>> reporter: it was the worst crime royse city had seen in a very long time. shot to death on a muddy road. his wife standing close by. now she was in an ambulance. and police were trying to piece together what had happened. who their victim was. and who might have wanted him dead. >> i don't know, i don't know. >> reporter: support in his signature mustache, and a six foot four inches, 300 pound physique, could robert poynter look intimidating. to those who knew him best, he was the complete opposite. his mom, candy. >> he was your favorite. >> so they say. >> what do you say? >> possibly. probably. >> reporter: bob was candies middle child, between two sisters, jennifer and cheryl. >> he was not confrontational. >> they are a non confrontational. >> reporter: he liked helping people, maybe that's why bob became a firefighter, a well respected one. he swallowed smoke for 19 years. winding up as a captain in the university park department outside dallas. and from his firehouse, from the rug, even from the fires, bob kept in very close touch with his mom. >> we