it. >> but what was really new and stunning was something that had been haunting the defense since they first learned about it the previous summer. the prosecution's mystery witness, who would testify that ryan had confessed to the crime. it was a woman named jennifer crew, from iowa. it was the first time the defense would get a good look at this person who ryan had allegedly confessed to. and they were worried. >> she strolls in wearing a suit, decently done hair, makeup. >> how did this woman who lived 500 miles away from ryan widmer come to be involved in the case in a starring prosecution role? it turned out she'd watched our coverage on "dateline" of the first trial. that segment aired on september 18th, 2009. after watching the show, she sent ryan an email through the "free ryan widmer" website, telling him how bad she felt about his plight. >> i felt sorry for ryan. i asked him what i would do to help him. >> before long, the two were in frequent touch. struck up and email, text and