Page 2 - Dee Keller News Today

I just knew and i just said, michael, call the police. im on my way. >> reporter: where was dee dee keller? not only was there no water left outside for dee dees beloved dogs, but detectives noticed lots of other things wrong inside the house. her purse was there but her wallet was missing. and this was a woman with money, a lot of it. was dee dees hefty bank account the factor in her disappearance? investigators follow the money trail. coming up. >> who got that money in the benefit of her deat...

Having an attack of conscience. the neighbor told the detective she had seen erwin on june 30th, the day erwin had confronted and slapped dee dee. >> she said the conversation lasted 15, 20 minutes he articulated he was mad enough to strangulate her with work gloves. >> reporter: what dee dees neighbor told you? >> right. >> reporter: why do you think she did not tell you for six months? >> i dont know why a neighbor during a murder investigation wouldnt simply tell the cops the truth that he wa...

>> police have a suspect and a case that was about to take an unbelievable turn. >> one of the most shocking things ive ever seen in a courtroom. >> hello. dee dee keller was a successful realtor in southern california and lived in a charming neighborhood where she was surrounded by family and friends. then, suddenly, dee dee disappeared. as her loved ones launched her frantic search, investigators would follow the trail of clues to a suspect with a dark obsession. but the final twist in this ca...

Prosecutors wildest dreams did he believe his opening statement would have the affect it did on erwin howard and his defense attorney andrew flyer. you hear that opening statement and something changes? >> something changed. after the opening statement i went back into lock-up and i spoke to erwin i said, hey, listen. remember how i was speaking about the circumstantial case and it could be powerful? i think there could be some problems now. and his answer was i need to tell you something. >> re...

Evidence, everything pointed directly at erwin. >> reporter: there was one more key piece of evidence. the day after the murder, a witness saw a mercedes on the street in the area and she thought it belonged to a friend so she sped up to catch her. >> she sees its not her friend and he is she sees a male hispanic driving the car and she remembers that license plate. >> reporter: the license plate belonged to the mercedes owned by dee dee keller. the man driving? the witness helped the police art...

Defense was i wasnt there and i didnt have anything to do with it? >> correct. >> reporter: the defense attorney walked into the courtroom and made a statement that caused mouths to fall open. >> defense attorney gets up and he says that youre going to see something youll never see in a court ever. he says my client killed dee dee keller but he didnt murder her. >> reporter: what did that mean? >> they trying to to see if they could get a manslaughter out of it. >> reporter: the d.a. asked to sp...

One person is still missing. an investigation into the accident is under way. louisiana governor john bell edwards was forced into a runoff election and unable to top 50% of the vote in saturdays primary. president trump campaigned against edwards on friday. the governor will face republican businessman eddie [ inaudible ]. now back to "dateline." welcome back to "dateline." im craig melvin. dee dee keller was missing and when she was found, her familys worst fears were realized. dee dee was g...