Beth Shelburne

Right after the crime, the sheriff tells reporters that Deputy Hardy may have been investigating something suspicious, maybe a drug deal.

But if Hardy went outside to check something behind the hotel, why would he leave his two-way radio on the table inside?

Barry talked to detectives just five hours after the murder.

He told them about how weird this detail seemed to him.

Hardy had over two decades of experience as a law enforcement officer.

Leaving his radio behind seems out of character.

And he also left his cigarette burning,

Is it possible that he was expecting to go outside quickly, maybe to meet someone, and that's why he left them behind?

Is it possible that Hardy knew his killer?

I tried to look into this.

There is a file containing records of the calls that police received from the special tip line set up for the case.

And I found eight different tips urging detectives to look into Hardy's personal life.

These tips suggest that someone Hardy knew might be connected to his murder.

I asked Detective Tony Richardson about this.

Is there anything that you recall y'all investigating as far as that goes?

My producer Mara presses him.

You know, I can explain it like this.

And he was shot and killed.

Okay.

If he had been at home in his pajamas, shot and killed, in bed, we would have looked at him because that's what you do.