1 00:00:14,481 --> 00:00:15,582 >>> I'M LESTER HOLT. 2 00:00:15,582 --> 00:00:20,920 TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- A MYSTERY IN PARADISE. 3 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,458 A MOTHER OF TWO VANISHES ON FLORIDA'S EMERALD COAST. 4 00:00:25,458 --> 00:00:33,600 >> THIS CASE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR'S WORST NIGHTMARE 5 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:39,205 WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS WOMAN? I WANTED TO SOLVE IT 6 00:00:39,205 --> 00:00:40,473 >> SHE SAID SHE LEFT TO DO SOMETHING THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED 7 00:00:40,473 --> 00:00:41,841 TO DO. SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO TRY TO 8 00:00:41,841 --> 00:00:48,782 STOP HER >> I GO, "I KNOW I PROBABLY 9 00:00:48,782 --> 00:00:50,383 WATCH A LOT OF "LAW & ORDER, BUT I JUST HAVE THIS GUT 10 00:00:50,383 --> 00:00:51,618 FEELING. >> BECAUSE I WAS A MOM, I JUST 11 00:00:51,618 --> 00:00:52,952 KNEW SHE DIDN'T LEAVE ON HER OWN. 12 00:00:52,952 --> 00:00:55,188 THERE WAS NO WAY SHE LEFT THAT BABY 13 00:00:55,188 --> 00:01:01,428 >> I WOULD SEE HER AT CHURCH THEY HAD TAKEN HER IN. 14 00:01:01,428 --> 00:01:02,696 THEY WERE HELPING HER OUT. >> Reporter: BIG-HEARTED PEOPLE? 15 00:01:02,696 --> 00:01:03,930 >> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT >> Reporter: THEY WERE LIVING, 16 00:01:03,930 --> 00:01:05,198 THE THREE OF THEM, IN A STRANGE SORT OF SITUATION? 17 00:01:05,198 --> 00:01:08,234 >> ABSOLUTELY. >> A VERY AMOROUS, ROMANTIC, 18 00:01:08,234 --> 00:01:11,304 WILD RELATIONSHIP. >> IT WAS LUSTFUL. 19 00:01:11,304 --> 00:01:13,540 OH, MY GOODNESS. >> IT HIT ME HARD. 20 00:01:13,540 --> 00:01:14,874 I'M LIKE, "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! >> Reporter: A COME-TO-JESUS 21 00:01:14,874 --> 00:01:24,551 MOMENT >> IT WAS, YEAH. 22 00:01:24,551 --> 00:01:30,857 I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. * 23 00:01:30,857 --> 00:01:37,330 >> HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH "SECRETS ON THE EMERALD COAST. 24 00:01:37,330 --> 00:01:41,468 >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU CATCH A DANCING SPRITE 25 00:01:41,468 --> 00:01:44,771 DO YOU PUT HER IN A BOTTLE CAN YOU PACKAGE THE JOY SHE 26 00:01:44,771 --> 00:01:47,574 BRINGS CAN YOU KEEP IT WHEN SHE GOES? 27 00:01:47,574 --> 00:01:55,315 >> SHE WAS LIKE A GRAVITATIONAL PULL 28 00:01:55,315 --> 00:01:58,685 >> Reporter: HER NAME WAS MARIE, MARIE CARLSON. 29 00:01:58,685 --> 00:02:01,688 >> SHE WAS MAGNETIC. >> Reporter: AND SO SHE OFFERED 30 00:02:01,688 --> 00:02:07,794 HERSELF, HER GOODNESS, GAVE HER VULNERABLE HEART AND STORED HER 31 00:02:07,794 --> 00:02:12,098 SECRETS UNTIL WHAT HAPPENED. BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS THAT WAY, WAS 32 00:02:12,098 --> 00:02:19,539 MARIE FROM THE TIME OF THE VERY FIRST SECRET IN HER LIFE 33 00:02:19,539 --> 00:02:23,410 SHE WAS TAKEN IN BY THE FAMILY OF AN AMERICAN SERVICEMAN AND IT 34 00:02:23,410 --> 00:02:32,819 WAS YEARS LATER WHEN SHE LEARNED THAT KIND SERVICEMAN WAS 35 00:02:32,819 --> 00:02:36,389 ACTUALLY HER FATHER. THAT MEANT THAT ESTHER BRIDGES 36 00:02:36,389 --> 00:02:49,869 WAS HER SISTER >> I WAS REALLY HAPPY. 37 00:02:49,869 --> 00:02:52,672 I ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE WAS GREAT >> WE CHOSE AN APARTMENT BEHIND 38 00:02:52,672 --> 00:03:01,114 THE KARAOKE CLUB LIKE WE WERE STARS. 39 00:03:01,114 --> 00:03:02,849 >> Reporter: AND SHE WORE PINK ALWAYS PINK. 40 00:03:02,849 --> 00:03:04,384 >> IT WAS HER PERSONALITY. IT'S FULL OF LIFE. 41 00:03:04,384 --> 00:03:07,053 >> Reporter: AND ALWAYS TRYING TO PERK UP EVERYONE ELSE UP WITH 42 00:03:07,053 --> 00:03:08,621 HER FAVORITE WORD, BEAUTIFUL >> I WAS, LIKE, "OH, SHE'S SO 43 00:03:08,621 --> 00:03:11,925 BEAUTIFUL. YOU KNOW, I WANNA BE LIKE HER. 44 00:03:11,925 --> 00:03:15,428 BUT SHE ALWAYS USED TO TELL ME, "NO, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL." 45 00:03:15,428 --> 00:03:20,734 >> SHE LOVED THAT WORD >> Reporter: KAY BARBER WAS LIKE 46 00:03:20,734 --> 00:03:23,870 A MOTHER TO MARIE. HERS THE SECOND FAMILY TO TAKE 47 00:03:23,870 --> 00:03:27,207 MARIE IN WHEN SHE WAS 18 AND STRUGGLING 48 00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:31,644 >> MARIE'S NICKNAME THAT I GAVE HER WAS ROSY BECAUSE SHE WAS 49 00:03:31,644 --> 00:03:35,148 ALWAYS JUST, YOU KNOW, PEACHY AND ROSY AND HAPPY 50 00:03:35,148 --> 00:03:37,917 >> Reporter: LIKE SHE WAS WHEN SHE MET JEFF CARLSON, AND HE 51 00:03:37,917 --> 00:03:44,724 FELL HARD. >> AND IT WAS LIKE INSTANT 52 00:03:44,724 --> 00:03:50,463 >> Reporter: SO THEY MARRIED AND THEY HAD A DAUGHTER NAMED 53 00:03:50,463 --> 00:03:51,965 PARIS, AND THEY THOUGHT THEI LIFE TOGETHER WOULD BE GRAND 54 00:03:51,965 --> 00:03:53,099 MARIE GOT A COLLEGE DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, BECAME A 55 00:03:53,099 --> 00:03:56,269 DEPUTY SHERIFF >> HER ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO TRY 56 00:03:56,269 --> 00:03:59,506 TO GET INTO THE FBI. >> Reporter: BUT THEN, FOR ALL 57 00:03:59,506 --> 00:04:00,940 THE LOVE BETWEEN THEM, THERE WERE ISSUES. 58 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:08,415 JEFF LEARNED THERE WERE MORE SECRETS. 59 00:04:08,415 --> 00:04:10,517 THAT AS A GIRL, MARIE HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, AND 60 00:04:10,517 --> 00:04:12,786 SOMETIMES HER LOVE AND JOY WERE CHASED INTO A DARKER PLACE 61 00:04:12,786 --> 00:04:16,289 >> THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS SHE DIDN'T LOVE HERSELF. 62 00:04:16,289 --> 00:04:19,793 >> Reporter: THEY TRIED. BUT THE MARRIAGE DIDN'T LAST 63 00:04:19,793 --> 00:04:22,462 AND AFTER THAT, MARIE DRIFTED A LITTLE 64 00:04:22,462 --> 00:04:26,833 JOBS FELL THROUGH. SHE HAD TO MOVE FREQUENTLY 65 00:04:26,833 --> 00:04:29,269 JEFF SUGGESTED PARIS, THEN 3, WOULD HAVE A MORE STABL 66 00:04:29,269 --> 00:04:33,506 LIFE WITH HIM. >> SHE FOUGHT IT INITIALLY, BUT 67 00:04:33,506 --> 00:04:38,078 SHE AGREED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY FOR THE BEST 68 00:04:38,078 --> 00:04:44,250 >> Reporter: THEN MARIE FOUND WHAT HER VULNERABLE LOVING SOUL 69 00:04:44,250 --> 00:04:46,086 SEEMED TO NEED >> I WAS ACTUALLY HAPPY FOR HER 70 00:04:46,086 --> 00:04:48,254 BECAUSE SHE FOUND GOD. >> Reporter: MARIE HAD FOUND A 71 00:04:48,254 --> 00:04:51,558 SPIRITUAL HOME AT THE CALVARY EMERALD COAST CHURCH 72 00:04:51,558 --> 00:04:53,893 IT WAS HARDLY A FANCY CATHEDRAL. THE PLACE WAS IN A STRIP MALL, 73 00:04:53,893 --> 00:04:58,865 BUT FANCY WASN'T THE POINT SALVATION WAS. 74 00:04:58,865 --> 00:05:00,066 HERE, FINALLY, MARIE FELT RIGHT. >> AND JESUS IS SAYING, "YOU 75 00:05:00,066 --> 00:05:01,835 KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE MISSING HIM." 76 00:05:01,835 --> 00:05:05,205 >> Reporter: THE PASTOR WAS A CHARISMATIC MAN NAMED 77 00:05:05,205 --> 00:05:10,744 JAMES FLANDERS WHO PREACHED THE BIBLE, FOUR SQUARE 78 00:05:10,744 --> 00:05:12,278 PREACHED IN JEANS AND SNEAKERS LIVE STREAMED AND YOUTUBED HIS 79 00:05:12,278 --> 00:05:14,180 SERMONS. >> IT WAS A VERY HAPPENING 80 00:05:14,180 --> 00:05:15,515 PLACE. >> Reporter: JASON ANDERSON WAS 81 00:05:15,515 --> 00:05:18,785 THE YOUTH PASTOR >> DIDN'T FALL ASLEEP LISTENING 82 00:05:18,785 --> 00:05:22,422 TO HIS SERMONS >> Reporter: BUT MORE THAN THAT, 83 00:05:22,422 --> 00:05:27,093 THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE, JAMES AND TANYA FLANDERS, WERE KNOWN 84 00:05:27,093 --> 00:05:29,629 FOR THEIR BIG HEARTS, THEIR CHARITY, AND THAT'S WHEN, FOR A 85 00:05:29,629 --> 00:05:33,066 THIRD TIME, A FAMILY TOOK IN MARIE. 86 00:05:33,066 --> 00:05:39,706 >> SHE'S SAYING THAT SHE WAS THERE UNTIL SHE GOT ON HER FEET. 87 00:05:39,706 --> 00:05:42,709 >> Reporter: BUT A WHOLE YEAR WENT BY, AND THEN WHAT WAS 88 00:05:42,709 --> 00:05:46,279 COMING COULDN'T BE HIDDEN. THE STORY FLOATING AROUND, THERE 89 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:51,551 HAD BEEN AN ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND WHO ABANDONED HER AND LEFT HER 90 00:05:51,551 --> 00:05:53,987 PREGNANT AND IN JULY, 2011 MARIE GAVE 91 00:05:53,987 --> 00:05:58,558 BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL AND NAMED HER GRACE. 92 00:05:58,558 --> 00:06:00,794 THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE TOOK CARE OF BOTH OF THEM 93 00:06:00,794 --> 00:06:04,030 >> IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY WERE HELPING HER OUT. 94 00:06:04,030 --> 00:06:09,536 THAT SHE WAS KIND OF DOWN ON HER LUCK 95 00:06:09,536 --> 00:06:12,772 >> Reporter: SHE WAS, BY ALL APPEARANCES, SAVED SPIRITUALLY 96 00:06:12,772 --> 00:06:16,910 BY FAITH AND PRACTICALLY BY THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE. 97 00:06:16,910 --> 00:06:22,382 SO, IMAGINE THE SURPRISE WHEN A STRANGE GROUP TEXT MESSAGE 98 00:06:22,382 --> 00:06:23,950 POPPED UP ON THE PHONES OF HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS 99 00:06:23,950 --> 00:06:28,288 >> CAN YOU STILL REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THAT MASS TEXT? 100 00:06:28,288 --> 00:06:31,324 >> SHE SAID THAT YESTERDAY SHE LEFT FORT WALTON BEACH TO DO 101 00:06:31,324 --> 00:06:32,826 SOMETHING THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. 102 00:06:32,826 --> 00:06:38,898 SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO TRY TO STOP HER 103 00:06:38,898 --> 00:06:40,600 AND HER LAST WORDS WAS "I LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL." 104 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,336 >> Reporter: BUT THE BIGGEST SURPRISE 105 00:06:43,336 --> 00:06:45,638 MARIE DID NOT TAKE HER 3-MONTH-OLD BABY 106 00:06:45,638 --> 00:06:47,374 SHE LEFT GRACE BEHIND WITH THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE. 107 00:06:47,374 --> 00:06:49,843 AND RIGHT AWAY HER SISTER ESTA SENSED THAT SOMETHING WASN'T 108 00:06:49,843 --> 00:06:59,185 RIGHT. SHE CALLED HER FAMILY. 109 00:06:59,185 --> 00:07:02,022 >> I GO, "I KNOW I PROBABLY WATCH A LOT OF 'LAW & ORDER,' 110 00:07:02,022 --> 00:07:03,857 BUT CAN YOU FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE I HAVE THIS 111 00:07:03,857 --> 00:07:13,767 REALLY GUT FEELING." >> Reporter: IT WAS THE FALL OF 112 00:07:13,767 --> 00:07:15,268 2011, THE VERY SAME TIME THAT DETECTIVE NAMED NESLI SUHI-MOORE 113 00:07:15,268 --> 00:07:16,369 BECAME A MOTHER. A FACT WHICH, AS YOU WILL SEE, 114 00:07:16,369 --> 00:07:17,871 MAY HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE 115 00:07:17,871 --> 00:07:20,774 >> YOU GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'S LIKE 116 00:07:20,774 --> 00:07:22,475 TO LOVE SOMEBODY TO THE END OF THE WORLD AND BACK 117 00:07:22,475 --> 00:07:25,912 >> Reporter: IT WAS ALMOST LIKE FATE INTENDED TO TIE THESE TWO 118 00:07:25,912 --> 00:07:30,950 TOGETHER IN A MYSTERY OF LOVE, AND LIES, AND LOSS 119 00:07:30,950 --> 00:07:34,521 >>> JUST WHERE HAD MARIE CARLSON GONE 120 00:07:34,521 --> 00:07:36,756 WHEN WE COME BACK -- >> THE INVESTIGATORS SAID, 121 00:07:36,756 --> 00:07:41,728 "WE'RE GONNA OPEN A CASE," WHICH SURPRISED ME 122 00:07:41,728 --> 00:07:43,063 >> Reporter: THE ANTENNA MUST HAVE GONE UP 123 00:07:43,063 --> 00:07:46,700 >> THE ANTENNAS DID GO UP. >> I JUST KNEW SHE DIDN'T LEAVE 124 00:07:46,700 --> 00:08:10,156 ON HER OWN NOTIFIED FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHE 125 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:17,163 WAS LEAVING FORT WALTON BEACH, AND NOBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHY 126 00:08:17,163 --> 00:08:20,133 OR WHERE SHE WENT, AND THIS WAS VERY STRANGE, SHE LEFT HER 127 00:08:20,133 --> 00:08:21,668 3-MONTH-OLD BABY IN THE CARE OF HER PASTOR, JAMES FLANDERS 128 00:08:21,668 --> 00:08:23,269 AND HIS WIFE TAYNA AND NOT HER FAMILY 129 00:08:23,269 --> 00:08:25,305 NOT THE WOMAN SHE LOOKED TO AS A MOTHER FIGURE, KAY BARBER. 130 00:08:25,305 --> 00:08:28,375 >> IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. IT WAS HEARTBREAKING 131 00:08:28,375 --> 00:08:33,780 >> Reporter: MARIE'S EX-HUSBAND JEFF CARLSON GOT THE TEXT TOO. 132 00:08:33,780 --> 00:08:36,883 IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIM THAT SHE'D LEAVE WITHOUT CALLING HE 133 00:08:36,883 --> 00:08:38,885 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER PARIS. KAY CALLED JEFF AND SAID HE 134 00:08:38,885 --> 00:08:48,628 SHOULD FILE A REPORT >> AND SHE SAID, "I -- I DON'T 135 00:08:48,628 --> 00:08:50,063 KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED." 136 00:08:50,063 --> 00:08:51,564 AND I SAID, "YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU. 137 00:08:51,564 --> 00:08:52,632 >> Reporter: AND THEN JEFF CALLED THE OKALOOSA COUNTY 138 00:08:52,632 --> 00:08:53,933 SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REPORT MARIE MISSING. 139 00:08:53,933 --> 00:08:55,568 >> THE INVESTIGATORS SAID, "WE'RE GONNA OPEN A CASE, AN 140 00:08:55,568 --> 00:08:57,737 INVESTIGATION ON THIS. WHICH SURPRISED ME BECAUSE SHE'S 141 00:08:57,737 --> 00:08:59,072 AN ADULT SHE COULD'VE JUST LEFT 142 00:08:59,072 --> 00:09:01,908 >> Reporter: BECAUSE MARIE WAS ADVENTUROUS. 143 00:09:01,908 --> 00:09:09,849 SHE LIKED TO TRAVEL. AND WHEN THE MOOD STRUCK HER, 144 00:09:09,849 --> 00:09:11,418 SOMETIMES SHE JUST TOOK OFF FOR A FEW DAYS ON SOME WHIM, BUT 145 00:09:11,418 --> 00:09:15,021 SOMETHING SEEMED DIFFERENT THIS TIME 146 00:09:15,021 --> 00:09:20,160 >> Reporter: SHE WOULD'VE NEVER HAVE LEFT WITHOUT TALKING TO ME 147 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:21,861 ABOUT IT AND TALKING TO PARIS. SHE'D BEEN GONE A WEEK WHEN THE 148 00:09:21,861 --> 00:09:25,565 SHERIFF ASKED DETECTIVE KEITH MATZ TO LOOK INTO IT 149 00:09:25,565 --> 00:09:27,067 THAT TEXT MESSAGE, SOMETHING OFF, SAID HER FAMILY 150 00:09:27,067 --> 00:09:30,704 >> THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MARIE. 151 00:09:30,704 --> 00:09:32,305 >> Reporter: HUH, SO WHEN YOU GOT THAT ONE, THE ANTENNA MUST 152 00:09:32,305 --> 00:09:35,342 HAVE GONE UP, HUH? >> THE ANTENNAS DID GO UP. 153 00:09:35,342 --> 00:09:39,446 >> Reporter: DETECTIVE NESLI SUHI-MOORE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE 154 00:09:39,446 --> 00:09:41,681 CASE THEN BECAUSE -- >> I WAS ON LEAVE. 155 00:09:41,681 --> 00:09:46,353 >> Reporter: ON MATERNITY LEAVE. >> CORRECT 156 00:09:46,353 --> 00:09:47,620 SO -- AND I CAME BACK TWO WEEKS AFTER SHE WAS INITIALLY REPORTED 157 00:09:47,620 --> 00:09:50,490 MISSING. >> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN 158 00:09:50,490 --> 00:09:55,295 NESLI HEARD FROM OTHER DETECTIVES ABOUT THE CASE KEITH 159 00:09:55,295 --> 00:09:57,364 WAS WORKING ON >> POOR KEITH HAD NO IDEA THAT I 160 00:09:57,364 --> 00:09:59,632 WAS GONNA COME BULLY MY WAY INTO THAT INVESTIGATION 161 00:09:59,632 --> 00:10:01,201 >> Reporter: AND WHY DID YOU WANNA BULLY YOUR WAY INTO THE 162 00:10:01,201 --> 00:10:05,739 INVESTIGATION? >> I THINK THE CONNECTION OF 163 00:10:05,739 --> 00:10:09,209 JUST HAVING A CHILD, I JUST KNEW THAT SHE DIDN'T LEAVE ON HER 164 00:10:09,209 --> 00:10:16,349 OWN. >> Reporter: SO HERE THEY WERE 165 00:10:16,349 --> 00:10:19,886 PARTNERS, THE YOUNG DETECTIVE WHO HAPPENED TO BE A BRAND-NEW 166 00:10:19,886 --> 00:10:20,987 MOTHER AND THE VETERAN WHO'D SEEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING 167 00:10:20,987 --> 00:10:22,956 AND WHO SOON LEARNED FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT MARIE 168 00:10:22,956 --> 00:10:24,991 WAS DEEPLY ATTACHED TO BOTH HER DAUGHTERS. 169 00:10:24,991 --> 00:10:26,326 >> SHE HAD A HEART OF GOLD AND LOVED HER PARIS MORE THAN 170 00:10:26,326 --> 00:10:27,927 ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. >> Reporter: BUT WHAT HAPPENED 171 00:10:27,927 --> 00:10:31,264 IN HER LIFE? AND HOW DID SHE END UP WITH 172 00:10:31,264 --> 00:10:34,634 ANOTHER BABY FROM ESTA THE DETECTIVES LEARNED 173 00:10:34,634 --> 00:10:38,104 ABOUT THE DIVORCE AND HOW MARIE HAD LOST HER JOB, AND HOW THE 174 00:10:38,104 --> 00:10:39,906 PASTOR AND HIS WIFE OFFERED HER A PLACE TO STAY. 175 00:10:39,906 --> 00:10:46,212 BUT THE QUESTIONS ABOUT BABY GRACE? 176 00:10:46,212 --> 00:10:47,480 ESTA SAID HER RELATIONSHIP WITH MARIE WAS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE AND 177 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,382 NOT JUDGMENTAL AND WHEN MARIE DIDN'T TELL HER 178 00:10:49,382 --> 00:10:53,520 WHO THE FATHER WAS, SHE DIDN'T PUSH THE SUBJECT 179 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,923 >> I'VE NEVER QUESTIONED HER BECAUSE MARIE WILL TELL ME IN 180 00:10:56,923 --> 00:10:59,359 HER OWN TIME IF SHE WANTS TO TELL ME. 181 00:10:59,359 --> 00:11:02,462 I'VE LEARNED WITH MY SISTER I NEVER PRY. 182 00:11:02,462 --> 00:11:09,369 >> Reporter: BUT THAT WAS THE JOB OF THE DETECTIVES, NESLI AND 183 00:11:09,369 --> 00:11:10,937 KEITH, TO PRY AND HOPEFULLY, TO FIND MARIE. 184 00:11:10,937 --> 00:11:14,607 AND ONE OF THEIR FIRST CALLS WAS ON HER CHURCH PASTOR, JAMES 185 00:11:14,607 --> 00:11:19,079 FLANDERS AND HIS WIFE. IMPRESSIVE GUY, THEY DISCOVERED. 186 00:11:19,079 --> 00:11:23,350 >> Reporter: JAMES FLANDERS, WHAT WAS HE LIKE 187 00:11:23,350 --> 00:11:24,617 >> VERY CHARISMATIC. I WOULD SAY HE WOULD GOOD AT HIS 188 00:11:24,617 --> 00:11:26,086 JOB. >> Reporter: WONDER WHAT IT 189 00:11:26,086 --> 00:11:32,392 WOULD BE LIKE TO LISTEN TO HIM PREACH 190 00:11:32,392 --> 00:11:33,526 >> YOU CAN YOUTUBE HIM >> Reporter: YES, YOU CAN. 191 00:11:33,526 --> 00:11:35,662 >> WE ALL, AT TIMES, FORGET THE PROMISES OF GOD'S WORD 192 00:11:35,662 --> 00:11:41,368 >> Reporter: THE PASTOR GREW THE CALVARY EMERALD COAST CHURCH 193 00:11:41,368 --> 00:11:42,902 FROM SCRATCH, SPREAD IT THROUGH YOUTUBE, AND BY THE TIME MARIE 194 00:11:42,902 --> 00:11:50,377 BEGAN ATTENDING, EVERY SERVICE FILLED UP. 195 00:11:50,377 --> 00:11:51,644 >> THEY WERE A TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY, THAT CHURCH. 196 00:11:51,644 --> 00:11:55,548 >> Reporter: AND NOW, WITH MARIE GONE, THEY WERE CARING FOR 197 00:11:55,548 --> 00:11:57,117 LITTLE GRACE SO, DID THE FLANDERS HAVE ANY 198 00:11:57,117 --> 00:12:02,455 IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO MARIE? PERHAPS THEY KNEW WHO THE FATHER 199 00:12:02,455 --> 00:12:05,692 WAS, AND WHERE THAT ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND MIGHT BE FOUND 200 00:12:05,692 --> 00:12:07,961 AND, OH, YES, THERE WAS A STORY, ALL RIGHT. 201 00:12:07,961 --> 00:12:10,463 >>> COMING UP -- >> THEY NOTICED A DOWNWARD 202 00:12:10,463 --> 00:12:14,934 SPIRAL >> Reporter: IN HER BEHAVIOR 203 00:12:14,934 --> 00:12:16,870 >> IN HER BEHAVIOR >> QUESTIONS MOUNT, AND LEADS 204 00:12:16,870 --> 00:12:20,940 ARE RUNNING OUT. WAS TIME RUNNING OUT, TOO? 205 00:12:20,940 --> 00:12:38,525 >> THIS CASE FOR SURE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR'S WORST NIGHTMARE 206 00:12:38,525 --> 00:12:43,663 >> Reporter: THE CALVARY EMERALD COAST CHURCH OF FORT WALTON 207 00:12:43,663 --> 00:12:45,699 BEACH, FLORIDA, WAS FAR MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO GATHER ON A 208 00:12:45,699 --> 00:12:48,435 SUNDAY MORNING LED BY PASTOR JAMES FLANDERS AND 209 00:12:48,435 --> 00:12:52,639 HIS WIFE TANYA, THIS PLACE WAS A BEACON OF CHARITY TOO. 210 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:56,176 THE PASTOR AND HIS CHURCH SACRIFICED THEIR OWN NEEDS TO 211 00:12:56,176 --> 00:12:59,946 SEND MONEY TO THE VICTIMS OF KATRINA. 212 00:12:59,946 --> 00:13:03,450 AND WHEN MARIE CARLSON NEEDED HELP, THEY TOOK HER IN, TOO. 213 00:13:03,450 --> 00:13:08,455 >> IT'S WHAT PASTORS DO FOR THEIR CONGREGATION 214 00:13:08,455 --> 00:13:10,090 >> Reporter: BUT NOW >> I'M LEFT WITH A MISSING 215 00:13:10,090 --> 00:13:13,560 PERSON WHO'S JUST VANISHED OFF THIS EARTH 216 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:18,865 >> Reporter: A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER MARIE VANISHED, OR DROVE 217 00:13:18,865 --> 00:13:25,071 AWAY, OR WHATEVER SHE DID, THE DETECTIVES WENT CALLING ON THE 218 00:13:25,071 --> 00:13:27,540 FLANDERS WHO SAID THEY FULLY EXPECTED MARIE WOULD RETURN 219 00:13:27,540 --> 00:13:30,210 SOON THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME SHE 220 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:33,113 HA TOOK SPUR OF THE MOMENTS TRIPS, 221 00:13:33,113 --> 00:13:37,317 THEY SAID. ALTHOUGH THEY SAID THEY WERE 222 00:13:37,317 --> 00:13:42,255 QUITE WORRIED ABOUT MARIE'S STATE OF MIND. 223 00:13:42,255 --> 00:13:44,090 >> THEY NOTICED A DOWNWARD SPIRAL - 224 00:13:44,090 --> 00:13:45,325 >> Reporter: THAT SHE WAS GOING INTO A DEPRESSION OR SOMETHING 225 00:13:45,325 --> 00:13:46,559 >> SHE MIGHT BE GOING INTO A DEPRESSION STATE, YES. 226 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:48,094 >> Reporter: THING WAS, SAID THE PASTOR AND HIS WIFE, MARIE COULD 227 00:13:48,094 --> 00:13:49,996 HAVE WILD MOOD SWINGS, AND THEY KNEW SHE HAD A DIAGNOSED MOOD 228 00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:52,132 DISORDER >> Reporter: DID THEY TELL YOU 229 00:13:52,132 --> 00:13:55,769 THAT SHE WAS BIPOLAR >> YES, TOLD ME SHE WAS BIPOLAR. 230 00:13:55,769 --> 00:14:00,573 SHE HAD BEEN TAKING MEDICATION AND WAS OFF OF HER MEDICATION, 231 00:14:00,573 --> 00:14:01,875 PROBABLY BECAUSE OF HER GIVING BIRTH TO THE CHILD 232 00:14:01,875 --> 00:14:07,914 >> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE TOO. 233 00:14:07,914 --> 00:14:09,349 >> AND THEN THEY ALSO SHOWED US A BOTTLE THAT WAS EMPTY, YOU 234 00:14:09,349 --> 00:14:11,317 KNOW, THAT MAYBE ALLUDING TO THE FACT THAT SHE HAD TAKEN 235 00:14:11,317 --> 00:14:15,455 MEDICATION AND WAS GONNA USE IT TO HURT HERSELF. 236 00:14:15,455 --> 00:14:20,060 >> Reporter: THE DAY SHE LEFT? JAMES TOLD THE DETECTIVES HE WAS 237 00:14:20,060 --> 00:14:21,394 SO WORRIED ABOUT HER STATE OF MIND HE STAYED HOME FROM WORK TO 238 00:14:21,394 --> 00:14:27,701 KEEP AN EYE ON HER >> JAMES SAYS THAT SHE WAS 239 00:14:27,701 --> 00:14:29,269 ACTING UP. AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO LET MARIE 240 00:14:29,269 --> 00:14:30,270 TAKE THE BABY. >> Reporter: HE WAS AFRAID THE 241 00:14:30,270 --> 00:14:31,504 BABY MIGHT BE HARMED OR SOMETHING. 242 00:14:31,504 --> 00:14:32,972 >> RIGHT >> Reporter: THEN, LATE THAT 243 00:14:32,972 --> 00:14:40,780 AFTERNOON, SAID PASTOR JAMES, MARIE SAID SHE WAS TIRED, WENT 244 00:14:40,780 --> 00:14:42,549 TO LIE DOWN. TANYA TOOK THE BABY OUT SHOPPING 245 00:14:42,549 --> 00:14:43,616 SO MARIE COULD REST. THE PASTOR SAID HE WAITED AROUND 246 00:14:43,616 --> 00:14:50,623 FOR A BIT, TALKED TO HER BRIEFLY WHEN SHE WOKE UP AND THEN WENT 247 00:14:50,623 --> 00:14:52,359 OUT FOR A RUN, AND WHEN HE RETURNED, MARIE AND HER WHITE 248 00:14:52,359 --> 00:14:55,628 MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK WERE GONE STRANGELY, THE FLANDERS SAID, 249 00:14:55,628 --> 00:14:58,264 MARIE HAD PACKED HER BAGS, BUT DIDN'T TAKE THEM 250 00:14:58,264 --> 00:15:01,735 >> WHY WOULD SHE TAKE OFF AND NOT TAKE HER BAGS WITH HER 251 00:15:01,735 --> 00:15:05,939 >> Reporter: ANYWAY, SAID THE FLANDERS, WHEN SHE DIDN'T COME 252 00:15:05,939 --> 00:15:07,173 BACK THAT DAY OR THE NEXT, THEY DROVE AROUND TOWN LOOKING FOR 253 00:15:07,173 --> 00:15:09,809 HER. WENT TO THE AIRPORT. 254 00:15:09,809 --> 00:15:13,480 MAYBE SHE'D PARKED HER CAR THERE AND FLOWN AWAY 255 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,150 >> Reporter: DID THEY FIND IT? >> THEY DID. 256 00:15:17,150 --> 00:15:20,053 JAMES SAYS THAT HE FINDS IT IN LONG-TERM PARKING. 257 00:15:20,053 --> 00:15:21,421 >> Reporter: AT LEAST PART OF THE MYSTERY WAS SOLVED, SAID THE 258 00:15:21,421 --> 00:15:27,360 PASTOR SHE MUST HAVE FLOWN OFF TO VISIT 259 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:28,895 SOMEONE. THEY TOOK HER PICKUP HOME. 260 00:15:28,895 --> 00:15:30,830 SO THE MAZDA >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU DO 261 00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:36,269 ABOUT THAT CAR WHEN YOU GOT YOUR HANDS ON IT? 262 00:15:36,269 --> 00:15:37,504 >> WE SEARCHED IT, BUT IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOTHING TO 263 00:15:37,504 --> 00:15:38,772 SEARCH IT WAS CLEAN 264 00:15:38,772 --> 00:15:40,073 >> Reporter: THEY WENT TO THE AIRPORT. 265 00:15:40,073 --> 00:15:42,075 >> WE CHECKED THE AIRLINES THERE'S NOTHING. 266 00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:48,581 SHE DIDN'T FLY OUT >> Reporter: SO WHY WOULD 267 00:15:48,581 --> 00:15:51,851 MARIE'S CAR BE AT THE AIRPORT IF SHE HADN'T FLOWN OUT OF THERE? 268 00:15:51,851 --> 00:15:55,889 OF COURSE, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HIDE HER TRACKS FROM 269 00:15:55,889 --> 00:15:58,458 SNOOPY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OR WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE TOOK THE 270 00:15:58,458 --> 00:16:00,627 CAR TO THE AIRPORT, SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE 271 00:16:00,627 --> 00:16:04,397 SHE'D LEFT TOWN. RATHER FISHY 272 00:16:04,397 --> 00:16:07,067 THEN THE DETECTIVES HAD AN IDEA. YOU KNOW THE MACHINE THAT SPITS 273 00:16:07,067 --> 00:16:12,772 OUT TICKETS WHEN YOU ENTER AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT? 274 00:16:12,772 --> 00:16:15,175 THAT VERY TICKET GOES BACK TO THE TOLL BOOTH WHEN YOU LEAVE. 275 00:16:15,175 --> 00:16:18,745 >> KEITH AND I WENT TO THE LITTLE TOLL BOOTH WHERE YOU GIVE 276 00:16:18,745 --> 00:16:20,413 YOUR TICKET. >> Reporter: MAYBE, THOUGHT THE 277 00:16:20,413 --> 00:16:24,050 DETECTIVES, THE PARKING TICKET FOR MARIE'S MAZDA WOULD TELL 278 00:16:24,050 --> 00:16:28,121 THEM NOT JUST WHEN IT WAS DROPPED OFF BUT, A MORE 279 00:16:28,121 --> 00:16:31,758 IMPORTANT QUESTION, BY WHOM? >> WE WERE THINKING LET'S GET A 280 00:16:31,758 --> 00:16:33,793 THUMBPRINT OR A FINGERPRINT ON ONE. 281 00:16:33,793 --> 00:16:36,296 AND WENT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM UNTIL WE FOUND THE 282 00:16:36,296 --> 00:16:38,398 ONE THAT MARIE'S CAR HAD RECEIVED 283 00:16:38,398 --> 00:16:42,602 >> Reporter: AND YES, THEY GOT A PRINT. 284 00:16:42,602 --> 00:16:47,440 BUT, NO, IT WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH TO TELL WHOSE IT WAS 285 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:51,077 THEN, ANOTHER THOUGHT. >> HEY, LET'S GO PULL 286 00:16:51,077 --> 00:16:52,345 SURVEILLANCE VIDEO AND, OF COURSE - 287 00:16:52,345 --> 00:16:55,215 >> Reporter: YOU LOOKED AT ALL OF IT. 288 00:16:55,215 --> 00:16:57,650 >> WELL, NO. THE VIDEO DIDN'T WORK -- IT 289 00:16:57,650 --> 00:17:00,320 WASN'T WORKING >> Reporter: OH. 290 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:01,588 >> DURING THE TIME THAT WE NEEDED 291 00:17:01,588 --> 00:17:03,023 THIS CASE, FOR SURE, WAS AN INVESTIGATOR'S WORST NIGHTMARE 292 00:17:03,023 --> 00:17:04,557 >> Reporter: DEAD ENDS EVERYWHERE 293 00:17:04,557 --> 00:17:08,428 >> YES >> Reporter: AND WEEKS WENT BY 294 00:17:08,428 --> 00:17:15,235 NO SIGN OF MARIE ANYWHERE. TIME TO EMBRACE THE THOUGHT 295 00:17:15,235 --> 00:17:16,336 THEY'D, FRANKLY, HAD ALL ALONG AND IT WASN'T A GOOD ONE 296 00:17:16,336 --> 00:17:17,704 >> KEITH AND I BOTH NO LONGER BELIEVED WE HAD A MISSING 297 00:17:17,704 --> 00:17:21,241 PERSON WE BELIEVED WE WERE DEALING WITH 298 00:17:21,241 --> 00:17:24,711 A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION BUT WHAT'S THE HARDEST HOMICIDE 299 00:17:24,711 --> 00:17:26,613 INVESTIGATION YOU CAN BE GIVEN ONE WITHOUT A BODY 300 00:17:26,613 --> 00:17:32,585 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> AND WE DIDN'T HAVE MARIE. 301 00:17:32,585 --> 00:17:36,556 >>> COMING UP -- THE STARTLING SECRET THAT MARIE 302 00:17:36,556 --> 00:17:39,192 KEPT FROM JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. >> I WENT UP, AND I PUT MY HAND 303 00:17:39,192 --> 00:17:42,162 ON HER STOMACH, AND I SAID, "WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS?" 304 00:17:42,162 --> 00:17:46,933 >> THE STORY OF LITTLE BABY GRACE WAS ABOUT TO GIVE 305 00:17:46,933 --> 00:18:02,749 INVESTIGATORS A VERY BIG >> Reporter: WHAT A NEST OF 306 00:18:02,749 --> 00:18:06,019 PUZZLES. WHAT HAPPENED TO MARIE CARLSON 307 00:18:06,019 --> 00:18:08,588 WHERE DID SHE GO OR DID SHE GO ANYWHERE 308 00:18:08,588 --> 00:18:12,025 AND WHAT ABOUT GRACE, THE BABY SHE'D LEFT BEHIND? 309 00:18:12,025 --> 00:18:16,296 WHO, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS THE FATHER 310 00:18:16,296 --> 00:18:19,265 CHURCHES TEND TO BE BEEHIVES OF GOSSIP, SO THE DETECTIVES ASKED 311 00:18:19,265 --> 00:18:22,902 AROUND >> SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND, WAS 312 00:18:22,902 --> 00:18:25,872 INVOLVED IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, SHE WAS BEAT UP. 313 00:18:25,872 --> 00:18:27,607 >> Reporter: THIS IS A MEMBER OF THE CAVALRY EMERALD COAST 314 00:18:27,607 --> 00:18:34,447 CHURCH >> SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS 315 00:18:34,447 --> 00:18:35,782 PREGNANT, AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GUY AND DIDN'T 316 00:18:35,782 --> 00:18:37,617 WANT TO KEEP THE CHILD >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, SHE 317 00:18:37,617 --> 00:18:42,055 WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ABORTION. BUT PASTOR FLANDERS AND HIS WIFE 318 00:18:42,055 --> 00:18:44,657 HAD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT ABORTION, AND WHEN THEY DISCOVERED HER 319 00:18:44,657 --> 00:18:47,160 SITUATION, THEY OFFERED TO HELP SOLVE HER DILEMMA. 320 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,964 >> THEY WERE GONNA ADOPT THE BABY 321 00:18:50,964 --> 00:18:58,338 >> Reporter: THE FLANDERS HAD AN OLDER DAUGHTER, ALWAYS WANTED 322 00:18:58,338 --> 00:19:00,073 ANOTHER CHILD, BUT ONE MISCARRIAGE AFTER ANOTHER, 323 00:19:00,073 --> 00:19:01,808 AND SO, AS THIS CHURCH ELDER TOLD THE DETECTIVES, THE PASTOR 324 00:19:01,808 --> 00:19:06,646 AND HIS WIFE CAME TO AN ARRANGEMENT WITH MARIE 325 00:19:06,646 --> 00:19:08,314 >> SHE WOULD STAY THREE MONTHS TO NURSE THE BABY, AND AT THE 326 00:19:08,314 --> 00:19:10,350 END OF THREE MONTHS, THE PLAN ALL ALONG WAS THAT SHE WOULD 327 00:19:10,350 --> 00:19:12,652 LEAVE. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM 328 00:19:12,652 --> 00:19:15,689 BEFORE THE BABY WAS BORN >> WITH THE BABY 329 00:19:15,689 --> 00:19:18,124 >> NO, THE BABY WAS A GIFT FOR THE FLANDERS 330 00:19:18,124 --> 00:19:22,696 >> Reporter: A GIFT? MAYBE. 331 00:19:22,696 --> 00:19:25,331 IT WAS JUST LIKE MARIE TO BE GENEROUS TOWARD THE COUPLE WHO'D 332 00:19:25,331 --> 00:19:30,303 BEEN SO GOOD TO HER. BUT TO SKEPTICAL DETECTIVES, 333 00:19:30,303 --> 00:19:34,708 ESPECIALLY THIS BRAND-NEW MOTHER, SOMETHING ABOUT THE 334 00:19:34,708 --> 00:19:37,510 STORY DIDN'T SOUND QUITE RIGHT THE FATHER, FOR EXAMPLE. 335 00:19:37,510 --> 00:19:40,947 IN FACT, THE ALLEGED ABUSIVE GUY DIDN'T SEEM TO EXIST 336 00:19:40,947 --> 00:19:43,850 BUT THEN THEY TALKED TO EX-HUSBAND JEFF. 337 00:19:43,850 --> 00:19:48,054 AND THE STORY HE HEARD COMPLETELY DIFFERENT 338 00:19:48,054 --> 00:19:51,224 AND IT CAME DIRECTLY FROM MARIE WHEN SHE CAME TO VISIT JEFF 339 00:19:51,224 --> 00:19:53,860 SHORTLY AFTER SHE GOT PREGNANT >> I PUT MY HAND ON HER STOMACH. 340 00:19:53,860 --> 00:19:57,197 AND I SAID, "WHAT'S -- WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS?" 341 00:19:57,197 --> 00:19:59,699 AND SHE WASN'T REALLY SHOWING. AND HER STORY AT THAT TIME WAS, 342 00:19:59,699 --> 00:20:05,839 "WELL, I'M JUST BEING A SURROGATE FOR JAMES AND TANYA. 343 00:20:05,839 --> 00:20:08,375 SO WE DID BASICALLY A TYPE OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION. 344 00:20:08,375 --> 00:20:11,978 >> Reporter: WELL, WELL, WELL, THE PASTOR WAS THE SPERM DONOR 345 00:20:11,978 --> 00:20:14,080 IN THIS NEW STORY, MARIE'S GIFT WAS TO BE THE PASTOR'S 346 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:18,351 ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED SURROGATE. 347 00:20:18,351 --> 00:20:23,256 BUT WHY THE CONFLICTING STORIES? TO FIND OUT, THE DETECTIVES 348 00:20:23,256 --> 00:20:26,626 CONSULTED THREE SPECIAL CHURCH LADIES, TANYA FLANDERS' CLOSEST 349 00:20:26,626 --> 00:20:27,961 CONFIDANTES. >> DID YOU HAVE A NAME FOR THIS 350 00:20:27,961 --> 00:20:29,295 GROUP? >> WE CALLED THEM THE INNER 351 00:20:29,295 --> 00:20:34,267 CIRCLE >> Reporter: AND THE INNER 352 00:20:34,267 --> 00:20:37,070 CIRCLE SAID, YES, TANYA TOLD THEM BUT SWORE THEM TO SECRECY 353 00:20:37,070 --> 00:20:42,375 BUT THEN TANYA GAVE UP A LITTLE MORE 354 00:20:42,375 --> 00:20:46,579 THE METHOD WAS VERY HOME-MADE. >> I REMEMBER THEM SAYING, "OH, 355 00:20:46,579 --> 00:20:50,183 IT WAS WITH THE TURKEY THINGY. >> IT WAS WITH, LIKE, A TURKEY 356 00:20:50,183 --> 00:20:55,388 BASTER >> YEAH. 357 00:20:55,388 --> 00:20:57,157 >> SO NOW SHE'S GOT A SECRET >> YEAH, AT THAT POINT 358 00:20:57,157 --> 00:20:58,491 >> Reporter: WAIT, AT THAT POINT? 359 00:20:58,491 --> 00:21:00,060 YES. BECAUSE TANYA JUST COULDN'T 360 00:21:00,060 --> 00:21:03,430 LEAVE IT THERE THE NEXT TIME, SHE ADMITTED 361 00:21:03,430 --> 00:21:07,100 SOMETHING VERY, VERY SHOCKING. >> AND TANYA SAID, "WELL, WE DID 362 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:11,971 IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY." >> Reporter: JAMES AND MARIE HAD 363 00:21:11,971 --> 00:21:15,141 SEX, WHICH TANYA TOLD THE LADIES WAS OKAY WITH HER. 364 00:21:15,141 --> 00:21:18,912 AND AS MONTHS PASSED AND MARIE STARTED SHOWING, THERE WAS A 365 00:21:18,912 --> 00:21:21,981 BABY SHOWER. BUT, OH, NO. 366 00:21:21,981 --> 00:21:25,085 NOT FOR MARIE. THIS BABY SHOWER WAS FOR TANYA 367 00:21:25,085 --> 00:21:26,953 SHE PUT A BALLOON UNDER HER SHIRT FOR A FUNNY PHOTO WITH 368 00:21:26,953 --> 00:21:29,622 MARIE. BUT SOMETHING HERE DIDN'T SEEM 369 00:21:29,622 --> 00:21:36,096 QUITE RIGHT. THE INNER CIRCLE HAD TO KEEP 370 00:21:36,096 --> 00:21:37,664 THEIR SECRET IF THE STORY GOT OUT, IT COULD 371 00:21:37,664 --> 00:21:43,670 THREATEN EVERYTHING SHE AND THE PASTOR HAD BUILT 372 00:21:43,670 --> 00:21:45,905 >> AND AS IT GOT MORE AND MORE AND MORE INTO WEIRD STUFF, IT 373 00:21:45,905 --> 00:21:48,108 WAS JUST THAT THE STAKES GOT HIGHER. RIGHT? 374 00:21:48,108 --> 00:21:51,277 >> THAT'S RIGHT. IMAGINE THE SECRECY THAT THE 375 00:21:51,277 --> 00:21:55,582 INNER CIRCLE, THAT TANYA ACTUALLY TOLD THE TRUTH TO, THAT 376 00:21:55,582 --> 00:21:57,183 IT'S JAMES' BABY >> Reporter: BUT NO ROOM FOR 377 00:21:57,183 --> 00:22:00,520 SECRETS IN AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION. 378 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,924 THE DETECTIVES INVITED JAMES AND TANYA TO VOLUNTARILY COME IN FOR 379 00:22:04,924 --> 00:22:08,061 A CHAT, BUT ONLY TANYA SHOWED UP 380 00:22:08,061 --> 00:22:12,298 AND HERE IN THIS LITTLE ROOM AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SHE LET IT 381 00:22:12,298 --> 00:22:17,270 ALL COME OUT ABOUT THAT NIGHT OF SAKE AND 382 00:22:17,270 --> 00:22:18,838 SEX WHEN GRACE WAS CONCEIVED >> YEAH. 383 00:22:18,838 --> 00:22:22,075 YEAH HE HAD A LITTLE BIT TOO. 384 00:22:22,075 --> 00:22:24,711 I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS SOBER, BUT, YES, I WAS THERE 385 00:22:24,711 --> 00:22:26,346 >> Reporter: YES IN THE ROOM. 386 00:22:26,346 --> 00:22:31,351 BUT OF COURSE SHE WAS, SAID TANYA. 387 00:22:31,351 --> 00:22:34,454 AND ALMOST CASUALLY, SHE REVEALED THE HERESY THAT SHOULD 388 00:22:34,454 --> 00:22:36,189 IT EVER BECOME PUBLIC WOULD SURELY RUIN THEM 389 00:22:36,189 --> 00:22:38,224 >> MARIE WAS GONNA MOVE IN AND SHE WAS GONNA BE NUMBER TWO. 390 00:22:38,224 --> 00:22:40,093 >> A PLURAL WIFE >> YES 391 00:22:40,093 --> 00:22:47,901 >> OR WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM >> A SISTER WIFE, I THINK. 392 00:22:47,901 --> 00:22:49,302 >> Reporter: IT WAS, IN SHORT, POLYGAMY OR THEIR HOME-GROWN 393 00:22:49,302 --> 00:22:50,637 VERSION OF IT. TANYA TOLD DETECTIVES SHE 394 00:22:50,637 --> 00:22:52,672 UNDERSTOOD THE BARGAIN VERY WELL 395 00:22:52,672 --> 00:22:54,607 >> I'VE ALWAYS SEEN A RELATIONSHIP AS IT'S -- IT'S 396 00:22:54,607 --> 00:22:59,479 NOT -- SEX IS NOT A RELATIONSHIP 397 00:22:59,479 --> 00:23:01,281 A RELATIONSHIP IS TWO PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, AND SEX IS JUST 398 00:23:01,281 --> 00:23:05,618 A BONUS. >> Reporter: A VERY SECRET 399 00:23:05,618 --> 00:23:08,855 BONUS, OF COURSE, KEPT FROM ALMOST EVERYONE. 400 00:23:08,855 --> 00:23:12,092 BUT INSIDE THE BUBBLE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP, TANYA SAID, THEY 401 00:23:12,092 --> 00:23:16,096 WERE HAPPY >> SHE GOES, "YOU KNOW WHAT? 402 00:23:16,096 --> 00:23:18,098 I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE RAISING GRACE." 403 00:23:18,098 --> 00:23:23,503 SHE SAID, "AND I AM SO GLAD THAT I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO BE HERE TO 404 00:23:23,503 --> 00:23:27,474 DO THAT WITH YOU." AND I THOUGHT, "GOD, YOU KNOW, 405 00:23:27,474 --> 00:23:35,248 HOW COOL IS THAT?" >> Reporter: BUT THEN, THEN 406 00:23:35,248 --> 00:23:36,616 MARIE GAVE BIRTH, AND IT WASN'T COOL FOR MARIE, NOT ANYMORE, 407 00:23:36,616 --> 00:23:38,084 AND CERTAINLY NOT ADOPTION >> EVERY TIME WE STARTED TO 408 00:23:38,084 --> 00:23:42,155 BROACH THE SUBJECT WITH HER, SHE DID GET WITHDRAWN. 409 00:23:42,155 --> 00:23:47,594 >> Reporter: SO MAYBE TANYA WOULDN'T GET BABY GRACE. 410 00:23:47,594 --> 00:23:50,730 MAYBE MARIE WANTED IT ALL, THE BABY AND JAMES, ALL FOR HERSELF. 411 00:23:50,730 --> 00:23:57,270 THAT'S WHAT THIS MEMBER OF THE INNER CIRCLE BELIEVED. 412 00:23:57,270 --> 00:24:00,540 >> BUT I -- DID I HEAR THAT FROM MARIE, THAT MARIE WANTED JAMES 413 00:24:00,540 --> 00:24:03,576 >> Reporter: DID TANYA STRIKE BACK SOMEHOW 414 00:24:03,576 --> 00:24:06,346 FIGHT FOR HER MARRIAGE BY GETTING RID OF MARIE 415 00:24:06,346 --> 00:24:09,549 LISTEN TO HOW CHURCH MEMBERS QUOTED TANYA'S WORDS 416 00:24:09,549 --> 00:24:13,853 >> SHE BASICALLY WAS LIKE, "JAMES WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO 417 00:24:13,853 --> 00:24:16,690 THAT, BUT I COULD. THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE -- 418 00:24:16,690 --> 00:24:17,724 >> SHOCKERS? >> YEAH. 419 00:24:17,724 --> 00:24:21,928 >> I TOLD HIM, YOU'RE NOT CAPABLE OF KILLING HER." 420 00:24:21,928 --> 00:24:23,296 BUT TANYA LEANS OVER AND GOES, "WELL, HE COULDN'T, BUT I 421 00:24:23,296 --> 00:24:24,664 COULD. >> SO WOULDN'T THAT LEAD YOU TO, 422 00:24:24,664 --> 00:24:27,167 LIKE A BLOODHOUND, DIRECT TO TANYA? 423 00:24:27,167 --> 00:24:28,501 SHE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE A MOTIVE 424 00:24:28,501 --> 00:24:32,372 >> SHE WOULD >> Reporter: TANYA, NOW THE ONLY 425 00:24:32,372 --> 00:24:35,942 MOTHER FIGURE IN GRACE'S LIFE. DID SHE KNOW MORE THAN SHE WAS 426 00:24:35,942 --> 00:24:41,781 SAYING DID SHE DO SOMETHING 427 00:24:41,781 --> 00:24:47,754 >>> COMING UP -- A CONFRONTATION IN THE CONGREGATION. 428 00:24:47,754 --> 00:24:49,089 >> Reporter: THIS IS A -- FORGIVE MY SAYING -- A 429 00:24:49,089 --> 00:24:50,390 COME-TO-JESUS MOMENT >> IT WAS THE HARDEST THING I 430 00:24:50,390 --> 00:24:53,093 EVER HAD TO DO >> AND DIVINE INTERVENTION 431 00:24:53,093 --> 00:24:56,629 A SUDDEN, EARTH-SHAKING TIP. >> I CAN REMEMBER GETTING THAT 432 00:24:56,629 --> 00:25:16,282 TIP AND THINKING "NO WAY." >> JESUS SAYING YOU NEED T 433 00:25:16,282 --> 00:25:17,684 REALLY LEARN TO THINK DIFFERENT. >> Reporter: AN ATTENTIVE 434 00:25:17,684 --> 00:25:19,085 CHURCHGOER MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THE INTRUSION OF AN ODD IDEA IN 435 00:25:19,085 --> 00:25:20,553 ONE OF THE SERMONS OF PASTOR JAMES FLANDERS 436 00:25:20,553 --> 00:25:22,055 >> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'D EXPERIENCE 437 00:25:22,055 --> 00:25:24,724 >> Reporter: WHEN HE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF VERSES IN THE OLD 438 00:25:24,724 --> 00:25:29,562 TESTAMENT THAT SEEMED TO APPROVE, SOMEHOW, OF POLYGAMY. 439 00:25:29,562 --> 00:25:32,799 >> HE WANTED TO JUSTIFY HIS RELATIONSHIP TO EVERYBODY ELSE 440 00:25:32,799 --> 00:25:38,304 THROUGH A BIBLICAL SENSE >> Reporter: SO HE WENT TO THE 441 00:25:38,304 --> 00:25:39,439 OLD TESTAMENT AND PULLED UP THOSE FEW LINES THAT SUGGEST 442 00:25:39,439 --> 00:25:43,977 POLYGAMY >> THAT'S CORRECT. 443 00:25:43,977 --> 00:25:48,782 >> Reporter: A TRIAL BALLOON IF IT WAS, IT QUICKLY 444 00:25:48,782 --> 00:25:50,383 IMPLODED AND THE VERY PRACTICAL POLYGAMY 445 00:25:50,383 --> 00:25:55,288 IN THE HOME OF THE PASTOR STAYED CAREFULLY UNDER WRAPS. 446 00:25:55,288 --> 00:25:56,523 >> Reporter: SO IF THE NEWS GOT OUT TO THE REST OF THE CHURCH, 447 00:25:56,523 --> 00:25:57,691 DID TANYA WORRY AT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN THERE 448 00:25:57,691 --> 00:25:59,325 >> THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS COVERING UP 449 00:25:59,325 --> 00:26:00,527 SHE HAD TO PROTECT JAMES AND PROTECT THEIR -- THAT WAS THEIR 450 00:26:00,527 --> 00:26:03,897 WORLD. >> Reporter: DID SHE DO 451 00:26:03,897 --> 00:26:06,199 SOMETHING TO MARIE TO PROTECT JAMES? 452 00:26:06,199 --> 00:26:07,734 TWO MONTHS AFTER MARIE DISAPPEARED, THE DETECTIVES GOT 453 00:26:07,734 --> 00:26:10,236 PERMISSION TO LOOK AT THE CELL PHONE RECORDS OF ALL THREE OF 454 00:26:10,236 --> 00:26:14,107 THEM WOULD THEY PROVE TANYA WAS WITH 455 00:26:14,107 --> 00:26:17,077 MARIE WHEN SHE VANISHED AND THUS MAYBE DID SOMETHING TO HER 456 00:26:17,077 --> 00:26:19,946 >> THE CELL PHONE TOWER INFORMATION PUT HER AWAY FROM 457 00:26:19,946 --> 00:26:25,051 THE AREA >> Reporter: NO. 458 00:26:25,051 --> 00:26:28,154 NOWHERE NEAR MARIE SO THEN THEY CHECKED THE CELL 459 00:26:28,154 --> 00:26:30,523 TOWERS FOR JAMES' PHONE, AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW 460 00:26:30,523 --> 00:26:35,128 WHEN MARIE SENT THAT MASS TEXT MESSAGE SAYING SHE WAS LEAVING 461 00:26:35,128 --> 00:26:38,865 TOWN, BOTH HER PHONE AND THE PASTOR'S WERE PINGING OFF THE 462 00:26:38,865 --> 00:26:42,202 SAME CELL TOWER TWO BLOCKS FROM HIS HOUSE. 463 00:26:42,202 --> 00:26:46,272 AND WHEN MARIE'S MAZDA WAS DROPPED AT THE AIRPORT 464 00:26:46,272 --> 00:26:49,242 >> WE'VE GOT JAMES FLANDERS' CELL PHONE TOUCHING TOWERS NEAR 465 00:26:49,242 --> 00:26:51,711 THE AIRPORT. WHY WOULD HIS PHONE BE NEAR THE 466 00:26:51,711 --> 00:26:55,448 AIRPORT? >> Reporter: WELL, EITHER JAMES 467 00:26:55,448 --> 00:26:58,952 INNOCENTLY DROVE MARIE TO THE AIRPORT AND NEGLECTED TO REVEAL 468 00:26:58,952 --> 00:27:06,026 THAT, OR HE DROVE HER CAR THERE TO COVER UP A CRIME. 469 00:27:06,026 --> 00:27:09,095 NO WAY TO PROVE IT EITHER WAY. SO THEY WERE STUCK AGAIN 470 00:27:09,095 --> 00:27:10,563 WHICH IS WHEN JASON, THE YOUTH PASTOR, REMEMBER HIM 471 00:27:10,563 --> 00:27:14,534 OUT OF THE BLUE JASON CAME TO CALL 472 00:27:14,534 --> 00:27:16,936 HE HAD SOMETHING THE DETECTIVES NEEDED TO HEAR, HE SAID. 473 00:27:16,936 --> 00:27:18,505 >> Reporter: I MEAN, THAT WOULD TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF 474 00:27:18,505 --> 00:27:20,807 COURAGE. >> ABSOLUTELY. 475 00:27:20,807 --> 00:27:22,742 WE WOULD'VE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THAT IF JASON WOULDN'T HAVE COME 476 00:27:22,742 --> 00:27:27,480 FORWARD. >> Reporter: KNOWN WHAT? 477 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:32,819 THE SECRET INCIDENT THAT GOT JUNIOR PASTOR JASON INVOLVED 478 00:27:32,819 --> 00:27:34,521 IT HAPPENED SOON AFTER MARIE DISAPPEARED WHEN A VERY 479 00:27:34,521 --> 00:27:37,424 DISTRAUGHT JAMES ASKED THIS CHURCH ELDER FOR HELP. 480 00:27:37,424 --> 00:27:40,193 >> HE SAID, HE GOES, I NEED YOU TO GET ME OUT OF THE COUNTRY 481 00:27:40,193 --> 00:27:47,200 I SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON? I SAID, DOES THIS HAVE TO DO 482 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:52,539 WITH MARIA -- MARIE? HE SAID, I CANT TELL YOU 483 00:27:52,539 --> 00:27:54,074 HE NEVER ONCE SAID ANYTHING TO ME ELSE, JUST IT'S BAD 484 00:27:54,074 --> 00:27:55,575 >> Reporter: JAMES SEEMED SUICIDAL, SAID THE ELDER 485 00:27:55,575 --> 00:28:01,314 SO HE CALLED A DOCTOR FRIEND AND THE DOCTOR COMMITTED THE 486 00:28:01,314 --> 00:28:06,019 PREACHER TO A PSYCHIATRIC WARD FOR TEN DAYS DURING WHIC 487 00:28:06,019 --> 00:28:07,587 TIME JASON ANDERSON TOOK OVER PREACHER DUTIES. 488 00:28:07,587 --> 00:28:12,692 BUT THEN JASON HEARD THINGS. NOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO 489 00:28:12,692 --> 00:28:14,094 MARIE, BUT ABOUT THE POLYGAMY. WITH OTHER CHURCH LEADERS, HE 490 00:28:14,094 --> 00:28:21,368 CONFRONTED JAMES AND TANYA >> Reporter: THIS IS A -- 491 00:28:21,368 --> 00:28:22,769 FORGIVE MY SAYING -- COME-TO-JESUS MOMENT 492 00:28:22,769 --> 00:28:24,571 >> IT WAS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER HAD TO DO, MYSELF, 493 00:28:24,571 --> 00:28:25,372 PERSONALLY, WAS TO CONFRONT MY PASTOR 494 00:28:25,372 --> 00:28:26,673 >> Reporter: THIS -- YOUR MENTOR, YOUR SENIOR GUY. 495 00:28:26,673 --> 00:28:28,041 >> YEAH, RIGHT SURE 496 00:28:28,041 --> 00:28:30,543 >> Reporter: AND JAMES ADMITTED IT 497 00:28:30,543 --> 00:28:34,047 HE HAD BEEN SLEEPING WITH TWO WOMEN IN THE SAME HOUSE. 498 00:28:34,047 --> 00:28:37,884 BUT THEN YOUTH PASTOR JASON TOLD THE DETECTIVES, IN THAT 499 00:28:37,884 --> 00:28:40,520 CLOISTERED SETTING, JAMES KEPT TALKING AND TOLD A TERRIBLE 500 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:45,592 STORY. >> HIM AND MARIE HAD HAD A 501 00:28:45,592 --> 00:28:49,229 PHYSICAL ALTERCATION BEFORE SHE WENT MISSING, AND SHE HAD 502 00:28:49,229 --> 00:28:51,331 SCRATCHED HIM ON HIS ARMS. >> Reporter: JAMES INSISTED 503 00:28:51,331 --> 00:28:53,466 MARIE WAS STILL ALIVE THE LAST TIME HE SAW HER. 504 00:28:53,466 --> 00:28:58,071 >> I WAS JUST SO IN SHOCK OF EVERYTHING 505 00:28:58,071 --> 00:29:01,775 >> Reporter: THAT WAS IT HE COULD NOT CONTINUE AS PASTOR. 506 00:29:01,775 --> 00:29:04,511 JAMES WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE AND TANYA 507 00:29:04,511 --> 00:29:11,084 WERE LEAVING TOWN. >> THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE 508 00:29:11,084 --> 00:29:17,891 THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO SOME CHURCH MEMBERS. 509 00:29:17,891 --> 00:29:19,492 AND LO AND BEHOLD, AROUND 12:00 OR 12:30 THEY'D GOT IN 510 00:29:19,492 --> 00:29:20,560 THAT TRUCK AND THEY HAULED BUTT. THEY WENT TO ARIZONA 511 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:22,562 >> THEY FLED >> Reporter: LIKE THIEVES IN THE 512 00:29:22,562 --> 00:29:24,497 NIGHT WITH BABY GRACE. IT WAS A FEW DAYS AFTER THEY 513 00:29:24,497 --> 00:29:29,035 LEFT WHEN JASON WENT TO THE POLICE TO TELL HIS DISTURBING 514 00:29:29,035 --> 00:29:31,404 STORY. >> THAT THEY HAD A PHYSICAL 515 00:29:31,404 --> 00:29:33,907 RUN-IN THE DAY THAT SHE WENT MISSING. 516 00:29:33,907 --> 00:29:35,842 >> Reporter: THEN A PIECE OF LUCK 517 00:29:35,842 --> 00:29:39,045 BEFORE THEY LEFT, MARIE'S FRIEND KAY HAD ASKED THE PASTOR AND HIS 518 00:29:39,045 --> 00:29:42,816 WIFE FOR MARIE'S BELONGINGS. THEY GAVE HER MARIE'S COMPUTER 519 00:29:42,816 --> 00:29:45,418 THE BAD NEWS WAS IT HAD BEEN ERASED BUT - 520 00:29:45,418 --> 00:29:48,922 >> I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THEM TO 521 00:29:48,922 --> 00:29:54,527 TAKE A LOOK. >> WE HAD OUR FORENSIC TECH 522 00:29:54,527 --> 00:29:58,098 REANALYZE THE COMPUTER, AND IT GAVE US A BEAUTIFUL COPY OF HER 523 00:29:58,098 --> 00:30:00,200 PHONE DOWNLOAD THAT SHE HAD DONE WHEN SHE BACKED HER PHONE UP 524 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,636 >> Reporter: WOW >> BUT MAYBE IT WASN'T SO LUCKY. 525 00:30:03,636 --> 00:30:07,240 THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF TEXT MESSAGES, BUT THEY WERE AN 526 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:12,612 UNREADABLE JUMBLE OF SYMBOLS AND WORDS. 527 00:30:12,612 --> 00:30:18,785 >> THIS PARTICULAR COIN -- >> THOUGH, LOOK AT THIS. 528 00:30:18,785 --> 00:30:20,286 MARIE SHOT THIS VIDEO THAT DID SURVIVE SHOWING THE PASTOR 529 00:30:20,286 --> 00:30:21,621 HAWKING GOLD AND SILVER ONLINE, APPARENTLY WHILE RUNNING THE 530 00:30:21,621 --> 00:30:24,491 CHURCH >> VALUING THIS COIN AT OVER 531 00:30:24,491 --> 00:30:26,860 $500 LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S EXCITING 532 00:30:26,860 --> 00:30:30,497 STUFF. >> Reporter: WAS JAMES JUST A 533 00:30:30,497 --> 00:30:36,169 PASTOR OR PART-TIME FILM-FLAM MAN 534 00:30:36,169 --> 00:30:40,607 SO THIS IS WHERE THINGS STOOD WHEN AN ANONYMOUS TIP CAME IN. 535 00:30:40,607 --> 00:30:42,175 STARTLING. IF TRUE, IT WOULD SOLVE THE 536 00:30:42,175 --> 00:30:44,878 CASE >> AND IN THE TIP, IT SAYS THAT 537 00:30:44,878 --> 00:30:47,480 JAMES BURIED HER IN THE BACKYARD 538 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:50,950 >> Reporter: THAT'S SOME TIP >> YEAH. 539 00:30:50,950 --> 00:30:54,354 I CAN REMEMBER GETTING THAT TIP AND THINKING, "NO WAY. 540 00:30:54,354 --> 00:30:56,556 LIKE, WHO WOULD -- WHO WOULD KILL SOMEBODY AND BURY THEM IN 541 00:30:56,556 --> 00:30:58,658 THEIR OWN BACKYARD >> Reporter: COULD BE BOGUS, OF 542 00:30:58,658 --> 00:31:04,064 COURSE JUST ANOTHER FALSE LEAD. 543 00:31:04,064 --> 00:31:09,069 BUT NESLI WAS HOPEFUL. >> WE BROUGHT CADAVER DOGS AND 544 00:31:09,069 --> 00:31:12,172 GROUND PENETRATING RADAR, AND WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. 545 00:31:12,172 --> 00:31:13,573 >> Reporter: NOTHING >> NOTHING 546 00:31:13,573 --> 00:31:15,875 >> Reporter: NO BODY SO WHAT HAPPENED TO MARIE? 547 00:31:15,875 --> 00:31:20,647 MORE MONTHS WENT BY. POLICE KEPT TRYING TO SPEAK WITH 548 00:31:20,647 --> 00:31:23,783 JAMES BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. >> HI, THIS IS JAMES 549 00:31:23,783 --> 00:31:27,420 I CAN'T TAKE YOUR CALL. >> Reporter: THEN AFTER A WHOL 550 00:31:27,420 --> 00:31:28,922 YEAR, THEY TRIED AGAIN AND HE PICKED UP. 551 00:31:28,922 --> 00:31:32,125 >> I HAD BEEN ASKED BY OUR ATTORNEY NOT TO TALK TO ANYONE 552 00:31:32,125 --> 00:31:34,694 WITHOUT HIM THERE. >> Reporter: BUT HE DID TALK -- 553 00:31:34,694 --> 00:31:36,930 TALKED FOR TWO HOURS, IN FACT, FROM HIS CAR 554 00:31:36,930 --> 00:31:41,368 AT TIMES SOUNDING LIKE HE WAS THE VICTIM 555 00:31:41,368 --> 00:31:46,206 >> WHAT EMOTIONS HAVE I FELT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A MONTH, 556 00:31:46,206 --> 00:31:49,542 YOU KNOW ANGER AT MARIE FOR GOING AND NOT 557 00:31:49,542 --> 00:31:51,211 LETTING US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEN BACK TO ANGER AT MYSELF 558 00:31:51,211 --> 00:31:55,415 FOR NOT MAKING A PHONE CALL TO GET HER HELP 559 00:31:55,415 --> 00:31:57,017 AND ANGER AT MYSELF FOR EVER LETTING THE RELATIONSHIP BECAME 560 00:31:57,017 --> 00:32:00,820 WHAT IT BECAME >> Reporter: THE PASTOR SAID HE 561 00:32:00,820 --> 00:32:04,424 KNEW HE WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT. >> I AM TERRIFIED OF THE 562 00:32:04,424 --> 00:32:09,729 PROSPECT OF MARIE TAKING HER OWN LIFE 563 00:32:09,729 --> 00:32:15,101 AND IF SHE DID, AND I PRAY SHE DIDN'T, I HOPE SHE DID IT VERY, 564 00:32:15,101 --> 00:32:16,569 VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY FAR AWAY, BECAUSE IF THEY 565 00:32:16,569 --> 00:32:20,573 FIND HER ONE LITTLE BONE THAT SOMEHOW COULD BE CONNECTED WITH 566 00:32:20,573 --> 00:32:22,842 HER, THERE -- IT'S MY FAULT. I'M SURE IT'S THE WAY PEOPLE 567 00:32:22,842 --> 00:32:25,111 WOULD LOOK AT IT, IT'S JAMES >> DO YOU KNOW WHERE MARIE IS? 568 00:32:25,111 --> 00:32:28,081 >> NO, I DO NOT. IF I DID, I WOULD GO GET HER 569 00:32:28,081 --> 00:32:32,352 >> DID YOU KILL MARIE CARLSON? >> NO. 570 00:32:32,352 --> 00:32:37,590 >> Reporter: AND THAT WAS THAT THEY WERE STALLED. 571 00:32:37,590 --> 00:32:43,563 MARIE WAS MISSING, AND THE CASE WAS GETTING VERY COLD. 572 00:32:43,563 --> 00:32:47,534 >>> COMING UP -- NEW REVELATIONS FROM THE PASTOR. 573 00:32:47,534 --> 00:32:51,671 >> THEY WERE SENDING PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS BACK AND 574 00:32:51,671 --> 00:32:55,842 FORTH FROM THE CHURCH. >> AN ANSWER AT LAST TO THE 575 00:32:55,842 --> 00:32:58,445 BIGGEST MYSTERY OF ALL, WHERE WAS MARIE? 576 00:32:58,445 --> 00:33:16,062 >> I WAS PRETTY DEVASTATED I FE L 577 00:33:16,062 --> 00:33:18,565 >> Reporter: UNLIKE A FINE WINE, A COLD CASE DOESN'T GET BETTER 578 00:33:18,565 --> 00:33:22,969 WITH AGE IT JUST GETS COLDER. 579 00:33:22,969 --> 00:33:25,071 AND STATE ATTORNEY BILL EDDINS WASN'T OPTIMISTIC IT WOULD EVER 580 00:33:25,071 --> 00:33:31,077 BE SOLVED. WHAT CHANCE DID YOU GIVE IT? 581 00:33:31,077 --> 00:33:32,645 >> I REALLY FELT THAT IT WAS ABOUT A 50/50 CHANCE OF IT BEING 582 00:33:32,645 --> 00:33:34,414 SOLVED >> Reporter: EDDINS ASSIGNED ONE 583 00:33:34,414 --> 00:33:36,116 OF HIS MOST EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS, ANGELA MASON, TO 584 00:33:36,116 --> 00:33:39,219 WORK ON IT SHE WASN'T OPTIMISTIC, EITHER. 585 00:33:39,219 --> 00:33:42,956 >> I WAS CERTAINLY VULNERABLE IN THAT I DID NOT HAVE A BODY 586 00:33:42,956 --> 00:33:45,658 I ALSO WAS VULNERABLE WITH THE TANYA ELEMENT, THAT PEOPLE 587 00:33:45,658 --> 00:33:48,661 THOUGHT SHE COULD BE A SUSPECT >> Reporter: AND THEN THREE 588 00:33:48,661 --> 00:33:53,900 YEARS AFTER MARIE DISAPPEARED, THE MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED. 589 00:33:53,900 --> 00:33:58,405 MARIE'S COMPUTER YIELDED TO A NEW FORENSICS PROGRAM, AND OUT 590 00:33:58,405 --> 00:34:01,341 SPILLED, IN CRIMSON, BLUSHING CLARITY, TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN 591 00:34:01,341 --> 00:34:04,110 MARIE AND JAMES. >> "I LOVE YOU 592 00:34:04,110 --> 00:34:06,046 I LOVE YOU SO MUCH," AND GETTING GRAPHIC DETAILS OF WHAT HE WANTS 593 00:34:06,046 --> 00:34:08,415 TO DO WITH HER >> Reporter: KINDA PORNOGRAPHIC. 594 00:34:08,415 --> 00:34:12,152 >> PORNOGRAPHIC. EVEN TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE 595 00:34:12,152 --> 00:34:15,188 SENDING PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS WITH EACH OTHER FROM THE CHURCH 596 00:34:15,188 --> 00:34:18,758 >> Reporter: SOME THINGS ARE HARD TO UNSEE. 597 00:34:18,758 --> 00:34:22,062 WE'LL SPARE YOU. OH, AND MOST IMPORTANT 598 00:34:22,062 --> 00:34:25,231 EVERYTHING STOPPED THE DAY SHE DISAPPEARED. 599 00:34:25,231 --> 00:34:33,740 >> NO CREDIT CARDS, NO PHONES. I THOUGHT THAT WAS STRONG 600 00:34:33,740 --> 00:34:34,974 EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS, IN FACT, DEAD AND NOT, IN FACT, MISSING 601 00:34:34,974 --> 00:34:36,076 >> Reporter: AND HER LAST CONVERSATION WITH A FAMILY 602 00:34:36,076 --> 00:34:37,577 MEMBER WAS - >> SHE WANTED OUT OF THE 603 00:34:37,577 --> 00:34:39,379 CIRCUMSTANCES SHE WAS IN BUT SHE WASN'T GONNA LEAVE HER 604 00:34:39,379 --> 00:34:44,084 BABY BEHIND. >> Reporter: AND THEN THERE WAS 605 00:34:44,084 --> 00:34:47,687 THIS, ONE OF THOSE SERMONS POSTED ON YOUTUBE JUST A MONTH 606 00:34:47,687 --> 00:34:50,957 BEFORE MARIE VANISHED AND NOW IN THE EVIDENCE FILE. 607 00:34:50,957 --> 00:34:53,760 >> NOW WHENEVER SOMEONE IS BACKSTABBING ME, LYING ABOUT ME, 608 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:57,864 GOSSIPING ABOUT ME, TRYING TO TEAR ME DOWN OR WHATEVER, YOU 609 00:34:57,864 --> 00:35:03,703 KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO MY FEELINGS SAY, "CHOKE THE LIFE 610 00:35:03,703 --> 00:35:07,107 OUT OF THEM! >> Reporter: IS THAT WHAT THE 611 00:35:07,107 --> 00:35:09,642 PASTOR DID TO MARIE? THE DETECTIVES SPELLED OUT THEIR 612 00:35:09,642 --> 00:35:12,946 CASE CIRCUMSTANTIAL 613 00:35:12,946 --> 00:35:17,617 DIFFICULT. BUT THE PROSECUTORS BOUGHT IT. 614 00:35:17,617 --> 00:35:19,819 AND JAMES FLANDERS WAS CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER. 615 00:35:19,819 --> 00:35:22,355 PERSISTENCE PAID OFF >> WE WERE 4 1/2 YEARS IN. 616 00:35:22,355 --> 00:35:25,125 MOST PEOPLE WOULD'VE GIVEN UP BY NOW. 617 00:35:25,125 --> 00:35:29,362 >> Reporter: BUT AS THE PASTOR WAITED IN JAIL FOR HIS TRIAL, 618 00:35:29,362 --> 00:35:31,564 HIS ATTORNEY AND FORMER CHURCH MEMBER GLEN SWIATEK WAS 619 00:35:31,564 --> 00:35:34,234 OPTIMISTIC WHAT DID YOU THINK YOUR CHANCES 620 00:35:34,234 --> 00:35:36,469 WERE IF YOU WENT TO TRIAL? >> I DIDN'T BELIEVE THE STATE 621 00:35:36,469 --> 00:35:40,140 HAD SECOND-DEGREE MURDER THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BODY. 622 00:35:40,140 --> 00:35:43,309 >> Reporter: MAYBE NOT, BUT AS THE PASTOR AND HIS ATTORNEY 623 00:35:43,309 --> 00:35:47,480 LOOKED AT THE EVIDENCE THAT MIGHT PUT HIM IN PRISON FOR LIFE 624 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:49,082 JUST BEFORE THE TRIAL, THEY MADE A DEAL 625 00:35:49,082 --> 00:35:53,319 THE STATE REDUCED THE CHARGE FROM SECOND-DEGREE MURDER TO 626 00:35:53,319 --> 00:35:57,223 MANSLAUGHTER, AND JAMES AGREED TO TELL THEM WHAT HE DID TO 627 00:35:57,223 --> 00:36:00,093 MARIE AND WHERE HE PUT HER MARIE'S FAMILY GRUDGINGLY 628 00:36:00,093 --> 00:36:02,295 AGREED >> THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING. 629 00:36:02,295 --> 00:36:06,800 BUT I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE MY SISTER WAS 630 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:13,907 I DIDN'T WANNA GO YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND NOT KNOW 631 00:36:13,907 --> 00:36:18,044 >> AS MUCH AS I JUST ABSOLUTELY HATED TO AGREE TO IT, I KNEW IT 632 00:36:18,044 --> 00:36:24,684 WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY. >> Reporter: FIRST, AS PART OF 633 00:36:24,684 --> 00:36:26,152 HIS DEAL, THE PASTOR TOLD THE STORY OF MARIE, OF THE POLYGAMY 634 00:36:26,152 --> 00:36:28,054 ARRANGEMENT. >> IT WAS AS IF SHE WAS ANOTHER 635 00:36:28,054 --> 00:36:31,124 WIFE OKAY 636 00:36:31,124 --> 00:36:34,060 ALTHOUGH WE NEVER HAD A CEREMONY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 637 00:36:34,060 --> 00:36:37,597 >> Reporter: HE SAID MARIE EVEN HAD A NAME FOR THEIR 638 00:36:37,597 --> 00:36:43,703 RELATIONSHIP >> MARIE CALLED IT A THROUPLE. 639 00:36:43,703 --> 00:36:45,138 >> Reporter: THROUPLE. THEN THE PASTOR OFFERED HIS 640 00:36:45,138 --> 00:36:49,275 VERSION OF THAT LAST AWFUL NIGHT. 641 00:36:49,275 --> 00:36:52,545 HE CLAIMED THAT MARIE WAS IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL MENTALLY AND 642 00:36:52,545 --> 00:36:54,681 ERUPTED AFTER HE TOLD HER SHE SHOULD BE HOSPITALIZED FOR 643 00:36:54,681 --> 00:36:59,586 DEPRESSION >> SHE HIT ME IN THE CHEST, AND 644 00:36:59,586 --> 00:37:05,792 I GRABBED AHOLD OF HER AND JUST HUGGED AS TIGHT AS I COULD 645 00:37:05,792 --> 00:37:11,931 AND IN THE SCUFFLE, WE FELL DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND WHEN WE HIT THE 646 00:37:11,931 --> 00:37:15,468 FLOOR, WE HIT IT HARD. WHEN I WAS REALIZED SOMETHING 647 00:37:15,468 --> 00:37:17,103 WASN'T RIGHT, I ROLLED HER OVER, AND SHE WASN'T BREATHING 648 00:37:17,103 --> 00:37:20,807 >> Reporter: A FATAL BEAR HUG? NOT POSSIBLE, THOUGHT NESLI. 649 00:37:20,807 --> 00:37:23,777 AND THEN SHE BRACED FOR THE ANSWER SHE'D WAITED FIVE YEARS 650 00:37:23,777 --> 00:37:26,613 TO HEAR. >> DID YOU BURY MARIE IN THE 651 00:37:26,613 --> 00:37:29,149 BACKYARD >> I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE 652 00:37:29,149 --> 00:37:33,053 IT'S AT. >> IS THAT WHERE YOU BURIED HER? 653 00:37:33,053 --> 00:37:35,422 >> YES >> Reporter: AT THAT POINT, THE 654 00:37:35,422 --> 00:37:39,426 DETECTIVE GOT UP AND LEFT THE ROOM 655 00:37:39,426 --> 00:37:42,962 >> NESLI PASSED ME A NOTE THAT SAID, "I MISSED HER. 656 00:37:42,962 --> 00:37:45,398 >> I WAS PRETTY DEVASTATED I WAS IN THAT BACKYARD IN 2012 657 00:37:45,398 --> 00:37:47,500 >> Reporter: NOT LIKE YOU DIDN'T LOOK 658 00:37:47,500 --> 00:37:55,508 >> YEAH. BUT, YOU KNOW, HUMAN NATURE. 659 00:37:55,508 --> 00:37:57,177 YOU STILL HAVE THE GUILT, THE FEELING OF I COULD HAVE FOUND 660 00:37:57,177 --> 00:37:59,679 HER SIX MONTHS AFTER SHE WAS REPORTED MISSING 661 00:37:59,679 --> 00:38:02,582 >> Reporter: THE PASTOR INSISTED THAT TANYA WASN'T AROUND, WAS 662 00:38:02,582 --> 00:38:07,120 SHOPPING, KNEW NOTHING >> DID YOU GET HER BURIED 663 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:08,788 BEFORE, UH, TANYA CAME BACK? >> OH, YEAH. 664 00:38:08,788 --> 00:38:11,324 YEAH >> Reporter: DO YOU WONDER 665 00:38:11,324 --> 00:38:13,259 WHETHER TANYA HAD MORE TO DO WITH THIS? 666 00:38:13,259 --> 00:38:17,497 >> I THINK THAT'LL ALWAYS BE IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS. 667 00:38:17,497 --> 00:38:20,066 BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE MAY HAVE KNOWN MORE THAN SHE WANTS 668 00:38:20,066 --> 00:38:24,704 TO SAY >> Reporter: BUT TANYA WAS NEVER 669 00:38:24,704 --> 00:38:27,207 CHARGED, AND HER DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAID SHE WAS TRULY 670 00:38:27,207 --> 00:38:33,413 SHOCKED BY JAMES' CONFESSION >> I COULD TELL YOU, AS A MATTER 671 00:38:33,413 --> 00:38:38,051 OF FACT, FROM HAVING TO TELL HER WHAT HAPPENED, SHE DID NOT KNOW. 672 00:38:38,051 --> 00:38:42,555 >> Reporter: LATER THAT AFTERNOON, NESLI ESCORTED JAMES 673 00:38:42,555 --> 00:38:45,959 FLANDERS INTO HIS FORMER BACKYARD WHERE HE MARKED WITH 674 00:38:45,959 --> 00:38:52,265 LITTLE FLAGS THE SPOT WHERE HE BURIED MARIE CARLSON FIVE YEARS 675 00:38:52,265 --> 00:38:58,104 EARLIER. THEN HE FELL ON THE GROUND, 676 00:38:58,104 --> 00:39:00,707 CRIED AND TOLD HER, "I'M SORRY." WHAT AN ACT, THOUGHT NESLI 677 00:39:00,707 --> 00:39:03,543 IT TOOK HOURS, BUT FINALLY, ALMOST FIVE FEET DEEP, WRAPPED 678 00:39:03,543 --> 00:39:08,314 IN A BLANKET, THEY FOUND WHAT WAS LEFT OF MARIE. 679 00:39:08,314 --> 00:39:10,250 >> I WAS SHAKING I WAS CRYING SO MUCH 680 00:39:10,250 --> 00:39:13,653 I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER CRIED SO LOUD 681 00:39:13,653 --> 00:39:16,122 >> Reporter: NESLI AND PROSECUTOR ANGELA MASON WEPT 682 00:39:16,122 --> 00:39:19,459 TOO. >> IT'S MY FAULT 683 00:39:19,459 --> 00:39:23,296 >> Reporter: BACK IN COURT THAT AFTERNOON, JAMES FLANDERS WAS 684 00:39:23,296 --> 00:39:30,704 SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS. WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR, HE'LL BE OUT 685 00:39:30,704 --> 00:39:34,574 IN 11 FREE TO JOIN TANYA IN ARIZONA AND GRACE, WHOSE MOTHER 686 00:39:34,574 --> 00:39:37,544 HE KILLED. >> HE'S GONNA GET TO HAVE A LIFE 687 00:39:37,544 --> 00:39:43,483 AFTER HE'S DONE. MARIE'S GONE FOREVER 688 00:39:43,483 --> 00:39:49,923 SHE DOESN'T GET A LIFE, ESPECIALLY WITH HER KIDS, WHICH 689 00:39:49,923 --> 00:39:53,626 IS, FOR MOST MOTHERS, THE WORLD. >> Reporter: JEFF CARLSON HAD TO 690 00:39:53,626 --> 00:39:56,396 TELL HIS DAUGHTER, PARIS, HER MOM WAS NOT COMING BACK. 691 00:39:56,396 --> 00:40:01,201 >> WASN'T EASY WHAT DO YOU SAY? 692 00:40:01,201 --> 00:40:06,039 YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE OF LIVING 693 00:40:06,039 --> 00:40:10,977 WITH THIS. HE DEPRIVED HER OF HER MOTHER. 694 00:40:10,977 --> 00:40:13,413 >> Reporter: LATER, MARIE'S FAMILY AND MANY OTHERS GATHERED 695 00:40:13,413 --> 00:40:16,049 FOR A CELEBRATION OF MARIE'S LIFE 696 00:40:16,049 --> 00:40:21,154 THEY DID HER FAVORITE THING. THEY SANG KARAOKE. 697 00:40:21,154 --> 00:40:24,791 AND NOWADAYS WHEN MARIE'S DAUGHTER, PARIS, COMES TO VISIT 698 00:40:24,791 --> 00:40:27,861 HER COUSIN, ESTA'S DAUGHTER, THE TWO SIT DOWN AT THE PIANO AND 699 00:40:27,861 --> 00:40:31,264 PLAY MAKE MUSIC, JUST LIKE THEIR 700 00:40:31,264 --> 00:40:34,300 MOTHERS YEARS AGO. AND GRACE? 701 00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:37,504 >> I WANNA TELL HER ALL ABOUT HER MOM. 702 00:40:37,504 --> 00:40:39,706 IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE I JUST -- I WANNA SHOW HER, YOU 703 00:40:39,706 --> 00:40:45,945 KNOW, LIKE, "YOUR MOTHER REALLY DID LOVE YOU." 704 00:40:45,945 --> 00:40:49,983 >> Reporter: MAYBE SOMEDAY SHE'LL KNOW ABOUT THAT 705 00:40:49,983 --> 00:40:53,553 UNCONTAINABLE WOMAN WHO, WHILE SHE STAYED, BROUGHT JOY, 706 00:40:53,553 --> 00:40:58,658 MARIE. >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION 707 00:40:58,658 --> 00:41:02,929 OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY AT 708 00:41:02,929 --> 00:41:04,564 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL. AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU 709 00:41:04,564 --> 00:41:06,332 EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS." 710 00:41:06,332 --> 00:41:06,332 NEWS." 711 00:41:06,332 --> 00:41:06,332 I'M LESTER HOLT.