estate. >> i know a couple people that used to work there. >> who's that? >> daniel? >> what goes through your mind when she says that? >> well the bells and whistles definitely start going off. >> reporter: bells and whistles because after vern had been assaulted, his family had flooded detectives with calls. >> so you sit down and you start thinking to yourselves, 'who'd wanna hurt him?' >> one person. his name is daniel blizzard. >> reporter: daniel blizzard. that ambitious agent to whom vern was going to sell the company. someone vern had once trusted. >> did you think daniel had something to do with it? >> well, yeah i was pretty sure. >> reporter: why, with zero proof, would so many believe blizzard was behind the attack? detective perrault soon heard a story that went like this, in the fall of 2008, vern called employees like bookkeeper judy craven to a meeting.