and they said just stay right where you re at. reporter: james daughter katelynn got a message at school. i walk outside, and i call a family friend, and he goes, are you sitting down? i think you need to sit down, katelynn. i was like, what s going on? and all i remember is just dropping to the ground. reporter: rachel s friend shannon couldn t believe what she read online. i found out through facebook. i was scrolling and saw someone post something, r.i.p. rachel. reporter: all right. and i was like, what the hell is going on? so then i called her younger brother, and he said somebody came into her house and murdered her. and i said, what do you mean somebody came into her house and murdered her? reporter: coming up
reporter: that s a little scary. yeah, it is scary. todd was holding ariel, and don was holding alex. and todd came up, he looks just a wreck. todd confronted me, he said, rachel and i aren t divorced yet, and i would appreciate it if you would stay away from her. reporter: and? no. reporter: you said, no ? i said, no. reporter: there was a pause. if something was going to happen, this would be the moment. and then he turns to me and he goes, hi katelynn. i was like, get off this property. reporter: and suddenly, it was over. todd and don and the kids got back into the land cruiser and drove off. what was the feeling like as this was going on? the feeling for me was, god, i hope that this clears the air. i think you know, he he s asked him to stay away so maybe he ll stay away and maybe they can figure out what to do. reporter: was it a civilized conversation? yes. yes, very. reporter: they didn t yell at
and they said just stay right where you re at. reporter: james daughter katelynn got a message at school. i walk outside, and i call a family friend, and he goes, are you sitting down? i think you need to sit down, katelynn. i was like, what s going on? and all i remember is just dropping to the ground. reporter: rachel s friend shannon couldn t believe what she read online. i found out through facebook. i was scrolling and saw someone post something, r.i.p. rachel. reporter: all right. and i was like, what the hell is going on? so then i called her younger brother, and he said somebody came into her house and murdered her. and i said, what do you mean
didn t grab the nine, i grabbed the m4. reporter: katelynn is talking about the guns she had at the ready, a nine millimeter pistol and an m-4 rifle. and james? he had a pistol holstered in the small of his back as he walked out to greet todd and don. i had a nine millimeter on me, and i know how to use it reporter: here is james memory of a confrontation so tense it sounds almost surreal. as the two men approached the house, he said, they hid behind todd and rachel s children. he had ariel in his arms, using her as a human shield. and don had alex in his arms, hiding on the other side of the car. reporter: they were afraid that you were gonna shoot them. perhaps. and i can t remember whether or not todd actually went to the door with the kid or i went to the door or whatever. but he was a human shield. he was gonna stop the bullets,
and then he turns to me and he goes, hi katelynn. i was like, get off this property. reporter: and suddenly, it was over. todd and don and the kids got back into the land cruiser and drove off. what was the feeling like as this was going on? the feeling for me was, god, i hope that this clears the air. i think you know, he he s asked him to stay away so maybe he ll stay away and maybe they can figure out what to do. reporter: was it a civilized conversation? yes. yes, very. reporter: they didn t yell at each other? no. reporter: didn t stare daggers calm. reporter: at each nothing, zippo. i didn t like the fact that here s a marriage in trouble. and there s guy s will prey on that, you know? if he s a gentleman, he says, i ll wait in the wings. and if this flies, fine. but you know, he didn t. reporter: no. apparently, nothing could keep the lovers apart. hey, my love. i miss you something awfully