Debbies Dead News Today

It was debbie. police quickly determined that the only shot fired in the house came from larss gun. he said it was an accident -- a case of mistaken identity. >> everything happened so fast. >> reporter: nevertheless -- >> any kind of infidelities going on between you or with her anything like that? >> no sir. i trust her completely. completely. >> reporter: lars answered each of the investigators questions. >> reporter: in return, he just wanted to know one thing -- >> nobody has told me anythi...

Cancel anytime, and your books are yours to keep forever. no matter where you go this summer make it better with audible. text summer17 to 500500 to start listening today. >> reporter: lars itzo admitted he fatally shot his wife debbie. but said it was a terrible accident. from the very beginning, he cooperated with police. answered every question, no lawyer present. then, about eight hours after that first conversation about

It didnt even make any sense to me. >> reporter: in arkansas, jim and anne kelly learned the news from their son. >> thats just the worst news that a mother could ever hear. >> how does your brain process that information? >> i dont think you do. i couldnt process the shooting part, i guess. it was just that she was gone. and a part of me died the day she died. >> just kept saying, not debby, not debby, not deb. >> reporter: debbies parents flew to san antonio, to spend time with lars, to suppor...

>> it said a lot. it was great. >> reporter: debbies friends werent nearly as supportive. >> did you say anything to him? did he say anything to you? >> no. >> no, i didnt. >> i did not. >> reporter: they were furious at lars for doing something so stupid, so careless. everything he did bothered them. even his taste in flower arrangements that day. like the one thats pictured here. >> there was a wreath up at the front that was a huge flower heart, and in the middle of it, it was broken with the...

Out of lars laid-back ways -- just a guy into old-school board games, restoring muscle cars, and drinking texas favorite, home-grown soft drink, dr. pepper. >> about a case a day. i mean, he had a lot -- >> reporter: what? >> of dr. pepper. >> at least a 12-pack, i know. >> reporter: ive never heard of someone drinking that much dr. pepper. >> i thought it would kill him. really. doesnt drink a lot of alcohol at all, just dr. pepper. >> reporter: and when private debbie brought lars out to meet ...

She is deceased. >> dammit. >> reporter: just before 10:00 a.m., police let lars go. ken and kristi remember their younger brother that morning, overwhelmed with grief. >> he was completely hurt -- shattered, you know. he was broken. >> in those hours afterwards, what was he talking about? >> he really wasnt talking. >> he was just in shock. if he opened his mouth, he broke down. >> reporter: across town debbies tennis friends were out on the court, waiting for her to start that early morning ma...

>> it was dark, sir. >> reporter: no matter how dark it was, how scared he was, how could lars fail to recognize debby three feet away? >> thats your wife. height, weight, shape. how could you not tell thats your wife? >> it was dark. >> do you understand how lame that sounds, lars? >> its the truth. >> youre 36 inches from a human being, and you cant tell its your wife. i dont care if its pitch dark. no room is completely dark. theres ambient light from every room. it may not be much but its en...

>> reporter: prosecutors karl alexander and leo gonzalez caught the case. >> why did manslaughter fit? >> manslaughter is defined in the texas penal code as causing the death recklessly of an individual. >> essentially, thats what it boils down to. it was somehow somewhat of an accident. >> reporter: lars was released on bail. debbies parents continued to support him. >> manslaughter is still, in our understanding, would be -- >> an accident. >> and so we go forward from there. >> reporter: but ...

>> oh. i was kinda hopin it would. >> reporter: instead on march 3, 2016, lars itzo was re-arrested. the charge this time, murder. >> coming up -- a very thirsty suspect. >> i enjoy a dr. pepper every now and again. but i dont wanna drink a dr. pepper when my hands are covered in my wifes blood. >> but does that make lars a murderer? when "dateline" continues. for mild-to-moderate eczema, theres eucrisa. its steroid-free. do not use if you are allergic to eucrisa or its ingredients. allergic rea...

And i think thats part of why she didnt take his name. she kept everything separate. >> reporter: including her bank accounts. she never put larss name on them. >> reporter: this was not about money. >> no, it -- it -- it wasnt. it really has to do with he loved her more than she loved him. >> reporter: when its turn came, the defense said of course lars loved debbie, which is exactly why he did not murder her. lars itzo accidentally shot and killed the love of his life. what he is guilty of is ...