A home invasion leaves a war veteran dead and his wife seriously injured, but the ensuing investigation creates more questions than answers as a seemingly cut-and-dried case is anything but.

Thirty-six hours have passed and reality is starting to sink in for all sides. Barb and Russ must come face-to-face with the suspects, Carter and Aubry, for the first time at the arraignment hearing. For Aubry and Carter, the hearing is their first opportunity to see one another since being arrested. Elsewhere, Tony finds himself terrified and alone as he gets placed into juvenile detention. The gravity of the situation weighs heavy on his father, Alonzo. Hector's legal troubles are compounded when the investigators discover an existing warrant for his arrest in Mexico. With more unsettling facts being uncovered about Matt and Gwen, relations between Barb and Russ, and Tom and Eve grow increasingly strained as they disagree on where Matt's body should be buried.

Nearly a month after the arraignment of the accused, the emotional complications of all involved continue to deepen. Carter's sister Aliyah (Regina King), a devout Muslim, arrives to support her brother despite their strained relationship, and her stark disapproval of his involvement with Aubry. Simultaneously, Alonzo receives an update about Tony's case that sheds light on his family life which makes him question himself as a good father. Hector's troubles compound when he's recognized by a fellow gang member and his loyalty is tested. Barb continues her relentless fight for justice and works with Nancy Straumberg (Lili Taylor), who is the head of a Victim's Rights Group to try and get another hate crime charge added against Carter.

Russ and Barb's youngest son, Mark, comes to Modesto to support his estranged parents as emotions run high when new information allows Carter's defense team to be granted a bail hearing. Meanwhile, Aliyah wants her brother to stay away from Aubry; and Tony gets out of juvenile hall on a probationary release into Alonzo's care.

Soon after Carter is released from bail, he and Aubry reunite. In a desperate attempt to keep him from facing trial and possible execution, she cuts his ankle bracelet and forces him to make a run for the Canadian border. Meanwhile, after Matt's funeral in Oakland, Mark (guest star David Hoflin) finally has the courage tell Barb that he is engaged to a woman she may not approve of. Alonzo continues his struggle to rebuild his relationship with his son after Tony is released from juvenile hall.

Barb turns to the media to draw attention to her son's case after Carter and Aubry are apprehended following their failed attempt to leave the country. Meanwhile, Tony goes to extremes to find out who attacked his sister; Aliyah worries about her brother's predicament now that he's back in jail; and Hector is pressured to testify by Palmer and Soderbergh.

Tony's arrested again and sent back to juvenile detention after an incriminating video surfaces. Meanwhile, Aubry is asked to testify against Carter, who's in solitary confinement, in order to stay out of jail; Mark's fiancée, Richelle, has an awkward first meeting with Barb; and Aliyah plans a peaceful demonstration to support her brother when the prosecution isn't interested in new evidence that could help him.

As news of Aliyah's organized march for Carter's cause spreads, tensions and emotions within the community rise. The city tries to stifle the demonstration and the DA attempts to offer Carter a plea deal. Demonized and the target of unhappy threats, Barb refuses to back down and desperately rallies her own group of supporters to attend the march. Once again placed in juvenile detention, Tony could be charged as an adult. Alonzo urges him to testify against Carter to gain some leniency. Hector reconnects with his girlfriend and promises to turn his life around for her and their daughter. Unemployed and out of options, Russ turns to Mark for help in allowing him to move into Matt and Gwen's house.

Following the march in support of Carter that erupted in violence, Aliyah and her lawyer use the turn in public opinion to leave the court no choice but to move up Carter's preliminary examination date. Emotions felt by the families on both sides of the case come to a head when Aubry's mother, Ruth, sets up a meeting with Aliyah. Meanwhile, Russ continues to work on Matt and Gwen's house as a means to fill a void created by his regretful decision to abandon his family years previously. Desperate to do everything he can for a now fearful Tony in juvenile detention, Alonzo turns to an unlikely source for help. After Aubry receives news from Carter, she is left feeling emotionally distraught. She makes the decision to completely change the course of the case by going on record with an incendiary statement.

Revelations from Aubry's recent statements have far-reaching implications as new and damaging allegations against Matt Skokie's role in the incident come to light. This setback is finally one that from which Barb will be unable to recover, leaving Russ to pick up the fight. Carter is handed a new lease on life while Hector's prospects turn for the worst after Aubry's account renders his testimony regarding Carter and the cuddle weapon inconsequential. Hector's immediately deported and turned over to the Mexican authorities. Elsewhere, though Alonzo struggles to find character witnesses for Tony's upcoming hearing, his family unifies.

The criminal case comes to a shocking close for all those involved as we see each life forever altered by this incident. Charged with emotions and unexpected twists, certain journeys will end while others begin.