Deborah Atrops

Another friend, Tammy Nelson, told police in 1988 Debbie had confided in her that Bob Atrops had choked her in a violent confrontation shortly before she moved out.

Tammy told the jury Debbie was still worried about Bob after their separation.

Tammy had also told police in 1988 that a few months before her murder, Debbie was worried about Bob finding out about her relationship with John Pearson.

Tammy later told the cold case team, Debbie had said, if anything happens to me, Bob did it.

Debbie is predicting her own murder.

She is telling friends and family, if he finds out about this, he will kill me.

And she was right.

But in their cross-examinations, the defense suggests these stories Debbie told are not reliable, and they say Debbie had a history of making up false tales.

She had told different stories to different people, and these things were verifiably not true.

Some of Debbie's friends say she did tell questionable stories, often about her health.

Darlene says she thought Debbie might have done it for attention.

One time she said that she went to work out, her stomach flipped or something, and she had to go get emergency help with it.

It didn't seem real to me.

And there's a very simple... Attorney April Yates says there is a simple explanation for why Bob Atrops didn't call Debbie that night.

He had spoken to her stepfather, Ed Holland.

Ed told Bob that he had been by Debbie's apartment and she wasn't home.

There was no reason for Bob to call.

And the next morning, Debbie's parents went to her apartment again, as did law enforcement.

So there was no reason for Bob to call or go there.

The fact that the state is trying to make something out of that, it's a red herring.