cooking lesson. dish number one, prawn salad and number two, lynn ginny with lobster and -- scallops on a chickory bed. >> the hotel majestic serving you the perfect italian vacation at every turn. >> coming up on mansions and millionaires. >> welcome to rome! we'll show you the city. >> we're heading to rome with the man with the v.i.p. pass. . plus, the hotel just steps from the roman empire. and with this swimming pool overlooking the walls of the vatican, it's the only luxury urban resort in rome, how can you get the best deal with this majestic paradise coming up on extra's mansions and millionaires.

welcome back to mansions and millionaires, italy style. michael is hanging out at one of the world's most recognizable

spots with one of italy's best kept secrets. next time, save a little room for me, come on, buddy. >> you got it. i'm here at the coliseum in rome, a beautiful sight. getting off the plane and seeing this guy, ank lo of access italy, the go to guy for oprah and many other celebrities when they want to see rome. why is it everyone wants to see rome with you? >> because i love my city. and i think i know how to -- >> when it rome, do as the stars do. we're in italy getting the only tour oprah takes with the only man who can truly deliver. >> welcome to rome. angelo will show you all the city. >> our new pal is on the speed dial of oprah, stallone and michael j. fox and always by his side in work and play, wife eva and sons marko and simone and always on their agenda, showing

you italy at the highest level. >> we're on top of the mayor's palace. >> yes, we are on the roof, best view of rome. >> if you want to come up here and see this view like this -- you've got to call angelo to get you in. well, now they understand why your name is smon nus with roman holiday. they will tell one thing they don't know about italy? >> october is the best month to come because the sunset is spectacular and there's not many people. >> great. but no matter when you come, you know what, it's italy, it's always about the food. tucked away 20 minutes south of rome, the chicken has enticed pretty much every a-listers. >> and diane sawyer. >> also known to make special concessions for one blue-eyed fan. >> frank sinatra used to rent a villa not far from this place and have a nice party there.

with his scotch. >> it's like sea food sushi, the food is so fresh, it's practically crawls on your plate. this charming spot promises the best mediterranean sea food you'll ever place. >> pasta with lobster in our restaurant, very good. >> welcome to italy. >> a mix of fish, sea food and pasta and look around, you're likely to see a familiar face. >> adrian brody, penelope cruz, they all come. >> only one day to compete a perfect day of eating gelato. >> what's your favorite flavor? >> one of the few shops that boasts all fresh ingredients,

spotted cameron diaz and ben stiller but it's sasha and malia gave the seal of approval. >> the obamas were here? >> they went behind the counter and made their own dessert. >> how do you say extra in italian? >> we say extra. >> perfect. >> salud. >> you don't want to jet out of rome without at least spending a night or two, right? we found a hotel that makes the most of your historic surroundings. >> the grand malia hotel, a grand slam in rome. >> and with this swimming pool overlooking the walls of the vatican, it's the only luxury urban resort in rome's city center. with the vatican a five minute stroll, this is the perfectly located getaway, if being a tourist isn't your own desire,

chill and enjoy the amenities. >> boutique spa which is intimate. only spa in room with daylight. we have fantastic park. pool bar and restaurant. >> the suites also a big draw for those with big bank roll. >> it depends, 12,000 euros a day. >> if the big price tag scares you, check in off peak. >> during the winter from november to february, entire resort is fantastic. those visiting rome it's easier than high season. >> any time is a good time to check into the grand malia. >> calm and tranquillity, the reason why most of the guests come here and then return. >> coming up on mansions and millionaires. >> scattered throughout this countryside are the ruins of centuries old farm homes. >> the many castles covering the hills of tuscany and how you can

own one. >> take the stress out of your trips. >> exceptional comfort -- >> coming up on extra's mansions and millionaires.

what do you get when you combine a medieval village with a perfect vags, the perfect tuscan getaway. >> as ancient as rome. >> scattered throughout the countryside are runz of centuries old farm homes. >> 4200 acres with updated farm house villas filled with more than add menties combined with old world charm. >> a great place for entertaining, blend of old and new really works.

>> each villa is approximately 6,000 square feet, four bedrooms, the best view of the italian sunset and wait until you see the bathroom. >> they are known for bath design. if you want run roone room modes your bath room. >> a more casual piz rea i can't with a wood burning oven and big infinity edged swimming pool. >> if the scenic view hasn't taken your breath away. >> homeownership starts at 3.7 million euro you haup to 6 mill euro. >> for the shared ownership, 290,000 euro to 465,000 euro. everybody will get four weeks a year and beyond that stay whenever you want in any of the other homes whenever theres availab

availability. >> another reason to answer the call of the captivating countryside. >> if you're watching this you're not in italy, right, if you want to get there right now, a pretty good place to begin. >> coasting at 30,000 feet my getaway, british airways airbus was the way to go. >> exceptional comfort on board. fantastic experience. we have 14 suites and personal comfort. >> seats changing into flat beds if you would rather snooze. we got to do a coveted layover at the innovative eco-friendly terminal five with diamond brooks giving us the extra tour. >> not just a connecting flight. people see it as a destination in its own right. >> over 34 million passengers touched down here and many enjoying the exclusive layover luxuries. >> we've got a choice of six preef yum lounges for our gold card holders.

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that's it for extra's mansions and millionaires, a big thank you to the international kitchen. if you think you have a taste for italy, you won't be disappointed. mario, thanks for taking the tour. >> thank you, why not leaving you wanting a little more pasta. here's a lesson in cooking the pici pasta. >> what do we make today? >> pici pasta. >> a tuscan tradition. pici pasta, not to be confused with the peachy fruit, pici is hand rolled and as simple as one, two, three. first, add flour to the bowl. >> we make volcano, and now you start to pour water in the middle. >> stir then knead and fold the dough. >> we're ready to make the shape

of the pici and the best is made by hand. >> like a big spaghetti. >> very fresh. >> can't have pasta without an authentic sauce, saute sliced garlic into olive oil, sliced cherry tomatoes and peppers and secret. >> add a little bit of the water of the pasta because it makes your sauce very creamy. >> man gs ia, easy to do at home, more fun when you're in italy. >> delicious.

♪ >> reporter: this is the city of orange, california in the county of orange, california. much of it is a small town stuck in time. there's a university, a zoo, cute local businesses and a police department that doesn't have to deal with a lot of violent crime. after all, the happiest place on earth is just down the street. but in may 2013, detective joey ramirez was far from happy. he had a lot of ground to cover and a strong sense that time was against him as he tried to figure out what had happened to maribel ramos. she just vanished? >> yes.

>> reporter: how often does that kind of thing happen? >> it doesn't happen often. >> reporter: ramirez started by investigating the men in maribel's life. it turned out there were a few of them. did you know she was doing all that online dating? did she talk about that? >> yeah, she did. >> reporter: maribel sometimes met guys through a website called "plenty of fish." that's how she found paul lopez. they'd been dating for a few months and paul had even joined her weekly softball game. lopez was the last person maribel talked to on the phone. now police wanted to talk to him. >> you know you're not under arrest, anything like that. >> i wouldn't think so. >> reporter: ramirez sat across from paul and asked about his relationship with maribel. >> nothing's been like exclusive. it's just been, you know, dating. >> you date other people too? >> me? yeah. >> okay. you don't know if she dates other people or not? >> don't ask don't tell. >> reporter: and he asked lopez where he was on the night maribel disappeared. >> did you come into orange at

all on thursday? >> no. >> reporter: police also had to consider this. maribel had told lucy that things weren't working out with paul lopez. >> she wasn't a match with paul. so she was online, talking to people. >> reporter: it wasn't clear if paul knew, even as they kept dating, that maribel was back on plenty of fish and had met a new man. he was a photographer who had worked a lot with the military. it was a connection for both of them. how did she describe that guy? >> she said, "oh, i met someone. he's very interesting. we have a lot in common." >> reporter: and you thought what, good? >> i thought great. >> reporter: they planned a date for cinco de mayo, but two days before that date was to happen, maribel vanished. so police talked to that photographer and made a recording of the conversation. >> you're saying you never actually met her in person? >> no. >> reporter: so he said, anyway. there was also an ex-boyfriend

who'd been calling. police needed to check him out. and there was this lead. >> there was a person at cal state fullerton that was in the veteran's association with her that had given her a bad feeling. he may have wanted to pursue some sort of dating relationship. >> reporter: but it gave her a bad feeling how? >> she wasn't interested in him, and she didn't give him any attention, yet he didn't go away. >> reporter: so he made her feel uncomfortable? >> correct. >> reporter: and by now, detective ramirez had learned something else. just a little over a week before she vanished, maribel ramos had called 911. >> hi, orange police. >> hi, it's not an emergency, but i just -- is there recording? >> is there a what? >> is this conversation recording? >> yes, every conversation is recorded. >> reporter: maribel wanted it on the record. she wanted police to know that she was very afraid of someone.

>> i'm just like calling so that you guys know that if something happens, i did it because i was trying to defend myself. >> reporter: she might have been afraid, but this army-strong woman who'd always taken care of herself feared she might be the one putting the hurt on her attacker. >> all i'm trying to say is that i'm warning -- i'm honestly -- i will fight for my life, and i swear i will kill him. >> reporter: something had happened to make her pretty scared. >> yes. >> reporter: there's nothing on the call to say what that was. >> right. >> reporter: what was she afraid of? not clear. who was she afraid of? that was another story entirely. coming up -- another man in maribel's life sits down with police. and he seems eager to help with the case. >> so you were doing your own surveillance? >> yes. >> reporter: did her roommate know something that police didn't?

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♪ it should have been her proudest moment. she had joined the army to put herself through college, but just days away from her graduation ceremony, she vanished. earlier, maribel had called police to say she was in danger and afraid for her life. what was it or who was it that had her so terrified? here again josh main koe wits. >> reporter: by now, posters blanketed the city of orange. maribel ramos was missing and her family was frantic. >> soon as i got a call that she didn't show up to her baseball game, i got the worst feeling in the world. >> reporter: putting himself out there with all the rest was maribel's roommate, k.c. joy. >> she's my only family i have. she's my best friend. and i want her to come back. that's all. >> reporter: k.c. had moved from tennessee to southern california for a job.

he had no family and few friends here, so he turned to maribel. and she was happy to include him. she even arranged for k.c. to tutor her niece in math. >> he seemed nice, respectful. he liked to be involved with the family and my aunt. >> reporter: he didn't have a family of his own, so he kind of attached himself to yours? >> yeah. >> reporter: but they weren't boyfriend and girlfriend? >> no. >> reporter: even so, in photos maribel and k.c. seem to be having a great time. they even went on a cruise together. soon, police would be talking with k.c. joy. >> do you mind -- have you got a business card, sir. >> yeah. >> because i like to keep track of names straight and -- >> yeah, that's good idea. >> reporter: the formalities over, detective ramirez started asking about maribel. >> as you know, right now there's some people, some family and friends that are worried about maribel, your roommate.

>> i'm also a friend. and i care about her very much. >> reporter: but, he said, he had no idea what happened to her. >> so when was the last time that you saw her? >> about 9:00 p.m. that's when i talk -- at 9:00 and i went out. >> reporter: that was thursday night, may 2nd. the next night, when the cops were called to maribel's house, k.c. wasn't there. he explained he'd been so worried that he did his own investigation, watching his own front door from his car parked out front. >> all those movies and detective movies, if somebody always comes back their crime scene or whatever, i want to see who's going to knock on my door. so i just park the car in the front. i took my notebook, had a binocular in there. >> so you were doing your own surveillance? >> yes. >> reporter: it sounded a little odd. maybe k.c. had just seen too many crime movies. but if he had, then he'd probably know cops don't miss little details like -- well, like this. >> he's sitting across the table from me.

he's wearing a short sleeved shirt. he has jeans on and sandals. and instantly i can see he has scratches on both his arms. he's got a scratch across his forehead from his hairline to his eye. >> how'd you get all these scratches on you? >> we go eisenhower park all the time. >> ah huh. >> and like you go exactly -- you go -- we pick up by the pond. >> ah huh. >> we pick up fishing lines all the time you go there. >> can i see? >> fishing lines. >> those are from fishing lines? >> no, no, no. i'm going to explain. >> reporter: k.c. explained he was walking the dogs when he saw fishing line in a bush. worrying about the ducks in the park getting caught in the line, he reached in to remove it, and got all those scratches. you've been around long enough you could tell the difference between scratches that a person might get, you know, reaching into a bush or from an animal, and scratches that somebody would get during -- you know, an

actual fight with another person. >> right. and some of the scratches on his arms did look like scratches that would be from something other than fingernails. but there was one particular set of scratches on his right bicep that to me clearly look like scratches from a hand. >> reporter: and that says to you he was in a fight? >> it does. >> when was the last time you guys had any sort of an argument? >> actually the thursday. >> this thursday? >> reporter: that was the last night anyone saw maribel. the night she was caught on camera paying the rent, which k.c. said was what they were arguing about. >> well, what happened? >> rent money. >> tell me about that. >> because i was -- i'm supposed to move out... >> reporter: it turned out k.c. had recently lost his job and could no longer pay his share of the rent. maribel had asked him to move out.

that was reason for concern, of course. and so was this. detective ramirez had learned about the 911 call maribel had made 11 days before she disappeared. and he knew that in that call, the man maribel said she might have to kill was k.c. joy. >> his full name is kwang chol -- what i understand, it's kwang chol joy. >> now weren't the police out to your house recently because you guys had an argument? >> we'd been drinking quite a bit that night, and she started yelling at me. >> reporter: k.c. said it was all just a drunken misunderstanding. >> i don't like you. i'm not attracted to you. she started screaming and yelling. i said, maribel, we had great time tonight. what's the problem? >> reporter: what was the problem? detective ramirez heard from maribel's family something very interesting. k.c. joy had wanted to be more

than just roommates with maribel ramos. lucy told us the same thing. when did it become apparent to you that k.c. sort of had a crush on your sister? >> he called me, and then he just says, "i'm, like -- i'm, like, in love with your sister." so i was, like, "oh, this is great." >> reporter: because you knew that your sister wasn't in love with him. >> yes. and that's a bad situation. so at that point i'm like, okay, k.c., you know, you're a good man. and i'm sure you'll find somebody out there for you, but -- >> reporter: but it's not going to be her. >> yeah. >> reporter: now the woman k.c. had told lucy he wanted had told him that not only did she not love him, but he had to basically get out of her life. despite that, k.c. continued talking with police. mr. joy was being cooperative. >> he was. >> reporter: talking to officers. let you guys take stuff out of the house. >> he did. >> reporter: never showed up with a lawyer? >> he did not. >> reporter: doesn't sound like that did a lot to set aside your

suspicions? >> no, it didn't. >> reporter: suspicions, sure. but no proof a crime had even occurred. maribel ramos was missing, that's all anyone knew. >> you ready, sir? >> yes. >> reporter: and so k.c. joy walked out of that police station, like all the other men in maribel's life, a free man. coming up -- >> he knew a lot more than he was telling us. >> finally, the clue they'd been waiting for. and you won't believe how they got it! >> reporter: no one had searched there? >> no. >> reporter: but he's looking at it? >> yes. when "dateline" continues. protect with a spray. before the first tissue, help defend with a wipe. and help prevent with lysol. to get ten times more protection and kill 99.9% of germs around the house. this season, help protect your family with lysol.

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♪ >> reporter: the days were ticking by and still no maribel. forensic results were coming in -- dna, fingerprints, cell phone data -- none of it adding up to anything that told the cops what had happened to her. so police were looking at the usual suspects, like her boyfriend, paul lopez. lopez works for the gas company and goes from call to call in a company truck. the gps on that truck puts him nowhere near the city of orange on the night maribel was seen on that security video, that is until about midnight. lopez told police that's when he went home.

he said he was alone and could prove it. >> my parking spot's actually right by a surveillance camera. >> so the surveillance camera would show you parking -- >> reporter: that was enough to get lopez off the list. there was that ex boyfriend who'd been calling. maribel had never mentioned he'd been a problem. and police didn't think he was involved. there was the photographer from the website, plenty of fish. his cell phone data placed him in san diego, out of the area at the time in question. and the veteran from cal state who'd come on too strong? he was in japan. none of them could be connected to maribel's disappearance. so in the end, there was just one person the cops couldn't stop looking at, the first person to report maribel missing, her roommate k.c. joy. >> orange police dispatcher, rose. >> oh, this is not an emergency. and i have a roommate. she's 36 years old and she didn't come home last night.

>> reporter: he was also the last to see her alive. >> i felt she most likely was dead. i felt that there was a high probability mr. joy was responsible for it, and he knew a lot more than he was telling us. >> reporter: so detective ramirez became k.c. joy's shadow, appearing in the morning and then later by moonlight. hours after k.c.'s first police interview, a cheerful joey ramirez showed up at his house. >> hey. >> hey, k.c., how are you? can we come in? >> reporter: he brought a voice recorder and a few more questions. >> how are you this morning? >> all right. >> good, good, good. >> reporter: detective ramirez already knew the answers to some of them. >> so when you say work, she works at -- >> for fullerton. >> cal tech fullerton? >> yeah. >> reporter: and to some he didn't. >> did you have any marks on your legs or anything? >> no.

>> okay. well, let me just ask you do you have any injuries on your legs? >> no. >> you have no injuries on your legs... >> no. >> whatsoever? >> not a one on -- no, i don't have any. >> okay. >> reporter: then ramirez showed up again that night. k.c. joy, hey, just a couple of quick questions for you, then i'll get out of here. how are you doing? are you do -- are you okay? >> i've been crying. >> reporter: how many times did you talk to him? >> i believe i talked to him at least nine times. >> reporter: ramirez tried scaring k.c. about potential evidence found in his car. >> why would there be blood in the red versa? >> blood? yeah right. you tell me there's a blood i don't know anything about it. what blood? you tell me. >> reporter: he tried backing k.c. into a corner about what might be found on k.c.'s hard drive. >> well the good thing is if there's anything that you ever deleted that you wished you hadn't, we should be able to help you out with that. >> reporter: you're hoping he's going to think to himself, "okay, everything i've deleted,

they're going to see"? >> right. >> reporter: didn't work. >> didn't work. we were swinging and missing regularly, on a daily basis. >> reporter: k.c. joy was willing to talk, repeatedly, without an attorney. >> this is bree. bree this is k.c. >> hi. >> he's been very cooperative with us. he's got -- >> i've seen movie. now you can take this -- take a fingerprint. >> reporter: he says to you, "oh, i've seen this movie, and now you're going to take my fingerprints." he's like a pro. he's seen it all. >> he's being very relaxed. i felt that he was very confident that we weren't going to figure it out. >> reporter: what mr. joy apparently didn't know was that other officers were watching him 24/7. the surveillance teams noticed he was spending a lot of time at the public library, and he was using the computers there, probably because police had taken away his phone, and

maribel's computer, which was the one k.c. normally used. >> initially we would have undercover policemen go into the library, walk around him, see what he's doing. and at one point he's seen googling "can a cell phone be tracked if it's turned off." >> reporter: well, that's certainly suspicious. >> it is. >> reporter: detective ramirez was consulting daily with orange county deputy district attorney scott simmons. there are things that can be called into question, but they're not immediately proof of anything. >> exactly. and that's why we didn't arrest him right away. >> reporter: police needed to see exactly what k.c. joy was doing on those library computers. that would require a very unusual plan. they obtained a search warrant allowing them to watch, in real time, every move made on the computer. this is a recording of k.c.'s actual computer key strokes and

mouse clicks. that's k.c. checking his email. that's k.c. applying for a job. that's k.c. joy typing in "how long does it take a body to decay." suspicious maybe, but not enough. and then he did this. >> he pulled up a facebook page that showed there was going to be an awareness walk in the near future. >> reporter: a walk to help find maribel? >> it was. he google mapped that park and zoomed in onto it he then panned out, navigated over about eight to 10 miles. >> reporter: this area that he was zeroing in on, was it an area that had crossed your field of vision at all? >> no. >> reporter: here k.c. is google mapping a place that no one had searched. watch as he zooms into that area with the tree. that tree didn't figure in the investigation in any way? >> not in any stretch of the imagination. >> reporter: and no one had searched there. >> no. >> reporter: and no reason for that to be in the paper or

anywhere else? >> no. i mean, it's out in a remote canyon location. >> reporter: but he's looking at it. >> yes, yes. >> reporter: by the time k.c. was walking out of the library that afternoon, police were already headed to that tree. coming up -- another startling discovery. >> this is way off the beaten path. we didn't know what to think. and the suspect speaks. hear from k.c. joy himself. are you dangerous? >> me? i'm the perfect, most honest guy there is!

♪ >> reporter: as he dug deeper into k.c. joy's background, detective joey ramirez found more and more evidence that k.c. was infatuated, even obsessed, with maribel ramos. for instance, the time maribel told k.c. he was too old for her, and he responded by getting plastic surgery.

and $12,000 later he's got a different face? >> correct. >> reporter: and he says the reason he got it is because of the woman who's missing? >> correct. >> reporter: now here was k.c. at the public library, google mapping a remote wilderness area. since the dawn of detective novels, killers have returned to the scene of the crime. but these days there's no need for the bad guy to even get in his car. now, it can be done with the click of a mouse. the good guys still have to do it the old fashioned way. detective shawn haydon got the call on the radio. drive out to rustic modjeska canyon, southeast of the city of orange . >> we didn't know what to think. this is a very rural area. no one would be out here mountain biking or hiking. this is way off the beaten path. >> reporter: at the other end of the two way radio, detective bryan stanley was re-watching k.c.'s google search trying to give detective haydon better directions. k.c. focused on an intersection, and then moved over to the tree. >> in the center of the shot,

there's one tree that looks like a bush out in the middle of the wash. i told him to look for that tree, and then in the wash from that area. >> reporter: hayden and his partner found the tree, then moved off the road and past the barbed wire fence. and then they knew they were close. >> as we were kind of trekking through this brush here, the first and foremost thing we found was, you know, an overwhelming smell of like a decaying body or something dead. and my partner and i kind of turned our head, and we looked over, and we saw this kind of shallow grave site. >> reporter: at long last, there she was. >> one of the detectives called and said, "joey, you're not going to believe this. we found her." >> reporter: maribel ramos had been left alone in that dusty canyon since before anyone knew she was missing. now, ramirez knew it was time for one last meeting with k.c. joy. >> well, thanks for coming down here voluntarily. i really appreciate it. >> well, you going to give me a ride back to library.

then i have to walk. i say -- that's -- i don't have car... >> reporter: ramirez didn't tell k.c. that maribel had been found. he just tried for the final time to get k.c. to be the one who would say what had happened. >> k.c., i think that you have the answers in your heart. >> no, i want to go. >> that you do and that you should share them. >> i have to go. >> reporter: so once again, k.c. joy walked out of the interview room. he didn't get far. this time, he was arrested and charged with the murder of maribel ramos, the woman he had loved, who had not loved him. when he was taken into custody, k.c. joy was wearing maribel's dog tags. k.c. joy pleaded not guilty and in july of this year, a little more than a year after maribel vanished, he went on trial for her murder. >> this is maribel ramos. maribel is no longer with us. >> reporter: the prosecution laid out the evidence against k.c. the unrequited love, the scratches, the 911 call, and

finally, the computer searches. >> he's wondering, "how close is maribel's body to where they're doing that awareness search?" that's why he goes to google maps. >> reporter: the defense pointed out there was no dna, fingerprints, cell phone info or standard forensic evidence that tied k.c. joy to maribel's murder or to the crime scene. >> we don't know what happened, what kind of force was used? nobody knows. who used it first? nobody knows. was there a weapon used? was it used by maribel? or was it used by k.c. joy? nobody knows. >> reporter: all true. but the computer searches were enough for the jury. >> we the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant guilty of the crime of felony to whit -- >> reporter: k.c. joy was convicted of second degree murder. after which, he told me the jury got it wrong.

are you dangerous? >> me? i'm the perfect, most honest guy there is, and most trustworthy. they say, "what's your secret?" i say, "i'm a gentleman." >> reporter: k.c. says he wants a new trial to prove he couldn't have killed maribel -- his, quote, best friend. you had a crush on her? >> no, we are -- absolutely not. you know, as i always maintain that we are platonic friends. you never told lucy that you had a crush on her? >> nope, i didn't ever said that. >> reporter: you never said you were in love with her? >> nope, never said that either. >> reporter: and you weren't obsessed with her? >> no. i was not obsessed with her. >> reporter: the plastic surgery? his choice, he says. not done for maribel. and the computer search of the area where maribel's body was found? k.c. says he didn't do it. someone else did, by remotely accessing the same computer, right after he had used it. you don't think that's quite a coincidence? >> it may be a coincidence, but i didn't do it. >> reporter: you're being framed here? >> i say yes. if i had a paid attorney, somebody who could -- somebody like o.j. simpson had, i wouldn't be here right now.

i'd be out. >> reporter: so the problem here is not that you're guilty, it's that you don't have enough money? >> exactly. since, like, money talks. if you have money, i would not be here. >> reporter: k.c. joy was sentenced to 15 years to life for killing maribel ramos. what do you think happened? >> i think she went to bed, and i think what he did is he got a pillow and smothered her. and as he's got this pillow over her face she struggles a little bit. and i believe that's where he got the scratches on his right tricep. >> reporter: if mr. joy hadn't done that google map search leading you, essentially, to the body, would he be a free man? >> if no other evidence came up, yes. >> reporter: he'd be a person of interest in a cold case. >> correct. >> reporter: maribel ramos graduated from college posthumously. her niece, giselle, whom maribel had always hoped would follow in

her footsteps, instead ended up walking the path meant for her aunt. >> i received her diploma, and i got to sit in her seat and walk upstage and receive everything. >> it was so difficult to be there. it was difficult to see my daughter in such pain, walking for her aunt. >> she was an army veteran -- >> reporter: every wednesday in orange they lower the flag for the fallen who served. but maribel has a legacy. giselle, now 16 seems well on her way to becoming the successful woman maribel had hoped for. your mom says that you've sort of been the rock, that they wouldn't have made it through this without you. that's true? >> yes. >> reporter: where did you get that toughness? >> from her. >> reporter: from maribel? >> yeah.

that's all for now. i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us. >> this sunday, a "meet the press" summit, race in america. >> protests across the country following a grand jury decision not to indict police officer darren wilson in america. >> a deep mistrust exists between law enforcement and communities of color. >> are we just as divided under ameri america's first black president. and are leaders not following the president. we are heading to washington, and we