>>> I'M LESTER HOLT.
TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- A MYSTERY IN PARADISE.
A MOTHER OF TWO VANISHES ON FLORIDA'S EMERALD COAST.
>> THIS CASE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR'S WORST NIGHTMARE
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS WOMAN? I WANTED TO SOLVE IT
>> SHE SAID SHE LEFT TO DO SOMETHING THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED
TO DO. SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO TRY TO
STOP HER >> I GO, "I KNOW I PROBABLY
WATCH A LOT OF "LAW & ORDER, BUT I JUST HAVE THIS GUT
FEELING. >> BECAUSE I WAS A MOM, I JUST
KNEW SHE DIDN'T LEAVE ON HER OWN.
THERE WAS NO WAY SHE LEFT THAT BABY
>> I WOULD SEE HER AT CHURCH THEY HAD TAKEN HER IN.
THEY WERE HELPING HER OUT. >> Reporter: BIG-HEARTED PEOPLE?
>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT >> Reporter: THEY WERE LIVING,
THE THREE OF THEM, IN A STRANGE SORT OF SITUATION?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> A VERY AMOROUS, ROMANTIC,
WILD RELATIONSHIP. >> IT WAS LUSTFUL.
OH, MY GOODNESS. >> IT HIT ME HARD.
I'M LIKE, "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! >> Reporter: A COME-TO-JESUS
MOMENT >> IT WAS, YEAH.
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. *
>> HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH "SECRETS ON THE EMERALD COAST.
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU CATCH A DANCING SPRITE
DO YOU PUT HER IN A BOTTLE CAN YOU PACKAGE THE JOY SHE
BRINGS CAN YOU KEEP IT WHEN SHE GOES?
>> SHE WAS LIKE A GRAVITATIONAL PULL
>> Reporter: HER NAME WAS MARIE, MARIE CARLSON.
>> SHE WAS MAGNETIC. >> Reporter: AND SO SHE OFFERED
HERSELF, HER GOODNESS, GAVE HER VULNERABLE HEART AND STORED HER
SECRETS UNTIL WHAT HAPPENED. BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS THAT WAY, WAS
MARIE FROM THE TIME OF THE VERY FIRST SECRET IN HER LIFE
SHE WAS TAKEN IN BY THE FAMILY OF AN AMERICAN SERVICEMAN AND IT
WAS YEARS LATER WHEN SHE LEARNED THAT KIND SERVICEMAN WAS
ACTUALLY HER FATHER. THAT MEANT THAT ESTHER BRIDGES
WAS HER SISTER >> I WAS REALLY HAPPY.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE WAS GREAT >> WE CHOSE AN APARTMENT BEHIND
THE KARAOKE CLUB LIKE WE WERE STARS.
>> Reporter: AND SHE WORE PINK ALWAYS PINK.
>> IT WAS HER PERSONALITY. IT'S FULL OF LIFE.
>> Reporter: AND ALWAYS TRYING TO PERK UP EVERYONE ELSE UP WITH
HER FAVORITE WORD, BEAUTIFUL >> I WAS, LIKE, "OH, SHE'S SO
BEAUTIFUL. YOU KNOW, I WANNA BE LIKE HER.
BUT SHE ALWAYS USED TO TELL ME, "NO, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL."
>> SHE LOVED THAT WORD >> Reporter: KAY BARBER WAS LIKE
A MOTHER TO MARIE. HERS THE SECOND FAMILY TO TAKE
MARIE IN WHEN SHE WAS 18 AND STRUGGLING
>> MARIE'S NICKNAME THAT I GAVE HER WAS ROSY BECAUSE SHE WAS
ALWAYS JUST, YOU KNOW, PEACHY AND ROSY AND HAPPY
>> Reporter: LIKE SHE WAS WHEN SHE MET JEFF CARLSON, AND HE
FELL HARD. >> AND IT WAS LIKE INSTANT
>> Reporter: SO THEY MARRIED AND THEY HAD A DAUGHTER NAMED
PARIS, AND THEY THOUGHT THEI LIFE TOGETHER WOULD BE GRAND
MARIE GOT A COLLEGE DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, BECAME A
DEPUTY SHERIFF >> HER ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO TRY
TO GET INTO THE FBI. >> Reporter: BUT THEN, FOR ALL
THE LOVE BETWEEN THEM, THERE WERE ISSUES.
JEFF LEARNED THERE WERE MORE SECRETS.
THAT AS A GIRL, MARIE HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, AND
SOMETIMES HER LOVE AND JOY WERE CHASED INTO A DARKER PLACE
>> THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS SHE DIDN'T LOVE HERSELF.
>> Reporter: THEY TRIED. BUT THE MARRIAGE DIDN'T LAST
AND AFTER THAT, MARIE DRIFTED A LITTLE
JOBS FELL THROUGH. SHE HAD TO MOVE FREQUENTLY
JEFF SUGGESTED PARIS, THEN 3, WOULD HAVE A MORE STABL
LIFE WITH HIM. >> SHE FOUGHT IT INITIALLY, BUT
SHE AGREED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY FOR THE BEST
>> Reporter: THEN MARIE FOUND WHAT HER VULNERABLE LOVING SOUL
SEEMED TO NEED >> I WAS ACTUALLY HAPPY FOR HER
BECAUSE SHE FOUND GOD. >> Reporter: MARIE HAD FOUND A
SPIRITUAL HOME AT THE CALVARY EMERALD COAST CHURCH
IT WAS HARDLY A FANCY CATHEDRAL. THE PLACE WAS IN A STRIP MALL,
BUT FANCY WASN'T THE POINT SALVATION WAS.
HERE, FINALLY, MARIE FELT RIGHT. >> AND JESUS IS SAYING, "YOU
KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE MISSING HIM."
>> Reporter: THE PASTOR WAS A CHARISMATIC MAN NAMED
JAMES FLANDERS WHO PREACHED THE BIBLE, FOUR SQUARE
PREACHED IN JEANS AND SNEAKERS LIVE STREAMED AND YOUTUBED HIS
SERMONS. >> IT WAS A VERY HAPPENING
PLACE. >> Reporter: JASON ANDERSON WAS
THE YOUTH PASTOR >> DIDN'T FALL ASLEEP LISTENING
TO HIS SERMONS >> Reporter: BUT MORE THAN THAT,
THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE, JAMES AND TANYA FLANDERS, WERE KNOWN
FOR THEIR BIG HEARTS, THEIR CHARITY, AND THAT'S WHEN, FOR A
THIRD TIME, A FAMILY TOOK IN MARIE.
>> SHE'S SAYING THAT SHE WAS THERE UNTIL SHE GOT ON HER FEET.
>> Reporter: BUT A WHOLE YEAR WENT BY, AND THEN WHAT WAS
COMING COULDN'T BE HIDDEN. THE STORY FLOATING AROUND, THERE
HAD BEEN AN ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND WHO ABANDONED HER AND LEFT HER
PREGNANT AND IN JULY, 2011 MARIE GAVE
BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL AND NAMED HER GRACE.
THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE TOOK CARE OF BOTH OF THEM
>> IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY WERE HELPING HER OUT.
THAT SHE WAS KIND OF DOWN ON HER LUCK
>> Reporter: SHE WAS, BY ALL APPEARANCES, SAVED SPIRITUALLY
BY FAITH AND PRACTICALLY BY THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE.
SO, IMAGINE THE SURPRISE WHEN A STRANGE GROUP TEXT MESSAGE
POPPED UP ON THE PHONES OF HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS
>> CAN YOU STILL REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THAT MASS TEXT?
>> SHE SAID THAT YESTERDAY SHE LEFT FORT WALTON BEACH TO DO
SOMETHING THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO.
SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO TRY TO STOP HER
AND HER LAST WORDS WAS "I LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL."
>> Reporter: BUT THE BIGGEST SURPRISE
MARIE DID NOT TAKE HER 3-MONTH-OLD BABY
SHE LEFT GRACE BEHIND WITH THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE.
AND RIGHT AWAY HER SISTER ESTA SENSED THAT SOMETHING WASN'T
RIGHT. SHE CALLED HER FAMILY.
>> I GO, "I KNOW I PROBABLY WATCH A LOT OF 'LAW & ORDER,'
BUT CAN YOU FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE I HAVE THIS
REALLY GUT FEELING." >> Reporter: IT WAS THE FALL OF
2011, THE VERY SAME TIME THAT DETECTIVE NAMED NESLI SUHI-MOORE
BECAME A MOTHER. A FACT WHICH, AS YOU WILL SEE,
MAY HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
>> YOU GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO LOVE SOMEBODY TO THE END OF THE WORLD AND BACK
>> Reporter: IT WAS ALMOST LIKE FATE INTENDED TO TIE THESE TWO
TOGETHER IN A MYSTERY OF LOVE, AND LIES, AND LOSS
>>> JUST WHERE HAD MARIE CARLSON GONE
WHEN WE COME BACK -- >> THE INVESTIGATORS SAID,
"WE'RE GONNA OPEN A CASE," WHICH SURPRISED ME
>> Reporter: THE ANTENNA MUST HAVE GONE UP
>> THE ANTENNAS DID GO UP. >> I JUST KNEW SHE DIDN'T LEAVE
ON HER OWN NOTIFIED FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHE
WAS LEAVING FORT WALTON BEACH, AND NOBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHY
OR WHERE SHE WENT, AND THIS WAS VERY STRANGE, SHE LEFT HER
3-MONTH-OLD BABY IN THE CARE OF HER PASTOR, JAMES FLANDERS
AND HIS WIFE TAYNA AND NOT HER FAMILY
NOT THE WOMAN SHE LOOKED TO AS A MOTHER FIGURE, KAY BARBER.
>> IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. IT WAS HEARTBREAKING
>> Reporter: MARIE'S EX-HUSBAND JEFF CARLSON GOT THE TEXT TOO.
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIM THAT SHE'D LEAVE WITHOUT CALLING HE
7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER PARIS. KAY CALLED JEFF AND SAID HE
SHOULD FILE A REPORT >> AND SHE SAID, "I -- I DON'T
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED."
AND I SAID, "YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU.
>> Reporter: AND THEN JEFF CALLED THE OKALOOSA COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REPORT MARIE MISSING.
>> THE INVESTIGATORS SAID, "WE'RE GONNA OPEN A CASE, AN
INVESTIGATION ON THIS. WHICH SURPRISED ME BECAUSE SHE'S
AN ADULT SHE COULD'VE JUST LEFT
>> Reporter: BECAUSE MARIE WAS ADVENTUROUS.
SHE LIKED TO TRAVEL. AND WHEN THE MOOD STRUCK HER,
SOMETIMES SHE JUST TOOK OFF FOR A FEW DAYS ON SOME WHIM, BUT
SOMETHING SEEMED DIFFERENT THIS TIME
>> Reporter: SHE WOULD'VE NEVER HAVE LEFT WITHOUT TALKING TO ME
ABOUT IT AND TALKING TO PARIS. SHE'D BEEN GONE A WEEK WHEN THE
SHERIFF ASKED DETECTIVE KEITH MATZ TO LOOK INTO IT
THAT TEXT MESSAGE, SOMETHING OFF, SAID HER FAMILY
>> THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MARIE.
>> Reporter: HUH, SO WHEN YOU GOT THAT ONE, THE ANTENNA MUST
HAVE GONE UP, HUH? >> THE ANTENNAS DID GO UP.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE NESLI SUHI-MOORE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE
CASE THEN BECAUSE -- >> I WAS ON LEAVE.
>> Reporter: ON MATERNITY LEAVE. >> CORRECT
SO -- AND I CAME BACK TWO WEEKS AFTER SHE WAS INITIALLY REPORTED
MISSING. >> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN
NESLI HEARD FROM OTHER DETECTIVES ABOUT THE CASE KEITH
WAS WORKING ON >> POOR KEITH HAD NO IDEA THAT I
WAS GONNA COME BULLY MY WAY INTO THAT INVESTIGATION
>> Reporter: AND WHY DID YOU WANNA BULLY YOUR WAY INTO THE
INVESTIGATION? >> I THINK THE CONNECTION OF
JUST HAVING A CHILD, I JUST KNEW THAT SHE DIDN'T LEAVE ON HER
OWN. >> Reporter: SO HERE THEY WERE
PARTNERS, THE YOUNG DETECTIVE WHO HAPPENED TO BE A BRAND-NEW
MOTHER AND THE VETERAN WHO'D SEEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
AND WHO SOON LEARNED FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT MARIE
WAS DEEPLY ATTACHED TO BOTH HER DAUGHTERS.
>> SHE HAD A HEART OF GOLD AND LOVED HER PARIS MORE THAN
ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. >> Reporter: BUT WHAT HAPPENED
IN HER LIFE? AND HOW DID SHE END UP WITH
ANOTHER BABY FROM ESTA THE DETECTIVES LEARNED
ABOUT THE DIVORCE AND HOW MARIE HAD LOST HER JOB, AND HOW THE
PASTOR AND HIS WIFE OFFERED HER A PLACE TO STAY.
BUT THE QUESTIONS ABOUT BABY GRACE?
ESTA SAID HER RELATIONSHIP WITH MARIE WAS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE AND
NOT JUDGMENTAL AND WHEN MARIE DIDN'T TELL HER
WHO THE FATHER WAS, SHE DIDN'T PUSH THE SUBJECT
>> I'VE NEVER QUESTIONED HER BECAUSE MARIE WILL TELL ME IN
HER OWN TIME IF SHE WANTS TO TELL ME.
I'VE LEARNED WITH MY SISTER I NEVER PRY.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT WAS THE JOB OF THE DETECTIVES, NESLI AND
KEITH, TO PRY AND HOPEFULLY, TO FIND MARIE.
AND ONE OF THEIR FIRST CALLS WAS ON HER CHURCH PASTOR, JAMES
FLANDERS AND HIS WIFE. IMPRESSIVE GUY, THEY DISCOVERED.
>> Reporter: JAMES FLANDERS, WHAT WAS HE LIKE
>> VERY CHARISMATIC. I WOULD SAY HE WOULD GOOD AT HIS
JOB. >> Reporter: WONDER WHAT IT
WOULD BE LIKE TO LISTEN TO HIM PREACH
>> YOU CAN YOUTUBE HIM >> Reporter: YES, YOU CAN.
>> WE ALL, AT TIMES, FORGET THE PROMISES OF GOD'S WORD
>> Reporter: THE PASTOR GREW THE CALVARY EMERALD COAST CHURCH
FROM SCRATCH, SPREAD IT THROUGH YOUTUBE, AND BY THE TIME MARIE
BEGAN ATTENDING, EVERY SERVICE FILLED UP.
>> THEY WERE A TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY, THAT CHURCH.
>> Reporter: AND NOW, WITH MARIE GONE, THEY WERE CARING FOR
LITTLE GRACE SO, DID THE FLANDERS HAVE ANY
IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO MARIE? PERHAPS THEY KNEW WHO THE FATHER
WAS, AND WHERE THAT ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND MIGHT BE FOUND
AND, OH, YES, THERE WAS A STORY, ALL RIGHT.
>>> COMING UP -- >> THEY NOTICED A DOWNWARD
SPIRAL >> Reporter: IN HER BEHAVIOR
>> IN HER BEHAVIOR >> QUESTIONS MOUNT, AND LEADS
ARE RUNNING OUT. WAS TIME RUNNING OUT, TOO?
>> THIS CASE FOR SURE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR'S WORST NIGHTMARE
>> Reporter: THE CALVARY EMERALD COAST CHURCH OF FORT WALTON
BEACH, FLORIDA, WAS FAR MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO GATHER ON A
SUNDAY MORNING LED BY PASTOR JAMES FLANDERS AND
HIS WIFE TANYA, THIS PLACE WAS A BEACON OF CHARITY TOO.
THE PASTOR AND HIS CHURCH SACRIFICED THEIR OWN NEEDS TO
SEND MONEY TO THE VICTIMS OF KATRINA.
AND WHEN MARIE CARLSON NEEDED HELP, THEY TOOK HER IN, TOO.
>> IT'S WHAT PASTORS DO FOR THEIR CONGREGATION
>> Reporter: BUT NOW >> I'M LEFT WITH A MISSING
PERSON WHO'S JUST VANISHED OFF THIS EARTH
>> Reporter: A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER MARIE VANISHED, OR DROVE
AWAY, OR WHATEVER SHE DID, THE DETECTIVES WENT CALLING ON THE
FLANDERS WHO SAID THEY FULLY EXPECTED MARIE WOULD RETURN
SOON THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME SHE
HA TOOK SPUR OF THE MOMENTS TRIPS,
THEY SAID. ALTHOUGH THEY SAID THEY WERE
QUITE WORRIED ABOUT MARIE'S STATE OF MIND.
>> THEY NOTICED A DOWNWARD SPIRAL -
>> Reporter: THAT SHE WAS GOING INTO A DEPRESSION OR SOMETHING
>> SHE MIGHT BE GOING INTO A DEPRESSION STATE, YES.
>> Reporter: THING WAS, SAID THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE, MARIE COULD
HAVE WILD MOOD SWINGS, AND THEY KNEW SHE HAD A DIAGNOSED MOOD
DISORDER >> Reporter: DID THEY TELL YOU
THAT SHE WAS BIPOLAR >> YES, TOLD ME SHE WAS BIPOLAR.
SHE HAD BEEN TAKING MEDICATION AND WAS OFF OF HER MEDICATION,
PROBABLY BECAUSE OF HER GIVING BIRTH TO THE CHILD
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE TOO.
>> AND THEN THEY ALSO SHOWED US A BOTTLE THAT WAS EMPTY, YOU
KNOW, THAT MAYBE ALLUDING TO THE FACT THAT SHE HAD TAKEN
MEDICATION AND WAS GONNA USE IT TO HURT HERSELF.
>> Reporter: THE DAY SHE LEFT? JAMES TOLD THE DETECTIVES HE WAS
SO WORRIED ABOUT HER STATE OF MIND HE STAYED HOME FROM WORK TO
KEEP AN EYE ON HER >> JAMES SAYS THAT SHE WAS
ACTING UP. AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO LET MARIE
TAKE THE BABY. >> Reporter: HE WAS AFRAID THE
BABY MIGHT BE HARMED OR SOMETHING.
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: THEN, LATE THAT
AFTERNOON, SAID PASTOR JAMES, MARIE SAID SHE WAS TIRED, WENT
TO LIE DOWN. TANYA TOOK THE BABY OUT SHOPPING
SO MARIE COULD REST. THE PASTOR SAID HE WAITED AROUND
FOR A BIT, TALKED TO HER BRIEFLY WHEN SHE WOKE UP AND THEN WENT
OUT FOR A RUN, AND WHEN HE RETURNED, MARIE AND HER WHITE
MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK WERE GONE STRANGELY, THE FLANDERS SAID,
MARIE HAD PACKED HER BAGS, BUT DIDN'T TAKE THEM
>> WHY WOULD SHE TAKE OFF AND NOT TAKE HER BAGS WITH HER
>> Reporter: ANYWAY, SAID THE FLANDERS, WHEN SHE DIDN'T COME
BACK THAT DAY OR THE NEXT, THEY DROVE AROUND TOWN LOOKING FOR
HER. WENT TO THE AIRPORT.
MAYBE SHE'D PARKED HER CAR THERE AND FLOWN AWAY
>> Reporter: DID THEY FIND IT? >> THEY DID.
JAMES SAYS THAT HE FINDS IT IN LONG-TERM PARKING.
>> Reporter: AT LEAST PART OF THE MYSTERY WAS SOLVED, SAID THE
PASTOR SHE MUST HAVE FLOWN OFF TO VISIT
SOMEONE. THEY TOOK HER PICKUP HOME.
SO THE MAZDA >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU DO
ABOUT THAT CAR WHEN YOU GOT YOUR HANDS ON IT?
>> WE SEARCHED IT, BUT IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOTHING TO
SEARCH IT WAS CLEAN
>> Reporter: THEY WENT TO THE AIRPORT.
>> WE CHECKED THE AIRLINES THERE'S NOTHING.
SHE DIDN'T FLY OUT >> Reporter: SO WHY WOULD
MARIE'S CAR BE AT THE AIRPORT IF SHE HADN'T FLOWN OUT OF THERE?
OF COURSE, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HIDE HER TRACKS FROM
SNOOPY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OR WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE TOOK THE
CAR TO THE AIRPORT, SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE
SHE'D LEFT TOWN. RATHER FISHY
THEN THE DETECTIVES HAD AN IDEA. YOU KNOW THE MACHINE THAT SPITS
OUT TICKETS WHEN YOU ENTER AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT?
THAT VERY TICKET GOES BACK TO THE TOLL BOOTH WHEN YOU LEAVE.
>> KEITH AND I WENT TO THE LITTLE TOLL BOOTH WHERE YOU GIVE
YOUR TICKET. >> Reporter: MAYBE, THOUGHT THE
DETECTIVES, THE PARKING TICKET FOR MARIE'S MAZDA WOULD TELL
THEM NOT JUST WHEN IT WAS DROPPED OFF BUT, A MORE
IMPORTANT QUESTION, BY WHOM? >> WE WERE THINKING LET'S GET A
THUMBPRINT OR A FINGERPRINT ON ONE.
AND WENT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM UNTIL WE FOUND THE
ONE THAT MARIE'S CAR HAD RECEIVED
>> Reporter: AND YES, THEY GOT A PRINT.
BUT, NO, IT WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH TO TELL WHOSE IT WAS
THEN, ANOTHER THOUGHT. >> HEY, LET'S GO PULL
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO AND, OF COURSE -
>> Reporter: YOU LOOKED AT ALL OF IT.
>> WELL, NO. THE VIDEO DIDN'T WORK -- IT
WASN'T WORKING >> Reporter: OH.
>> DURING THE TIME THAT WE NEEDED
THIS CASE, FOR SURE, WAS AN INVESTIGATOR'S WORST NIGHTMARE
>> Reporter: DEAD ENDS EVERYWHERE
>> YES >> Reporter: AND WEEKS WENT BY
NO SIGN OF MARIE ANYWHERE. TIME TO EMBRACE THE THOUGHT
THEY'D, FRANKLY, HAD ALL ALONG AND IT WASN'T A GOOD ONE
>> KEITH AND I BOTH NO LONGER BELIEVED WE HAD A MISSING
PERSON WE BELIEVED WE WERE DEALING WITH
A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION BUT WHAT'S THE HARDEST HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION YOU CAN BE GIVEN ONE WITHOUT A BODY
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> AND WE DIDN'T HAVE MARIE.
>>> COMING UP -- THE STARTLING SECRET THAT MARIE
KEPT FROM JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. >> I WENT UP, AND I PUT MY HAND
ON HER STOMACH, AND I SAID, "WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS?"
>> THE STORY OF LITTLE BABY GRACE WAS ABOUT TO GIVE
INVESTIGATORS A VERY BIG >> Reporter: WHAT A NEST OF
PUZZLES. WHAT HAPPENED TO MARIE CARLSON
WHERE DID SHE GO OR DID SHE GO ANYWHERE
AND WHAT ABOUT GRACE, THE BABY SHE'D LEFT BEHIND?
WHO, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS THE FATHER
CHURCHES TEND TO BE BEEHIVES OF GOSSIP, SO THE DETECTIVES ASKED
AROUND >> SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND, WAS
INVOLVED IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, SHE WAS BEAT UP.
>> Reporter: THIS IS A MEMBER OF THE CAVALRY EMERALD COAST
CHURCH >> SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS
PREGNANT, AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GUY AND DIDN'T
WANT TO KEEP THE CHILD >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, SHE
WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ABORTION. BUT PASTOR FLANDERS AND HIS WIFE
HAD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT ABORTION, AND WHEN THEY DISCOVERED HER
SITUATION, THEY OFFERED TO HELP SOLVE HER DILEMMA.
>> THEY WERE GONNA ADOPT THE BABY
>> Reporter: THE FLANDERS HAD AN OLDER DAUGHTER, ALWAYS WANTED
ANOTHER CHILD, BUT ONE MISCARRIAGE AFTER ANOTHER,
AND SO, AS THIS CHURCH ELDER TOLD THE DETECTIVES, THE PASTOR
AND HIS WIFE CAME TO AN ARRANGEMENT WITH MARIE
>> SHE WOULD STAY THREE MONTHS TO NURSE THE BABY, AND AT THE
END OF THREE MONTHS, THE PLAN ALL ALONG WAS THAT SHE WOULD
LEAVE. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM
BEFORE THE BABY WAS BORN >> WITH THE BABY
>> NO, THE BABY WAS A GIFT FOR THE FLANDERS
>> Reporter: A GIFT? MAYBE.
IT WAS JUST LIKE MARIE TO BE GENEROUS TOWARD THE COUPLE WHO'D
BEEN SO GOOD TO HER. BUT TO SKEPTICAL DETECTIVES,
ESPECIALLY THIS BRAND-NEW MOTHER, SOMETHING ABOUT THE
STORY DIDN'T SOUND QUITE RIGHT THE FATHER, FOR EXAMPLE.
IN FACT, THE ALLEGED ABUSIVE GUY DIDN'T SEEM TO EXIST
BUT THEN THEY TALKED TO EX-HUSBAND JEFF.
AND THE STORY HE HEARD COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
AND IT CAME DIRECTLY FROM MARIE WHEN SHE CAME TO VISIT JEFF
SHORTLY AFTER SHE GOT PREGNANT >> I PUT MY HAND ON HER STOMACH.
AND I SAID, "WHAT'S -- WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS?"
AND SHE WASN'T REALLY SHOWING. AND HER STORY AT THAT TIME WAS,
"WELL, I'M JUST BEING A SURROGATE FOR JAMES AND TANYA.
SO WE DID BASICALLY A TYPE OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION.
>> Reporter: WELL, WELL, WELL, THE PASTOR WAS THE SPERM DONOR
IN THIS NEW STORY, MARIE'S GIFT WAS TO BE THE PASTOR'S
ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED SURROGATE.
BUT WHY THE CONFLICTING STORIES? TO FIND OUT, THE DETECTIVES
CONSULTED THREE SPECIAL CHURCH LADIES, TANYA FLANDERS' CLOSEST
CONFIDANTES. >> DID YOU HAVE A NAME FOR THIS
GROUP? >> WE CALLED THEM THE INNER
CIRCLE >> Reporter: AND THE INNER
CIRCLE SAID, YES, TANYA TOLD THEM BUT SWORE THEM TO SECRECY
BUT THEN TANYA GAVE UP A LITTLE MORE
THE METHOD WAS VERY HOME-MADE. >> I REMEMBER THEM SAYING, "OH,
IT WAS WITH THE TURKEY THINGY. >> IT WAS WITH, LIKE, A TURKEY
BASTER >> YEAH.
>> SO NOW SHE'S GOT A SECRET >> YEAH, AT THAT POINT
>> Reporter: WAIT, AT THAT POINT?
YES. BECAUSE TANYA JUST COULDN'T
LEAVE IT THERE THE NEXT TIME, SHE ADMITTED
SOMETHING VERY, VERY SHOCKING. >> AND TANYA SAID, "WELL, WE DID
IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY." >> Reporter: JAMES AND MARIE HAD
SEX, WHICH TANYA TOLD THE LADIES WAS OKAY WITH HER.
AND AS MONTHS PASSED AND MARIE STARTED SHOWING, THERE WAS A
BABY SHOWER. BUT, OH, NO.
NOT FOR MARIE. THIS BABY SHOWER WAS FOR TANYA
SHE PUT A BALLOON UNDER HER SHIRT FOR A FUNNY PHOTO WITH
MARIE. BUT SOMETHING HERE DIDN'T SEEM
QUITE RIGHT. THE INNER CIRCLE HAD TO KEEP
THEIR SECRET IF THE STORY GOT OUT, IT COULD
THREATEN EVERYTHING SHE AND THE PASTOR HAD BUILT
>> AND AS IT GOT MORE AND MORE AND MORE INTO WEIRD STUFF, IT
WAS JUST THAT THE STAKES GOT HIGHER. RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IMAGINE THE SECRECY THAT THE
INNER CIRCLE, THAT TANYA ACTUALLY TOLD THE TRUTH TO, THAT
IT'S JAMES' BABY >> Reporter: BUT NO ROOM FOR
SECRETS IN AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.
THE DETECTIVES INVITED JAMES AND TANYA TO VOLUNTARILY COME IN FOR
A CHAT, BUT ONLY TANYA SHOWED UP
AND HERE IN THIS LITTLE ROOM AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SHE LET IT
ALL COME OUT ABOUT THAT NIGHT OF SAKE AND
SEX WHEN GRACE WAS CONCEIVED >> YEAH.
YEAH HE HAD A LITTLE BIT TOO.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS SOBER, BUT, YES, I WAS THERE
>> Reporter: YES IN THE ROOM.
BUT OF COURSE SHE WAS, SAID TANYA.
AND ALMOST CASUALLY, SHE REVEALED THE HERESY THAT SHOULD
IT EVER BECOME PUBLIC WOULD SURELY RUIN THEM
>> MARIE WAS GONNA MOVE IN AND SHE WAS GONNA BE NUMBER TWO.
>> A PLURAL WIFE >> YES
>> OR WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM >> A SISTER WIFE, I THINK.
>> Reporter: IT WAS, IN SHORT, POLYGAMY OR THEIR HOME-GROWN
VERSION OF IT. TANYA TOLD DETECTIVES SHE
UNDERSTOOD THE BARGAIN VERY WELL
>> I'VE ALWAYS SEEN A RELATIONSHIP AS IT'S -- IT'S
NOT -- SEX IS NOT A RELATIONSHIP
A RELATIONSHIP IS TWO PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, AND SEX IS JUST
A BONUS. >> Reporter: A VERY SECRET
BONUS, OF COURSE, KEPT FROM ALMOST EVERYONE.
BUT INSIDE THE BUBBLE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP, TANYA SAID, THEY
WERE HAPPY >> SHE GOES, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE RAISING GRACE."
SHE SAID, "AND I AM SO GLAD THAT I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO BE HERE TO
DO THAT WITH YOU." AND I THOUGHT, "GOD, YOU KNOW,
HOW COOL IS THAT?" >> Reporter: BUT THEN, THEN
MARIE GAVE BIRTH, AND IT WASN'T COOL FOR MARIE, NOT ANYMORE,
AND CERTAINLY NOT ADOPTION >> EVERY TIME WE STARTED TO
BROACH THE SUBJECT WITH HER, SHE DID GET WITHDRAWN.
>> Reporter: SO MAYBE TANYA WOULDN'T GET BABY GRACE.
MAYBE MARIE WANTED IT ALL, THE BABY AND JAMES, ALL FOR HERSELF.
THAT'S WHAT THIS MEMBER OF THE INNER CIRCLE BELIEVED.
>> BUT I -- DID I HEAR THAT FROM MARIE, THAT MARIE WANTED JAMES
>> Reporter: DID TANYA STRIKE BACK SOMEHOW
FIGHT FOR HER MARRIAGE BY GETTING RID OF MARIE
LISTEN TO HOW CHURCH MEMBERS QUOTED TANYA'S WORDS
>> SHE BASICALLY WAS LIKE, "JAMES WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO
THAT, BUT I COULD. THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE --
>> SHOCKERS? >> YEAH.
>> I TOLD HIM, YOU'RE NOT CAPABLE OF KILLING HER."
BUT TANYA LEANS OVER AND GOES, "WELL, HE COULDN'T, BUT I
COULD. >> SO WOULDN'T THAT LEAD YOU TO,
LIKE A BLOODHOUND, DIRECT TO TANYA?
SHE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE A MOTIVE
>> SHE WOULD >> Reporter: TANYA, NOW THE ONLY
MOTHER FIGURE IN GRACE'S LIFE. DID SHE KNOW MORE THAN SHE WAS
SAYING DID SHE DO SOMETHING
>>> COMING UP -- A CONFRONTATION IN THE CONGREGATION.
>> Reporter: THIS IS A -- FORGIVE MY SAYING -- A
COME-TO-JESUS MOMENT >> IT WAS THE HARDEST THING I
EVER HAD TO DO >> AND DIVINE INTERVENTION
A SUDDEN, EARTH-SHAKING TIP. >> I CAN REMEMBER GETTING THAT
TIP AND THINKING "NO WAY." >> JESUS SAYING YOU NEED T
REALLY LEARN TO THINK DIFFERENT. >> Reporter: AN ATTENTIVE
CHURCHGOER MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THE INTRUSION OF AN ODD IDEA IN
ONE OF THE SERMONS OF PASTOR JAMES FLANDERS
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'D EXPERIENCE
>> Reporter: WHEN HE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF VERSES IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT THAT SEEMED TO APPROVE, SOMEHOW, OF POLYGAMY.
>> HE WANTED TO JUSTIFY HIS RELATIONSHIP TO EVERYBODY ELSE
THROUGH A BIBLICAL SENSE >> Reporter: SO HE WENT TO THE
OLD TESTAMENT AND PULLED UP THOSE FEW LINES THAT SUGGEST
POLYGAMY >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: A TRIAL BALLOON IF IT WAS, IT QUICKLY
IMPLODED AND THE VERY PRACTICAL POLYGAMY
IN THE HOME OF THE PASTOR STAYED CAREFULLY UNDER WRAPS.
>> Reporter: SO IF THE NEWS GOT OUT TO THE REST OF THE CHURCH,
DID TANYA WORRY AT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN THERE
>> THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS COVERING UP
SHE HAD TO PROTECT JAMES AND PROTECT THEIR -- THAT WAS THEIR
WORLD. >> Reporter: DID SHE DO
SOMETHING TO MARIE TO PROTECT JAMES?
TWO MONTHS AFTER MARIE DISAPPEARED, THE DETECTIVES GOT
PERMISSION TO LOOK AT THE CELL PHONE RECORDS OF ALL THREE OF
THEM WOULD THEY PROVE TANYA WAS WITH
MARIE WHEN SHE VANISHED AND THUS MAYBE DID SOMETHING TO HER
>> THE CELL PHONE TOWER INFORMATION PUT HER AWAY FROM
THE AREA >> Reporter: NO.
NOWHERE NEAR MARIE SO THEN THEY CHECKED THE CELL
TOWERS FOR JAMES' PHONE, AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW
WHEN MARIE SENT THAT MASS TEXT MESSAGE SAYING SHE WAS LEAVING
TOWN, BOTH HER PHONE AND THE PASTOR'S WERE PINGING OFF THE
SAME CELL TOWER TWO BLOCKS FROM HIS HOUSE.
AND WHEN MARIE'S MAZDA WAS DROPPED AT THE AIRPORT
>> WE'VE GOT JAMES FLANDERS' CELL PHONE TOUCHING TOWERS NEAR
THE AIRPORT. WHY WOULD HIS PHONE BE NEAR THE
AIRPORT? >> Reporter: WELL, EITHER JAMES
INNOCENTLY DROVE MARIE TO THE AIRPORT AND NEGLECTED TO REVEAL
THAT, OR HE DROVE HER CAR THERE TO COVER UP A CRIME.
NO WAY TO PROVE IT EITHER WAY. SO THEY WERE STUCK AGAIN
WHICH IS WHEN JASON, THE YOUTH PASTOR, REMEMBER HIM
OUT OF THE BLUE JASON CAME TO CALL
HE HAD SOMETHING THE DETECTIVES NEEDED TO HEAR, HE SAID.
>> Reporter: I MEAN, THAT WOULD TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
COURAGE. >> ABSOLUTELY.
WE WOULD'VE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THAT IF JASON WOULDN'T HAVE COME
FORWARD. >> Reporter: KNOWN WHAT?
THE SECRET INCIDENT THAT GOT JUNIOR PASTOR JASON INVOLVED
IT HAPPENED SOON AFTER MARIE DISAPPEARED WHEN A VERY
DISTRAUGHT JAMES ASKED THIS CHURCH ELDER FOR HELP.
>> HE SAID, HE GOES, I NEED YOU TO GET ME OUT OF THE COUNTRY
I SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON? I SAID, DOES THIS HAVE TO DO
WITH MARIA -- MARIE? HE SAID, I CANT TELL YOU
HE NEVER ONCE SAID ANYTHING TO ME ELSE, JUST IT'S BAD
>> Reporter: JAMES SEEMED SUICIDAL, SAID THE ELDER
SO HE CALLED A DOCTOR FRIEND AND THE DOCTOR COMMITTED THE
PREACHER TO A PSYCHIATRIC WARD FOR TEN DAYS DURING WHIC
TIME JASON ANDERSON TOOK OVER PREACHER DUTIES.
BUT THEN JASON HEARD THINGS. NOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO
MARIE, BUT ABOUT THE POLYGAMY. WITH OTHER CHURCH LEADERS, HE
CONFRONTED JAMES AND TANYA >> Reporter: THIS IS A --
FORGIVE MY SAYING -- COME-TO-JESUS MOMENT
>> IT WAS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER HAD TO DO, MYSELF,
PERSONALLY, WAS TO CONFRONT MY PASTOR
>> Reporter: THIS -- YOUR MENTOR, YOUR SENIOR GUY.
>> YEAH, RIGHT SURE
>> Reporter: AND JAMES ADMITTED IT
HE HAD BEEN SLEEPING WITH TWO WOMEN IN THE SAME HOUSE.
BUT THEN YOUTH PASTOR JASON TOLD THE DETECTIVES, IN THAT
CLOISTERED SETTING, JAMES KEPT TALKING AND TOLD A TERRIBLE
STORY. >> HIM AND MARIE HAD HAD A
PHYSICAL ALTERCATION BEFORE SHE WENT MISSING, AND SHE HAD
SCRATCHED HIM ON HIS ARMS. >> Reporter: JAMES INSISTED
MARIE WAS STILL ALIVE THE LAST TIME HE SAW HER.
>> I WAS JUST SO IN SHOCK OF EVERYTHING
>> Reporter: THAT WAS IT HE COULD NOT CONTINUE AS PASTOR.
JAMES WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE AND TANYA
WERE LEAVING TOWN. >> THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE
THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO SOME CHURCH MEMBERS.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, AROUND 12:00 OR 12:30 THEY'D GOT IN
THAT TRUCK AND THEY HAULED BUTT. THEY WENT TO ARIZONA
>> THEY FLED >> Reporter: LIKE THIEVES IN THE
NIGHT WITH BABY GRACE. IT WAS A FEW DAYS AFTER THEY
LEFT WHEN JASON WENT TO THE POLICE TO TELL HIS DISTURBING
STORY. >> THAT THEY HAD A PHYSICAL
RUN-IN THE DAY THAT SHE WENT MISSING.
>> Reporter: THEN A PIECE OF LUCK
BEFORE THEY LEFT, MARIE'S FRIEND KAY HAD ASKED THE PASTOR AND HIS
WIFE FOR MARIE'S BELONGINGS. THEY GAVE HER MARIE'S COMPUTER
THE BAD NEWS WAS IT HAD BEEN ERASED BUT -
>> I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THEM TO
TAKE A LOOK. >> WE HAD OUR FORENSIC TECH
REANALYZE THE COMPUTER, AND IT GAVE US A BEAUTIFUL COPY OF HER
PHONE DOWNLOAD THAT SHE HAD DONE WHEN SHE BACKED HER PHONE UP
>> Reporter: WOW >> BUT MAYBE IT WASN'T SO LUCKY.
THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF TEXT MESSAGES, BUT THEY WERE AN
UNREADABLE JUMBLE OF SYMBOLS AND WORDS.
>> THIS PARTICULAR COIN -- >> THOUGH, LOOK AT THIS.
MARIE SHOT THIS VIDEO THAT DID SURVIVE SHOWING THE PASTOR
HAWKING GOLD AND SILVER ONLINE, APPARENTLY WHILE RUNNING THE
CHURCH >> VALUING THIS COIN AT OVER
$500 LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S EXCITING
STUFF. >> Reporter: WAS JAMES JUST A
PASTOR OR PART-TIME FILM-FLAM MAN
SO THIS IS WHERE THINGS STOOD WHEN AN ANONYMOUS TIP CAME IN.
STARTLING. IF TRUE, IT WOULD SOLVE THE
CASE >> AND IN THE TIP, IT SAYS THAT
JAMES BURIED HER IN THE BACKYARD
>> Reporter: THAT'S SOME TIP >> YEAH.
I CAN REMEMBER GETTING THAT TIP AND THINKING, "NO WAY.
LIKE, WHO WOULD -- WHO WOULD KILL SOMEBODY AND BURY THEM IN
THEIR OWN BACKYARD >> Reporter: COULD BE BOGUS, OF
COURSE JUST ANOTHER FALSE LEAD.
BUT NESLI WAS HOPEFUL. >> WE BROUGHT CADAVER DOGS AND
GROUND PENETRATING RADAR, AND WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: NOTHING >> NOTHING
>> Reporter: NO BODY SO WHAT HAPPENED TO MARIE?
MORE MONTHS WENT BY. POLICE KEPT TRYING TO SPEAK WITH
JAMES BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. >> HI, THIS IS JAMES
I CAN'T TAKE YOUR CALL. >> Reporter: THEN AFTER A WHOL
YEAR, THEY TRIED AGAIN AND HE PICKED UP.
>> I HAD BEEN ASKED BY OUR ATTORNEY NOT TO TALK TO ANYONE
WITHOUT HIM THERE. >> Reporter: BUT HE DID TALK --
TALKED FOR TWO HOURS, IN FACT, FROM HIS CAR
AT TIMES SOUNDING LIKE HE WAS THE VICTIM
>> WHAT EMOTIONS HAVE I FELT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A MONTH,
YOU KNOW ANGER AT MARIE FOR GOING AND NOT
LETTING US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN BACK TO ANGER AT MYSELF
FOR NOT MAKING A PHONE CALL TO GET HER HELP
AND ANGER AT MYSELF FOR EVER LETTING THE RELATIONSHIP BECAME
WHAT IT BECAME >> Reporter: THE PASTOR SAID HE
KNEW HE WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT. >> I AM TERRIFIED OF THE
PROSPECT OF MARIE TAKING HER OWN LIFE
AND IF SHE DID, AND I PRAY SHE DIDN'T, I HOPE SHE DID IT VERY,
VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY FAR AWAY, BECAUSE IF THEY
FIND HER ONE LITTLE BONE THAT SOMEHOW COULD BE CONNECTED WITH
HER, THERE -- IT'S MY FAULT. I'M SURE IT'S THE WAY PEOPLE
WOULD LOOK AT IT, IT'S JAMES >> DO YOU KNOW WHERE MARIE IS?
>> NO, I DO NOT. IF I DID, I WOULD GO GET HER
>> DID YOU KILL MARIE CARLSON? >> NO.
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS THAT THEY WERE STALLED.
MARIE WAS MISSING, AND THE CASE WAS GETTING VERY COLD.
>>> COMING UP -- NEW REVELATIONS FROM THE PASTOR.
>> THEY WERE SENDING PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS BACK AND
FORTH FROM THE CHURCH. >> AN ANSWER AT LAST TO THE
BIGGEST MYSTERY OF ALL, WHERE WAS MARIE?
>> I WAS PRETTY DEVASTATED I FE L
>> Reporter: UNLIKE A FINE WINE, A COLD CASE DOESN'T GET BETTER
WITH AGE IT JUST GETS COLDER.
AND STATE ATTORNEY BILL EDDINS WASN'T OPTIMISTIC IT WOULD EVER
BE SOLVED. WHAT CHANCE DID YOU GIVE IT?
>> I REALLY FELT THAT IT WAS ABOUT A 50/50 CHANCE OF IT BEING
SOLVED >> Reporter: EDDINS ASSIGNED ONE
OF HIS MOST EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS, ANGELA MASON, TO
WORK ON IT SHE WASN'T OPTIMISTIC, EITHER.
>> I WAS CERTAINLY VULNERABLE IN THAT I DID NOT HAVE A BODY
I ALSO WAS VULNERABLE WITH THE TANYA ELEMENT, THAT PEOPLE
THOUGHT SHE COULD BE A SUSPECT >> Reporter: AND THEN THREE
YEARS AFTER MARIE DISAPPEARED, THE MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED.
MARIE'S COMPUTER YIELDED TO A NEW FORENSICS PROGRAM, AND OUT
SPILLED, IN CRIMSON, BLUSHING CLARITY, TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN
MARIE AND JAMES. >> "I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH," AND GETTING GRAPHIC DETAILS OF WHAT HE WANTS
TO DO WITH HER >> Reporter: KINDA PORNOGRAPHIC.
>> PORNOGRAPHIC. EVEN TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE
SENDING PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS WITH EACH OTHER FROM THE CHURCH
>> Reporter: SOME THINGS ARE HARD TO UNSEE.
WE'LL SPARE YOU. OH, AND MOST IMPORTANT
EVERYTHING STOPPED THE DAY SHE DISAPPEARED.
>> NO CREDIT CARDS, NO PHONES. I THOUGHT THAT WAS STRONG
EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS, IN FACT, DEAD AND NOT, IN FACT, MISSING
>> Reporter: AND HER LAST CONVERSATION WITH A FAMILY
MEMBER WAS - >> SHE WANTED OUT OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SHE WAS IN BUT SHE WASN'T GONNA LEAVE HER
BABY BEHIND. >> Reporter: AND THEN THERE WAS
THIS, ONE OF THOSE SERMONS POSTED ON YOUTUBE JUST A MONTH
BEFORE MARIE VANISHED AND NOW IN THE EVIDENCE FILE.
>> NOW WHENEVER SOMEONE IS BACKSTABBING ME, LYING ABOUT ME,
GOSSIPING ABOUT ME, TRYING TO TEAR ME DOWN OR WHATEVER, YOU
KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO MY FEELINGS SAY, "CHOKE THE LIFE
OUT OF THEM! >> Reporter: IS THAT WHAT THE
PASTOR DID TO MARIE? THE DETECTIVES SPELLED OUT THEIR
CASE CIRCUMSTANTIAL
DIFFICULT. BUT THE PROSECUTORS BOUGHT IT.
AND JAMES FLANDERS WAS CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER.
PERSISTENCE PAID OFF >> WE WERE 4 1/2 YEARS IN.
MOST PEOPLE WOULD'VE GIVEN UP BY NOW.
>> Reporter: BUT AS THE PASTOR WAITED IN JAIL FOR HIS TRIAL,
HIS ATTORNEY AND FORMER CHURCH MEMBER GLEN SWIATEK WAS
OPTIMISTIC WHAT DID YOU THINK YOUR CHANCES
WERE IF YOU WENT TO TRIAL? >> I DIDN'T BELIEVE THE STATE
HAD SECOND-DEGREE MURDER THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BODY.
>> Reporter: MAYBE NOT, BUT AS THE PASTOR AND HIS ATTORNEY
LOOKED AT THE EVIDENCE THAT MIGHT PUT HIM IN PRISON FOR LIFE
JUST BEFORE THE TRIAL, THEY MADE A DEAL
THE STATE REDUCED THE CHARGE FROM SECOND-DEGREE MURDER TO
MANSLAUGHTER, AND JAMES AGREED TO TELL THEM WHAT HE DID TO
MARIE AND WHERE HE PUT HER MARIE'S FAMILY GRUDGINGLY
AGREED >> THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING.
BUT I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE MY SISTER WAS
I DIDN'T WANNA GO YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND NOT KNOW
>> AS MUCH AS I JUST ABSOLUTELY HATED TO AGREE TO IT, I KNEW IT
WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY. >> Reporter: FIRST, AS PART OF
HIS DEAL, THE PASTOR TOLD THE STORY OF MARIE, OF THE POLYGAMY
ARRANGEMENT. >> IT WAS AS IF SHE WAS ANOTHER
WIFE OKAY
ALTHOUGH WE NEVER HAD A CEREMONY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: HE SAID MARIE EVEN HAD A NAME FOR THEIR
RELATIONSHIP >> MARIE CALLED IT A THROUPLE.
>> Reporter: THROUPLE. THEN THE PASTOR OFFERED HIS
VERSION OF THAT LAST AWFUL NIGHT.
HE CLAIMED THAT MARIE WAS IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL MENTALLY AND
ERUPTED AFTER HE TOLD HER SHE SHOULD BE HOSPITALIZED FOR
DEPRESSION >> SHE HIT ME IN THE CHEST, AND
I GRABBED AHOLD OF HER AND JUST HUGGED AS TIGHT AS I COULD
AND IN THE SCUFFLE, WE FELL DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND WHEN WE HIT THE
FLOOR, WE HIT IT HARD. WHEN I WAS REALIZED SOMETHING
WASN'T RIGHT, I ROLLED HER OVER, AND SHE WASN'T BREATHING
>> Reporter: A FATAL BEAR HUG? NOT POSSIBLE, THOUGHT NESLI.
AND THEN SHE BRACED FOR THE ANSWER SHE'D WAITED FIVE YEARS
TO HEAR. >> DID YOU BURY MARIE IN THE
BACKYARD >> I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE
IT'S AT. >> IS THAT WHERE YOU BURIED HER?
>> YES >> Reporter: AT THAT POINT, THE
DETECTIVE GOT UP AND LEFT THE ROOM
>> NESLI PASSED ME A NOTE THAT SAID, "I MISSED HER.
>> I WAS PRETTY DEVASTATED I WAS IN THAT BACKYARD IN 2012
>> Reporter: NOT LIKE YOU DIDN'T LOOK
>> YEAH. BUT, YOU KNOW, HUMAN NATURE.
YOU STILL HAVE THE GUILT, THE FEELING OF I COULD HAVE FOUND
HER SIX MONTHS AFTER SHE WAS REPORTED MISSING
>> Reporter: THE PASTOR INSISTED THAT TANYA WASN'T AROUND, WAS
SHOPPING, KNEW NOTHING >> DID YOU GET HER BURIED
BEFORE, UH, TANYA CAME BACK? >> OH, YEAH.
YEAH >> Reporter: DO YOU WONDER
WHETHER TANYA HAD MORE TO DO WITH THIS?
>> I THINK THAT'LL ALWAYS BE IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE MAY HAVE KNOWN MORE THAN SHE WANTS
TO SAY >> Reporter: BUT TANYA WAS NEVER
CHARGED, AND HER DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAID SHE WAS TRULY
SHOCKED BY JAMES' CONFESSION >> I COULD TELL YOU, AS A MATTER
OF FACT, FROM HAVING TO TELL HER WHAT HAPPENED, SHE DID NOT KNOW.
>> Reporter: LATER THAT AFTERNOON, NESLI ESCORTED JAMES
FLANDERS INTO HIS FORMER BACKYARD WHERE HE MARKED WITH
LITTLE FLAGS THE SPOT WHERE HE BURIED MARIE CARLSON FIVE YEARS
EARLIER. THEN HE FELL ON THE GROUND,
CRIED AND TOLD HER, "I'M SORRY." WHAT AN ACT, THOUGHT NESLI
IT TOOK HOURS, BUT FINALLY, ALMOST FIVE FEET DEEP, WRAPPED
IN A BLANKET, THEY FOUND WHAT WAS LEFT OF MARIE.
>> I WAS SHAKING I WAS CRYING SO MUCH
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER CRIED SO LOUD
>> Reporter: NESLI AND PROSECUTOR ANGELA MASON WEPT
TOO. >> IT'S MY FAULT
>> Reporter: BACK IN COURT THAT AFTERNOON, JAMES FLANDERS WAS
SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS. WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR, HE'LL BE OUT
IN 11 FREE TO JOIN TANYA IN ARIZONA AND GRACE, WHOSE MOTHER
HE KILLED. >> HE'S GONNA GET TO HAVE A LIFE
AFTER HE'S DONE. MARIE'S GONE FOREVER
SHE DOESN'T GET A LIFE, ESPECIALLY WITH HER KIDS, WHICH
IS, FOR MOST MOTHERS, THE WORLD. >> Reporter: JEFF CARLSON HAD TO
TELL HIS DAUGHTER, PARIS, HER MOM WAS NOT COMING BACK.
>> WASN'T EASY WHAT DO YOU SAY?
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE OF LIVING
WITH THIS. HE DEPRIVED HER OF HER MOTHER.
>> Reporter: LATER, MARIE'S FAMILY AND MANY OTHERS GATHERED
FOR A CELEBRATION OF MARIE'S LIFE
THEY DID HER FAVORITE THING. THEY SANG KARAOKE.
AND NOWADAYS WHEN MARIE'S DAUGHTER, PARIS, COMES TO VISIT
HER COUSIN, ESTA'S DAUGHTER, THE TWO SIT DOWN AT THE PIANO AND
PLAY MAKE MUSIC, JUST LIKE THEIR
MOTHERS YEARS AGO. AND GRACE?
>> I WANNA TELL HER ALL ABOUT HER MOM.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE I JUST -- I WANNA SHOW HER, YOU
KNOW, LIKE, "YOUR MOTHER REALLY DID LOVE YOU."
>> Reporter: MAYBE SOMEDAY SHE'LL KNOW ABOUT THAT
UNCONTAINABLE WOMAN WHO, WHILE SHE STAYED, BROUGHT JOY,
MARIE. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY AT
10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL. AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.