. >> reporter: the victim was 21-year-old carolyn casey, a day care worker. anita and larry, so proud of their eldest daughter. >> she was wonderful with kids. all the kids loved her. everyone loved her. >> reporter: never could they have prepared themselves for the dreadful phone call they received. >> "is your daughter carolyn casey?" i said, "yes." i think he said, "well, there's been an accident and your daughter's dead. a fire." >> reporter: when carolyn's younger sister, amanda, learned the news, she collapsed with grief. >> and i just -- i screamed really loud, made my ears ring from my screaming. >> they've got this wrong? >> yeah. something's wrong. she didn't -- she didn't die. and i said, "no, she's not dead." >> what was the turning point? >> i called her apartment. and she didn't answer. detective capps did say it was homicide. >> i think we -- we had a strong feeling that possibly there was some type of sexual assault that occurred. and that somebody was trying to cover up some evidence. >> reporter: kelly brown of "the eagle" newspaper had anot