the defense pointed out the only forensic evidence investigators uncovered excluded him after the second autopsy, investigators had sent dana's fingernail clippings to the state crime lab. >> the male dna found under her fingernails was not mr. adkins'? >> that's correct. >> reporter: far more believable the defense said was adkins' story of an accident. >> he has insisted since september of 1982 he didn't do anything, she fell from his car. that has -- that has not changed at all. lots of other evidence has vanished, witnesses have disappeared or died that's the one thing that has not changed. >> reporter: and even if you didn't believe russell adkins' words, the defense said, his actions that night seemed to speak for themselves. >> frankly, it doesn't make sense that someone who has just murdered someone is then going to go door to door at 3:00 in the morning, pounding on doors, trying to get them to call someone to come help her. >> putting yourself at the scene? >> correct.