pietz file moved from desk to desk, until in 2010, they were picked up by two cold case cops, jake papovichnd mike mellis. each was determined to apply some heat. >> i called gayle up and said i've got this case now and it's my intent to be the last detective to have this case. >> they laid out the entire investigation, and then homed in hone in on day one. that saturday morning nici pietz presumably left the condo she shared with dave and headed out to her special aa meeting. to the cold case detectives' fresh eyes, a few key pieces of evidence from that morning jumped out. common-sense stuff, really. like nici's wedding ring. a photo taken in 2006 showed it in nici's bathroom near the jewelry cleaner she kept it in overnight. >> and here's the wedding rings left on the counter. and she was proud of the rings, according to all of the family, and here she is going to this big meeting the next morning, but she is going to go and not take her rings with her? >> another red flag, this from the autopsy report. nici's body had been recovered with her retainer still in her mouth. why did it seem