and now here she was, 2011, in a courtroom of all places. forced to confess her forbidden love, account for her sins. this grandmother, widow, penitent. what story would she tell? >> the main thing going through my mind is to tell the truth. and let the chips fall where they may. >> reporter: the truth. such a difficult word. especially when it bubbles up from a past which mary ann mcfarland must have believed was buried forever. >> where was your husband? >> he was still in the house. >> reporter: men. trouble was, there were two, which was the one central fact. the inconvenient truth that caused all the trouble. and might have been forgotten had it not been for this