him. >> reporter: patrick longed for the day he would see his son's family again. his oldest son joseph, wife summer, two beautiful grandsons. that faded this week after a discovery in the mojave desert. >> it hasn't really sunk in because something in the back of my mind keeps saying i will get the call sorry, we made a mistake, it is not them. i keep that glimmer of hope there, you know, but then the other side is tapping me on the shoulder saying no, no, that's not it. >> reporter: investigators suspected the family left on their own, used this to prove that. surveillance video showing what was believed to be the family crossing into mexico. their car found nearby. >> i have been consumed with knowing something happened to them, that this was not, you know, that the san diego sheriff's department was out there only doing whatever they felt they could do that would fit with their little theory and