a story christopher goffard of of the "los angeles times" spent months unraveling. strand by disturbing strand. >> it's a story about trust and betrayal, and it's a story about family.

a story christopher goffard of of the "los angeles times" spent months unraveling.trand by disturbing strand. >> it's a story about trust and betrayal, and it's a story about family. >> about a woman, two protective daughters and what those daughters did when the man came into their mother's life. before the homicide in the parking lot. ♪ devil's got your boyfriend, he's got the one ♪ >> reporter: the story became a podcast produced with the podcast network wondery. the number one podcast in the country for a time. voted by "entertainment weekly," "usa today" and "the guardian" as one of the best of 2017. the story and the man at the heart of it was called, "dirty john." >> he was a very creative super manipulative, charismatic, handsome, charming. intelligent. >> he was a nightmare to everybody. >> reporter: but -- not to her. to debra newell, of orange county, california, the man who presented himself on the dating website, dr. john meehan, anesthesiologist, looked very promising. >> he was the total package. a doctor. very intelligent. family man. loved his kids.