t >> reporter: also rushing to get to denita was her mother, sharon smith, who was driving to durham from charlotte. >> you're thinking this is an accident. >> uh-huh. >> but she's going to be okay? >> uh-huh. i thought she was at the hospital. >> reporter: durham police arrived and taped off the scene. >> we found denita at the bottom of the steps, and we were basically there was a pretty large police presence at the time.s >> reporter: detective shawn pate wasn't sure exactly what he was dealing with, but it was beginning to look a lot more serious than just an accident on the stairs. >> however, we weren't able to determine what the injuries were. we saw there was blood coming from her head, she had her purse, she had water bottle, lipstick, keys, that kind of thing. all coming down the staircase. and first thing i'm wondering is, was there a struggle? >> was her wallet there? >> the wallet was there.er >> and money in it? >> there must have been because at first we didn't think it was a robbery. >> reporter: edythe, who knew none of this, now rushed to e, denita's building, where

sure, you know, we'll get to her." >> reporter: also rushing to get to denita was her mother, sharon smith, who was driving to durham from charlotte. >> you're thinking this is an accident. >> mmm-hmm. >> but she's going to be okay? >> mmm-hmm. i thought she was at the hospital. >> reporter: durham police arrived and taped off the scene. >> we found denita at the bottom of the steps, and we were basically there was a pretty large police presence at the time. >> reporter: detective shawn pate wasn't sure exactly what he was dealing with, but it was beginning to look a lot more serious than just an accident on the stairs. >> however, we weren't able to determine what the injuries were. we saw there was blood coming from her head, she had her purse, she had a water bottle, lipstick, keys, that kind of thing.ps all coming down the staircase. and first thing i'm wondering is, was there a struggle? >> was her wallet there? >> the wallet was there. >> and money in it?al >> there must have been becausen at first we didn't think it was a robbery. >> reporter: edythe, who knew none of this, now rush