john quinones. >> while the baby sleeping in the next room, while her husband because out. could the one clue that finally breaks it all open, come from the brave? the people who love janet agreed to her body's exhumation, and say they won't stop until they know why she was killed and who did it. ♪ >> reporter: it started with two student athletes meeting in college. >> raven swept her off her feet. he was prince charming, and she fell for him hard. >> reporter: the romance blossoms quickly. raven abaroa and janet christiansen are married before they even graduate. soon they have a son, kaiden. then, on the evening of april 26th, 2005, the unthinkable. >> durham 911, where is your emergency? >> my wife, she's dead. i'm at home. she's been shot or something. there's blood everywhere. >> janet abaroa was found inside her ferrand drive home last. >> with appeared to be a stab wound in her chest. >> durham police have not named any suspects but will only say her murder was not random. >> reporter: just days after the murder, raven and his son move to utah, and soon he takes a s

john quinones. >> reporter: trial day 34, the state of north carolina versus raven abaroa.osed doors, alex cromwell and his fellow jury members are hard at work. >> we were all pretty unanimous in that the defendant had done some fairly reprehensible things. it was just a matter of whether that was to the level of committing murder. >> reporter: after three days of deliberation raven's fate is finally being decided. janet's sister praying for justice. but the 12 jurors in courtroom 7b deliver a shocking decision. >> i don't think additional time will change our final outcome. >> reporter: the verdict? there is none. the jury deadlocked 11 to 1 in favor of guilty. >> we are a hung jury. >> reporter: the judge has no choice but to declare a mistrial. >> we can't make you reach a verdict. >> reporter: the outcome devastating. raven on the verge on tears, upset at the prospect of another lengthy trial. and behind him, his mother crying. and the other side overcome with emotion, too. janet's mother and sisters sobbing. even worse, the vote was 11 to 1 in favor of guilty. a singl

here now, john quinones. >> tonight, did a man get away with murder? it's the story of two wives, one dead, one arrived. a murder investigation that reached a deadend until "20/20" gets on the case. this evening what happens when a second wife does some digging on her own. you'll see why investigators insist on opening the case, by opening a grave. >> reporter: sometimes when you meet someone, you just know it's love. janet christiansen knew that from the moment she met raven abaroa in college. >> oh, raven swept her off her feet. he's very charismatic. he knows how to talk to people. he was prince charming, and she fell for him hard. >> reporter: janet grew up in a conservative mormon household, the seventh of ten siblings. her sisters say she was so easy to get along with. >> a very sweet spirit. loving, kind. she loved children. she had an opportunity to watch all of mine as they grew up. it's not just that she loved them. i mean, they all gravitate towards her. they loved her. >> reporter: outgoing? >> definitely. definitely she was. soccer, swimmi