i sent an anonymous e-mail. reporter: anonymous. so that it could not be traced back to her or her father. her older sister katie wasn t aware the e-mail had come from charlotte. but she was at the center of the story about life insurance. steve had signed a disclaimer saying he would not benefit from the proceeds of carol s life insurance. but katie was forced to testify that wasn t true. my father was asking me for various things related to that money. reporter: once carol s life insurance paid out, katie transferred her share to her grandparents. but you knew that your grandparents were going to use that money for attorneys fees? that was my understanding, some or all of it. reporter: the prosecution called close to 50 witnesses to portray steve democker as a man who plotted to kill his wife. plotted his escape. and used his own children to fund his defense. and even hoodwink his lawyers