jermeir stroud had left work and was racing to durham. >> i spoke to jermeir.nd i'm like, "have you made contact with her?" but i felt like i didn't get a definite answer. it seemed like there was a little bit of confusion. >> what do you mean? >> like when i said, "did you speak with her," and he didn't really give me a yes or a no. >> he just sound a little rushed like, "edythe, you know, just sit tight. stay calm. i'm sure, you know, we'll get to her." >> reporter: also rushing to get to denita was her mother, sharon smith, who was driving to durham from charlotte. >> you're thinking this is an accident. >> uh-huh. >> but she's going to be okay? >> uh-huh. i thought she was at the hospital. >> reporter: durham police arrived and taped off the scene. >> we found denita at the bottom of the steps, and we were basically there was a pretty large police presence at the time. >> reporter: detective shawn pate wasn't sure exactly what he was dealing with, but it was beginning to look a lot more serious than just an accident on the stairs. >> however, we weren't abl

i don't have to worry about jermeir. because when i lay down at night -- >> love you. >> -- i get a peaceful sleep. i don't know if they do. >>> marie was a very loving person. she had a heart of gold. >> reporter: what happened to this woman? >> my job is to be a truth teller and seek out the truth. i wanted to solve it! >> reporter: her case was a mystery for years. the mom with the tender heart and tough-as-nails career. >> she was part of the sheriff's department. her ultimate goal was to try to get into the fbi. >> reporter: she'd found a new sense of purpose in the church. her pastor and his wife, like family. >> they had taken her in, they were helping her out. >> i was like, i'm proud of you, you're finding god. >> reporter: then, one baffling text. and she was gone. >> i go, "i know i probably watch a lot of law and order, but i just have this gut feeling." >> because i was a mom, i just knew she didn't leave on her own. >> there was no way she left that baby! >> reporter: two moms at opposite ends of a mystery.