Lester Holt on Luigi Mangione. Divorce attorney on trial for client's murder. Plus, ankle monitors.

Summary

Dateline NBC – True Crime Weekly (June 4, 2026)

Host: Laura Jarrett
Special Guest: Lester Holt
Featured Cases: The Luigi Mangione case, Aliza Sherman’s murder, Maricopa County and San Diego County updates, and an exploration of ankle monitors.

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Episode Overview

This Dateline True Crime Weekly episode, hosted by Laura Jarrett, dives into three major criminal cases making headlines, anchored by a special appearance from Dateline’s Lester Holt. The show explores the upcoming trial of Luigi Mangione—the accused gunman charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—plus new developments in the cold case of Aliza Sherman’s murder, and rumors and realities around the effectiveness of ankle monitors. The episode further updates listeners on trials out of Arizona and San Diego and features expert commentary throughout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lester Holt on the Luigi Mangione Case

Background and Timeline

• Crime Recap: On December 4, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside Manhattan’s Hilton Hotel. (04:46)
• Investigation: A nationwide manhunt led to the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days later. He was extradited to New York.
• Charges: Mangione faces state and federal charges, including second-degree murder and stalking; he has pleaded not guilty.

National Attention and Unusual Elements

• Groupies support Mangione at court, posting online criticism of the victim.
• Uncertainty surrounds Mangione's connection to Thompson—he was neither a UnitedHealthcare customer nor apparently connected to the company.

Investigative Insights

• Security Footage: The investigation hinged on tracing Mangione’s movement through security cameras. Police worked “backwards”—moving from the crime to earlier footage, eventually capturing his face when he dropped his mask at a hostel using a false ID. (06:07–07:29)
• The “Manifesto”: Police found a handwritten note in Mangione’s backpack expressing his conviction and lack of doubt:

  “The details are finally coming together. I don’t feel any doubt about whether it’s right or justified. I’m glad… it allowed me to learn more about UHC.” – Lester Holt (07:46)

• Mangione went off the grid for eight months prior to the murder; questions remain about his motive and mental state. (08:45)

Human Side: Remembering the Victim

• Brian Thompson described as a family man with a meteoric rise in the insurance world, with friends and family who miss him deeply.
• Social media reactions have been cruel, compounding the tragedy for Thompson’s loved ones.

  “People posting smiley faces that somebody was murdered.” – Joseph Russo quoting Jeff Alter, Thompson’s friend (10:09)

Legal & Social Challenges

• Jury selection is especially complicated due to publicity and polarizing narratives. (10:37)
• “Jury nullification” and the potential for biases were discussed.

Notable Quotes:

• “[This case] isn’t like other cases… Groupies have started showing up at his court appearances and posting comments online criticizing his victim.” – Laura Jarrett (04:14)
• “I think part of it’s simply practical… they’re no longer with the police department… Also, police see this as a case where everything worked the way it should.” – Lester Holt, on why investigators went public (05:44)
• “You step out your door in Manhattan, you’re on camera somewhere.” – Lester Holt (06:21)

Timestamps:

• Crime summary & public reaction: 03:22–04:14
• Lester Holt’s investigation: 04:46–11:35

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2. Aliza Sherman Murder Case: Divorce Attorney on Trial

Crime Revisited

• Victim: Aliza Sherman, a 53-year-old IVF nurse and mother of four, stabbed to death in 2013 after being lured to her attorney’s office. (13:30)
• Suspect: Gregory Moore, her divorce attorney, was indicted in 2025—12 years after the crime. Moore pleaded not guilty.

Evidence & Motive

• Moore’s changing story about his whereabouts the day of the murder and his access card data raised suspicion early on.
• Prior to the murder, Moore had a history of disruptive acts to delay trials—including calling in bomb threats when unprepared. Prosecutors allege he killed Sherman because he was unready to take her case to trial. (20:12)
• Defense counters that key evidence/witnesses were lost due to the delay, notably Sanford Sherman, Aliza’s husband, who also faced scrutiny due to the contentious divorce but had a verified alibi. (21:09, 21:51)

Ongoing Legal Battle

• Moore’s team is fighting to have the case dismissed on the grounds of violation of his right to a speedy trial.
• The trial is set for September 2026, with Dateline promising further coverage.

Notable Quotes:

• “He knew the date, the time and the location where she was going to be when she was killed.” – Lynn Keller (17:54, also repeated in the episode intro)
• “Instead of a bomb threat, though, it ended up in murder.” – Lynn Keller (20:12)
• “You can’t be on guard 24/7. There’s going to be little slip ups.” – Commercial Announcer, on tracing suspects (06:43)

Timestamps:

• Case introduction & arrest: 13:30–14:53
• Attorney’s background and motive: 20:12–20:43
• Defense arguments & family context: 20:54–22:16

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3. True Crime Weekly Roundup ([24:48]-[31:16])

Maricopa County, AZ: Ian Mitchum Sentencing Chaos

• Crime: Murder and sexual assault of Alison Feldman in 2015; conviction in April 2026.
• Current Story: The penalty phase ended in a mistrial after two jurors were replaced and the new jury deadlocked.
• Mitchum still maintains his innocence; sentenced on non-capital counts.

Memorable Moment:

“The jury has sent out a written message that they are at an impasse. So at this time, I am declaring a mistrial.” – Brittany Morris quoting judge (27:07)

San Diego County, CA: The Disappearance of Maya Miliette

• Crime: Mother of three, Maya Miliette, is missing since 2021; husband Larry is on trial for murder, accused of seeking spells and making threats.
• Key Witness: Maya’s brother testified Larry talked about “get[ting] the other guy,” referring to Maya’s alleged lover.
• Security footage is key in tracing Maya’s last known movements—she returns home the day she vanished; there’s no footage of her leaving again.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Prosecutors have painted the picture of a marriage falling apart.” – Brittany Morris (29:01)
• “That got a few murmurs inside the courtroom.” – Laura Jarrett (30:45)

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4. The Ankle Monitor Dilemma ([31:21]-[36:59])

Recent Escapes Highlight Weakness

• Cases in Harris County, TX: Leigh Gilley and Walter Pozos (both charged with murder) removed their ankle monitors and fled.

Expert Perspective

• Guest: Joseph Russo, researcher in corrections technology.
• Estimates: Between 300,000–400,000 people in the US are wearing ankle monitors, but there’s no national tracking system. (32:46)
• Monitors can be cut off—by design, for emergencies. (34:33)
• Police are NOT monitoring in real time, contrary to popular belief.
• Most failures are not technological but due to delayed or overwhelmed response to alerts.
• Staffing shortages in Houston: only two managers oversee 120 murder defendants on monitors.

Memorable Quotes:

• “You can’t cut it with ordinary scissors, but given enough time and the right tools, you can get them off pretty easily.” – Joseph Russo (32:40, 34:33)
• “There is no array of screens where authorities are watching everybody who’s monitored…” – Joseph Russo (35:19)
• “There’s a general rule in corrections: you don’t make a rule that you can’t enforce.” – Joseph Russo (36:29)

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Notable Quotes & Dialogue (w/ Timestamps)

• Lester Holt: “We started getting these reports that there was this connection potentially to the healthcare industry. And then that video, of course, appeared of the actual shooting… Left little doubt this was an ambush.” (05:13)
• Laura Jarrett: “What do we actually know about Luigi Mangione…? And what does it all mean for Mangione’s upcoming trial?” (04:14)
• Lynn Keller: “He knew the date, the time and the location where she was gonna be when she was killed.” (01:54, 17:54)
• Joseph Russo: “You can’t cut it with ordinary scissors, but given enough time and the right tools, you can get them off pretty easily.” (32:40, 34:33)
• Laura Jarrett: “It also seems like the ankle monitor isn’t that hard to cut off.” (34:29)

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Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-------------| | Episode start & case lineup | 01:15–02:40 | | Mangione case w/ Lester Holt | 02:46–11:35 | | Aliza Sherman case w/ Lynn Keller | 13:30–22:16 | | Weekly crime roundup (AZ, CA) | 24:48–31:16 | | Ankle monitor deep dive | 31:21–36:59 |

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Tone and Language

The tone is measured, sober, sometimes incredulous—especially around unusual motives and social media reactions. The hosts and guests retain the journalistic style characteristic of Dateline: fact-driven, empathetic, and always probing for deeper context.

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Summary

This episode deftly balances national headlines, new twists in cold cases, practical criminal justice concerns, and expert interviews. Listeners are provided with rare behind-the-scenes insight—especially in the Luigi Mangione investigation and the technical, legal, and ethical complexities of electronic monitoring. As always, Dateline strives to humanize both victims and the accused, providing context and clarity around headlines that rivet (and sometimes mystify) the public.

Transcript

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[Lester Holt]

Hey, good morning.

[Laura Jarrett]

It's the start of another workday for the DATELINE team. I think we're ready to roll. Our producers are swapping tips and story ideas.

[Commercial Announcer]

He's been in jail since his conviction got overturned.

[Laura Jarrett]

The detective says this was a heartbreaking interview. What happens at this trial is what makes it a story. Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett filling in for Andrea Canning. It's June 4th and here's what's on our docket. Thirteen years after a mother of four was stabbed to death in downtown Cleveland, her her divorce attorney is now heading to trial for her murder.

[Lynn Keller]

He knew the date, the time and the location where she was gonna be when she was killed.

[Laura Jarrett]

In DATELINE roundup, we've got a courtroom twist in the case of an Arizona man convicted of murdering a 31 year old woman in her own home. And the latest in the trial of a San Diego county husband accused of buying magic spells before allegedly murdering his wife, prosecution witnesses say he talked about killing someone else while too.

[Brittany Morris]

Maya's brother testified that Larry once talked about hiring someone to, quote, get the other guy.

[Laura Jarrett]

Plus, after two murder defendants removed their ankle monitors within days of each other in the same Texas county, we asked a corrections expert to give us the lowdown on whether ankle monitors even work.

[Joseph Russo]

You can't cut it with ordinary scissors, but given enough time and the right tools, you can get them off pretty easily.

[Laura Jarrett]

But before all that, we are joined by a very special guest, my good friend and colleague, DATELINE anchor Lester Holt, who is here to tell us about his investigation into a crime and defendant that has transfixed the country, Luigi Mangione. Just before sunrise on December 4, 2024, three gunshots rang out on the sidewalk outside of the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan, not far from our offices here at 30 Rock. The victim, 50 year old Brian Thomps, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurance companies in the world.

[Lester Holt]

There are chilling new details tonight following what police say was the premeditated murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.

[Laura Jarrett]

A massive manhunt ensued. Five days later, a 911 call came in from a McDonald's hundreds of miles away in Altoona, Pennsylvania. I have a customer here that some

[Commercial Announcer]

other customers were suspicious of that he

[Laura Jarrett]

looked like the CEO shooter from New York. It was 26 year old Luigi Mangione. Police arrested him at the restaurant and he was extradited back to New York by helicopter to face murder charges. He's pleaded not guilty to both state charges, including second degree murder, plus a federal charge of stalking. And I have to say, this case isn't like other cases I have worked on before. Groupies have started showing up at his court appearances and posting comments online criticizing his victim. But what do we actually know about Luigi Mangione or Brian Thompson for that matter, the man whose life he's accused of taking? And what does it all mean for Mangione's upcoming trial? This Friday, Lester Holt dives into some of these questions in a special DATELINE episode featuring the first ever interviews with some of the original investigators on the case, as well as a member of Brian Thompson's inner circle. Here to tell us all about it now is Lester. Hi, Lester.

[Lester Holt]

Hey, Laura. Great to see you.

[Laura Jarrett]

Great to talk to you too. So take me back to that day of the shooting. I remember where I was in New York City. It happened just blocks from our office. But what do you remember about that day?

[Lester Holt]

I certainly remember the fact that it was we could walk over there in about two minutes. I remember from that day, you know, we try to when we're telling these stories, we try to make sure we look through a filter of is this a national story? Is it not? And we kind of held our breath for a minute. Well, a person killed in Manhattan, it's happened before. But then we started getting these reports that there was this connection potentially to the healthcare industry. And then that video, of course, appeared of the actual shooting taking place. And it Left little doubt that this was. This was an ambush.

[Laura Jarrett]

You have now interviewed some of the original investigators on the case, who up until now have been completely mummed. So they're speaking publicly now to you for the first time. Why do you think they want to talk now?

[Lester Holt]

I think part of it's simply practical that they're no longer with the police department. They both retired, so they're free to talk about it. I also think that police see this as a case of everything works the way it should have in terms of the way the investigation was handled, you know, quickly, you know, of tracking the suspect, identifying the suspect, and enlisting the public's help in this. It was quite an operation and it moved very quickly.

[Laura Jarrett]

You mentioned the security footage in this case, which is a huge piece of evidence. And one of the investigators actually took you down to the street to show you how they used the security camera footage there. What did you learn?

[Lester Holt]

Well, first of all, they kind of work backwards. They think that's a good way to trail someone really, is to find out where they've been. And in terms of this trail of video they were able to amass, you know, the minute you step out your door in Manhattan, you're on camera somewhere.

[Commercial Announcer]

Most people want to look forward. Where did the guy go? How did he get away? Let's find him. For an investigation, sometimes the best thing to do is go backwards.

[Lester Holt]

So you were following a trail, but the opposite direction.

[Commercial Announcer]

Right. Somebody commits a crime and they just want to get out of there and they'll do whatever they can not to be tracked. Sometimes the 12 hours before that, they may not be thinking about the crime. And you can't be on guard 24 7. There's going to be little slip ups.

[Laura Jarrett]

And the suspect is wearing a mask in that video.

[Lester Holt]

Yeah, he's wearing a mask. But when he gets to a hostel up in upper Manhattan, brings his mask down, and there's his face, and bang, they've got it on camera. So they suddenly now had a face to the person they were looking for it. And they go to that hostel and they make the determination that he used a false ID with the name Rosario on it. And that, of course, becomes key as they follow the trail even further.

[Laura Jarrett]

And connecting the dots here, Lester, when Mangione was first questioned by police at that McDonald's five days later, he shows them a fake ID with the name Rosario on it. And they found what some people have referred to as a manifesto in his backpack. Tell us about that.

[Lester Holt]

Yeah, his attorneys don't like the use of the word manifesto. But that is essentially the way it has been taken. It's a handwritten note in his backpack. If we looked at one of the notes Aug. 15, he wrote, the details are finally coming together. I don't feel any doubt about whether it's right or justified. I'm glad in a way that I procrastinated because it allowed me to learn more about uhc. The insurance company says Mangione was never a customer of theirs. Never had, you know, it was never covered by anything there. So it's still a little bit of a mystery as to why, allegedly, he chose Thompson, that company, and that day.

[Laura Jarrett]

Someone in your episode says he's almost like a Rorschach test, if you will. You can project whatever you want onto him, and it sort of speaks to why people are attached to him. But you've done some reporting on who Mangioni actually is and was. What have you learned about his background?

[Lester Holt]

This has been the most perplexing part of this entire story in this investigation is trying to understand who this person is, how his life intersected with Brian Thompson's. What we know is that he was, you know, by all accounts, a smart guy. He was also quite social, not really an outsider. He had back problems since middle school, and then he had surgery. Reported feeling better, and then everything kind of goes quiet. But we know after all that he went off the grid for about eight months, and he's not heard from. And so we are still, you know, even as you and I speak, we're still trying to understand that and trying to work that part of the story.

[Laura Jarrett]

The other piece of this is the victim has somehow been sort of subsumed into the background on this case because Mangione has had this outsized sort of presence. But you spoke to someone who knew Brian Thompson really well, a friend and a colleague named Jeff Alter. What did he tell you?

[Lester Holt]

Yeah, Jeff Alter, you know, he wanted to be heard. He wanted folks to know the person that he knew and lost. Whether you have strong thoughts about the healthcare system or not, this was a man that was a family person. He was from Iowa, considered himself lucky to get into university. He had a meteoric rise at UnitedHealthcare. His friends and family miss him clearly. And seeing him vilified has been quite painful.

[Laura Jarrett]

Let's listen to Jeff on that.

[Joseph Russo]

Social media is fast and cruel.

[Commercial Announcer]

People posting smiley faces that somebody was murdered.

[Laura Jarrett]

It's just beyond me.

[Commercial Announcer]

Cruel is the word he used, really cruel. Particularly for people who knew Brian and Laura.

[Lester Holt]

If I can just turn this Back to you a bit. What will it be like to seat a jury in a case that's gotten to so much publicity, especially in a city like New York? Could there be a world where the jury just refuses to convict because they don't see it as a murder? What do you call that? Jury nullification? Right.

[Laura Jarrett]

Yes. Have you been going to law school since you left Knightley?

[Lester Holt]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's exactly it.

[Laura Jarrett]

So I think seating a jury in this case is going to be exceedingly complicated. Fascinating. It's gonna take a really long time. They've been sending out questionnaires all over the district trying to get feedback from people about what their feelings are. Can they be fair?

[Lester Holt]

What about reporting on this trial? You've reported from that same courtroom before. I imagine it's going to be a frenzy.

[Laura Jarrett]

You know, this is a very austere courtroom. Like, the seats are uncomfortable and stiff and dirty and it's grimy in there.

[Lester Holt]

Yeah, no, it's not. Not pretty, but it's real, as someone once said.

[Laura Jarrett]

Well, Lester, I continue to just be so immensely interested in this case. And your reporting is just terrific. And there's so much more that your team did. It's called A Killing in Midtown, and it airs this Friday on NBC at 10pm EAS, 9pm Central. Lester, thank you so much.

[Lester Holt]

Terrific. Take care.

[Laura Jarrett]

Coming up, a mother of four who was days away from divorcing her husband was brutally stabbed 13 years ago. But prosecutors say it wasn't her husband who was behind her murder. It was her divorce attorney.

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[Laura Jarrett]

Granger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. On March 24, 2013, 53 year old Aliza Sherman got a text from her divorce attorney telling her to meet him at his office in downtown Cleveland. When she arrived, someone wearing a hood and gloves appeared out of nowhere and attacked her with a knife, stabbing her nearly a dozen times. She later died at the hospital from her injuries. Authorities scrambled to find out who killed Aleeza and why, but year after year, the case went unsolved. NBC affiliate WKYC spoke to Aleeza's daughter in 2018, five years after the murder.

[Lynn Keller]

You know, the police and the prosecutor's office, they've reassured us this is not considered a cold case. They're still actively investigating it.

[Laura Jarrett]

Finally, in May of 2025, the day Alisa's daughter had been waiting for arrived

[Joseph Russo]

at arrest in one of Cleveland's biggest

[Laura Jarrett]

cold cases, 51 year old attorney Gregory Moore has been indicted on murder charges. Prosecutors alleged that Aleeza's own divorce attorney, Gregory Moore, lured her to her death that afternoon, and his alleged motive is almost impossible to believe. According to prosecutors, he wasn't ready to take Aliza's divorce case to trial, so he killed her. Moore has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder and kidnapping. His defense team says prosecutors have charged the wrong man. They argue someone else had more motive to want Aliza dead, her estranged husband, and that the 12 year delay in bringing charges has now made a fair trial impossible. This week there was a hearing in the case as both sides now continue to prepare for trial. Here to bring us up to speed is Dateline producer Lynn Keller. Lynn, so great to have you.

[Lynn Keller]

Hi Laura.

[Laura Jarrett]

Lynn, this is such a Fascinating and troubling case. Before we get into the all of the nitty gritty, though, tell us about Aliza. Who was she when all of this happened?

[Lynn Keller]

Yeah, so she has been described by friends and family as this incredibly kind and caring person. At the time of the murder, she was working as an IVF fertility nurse in a clinic in Beechwood, which is a suburb of Cleveland. She was married to a man named Sanford, who was an ophthalmologist. They had four children. And we've spoken to a lot of people on this case, and they all describe her as a devoted mother and a devoted friend.

[Laura Jarrett]

We know she was going through this divorce. Tell us, what more do we know about all of that background?

[Lynn Keller]

Well, so she and her husband had been married for more than 30 years, but by 2011, the marriage was completely falling apart. And since the murder, her daughter Jennifer has really led the charge, you know, getting some justice for her mom. Our team spoke to her back in 2021, and she described how messy and contentious the divorce was. And she said that her mother was ready, finally ready to put this chapter behind her and move on.

[Laura Jarrett]

So By March of 2013, she's on her way to meet her divorce attorney, Gregory Moore, when she is ambushed. What do prosecutors say happened?

[Lynn Keller]

Well, it's very strange. So it was a Sunday when Gregory Moore, her divorce attorney, wanted to meet up with her. And so she agreed to go down to his in downtown Cleveland to his office. And according to the indictment, Aliza and Moore had been texting back and forth about this meeting. And when she arrived, the door was. Was locked. And so she texted Moore saying that she was outside. And then a short time later, she sent another text. You know, she's waiting and waiting. And she said, will you be here soon? Kind of cold. And then Moore responded. Been here.

[Laura Jarrett]

So he's already now placed himself at sort of the scene.

[Lynn Keller]

I guess it's vague. Been here. You know, does that mean he's in his office? Does it mean he's outside? But Eliza was confused by it, and she texted back, why wasn't he letting her into the building? And according to prosecutors, it was during that exchange that the hooded figure approached Aliza and attacked her.

[Laura Jarrett]

So we mentioned Moore is arrested 12 years after this all happens, but it turns out investigators actually had their eye on him almost from jump, right, Lynn?

[Lynn Keller]

Yeah, they did. Prosecutors say that they quickly started finding inconsistencies between what Moore said about his movements that day and what the evidence showed. So Moore told investigators he was inside his office waiting for Eliza but they say building records show. So Moore used his key card to leave the office before Eliza was attacked, and he didn't use it again until an hour afterwards. And they also zeroed in on him because he's the person who. He knew the date, the time, and the location where she was going to be when she was killed.

[Laura Jarrett]

So this was enough evidence to bring charges against him, but just not for murder.

[Lynn Keller]

Right. In 2016, three years after the murder, prosecutors charged Moore with several crimes tied to statements he made the day Eliza was killed. So Moore pleaded guilty to lying the following year, and he ended up serving six months in jail.

[Laura Jarrett]

So then what changed in these next eight years that has now resulted in Moore being charged with murder?

[Lynn Keller]

That is one big question that we have not. We don't know the answer yet. We do know that in 2021, Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation took over the case. And then prosecutors indicted him in 2025, and at the time, he was with his father in Texas, who was dying, and they arrested him there in Texas, Then they extradited him to Ohio, and then later, he was released on a $2 million bond.

[Laura Jarrett]

So let's talk about the prosecution's alleged motive, because it's pretty extraordinary to imagine a lawyer murdering a client because they're just not ready to take the case to trial. But that's the theory.

[Lynn Keller]

Yes. And it' Moore's history. We know that Moore had been accused of stopping court proceedings in the past. Three different times he was accused of calling in bomb threats for cases when he wasn't prepared. And in the end, he did end up pleading guilty to two of those. And the reason that that is important, obviously, for the prosecution, is because they say that Elisa's case was the same thing. Instead of a. A bomb threat, though, it ended up in murder.

[Laura Jarrett]

And so now Moore is preparing to stand trial, but his attorneys are pushing back, and they've filed motions to have the case tossed out entirely. What is their main argument?

[Lynn Keller]

Well, their main argument has to do with the violation of his right to a speedy trial. They assert that the prolonged investigation created substantial prejudice. There was the death of key witnesses and loss of evidence.

[Laura Jarrett]

Including Elisa's husband, Sanford.

[Lynn Keller]

Right. Sanford died in 2024, so they can't question him. And as we touched on earlier, there was this very messy divorce. And about a year after Aliza was killed, her daughter sued her father over assets tied to her mother's estate. And in that lawsuit, there was testimony that Aleeza feared for her safety and even allegations that Sanford had once her husband had once asked an ex cop friend about committing the perfect murder.

[Laura Jarrett]

But to be clear, Sanford, her husband was never charged criminally with anything related to Eliza's death.

[Lynn Keller]

That's right. And the lead detective, the initial detective we spoke to, said that he had a pretty solid alibi. There was a video of him at a grocery store in the morning and that he had been with friends who confirmed that he was there.

[Laura Jarrett]

Well, it's a super interesting case, Lyn. The trial is set to begin in September and we know you will be following every step of the way here. So thanks so much for your time, Lynn.

[Lynn Keller]

Thank you so much.

[Laura Jarrett]

Up next, it's time for a DATELINE roundup. We've got the latest on the trial of the San Diego county husband prosecutors say bought magic spells to harm his wife before allegedly killing. A last minute twist upends the trial of an Arizona man convicted in a 10 year old murder. Plus, ankle bracelets. Why do they keep failing? 2 Iconic soap operas collide in a high stakes showdown. Beyond the Gates and Young and the Restless come together for a must see CBS crossover event. The drama reaches new heights as powerful family, long held secrets and unexpected alliances collide. Packed with love and betrayal, this crossover event changes everything. Don't miss the beyond the Gates and Young and the Restless crossover event all next week on CBS and streaming on Paramount.

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[Laura Jarrett]

Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is DATELINE field producer Brittany Morris. Thanks so much for being here, Brittany. Hi, Laura.

[Brittany Morris]

Thanks for having me.

[Laura Jarrett]

First up, we are heading to Maricopa County, Arizona, where we have a major update in the case of Ian Mitchum. He's the Arizona man convicted just this past April of the sexual assault, burglary and first degree murder of a medical sales rep named Alison Feldman. Brittany, this case took 10 years to get to trial and the trial itself has now gone on for months. You have been there every step of the way. Before we get to the news, just remind us what exactly happened to Allison.

[Brittany Morris]

Sure. So just after Valentine, Valentine's Day in 2015, Allison's boyfriend came over to her house and found her lying naked in a pool of blood covered in bleach. Allison had been sexually assaulted, violently beaten and strangled to death. The police found crucial DNA evidence at the scene that led them to Ian Mitchum, who is, according to police, a total stranger to Allison. We still don't know how or why he targeted her.

[Laura Jarrett]

Now, Mitchum's conviction was not the end of this long legal journey. For over a month, the jury actually heard testimony from both sides on whether Mitchum should be sentenced to death for murdering Allison.

[Brittany Morris]

The jury heard from Allison's loved ones, including her mother, late father and sister. Her father, he devastatingly passed away just days after giving his testimony for the defense. Ian Mitchum's brothers shared anecdotes about Ayan and their lives together in hopes that it might humanize Ayan to the jury. After that process ended, deliberations they started on May 21, but there's some news

[Laura Jarrett]

from the jury room. What was that about?

[Brittany Morris]

There was a bit of a shakeup inside the jury room. First, a juror was removed for seeking outside information to potentially inform her decision. And then another juror simply failed to show up for the third day of deliberation.

[Laura Jarrett]

So the judge replaces the jurors with the alternates, but then they come back with a message to the judge. Take a listen.

[Brittany Morris]

The jury has sent out a written

[Laura Jarrett]

message that they are at an impasse. So at this time, I am declaring a mistrial. Just as to count one in the penalty phase only, what was the reaction in court when the judge said that?

[Brittany Morris]

I think everyone, myself included, was stunned, totally stunned. I should remind you that we are nearly seven months into this trial.

[Laura Jarrett]

So what happens now? They're gonna just have to do the penalty phase all over again with a

[Brittany Morris]

new jury, a mistrial in a penalty phase, it does not change Mitchum's conviction on any of the charges. But it does mean that the prosecutors will have to decide they can pursue that death penalty for first degree murder again or accept a sentence of life in prison.

[Laura Jarrett]

So, Brittany, the judge did actually move to sentencing on some of the convictions in this case that weren't part of the death penalty issue.

[Brittany Morris]

That's right. Ian Mitchum was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for burglary and seven years for sexual assault. And it's, it's worth noting, Ian Mitchum, he continues to maintain his innocence.

[Laura Jarrett]

Such a disturbing story. For our next story, we are headed to a San Diego county courthouse, Britney, where it's week three in the trial of a man accused of paying spellcasters, yes, spellcasters, before allegedly murdering his wife. Now the prosecution is still making its case and it is a wild tale, but we want to do a little recap here. 39 year old mother of three, Maya Miliette, vanished in 2021 after she was last seen pulling into her Chula Vista home. Nine months later, her husband Larry is arrested and charged with her murder. Maya's body has never been found. Brittany, give us just the basic outline of the prosecution's case so far.

[Brittany Morris]

Sure. So prosecutors have painted the picture of a marriage falling apart. They say Maya was having an affair with a married co worker and she had reached out to a divorce attorney. Prosecutors say Larry knew about the affair and cracked when he found out Maya was going to leave him. So he killed her.

[Laura Jarrett]

Larry has pleaded not guilty and his defense team has a very different story for the jury from the state. They say there is simply no physical evidence linking Larry to this murder. And since there's no body, prosecutors can't even prove Maya is actually dead. What has happened since we last talked about this case?

[Brittany Morris]

Quite a bit, Laura. So last week Maya's brother testified that Larry once talked about hiring someone to quote, get the other guy, end quote, referring to the man Maya was allegedly having an affair with. He said he believed that meant killing him. Another relative, Maya's brother in law testified Larry made similar comments to him.

[Laura Jarrett]

So how did the defense handle that?

[Brittany Morris]

On cross examination, Larry's Defense attorneys questioned family members on why they failed to report those conversations to the police or warn Maya.

[Laura Jarrett]

So we're into week three now and the lead investigator has taken the stand.

[Brittany Morris]

That's right. So Jesse Vicente testified this week about security camera footage collected during the investigation. Jurors were shown video from the day Maya vanished. Around 3pm, Maya is seen on security camera footage coming home and appearing to clean out her car. At some point, her young son comes out of the house and asks to go to the car wash with her. That got a few murmurs inside the courtroom.

[Laura Jarrett]

Well, it's just such a reminder that there are young children involved in all of this.

[Brittany Morris]

Devastatingly so.

[Laura Jarrett]

Yeah.

[Brittany Morris]

So at some point Maya leaves and according to Vicente, her Jeep is seen returning to the family home around 4:43 that afternoon. Prosecutors then asked whether investigators ever found footage showing Maya leaving the home again later that evening. And his answer was simple, no.

[Laura Jarrett]

Well, certainly a fascinating case. We'll continue to see where it goes. Brittany Morris, thank you so much.

[Brittany Morris]

Thank you, Laura.

[Laura Jarrett]

For our final story this week, we wanted to do a deep dive into something that caught our attention a few weeks ago, ankle monitors. Back in May, we told you about this dramatic story of Lee Gilley, a 39 year old Houston man charged with the 2024 murders of his pregnant wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, and their unborn child. Gilley, who pleaded not guilty to those charges, was released from jail shortly after his arrest and he's ordered to wear an ankle monitor while he's awaiting trial. But on the night of May 1, investigators say he cut off the ankle monitor and he fled to Italy where he is now in custody fighting extradition back to the United States. It turns out Gilley wasn't the only man accused of murder in Harris County, Texas, to cut off his ankle monitor. Recently, 10 days after Gilley's alleged escape, 32 year old Walter Pozos cut his monitor off, too, ahead of his second degree murder trial. Pozos, who's pleaded not guilty, is still on the run. It made us wonder, just how effective are ankle monitors really? How often do they fail and why? Here to help us understand it all is Joseph Russo, a researcher at the University of Denver with decades of experience in corrections technology. Joe, welcome to the show.

[Joseph Russo]

Thank you, Laurie. Glad to be with you, Joe.

[Laura Jarrett]

First off, can you just give us a sense of how many people are actually walking around with ankle monitors right now? How common is this?

[Joseph Russo]

So ankle monitors are fairly common practice in community supervision. Some estimates are 3 to 400,000 people on ankle monitors at Any particular point in time. Problem is that they're just estimates because there is no national clearinghouse for information on who is on electronic monitoring.

[Laura Jarrett]

That kind of blew my mind because I just imagine there being some, like, massive system where they're keeping track of everybody. I would just assume that you could know exactly where everyone is at any point in time. So what are some of the typical restrictions for a person wearing an ankle monitor?

[Joseph Russo]

Yeah, so the restrictions can vary quite a bit. It could be strictly a curfew where they have to be home at a certain hour. There could be specific inclusion and exclusion zones. Inclusion zones might be they have to be at work between 9 and 5 and can't be anywhere else. An exclusion zone might be they can't go anywhere near their victims residents, for example.

[Laura Jarrett]

So one of the misconceptions is that it's only for, like, petty crimes legally. The Houston man we mentioned at the top here was charged with capital murder, which means he was potentially facing the death penalty if convicted. Is it surprising to you that someone accused of something so serious would be released on bond with an ankle monitor?

[Joseph Russo]

Yeah, it's somewhat surprising. In many states, people who are accused of capital crimes are not eligible for bond at all, whether with or without electronic monitoring. So I understand in Texas that is an option that judges have. But it is surprising and it's not common throughout the country. Now, the catch 22 is that people have a presumption of innocence and people who have no previous criminal history or are not a flight risk in any other way, they may seem like they're eligible to be maintained in the community, but at the end of the day, it's human nature. Right. When you're facing either life imprisonment or the death penalty, there's obviously a strong motivation to try to, you know, escape those kinds of consequences.

[Laura Jarrett]

It also seems like the ankle monitor isn't that hard to cut off.

[Joseph Russo]

Exactly. And in some ways it's by design. I worked on a National Institute of Justice standard for electronic monitoring devices, and part of that standard is it must be able to be cut in certain circumstances. For example, if the person who's wearing the ankle monitor has an injury to the lower extremity and their leg is swelling up, emergency room operators need to be able to cut that device off before it becomes a hazard to that individual. You can't cut it with ordinary scissors, but given enough time and the right tools, you can get them off pretty easily.

[Laura Jarrett]

But if there's an alert because somebody has violated the conditions of their police in some way, do Police like come running if the person goes out of bounds?

[Joseph Russo]

Well, no, that's a common misconception.

[Laura Jarrett]

I imagine this scene in the movies where like police start swarming because somebody has come to the house of someone they weren't supposed to be at.

[Joseph Russo]

There is no array of screens where authorities are watching everybody who's monitored on an ankle bracelet that doesn't exist.

[Laura Jarrett]

So do you have any sense of just how often things go so wrong?

[Joseph Russo]

I would say it's probably less than 1% of all cases. I will say that in most cases it's not a technology failure. The technology tends to do what it's supposed to do. It's effective in that sense. Mostly it's response time. These things take time to triage. They take time to analyze, to see what's going on and make contact with the person on electronic monitoring to see if it was just a simple error of they let the battery run dead, for example. So there's a variety of different types of alerts that all require attention, but the volume of responses is so great. And the inability of law enforcement to really respond in real time can create the situations where bad things happen.

[Laura Jarrett]

Are there enough resources, you think, being allocated to this? Because in the case of Leigh Gilley and Walter Pozos, a recent article in the Houston Chronicle reported that Harris county simply just doesn't have enough staff to provide around the clock monitoring of everyone on ankle monitors. And there were only two case managers overseeing 120 murder defendants.

[Joseph Russo]

Yeah, I mean, and that's not uncommon to criminal justice in general. Right. We don't have the resources to do the work that's expected of these public servants. But particular to electronic monitoring, I mean, there's a general rule in corrections, you don't make a rule that you can't enforce. And so if you're going to have GPS monitoring and you're going to have an expectation that people are accountable for their whereabouts and their associations, then you have to be able to respond quickly. If you can't, you're setting yourself up for failure and you're setting yourself up for, you know, some of these tragic events that you've outlined today.

[Laura Jarrett]

Joe Russo, thank you for your time.

[Joseph Russo]

Thank you, Laura.

[Laura Jarrett]

It's a pleasure that's gonna do it for this episode of Dateline, True Crime Weekly. And if you wanna go deep on all the biggest legal cases in front of the U.S. supreme Court right now, check out this limited series podcast we've done. It's called here's the Scoop Supreme Court Edition. You can find it wherever you get your podcast, I break down the biggest cases talking to the people who won on the same issue the last time it came in front of the justices, and they're gonna predict what's gonna happen this term before the Supreme Court breaks for the summer. You can find those conversations right now wherever you get your podcasts. And make sure to check out Keith Morrison's brand new podcast series too. It's called five Miles from Home and it tells the story of a popular high school student who disappeared on her way home from track practice. The race to find her leads to unlikely suspects, simmering rage, and unimaginable betrayal.

[Joseph Russo]

It's something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire.

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Disturbing would be the word.

[Laura Jarrett]

Starting on Monday, you can listen to the first two episodes wherever you get your podcasts. But if you want to listen right now and ad free, subscribe to Dateline Premium. Thanks so much for listening. Dateline True Crime Weekly is produced by Carson Cummings, Caroline Casey and Keani Reed. Our associate producers are Ellery Gladstone Groth and Aria Young. Our senior producer is Liz Brown Kurloff. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original Music by Jesse McGinty, Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Cole is senior Executive producer of Dately Line.

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