that night? a couple of months after karen's death, steve was arrested and charged with his wife's murder. what did steve strom do? >> well, of course, he denied it. he denied being involved. he fought the case tooth and nail. >> and those investigators remained convinced that their man was steve. >> yes. >> but, as the trial approached back at the beginning of the 1980s, none of the evidence from that chaotic bedroom murder scene could be tested for dna. the technology just didn't exist then. what they had instead was a circumstantial case, the testimony of friends and family who would say that steve was sometimes verbally and possibly physically abusive. but kari nirvegs -- karin wanted out. >> there was black eyes and bruises that were witnessed by some of their co-workers and friends. >> but it wasn't enough. not much more than hearsay according to the assigned trial