detective perrault soon heard a story that went like this.ed employees like bookkeeper judy craven to a meeting. he was selling the company. >> i think he wanted to spend more time with his family and just focus on the selling part, not deal with that day to day managing. >> reporter: no longer a rumor, said this e-mail to announce the sale. vern was selling aspen to daniel blizzard and his two brothers. vern would stay on as the designated broker for one year. vern held a barbecue and took this photo with the blizzard family to cement the new relationship. but the deal went south quickly. >> they made the first three payments and then they just stopped. >> reporter: it was the height of the great recession. real estate was tanking. vern was understanding. but then the blizzards approached vern with a request. >> they asked my dad to take out what's called a key man life insurance policy, him being the key person or the key man, in the organization. >> because aspen real estate really was just your dad. >> it absolutely was my dad. >> reporte