because a fugett siblings told police they had accomplices -- from their high school.was one of them. another one was pulled in that same night -- and interviewed by detective giles and his partner. >> at the end of the interview we both looked at each other and "this kid has no idea what we're talking about. he is clueless to what we're asking him." >> reporter: so the fugetts had lied when they fingered him. the kid was eventually released. but robert? robert had a far different experience in the interview room and a different detective. >> and there sitting across from you was randy snead. >> randy snead. yep. >> you knew him. >> i knew him since i was 12 or 13. so i -- i was on first name basis with him. >> kind of a friend . >> yeah. because i've known him for so long. >> why don't you tell me, robert, what took place that night? you tell me your story of what happened. >> i was at my house, man. >> reporter: at first, robert swore that he was innocent. but six hours later, he had confessed to murder. >> i stabbed her. >> you stabbed her, didn't you? >> one -- one

>> reporter: the fugett siblings, as robert mercilessly. and he was terrified of them.he wouldn't help them murder the neighbor lady. yet, rocky fugett was going to tell the court just that. >> his lawyer had advised me that rocky wanted to get a favorable sentencing and was going to be testifying against robert. >> reporter: so, big problems. rosenfield knew from long experience that any jury hearing rocky's testimony and robert's confession would certainly convict. robert would very probably get a life sentence, no parole. robert's only chance of ever getting out of prison was to agree to something called an 'alford' plea. >> and we told robert that, "if you plead guilty under an alford plea, you admit that there is sufficient evidence to prove your guilt but you do not admit that you're guilty." >> reporter: it meant accepting a 23 year prison sentence. it also meant he could never file an appeal. >> 37 years of practice, it is the hardest decision that i've made to strongly recommend a client to take a plea for something he didn't do. >> reporter: but at least it wa