at the end of the day he is a million dollars ritcher. is this someone who cannot escape tragedy or is he the master of a ruthless insurance scheme. his second wife said she discovered he has taken out a $1.2 million insurance policy on her life. here is the chilling story. >> you're seeing for the very first time the video interrogation of a father accused of a terrible crime. >> people are going to think what they want. and it's like there is no, no way. >> later this month the jury will begin to hear the story you're hearing tonight. is he the unluckiest guy in the world? or is he the collector who kept getting ritcher as family members disappeared? it all began on an unseasonably warm november day. >> 911, what's the location of your emergency?

>> i need an ambulance. >> cindy and her husband arrived at their home to find carl's 23-year-old son, levi, trapped under their truck in this barn. >> oh my god. i don't know how long he's been in there. we've been gone since noon. >> levi volunteered to work on the transmission. the truck slipped off of the jacks that were holding it up. >> okay. we're going to start cpr, okay? >> karl, they want to start cpr. >> carl's only son was dead. >> the officers at the scene didn't see anything out of the ordinary. they saw what appeared to be two grieving parents and what appeared to be an accident. >> of course there were questions. it turned out carl had recently taken out a $700,000 life insurance policy on levi and levi signed a handwritten will,

leaving everything to his father. but at the time, authorities say they didn't know about the life insurance policy or the will. it was all ruled a tragic accident. a once in a lifetime tragedy that had actually happened to carl carlson before. back in 1991, carl's first wife, christina, levi's mother also died in a tragic accident. a house fire. karl and christina were living here in california with their three young children. >> she was the consummate mom. her goal in life was to be a mother. >> carlson told police that christina was in the bathroom when some kerosene that had spilled suddenly erupted in flames. >> when you get a call like that

you're in shock. >> her sister tried to move forward but there were two things that gave her pause. he had taken out a $200,000 life insurance policy on his wife. >> that doesn't sound like a lot by today's standards but then it was a lot of money. >> and the windows to the bathroom had been boarded up with 17 nails. >> when i found it was boarded, i was in shock. >> he told investigators that the pain wne was proeken. for the good of the children, they put the best face on things as karl quickly moved across the country to new york state and remarried. >> i had to set aside all of my suspicions because i was absolutely going to make sure those kids knew their mother. >> but that all changed the day that colette found out that levi

was dead. >> i didn't know what he had to gain but i knew he did it. >> another member of the family contacted the new york police. started checking out the long strain of what he said were suspicious incidents. >> it's extremely unlikely that someone would have that many tragic events a few weeks after obtaining high insurance policies. >> now the investigation was on but how to get evidence. >> i contacted cindy in march of 2012 and told her that i had reopened the investigation into the death of her stepson and her first words were thank god you called. >> karlson's second wife was finally having suspicions of her own according to police. one big reason? police said she found out karl had taken out a $1.2 million

life insurance policy on her. she agreed to wear a wire, pretending to karl that she was considering getting back together with him and now you're about to hear part of that conversation for the first time. >> can you just tell me how things went that day? >> karlson throws suspicious at cindy. >> part of me feels like i'm walking into a booby trap. >> but he starts telling her more. >> what i remember, i jacked it up. >> i asked you if you pushed the truck and you said yes. >> i didn't push the truck, i said. i said i had nothing to do with it. but i said i took advantage of the situation once it happened. >> with what they see as incriminating statements, the police bring karlson in for questioning. >> the reason they brought you in today was really over --

>> my son. levi. >> at first he denies it. >> to sit here and say that i killed my son? there is no way. >> but as the hours go by, nine and a half hours in all, he switches stories. first saying he had found his son's body earlier but had not said anything. >> i found him dead. >> you found the truck rolled over on him? >> he repeatedly complains of feeling sick and needing pain medication. >> i have frequent panic attacks. >> finally he tells police he had been there in the room when the truck fell. >> i had to get inside to move blankets for the [ bleep ] truck. the [ bleep ] fell over. >> but according to the prosecution, he did it all for the insurance money.

karlson has pled not guilty. his lawyers say he respectfully disagrees with the court's recent decision to allow the jury to hear the recorded conversation karl karlson had with his wife and the video taped interrogation. but colette is angry that they did not investigate more vigorously 20 years ago. >> we all raised our concerns that we thought the fire was very suspicious. >> the district attorney said her office is now actively investigating the death as a homicide and cannot comment on an active investigation. but now even with rl in jail awaiting trial, colette and her family say they are filled with regret that they didn't do more to help christina leave the man who they think was responsible for her death. >> you live with that. did we make the wrong decision? we have to live with that?

>> i'm lindsay davis in new york. >> karlson will go on trial for the murder of his son on october 21. >> next up, a new way to stay in shape? how about the vix en work out? >> abc news "nightline" brought to you by progressive. yep, there i am with flo. hoo-hoo! watch it! [chuckles] anyhoo, 3 million people switched to me last year, saving an average of $475. [sigh] it feels good to help people save... with great discounts like safe driver, multicar, and multipolicy. so call me today. you'll be glad you did. cannonbox! [splash!] exciting and would always come max and pto my rescue. bookstore but as time passed, i started to notice max just wasn't himself.

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>> twerking. had enough of the down and dirty dance miley cyrus helped make infamous? consider how many calories it

can torch. women are flocking to the hottest class in new york to tone up and get down. sarah joins an army of devoted followers in a dance revolution. >> it's 2:30 in the afternoon on a saturday in brooklyn. the doors just opened for one of the trendiest clubs around. >> how you doing, new york? >> here, it is women only. from single girls to moms in all shapes and sizes. >> i like dancing. i like working out. >> i love to stay in shape. >> i need to finally lose the baby weight. >> and bring it up and stretch your backs. >> this is the vixen work out. >> yes i'm sexy, yes i'm fierce. >> 15 00 women a week sign up to loose weight while unleashing

their inner vixen. it's inspired by some of the hottest clubs in miami. with moves that get you body rolling percolating, and dropping it low, while dropping a lot of calories. >> it feels like it's a girl's night out. there is no men, no drinks and it feels okay to be naughty and not be judged. >> creator and former miami heat dancer janet jones got the idea out with the girls. r a night >> when was the moment when you thought i'm going to design a workout? >> we went out to a nightclub. we couldn't move because we are someone's mom or someone's boss or something. that's when i had my moment where i was like what if i were to create something that kind of let's women feel safe to let loose and to dance and be a little rebellious but at the same time loose weight.

>> that is the key to helping women get their sexy back by leaving their inhibitions at the door. when you walk in, the music takes over. a play list with everything from pit bull to 90s miami bass. some people call it booty bouncing. some people call it twerking. >> twerking was called booty dancing. yeah, we did it in the 90s, which was, you know, it was really at least for me brought out by 2 live crew. ♪ d.j. live. >> 26-year-old kristy rodriguez started classes three months ago and has already lost 30 pounds. she flew all the way from miami

to be here. she tells us that greater than the pounds lost is the confidence gained. >> they want women to reach their maximum potential and then from there make more goals and continue on. and not just in working out and losing weight and whatever, but in your life. >> okay. so i had to give it a try. now watch me channel my inner vixen. are you ready for this? look out beyonce. okay. maybe i'm better at this in my head. i came in with a pony tail but by the end of class i had definitely let loose. so did all the moms. >> they are like mommy, what are you learning in this class? they see pictures and they're like what is that? >> and now these sexy ladies have the selfies to prove it. >> it is pretty vain but you only take one if you feel you look good.

really like our girls which we call the vixen army kind of have self promoted the class because they had such a good time that they want to share it with their friends. >> janet started what seems like a sorority but it is really like an army. >> vixen army. >> for nightline, i'm sarah hans in brooklyn new york. >> would you try the vixen workout? tweet us. our thanks to sarah hanes for that report. we'll be right back. >> she wanted to go to school. lefter if dead. grasping for life.

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>> the unimaginably brave pakistani girl was shot point-blank on her school bus by the taliban last year is speaking up about education. now 16 and nominated for a nobel peace prize is continuing her courageous campaign so that other girls can be free to learn. a story to inspire us all.

>> she may be the bravest girl in the world. >> when i almost died it was just after midday. >> a destroyed girls school with the faces of girl students yet she was determined to learn saying school was like walking through a magic door to your dreams. >> i will get my education if it is in home, school, or any place. in some part of the world, students are going to school every day. it's their normal life. but in other parts of the world, we are starving for education. for us it's like a precious gift. it's like a diamond. >> with her child like magical thinking, malala says she rehearsed in her mind what she would say. >> it was always my desire the

attack that if a man comes what would you tell her? i would tell that man that i want education for your daughter. >> did that thinking work against a gun? >> i thought it was involved -- words are more powerful than guns. >> a year ago in october 2012, she was on a school bus. >> yes. and also, like, considering the bus to be a drum and making music. >> was that wise? it was brave. but was it wise? >> i wanted to live my life. >> a man with a beard and a gun stopped the bus and asked who is malala and fired three at her. >> one bullet went through here and here. >> and through a series of

astonishing miracles from the way the bullet travels to the doctor who happened to be here. >> he hit her there. miracle. >> if you believe in miracles, yes. >> she woke up ready to lead girls everywhere towards a new day. >> thousands of voices. >> i am malala. >> weakness, fear, and hopelessness dies. strength, fervor and courage was born. >> her book, i am malala hits shelves tuesday. for the full story, the doctors who saved her life and how she is changing our world, unbreakable airs this friday on 20/20 at 10:00 p.m. eastern. thank you for watching abc news 20/20 at 10:00 p.m. eastern. thank you for watching abc news and good night, america. captions by vitac

"omg! insider," the top trending storu need to know. >> were you surprised by the attention you're getting right now? >> kind of what i wanted.ies yo >> little miss wrecking ball mobbed in new york. >> miley's "snl" after party and the aftermath. her ratings were averaged but opped herself on twitter. plus, what she's saying about her sinead feud. >> somebody's saying, you suck. ashley judd with heshe t estranged husband after his horrific race car crash. then, was a "glee" star shut out of cory's farewell. >> behind the scenes of the tribur >> i was crying so hard. is ellen pompeo slamming her ex "grey's anatomy" co-ste. >> she was critical of katherine heigl. and the hoff back with knight rider. >> highs and lows. >> i couldn't get a job after "knight rider." >> as tars.sh. now where yahoo! and broadcast meet for 24/7 access to celebrity news, "omg!

insider." >> she can't stop. it's official. the circus has come to you wi and you know what? we have all purchased tickets. hello, everyone. i'm kevin frazier. >> i'm thea andrews. the circus being miley mtown. from "snl" to the "today" show to social media domination. is miley the ring master of one of the best media takeovers in recent memory?ania ♪ wrecking ball >> were you surprised by the attention you're getting right now? >> not really, i mean, kind of t i want. i'm an artist. so i'm hoping that i get a little attention, although i -- my record sales may be a little sketch. >> miley this morning rowha the "today" show and asked by matt lauer how long she'll keep up her overtly sexual image. >> i heard when you turn 40, things start to go a little less cking ual, so -- >> don't say that. >> probably around 40. around that time. i heard that's when people don't have sex anymore. so i guess maybe around then. >> do you know how old i sex >> i'm going to guess 40. >> miley, matt is actually 55.

but moving on, 20-year-old miley am?>> there will be no twerking tonight. i used to think twerking was cool but now that white people are doing it, it seems kind of lame. i'm not going to do hannah montana, but i can give you an update on what she's been up to. she was murdered. >> miley mocks herself and the gop's michele bachmann. and look at this. miley mobbed at the after party. security hustled the singer in and out of stk where she posted this pic inside. nina parker on the "snl" social media impact. >> her ratings on "snl" and her mtv documentary were fairly average. where she really kills it is on social media. during her appearance on "snl" there were more than double the amount of tweets in the previous three weeks combined. her young fans may not have tuned in to the show, but they do support her by sending clips of the show to each other. ♪ wrecking ball