Bud Fleming News Today

>> you have to tell yourself that god will take care of it. at some point, this person will pay for what they did. its really the only way to be able to accept it. >> christie and rhondas father, bud fleming, took it very hard. life didnt seem to be worth much to him anymore. >> he was under the care of a psychiatrist for the rest of his life and never recovered from it. he really -- really aged. it really took its toll physically, mentally. >> really only about one thing kept him alive. persist...

>> each was questioned, submitted saliva samples, and was given a polygraph test, and within a few days, all dropped off the list of suspects. christies father, bud, who had taught his daughter to be so security conscious, tried to help solve what he could not prevent, by hanging posters all over town. >> if anybody out there knows anything at all, im begging them to please come forward. we sure need the help. >> she was his baby. he was never the same. he used to be such an outgoing, fun-loving...

>> the only reason why he would lie like that is if he had something to do with the murder. when we walked away, it was, yeah, we got him. this is our guy. theres no question about it. >> and just like that, a dead, old case was fully reborn. now the man steve davis had been chasing all these years could finally be arrested. >> youre a free man. you think you got away with it, and then all of a sudden, they drop the hammer on you. >> it was davis who called christies sister, rhonda, and her fath...

First full day dragged by with no verdict -- >> i was scared to death they were going to say not guilty. looking at the jurors faces, i just couldnt tell where they were going. >> it took them a day and a half. arturo gutierrez was found guilty of murder in the first degree. a secret preserved by a cigarette for 14 years finally produced justice, that and a detectives determined patience. >> any time you convict a murderer, thats a good thing. but when you convict somebody that you know has gott...

A few minutes later i called again. the line was busy. i called, called, called. her phone was busy all saturday morning which seemed strange. >> so rhonda went to her mothers house anyway, thinking her younger sister would show up, but -- >> christie wasnt there, which was very usually, because she was always on time, never, never late, and my mom hadnt talked to her. i called christie again. the phone was still busy. now i know something is wrong. >> panic now. rhonda called her father, bud fl...

Lie like that is if he had something to do with the murder. when we walked away, it was, yeah, we got him. this is our guy. theres no question about it. >> and just like that, a dead, old case was fully reborn. now the man steve davis had been chasing all these years could finally be arrested. >> youre a free man. you think you got away with it, and then all of a sudden, they drop the hammer on you. >> it was davis who called christies sister, rhonda, and her father, bud. >> i mean, i just cant ...

>> he said, "id like to get ahold of christie. can you give me her number?" he said "why dont you give me your number and ill have her call you." >> i know my dad didnt want art back in contact with her. but its hard for a father because a father wants his daughter to be happy. >> of course. >> so on the one hand, he knew that she loved the guy once upon a time, and hes probably thinking, oh, you know, if this is what she wants, i want her to be happy, but on the other hand, youre always protect...

Long, grief-weighted purgatory without answers. >> you have to tell yourself that god will take care of it. at some point, this person will pay for what they did. its really the only way to be able to accept it. >> christie and rhondas father, bud fleming, took it very hard. life didnt seem to be worth much to him anymore. >> he was under the care of a psychiatrist for the rest of his life and never recovered from it. >> really only about one thing kept him alive. persistently and politely, bud ...

>> you have to tell yourself that god will take care of it. at some point, this person will pay for what they did. its really the only way to be able to accept it. >> christie and rhondas father, bud fleming, took it very hard. life didnt seem to be worth much to him anymore. >> he was under the care of a psychiatrist for the rest of his life and never recovered from it. he really aged. it took its toll physically, mentally. >> really only about one thing kept him alive. persistently and politel...

He said "why dont you give me your number and ill have her call you." >> i know my dad didnt want art back in contact with her. but its hard for a father because a father wants his daughter to be happy. >> of course. >> so on the one hand, he knew that she loved the guy once upon a time, and hes probably thinking, oh, you know, if this is what she wants, i want her to be happy, but on the other hand, youre always protective of your kids. >> sure. what should a father do? he certainly didnt like ...