Reporter police zeroed in on the men in her life. One, two, three of them. Were trying to find out who would have the motivation to do this to help find her killer. Reporter to help find her killer, her anguished sisters would turn amateur detectives. I couldnt even sleep. I needed an answer. That was my sister, my baby sister. Reporter the twist that stopped everyone cold . There had been another attack on another pregnant woman. She was assaulted. And her neck was cut. Who was targeting momstobe . In this life or the next, youre gonna pay for what youve done wrong. I couldnt believe what i was hearing. How does this happen . Im lester holt and this is dateline. Heres Josh Mankiewicz with, one moment. Reporter in the megasprawl of los angeles county, the city of hawthorne occupies about six square miles, none of them especially glamorous. For decades local pride centered on the beach boys. They grew up here, and quickly left. Nowadays its tech giants like spacex with headquarters at the local airport. But the heart and soul of hawthorne was and is working families. Strivers who stay close and look out for each other. This is a story about one of those families. They faced ups and downs like everyone else and always worked through them, together. Until one moment, one morning, one bullet, came to tear them apart. Growing up, sisters crystal, michelle, and Monica Taylor were always there for each other. We have this tradition of having a Family Support group. Reporter it was their mother, known as momo, who set the tone. I thought it was the most wonderful family there was. My mom and i were best friends and my little sister were best friends. And, you know, so, i thought life was great. Im the oldest. Michelles the middle, and crystie was the baby. And she was every bit the baby. Shes my moms baby. Reporter crystal taylor was the youngest by six years. And both older sisters thought momo loved crystie a little extra. Spoiled her too, say michelle and monica. They talked every day. And she would just immediately start whining as soon as she talked to my mom. She could be, like, being a grownup, and as soon as the phone rang, she went right back to 8yearold. All the time. Reporter tia, her niece, remembers crystie as both a homebody and a romantic dreamer. She wasnt flashy. She wasnt someone who, like, shopped a lot. She was just a really down to earth, simple, just happy to be at home watching movies. She watched the same movies all the time. All the time. Over. And she loved love stories. Hope floats. Ever after. Love jones. Reporter those are all stories of women who find love in improbable ways and end up happy. Right. Reporter is what she wanted . Yes. I know she wanted love. I know that she she wanted a fairytale life. I know she always talked about it, but, you know, she was happy with the life that she had. Reporter the life she had, working, being with family, and raising a son who was born the very day she turned 17. I went in and she was singing it never rains in Southern California in labor, like shaking the bed. It was like, hurry reporter crystal called her little boy javonte, against the wishes of the boys father. He came in the room when we were in there, and he was like, i want his name to be junior. She just like in labor stop labor,. No. She said, well, oh, no. Because im not marrying him. And if i get married to somebody else i dont wanna have two juniors, like no. Reporter so she already made the decision that she was having the baby, but she was not gonna be his wife . And she was not gonna be his wife. But that was crystie. She made a decision. Theres no changing her mind. Reporter wrapped in the blanket of her big family, crystal knew she and javonte would do just fine. We are some baby whisperers in the sense. We love babies. Strangers babies, anybody baby. Reporter anybody say thats too young to be having a baby . No, we all had babies young. Wed still said it. It would still be said, but it would also be followed by, youre still gonna finish school. You know, life isnt over. You made your bed harder, but youre gonna lay in it. And were gonna love this baby. Reporter those were rules set down by momo. Everyone finished school, started a career, and raised their children on their own successfully. Reporter as javonte grew, christie grew up. She just really took care of her baby, went to work, and, like, brought her lunch cause she was never spending any money. If she went to the movies with her son, no, he knew not to ask for snacks. She just wouldnt spend any money. Reporter money was for the important things, like javontes education. She always talked about, you know, his prom, or when he goes to college, or what she wanted him to do with his life and and, you know, how she wanted him to be different. So she took her job as a mother really seriously. Reporter by 2001 michelle and christie and their kids were living in separate apartments in the the same Apartment Building in hawthorne. Even momo lived there until her health began to fail and she moved to texas where her sisterinlaw, a nurse, could take care of her. But soon came word, momos in bad shape. Come quick. That day was easy to remember. It was september 11, 2001. They couldnt fly. No one in the u. S. Could. So they drove from hawthorne to texas. Christie wouldnt leave momos side the entire time they were there. Crysties like, im sorry, but i came here for just to see mom. She wasnt leaving her room. Like, she was just focused on her. If she can get next to my mom, shes gonna be on her like glue. Reporter and that worked. Your mom kind of rallied. Oh, yeah. Reporter after two weeks, the family drove back to los angeles, arriving in the middle of the night on september 23rd. Two days later, this family learned a difficult truth. No matter how much you love, and how much you care, sometimes you cant help your loved one when harm is headed their way. 911. Yes. Id like to report a gunshot. Theres a woman. Shes shot. Shes laying in the floor in the garage. Reporter soon after, a neighbor of christies called tia with some brutal news. They just said that she was shot. I remember saying, who would shoot chrystie . Reporter that question would haunt investigators for years. When we come back she screamed the most harrowing scream. Reporter a family in anguish. I broke down crying. I just cried myself to sleep that night. Reporter and the first clues to the mystery. Her purse was still intact. Her clothes appeared to be intact. So whats going on here . That was our question. We got inspired. So wha . That was our question. Le on my head and i looked into the mirror and i was trying not to cry. Because its a hat, but its like the most important hat ive ever owned. 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Geezer. Whoaa, wooooo. Dude, be careful. I think you should come camping. Why would i camp in the atacama desert . Oh. 3x points on travel and restaurants on every continent. Sapphire reserve, from chase. Make more of whats yours. 911. Yes. Id like to report a gunshot. Theres a woman. Shes shot. Shes laying in the floor in the garage. Reporter minutes after a 911 call, the Hawthorne Police arrived at crystal taylors Apartment Building. Detective Robbie Williams wasnt far behind. I was at my desk and received a call from my patrol units that they had a young lady who was unresponsive and appeared that she may have suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Reporter williams arrived and quickly sized up the scene. Theres officers already trying to revive her. Shes laying down in the lobby area of her apartment complex that leads from the upper stairs, which are their apartment, and to the garage area. And then we just started getting into the processing of a crime scene, making sure that we identify as many witnesses and if theres also other victims. Reporter but the only obvious victim was crystal. Shed been shot in the head. Paramedics took her to the hospital and detective williams got straight to work finding witnesses. Because this is early morning. Theres kids walking to school. Theres people preparing themselves for their day of work so a lot of people were up. A lot of people reported hearing a gunshot. Reporter a father making breakfast for his kids looked out the kitchen window when he heard the shot. He saw a man running. An 11yearold girl on the sidewalk in front of the building also heard it, and saw a man holding a shiny object. He jumped a fence and ran north. Anybody actually see the shooting . No, and there was no surveillance cameras that captured it, either. Reporter but the crime scene was talking to detective williams. Was she robbed . The evidence doesnt support a robbery. Her purse was still intact. The amount of time between someone hearing a shot and someone else seeing someone running away from the crime scene doesnt necessarily support a robbery. Was she sexually assaulted . No evidence supported that she was sexually assaulted. Her clothes appeared to be intact. So whats going on here . That was our question. Reporter it was the first of many questions detective williams would have. Christies family was gathering at the hospital. Later, theyd have questions too. But right now, they were all in shock. I got there first. They were like, go in that go in this room, that was off to the side. Well, i had already been to the hospital a lot with my mom, so i knew that they took the family to a side room. So i told them, like, no, no, no, i dont want to go in there, i just want to see about my sister. Then the doctor came out and he told me, he was like, well, she didnt make it. And im driving on the freeway, and all of a sudden, i just felt like she wasnt here. Reporter the news that they lost their baby sister was unbearable. Crystal taylor was just 27. When i got in, michelle was on the floor. Im just, like, looking at her. I try to hug her. Reporter now they had to tell their ailing momo her baby was gone. When i had to call my mom to say, somebody killed crystie, and she screamed the most harrowing just scream. I just knew this is gonna kill mom, too. Yeah. Theres nothing worse than burying your kids. I mean no. Especially when youre already so sick. So sick. I i remember when i was talking to my my mom. I was like, dont you leave me. Reporter telling crystals 10yearold son was even harder. And we kind of sat next to like, javonte, your mom died. And he crossed his arms like this and screamed. And kind of lai dback and screamed, my boor little mommy. Reporter your mom died. They didnt say how. You all kind of shielded javonte from what had happened. Yes. Yeah. We were older and couldnt grasp what had happened to her. So why give it to him . So in one day, his whole world goes away. Goes away. No more mom. No more home. No more life as he knew it. Yeah, and he taught himself to just be like, not even talk about it. You dont even know javontes in a room. He learned to just i dont know. He just shut down. Reporter even now, javonte seems almost numb when talking about the worst day of his life. That night i pretty much i broke down crying. I just cried myself to sleep that night. You remember that . Yes. You remember what she looked like . Yes. I heard you cant remember the sound of her voice. I cannot remember what her she would sound like, no. That bother you . A bit, yes. Reporter this family tragedy would only get worse. Because crystal taylor wasnt the only one killed by that bullet. Coming up, police drill down in the search for a suspect. We tend to focus on relatives or relationship partners. The men in crystals life. One, two, three of them. Were trying to find out who would have the motivation to do this. When dateline continues. Ty moving back in with his parents. What . No. I just broke my leg. No, this is a full blown move in to the basement, youre gonna be out of work without that money from. Aflac you might miss your rent. Aww i just moved out. Bummer man. Hey i used to have my own place. Yeah . No, no i live with my mom, but its cool. Health can change but the life you love doesnt have to, keep your lifestyle healthy with. Aflac for 100 years, heritage and innovation have made gillette the 1 shave in america. Now get gillette quality at lower prices every day. Brought to you by 1200 workers in boston were proud of giving you our best. Gillette. The best a man can get. Shelina is it tough competing in a mans world . Maybe for the men. The girls wanna be her the boys wanna be her lash volume that speaks volumes. Lashblast mascara. From covergirl. Lashblast mascara. Officer critically injured appeared in court todya. Willie flanagan pleaded not guilty and at times blurted out statements in the courtroom. And the nfl has suspended Marshawn Lynch for one game without pay for shoving a referee during last night s raiders game. Lynch is being cited for unsportsman like conduct. Back in an hour. We are breaking into your as crystal taylors family tried to figure out how to cope with her murder, detective Robbie Williams tried to figure out who might have wanted her dead. When we started recreating that persons life, you know, were trying to find out who would have the motivation to do this. And oftentimes, you know, a civilian like she was, not involved in any criminal enterprise, we tend to focus on relatives or relationship partners. Reporter the 11yearold girl whod seen the shooter running told cops just before the shot rang out, she heard a man and a woman arguing. Was that a clue . Detective williams learned crystal had a boyfriend named dino. Just a hardworking guy. Was in a relationship with crystal on and off. And this is coming from the family and friends that knew about dino. Reporter and there was kenneth woods, father of crystals 10yearold son javonte. Javontes fathers got to be somebody youre gonna look at. Most definitely, and we did. Trying to identify if there was a ongoing conflict. Kenneth wasnt helping with javonte and there had been conflict over Child Support in the past. Crystal had obtained a court order requiring kenneth to pay. So two possible leads. A third surfaced when williams went to crystals office. We get to her place of employment and we talk to several young ladies that identified themselves as being her friend. And theyre shocked that this has happened. They told him the day before she was killed, crystal received a phone call at work that seemed to upset her. And then they dropped a bombshell. That a, she was pregnant, and b, the person that she was pregnant by did not want her to be pregnant any longer. You couldnt tell crystal taylor was pregnant when you saw her lying on the ground . I couldnt tell. I couldnt tell. In fact, she was five months along. Her unborn son died when she did. Crystal had told friends the father of her child was a guy named derek smyer. So you want to find out where derek is. Most definitely. We want to find everything about him right now. The detective learned crystal and derek had a quick fling. It only lasted a month or so. Theyd met at Anderson Park, which is near both their jobs. By now, it was lunch time. Derek wasnt in his office. So williams drove to the park. Bringing crystals work friends with him. And one of them immediately noticed something. She points out a car that derek drives. Reporter his car was easy to spot. It had vanity plates that said my whip slang for a fancy car. Then crystals friend pointed out derek. And detectives brought him in for a talk. Go ahead and compose yourself. What is your last name, sir . Smyer. And your first name, sir . Derek. Do you have a middle name, derek . Paul. He freely answered your questions . He didnt ask for an attorney . No. No, he he never requested an attorney during our Interview Time with him. When was the last time that you saw her at her apartment that you can recall . Last time was not recently. Okay. I havent seen her physically in about lets see, a couple months. About two months . Longer than that. He kind of discounted it as yeah, we were on and off really quick. Does derek offer any theory of what he thinks might have happened to crystal . At some point in the interview, he talks about her being involved with other people. Did she mention this other boyfriend at all . She mentioned that sometimes hed pop up at her apartment. Sometimes shed say, i wish this guy stop calling me, or hes trying to get back with me. At least thats the impression from what i got. Right. It might be true. She might have been trying to make me jealous or something . I dont know. You know what i mean . Right. People say things, theyre not always the truth, you know what i mean . Did he acknowledge that crystal was pregnant with his child . He acknowledged that she was pregnant but came short of acknowledging that the child was his. Youre the father of her child or she thinks you are . Well, anyway. [ laughter ] you had a basic description of someone that witnesses saw running from the scene. Yes. Africanamerican male wearing a darkcolored hoodie with a scarf around his head, or handkerchief around his head. Small build. Wearing dark clothing. With light facial hair. That description resemble derek smyer . It does. Derek smyer had no criminal record. He had a white collar office job and he came from a closeknit, loving family, said his sister, danielle. I really i looked up to my brother growing up. I was really quiet in school. But everyone knew who derek smyer was. He had your back . He had my back. And there is no doubt that if anything happened, they would be there to take care of me. So when she heard police were interviewing her brother about a murder, she questioned him herself. And i asked derek, what is this . He said, i dont know. I said, what happened . He said, i dont know what happened. He didnt say that he knew anything about crystal taylors death . Nothing about crystal taylors death. It sounds to me like you were pretty fixated on derek pretty early. Well, he was he was one of our our top three. Because remember, were looking at the sons father, were looking at her Love Interest on and off guy. Dino. And were looking at now derek. How did javontes father r