That cliff. He wouldnt do that. Why would he . Tragic. Horrible. Cruel. I was broken. Im lester holt. And this is dateline. Im roped in at 10,000 feet up. Tonight Andrea Canning takes us over the edge. My names anna kate, and im 9 years ode. Im in fourth grade. Reporter anna kate once had an aunt named toni. They lived a few states apart but were never more than a phone call or a letter away. Dear aunt toni, how are you . I have no homework. We finished little pear eight days till christmas. Im so excited. I love you. Anna kate. Reporter she still writes her letters even though toni can no longer respond. Dear aunt toni, are you enjoying it in heaven . I miss you very much. I read a book about heaven. Love, your niece, anna kate. Reporter anna kate was 7 when her aunt died. It was sudden, scary and heartbreaking. So she took out an old shoe box, decorated it and filled it with thoughts of aunt toni. Now shes dead. Now we cant see her again. And our lives will never be the same again. Reporter the Ripple Effect of tonis death was huge. She was a respected doctor, an ophthalmologist who had a thriving practice first in jackson, mississippi, and later in denver, colorado. A devout christian who sang in her church choir. A mother to a little girl named haley. A wife to man named harold, and the older sister to anna kates dad todd bertolet. This story is about toni and what happened to her one bright sunny day high up in the mountains. 911. Whats the address of your i need an Alpine Mountain rescue team immediately. Reporter its also about how secrets long buried sometimes dont stay that way. Where did toni fit into your family . She was the middle between two brothers. Sometimes she thought that was an advantage and sometimes she thought it was a disadvantage being an only girl with two brothers. Obviously were not going to sit down and play barbies with her. You know, we needed the extra wide receiver during the backyard Football Game. And she had to oblige us. Reporter did it turn her i wouldnt say she was a tomboy, but she was a great athlete. Of course, she could do anything she put her mind to. Reporter Toni Bertolet grew up with her two brothers around natchez, mississippi. The epitome of the old south. She was ambitious academically and athletically and yet did makeup and sort of the things that you would think of as a Southern Belle . We went to ole miss i mean, its coat and tie and sunday dresses for Football Games. Reporter no sweatpants . No, no. Not to go out. She would never go out in public in sweatpants, never. Reporter toni did have one flaw when it came to being a belle. When i first got to college, she felt like, you know, i was a little bit too skinny and needed to bulk up a little bit. And so she decided she was going to come over and cook some Fried Chicken. Reporter well, mississippis the place to be for that. Mississippi. And every southern lady ought to be able to cook some Fried Chicken. And little did she know that, you know, when you took it out of the freezer youd have to let it thaw. Reporter frozen Fried Chicken aside, toni was someone who set goals and made them happen. After college she went to medical school, and in 1988 graduated in the top 10 of her class. Then she settled into a new practice and a new marriage with but the woman who could do it all couldnt save a relationship that wasnt working. She tried. But after seven years the marriage ended. I dont think my sister took failure well. And so i think that was a disappointing time in her life. Reporter todds wife rhonda remembers how toni continued to thrive at work, but her love life stalled. Her career was extremely important, and so there was a time issue there. She didnt have a lot of time to probably go places to meet guys. She went to church, and she went to her job. And to be honest, i really dont think that there was very good pickings possibly. Reporter and the clock was ticking when it came to starting a family. So in her late 30s, toni turned to a place many do to find a mate the internet. She chose a christian dating site. Finding a man who shared her faith was very important to her. Away about her online adventure. But she did share her secret with her good friend Allison Talley. Did she give you updates on how it was going and if she was meeting anybody . I didnt really ask. But i did know that she had met a couple of guys. Reporter then toni met the one. Handsome guy, little bit older than her, charming, incredibly charming. Just extended a hand immediately and welldressed and very polished and well spoken, very professional looking. Reporter his name was Harold Henthorn. According to his dating profile, he lived in colorado and worked as a consultant to nonprofits. He didnt smoke, rarely drank, and he said he was a planner. Eventually harold flew out to jackson to meet toni in person. And with them both being methodical types, they devised a formula for lasting love. They had come up with a system for compatibility. And it was five cs. And i dont remember what they compatibility was one of them. Christianity was one of them. Reporter chemistry, maybe . Chemistry was one of them. When they met for the first time, they would know if the chemistry was there. Theyd confirmed four out of the five before their first meeting. Reporter so when they met it was combustion. Maybe that was one of them. Reporter toni ticked off her cs. Then she introduced harold to everyone. First impression . Way more outgoing, way more vocal than she she was quiet. I thought, this is great for her. This gets her out of her shell. And it gives her somebody to do some really fun things with. Reporter harold was a widower, and told the bertolets he had waited a long time for another chance at love. His first wife died in a car accident. My heart went out to him. I was like, wow, he deserves his happiness, you know. And if its with toni, then thats awesome. You know, he said he had been lonely. Reporter harolds friend, friends with harolds first wife, lynn. What did harold tell you about this new woman in his life, toni . He didnt tell me a lot. But he did tell me that he really liked her. Reorter after lynn died, kim and harold remained close. Now he wanted kim to meet the new woman in his life. I felt like i couldnt talk about lynn anymore which i understood that. But i was happy that he moved on. And i felt like it was time and that he was starting a new life. Reporter so now harold, the planner, as hed said in his dating profile, was ready. On valentines day 2000, he set out to orchestrate the perfect proposal. Harold really studied the jackson area to find out the Perfect Place to propose. And he found this beautiful place in jackson that we all love. Reporter and how excited was she to tell you her news . Very. She was excited. And she had a beautiful ring. It was a nice ring. And just she was very happy. Very happy that it seemed like she was going to be very happy. Reporter on september 30th, 2000, less than a year after they had met in person, Toni Bertolet married Harold Henthorn in a Big Church Wedding in jackson. She looked fantastic, happy, glowing. It was a lovely day. It was beautiful. It looked like the first day of the rest of her life. It really did. Reporter the future was bright. Tonis career had been her focus for so long. Harold promised something different. Marry me. Im wealthy. I can take you away from, you know, your career and, you know, working all the time. And allow you to be the mother, which is the main thing she wanted to be. Reporter her knight in shining armor . Thats it. Reporter but its amazing how life has a way of intruding on our fairy tales. When we come back, a romantic surprise. Hi. She is like, whats going on . Going away for the weekend. 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But then after years of disappointment for both couples, all their prayers were answered. We both ended up pregnant at the same time. Reporter that must have been a really happy time given what you went through to get there. Absolutely. News here, good news here, and, you know, get ready because, you know, youre going to have a houseful. Reporter in june of 2005, toni and harold welcomed their baby girl, haley. By then, todd and rhonda already had anna kate. When the girls were a little over a year old, the henthorns came to mississippi and the who cousins got to meet. It was a very happy occasion. And i do remember toni just being so happy to have haley, so and so was harold. Reporter and although toni had always wanted to be a mom, it was pretty clear harold was mr. Mom. He was the one in charge. The diaper change. Most women have to beg g eir husbands to do that kind of stuff. He was the one he was like a nanny. Reporter handson dad . Yeah. He was in charge of everything about that child. Reporter with harold such a doting father, toni was able to go back to work. Practice in colorado. She was a beloved doctor. She had a really great bedside manner. Reporter tammi abruscatto managed the practice. She took time. She treated her patients as a whole body not just their eyes. She was interested in their family life. She had the good oldfashioned southern hospitality. Reporter tammi saw how committed toni was to her patients. Sometimes it was hard to get her to leave the office. So tammi was charmed when one day in September Harold asked her for help. You get a phone call out of the blue from harold. Yes, about two weeks before their anniversary he phoned and said, hey, tammi, i want to surprise toni for our anniversary. Can you help me out . Reporter it was their 12th wedding anniversary. Harold wanted to celebrate with a surprise trip to one of colorados wonders, Rocky MountainNational Park. So youre being really sneaky in all of this. I am. Husbands to call and do something fun like that. So i made her schedule so that she could be done and out of the office by 3 00, but it looked like she would be there till 5 00. Reporter the big day was september 28, 2012. He came into the office, and the other girls thought it would be fun to really surprise her. So they put him in an exam room. This cell phone video. So she picks up a chart, walks into the room like she normally would, and then theres her husband. And shes like, whats going on . And he says, you know, were going away for the weekend, happy anniversary. And shes like, no, no, no, no. I cant do that. And he says, you can. Tammi fixed the schedule so youre ready to leave. Reporter this was well orchestrated. Yes. Reporter this anniversary plan. Yes. Reporter harold thought of he hired babysitters for haley. Hed even packed tonis clothes. She couldnt say no. I mean, she just, you know, he had it all worked out, so off they went. Reporter Harold Henthorn, the consummate planner, had pulled it off. Now the perfect anniversary weekend could begin. The couple left denver on a friday afternoon and headed north. Harold booked a room at the stanley, a historic Beautiful Hotel in estes park. My name is jack torrance. Reporter famous for inspiring stephen kings the shining. Thank you. Reporter he scheduled an early dinner so they could turn in early. It was a romantic weekend, after all. Then saturday afternoon, they set out for Rocky MountainNational Park to go on a hiking trail harold had scouted out a few months earlier. But just about 24 hours in, the perfect weekend turned tragic. 911, whats the address of your emergency . Hello, my name is Harold Henthorn, and im in the Rocky MountainNational Park. Okay. I need an Alpine Mountain rescue team immediately. Reporter it was just`before 6 00 and harold needed help rock on the north summit of deer on the Deer Mountain trail. And shes in really critical condition. Reporter harold told the 911 operator that toni had fallen from the edge of a cliff. We need to be sure that you know my location first. I have really bad cell coverage. Okay. Okay. Im on Deer Mountain. Reporter immediately, the park launched a ranger who was also a trained emt, but the only way to get there from the trail head was on foot, and that would take hours. Is she conscious and breathing . Reporter no, shes not. Shes not been conscious. She is breathing. Reporter harold, desperate, pleaded for a rescue helicopter. Heres the thing. I will pay any and all expenses for a helicopter. I dont care if its private, i dont care if its commercial, i will pay any and all expenses right now if you drop a paramedic down here. Reporter the operator tried to explain that no aircraft could do what harold was asking, not at that altitude over that terrain. Out of the helicopter. From a 10foot rope . No, sir. That has not been done in my experience. Reporter harold knew tonis situation was grave. She needs to get out of here. She needs to get to the hospital. Reporter harold didnt stay on with the 911 operator. He hung up because he was worried his cell phone battery might die. Then at 6 16, he texted tonis older brother barry, a cardiologist, back in mississippi. Barry, urgent. Toni is injured in estes park. Fall from rock. Critical. Requested flight for life. Emt rangers on way. Will be dark when arrive. Pray. Todd got a call from his brother barry. Barry said that toni had been in an accident and that he was being texted the vital signs, and it didnt look good. You know, he said, i dont think shes going to make it. Reporter back on the mountain, the rescuers were having trouble finding theyre asking you to put as many bright items out as possible to see if they can see you. Anybody near you, sir . No. Reporter the henthorns were all alone and time was running out. The sun was setting. So harold lit a fire. Ive started a small fire in a completely enclosed rock enclosure with wet moss on it thinking you can see the smoke. Reporter now in the dark, the henthorns were off the grid. And still waiting. Just before 7 00, an hour after harolds first call to 911, an operator called back to talk him through cpr. Hello . Harold, this is julia, Estes Park Police department. They tell me you need some assistance doing some cpr. Any help you could give me would be good. Okay. Is she awake . No, unconscious. Okay. Im going to go through my questions really fast with you. Is she breathing . Her breathing has gone from ten to five and nothing, to zero. Okay. What im going to do now is im going to count for you as you go through the breaths. Can count. So we can make sure were getting that blood flow. Reporter but harold said he wanted to keep the line free. Ive got to turn off because the rangers have to find me. Okay. I will let you go. Call 911 any time and you get me, okay . Reporter harold continued to text tonis brother with details, none were good. Cant find a pulse. He texted a friend asking if he could drive up to Rocky MountainNational Park to pick him up. He called back dispatch. You guys have an eta on the theres actually a ranger in the area. If you could start using your whistle. Hes trying to find you. Great. Thanks a lot. Reporter he texted barry help 10 minutes out. Finally, 8 09 pm more