A dentist on trial for poisoning his wife. And detectives' doubts about the case of a Virgina dad accused of conspiring with his au pair.

Summary

Dateline NBC Podcast Summary
Release Date: July 17, 2025

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Introduction to the Episode

In this gripping episode of Dateline NBC, hosted by Andrea Canning, listeners are taken deep into two high-stakes criminal cases: the trial of Dr. James Craig, a dentist accused of poisoning his wife, and the controversial case of Brendan Banfield, a Virginia father accused of conspiring with his au pair to murder his wife. Additionally, the episode covers recent verdicts in other notable murder trials and a warning about a new scam targeting unsuspecting individuals.

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Main Story 1: Dr. James Craig on Trial for Poisoning His Wife

Background

Dr. James Craig, a family dentist from Aurora, Colorado, stands accused of murdering his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her protein shakes with potassium cyanide and tetrahydrosaline—a substance typically found in eyedrops. The alleged crime occurred in March 2023, marking the culmination of years of marital strife.

Prosecution's Case

Prosecutor Ryan Brackley presented a compelling timeline, highlighting Angela Craig's deteriorating health and James Craig's suspicious activities. Surveillance footage revealed in the courtroom showed Craig preparing a protein shake, which he allegedly gave to Angela (02:54). The prosecution emphasized James's incriminating Google searches leading up to Angela's death, including:

• "How to make murder look like a heart attack."
• "Tetrahydrosaline poisoning."
• "Where to buy arsenic."
  (05:00)

Brackley also detailed the couple's troubled marriage, citing James's affairs and the emotional disconnect that possibly motivated the murder (05:43).

Defense's Argument

James Craig's defense team contested the prosecution's narrative, suggesting that Angela took her own life. They argued that investigative efforts were hampered by "tunnel vision," pointing out missing evidence, such as Angela's laptop, which could have shed more light on her illness (07:03). The defense also portrayed Angela as a troubled individual, highlighting a conversation where she seemingly blamed James for her deteriorating condition (09:17).

Notable Moments/Quotes

• Michelle Madigan (Prosecutor):
  "There was just so much anticipation that this was actually finally happening." (04:00)

• Angela Craig (Surveillance Video):
  "It's your fault they treated me differently. It's your fault they treated me like I was a suicide." (09:27)

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Main Story 2: Brendan Banfield and Juliana Perez Margulies Conspiracy Case

Background

In the Washington D.C. suburbs, Brendan Banfield, an IRS agent, and his au pair, Juliana Perez Margulies, are at the center of a complex murder case. Christine Banfield, Brendan's wife, was brutally stabbed to death in her bedroom, and Joseph Ryan, a stranger, was found shot nearby. Initially, Brendan claimed self-defense, stating he shot Ryan after witnessing the attack on his wife.

Prosecution's Allegations

Prosecutors allege that Brendan and Juliana orchestrated an elaborate plot to murder Christine and frame Joseph Ryan. The scheme involved catfishing and utilizing fetish websites to lure Ryan to their home under false pretenses, ultimately leading to Christine's death and Ryan's framing (12:15).

Defense's Counterpoints

During a pre-trial hearing, defense attorney Marianne O'Donnell revealed significant doubts about the prosecution's case. Key revelations included:

• Forensics Report: Digital forensics detective Kyle Bryant asserted that the evidence pointed to Christine alone in creating the fraudulent online profile, based on IP addresses and specific language patterns unique to her (16:33).

• Internal Conflicts: Multiple detectives expressed differing theories, casting further doubt on the case's integrity. Deputy Chief's resignation and the transfer of key detectives raised questions about possible internal pressures (17:59).

Notable Moments/Quotes

• Marianne O'Donnell (Defense):
  "It wasn't her husband and au pair pretending to be her. And really what the defense was establishing in this hearing was reasonable doubt." (16:34)

• Kyle Bryant (Forensics Detective):
  "Christine and Christine alone, who likely set up the profile and was in contact with Joseph Ryan." (16:33)

• Deputy Chief:
  "I'll never work another case in Major Crimes under his watch again." (18:24)

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Dateline Roundup: Verdicts and Ongoing Cases

Dan Serafini Case

Background: Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Serafini was charged with the execution-style murder of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, in Lake Tahoe in 2021. Spohr's wife, Wendy Wood, survived the initial shooting but later died by suicide.

Verdict: After three days of deliberation, the jury found Serafini guilty of first-degree murder (23:23).

Courtroom Reactions:

• Serafini: Remained silent, tipping his head back and looking up at the ceiling.
• Adrienne Spohr (Victim's Daughter): Burst into tears, stating, "It's been four years since my mom and dad were shot, and it's been four years of just hell." (23:35)

Karina Cooper Case

Background: Karina Cooper from Iowa was accused of murdering her husband, Ryan, four years prior. The prosecution highlighted Snapchat messages between Cooper and her former client, Houston Denker, suggesting collaboration in the murder.

Verdict: The jury convicted Karina Cooper of murdering her husband, sentencing her to life without parole. Denker remains to stand trial, scheduled for August 12th (25:22).

---

Additional News: Karen Reed Case

Former defendant Karen Reed, acquitted of murder but convicted of drunk driving in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim's family seeking over $50,000. Reed's attorneys have requested the dismissal of the lawsuit and have also secured a deal to develop a screen adaptation of her story (26:30).

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Scam Alert: Impersonating Law Enforcement Officers

Scam Details

A new scam involves criminals posing as law enforcement officials, calling victims to falsely claim there is an outstanding arrest warrant. To resolve the non-existent issue, victims are instructed to wire large sums of money, purchase high-value gift cards, or even use cryptocurrency. These scammers often spoof their phone numbers to appear legitimate (27:11).

Expert Tips from Kristin Barnett

Kristin Barnett, a former federal fraud investigator, provides crucial advice to avoid falling prey to these scams:

1. Verification:
   "When you get one of these calls, ask for their badge number and call your local police department to verify." (28:15)

2. Red Flags:

   • Urgency and threats of immediate consequences
   • Requests for payment via gift cards or unconventional methods
   • Lack of legitimate grounds for the supposed arrest warrant

3. Common Sense:
   "Always think about if this could in any way be legitimate. And most likely it's not." (29:30)

Notable Moments/Quotes

• Kristin Barnett:
  "There are very few instances, if any, that law enforcement will call and notify someone that there was an arrest warrant." (28:54)

• Case Example:
  A man in Texas lost $8,000 after meeting a supposed bail bondsman in a parking lot, who provided a business card to appear credible (30:15).

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Conclusion and Upcoming Content

As the episode wraps up, Andrea Canning teases upcoming stories, including a classic mystery involving a missing private investigator and the subsequent investigation. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive content.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Michelle Madigan (Prosecutor):
  "There was just so much anticipation that this was actually finally happening." (04:00)

• Angela Craig (Surveillance Video):
  "It's your fault they treated me differently. It's your fault they treated me like I was a suicide." (09:27)

• Marianne O'Donnell (Defense):
  "It wasn't her husband and au pair pretending to be her. And really what the defense was establishing in this hearing was reasonable doubt." (16:34)

• Kyle Bryant (Forensics Detective):
  "Christine and Christine alone, who likely set up the profile and was in contact with Joseph Ryan." (16:33)

• Kristin Barnett:
  "There are very few instances, if any, that law enforcement will call and notify someone that there was an arrest warrant." (28:54)

---

Stay tuned to Dateline NBC for more in-depth investigations and true-crime stories that keep you informed and engaged.

Transcript

[Tom Yamas]

If you're alignment in charge of keeping the lights on, Grainger understands that you go to great lengths and sometimes heights to ensure the power is always flowing. Which is why you can count on Grainger for professional grade products and next day delivery. So you have everything you need to get the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Taking over the helm of NBC Nightly News, a 75 year old broadcast, it's a great responsibility. Good evening, I'm Tom Yamas. You have to go out there to bring people at home closer to the store. Wildfires continue to be a threat. With that massive hurricane comes the massive response. The best reporters in our business know how to listen. And when you listen, you get the truth. For NBC News. For NBC News, NBC News, I'm Tom Galmis. That's what we do every night. Welcome to NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas, evenings on NBC.

[Andrea Canning]

Good morning.

[Michelle Madigan]

Good morning.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Hey morning.

[Andrea Canning]

You're listening in to the DATELINE morning meeting. All right, let's get going. Our producers are swapping tips on breaking crime news. According to these cops, this guy just loves attention. We've got religion. We've got a love triangle. We've got a basketball star.

[Michelle Madigan]

They're trying to reclaim what has happened.

[Andrea Canning]

And move on in the strongest way possible. Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's July 17th and here's what's on our docket. In the D.C. suburbs, the man accused of orchestrating a double homicide, allegedly with the help of his 4 year old's AU pair is back in court. His team has turned up evidence that they say could undermine the prosecution's case.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

It was like the whole top brass of police was in the courtroom. And what was revealed was eye opening, to say the least.

[Andrea Canning]

In DATELINE roundup, we've got two verdicts in two murder trials. Former major league baseball player Dan Serafini and Iowa farmers widow Karina Cooper both learned their fate this past week. And Karen Reed is back in the news.

[Sue Simpson]

Reed's attorneys, a whole new team are asking the court to throw out the lawsuit.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, I'll be talking to a former Secret Service agent about a new scam to watch out for.

[Kristin Barnett]

If there's a sense of urgency, you know, either do this or this will happen. That is a big red flag.

[Andrea Canning]

But before all that, we're off to the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, where a family dentist is on trial for spiking his wife's protein shakes with poison. In August 2017, the Summerbrook Dental Group in Aurora, Colorado, posted a video to its Facebook page. It shows Dr. James Craig, dressed in a white tutu, caring for one of his patients. And here's the tooth fairy.

[Tom Yamas]

Hi. I think you need a tooth extracted.

[Andrea Canning]

I'm here to do the work. This week, almost eight years later, cameras in an Arapahoe county courthouse captured James Craig acting very differently, dressed in a business suit and wiping away tears as he went on trial for his wife Angela's murder. Prosecutors alleged that In March of 2023, Craig poisoned Angela's protein shake with potassium cyanide and tetrahydrosaline, an ingredient found in eyedrop drops. Craig has pleaded not guilty and says that his wife took her own life. This week, jurors heard opening statements, and the prosecution started laying out its case, including surveillance video that's never been seen by the public before. Here to bring us the latest is DATELINE producer Michelle Madigan, who was in court this week for trial and is in Colorado right now. Hey, Michelle.

[Michelle Madigan]

Hi, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So, Michelle, it has taken years to get to this point. James Craig is on his fourth defense team. He's been accused of committing additional crimes while he's been awaiting trial, which we'll get to. What was the mood like in court?

[Michelle Madigan]

There was just so much anticipation that this was actually finally happening. There was a big, long line outside the courtroom waiting to file in. Everyone wanted to get a spot ready to hear what the attorneys had to say.

[Andrea Canning]

So, Michelle, what did we learn in the prosecution's opening statement?

[Michelle Madigan]

The assistant da, Ryan Brackley, really laid it out like a timeline. He told the story of how Angela kept going back to the hospital. She went to urgent care. She just kept getting sicker and sicker and not understanding what was causing the symptoms. Then he talked about how James Craig had ordered potassium cyanide to his dental practice and kind of laid out how ultimately she did have potassium cyanide in her system. And this family had surveillance cameras inside their home. So the prosecutor in his opening actually showed photos from this surveillance footage. We saw James Craig in the kitchen making a protein shake that he allegedly then gave to Angela to drink.

[Andrea Canning]

Michelle, one thing that always confuses me, gets me, you know, are these allegations of murder suspects that they do Google searches. And this is no different. James Craig, you know, was accused of making some pretty incriminating searches.

[Michelle Madigan]

Yes. This is in the days leading up to Angela's death. They say he's doing them on a computer in the dental practice. That's not in his office. He's using a computer in an exam room. And that's where they found the most incriminating of these Google searches.

[Tom Yamas]

How to make murder look like a heart attack. Tetrahydrosyline poisoning. Lethal dose is arsenic. Detectable in autopsy. 5 most dangerous chemicals on earth. Where to buy arsenic.

[Andrea Canning]

Ryan Brackley also talked about James and Angela's marriage, that it was deteriorating.

[Michelle Madigan]

He did. James was having casual affairs with women over the course of their 23 year marriage. They said he met them on sugar daddy websites. He was having an affair with one woman who he actually met at a dental conference. Dr. Karen Kane. The prosecution said this affair was escalating. They read text messages between them, and you can see he wants to plan a future with her and, you know, wants to. To no longer be with Angela. And he was even texting with Karen as Angela died.

[Andrea Canning]

The prosecutor ended his opening statement, referencing the additional charges against James that we mentioned off the top. What is he accused of doing since he's been behind bars? It's. It's pretty wild, right?

[Michelle Madigan]

It is. I think prosecutors are. Are looking into what he was doing from behind bars. And they say he was trying to fabricate evidence implying that his wife had taken her own life. He started asking fellow inmates to plant fake letters around his home, making it seem that Angela was suicidal. He also offered a fellow inmate $20,000 to kill the lead investigator on the case.

[Andrea Canning]

And these were inmates who were about to be released. So in theory, they could. They could go into the world and do this.

[Michelle Madigan]

This is all according to prosecutors, so we'll see how they lay out that evidence. Asking the jury to convict Dr. Craig of solicitation to commit murder and solicitation to commit perjury, in addition to the first degree murder charge. James has pleaded not guilty to all of them.

[Andrea Canning]

How did Dr. Craig's attorney respond in her opening statement?

[Michelle Madigan]

So his attorney isn't disputing that Angela was sick or that she had poison in her system. It's really coming down to how she died. And they're saying you can't prove that it was murder. She talked about this family being broken. The marriage was broken. Angela had worked hard to create this image of a beautiful family, but behind closed doors, James was having affairs. And they said Angela knew all along this wasn't anything new. So this intense, emotional affair that was leading up to this murder, they said it, it wasn't a spark, it wasn't a motive for murder. And the defense says this all comes down to tunnel vision that the investigators had blinders on. They pointed out a lot of evidence that wasn't collected from the house in the initial investigation, including Angela's computer. They had her phone so they could see what types of searches she was doing, you know, trying to solve the mystery of her own illness. But perhaps her laptop would have given them even more information about what Angela was doing in the days leading up to her death.

[Andrea Canning]

The defense also called Angela a broken person. They played some home surveillance video after Angela's first visit to the hospital.

[Michelle Madigan]

There was this conversation the defense played of the two of them in the kitchen. And they're saying that it was James Craig who actually asked for a toxicology screening in the hospital that didn't say.

[Tom Yamas]

I'm afraid she did this to herself. I just said, are you going to do a drug now?

[Michelle Madigan]

But at the same time, you know, as you're listening to the sound, it touches on something the prosecution mentioned, that her husband was trying to spin the narrative of her illness towards suicide.

[Andrea Canning]

It's your fault they treated me differently. It's your fault they treated me like I was a suicide. Works like I did it to myself and like nothing I said could be believed.

[Michelle Madigan]

So it'll be interesting to see how these conflicting stories play out in the trial.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, this is a very informative first step as we plan to have the team back to continue talking about this trial for us. Thank you so much, Michelle, for coming on the podcast.

[Michelle Madigan]

My pleasure, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Coming up, the man accused of a catfishing plot that left his wife and another man dead says the prosecutions got the case all wrong. Foreign.

[Tom Yamas]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with Emmy and Golden Globe winner the legend Angela Bassett to talk about playing the president of the United States in the buzzed about Robert De Niro series Zero Day and starring as the queen in the blockbuster Black Panther movies. You can hear our conversation now for free wherever you get. Download your podcasts. It looked like a pleasant summer day, but was was in fact a spectacular summer day, perfect for lounging and listening to Dateline. Subscribe to Dateline Premium and get a free one month trial ad, free listening, bonus episodes and early access to new original series. This Special offer expires July 30, so subscribe now to DATELINE Premium only on Apple Podcasts. You don't want to miss out, do you? The hit podcast Dateline Missing in America is back with a new season and more unsolved missing person cases that you might be able to help solve. It's like a living nightmare. A living Nightmare. It was 12:45am when Sophie Reader started her journey, slipping out of her house and into a syrupy Florida night. At 2:16am, a security camera recorded her walking along Davie boulevard in South Fort Lauderdale. Sophie Reeder was 15 years old and that video is the last known image of her on May 20, 2017, the day she disappeared.

[Andrea Canning]

It is not a place for a 15 year old in the dark at all.

[Tom Yamas]

Listen now to Dateline Missing in America and maybe you could be the key to solving her case. Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

[Andrea Canning]

Back In February of 2023, a mysterious story hit the news in the Washington D.C. suburbs. Police are still working to piece together.

[Tom Yamas]

What exactly happened inside that home.

[Andrea Canning]

We're just trying to work out the.

[Tom Yamas]

Details, the sequence of these violent acts.

[Andrea Canning]

Christine Banfield, an ICU nurse and a mom to a 4 year old, was stabbed to death in her bedroom. And a man named Joseph Ryan was found shot to death just a few feet away. Christine's husband Brendan told 911 he'd shot Ryan, a total stranger, after walking in on him attacking his wife. But eight months later, there was a big twist in the case. Police arrested someone else for Christine's murder. The family au pair.

[Michelle Madigan]

Through the great police work, they have been able to get to a point where they have identified the au pair as Juliana Perez Margulies and they have.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Charged her with second degree murder.

[Andrea Canning]

Almost a year later, Brendan Banfield was arrested too. Prosecutors accused him of scheming with Juliana, his alleged lover, to murder his wife and frame Joseph Ryan for it. They said it was an elaborate plot involving catfishing and a fetish website. Banfield pleaded not guilty. Then in a dramatic pre trial hearing late last week, Brendan's defense team revealed that two of the original detectives on the case harbored doubts about the prosecution's theory. Dateline producer Marianne o' Donnell was in the courtroom and is here to tell us what happened. Hey, Marianne.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Hey, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Remind everyone first what the prosecution is alleging happened in this case.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Sure. So it is a bit complicated. Northern Virginia prosecutors are saying that Brendan Banfield, who is an IRS agent, and his au pair, Juliana Magules, pretended to be Brendan's wife Christine to lure someone named Joseph Ryan to her house with the promise of kinky sex is what I think we'd call it.

[Andrea Canning]

This Joseph is like just somebody on a website.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

He doesn't know these people exactly, really, truly a random guy.

[Andrea Canning]

So he arrives at the house.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

He arrives at the house and the prosecutors are saying that the object was this. Kill Christine, but make it look like this guy was the one who killed Christine and that they then shot Joseph Ryan in a case of self defense.

[Andrea Canning]

Thank you. That is a complicated story. Brendan and Juliana, they get arrested and they are still behind bars now.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Yes. So Juliana Magalis, the au pair, was charged with second degree murder based on statements she gave police, really just after the crime. However, Brendan Banfield, the husband, refused to talk to police that day and since. And so they had a tougher time making a case against him. And it was more than a year later that Juliana offered a proffer where she said, yes, the state's case, the Commonwealth case, is correct. And they finally were able to arrest him.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. So she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Yes. And in exchange, once the trial against Banfield is over, she is deported to her native country, Brazil.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so her case is almost wrapped up. Brendan is marching toward trial in October. There was a hearing late last week in the. You thought it was gonna be pretty routine, right, Marianne?

[Marianne O'Donnell]

I would say so.

[Andrea Canning]

It wasn't.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Yeah. When we got there, it was like the whole, like, top brass of police was in the courtroom. And it became clear very quickly that the defense was questioning this investigation. And what was revealed was eye opening, to say the least. First witness is the D digital forensics detective who said he examined devices from the Banfields and the au pair, and he determined that it was Christine and Christine alone, who likely set up the profile and was in contact with Joseph Ryan. And he says he bases this on the IP address, the home's WI fi and router, also on the language used that he said was really very specific to Christine and would have been hard for anyone else to duplicate.

[Andrea Canning]

So there's no catfishing.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

That is essentially what the detective says. It wasn't her husband and aupair pretending to be her. And really what the defense was establishing in this hearing was reasonable doubt. I mean, if your lead forensics detective is saying, sorry, guys, I don't see any proof of this anywhere in the data, your case falls apart, your case is gone. It's Christine who invited this man over to the home. The session turned especially violent. He kills her. The husband and the au pair run up the stairs to discover this happening, and they shoot and kill Joseph Ryan.

[Andrea Canning]

So the defense team for Brendan, what.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

They'Re saying is au pair Juliana, she has been pressured into turning on Brendan Banfield, concocting this story so that she can get a ticket out of jail and be deported back to her home country.

[Andrea Canning]

Did the prosecution push back on any of the naysayers?

[Marianne O'Donnell]

They tried to gingerly approach it and say it was sort of a, if you will, a difference of opinion and that it didn't affect the commonwealth's case.

[Andrea Canning]

One of the prosecutors asked the homicide detective on the stand if all 12 Fairfax homicide detectives have different theories about the case.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Correct. And you know, he said yes. He couched in such a way that you're going to get 12 people in a room and they're all going to have their theories that that in itself was not unusual. But on the stand, the lead detective in the case, Kyle Bryant, was asked by the defense, did you receive pressure from above regarding this investigation? And he said yes.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. And what is happening now with these members of the investigation team who are not agreeing with the prosecution theory?

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Sure. Real mess and a lot of it is to be determined. But the deputy chief, one of the commanders over this case, essentially made sure that digital forensics detective was transferred out of the unit. And he said he'll never work another case in Major Crimes under his watch again. That's how much he disagreed with what the digital forensics detective was saying in his report. However, that data and the detective's analysis was sent for peer review to the University of Alabama, and the review said no, this detective did everything right. He analyzed the data as he was supposed to and his conclusion was sound. Now the defense has asked for all the paperwork involved in the transfers. The lead detective was also transferred and there were others on the case who were also transferred. And the judge essentially agreed. Yes, the defense had the right to see what was involved in that transfer. What was the basis? What were the details? And then on Monday, we find out that the deputy chief handed in his retirement papers. So we really are sitting by waiting to see what other shoe is going to drop.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. Well, Marianne, I know you'll be on top of all these pretrial hearings as we approach the fall. Thank you so much.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Always good to talk with you.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE roundup. We've got verdicts in the murder trials of former major league baseball pitcher Dan Serafini and Iowa Farmer's wife Karina Cooper, whose Snapchat messages took center stage at her trial. Plus, a new scam involving impersonating law enforcement officers. What you need to know as the day wraps up. Get the scoop on what's been happening with here's the Scoop, the new podcast from NBC News. With me, your host, Yasmin Vasugian, along with Morgan Chesky and Brian Chung. We'll take a deep dive into the day's top stories with NBC News trusted journalists. It's a fresh take that's sharp, thoughtful and it's informative, bringing you closer to the headlines and conversations that are shaping our world.

[Michelle Madigan]

From the front page to the zeitgeist.

[Andrea Canning]

All in 15 minutes or less. Here's the scoop from NBC News. Listen daily on Apple Podcasts.

[Tom Yamas]

Hey everybody, I'm Al Roker from the Today show, here to tell you about our Jumpstart July event. The Start Today app has everything you need to get and stay motivated on your wellness journey all in one place, like walking challenges for all levels to get you moving, healthy recipes that are easy and delicious and so much more. And now when you subscribe for an annual plan, you'll get your first month completely free with promo code Jumpstart. Just download the Start Today app now to get started. Offer in 73125 must enter code at checkout, must be 18 or up after first month, you'll be automatically charged $65.99 a year plus tax for an annual subscription until you cancel. Cancel anytime through your device settings under Apple account. See website for full terms.

[Michelle Madigan]

Hey everyone, I'm Jenna Bush Hager from the Today show and I'm excited to share my podcast Open Book with Jenna. It is back for season two. Each week, celebrities, experts, friends and authors will share candid stories with me about their lives and new projects. Guests like Rebecca Yarros, Kristin Hannah, Ego Wodom and more. Like a good book, you'll leave feeling inspired and entertained. Join me for my podcast Open Book with Jenna. Listen now on Apple Podcast.

[Andrea Canning]

Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is Dateline producer Sue Simpson. Hey Sue.

[Sue Simpson]

Hey Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So sue, we're starting in California with a real blockbuster, a verdict in the high profile murder trial of former major league baseball pitcher Dan Serafini. We've been covering it on the podcast for a while. Sue, remind us about the story.

[Sue Simpson]

Well, Andrea, prosecutors allege that Serafini shot and killed his father in law Gary Spohr in an execution style murder. That's what they called it at his home in Lake Tahoe in 2021. Spohr's wife Wendy Wood, was also shot. She survived but later died by suicide. The woman that Serafini was having an affair with, Samantha Scott, has admitted driving him to his in laws home the day of the shooting. Scott took a plea deal and she's awaiting sentencing as an accessory to the crime.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so Sue. Jurors reached a verdict after three days of deliberations. Let's take a listen to that.

[Tom Yamas]

We, the jury, and above entitled action find the defendant, Daniel Joseph Serafini, guilty. You further find the degree of murder to be that of murder in the first degree.

[Andrea Canning]

Sue, how did Serafini react in the courtroom?

[Sue Simpson]

You know, Andrea, you never know how a defendant will react to you. So as the verdict was read, Serafini tipped his head back, looked up at the ceiling, and Adrian, the victim's youngest daughter, burst into tears, and she actually spoke out after the verdict.

[Andrea Canning]

It's been four years since my mom and dad were shot, and it's been four years of just hell.

[Sue Simpson]

This case really divided the victim's family. As you know, Andrea, Dan's wife, Erin, took her husband's side against her sister Adrienne. Even sitting on a different side of the courtroom during the closings after the verdict, Erin left the court without commenting.

[Kristin Barnett]

Erin, is there anything you'd like to say on that?

[Andrea Canning]

No, thank you. Not right now. So the former pitcher faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He'll be sentenced later this summer, and we'll be sure to update you with that. Now onto another verdict in a case we've been watching. This one is in Iowa, where Karina Cooper was accused of murdering her husband Ryan, four years ago.

[Sue Simpson]

Andrea, let's note that Cooper did something relatively rare for a defendant. She took the stand in her own defense.

[Andrea Canning]

I see Ryan and then I see a large pool of blood. I shook his foot, and then I just started screaming.

[Sue Simpson]

Karina Cooper admitted that she lied to investigators initially about her affair with a former client, Houston Danker. She blamed Danker for the murder when she was on the stand.

[Andrea Canning]

Did Houston talk about killing Ryan? Several times. Did you ever take him seriously? No. I thought he was full of crap.

[Sue Simpson]

Prosecutors argued that Snapchat messages between the two proved that they work together.

[Andrea Canning]

You have a conversation with Agent Tabit. He tells you no detail is too small. Tell me everything. Correct. You never mentioned any of these texts or Snapchats that you sent? No. You never mentioned. There are 331. You sent a heart emoji to Houston Dinker. I did not mention that. 3:31am is right before the time prosecutors say the murder took place. So, sue, what did the jury decide?

[Sue Simpson]

The jury found Karina Cooper guilty of murdering her husband. Cooper faces a life sentence without parole, and Denker will stand trial later this year. We're going to keep an eye on that, of course.

[Andrea Canning]

Danker entered a plea of not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial August 12th. And finally, the latest from Massachusetts on the Karen Reid case. Last month, a jury, of course, acquitted her of murder and the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John o', Keefe, convicting her only of drunk driving. But the courts are not done with her yet, are they?

[Sue Simpson]

That's right. John o' Keefe's family has filed a wrongful death suit against Karen Reed. The suit seeks more than $50,000. And Reid was supposed to be deposed after her murder trial ended. Well, that time is. But Reid's attorneys, a whole new team, are asking the court to throw out the lawsuit. Andrea, you know I'm going to be watching this one. Also, a quick footnote. Reid and her attorney, Alan Jackson have signed a deal to develop a screen adaptation of her story. So it looks like we're all going to be living in Karen Reid land for a while longer.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, no kidding. Sue, thank you so much for joining us this week.

[Sue Simpson]

Thank you, Andrea. Talk soon.

[Andrea Canning]

We try to keep you up to date on the podcast about some of the latest ways scammers are going after your money. A few weeks ago, we told you about tariff scams. Before that it was bogus road tools. You might think you'd never fall for any of these scams, but what would you do if you got a call from someone impersonating a police officer? In the past few months, NBC News affiliates in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas have raised the alarm about a scam involving fake officers.

[Michelle Madigan]

Have you gotten a call from law enforcement lately? In a new scam, subjects are calling you from fake numbers impersonating law enforcement.

[Tom Yamas]

In a post, the sheriff's office says people are claiming to have an arrest warrant on the person they've called.

[Sue Simpson]

A man we're calling John parked right here and handed over $8,000, convinced he.

[Marianne O'Donnell]

Was about to be arrested.

[Andrea Canning]

My next guest, Kristin Barnett, conducted several fraud investigations during her career working for the federal government. She is here to tell us more about how scam works and what to look out for. Great to have you on the show, Kristen.

[Kristin Barnett]

Thank you so much, Andrea. It's great to be here.

[Andrea Canning]

Kristin, give us the basics of this new scam.

[Kristin Barnett]

Sure. So a worrisome current trend involves criminals presenting themselves as law enforcement officials, calling people to inform them that they have a warrant out for their arrest. And in order to make it go away, the victim is told he or she needs to wire large sums of money or purchase high value gift cards or even cryptocurrency in some cases. And they're presenting themselves as law enforcement officials very convincingly. What happens a lot is they will spoof their phone number to make it appear like a police officer is calling you.

[Andrea Canning]

That's really scary to hear because that's kind of how we, you know, up to this point know that something's legitimate is by our caller id.

[Kristin Barnett]

Absolutely. And the way to verify these things is when you get one of these calls, ask for their badge number and you can call your local police department and provide that badge number and just say, hey, is this person a legitimate police officer? I like to go a step further and request the name and phone number of their supervisor. But first and foremost, if someone is calling you to say there is a warrant out for your arrest, it's more than likely a scam. Because there are very few instances, if any, that law enforcement will call and notify someone that there was an arrest warrant.

[Andrea Canning]

So. True. Yeah. They're going to show up at your door, at your work, they're going to pull you over.

[Kristin Barnett]

Right.

[Andrea Canning]

And really the other thing too is use common sense. Have you done anything in your life.

[Kristin Barnett]

Exactly.

[Andrea Canning]

That would warrant you getting arrested?

[Kristin Barnett]

Exactly. Always think about is this, could this in any way be legitimate? And most likely it's not.

[Andrea Canning]

I mean, there could be somebody who has unpaid parking tickets and suddenly like in their mind is freaking out because they're thinking maybe they do arrest people for, you know, for not paying tickets or whatever. So it's, it's possible that people can be manipulated in that way.

[Kristin Barnett]

Absolutely. And criminals know this and take advantage of this.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. And, you know, in the heat of the moment, situations can feel real. According to an investig by our NBC affiliate KPRC, one man in Texas lost $8,000. Scammers did more than just call him up. They took things a step further.

[Kristin Barnett]

So they required him to take out a surety bond, meet with a bail bondsman in a parking lot somewhere, and to present this bond. When the individual showed up, this quote unquote bail bondsman went as far as providing a business card with a actual bail bonds business in the area.

[Andrea Canning]

It seems like one of the more silly parts of this is these gift cards. I mean, if law enforcement is asking you to pay them in gift cards, I mean, look, money's one thing, gift cards are another.

[Kristin Barnett]

Exactly.

[Andrea Canning]

And you have a few other dead giveaways that it could be a scam.

[Kristin Barnett]

Absolutely. So if there's a sense of urgency and something like, you know, either do this or this will happen, that is a big red flag to look out for because there's no instance where a law enforcement official will present you with a deal like that sort of thing.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, for sure. Kristen, amazing tips. Thank you for joining us.

[Kristin Barnett]

Oh, thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.

[Andrea Canning]

That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. To get ad free listening for all our podcasts, subscribe to DATELINE Premium. And don't forget to check out Josh's new season of the DATELINE Missing in America podcast. You can binge the whole series wherever you get your podcasts. Coming up this Friday on dateline, we've got a classic Keith mystery. When a private investigator goes missing, detectives follow a trail of broken relationships and money. But will it lead them to her killer? It's kind of like a roller coaster. You're just hanging over the edge and you're just waiting to drop. Watch the necklace this Friday at 9, 8 Central on NBC. Thanks for listening. DATELINE True Crime Weekly is produced by Franny Kelly, Katie Ferguson and Sue Simpson. Our associate producers are Carson Cummins, Caroline Casey and Kim Kim Flores Gaynor. Our senior producer is Liz Brown Kurloff production and fact checking helped by Terry Dickerson. Veronica Mazeca is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Bryson Barnes is head of audio production. Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Cole is senior executive producer of dateline.

[Michelle Madigan]

All right, have a good day, everyone.

[Tom Yamas]

There's a time when a person goes missing. The brain says something bad has happened. The heart says, keep looking. Taylor Wright announced she was running an errand and she didn't come back. Started as a simple missing person case. Was she actually missing or had she simply left? Taylor's story would get a lot more complicated. Dateline Friday at 9, 8 Central, only on NBC.