Lester Holt

She pulled back, saying that she was scared that Delbert was going to come after her and her kids.

Detective Madrigal never questioned Delbert.

I think people watching will say, you know, why didn't somebody bring Delbert in and just put him on that hot seat and just go at him like they do, you know, sometimes up to eight hours?

you know, with suspects.

The red-hot lead went nowhere, and the investigation went cold again.

The years piled up, but Patricia Lee's sister never stopped pleading with the sheriff's office to keep digging into Delbert.

A long time.

She almost gave up.

Why didn't she?

That was her sister.

That was her baby.

And she knew, she knew that he did it.

It was just cracking that door and having someone see what she was seeing.

That someone was about to enter the investigation.

And stories from the past would soon get everyone's attention.

Seven years after the fire that killed Patricia Lee, a new sheriff was elected in Goliad County, Texas.

He had Constable Mike Thompson, a retired homicide detective, take a look at the case file.

Thompson set up a meeting with Patricia Lee's sister, Sharon, who pressed him to investigate Delbert.

Is she really desperate at this point, you know, for help and feeling like, you know, you're kind of her, maybe her final chance to get something done?

And now here you are listening to her.