The district attorney's motion to recuse Judge Hughes from a death penalty case has been rejected by Judge Ernest Drake Jr. and no judge has been selected to hear the case yet. The defense has also filed a motion to keep the district attorney's office from handling the prosecution.
After 26 years, the murder charges against Tommy and Ray Davis have been dropped. However, the prosecutor has reserved the right to refile charges if new evidence emerges.
Ron Beegler threatens to kill a key witness, Tom Fallis's first husband, causing a sudden halt in the trial proceedings.
A change in North Carolina state law might mean that a second jury will not hear about Michael's long-dead friend in Germany nor Brad the male escort, but working in Michael's favor was the fact that the prosecutor would have to try a much weaker case.
The Petersons had to come to terms with the harsh reality that their father, the defendant, was going to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole, leading to feelings of grief and shock for them all.