When a popular high school teacher was found dead of a gunshot wound, investigators believed

it was an accident.

But an audio tape recorded by the victim just three days before his death raised serious

questions that required answers.

Historic Durham, North Carolina is both a big city and a small town.

Best known as the home of Duke University and its world famous medical center.

But it is also a close-knit, southern community where families stay for generations.

At Durham High School, Russell Stager was a popular baseball coach and driver's education

teacher, a man respected by faculty and students alike.

Jennifer Joyner was one of Russ Stager's students.

All the kids who needed advice or needed someone to talk with about their problems,

which Stager's door was always open and he just meant a lot to the kids there.

After college, Russ Stager married his high school sweetheart, Joe Lynn.

Russ was a very gentle, compassionate, caring, full of life, human being, he embraced life.

He had a very tender heart.

Unfortunately, Stager wasn't as successful in his personal life as he was in his professional

life.

After four years of marriage, Russ and Joe Lynn divorced.

Less than a year later, Russ married a 31-year-old widow, Barbara Ford.

He adopted her two sons, Brian and Jason.

He took in Barbara's sons as his own.

He loved them.

...