>> i was the only continuity in their life. and just to see them and i thought, hey, it's -- you know, it's -- it's okay. and i could. and i could do it. >> reporter: michael peterson turned back to face the judge for the reading of the sentence. >> the defendant is imprisoned in the north carolina department of corrections for the remainder of his natural life without the benefit of parole. >> i believed that michael was innocent. i continue to believe michael is innocent. uh, and i thought we won that trial. so when that guilty verdict came out -- i was pretty devastated. >> reporter: for kathleen's sister, candace, the verdict was nothing to celebrate. >> it makes me cry. cried when i heard it. i mean, i was happy we were getting justice. but there's no joy in this. there's -- there's just great sadness. >> reporter: the peterson children resigned themselves to the harsh reality that prison was now their father's home. they sold the dream house on cedar street, and tried to get on with their lives.