everything would work out. what was the matter with crystal taylor? they re-wound their mental tape a little further and there it was. a moment. it happened during their car trip back from texas. she was on her phone listening to something and she put her phone down, as she said if anything happens to me, it was derek. derek smyer, the father of her unborn child. is she going to any detail about what he had said to her to make her say that? no she didn t make conversation. she turned into, don t worry about him, the worry about him. he with the baby. they thought that s all it was. derek didn t want to help raise his child. now they replayed that movement over and over. we should ve said, wait, what did he say to you? but instead of that, we were like we, don t need him. don t even talk to him. we were so used to picking up our burdens and going. she brought it up that she was worried. but you didn t hear it.
worry anyone. and i think she cry and of hope everything would work out. what was the matter with crystal taylor? they re-wound their mental tape a little further and there it was. a moment. it happened during their car trip back from texas. she was on her phone listening to something and she put her phone down, as she said is as if anything happens to me, it was. derek derek smyer, the father of her unborn child. is she going to any detail about what he had said to her to make her say that? no she didn t make conversation. she turned into, don t worry about him, the worry about him. he with the baby. they thought that s all it was. derek didn t want to help raise his child. now they replayed that movement over and over. we should ve said, wait, what did he say to you? but instead of that, we were like we, don t need him. don t even talk to him. we were so used to picking up our burdens and going. she brought it up and she was worried.
the conversation changed turned into don t worry about him. don t worry about him helping with the baby. reporter: they thought that s all it was, derek didn t want to help raise his child. now they replayed that moment over and over. we should ve said, wait, what did he say what did he say to you? but instead of that we were like, we don t need him. like, just hang up. don t even talk to him. you know, that kind of just yeah, that s exactly what we said. showing her the kind of support. cause we re so used to just picking up our burdens and going. she brought on it up that she was worried, but you didn t hear it or it didn t sound bad enough. you re all kind of beating yourself up for not listening to crystie s warning. exactly. right. even though it sounds to me like you d almost have to be a mind reader to know that she was really concerned. yeah. reporter: the years started to pass. and this family thought a lot about derek smyer. crystal had said
but just what the decision was remained a secret under seal until after alex and derek king could go to trial for the very same charge. opening arguments in their case would begin the following month. so next the trial of the king brothers. the jailhouse scrubs were gone and the brothers were dressed in their sunday best. now they were the defendants, accused of the premeditated murder of their father. alex was the one who wanted his father dead, who encouraged his brother, derek, to do it. derek didn t take the witness stand this time, but alex did. again, his relationship with chavis provided prosecutors with their motive. you ve identified all these love letters that you wrote to rick. yes, sir. these were extraordinary notes that alex, barely 12 years old, had written about rick chavis. my life used to be cloudy before i made friends with rick. my ultimate goal in life now is what his is.
it was a gesture of faith and hope for them we will be here for you. the people involved in the trust will be here for you and there s some money there to help you get started in your life. lisa had gotten to know a man named dan daly online. daly is a widower and free lance writer that lived in texas and the king brothers case galvanized him into action. as he tells it, he sort of happened into a friendship with derek after lisa suggested he send the boys books in prison. then i got this thank you letter from derek. and i really couldn t believe it. yet here i was holding a letter from derek king. it was the beginning of our friendship. they wrote frequently. if there s any lingering doubt about what really happened, daly said he was impressed that derek readily admitted his guilt. several times, he made the drive out to florida to visit derek in prison, another stranger entering the lives of the king brothers.