>> reporter: daniel bartelt was officially charged with murder.joy tried to wrap their heads around what happened to the funny teenager, and had nothing but empathy for his parents. >> they didn't do this. they did nothing wrong. they provided a great environment for him, for his sister. they're good people. >> i can't say that he's totally evil. but something went very wrong. i don't know what. >> reporter: and they also felt sorry for randy talley, the cast member briefly rumored to be involved, now completely cleared. >> i felt bad. just more collateral damage from one person's evil choices. >> reporter: and though the dna evidence linking daniel to the murder seemed to give the d.a. a slam-dunk case, daniel pleaded not guilty. gary schmaus was his attorney. some people might say that there was overwhelming evidence against daniel. why go to trial? >> you go to trial when your client and -- and in this case dan -- denies having committed the crime. >> reporter: when daniel's trial began, the courtroom was full of conflicted hearts. supporters o