simple copy of the newspaper article when jack jessee was murdered anonymously to sandra jessee, tom aehlertand brett schrauben. the significance of that was they didn't know we knew about brett schrauben. they're going to know something's up. >> reporter: sure enough, as soon as tom heard brett got an anonymous letter, he called his mother, sandra. >> whoever was sending out all that crap sent one to brett too. >> give me a break. >> really. >> you're kidding. >> no. why would i kid about something like that? >> sent one to brett? >> yeah. >> why would they send one to him? how could they even -- >> i have no clue. >> reporter: next, dove started poking brett's friends in california. who of course called brett. >> leave your name and number and i'll get back to you, thank you. >> hey, dude, it's me. you need to [ bleep ] call me asap. this is no [ bleep ] joke. some guy from the sheriff in orange county sheriff's department homicide division was calling me, asking about you. >> reporter: brett in turn called tom. >> i want to talk for a couple of seconds -- >> okay. >> no, i'd rather pick y

cut the apron strings and testify against his mom. >> there's no way that we ever suspected that tom aehlertma's boy who decided he didn't want to die in prison. tom pleaded guilty to second degree murder, got 15 to life. besides helping connect the crime to his mother, tom had somebody else he wanted to give up. that friend of brett schrauben's. despite the fact there was no forensic evidence, his case went to trial. in february of 2013, a jury found him not guilty. that friend is a free man. >> as for sandra, her case went to trial one plant letter. as jury deliberated and the family waited, there was no euphoria. they knew from bitter experience that anything could happen. >> it's a lot harder this time not knowing what's going to happen. >> on the second day, they got word the jury had a verdict. >> my stomach's in knots. >> i'm shaking. >> we're just really very nervous at this moment. >> 13 years after jack jessee's murder, sandra jessee was found guilty. and finally that little ball stayed on its track. the key mouse was caught. >> i hope that she rots in hell. i just really do. i'm g

. >> there's no way that we ever suspected that tom aehlert would ever turn on his mother. known to be a mama's boy. >> but a mama's boy who decided he didn't want to die in prison. tom pleaded guilty to second degree murder, got 15 to life. besides helping connect the crime to his mother, he had somebody else he wanted to give up. that friend of brett's. despite the fact there was no forensic evidence, his case went to trial. in february 2013 a's jury found him not guilty. would a jury believe tom's story. as jury deliberated and the family waited, there was no euphoria. they knew from bitter experience that anything could happen. >> it's a lot harder this time not knowing what's going to happen. >> on the second day, they got word the jury had a verdict. >> my stomach's in knots. >> i'm shaking. >> we're just really very nervous at this moment. >> 13 years after jack jessee's murder, sandra jessee was found guilty. and finally that little ball stayed on its track. the key mouse was caught. >> i hope that she rots in hell. i just really do. i'm glad it wasn't the death pen