ground. the soil was loose, like a hole had been dug and filled in. it was at that moment, marshburn was overwhelmed with emotion. >> at that time, i said, baby girl, you going home. you going home, baby girl. so, i'm sorry. i get emotional. >> had you even seen her, yet? >> uh-uh. >> you just knew? >> uh-huh. we just knew. >> reporter: but they had to be sure. so now, the grim task of digging began. >> we found little piece of the jacket. when we pulled that jacket back, that's when we stopped. we said, this is her. you know, i mean, this is it. >> reporter: throughout the day, marshburn had been texting fayetteville police about his progress. now, minutes after finding kelli's body, he sent them something definitive and dreadful. >> a photo. it appears to be a human bone. a place he's digging. and at that time, we contacted him and said, hey, cease and