Keith Morrison

Jeffra had a throwback look and sound to him, part Columbo, part old-fashioned Western sheriff with his big, broad shoulders.

You could easily imagine him walking down a dusty main street in a classic movie.

The more Jeffra learned about Michelle's case, the more it felt like he knew her.

Jeffra wanted to try something completely different, turn the investigation upside down.

Instead of proving Ray Jennings was guilty, Jeffra decided he'd like to try to show that Jennings was innocent.

So he picked up the phone and made his pitch to lead detective Richard Longshore.

He wanted in.

With Longshore's blessing, Jeffra dug in.

His theory?

That investigators had zeroed in on the wrong man.

It was a sunny winter day when I met Jeffra at the park and ride.

We walked the hillside, where it looked like Michelle's killer might have escaped, and we stopped in front of a sturdy cross that marked the spot where Michelle's blue Mustang was found.

Jeffra reached out, touched the cross, and felt as if she was speaking to him.

And on her behalf, he got busy.

Looked at the physical evidence, of course, and read the police reports with his detective's eye for details.

Might tell a different story than the one he'd heard from Longshore.

But mostly, he wanted to hear from Ray Jennings himself.

Not in person, didn't need to do that.

No, he had all those videotaped interviews.

Ray Jennings, own words to Longshore, and civil attorney Rex Parris.