Amanda Knox

Ian's village has rallied around him for the last 30 years.

Ian's village has rallied around him for the last 30 years.

But by the end of this series, there came a fourth family that at this stage may be a little harder to empathize with. And that's Albert Laurel Jr. 's family. His wife and kids and family members? Perhaps they had no clue that their husband, their dad, their uncle or cousin or son was responsible for something so unimaginable. And what must it be like to grapple with that revelation now?

But by the end of this series, there came a fourth family that at this stage may be a little harder to empathize with. And that's Albert Laurel Jr. 's family. His wife and kids and family members? Perhaps they had no clue that their husband, their dad, their uncle or cousin or son was responsible for something so unimaginable. And what must it be like to grapple with that revelation now?

Or, equally as terrifying, perhaps some of them knew or suspected. We may never know or fully understand until they decide, if they decide, to speak for themselves. Regardless, Albert Laurel Jr. 's crime will have an effect on them, and they will bear his infamy in part simply by sharing his name. I know my family did.

Or, equally as terrifying, perhaps some of them knew or suspected. We may never know or fully understand until they decide, if they decide, to speak for themselves. Regardless, Albert Laurel Jr. 's crime will have an effect on them, and they will bear his infamy in part simply by sharing his name. I know my family did.

But we should also be mindful of the presumption of innocence, that there are many legitimate reasons they may not want to talk. And even Albert Laurel Jr., if he were alive today, would deserve to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

But we should also be mindful of the presumption of innocence, that there are many legitimate reasons they may not want to talk. And even Albert Laurel Jr., if he were alive today, would deserve to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Though it still remains troubling that the Hawaii PD has taken such pains to grant that presumption of innocence for him, even in his death, when they were so cavalier about going after Ian and Sean with nothing but a wild tale from an unreliable narrator. Steve Kramer and Steve Bush agree.

Though it still remains troubling that the Hawaii PD has taken such pains to grant that presumption of innocence for him, even in his death, when they were so cavalier about going after Ian and Sean with nothing but a wild tale from an unreliable narrator. Steve Kramer and Steve Bush agree.

We came into this case asking ourselves, who killed Dana Ireland? Because from everything we've seen and studied and analyzed, we can say without a shadow of a doubt that there's no reliable evidence tying Frank Pauline Jr., Sean Schweitzer, and Albert Ian Schweitzer to the crime. And we now have very solid evidence implicating a man who just took his own life when he learned he was a suspect.

We came into this case asking ourselves, who killed Dana Ireland? Because from everything we've seen and studied and analyzed, we can say without a shadow of a doubt that there's no reliable evidence tying Frank Pauline Jr., Sean Schweitzer, and Albert Ian Schweitzer to the crime. And we now have very solid evidence implicating a man who just took his own life when he learned he was a suspect.

So, what happens next?

So, what happens next?

No one forced the police or prosecutors to take on those roles. But when they did, they became responsible for protecting their community, for acting ethically, for delivering justice and not impeding it, for serving the truth. Those are heavy responsibilities. People's lives are at stake, and we should rightly honor the people who uphold them with integrity.

No one forced the police or prosecutors to take on those roles. But when they did, they became responsible for protecting their community, for acting ethically, for delivering justice and not impeding it, for serving the truth. Those are heavy responsibilities. People's lives are at stake, and we should rightly honor the people who uphold them with integrity.

But with big responsibility comes big accountability. And when our public servants fail us all, as they failed the Ireland family, the Paulines, and the Schweitzers, something needs to be done to balance the scales. Until that day, Sean and Ian are taking each day as it comes. Not exactly sure what's next.

But with big responsibility comes big accountability. And when our public servants fail us all, as they failed the Ireland family, the Paulines, and the Schweitzers, something needs to be done to balance the scales. Until that day, Sean and Ian are taking each day as it comes. Not exactly sure what's next.

One of the things I really hope to convey to you in this series is that the story never ends at what I call the hamburger moment. They finally test the DNA. They find the real killer. The innocent man walks out of prison and takes his first bite of a burger, then curtains. That's how the local news so often plays it, as if the struggle for justice is finally over.

One of the things I really hope to convey to you in this series is that the story never ends at what I call the hamburger moment. They finally test the DNA. They find the real killer. The innocent man walks out of prison and takes his first bite of a burger, then curtains. That's how the local news so often plays it, as if the struggle for justice is finally over.