'20/20' ANCHOR ELIZABETH VARGAS SITS DOWN WITH MARK CARVER, WHO IS SERVING LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF COLLEGE SOPHOMORE THAT HE CLAIMS HE DIDN'T COMMIT

The Report Reveals Video of Carver's Interrogation Never Seen in Trial That Judge Says Could Have Affected Verdict

'20/20' Airs Friday, December 9, on ABC

Friday night "20/20" delves deep into the murder of University of North Carolina Sophomore Ira Yarmolenko, a Ukrainian immigrant, who was found dead in 2008 - strangled - left in the bank of the Catawba River next to her car. Mark Carver is serving a life sentence for her murder, but claims he did not do it. The "20/20" report reveals video of Mark's interrogation never seen during the trial, which Judge Timothy Kincaid, who presided over the case, says could have affected the verdict. Also, the ABC team conducts field experiments on the river that call into question detectives' testimony on the stand. The North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence is representing Mark, saying that the DNA evidence the prosecution used to place him at the scene was accidentally transferred. "20/20" Anchor Elizabeth Vargas interviews Mark about his case and why he thinks he should be a free man. In addition, Vargas has the first television interview with Judge Kincaid and speaks with Pavel Yarmolenko, Ira's brother; Chris Mumma, Carver's current attorney; Amy Cassada and Robin Carver, Carver's cousin and sister-in-law; and Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky, a DNA expert. "20/20" airs FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 (10:00-11:00p.m. EST), on ABC.

Mark and his cousin Neal Cassada had been fishing 100 yards downriver the morning Yarmolenko was found. Police spoke to Mark that day, asking if he had heard anything but did not consider him a suspect at the time. For six months, police did not have any leads until a forensic scientist matched Mark and Neal to DNA taken from Yarmolenko's car, and they were charged with her murder. Although Neal passed away before the trial, the jury found Mark guilty. Mark's defense claimed they did not put on a case, because they thought that the prosecution's case was weak: Mark had fully cooperated with law enforcement, and there was no fingerprint evidence putting him at the scene and no DNA evidence on the bindings around Yarmolenko's neck or underneath her fingernails.

"20/20" is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and David Muir. David Sloan is senior executive producer.