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Takes a toll on them physically and mentally. >> that's what you worry about? >> uh-huh, exactly what i worry about. >> reporter: because she knew if he didn't solve the jessee case, he might die trying. >> he's like a dog with a bone. he's going to take it and he's going to do it until it gets done. >> reporter: dove was not alone, mind you. there was a prosecutor too who shared his dogged conviction. a man named michael purchaseky who wanted sandra jessee and her group just as badly as dove. >> this case seemed to be full of obstacles. >> it would have been probably forgivable just to let it...

>> and the first words out of my mouth were, hi, mike, i'm here about brett. and his face went completely flush. and he said, i knew you were going to find me sooner or later. >> what story did he tell you? >> that schrauben, for whatever reason, had confided in him and told him specific details of the murder of jack jessee, including his involvement. that was a huge, huge quantum leap for us in putting this case to rest. >> reporter: now the time had come to spring the trap. brett schrauben was arrested and soon thereafter sandra jessee herself was in handcuffs. finally to be held accountable...

After years of relentless police work, brett schrauben and sandra jessee were arrested for the murder of jack jessee. brett was in jail awaiting trial. but in a devastating blow for jack's loved ones, the judge released sandra citing a lack of evidence. then detectives got a lucky break. someone had a story to tell. and it would send this case into overdrive. once again, keith morrison. >> reporter: sitting in a cell, month after month, can do a lot to alter a person's take on the world. even more so if the inmate is looking at a possible life sentence. and that's when brett schrauben had an e...

In order to lower the trap and catch the mouse. and anywhere along the line there could be a snag. there could be something that we hadn't planned for that could throw this ball completely off the board. >> okay, so what was the plan? what was the nature of your trap, of your mousetrap? >> we believed that if we did something to get these people uptight, if we were able to rattle the tree, if we were able to put some fear into them that maybe the police were on to them. that they would talk about the murder of jack jessee. >> so what was the little piece of cheese you put into that trap? >> we...

Despite the fact there was no forensic evidence, his case went to trial. in february 2013 aehlert's jury found him not guilty. would a jury believe tom's story. as jury deliberated and the family waited, there was no euphoria. they knew from bitter experience that anything could happen. >> it's a lot harder this time not knowing what's going to happen. >> on the second day, they got word the jury had a verdict. >> my stomach's in knots. >> i'm shaking. >> we're just really very nervous at this moment. >> 13 years after jack jessee's murder, sandra jessee was found guilty. and finally that litt...