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>> and i'm natalie morales >> and this is "dateline". >> marie was a very loving person she had a heart of gold. what happened to this woman? my job is to be a truth teller and seek out the truth i wanted to solve it >> her case was a mystery fo years. the mom with a tender heart an tough as nails career. >> she was part of the sheriff 's department. her ultimate goal was to try t get into the fbi >> she found a new sense o purpose in the church. her pastor and his wife, lik family >> they had taken her in they were helping her out. >> it's like, i'm proud of you you're finding god >...

she had a heart of gold. what happened to this woman? my job is to be a truth teller and seek out the truth. i wanted to solve it. >> her case was a mystery for years. the mom with a tender heart and tough as nails career. >> she was part of the sheriff 's department. her ultimate goal was to try to get into the fbi. >> she found a new sense of purpose in the church. her pastor and his wife, like family. >> they had taken her in. they were helping her out. >> it's like, i'm proud of you. you're finding god. >> then, one baffling text and she was gone. >> i go, i know, i probably watc...

Spot where he buried marie carlson five years earlier. and then he fell on the ground, crying. and told her, i'm sorry. what an act, thought nesli. it took hours, but finally, almost five feet deep, wrapped in a blanket, they found what was left of marie. >> i lost that day, because all i could picture was, oh my god she really is dead. she really is gone. you know that 1% i told you. -- >> that disappears. >> i think i went crazy. >> i was shaking. i was crying so much. i don't think i've ever cried so loud. >> nesli and prosecutor angela mason wept, to. >> it's my fault. >> back in court tha...

Version of that last awful night. he claimed that marie was in a downward spiral, mentally, and erupted after he told her she should be hospitalized for depression. >> she hit me in the chest and i grabbed ahold of her. and just hugged as tight as i could. in the scuffle, we filled down on the floor. when we hit the floor, we hit it hard. when i realized something was a right, i rolled hero for end -- she wasn't breathing. >> a fatal bear hug? not possible. thought nesli. and then she braced for the answer she'd waited five years to hear. >> did you bury marie in the backyard? >> i'll tell you...

James's confession. >> i can tell you as a matter of fact, i'm having to tell her what happened, she did not know. >> later that afternoon, nesli escorted james flanders into his former backyard, where he marked with a little flags, the spot where he buried marie carlson five years earlier. and then he fell on the ground, crying. and told her, i'm sorry. what an act, thought nesli. it took hours, but finally, almost five feet deep, wrapped in a blanket, they found what was left of marie. >> i was shaking. i was crying so much. i don't think i've ever cried so loud. >> nesli and prosecutor ange...