>>> TONIGHT, THE DRAMATIC RESCUE, TWO AMERICAN KIDNAPPED VICTIMS NOW BACK IN THE U.S. AFTER TWO OTHERS WERE KILLED IN MEXICO. THE NEW IMAGES, A CONVOY RETURNING THE TWO AMERICAN SURVIVORS TO THE U.S. DAYS AFTER THEIR GROUP WAS ATTACKED AND ABDUCTED BY ARMED MEN. WHERE THEY WERE FINALLY FOUND TODAY. AMONG THE SURVIVORS, A WOMAN WHO WAS SEEKING A COSMETIC PROCEDURE AND WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE TWO OTHERS KILLED. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, NEW VIDEO OF A TERRIFYING MIDAIR ATTACK. AUTHORITIES SAYING A MAN ON A UNITED FLIGHT TRIED TO OPEN AN EMERGENCY EXIT AND STAB A FLIGHT ATTENDANT. HOW PASSENGERS HELPED TAKE HIM DOWN AND THE CHARGES HE FACES. >>> THE NEW STORM THREAT TAKING AIM AT CALIFORNIA WITH AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF RESIDENTS STILL TRAPPED BY RECORD SNOW. WE'RE TRACKING IT. >>> THE CRASH THAT KILLED A NORFOLK SOUTHERN CONDUCTOR, THE COMPANY'S THIRD ACCIDENT IN OHIO IN JUST OVER A MONTH AFTER THOSE TWO DERAILMENTS. AND THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION, THE NTSB ANNOUNCED TODAY INTO THE COMPANY. >>> MY REPORT TONIGHT ON HOW A LETTER FROM A E WORLD. ♪♪ >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. A VIOLENT KIDNAP DRAMA THAT TARGETED A TRAVELING GROUP OF FOUR AMERICANS IN MATAMOROS, MEXICO, IS OVER, SADLY WITH WORD TWO OF THEM WERE KILLED. THE OTHERS RECOVERED ALIVE IN WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY IN AN INCREASINGLY LAWLESS AREA NEAR THE TEXAS BORDER. THE GROUP FROM SOUTH CAROLINA HAD DRIVEN ACROSS THE BORDER FOR A MEDICAL PROCEDURE WHEN THEY WERE SET UPON BY ARMED MEN. THE CHILLING MOMENT CAPTURED ON VIDEO. THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS A DO NOT TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR THE AREA POSTED ON ITS WEBSITE WARNING AMERICANS OF CRIME AND KIDNAPPING IN THE REGION. ALSO TONIGHT, WE SPEAK TO THE WIFE OF ONE OF THE SURVIVING VICTIMS, AND GABE GUTIERREZ IS IN THEIR HOMETOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE TWO AMERICANS WHO SURVIVED A BRAZEN KIDNAPPING ARE BACK ON U.S. SOIL AFTER A HARROWING FEW DAYS. LaTAVIA WASHINGTON McGEE IS AMONG THE SURVIVORS. HER MOTHER SPOKE WITH HER DIRECTLY AND TELLS NBC NEWS. THE VICTIMS DRAGGED ONTO THIS WHITE PICKUP TRUCK AND THE FBI SAYS GUNMEN HAD OPENED FIRE ON THE GROUP SHORTLY AFTER THEY CROSSED THE TEXAS BORDER INTO MATAMOROS, MEXICO. TODAY AUTHORITIES CONFIRM TWO OF THE AMERICANS HAD BEEN KILLED. >> WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND LOVED ONES OF THE DECEASED. >> Reporter: McGEE WAS JOINED BY HER COUSIN SHAEED WOODARD AND FRIEND ZINDELL BROWN AND ERIC JAMES WILLIAMS ON THE DAYS' LONG TRIP TO MEXICO. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER SAYS IT WAS FOR A COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURE. WILLIAMS ALSO SURVIVED BUT WAS SHOT IN THE LEG. WE SPOKE WITH HIS WIFE MICHELLE TODAY BY PHONE. >> I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING WHEN THE FBI CAME. EVERYTHING JUST SEEMED SO SURREAL. >> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE SPOKE WITH HER HUSBAND FOR A FEW MINUTES TODAY BEFORE HE WENT INTO SURGERY. >> I AM VERY HAPPY THAT HE'S ALIVE BUT I'M ALSO HEARTBROKEN FOR THE FAMILIES WHO CAN'T SAY THE SAME. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE FOUR WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TAKING THE TRIP TOGETHER TO SHARE DRIVING RESPONSIBILITIES. SO-CALLED MEDICAL TOURISM IS ON THE RISE. PREPANDEMIC AN ESTIMATED 1.2 MILLION AMERICANS TRAVEL TO MEXICO EACH YEAR FOR ELECTIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT MOSTLY COSMETIC PROCEDURES AND DENTISTRY, BUT MATAMOROS IS IN THE MEXICAN STATE OF TAMAULIPAS, WHICH THE STATE DEPARTMENT CLASSIFIES AS LEVEL 4 DO NOT TRAVEL. VIOLENCE THERE HAS INTENSIFIED AMONG WARRING FACTIONS OF THE NOTORIOUS GULF CARTEL. TODAY THE GOVERNOR OF TAMAULIPAS SAID ONE PERSON WHO WAS GUARDING THE KIDNAPPING VICTIMS WAS ARRESTED. THEY WERE FOUND IN A WOODEN HOUSE IN MATAMOROS, AND OVER THE PAST THREE DAYS INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY HAD BEEN MOVED TO SEVERAL LOCATIONS INCLUDING A MEDICAL CLINIC TO CREATE CONFUSION. >> THE CARTEL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF AMERICANS, AND WE ARE FIGHTING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THE DEA AND FBI ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. >> GABE, DO WE KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO THE KIDNAPPING? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, A LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATTER SAYS THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE GROUP OF AMERICANS WAS MISTAKENLY TARGETED AFTER THEY CROSSED THE BORDER. THE SOURCE SAYS THAT ONE THEORY IS THAT THE CARTEL MAY HAVE BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE HAITIAN SMUGGLERS ENCROACHING ON THEIR TURF. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, GABE GUTIERREZ TONIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE TERRIFYING NEW VIDEO FROM THAT MIDAIR EMERGENCY WE TOLD YOU ABOUT LAST EVENING. A MAN ALLEGEDLY THREATENED TO KILL OTHER PASSENGERS THEN STABBED A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ON A PACKED PLANE. HERE'S TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: UNITED FLIGHT 2609 WAS JUST 45 MINUTES FROM LANDING IN BOSTON. >> I WILL KILL EVERY MAN ON THIS PLANE. >> Reporter: WHEN PROSECUTORS SAY 32-YEAR-OLD FRANCISCO TORRES WENT ON AN INCOHERENT RANT AFTER TRYING TO OPEN ONE OF THE PLANE'S EMERGENCY EXITS. >> I'M TAKING OVER THIS PLANE. >> Reporter: THEN RUSHING AND STABBING A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WITH A SPOON HE HAD BROKEN IN THE LAVATORY. FELLOW PASSENGERS QUICKLY TACKLED AND SUBDUED HIM. >> THERE WAS LIKE FOUR TO SIX GUYS, YOU KNOW, ON HIM ON THE GROUND. >> Reporter: TORRES NOW FACING FEDERAL CHARGES AND UP TO LIFE IN PRISON IF CONVICTED. THE LATEST MIDAIR INCIDENT TO PUT TRAVELERS ON EDGE. MEANWHILE, THE NTSB SAYS IT'S INVESTIGATING YET ANOTHER RUNWAY CLOSE CALL. THIS ONE IN SARASOTA WHEN CONTROLLERS CLEARED AN AIR CANADA ROUGE FLIGHT TO DEPART FROM THE SAME RUNWAY THAT AN AMERICAN FLIGHT WAS ABOUT TO LAND ON, FORCING THE AMERICAN CREW TO ABORT, THE SIXTH RUNWAY CLOSE CALL JUST THIS YEAR. SO MANY CLOSE CALLS, THE FORMER CAPTAIN ON THE MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON FLIGHT CAPTAIN SULLY SULLENBERGER TELLS THE "TODAY" SHOW THIS IS GETTING VERY SERIOUS. >> THEY ARE THE CANARIES IN THE COAL MINE, AND THEY SHOULD CONCERN US. >> Reporter: NOW 14 YEARS AFTER THE LAST FATAL CRASH INVOLVING A MAJOR U.S. AIRLINER, THERE'S A SAFETY SUMMIT CALLED FOR NEXT WEEK. THE QUESTION, HAS COMPLACENCY BECOME A PROBLEM IN COCKPITS AND CONTROL TOWERS? >> I WANT SPECIFIC IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO ENHANCE OUR ALREADY ROBUST SAFETY NET WITH CONCRETE ACTIONS. >> AND, TOM, AS YOU KNOW, AIR TRAVEL IS BACK TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS. IS THERE ANY THOUGHT THAT THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO SOME OF THESE CLOSE CALLS WE'RE SEEING? >> Reporter: MOST EXPERTS THINK IT IS A CONTRIBUTOR FACTOR AND INSIST THE SYSTEM IS VERY SAFE BUT RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY WITH LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR, SO DOES THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY MARGINS? THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FOCUS OF THE FAA SUMMIT NEXT WEEK. LESTER. >> TOM COSTELLO IN OUR WASHINGTON STUDIO. THANKS. >>> STILL NO END IN SIGHT FOR THOSE STRANDED BY MOUNTAINS OF SNOW IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH MORE WINTER WEATHER ON THE WAY. MIGUEL ALMAGUER IS THERE. >> Reporter: IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT, THE BEAUTY BLANKETS THE DANGER, BUT TONIGHT BURY AND BLOCKED BY MASSIVE SNOWDRIFTS, THERE'S GROWING DESPERATION TO REACH THE STRANDED 80 MILES OUTSIDE LOS ANGELES. >> ALL THE PEOPLE LIKE I NEED TO GET MEDICINE. >> Reporter: NAVIGATING A MAZE OF ICY ROADS IN TWIN PEAKS, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR VOLUNTEERS LIKE MELISSA POST TO REACH THEM. >> WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK. >> Reporter: CARRYING SUPPLIES AND CONDUCTING THEIR OWN WELFARE CHECKS, NEIGHBORS ARE DOING WHAT THEY SAY AUTHORITIES ARE NOT. >> WE HAVE AN ENDLESS LIST OF PEOPLE TRAPPED, AND IT'S GETTING TO A POINT OF JUST THAT DESPERATE FEELING, JUST VERY SCARED. >> Reporter: AMID CONCERN THOSE WHO LOST POWER COULD ALSO LOSE THEIR LIVES IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. GAS LEAKS HAVE LED TO EXPLOSIONS LEAVING SOME WITHOUT HEAT FOR DAYS. >> WE'RE BOTH FREEZING TO DEATH IN OUR HOUSE. WHEN YOU'VE GOT EIGHT FOOT OF SNOW AROUND YOUR HOUSE, IT MAKES YOUR HOUSE ABOUT 30 DEGREES INSIDE. >> Reporter: AS MANY RACE TO SHOVEL ROOFTOPS BEFORE MORE SNOW AND THE THREAT OF ANOTHER COLLAPSE. >> THERE'S STILL A LOT OF SNOW UP HERE. >> Reporter: EVEN NOW DAYS AFTER THE SERIES OF HISTORIC STORMS, THERE REMAINS NO OFFICIAL COUNT OF THOSE STILL IN NEED OF HELP. RACHEL BROWN HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE HER HOME IN MORE THAN A WEEK. >> I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE I HAVE NO COMMUNICATION. >> Reporter: TONIGHT IN THESE SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS, THE STORM IS PAST, BUT ANGER IS BREWING. >> AND, MIGUEL, YOU MENTIONED IT IS PAST. THERE IS RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR MUCH OF CALIFORNIA LATER THIS WEEK. WHAT MAY THAT LOOK LIKE? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, THE RAIN WON'T HELP. IT COULD QUICKLY MELT MANY OF THE SNOWBANKS. THIS ONE IS TWO STORIES TALL AND INDICATIVE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THIS REGION. IN A MATTER OF DAYS WE COULD BE DEALING WITH FLASH FLOODING. LESTER. >> AMAZING IMAGES, ALL RIGHT, MIGUEL, THANK YOU. >>> THE NTSB HAS OPENED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S SAFETY PRACTICES AND CULTURE AFTER ITS SERIES OF TRAIN DERAILMENTS. IT URGED THE COMPANY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REVIEW ITS SAFETY PROCEDURES, AND EARLIER TODAY A DUMP TRUCK RAN INTO THE FIRST CAR OF A NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAIN AT A CROSSING IN CLEVELAND, KILLING THE CONDUCTOR WHO WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE TRAIN. >>> NOW TO A MAJOR HEADLINE ON THE BORDER CRISIS. TONIGHT WE'RE LEARNING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MAY RESTART FAMILY DETENTIONS. CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT KRISTEN WELKER JOINS US. KRISTEN, THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR REVERSAL BY PRESIDENT BIDEN. >> Reporter: IT WOULD, LESTER. SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER TELL NBC NEWS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERING DETAINING MIGRANT FAMILIES ENTERING THE U.S. ILLEGALLY. NOW, FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA USED THE PRACTICE IN 2014, AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUED IT. HIS ADMINISTRATION'S ZERO TOLERANCE INITIATIVE SEPARATED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS, BUT MR. BIDEN SHUT DOWN THE POLICY AFTER TAKING OFFICE, INSTEAD RELEASING FAMILIES INTO THE U.S. BEFORE ASYLUM HEARINGS. THE POSSIBLE REVERSAL COMES AFTER RECORD NUMBERS OF ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS. JUST THIS WEEKEND, MEXICAN AUTHORITIES FOUND 103 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IN AN ABANDONED FREIGHT TRUCK. SO FAR THERE'S NO FINAL DECISION ON BRINGING BACK THE FAMILY DETENTION POLICY. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, KRISTEN, THANK YOU. >>> CHINA IS ON THE OFFENSIVE TONIGHT IN A GROWING WAR OF WORDS WITH THE U.S. UNLEASHING A NEW WARNING TODAY. ANDREA MITCHELL NOW WITH LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: FINALLY WORDS FROM BEIJING'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER TODAY SAYING, THE U.S. NEEDS TO CHANGE COURSE OR RISK CONFRONTATION AND CONFLICT WITH CHINA, ECHOING CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING A DAY EARLIER MAKING RARE COMMENTS ACCUSING THE U.S. OF LEADING AN ALL-AROUND CONTAINMENT, ENCIRCLEMENT, AND SUPPRESSION OF CHINA DEMONSTRATING UNPRECEDENTED TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SUPERPOWERS. >> THIS IS NOT ABOUT CONTAINING CHINA. THIS IS NOT ABOUT SUPPRESSING CHINA. THIS IS NOT ABOUT HOLDING CHINA BACK. >> Reporter: TENSIONS HAVE RATCHETED UP SINCE THE U.S. SHOT DOWN THAT CHINESE SPY MOON, AND THE U.S. WARNED THAT CHINA WAS CONSIDERING SENDING WEAPONS TO RUSSIA FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE. RUSSIA FIGHTING NOW TO CAPTURE BAKHMUT IN EASTERN UKRAINE, BUT RUNNING SO LOW ON AMMUNITION, ITS FORCES HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH SHOVELS ACCORDING TO BRITISH INTELLIGENCE. >> IT'S A FROZEN CONFLICT. IF CHINA GETS INVOLVED ON BEHALF OF RUSSIA, THAT COULD MATERIALLY HELP MOSCOW, AND THE UNITED STATES IS PUTTING MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON CHINA NOT TO DO THAT. >> Reporter: THIS AS CHINA IS FLEXING ITS MILITARY MUSCLES OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEAS FLYING 500 FEET OFF THE WING OF THIS U.S. NAVY SURVEILLANCE PLANE LAST MONTH AND CONTINUING TO THREATEN THE SELF-GOVERNING ISLAND OF TAIWAN, WHICH CHINA VIEWS AS ITS TERRITORY, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID THE U.S. WOULD DEFEND IF ATTACKED. TONIGHT THE WHITE HOUSE ENDORSED A BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL THAT COULD BAN TIKTOK OWNED BY A CHINESE COMPANY BECAUSE OF CONCERNS CHINA IS USING IT TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON AMERICANS, AND THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE WILL TELL CONGRESS TOMORROW, CHINA IS AMERICA'S TOP LONG-TERM GLOBAL >>> BACK NOW WITH A MAJOR MOVE BY WEIGHT WATCHERS. THE DIET AND FITNESS COMPANY NOW GETTING INTO THE BOOMING MARKET FOR WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS. WILL IT BE A GAME CHANGER, AND WILL THE DRUGS GO TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE? HERE'S STEPHANIE GOSK. >> Reporter: THE OLD GUARD OF WEIGHT LOSS IS GETTING ON BOARD WITH THE LATEST WEIGHT LOSS SENSATION. >> MY CLOTHES FIT DIFFERENTLY. MY DIET HAS CHANGED. >> Reporter: WW INTERNATIONAL FORMALLY KNOWN AS WEIGHT WATCHERS ANNOUNCED IT IS BUYING THE COMPANY SEQUENCE FOR $100 MILLION. THE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE HELPS OVERWEIGHT CUSTOMERS ACCESS GROUNDBREAKING NEW MEDICATIONS LIKE OZEMPIC FOR DIABETES AND WEGOVY FOR OBESITY. THE DRUGS ARE MADE WITH SEMAGLUTIDE. IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL FULLER LONGER. >> Reporter: WE CAN GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TO THE MASSES. >> Reporter: SINCE ITS APPROVAL, OZEMPIC IN 2017 AND WEGOVY IN 2021, THE DRUGS HAVE BECOME WILDLY POPULAR. >> I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT OFF LABEL USE OF SEMAGLUTIDE. >> Reporter: MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WORRY PEOPLE ARE USING THEM WHO DON'T REALLY NEED THEM LEADING TO SHORTAGES. >> I WOULD HOPE THAT WEIGHT WATCHERS PUT GUIDERAILS ON THE USE OF SEMAGLUTIDE. THEY SHOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDING IT TO PEOPLE WHO ONLY WANT TO LOSE FIVE OR TEN POUNDS. >> HOW WILL WEIGHT WATCHERS PREVENT PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T BE ON THESE MEDICATIONS FROM GETTING THESE MEDICATIONS? >> FIRST THE DECISION TO BE ON A MEDICATION IS GOING TO BE BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER AND THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. >> Reporter: WEIGHT WATCHERS' BUSINESS HAD BEEN STRUGGLING WITH SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ITS SERVICES DROPPING FROM 4.2 MILLION TO 3.5 LAST YEAR, BUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SENT THE STOCK UP 79% TODAY, LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, STEPHANIE, THANK YOU. >>> UP NEXT, HE WAS LOCKED UP FOR MURDER BUT MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE. THE LIFE-CHANGING STORY OF AN INMATE AND THE >>> TONIGHT, A STORY OF DOGGEDNESS AND PERSEVERANCE, A HUNT FOR THE TRUTH AND THE MEANING OF JUSTICE THAT HAVE CARRIED AN IMPRISONED MAN AND AN NBC NEWS JOURNALIST ON AN UNLIKELY TWO-DECADE-LONG JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS. THE SING SING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY HOUSES MORE THAN 1,400 PRISONERS. EACH CAN TELL YOU WHY THEY'RE HERE. >> DEAR MR. SLEPIAN, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME -- >> SOME WILL TELL YOU WHY THEY SHOULDN'T BE. >> I KNOW I DON'T BELONG HERE BUT I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US IN LIFE IS FOR A PURPOSE. >> Reporter: IT WAS A SINAL LETTER ADDRESSED TO "DATELINE NBC" PRODUCER DAN SLEPIAN BY JON-ADRIAN "J.J." VELASQUEZ CONVICTED SOLELY ON EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY. >> I GET A LOT OF PEOPLE SEND LETTERS CLAIMING TO BE INNOCENT. WHAT WAS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT J.J.'S LETTER, IT WAS METICULOUS, IT WAS FOCUSED. >> Reporter: DOZENS MORE WOULD FOLLOW. SKEPTICAL BUT CURIOUS, DAN PAID J.J. A VISIT. >> HE SAID YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON. >> THAT'S WHAT THEY GOT ME. THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE WHOLE STORY AND NEITHER DID I AT THAT TIME. >> Reporter: THERE BEGAN A 20-YEAR JOURNEY. J.J.'S UNBENDING CLAIM OF INNOCENCE, DAN'S SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. DETAILED NOW IN THE NEW NBC STUDIOS' PODCAST, "LETTERS FROM SING SING." >> WHAT I'VE LEARNED OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES HAUNTS ME. >> DAN, TELL ME WHAT "LETTERS FROM SING SING" IS ABOUT? >> IT'S ABOUT HOW AND WHY SOMEBODY CAN BE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU NEED A BOLT OF LIGHTNING TO STRIKE THE COURTHOUSE DOOR TO EVEN GET ANOTHER DAY IN COURT. THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. >> Reporter: J.J. GAVE DAN MOUNTAINS OF CASE DOCUMENTS AND CHALLENGED HIM TO PROVE HIM GUILTY. >> I KNEW THAT HE WOULD UNVEIL SOMETHING THAT WOULD LOOK ODD TO HIM OR SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY PROVED THAT I'M INNOCENT, BUT THE THING THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO FIND WAS ANY EVIDENCE OF GUILT. >> DID YOU ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE THAT, OKAY, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU'RE GUILTY >> HE CHALLENGED ME TO PROVE HIS GUILT AND I ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE. >> Reporter: DAN TRACKED DOWN THE KEY EYEWITNESS AND TOLD DAN HE WAS PRESSURED BY POLICE AND BASICALLY PICKED OUT J.J. AT RANDOM AFTER LOOKING AT MORE THAN 1,800 MUG SHOTS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I REALLY PICKED OUT THE RIGHT PERSON. >> Reporter: 20 PLUS YEARS IN, DAN IS STILL UNEARTHING BOMBSHELLS RECENTLY INTERVIEWING A JUROR IN THE CASE. >> IN MY HEART OF HEARTS, I KNEW HE WAS INNOCENT. >> SHE WALKED INTO THE ROOM AND STARTED CRYING. >> Reporter: THE JURY HAD BEEN SEQUESTERED FOR THREE DAYS, AND SHE TOLD DAN SHE ONLY VOTED GUILTY BECAUSE OF PEER PRESSURE. >> WHAT YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SAYING TO ME IS THAT J.J. WAS CONVICTED NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF THE FACTS OR THE EVIDENCE, BUT BECAUSE THE JURY WAS TIRED AND WANTED TO GO HOME. IS THAT TRUE? >> I'D HAVE TO SAY, YES, I THINK THAT'S THE TRUTH, YES. >> SO WHY IS THAT CRITICAL RIGHT NOW? >> WHEN PEOPLE LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST, THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE THAT THAT JURY NEVER HEARD THAT POINTS ONLY ONE WAY TO HIS INNOCENCE. >> EVERY TIME DAN GIVES ME A CALL WITH NEW INFORMATION, I'M IMPACTED THE SAME WAY. IT FEELS LIKE A STAB IN THE GUT SOMETIMES. HAD THEY MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION, MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT DIFFERENT. >> Reporter: HIS SENTENCE WAS COMMUTED IN 2021. J.J. WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON BUT IS STILL FIGHTING TO CLEAR HIS NAME. >> I WAS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE FOR THE CRIME THAT I DIDN'T COMMIT, AND NOW I'M BEING SENTENCED TO AN ADDITIONAL TERM IN SOCIETY. >> Reporter: AT A WHITE HOUSE FORUM LAST FALL, J.J. GOT SOMETHING HE DIDN'T EXPECT. YOU GOT AN APOLOGY FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. >> ON BEHALF OF ALL SOCIETY, I APOLOGIZE. >> IT MEANT A LOT TO ME BECAUSE IT MEANT RECOGNITION. >> Reporter: RECOGNITION THAT BEGAN WITH A SINGLE LETTER AND A JOURNALIST WILLING TO LISTEN. >> I AM NOT AN ADVOCATE FOR J.J. I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR TRUTH. >> TONIGHT A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MANHATTAN D.A.'S MYERS, FLORIDA. >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT MY TOES ARE STILL TAPPING.