Investigators examined Omer’s laptop search history, which revealed that he did research on drowning in lakes, managing assets while incarcerated, and the streets surrounding the canal where Zorah died. These searches were made shortly after Zorah returned home.

Christine criticizes the police for unwittingly compromising their own investigation. The police’s failure to collect any notes or formal interviews would hinder their ability to advance the case for four months after Zorah’s death. By then, the family would have had time to align their alibis and dispose of Omer’s car.

Melanie defends her son Jacob’s story, stressing that he has never changed details in any of his retellings.

Gene reviews the logbook entries at the inn and indicates that while the perimeter sensor lights went on twice the night that Zorah died, there was no sign of anyone near the carriage house. He posits that if the lights went on the first time when Zorah left, then someone else must have triggered the lights after the crash.

Cellphone data has placed all the family’s phones, including Zorah’s, at the inn the night that she died. This has raised questions among Zorah’s peers, however, as they don’t believe that Zorah would have left her phone behind.

Christine relitigates the abrasion found on Zorah’s temple and suggests that it may be evidence of an attack. She speculates that Zorah was knocked unconscious and placed in the car, which was then maneuvered into the canal. Investigators noted that the driver’s window was rolled down, which was unusual given that it was raining that night. The fact that Zorah had swimming skills meant that she would have been able to escape from the car.

Rahmat and Omer told the police that it was their first time in the area. Ethan Reed’s statement would contradict this, leading some investigators to suspect that the Sharaf men did reconnaissance in the area prior to Zorah’s death.

Christine notes that it was unusual that the Sharaf family decided to travel with two vehicles, considering that they had only ever traveled with one vehicle in past family trips. Moreover, the second car they brought on this trip, the Mercedes-Benz, was practically disposable, given its diminished resale value.

When the police searched the Sharaf residence, they couldn’t take Zorah’s clothes into evidence since they had already been donated to charity. Zorah’s room had similarly been emptied out, which isn’t typical behavior for parents grieving the loss of a child. Investigators also noted that all the family photographs that included Zorah had been removed from display in the house, as though she had never existed.

Christine suggests that the preemptive hiring of Richard Ward was proof that the Sharaf family had something to hide.

Ward calls the accusations against the Sharaf family Islamophobic.

Asma is skeptical of the implication that the Sharaf family merely performed acceptance when they welcomed Zorah back home. She asserts that the family’s joy in having Zorah back was genuine.

Ward notes that the murder theory presupposes that Rahmat and Maryam willfully acted against their parental instincts, perfectly executing an untraceable crime despite their lack of experience in criminal activity.

Sara explains that she and Maryam’s peers were the ones who suggested that it would be better for Maryam to stop seeing reminders of Zorah all over the house since they consistently overwhelmed her. Maryam was initially outraged when she saw Zorah’s empty room, but she eventually began to move on. Maryam herself donated Zorah’s clothes to charity.

Ustad expresses skepticism about Jacob Waller’s claims, indicating that it’s improbable that he saw two sets of lights in low-visibility weather conditions.

Asma claims that parents expressing a desire to kill a child for misbehavior is a common idiom in the Dari language. This explains why no one took Sayed’s claims about what Rahmat said seriously. Otherwise, it would make Rahmat look stupid to declare his intentions outright.

Mohsin discredits Sayed, stressing that Sayed had a grudge against Rahmat. Many of their peers have attested to the fact that Sayed openly declared his intention to take revenge against Rahmat, making Zorah’s death a convenient opportunity for him to get Rahmat and Omer incarcerated. This plan was the true reason why Sayed fell out of favor with the community.

Ward explains that the Sharaf family hired him early because they were unfamiliar with the US legal system and were afraid that the police would be biased against them as immigrants. Ward blames the press for sensationalizing the Sharaf family’s economic status. He defends the family as proof that the American dream can be achieved but also cites their demonization as proof of bias against ethnic and religious minorities who achieve success.

Ustad explains that Rahmat regularly took Omer on trips around the country to spend quality time with him. This explains their earlier trip to Niagara Falls, during which Rahmat formed the aspiration to take their entire family there. When Rahmat and Omer told the police that it was their first time in the area, they were referring to the entire family. They were likely to have misspoken because they were still processing their grief.

Ward explains that Omer was looking up lake-drowning statistics as part of his trip planning because he wanted to avoid bringing his parents to high-risk locations. Later, he looked up asset management in incarceration because he was curious about a car dealer who had recently been incarcerated. Ward suggests that anyone’s search history can be sensationalized to support a biased theory.

Noorya defends Omer as someone who was always protective of Zorah.

Asma defends Maryam as a loving mother who doted on Zorah and aspired for her to transcend the traditional role of women in Afghan culture. Even if Maryam hadn’t been involved in Zorah’s death, Rahmat and Omer wouldn’t have allowed her to live, knowing that she would have acted against them.

Ward points out that the theory of the Sharaf family’s guilt depends on several circumstances that were impossible for them to control, including the exceptionally bad weather, the availability of rooms at the Cedar Lake Inn, and Maryam’s gastrointestinal issues. Had any of these circumstances been different, it would have severely affected their ability to murder Zorah without detection.

Zarghoona criticizes the press for depicting Zorah as angelic and flawless. She reveals that when Zorah ran away with Sahil, she stole Maryam’s gold jewelry. This is why Zarghoona can believe that Zorah attempted to steal the car.

Ward defends the Sharaf family’s outrage over Zorah’s relationship with Sahil, whom he denounces as a criminal due to his residency status. Ward also contests Zorah’s claims of abuse, indicating that she may have exaggerated her parents’ threats to stay with Sahil. He cites her history of deception to support his assertion. Finally, he notes that Zorah was legally an adult when she left Sahil, meaning that she could have gone anywhere she wanted but chose to return to her family.

Aziza echoes the assertion that the accusations against the Sharaf family are Islamophobic.

Asma posits that her peers didn’t think that people were capable of hating their own children until they came to the US, where they became aware of the prevalence of child abuse and widespread sentiment against having children.

Ward concludes that there is no concrete evidence that the Sharaf family had any involvement in Zorah’s death. Rather, racism and opportunism have driven this narrative.

A news report reveals that protestors came to the Sharaf residence demanding the truth and calling for the Sharafs to receive the death penalty. Neighborhood residents voiced their irritation with the protestors. At one point, someone sprayed racist graffiti on the Sharaf property, but the protestors distanced themselves from it.

Other groups of protestors marched on the Washington, DC, Afghan embassy to demand the deportation of the Sharaf family. Many of these protestors were affiliated with Islamophobic organizations. One group claimed that Zorah was tried by an underground court that sentenced her to death. They were encouraged by a congresswoman who publicly supported their views in a speech. The embassy denounced the protestors for their racism and Islamophobia. Though no one was arrested during the protest, the police maintained a presence around the embassy.

Several news articles report Islamophobic violence in Virginia throughout the month of March, including hate crimes and threatened mass shootings at mosques.

Ustad denounces the protestors for using Zorah to advance their hateful ideologies.

A news report reveals that the Fairfax commonwealth’s attorney, Adam Wright, chose not to press charges against anyone over Zorah’s death. Wright didn’t find any credible evidence to alter the initial conclusion of accidental drowning. The article goes on to discuss the cultural impact of Zorah’s case, which has driven the debate over whether Muslim immigrants have successfully assimilated into American society. Public reaction to Wright’s announcement was mixed.

Ashburn speaks to Wright’s credibility and emphasizes the weak evidence behind the theory that Zorah was murdered.

Christine suspects that Wright was under political pressure to forego pressing charges against the wealthy Sharaf family.

Ward claims that a trial would be a needless waste of resources. He’s frustrated that no one has sought justice for, let alone acknowledged the public harassment of, the Sharaf family. He even tried to convince the Sharafs to sue the police for damages, but they refused.

Margaret remembers the day the Sharaf residence went up for sale. They were replaced by a young couple, which makes Margaret feel easier about what happened to the Sharafs.

Marcy reveals that Sahil’s relatives came to clear out his apartment, making her believe that Sahil was deported. She laments this outcome, admiring Sahil for his work ethic and good behavior.

Torpekey reveals that the Sharaf family left without telling anyone. No one knows where they are now. Torpekey initially resented the Sharafs for doing this, but then she reassured herself that she had done something good for its own sake.

Ustad resigns himself to the reality that coming to the US means abandoning cultural traditions in order to assimilate. He recognizes that this is the cost of saving one’s family from the ravages of war. Under these conditions, Ustad posits that Rahmat was destined to experience suffering. Wherever the Sharaf family is, they must carry the burden of their suffering for the rest of their lives.

A news report reveals that the Sharaf family’s former neighborhood community held a candlelight vigil to honor Zorah. The Sharaf family was not in attendance. The ceremony featured an interfaith prayer, which called for unity in diversity. The event was generally peaceful, despite initial resistance to the idea.

Zarghoona recalls that on the day of Zorah’s jinazah, Maryam covered Zorah’s burial shroud with the shawl that she had saved for Zorah’s wedding day. Maryam and her peers smelled flowers coming from Zorah, which convinced Zarghoona that God had pardoned Zorah for her sins.

The commonwealth attorney’s office indicates that the investigation into Zorah’s death remains open. This means that it can press charges at any time.

Despite the Sharaf family’s absence from the “documentary,” Ward reluctantly delivers a statement on their behalf: The Sharaf family mourns Zorah as the great loss of their lives. They anticipate the next life, in which they will be reunited with her.