his mom, and those who believe in him, to his ancestral farm, and his other longtime love, the old chevelle. i knew brad was innocent. the only thing i've ever wanted was for finally everyone to hear the truth. that's all for this edition of "dateline." i'm craig melvin. thank you for watching. [music playing]

welcome to "dateline". diana lovejoy and her husband were living the california dream. both were smart, outdoorsy types and the couple i just welcomed a beautiful baby boy. then there tail took a turn, not toward happily ever after, but somewhere much darker. a call from a stranger would send one of them down an isolated road to retrieve a mysterious package. what was behind the secret? and who would set it up? here is andrea cannon with the

night of the new men. . the lunar cycle begins anew. some look at a new moon as a time of rebirth. a fresh start. if only the people we trust here on earth were as dependable as the night sky. carlsbad, california. and affluent seaside community in northern san diego county. tourist haven, known for his speeches, surfing and breathtaking views. this paradise became home to a woman named diana lovejoy. >> she is really funny and

silly and smart. and really easy to talk to.>> reporter: sarah became fast friends with diana when they met in the six straight. >> throughout high school we would write these alaris notes to each other. still paying attention in class. >> reporter: of course. >> we would challenge each other like to write the first sentence of the worst romance novel. >> reporter: she said diana had a true gift for creative writing. as well as music. something sarah come in a professional bassoonist know something about.>> she is a fantastic piano player from an early age. >> reporter: you shared a love of music. >> yes. we were in marching band together and it was really fun. >> she had a schedule and she would wake up and she would do a reading. >> reporter: jennifer was diana's college roommate. >> she was extremely disciplined

. >> reporter: and she was passionate about staying fit. >> it was going for a walk, taking a hike, getting on her bike, going for a swim. >> reporter: diana's healthy lifestyle and good looks were hard to miss.>> it always seemed like guys always really, really liked her. she was not trying to attract attention but she was one of those people that people tend to notice her. >> reporter: very pretty. >> super pretty. and she's got -- yet. >> i think it was the complete package about diana. smart. gorgeous. sweet and caring. >> reporter: set for college diana went to work in the tech industry and ramped up her fitness routine. >> she competed in several triathlons and she also was a personal fitness coach. >> reporter: eventually, single, focused, diana met someone who also loved bike riding and soaking up the outdoors. a software engineer named greg mulvihill. >> he was gracious and very sweet . and very much like her.

>> reporter: after two years of dating, diana and greg tied the knot in a number of 2007. >> they seemed like the right fit and she seemed really, really happy. >> reporter: the couple was eager to start a family. but that did not come easy. >> it did not. >> reporter: diana suffered multiple miscarriages and then had a difficult, high risk pregnancy. which made september 2012, all the more special when diana gave birth to a healthy baby boy. that must have been an incredible day for her. to know that that baby was born.>> yeah. >> reporter: set last, diana had her happy family. but that would not last long. by the time the sun turned two, the marriage was falling apart. diana kicked greg out of the house and got a restraining order against him. in court documents, diana alleged that greg said he wished heard dead. that he sexually molested her in her sleep, and she suspected

he also listed their son. greg denied all of diana's allegations and fired back and said diana had verbally and physically berated, attacked and belittled him over the last several years. >> things were getting ugly. remakes greg filed for divorce in august of 2014. and the couple fought bitterly over custody of their son. first, greg was only allowed to provide just visits but after numerous evaluations by therapists and law enforcement, courts found no evidence of abuse and ultimately awarded greg 50-50 custody with diana. but diana was scared for herself and her son. if you that ultimately led her here, a shooting range. >> i was surprised that when she was taking lessons and marksmanship, i was like, this is more serious than i thought. she is concerned about her safety in a really, really real way. >> reporter: set the range from

it seemed diana met just the man to. a former marine, skilled in self-defense. someone you might know also. from "dateline". coming up. >> i have always been very protective person. >> reporter: we first met him when he helped rescue a woman from danger. >> this guy sounds like he was actually looking out for you a little bit. >> yeah. he helped me so much. >> reporter: but when he met diana lovejoy, something changed. >> she would text him at all different times and i did not like that. >> reporter: when "dateline" continues. ( ♪♪ ) and with once-daily trelegy, it can still be beautiful. because with 3 medicines in 1 inhaler, trelegy keeps my airways open for a full 24 hours and prevents future flare-ups. trelegy also improves lung function,

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i did it my way. when diana lovejoy decided to take shooting lessons for self-defense, she went to a range called iron sights. that is where she met a man with just the expertise and attitude she needed. >> i hate police. >> reporter: from an early age, he was passionate about protecting other people. >> i used to protect my friends on the way home from school. we had a bully that tried and tried to start fights with us and then i found out that a nicely applied on walk would get that only to kiss the street. and we did not have to run from him anymore. >> reporter: when he up, weldon enlisted in the marine corps. after leaving the service he worked as a firearms instructor. we met weldon back in 2013.

when we covered the story of another woman he met at the shooting range. >> a customer walked in and i could tell something was wrong with her. i cannot tell exactly what but i could read that she was under some kind of stress. >> reporter: her name was crystal harris. >> he said can i help you. i said, i need to buy a gun. and i said it is not just for putting it away. my life is in danger. and it is from my husband and he was like, well. >> reporter: crystal, a mother of two young sunset that i said that her husband was abusive and wanted to buy a gun for protection. >> at that point i asked, are you prepared to kill him, and because that is a very will possibility. your life from your son's life or your life, you have to make

that decision. after a few moments she said, yes, if i have to. >> reporter: weldon to crystal under his wing and taught her to defend herself, even in stressful situations. >> this guy sounds like he was actually looking out for you a little bit.>> somebody was in the business of saving lives and a warrior and a hero and that type of mentality. he wanted to help me. >> reporter: at home, crystal also helped herself. used a mini cassette recorder to gather evidence against her husband. when i crystal captured something horrible. she said it was audio of her husband sexually assaulting her. >> she walked in and she was visibly shaken. i knew something had happened. >> reporter: crystal played a bit of the tape for weldon. >> i have always been a very protective person. if you are a friend or family, i will do anything for you. i really wanted to go and kill

him. >> reporter: crystal later called police and had her husband arrested. when he made bail, she called weldon. who came to her house and helped crystal figure out the safest places to hide if her husband returned. >> i checked out the entire house top to bottom. told her some defensible spaces. >> reporter: crystal never did need to use from the gun, her husband was convicted of a forcible sexual crime and spent five years behind bars. but she was grateful for the sense of empowerment and protection weldon mcdavid gave her. >> he helped me so much. >> reporter: it is an unlikely friendship. >> right, if i needed him, if i was worried about something or whatever, i could just call him. >> reporter: crystal embarked on her new life, without her husband. and weldon moved on also. a few years after befriending crystal, weldon found romance when he met a woman named leah. >> i have decided to learn how

to shoot. and buy a firearm and learn how to use it. i was tired of feeling honorable , as a woman. and being scared of noises at night. >> reporter: she said weldon did not make a huge first impression when you rank upper purchases at the shooting range. but soon she realized, -- >> he was interested in i was not at first. and he won me over. >> reporter: how did he do that? >> he is very witty and has very good intelligence and humor. and a really engaging personality. >> reporter: weldon told her about his work with crystal harris. >> it was consistent with what i heard about different people that he had come alongside and help them feel more confident and safe. >> reporter: just like crystal before her, leah felt empowered around weldon. >> he is strong and i enjoyed his strength and i felt safe

around him. >> reporter: on september 20th, 2014, leah became misses mcdavid. listed two years later, she gave birth to their son. and somewhere, weldon told her about another woman he was helping out at the range. woman named, diana lovejoy. >> he told me about her husband and she was afraid of him and they were going through a divorce. >> reporter: once again, it seemed weldon had assumed the role of protector. this time in diana's life. but leah thought something did not seem quite right. >> she would text him at all different times about things and i did not like that. i did not think was professional. and we disagreed about him communicating with her. and i think, he saw the need of somebody both herself and even more so a child, who could not protect himself. and felt like he needed to help. >> reporter: something weldon had done all his life. leah could understand that. what she could not understand, was what came next. .

a sniper waiting in the dark . but he was the target? coming up.>> there hearing multiple bullets, multiple rounds passing their head. >> to the from the shooter? >> no. vanished. >> reporter: when "dateline" continues.

late on a moonless night, on september 1st, 2016. the man on the line described a scene that this does not happen in the affluent community of carlsbad, california. multiple gunshots fired, and apparent sniper on the loose. >> i am at home and i am sleeping.>> reporter: carlsbad detective sergeant was on call that night. >> it is all hands on deck and we are calling out just about every detective to come in. >> reporter: she learned the 911 call there was a man named jason and he was calling about his coworker. diana lovejoy's husband, greg mulvihill. >> he said his fred -- friend greg mulvihill was shot and

needed assistance immediately. >> reporter: she learned when the first officer got the scene , he found greg in his car, bleeding from a gunshot wound. >> he was shot in the left side of his chest and the bullet went essentially into the front and out through the back. >> reporter: while greg was rushed to the hospital, a s.w.a.t. team come the hillside where he had been shot. to the from the shooter? >> no. vanished. >> reporter: but she had a detailed i was curious. when the 911 call about the shooting came in, the situation immediately rang a bell with the dispatchers. >> greg mulvihill called dispatchers earlier in the evening to ask for advice. he received a phone call from an unknown person stating that person was a private investigator and had some information. >> reporter: greg said the mysterious caller was a man with a deep voice, who claimed to have documents that greg would want to see.

greg got the impression, it was evidence that could be used against him in his custody battle with diana. the man said he would leave a package for greg to pick up. break asked the dispatcher whether he should go. what was the response? >> probably not a good idea but it was up to him. and he went. >> reporter: this was a meeting spot. an isolated dirt road near a power pole. greg asked his boss, a neighbor jason to join him on this bizarre mission. jason told police around 11:00 p.m. , the men pulled up to the intersection of the avenue and the dirt road. >> the package was supposed to be along the power pole.>> reporter: greg carried a bicycle light and gave a child's baseball bat just in case. they walked along the path but could not find it. greg scanned the area with his light and then noticed, in the brush, -- >> he sees a person lying on the ground including --

terrifying. >> reporter: the man appeared to be wearing camouflage. greg or jason yelled, gun or maybe run. >> they turned and took off back towards their car. and that is when greg mulvihill was shot. as a running back they are hearing multiple bullets, multiple rounds moving past her head. >> reporter: they got in the car and took off but then you realize how badly he was injured. he pulled over. and jason called 911. >> greg mulvihill was being hunted. >> correct. >> reporter: see did not know the trap he was walking into. >> nor who was sending him. >> reporter: miraculously greg survived his injuries. >> he was in the dark and did not have any idea who would have done this or anybody he could think of that would do this. >> reporter: greg did say he was near the end of a bitter custody dispute with his wife, diana lovejoy, but dismissed the idea that she could have played any role in what happened. >> there is no way.

there is not the type of person. she cannot be involved in any way. >> reporter: of course, police paid a visit to diana and said she had no idea who could've shot greg. >> nothing in his immediate history that would have led us to think that he was involved in any sort of criminal activity. or that any of his acquaintance would have done him harm, based on any sort of activities he was involved in. >> reporter: did not have secrets from his job or a high level job with computers. >> no. >> he brought his boss with him to the crime. >> reporter: the sergeant had one lead to follow. >> we knew we needed to get to the bottom of the phone number used to call him to get him to the area that night. >> reporter: to have this phone number in greg's phone. >> yes. >> reporter: when the number was traced, it was -- >> a tracked down. the burner phone. no subscriber information. >> reporter: but they were able to track the purchase of the phone to this best buy. about four miles from the crime scene. >> they still have the video surveillance of that purchase. >> reporter: best buy emailed

the sergeant some still photos from the surveillance camera. >> i had called in scott in a couple of other detectives to basically be ready for who this mystery person would be who is buying this track phone. >> reporter: who was it? coming up. it would be killer caught on camera. >> reporter: is this a smoking gun? >> it points us in a direction. when "dateline" continues. to help restore what's yours. opzelura is the first and only fda-approved prescription treatment for nonsegmental vitiligo. proven to help repigment skin over time. restoring what's yours. it's possible with a steroid-free cream that you can apply yourself. opzelura can lower your ability to fight infections including tb or hepatitis b or c. serious lung infections, skin cancer, blood clots, and low blood cell counts occurred with opzelura.

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hezbollah confirming its leader was killed in an israel strike. the idea of continuing intensive strikes across lebanon saturday while iran proxies launch retaliatory missiles into israel from both lebanon and you been. the u.s. said he was unaware of the planned attack. just ahead of flu season, free at home covid tests are available to order from the united states postal service. each household can request up

to four test. to get yours, visit, covidtests.gov or usps.com. for now, back to "dateline". welcome back to "dateline". i am craig melvin. investigators believe greg mulvihill was being hunted. he had received a phone call from a stranger offered to turn over potentially damaging information. but instead, led greg into an ambush. scouring the scene, police do not find the gunman, but they did tracked down a promising clue. one it was about to leave detectives to a startling discovery. once again, here is andrea cannon with the light of the new man. >> reporter: greg mulvihill had been shot and barely survived. someone had lured him to the scene of the crime with a call from a burner phone. now, police gathered around the

sergeant computer screen to see security camera images of the person who bought the burner. who wants a? >> it was diana lovejoy. >> reporter: diana lovejoy, greg mulvihill soon-to-be ex- wife. is this a smoking gun getting this photo of diana lovejoy? >> it points us in a direction. there is a lot more to be done. >> reporter: the team searched for more evidence in diana's home. >> we were able to locate the clothing she was wearing when she purchased the phone. >> reporter: police had enough to arrest diana and bring her in for questioning. at first, she denied any involvement in the shooting. what is her alibi? >> she was at home all night long and never went out. >> reporter: police realize she might be telling the truth about that. just because she bought the tracfone, did not mean she was at the crime scene. diana was most likely not the person lying in the grass in camouflage with a rifle.

there to say. >> yes. >> reporter: did you ask her if she hired someone? >> yes. >> reporter: detectives pressed her and diana told them something they did not expect. >> she describes her relationship with her shooting instructor. >> reporter: diana told police heard instructors name, weldon mcdavid. >> he had volunteered to protect herself from her ex- husband. >> reporter: weldon mcdavid was the knight in shining armor. to another woman in this area.>> yes. >> reporter: that woman, of course, was crystal harris. police knew about her situation, but diana story was very different. and it seemed to change as they questioned her. diana told police that weldon had agreed to help her when custody of her son, by intimidating greg. >> weldon was to scare her ex- husband and be a big brooding

person over him, to tell him that he needed to drop all of his custody and disappear. >> reporter: diana said she paid weldon for his services. >> she gave him $1000 up front and another $1000 after. >> reporter: just for scaring him. >> yes. >> reporter: diana set on the night of september 1st, she picked up weldon at this park- and-ride.>> he gets into the car caring a soft rifle case and dressed in camouflage. and she asked what was in the case and he said, not to worry about it. >> reporter: she said she gave him the burner phone, drop them off near the dirt road, then waited for his call. but when she went back to pick him up, -- >> he gets into the car in states, things went wrong and i had to shoot.>> reporter: what did you say her reaction was to that? >> she said she did not know what happened and did not ask anything else. >> reporter: that was diana story. she hired her shooting instructor to intimidate greg. but that was it.

now police had another suspect. weldon mcdavid. his wife leah was home with her newborn baby when the phone rang. >> and i answer the phone and it was s.w.a.t. and they were on my street and told me to come out of the house with the baby. >> reporter: did you have any clue why they were there? >> none. >> reporter: they were there to look for evidence that weldon shot greg. >> the most striking thing about the houses that mr. mcdavid had guns everywhere. >> reporter: san diego county deputy district attorney, said they found a number of guns in the house, but none was connected to the crime. but then, hidden in the garage -- >> they found the upper portion of a ar-15. >> reporter: police noticed there was a suppressor or silencer attached to the weapon. and a brass bag, which catches showcasing so they don't fall to the ground. >> the brass bag happen to have seven spent shell casings in it.

which is the same number of shots were fired at night. in carlsbad. >> reporter: you think you found the weapon? >> without a doubt. without a doubt. >> reporter: but we're still had plenty of doubts.>> he has the skills to do that. but he does not have the personality or the heart to do that. >> reporter: police arrested weldon. at the station, he initially denied everything. :police told them they had potential dna evidence that would place him at the scene, his story suddenly changed. >> reporter: the prosecutor do

not believe weldon had been framed exactly, but set up, in a way, yes. remember those horrible allegations of abuse diana made against greg, that he molested her and their son? she believes diana fabricated them. >> all the therapist, physicians, everyone that was involved, made the determination that there was no truth to it. and when the court system did not believe her, then she decided to come up with a way to have him killed. >> reporter: and the prosecutor said, that is where weldon came in. the self-styled protector, a man primed to react to the exact type of allegations diana was making. remember what weldon said on dateline, when he heard crystal harris is recording of her husband's abuse? >> i really wanted to go and kill him. >> reporter: the prosecutor believed diana viewed weldon as a way to get rid of greg. >> i think she saw in weldon, the exact kind of person she

would need to carry this out. and it is somebody who has a hero complex. and she needed somebody that she can manipulate. >> reporter: the prosecutor learned something else. diana admitted, she had slept with weldon. >> i think she used her sexuality to get him to do what it is she wanted him to do. on september 12th, 2016, weldon mcdavid and diana lovejoy were both arraigned on charges of attempted murder. and conspiracy to commit murder. was diana a criminal mastermind who manipulated weldon, sent them on a mission to kill? was weldon a would be warrior who was hired to intimidate greg, but decided to murder him instead? the two would face trial together. and the defense, you will just have to hear it for yourself. coming up. the victim. >> i realized i was sitting at a barrel and a scope of a gun.

>> the shooter. >> i had to do something. >> at a surprising witness. >> diana said you need to promise not to tell my mom or my sister. when dateline continues. long-lasting eylea hd could significantly improve your vision. more people on eylea hd had no fluid in the retina, compared to those on eylea at 4 months. eylea hd is the only wet amd therapy that helped 8 out of 10 people go up to 4 months between injections, after 3 initial monthly treatments. if you have an eye infection, eye pain or redness or allergies to eylea hd, don't use. eye injections like eylea hd may cause eye infection, separation of the retina, or rare but severe swelling of blood vessels in the eye. an increase in eye pressure has been seen there is an uncommon risk of heart attack or stroke associated with blood clots. the most commons side effects were blurred vision, cataract, corneal injury and eye floaters. and there's still so much to see.

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or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. ask your eczema specialist about dupixent. late october, 2017. weldon mcdavid and diana lovejoy , one time gun instructor and student, one time lovers, now on trial together. facing charges they conspired in the attempted murder of diana's husband, greg mulvihill.

the prosecutor knew she had a strong case. weldon mcdavid placed himself at the scene of the shooting and diana admitted to paying him to scare her husband.>> but he worried the defense would try to use diana's unsubstantiated allegations of sexual assault against greg to try to sweep the jury. >> they might see this as, she had a right to do that. if her husband was doing something to the child. >> i had to walk a balance of deciding whether or not that in the allegations. that she had made or try to ignore them and ultimately i decided to take it square on. >> reporter: it was one of the first thing she asked greg about. >> did you sexual assault your wife? >> no. >> did you ever molest your boy ? >> no. >> reporter: greg said he

fought hard for 50-50 custody of his child he did not want to risk losing that. felt compelled to see whatever information the mysterious caller had for him. >> i held it like this and scanned. >> reporter: see demonstrated how he was sorting the bicycle light in his hand when he noticed what he thought was a pile of clothes in the brush. >> staring at it for a second and i looked at a barrel in a scope of a gun. >> reporter: and then a gun shot.>> it felt like i had been hit in the back. which was confusing to me cause i knew i was looking at a gun. but it felt like something hit me in the back. >> reporter: in the confusing, greg said, he heard jason your run or possibly gun. >> while we were running i heard about six more rapid gunshots. >> reporter: the prosecution argued that diana paid weldon to kill greg that night and it seemed weldon may not be the only one diana approached with this goal in mind. there was an unlikely witness against diana. the woman who

reluctantly shared her story with prosecutors, her own aunt. diana clark. >> diana said you need to promise not to tell my mom or my sister. can you promise me that? i said, yes. >> reporter: then and diana testified that on christmas day, 2015, her niece asked her this. >> she said, can you help me find someone to kill greg? >> and diana did not help her niece find a hitman. instead, the state argued, diana lovejoy found weldon mcdavid. and when it came time for the defense to make its case, he was the star witness. >> mr. mcdavid you talked about -- >> reporter: according to weldon the only plan the night of the shooting was to gather information for diana. >> how much was going to pay you to get this information? >> $2000.

>> reporter: weldon said he called greg from the burner phone, claiming he had evidence , he had abused his child. the idea, said weldon, was that of greg actually showed up at the location, that prove his guilt. weldon city plan to record greg so diana could take that information to court. >> anybody who is not guilty of child abuse, in my mind, would not come out at night to meet someone or to pick up any evidence that they did not know where came from. >> reporter: weldon said he was not planning to fire any shots. until he claimed he heard one of the men say, i've got a gun. >> as soon as he said those words, i decided i had to do something. >> reporter: so weldon said he and his ar-15 at the flashlight and fired. he said he hit greg by accident. >> the shot that i missed was the flashlight. >> reporter: weldon's proved it was unintentional, he said he

was such a good shot but if he had been shooting to kill, he would have. >> you cannot miss a man's eyes target. it just would not have happened. >> in a well-meaning way he came up with a very stupid plan and brought a gun to it. >> reporter: this is weldon's former attorney. he did not represent him of the trial, he believes weldon acted out of what he calls a misguided hero complex. but never planned to kill or even hurt greg mulvihill. he said he thinks weldon's experience with crystal harris had a profound impact on him.>> that was the first case where he heard nobody was listening to this woman and ultimately that woman was born to be correct. and now he has a second woman who is saying, nobody is listening to me. so what you do when no one else is willing to help? you help. >> did you yourself have any conversations about a plan to

kill greg mulvihill? >> no. >> reporter: the big question on cross-examination, why show up in camouflage with an ar-15, if the goal was just to record greg picking up the package? >> could do not have just accomplished the exact same goal by sitting in the car and watching him walk down? >> that would've put me out in the open and maybe a potential target. >> you felt it was safer for everybody concerned for you to beach dressed in camouflage with a ar-15 tucked into the bushes pointing at him. that was safer? >> based on my training, and my experience, yes, i thought that was the safest for everyone involved. >> reporter: remember how dark it was the night of the shooting. the night of the new man? the prosecutor said that was no coincidence. diana purposely tuesday night when weldon could hide on scene . >> there were google searches

that miss lovejoy made regarding the new man in the peak point of darkness which was at the same time the lord him out there. >> and the prosecution had one more piece of evidence for the jury. a potential financial motive for murder. as part of the divorce settlement, diana owed greg $120,000. the money was due three weeks after the date of the shooting. >> however, if it was dead it would go to his estate which would ultimately come back to miss lovejoy. >> reporter: and closing arguments the prosecutor said there was no doubt that diana lovejoy and weldon mcdavid had conspired to kill greg mulvihill. >> they did not plan for jason, they did not plan for a bright bike light to light up mr. mcdavid laying on his belly and did not plan to get caught. no reason to kill. they had 120,000 reasons to kill. >> reporter: what with the jury

think? first, let's see what you think. hear what weldon and diana had to say. when we visited them in jail. coming up. a defendant's biggest regret. not what you might think. >> if i could only take back one thing, i would take that. >> and drama in court. when "dateline" continues. the . iberogast. your best defense against erosion and cavities is strong enamel. nothing beats it. i recommend pronamel active shield because it actively shields the enamel to defend against erosion and cavities. i think that this product is a gamechanger for my patients. try pronamel mouthwash. ♪♪ when your child has moderate-to-severe eczema, it's okay to for them to show off.

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welcome back. was greg mulvihill shooting an accident or a cold-blooded murder attempt? prosecutors believe his ex-wife diana lovejoy wanted him dead and convinced her lover weldon, to do her evil bidding. the defense countered that the marksman missed his target and the whole thing was a terrible mistake. the jury was about to deliver its verdict. but first, weldon and diana each shared what they say happened, with us. here is andrea cannon with the conclusion of the, night of the new mail. >> i want people to know i did not attempt to murder anyone. >> reporter: we met with weldon mcdavid at the vista california detention facility. where he had been since his arrest on charges he and diana lovejoy had conspired to murder her husband. you had an ar-15, you are lying on your belly.

in camouflage. you have a gun suppressor, abrazo back to catch the shell casings. this sounds like a plan to kill someone. >> if i was want to kill him, i could have hit him at any point in that walk. that would have been easy. >> reporter: why did you not keep firing? >> i fired over their head so they would start to run. if i wanted to kill them, i had more than ample opportunity. >> reporter: weldon told us it was ridiculous to believe he would kill someone for $2000. and called having intercourse with deanna his biggest regret. >> it was wholly unsatisfying. if i can only take that one thing, i would take that. out of the equation. >> reporter: being with diana? >> yes. >> reporter: you are not take back shooting greg. >> there was only one thing i could take away, i would take that away. i hurt my wife. and that means more to me than anything. >> reporter: weldon insisted the only thing that brought him to that dirt road the night of the shooting was a desire to help diana and her son.

did diana lovejoy have a hold on you? did she manipulate you? >> no. >> reporter: it has been said you have a misguided hero complex. what you say? >> i am no one's hero. not at all. if trying to help someone is misguided hero, then so be it. >> reporter: we went to diana's jail to speak with her as well. did you and weldon have a plan to kill greg mulvihill? >> no. absolutely not. >> reporter: then why lord him their input yourself in this position? >> i would not even say we did that. i would say he had a choice. he set up a meeting with weldon. >> reporter: we did not have much time at the jail so we spoke again by phone. this time i wanted to ask her about and diana. >> she was a key witness for

the prosecution and claims you to have the conversation that you were looking for someone to kill greg.>> she claims that, yes. and it is not true. next diana said she was never close with her aunt diana . >> she is selfish and i know she has a motive to help greg's case, my ex. because she wants access to my son. >> reporter: but in a letter to the court, aunt diana wrote that she was always generous with her knees and supportive of her and her son. ellington asked diana lovejoy, did she masterminded murder plot? >> there was absolutely no talk or no think about killing anyone or hurting anyone. i have a huge heart and i would never -- i am not capable of hurting someone. >> reporter: with the jury agree? after about a half day of deliberations, a verdict. >> we, the jury, find the defendant, diana lovejoy, guilty of the crime of attempted murder.

>> reporter: guilty of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. then something unexpected happened.>> weldon mcdavid, defended, verdict. >> reporter: weldon mcdavid waited to hear his fate. >> guilty of the crime -- >> reporter: diana collapsed, seemingly overcome with shock. >> we are in recess. >> reporter: court was adjourned and diana was handcuffed to a gurney, wheeled out to an ambulance, and brought to a hospital. where she made a full recovery. would court resume, -- >> crime of conspiracy to commit murder. >> reporter: weldon learned he had been convicted on all charges. at the sentencing hearing two and half months later, weldon address the court. >> i do not intend to shoot mr. greg mulvihill. i am sorry i shot him . it was an aiming carrier as i stated previously.

>> reporter: and diana spoke publicly for the first time. >> it is so painful that some people in this world seem to think that i would have an enemy to do this. i still killer about greg inasmuch as, i did love him. i loved him a lot. i just hope that that reality, the reality, the reality of what really happened and we really intended comes out. and i believe it will, some day. >> reporter: weldon was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. diana, 26 to life. did you ever think that your friend diana could ever get wrapped up in a wild story like this? >> no. my worst nightmare. >> reporter: greg mulvihill now has full custody of their son. >> i have actually had a lot of hard to hearts with greg mulvihill and i do genuinely think he is a sweet and nice

man and he did not deserve any of this. >> reporter: weldon's wife leah is now a single-parent.>> he should not be in prison. he should be home. weldon is a beautiful person. that my son should be able to have that in his life. >> reporter: weldon mcdavid, the man who said he just wanted to help, once empowered a woman caught in an abusive marriage, now the fallen hero. contemplating life behind bars. perhaps he, sums it up best. >> there is no winners here. there is no winners at all. you know. this whole situation is a loss. strike that is all for this edition of dateline. i am craig melvin. thank you for watching. good morning. and welcome to the sunday edition of morning joe weekend.