kelly clayton was marie's hairdresser and good friends. >> she would talk to me a lot about what he was doing at school. she would get really excited about marcus. >> narrator: marie's friends and co-workers ginger and jean. >> he was the apple of her eye. she just sparkled whenever he was around. >> she was a doting mom or a strict mom? >> he was just loving. >> narrator: marie worked for the federal government in los angeles. but friends say she was driven and ambitious in other areas too. >> she was an entrepreneur. that's what i know most about her, because she talked about owning her own business. >> narrator: but marie wanted more than work and success. >> i know that she wanted to have somebody in her life. >> what kind of guy was she looking for? >> someone that will take care of her, love her. protect her. >> i guess that's any woman's dream to have the whole package. that was kind of missing. she didn't have that guy figure, the father figure for marcus. >> narrator: then one day, marie told her friends -- >> i met this guy, then they had a lunch date and he was cute and just,