When PJ stopped crying for the final time, he put the boy back in his crib and waited for his mother to get home.

Lane denied ever hitting or kicking the boy, even though there were allegations during his trial the boy may have been kicked, Baird said.

During the trial, Jennifer Watts stood by Lane, unconvinced he caused the boy's death, making the case more difficult for prosecutors.

During his interview with police in August, "He stated he lied during the investigation and the trial," Baird said.

A couple of years after his acquittal, Watts left Lane. Baird said she began to see signs of a violent temper and soon began to doubt his innocence in the death of her son.

When police contacted Watts, who now lives in California, about Lane's confession, "she became clearly upset," Baird said.

On Tuesday, CNN interviewed Watts about the case and the confession.

"It's all real. Everything that I imagined is true and everything that I've lived with all these years is true," she told CNN. "It's hard to look back on everything and realize that I defended the man that killed my son.

"He stole a part of me I'll never get back. I'm a different person now . . . angry . . . it's not fair," she said in tears to CNN.

When Lane confessed in August, he apparently was not aware of the double jeopardy rule.

"He stated he was prepared to go to jail today and face his consequences," Baird said.

Instead, police could only advise him that his statement would be given to the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office and he would be notified if any charges came from it. He then told police he would turn himself in if he needed to, Baird said.

In addition to not serving time for the homicide, Baird said there apparently aren't enough records from the court proceedings to bring up any possible perjury charges.

However, Baird said the information was presented to the U.S. Attorney's Office for possible civil litigation.

Police have not talked to Lane since his confession. Attempts to contact Lane for comment were not successful. Lane turned down CNN's interview request.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com