. >> reporter: and now prosecutors andy prosser and scott brown -- from the state's attorney general'sd did it. their plan had been to call tate as a witness. >> on the theory that the devil you know is always better than the devil you don't, we wanted the jury to see mr. tate. >> reporter: but now with a trial date approaching, prosecutors had lost a key witness. >> bad for us. good for them. it's great for them. >> reporter: the long-awaited murder trial of seth techel was in hometown ottumwa. >> ready for the jury, gentlemen? >> february 2013, can you see yourself going into the courthouse? >> yeah, i remember. >> what do you two say to one another? >> we got to stay strong. >> reporter: the caldwells never wanted to believe seth killed lisa. but, heading into trial, they were all now convinced that he did, even presley, once his staunchest supporter. >> there's really no other explanation for what has happened. >> when you left the techel residence, who was there? >> reporter: two prominent families, the caldwells and techels, once close in-laws, were now fiercely divided, camped o