannon's family was encouraged. >> i didn't feel that they had prove their case, there was no preponderance of evidence. i thought that she was going t be acquitted >> for shannon quality it al came down to this decision would it be a life of freedom? or life in prison? denita's mother braced herself as she stared at the woman accused of killing her daughter >> i really think, all the way to the end that shannon did it she was going to walk away >> we the jury returned th unanimous verdict as follows guilty of first degree murder. >> she didn't think she woul hear what she heard. guilty >> how did she look when tha

verdict came down? >> all the life just drained out of her like she had seen a ghost. >> across the aisle shannon' family was also stunned, and then furious >> and now my daughter who i the perfect victim for someone like jamir's drought is no being convicted of a murde that he committed. >> of course mitt smith's leas olympic to and we pray for the constantly, they lost a chil and so heavily >> nearly five years after tha verdict shannon herself has lot more to say about jamir' trout and about what happene the day denita died. coming up -- >> i never knew that he had girlfriend, had i known it would have never escalated t anything else. >> her very first interview. >> i don't know jahmir but the voice on the tapes does no sound to me like him

>> i don't know who else would be calling me nonstop, threatening to kill me, killin my children, it's him, that' all i can say. it's him >> believe it or not denita' mother has an apology fo shannon. >> being the god fearing woman that i am, i know that was wrong and i never should'v said it. >> when dateline continues llergy headaches fast with new flonase headache and allergy relief! two pills relieve allergy headache pain? and the congestion that causes it! flonase headache and allergy relief. psst! psst! all good! ♪ ♪ to all the chevy silverado owners out there. the adventurers and the doers. to everyone that works hard and plays hard. whether it's your first silverado or your tenth. thank you for making chevy silverado the #1 best-selling retail full-size pickup.

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correctional institution for women. it was no home to shanno crawlies after weeks o discussion, she finally agreed to talk with us fine bars. it's still not a way to so you don't want to do this? >> you went through a lot of trouble. >> that is visor cameras are rolling chan started telling the story of her relationshi with jimmy stroud. >> he was charming, he was ver

nice, we got along, we have lot in common. >> were you in love with him >> no. >> shannon insists she had n idea that her boyfriend wa also seeing denita smith >> i never knew that he had girlfriend, had i known i woul have never given my phon number, it would have neve escalated to anything else >> she admits it did escalate. >> it started off fairly norma but he would call nonstop, h would show up unannounced, h would want to know where i was who i was with, he would leave messages, 30, 40 phone calls >> why did you keep seeing a guy like this? >> i guess initially i didn' really take it that seriously didn't really think he was dangerous he would mascot as concern. >> eventually shannon became pregnant but said she and jami

ended the romans before she ha the abortion, but now her stor is slightly different from wha you first told detectives. >> we talked about it, there were some complications whic is why i decided to terminate. >> the story is that he said t you, i don't want to have baby with you and the with you part hit you very hard >> no. >> that conversation never happened >> no. >> the things are popped in my head based on my recen interactions with shannon is that maybe she had don something. >> shannon and jermeir different stories are most i conflict when it comes to th day of denita smith's murder >> he told me that i was going with that if i didn't his exact words to me were, you die fo your kids or your kids die for you. what is your choice?

and i knew he had his gun. >> after arriving at the complex, shannon sticks by her story that jermeir went up t denita's apartment to leavin her behind in the suv. >> i got to the sidewalk and i heard a shot >> you think jermeir kille denita >> i absolutely think he did >> what would be his motive fo that >> i don't know. >> if you didn't want to b with her anymore, they weren't married, they have no property or kids together he could've just broken up with her? >> i don't know. i don't know i don't think he had a plan at all i think he acted in th spur of the moment but i don't believe that he set out to deliberately go there and shoo her, i think he was after me that was how he made me feel when we left my house that the are never expected to come bac home i honestly believed that he wa going to kill me >> shannon said th investigation doesn't suppor her conviction

>> i don't feel like there i any evidence that conclusively say that i shot and killed anyone, my dna is nowhere at the scene, i have no fingerprints of the scene, i admit that i was there but i was not there by myself and certainly didn't shoot anyone. >> and shannon insists all those phone calls are real, an they prove what she is saying. >> you know already got away with murder once you think i can do it again? >> i'm sure you can. someone like you, i'm sure >> trying to keep my asked out of jail. >> why doesn't it sound like jimi on those tapes? >> i don't know. i recognize his boys >> the jury didn't seem to believe that >> jury testified for a fe minutes during the trial, by the time the recordings were played he had already testified, i don't know whether or no they could remember his voic from then when he testified to later on but it's him >> look i don't know jermeir but the voice in the tape does not sound like him >> it's him. that's all i can tell you, it' him. i don't know who else would be

calling me, nonstop, threatene to kill me, threatening to kil my children. >> the allegation is tha nobody did and you faked all o that >> how could i fake a phon call >> you get some friend, you ge some frantically from anothe phone. >> and put my family through all of that. this wasn't just me, this wa my children, my mother >> as for shannon story abou the sexual assault outside her mother's house, she insists th police investigation wasn' done properly. and that the rape really happened >> why wouldn't jermeir's dn be found >> he's a police officer h made sure that his dna wouldn' be found >> - >> i don't believe that he was ever talking to anyone on th phone. i know where he was that night >> prosecutor david sachs says the rape allegation wa thoroughly investigated an jermeir was cleared, sachs als says shannon could've taken plea deal that might hav gotten her out of prison a

soon as the year 2020. her sentence now is life without parole she has exhausted her appeals. her family still believe shannon is innocent and hope to find an independent exper who will confirm it wa jermeir's a voice on those tapes. but the odds are that shanno will die in prison after years, already decades t ponder what happened on that chilly morning when denita smith was murdered >> could i have done thing differently? absolutely i made the decision to go with him at the risk of him hurting my family, i don't regret that decision at all, because it ma have saved my children's lives and i just wish that he woul tell the truth, that's it. he created this situation, and it is completely his fault, bu i didn't kill her, i didn't. and i've lost my life too.

>> at shannon sentencing i 2010, denita's mom was allowed to speak and all that rage sorrow and pain just cam pouring out. >> i hope you brought in hell. because you took something fro me >> the one thing that i said and and i have since regretted and i know for should've sai it is that i hope you brough in hail. >> i don't think there's a person who's going to watc this who wouldn't think that i completely understandable. >> being the god fearing woman that i am, i know that was wrong and if i ever get th opportunity to talk to her i will apologize to her for that >> in fact sharon had somethin even more remarkable to say to shannon. >> i do forgive her. >> how do you do that? >> i have to forgive her

because i want god to forgiv me for whatever since that i may do >> jermeir stroud was neve charged in the case, but the trial judge did say it was's behavior that created a perfec storm of events, bringin victim and killer together jermeir declined our request for an interview but in statement he denied an involvement in denita's murder and all the allegations that shannon crowley has made against him. investigators say jermeir full cooperated and was completel exonerated >> he didn't ask, pay, cours anyone to do this he didn' pull any triggers -- >> and he did know what wa gonna happen >> he did know what was goin to happen. at the end it comes to the person who pulled the trigger. >> on the campus of nort carolina central university, they still remember denita smith, in the journalism department when she made suc

an impact the school newspaper office has been named in her honor. >> she's touched so many lives from people who used to go t school with her and they say i still think about denita, i ow this to denita, that was par of her legacy, that was th essence of her >> who knows what denita smith would have become, the dream she would have fulfilled, th career and family she would've had her, mother sharon i slowly making peace with all o that >> she wouldn't want me to b better or sad. she is with me spiritually i don't have to worry abou shannon and i don't have t worry about jermeir, because when i lay down and bed at night -- love you -- i have a peaceful sleep i don' know what they do. gnancy before it starts,

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