were engaged. >> reporter: shannon's family says the d.a. and the detective heard wrong. >> the day that -- that you're referring to, the church, shannon wasn't there. we were there. >> reporter: less than two weeks later, denita smith would still be wearing that engagement ring, as she lay dead at the bottom of her apartment steps. durham police thought they had the right person sitting in the lockup. they had arrested shannon crawly and charged her with the murder of her ex-boyfriend's new fiancé, denita smith. but investigators hadn't completely taken their eyes off jermeir stroud, the man who was involved simultaneously with both women. shannon crawly's father keith, her mother anne and her brother keith jr. never doubted her. >> is it possible that you guys don't want to believe that she's a murderer? >> no.