adkins'?able the defense said was adkins' story of an accident. >> he has insisted since september of 1982 he didn't do anything, she fell from his car. that has -- that has not changed at all. lots of other evidence has vanished, witnesses have disappeared or died that's the one thing that has not changed. >> reporter: and even if you didn't believe russell adkins' words, the defense said, his actions that night seemed to speak for themselves. >> frankly, it doesn't make sense that someone who has just murdered someone is then going to go door to door at 3:00 in the morning, pounding on doors, trying to get them to call someone to come help her. >> putting yourself at the scene? >> correct. >> reporter: and if the crux of the prosecution's case was the science, the defense was more than happy to make this a case of dueling science. >> you knew early on it was going to be a battle of science, expert versus expert? >> yes. >> reporter: and if weighty resumes counted, the defense expert maybe ha

down the man's name -- russell adkins. >> what did you think you had? >> i really wasn't sure, to be honest with you. i didn't know if i had someone hit by a car or was she thrown from a vehicle? i -- i -- i really had no idea. >> reporter: so he headed to the hospital hoping to find some answers from dana's family and friends. what he heard were words of suspicion, hints even of murder. with some people in dana's family pointing the finger at someone very close to home. coming up: if it was murder, how would they ever prove it? >> it was all circumstantial there wasn't a murder weapon. they just had her body. >> just had stories and a victim on the side of the road. >> right. >> reporter: when "dateline" continues.

tonight's hard table round table, kim adkins for the boston herald.an-pierre at moveon.org and noel nickport. i've got to go to you, noel. >> i'm sure you do. yes, yes, yes. >> because i like authenticity. they hated each other. that's real. this love affair, this bromance that's going on now is so embarrassing. they don't like each other. >> what you saw, that was authentic that was sincere. these two guys did not like each other. i don't think that ted cruz has had some sort of come to jesus moment. i think he is doing this because razz he is running, you've got to look at is the voters. and if you want to keep them, it's a close race. >> but people have been known to forgot. when you accuse the other guy's father of being an assassin. >> i just don't understand it. i think to me it's like the republican party has been totally taken over by trump. republicans were able to survive tea party surge, but got swamped by trump. >> is that because ratings are 80% for trump in the republican party? >> here is the thing. going to texas for a second, trump is

unfortunately in february another 31-year-old man joshua adkins died using a methylene chloride p.to refinish his bike. i learned about joshua from his mother lauren in a deeply touching letter and i would ask unanimous consent the chairman put that letter into the record in which she states she hopes her son would be the last to die from this chemical. i will give it to you right right now mr. chairman. again mr. pruitt your deregulatory agenda caused lives. real people with names with brothers and mothers. you have the power to prevent more deaths but you haven't done it. you have anything to say to these families at this point? >> congressman as i tried indicate earlier there's a proposed ban in place that we should comment on that we are reviewing on and there has been no decision at this time. >> obviously have nothing to say to these families. you say you are going to do something but these chemicals are still on the shelves and they make a mockery of the toxic reform legislation that this committee worked so hard on including our chairman mr. shimkus and it makes a mockery o