>> this is a person that -- that we believe that she had a relationship with, yes. >> i think they were talking, nothing too extreme. maybe a couple of dates. >> reporter: albert knew daniel through mutual friends. >> we would just hang out with daniel, you know. i would text him, and be, like, hey man, are you coming out? and he would meet up with us. >> reporter: but albert hadn't spoken to daniel that weekend. and didn't know daniel and brooke had been texting each otr, making plans meet up. investigators say they called the number listed for daniel on brooke's phone. he didn't answer. >> you couldn't find him? >> couldn't find him. >> reporter: investigators learned daniel lived in colorado. he'd just been in knoxville for the weekend. >> were you worried that you couldn't get a hold of him and he was out there? >> yeah, it makes you wonder, you know, what's going on, are they intentionally trying to avoid you? >> reporter: daniel had flown back to colorado by the time he got on the phone with a sheriff's investigator. >> basically interviewed him and got his whereabouts. >> where was he? >> from what i understand, he was at the ball game. >> reporter: daniel hawkins told investigators he was at the stadium watching the football game, as he texted with brooke