A "no body" murder trial in Mississippi. A Wisconsin dad fakes his death. Plus, keeping your home safe during the holidays.

Summary

Dateline NBC Podcast Summary: December 19, 2024

Episode Title: A "No Body" Murder Trial in Mississippi. A Wisconsin Dad Fakes His Death. Plus, Keeping Your Home Safe During the Holidays.

---

1. Introduction

In this episode of Dateline NBC, hosted by Andrea Canning, listeners are taken through a gripping "no body" murder trial in Mississippi, the astonishing case of a Wisconsin father who faked his own death, and essential tips for keeping your home safe during the holiday season. The episode also features a comprehensive roundup of other significant true-crime stories and legal developments.

---

2. "No Body" Murder Trial in Mississippi

Overview of the Case

The episode delves into the heart-wrenching case of Jay Lee, a 20-year-old University of Mississippi student who tragically disappeared on July 8, 2022. The trial centers around Sheldon Timothy Harrington, accused of murdering Jay to conceal their secret sexual relationship.

Key Testimonies and Evidence

• Stephanie Lee’s Testimony: Jay's mother, Stephanie Lee, shared her final interaction with her son. At [02:47], she recounts receiving a birthday text from Jay:

  "I gave him a text back with a smiley face." [02:47]

  Under questioning, she expressed her hopes for a response:

  "I was expecting his call at that point. Hey, mama, it's your birthday. Happy birthday." [02:59]

• Prosecution’s Case: The prosecution highlighted that Harrington was the last known person to see Jay alive. They presented a Snapchat conversation between Jay and Harrington, which suggested a possible confrontation:

  "Jay Lee says, are you luring me in? Are you gonna beat me up or something?" [05:26]

  Additionally, surveillance footage placed Harrington at locations linked to Jay's disappearance, including Jay's car found at an apartment complex and Harrington's sudden appearance at a gas station shortly after.

• Defense’s Argument: Harrington’s defense team argued the lack of direct evidence and attempted to introduce alternate suspects, emphasizing that there was no physical evidence tying Harrington to the crime scene:

  "No proof, not one bit of direct evidence." [03:32]

Trial Proceedings and Verdict

The trial concluded abruptly with a hung jury. After initial deliberations, the jury was deadlocked with an 11-1 split in favor of guilty verdicts. Harrington's reaction was notably somber, reflecting the personal turmoil he faces beyond the trial:

"There wasn't any relief on his face. Tim has to deal with a lot." [09:04]

The district attorney plans to retry the case, with possibilities of reaching a plea deal.

---

3. The Case of Ryan Borgwart: Wisconsin Dad Fakes His Death

Disappearance and Search Efforts

At around 10:00 PM on August 11th, 44-year-old Ryan Borgwart embarked on a kayaking trip on Green Lake, Wisconsin. He never returned home, prompting a massive search effort that included cadaver dogs and dive teams, but only Ryan’s kayak, fishing rod, and personal items were found:

"There is no body." [12:01]

Unraveling the Truth

Despite initial assumptions of a tragic drowning, authorities discovered that Ryan was alive and in hiding. Sheriff Mark Pottle played a pivotal role in uncovering Ryan’s elaborate plan to fake his death, which included:

• Staging the Disappearance: Ryan reportedly capsized his kayak, used an inflatable boat to return, and traveled 70 miles on an e-bike to Madison before fleeing the state.

• Financial Preparations: He obtained a $375,000 life insurance policy, opened a foreign bank account, and communicated with a woman from Uzbekistan.

Capture and Aftermath

Ryan was located in December after pleading for help via video communication, leading to his return to the U.S. He faces charges of obstructing an officer, with potential penalties including fines and prison time. The revelation has devastated his family, with his wife Emily filing for separation:

"The marriage is irretrievably broken." [18:17]

---

4. Dateline Roundup

a. Rex Heuerman and the Gilgo Beach Murders

• Additional Charge: The Suffolk County District Attorney's office has filed a seventh murder charge against Rex Heuerman, linking him to Valerie Mack's 2000 disappearance. A critical piece of evidence includes hair found on Mack's wrist matching Heuerman’s family members and planning documents referencing the murder site:

  "There was a hair found on Valerie Mack's left wrist that was linked to Heuerman's wife or daughter." [21:40]

• Heuerman’s Stance: Heuerman continues to deny all allegations, maintaining his innocence against the mounting charges.

b. Sentencing of Adam Fral

• Murder Conviction: Adam Fral was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2023 murder of Meline Kingsbury, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children. The prosecution presented a compelling case of Fral’s brutal actions and subsequent concealment of the crime.

• Victim’s Sister’s Statement: Megan Kingsbury delivered a powerful victim impact statement, emphasizing the lasting pain inflicted on their family and children:

  "The children in our family don't get to walk through their young lives shrouded in a cloak of childhood innocence anymore." [23:21]

c. Verdict in Nima Momeni’s Trial

• Outcome: Nima Momeni was acquitted of first-degree murder charges in the stabbing of Cash App co-founder Bob Lee but found guilty of second-degree murder with enhancements for using a deadly weapon.

• Future Proceedings: Momeni is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in January, facing a potential prison term ranging from 16 years to life:

  "He faces anywhere from 16 years to life in prison." [24:58]

---

5. Keeping Your Home Safe During the Holidays

Senior Consumer Investigative Correspondent Vicky Wynn shares indispensable tips to protect your home while you enjoy the holiday season:

a. Basic Security Measures

• Lock Doors and Windows: Always secure entry points, regardless of neighborhood safety perceptions.

  "The most basic, simple security thing that you can do is making sure you lock your doors and windows." [25:34]

• Notify Neighbors: Inform trusted neighbors of your absence and consider leaving a key with them for property monitoring.

• Utilize Home Security Systems: Ensure your security systems are active and connected to your phone for real-time alerts.

• Social Media Caution: Avoid sharing real-time location updates to prevent signaling that your home is unoccupied.

b. Enhancing Home Appearance

• Lighting: Install motion-activated lights or use timers to mimic occupancy.

  "Installing some basic motion lights... set them to go on and off at random times." [26:42]

• Mail and Deliveries: Pause mail delivery or arrange for someone to collect mail daily to avoid accumulation, which signals an empty home.

• Vehicle Presence: Park a car in your driveway intermittently to create the impression of occupancy.

c. Inside the Home

• Secure Valuables: Use safes placed in inconspicuous locations to protect important documents and valuables.

• Organize Personal Items: Keep laptops, tablets, and car keys out of sight from windows to prevent temptation.

• Curtains and Windows: Avoid closing all curtains, as it indicates the home is empty. Strategically close some to obscure valuables without appearing entirely unoccupied.

d. Additional Safety Tips

• Unplug Appliances: Prevent electrical hazards and reduce energy consumption by unplugging devices when not in use.

• Fire Safety: Close doors to slow the spread of fire within the home, enhancing overall safety.

---

6. Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Andrea Canning wraps up the episode by previewing upcoming content, including a special year-in-review episode and an in-depth look at a recent violent attack case. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free access and exclusive content.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Andrea Canning on Jay Lee’s disappearance:

  "I was expecting his call at that point. Hey, mama, it's your birthday. Happy birthday." [02:59]

• Izar Harpaz on lack of evidence:

  "No proof, not one bit of direct evidence." [03:32]

• Vicky Wynn on basic security:

  "The most basic, simple security thing that you can do is making sure you lock your doors and windows." [25:34]

• Megan Kingsbury’s victim impact statement:

  "The children in our family don't get to walk through their young lives shrouded in a cloak of childhood innocence anymore." [23:24]

---

This episode of Dateline NBC offers a compelling mix of intense true-crime stories and practical advice, ensuring listeners are both informed and prepared for the holiday season.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

It's the holiday season and the perfect time to gift yourself with a new home for the new year. For a limited time, take advantage of incredible savings and incentives during Dr. Horton's it's yous Year savings event going on now through December 22nd. Your perfect home for every holiday season is waiting for you. To find yours, visit any of our participating Dr. Horton communities or visit [e-mail] and discover the Dr. Horton difference. Dr. Horton, America's builder, an equal housing opportunity builder. Life can throw a lot your way. In the morning, you might be battling drop off times while your kids are battling imaginary monsters or their shoelaces. But no matter what life brings, Life Cereal puts a smile on everyone's face. With 24 grams of whole grains and unexpected sweetness in every serving, it, it's sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Help start your mornings with Life Cereal.

[Listener 1]

I really love my life.

[Andrea Canning]

Let's go. So this is a story we've talked about before. You're listening in to Dateline's morning meeting in 30 Rockefeller Center.

[Commercial Announcer]

She is married to Diddy's lawyer.

[Listener 1]

Wow.

[Andrea Canning]

Really? Yeah. The one who represented the Nixxiv guy. Our editorial team is catching up on breaking crime news around the country. I think only four charges stop, right?

[Listener 2]

She's breaking her silence, actually.

[Andrea Canning]

He offers an inmate $15,000 to go kill somebody else. Welcome to DATELINE true Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's December 19th and here's what's on our docket. The Wisconsin kayaker who made headlines around the world when he faked his own death and fled the country is back in the US to answer to a judge and his family.

[Marquise Francis]

This was a very meticulously planned out staged death, or so he thought in.

[Andrea Canning]

DATELINE Roundup, a big development in the case of the alleged Gilgo beach serial killer. And finally, a verdict in the trial of the man accused of murdering tech mogul Bob Lee.

[Listener 2]

According to the sketch artist, Momeni wiped away a few tears after the verdict was read.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, NBC News senior consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn will be here with some tips on how to keep your home safe. If you're traveling over the holiday, you.

[Listener 1]

Don'T want to actually close all of your curtains. That is a sure fire sign to sign to burglars. Hey, nobody's home.

[Andrea Canning]

But first, we're heading to a college town in Mississippi where a case without a body made its way to trial more than two years after the victim disappeared. On July 8, 2022, Stephanie Lee woke up to a text from her 20 year old son Jay. The University of Mississippi student wished her a happy birthday.

[Listener 1]

I gave him a text back with a smiley face.

[Andrea Canning]

That's Stephanie testifying two weeks ago at the trial of the man accused of murdering her son. The prosecutor asked her what she was expecting after sending the text.

[Listener 1]

I was expecting his call at that point. Hey, mama, it's your birthday. Happy birthday.

[Izar Harpaz]

I love you.

[Listener 1]

And did you get a response? No, I did not.

[Andrea Canning]

Stephanie never heard from her son again, and his body was never found. But just a few weeks after he went missing, police in Oxford, Mississippi, arrested Sheldon Timothy Harrington for J. Lee's murder. They say Harrington, who pleaded not guilty, killed Lee to cover up their secret sexual relationship. His defense team, meanwhile, said there was.

[Izar Harpaz]

No proof, not one bit of direct evidence.

[Andrea Canning]

Last week, the blockbuster trial came to a stunning and abrupt conclusion. Dateline producer Izar Harpaz was in Mississippi for the trial. He joins us now to tell us what happened. Isar, welcome to the podcast.

[Izar Harpaz]

Glad to be here to start.

[Andrea Canning]

What can you tell us about Jay Lee? Who was he?

[Izar Harpaz]

Jay Lee had graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi, was about to enter grad school. He was a community activist. He was also out and proud. You know, somebody who performed in local drag shows. He was unapologetically who he was, nice. He also was a family person. You know, his mom and him literally talked every day of his entire life since he had been born, sometimes two, three times a day.

[Andrea Canning]

Isar, what do we know about the relationship between Jay Lee and Timothy Harrington?

[Izar Harpaz]

What trial testimony has revealed. Unlike Jay Lee, Tim Harrington was hiding his sexuality. He was not out. His parents didn't know anything about it. His best friends didn't know anything about that. The grandfather was a bishop at the church that he founded for 42 years. And so his relationship with Jay Lee was fairly secretive.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so a big part of the prosecution's case was that Harrington was the last known person to see Jay Lee alive. The prosecutor told the jury that the men met up on July 8 in the early morning hours. And then Lee left after an argument. And at trial, the prosecution presented evidence of a Snapchat conversation between the two that helped them sort of piece together what might have happened next.

[Izar Harpaz]

It took the police a while to trace this Snapchat account to Tim Harrington, but they were able to do it. Tim Harrington says, come back. And Jay Lee says, are you luring me in? Are you gonna beat me up or something? And Tim says, why would I do that? Come by now.

[Andrea Canning]

One of the problems the police have here is that there's no body they haven't found. Jay Lee, right?

[Izar Harpaz]

Yeah, that is correct.

[Andrea Canning]

Aside from Jay Lee being with Harrington, what other evidence did the prosecution present to make their case against Harrington?

[Izar Harpaz]

So they had some pretty powerful visual and surveillance evidence. Right. They get word on July 10, two days after they disappeared, Jay's car was found at this apartment complex about seven miles away from Tim Harrington's apartment. And so then they say, okay, well, maybe we can see some surveillance video of how this car got there.

[Andrea Canning]

Could they tell who was driving it when it came into the complex?

[Izar Harpaz]

They could not tell who was driving it. But nine minutes later, a person is seen jogging out of the apartment complex.

[Andrea Canning]

Could they make out a face on the jogger?

[Izar Harpaz]

Could not make out a face, no. But as they were looking at the video footage, they see the same jogger come out into a gas station and get into a car and drive away. So now they have a car that, you know, they try to find the car's owner. Right. And the car's owner comes in, and his name is Kezia Carter. And he says, yeah, yeah, A friend of my girlfriend's just flagged me down. Well, what's the name of your friend? I says, tim Harrington. Five minutes after he picks him up, he gets stopped by police for speeding. Oh, so we actually have body cam camera of Tim Harrington being in that car with him. If he had just not flagged down a ride. Right. They would have probably not known who that person was.

[Andrea Canning]

They had some other evidence that didn't look so good for Tim Harrington. He goes over to his parents house, he's wearing rubber boots, he's carrying a shovel and getting a wheelbarrow. That doesn't make him a killer, but when you add it all together, it doesn't look good.

[Izar Harpaz]

The defense was trying to say one of his jobs was manage some of the rental properties that his grandfather had. There was no schedule to it. And so this may have been one of those days. Although they didn't preserve any evidence that he actually did that. But remember, there is no physical evidence. They didn't find anything in his apartment. They didn't find anything in Jay's car. They didn't find anything in Tim Harrington's car. There's no sign of a struggle.

[Andrea Canning]

Was there anything else, Isar, that really stuck out to you from the defense?

[Izar Harpaz]

Yes. I mean, the defense did try to imply some alternate suspects. They always said, oh, we're not saying that they did it, and we know they were eliminated, but the police should have investigated further than that.

[Andrea Canning]

Things moved very quickly. Quickly after closing arguments, two hours after.

[Izar Harpaz]

They started deliberation, there was a note. What if we can't agree on a verdict? Judge sent them back and said, try it. So another two hours there, they said, I think we're deadlocked. He brought them out and he said, without telling me whether it's guilty or not guilty, just tell me what's the split? And the jury format says 11 to one. I confirmed later on 11 guilty and one not guilty. The judge sent them back. They were inside for another five hours.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah.

[Izar Harpaz]

And finally they came out and they were totally deadlocked.

[Andrea Canning]

How did Tim Harrington react to a hung jury? It's very, you know, on one hand it can be it's good for the defendant in some ways, but then this still hangs over their head.

[Izar Harpaz]

There wasn't any happiness on his face. There wasn't any relief on his face. Tim has to deal with a lot of, you know, a lot of has been revealed that his family may have not known. And so he has to face that as well.

[Andrea Canning]

Are they going to try Tim Harrington again?

[Izar Harpaz]

They're definitely gonna retry it, but there is a possibility, and some people are speculating on that, that the defense will reach out to see if they can get a plea deal.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, Isar, thank you so much for taking us through this really sad story. We appreciate it.

[Izar Harpaz]

Thank you so much, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, new in the investigation into the missing Wisconsin dad who staged his own death and ended up on the other side of the world. And the sheriff who refused to give up on bringing him home.

[Commercial Announcer]

It's the holiday season and the perfect time to gift yourself with a new home for the new year. For a limited time, take advantage of incredible savings and incentives during Dr. Horton's it's yous Year Savings event. Going on now through December 22nd. Your perfect home for every holiday season is waiting for you. To find yours, visit any of our participating Dr. Horton communities or visit [e-mail] and discover the Dr. Horton difference. Dr. Horton, America's builder, an equal housing opportunity builder.

[Listener 1]

Discover Hydro. The best kept secret in fitness. Hydro is a state of the art at home rower that engages 86% of your muscles delivering the ultimate full body workout in just 20 minutes. From advanced to beginner, Hydrow has over 5,000 classes shot worldwide and taught by Olympians and world class athletes. For a 30 day risk free trial, go to hydro.com and use code FIT to save up to $800 on a Hydro Pro rower. That's H Y-row.com code FIT.

[Andrea Canning]

Holiday magic is in the air. And DSW's got all the shoes to.

[Commercial Announcer]

Make your season extra merry. Believe you've got parties to attend and listen to.

[Andrea Canning]

Check twice. So DSW is taking care of the.

[Commercial Announcer]

Details like gifts to make their eyes all aglow. Styles that bring joy to your world.

[Listener 2]

Brands everyone wants like Ugg, Nike, Birkenstock and more.

[Andrea Canning]

And deals to make your budget bright.

[Commercial Announcer]

Find the perfect shoes for you and yours at a DSW store near you or dsw.com.

[Andrea Canning]

At around 10:00pm on August 11th of this year, 44 year old Wisconsin native Rya Borgwart took his kayak out for a paddle on the state's deepest lake. It's called Green Lake. But Ryan married with three kids, he never came home. His family reported him missing the next day and our affiliate NBC 26 was on the case. Greenlake county sheriff's deputies are still looking for a kayaker reported missing on Monday.

[Listener 1]

Is there a chance the kayaker's still alive?

[Andrea Canning]

No, it's definitely a drown. Over the next eight weeks, cadaver dogs and dive teams tirelessly searched the lake for a body. But then in November, police held a press conference.

[Commercial Announcer]

We gotta go a different direction.

[Izar Harpaz]

We do not know where he is. We know that he's not in our lake.

[Andrea Canning]

When investigators tracked him down, Ryan was very much alive and hiding in a place no one expected. Police urged him to come back and face law enforcement and his family.

[Listener 1]

Ryan, if you are viewing this, I.

[Izar Harpaz]

Plea that you contact us or contact your family.

[Andrea Canning]

Last week, Ryan did just that. Here to fill us in on how investigators tracked down a man who didn't want to be found. And what happens next is NBC News correspondent Marquise Francis. Marquis, thanks for joining us.

[Marquise Francis]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, this is a crazy story. What do we know about Ryan Borgwart?

[Marquise Francis]

Yeah, I mean to say it's crazy. It feels like almost an understatement. He's been married to his wife Emily for at least 22 years and they lived in Watertown, Wisconsin, which is a small town of about 23,000 people. Ryan's wife, Emily, she did say that Ryan was an entrepreneur.

[Andrea Canning]

August 11th, Ryan goes out on his kayak at night. He never returns home. How did the investigation play out from there?

[Marquise Francis]

So the following day after August 11, Ryan's wife reported him missing. And the local county sheriff, Mark Pottle, went to the lake and discovered Ryan's car and a trailer near the lake at a park where people launched their boats from. And then he also discovered a kayak that was overturned in the lake where the depth goes up to 200ft. And so for the next 54 days, there was an all out search for Ryan launched. Locals helped out, cadaver dogs were brought in, and even divers were sent into the water looking for Ryan, or at least clues. Two fishermen found a fishing rod that Ryan's wife confirmed belonged to her husband and a tackle box with Ryan's wallet, license, and keys in it. But ultimately, no Ryan after nearly two months.

[Andrea Canning]

Obviously, if you're the family, I would imagine you're thinking that this doesn't look good. My, you know, husband, father is gone. He's drowned. But over the course of a few months, police went from expecting to find a body in the lake to tracking down a live man. What was that turning point, Right, that.

[Marquise Francis]

Local sheriff and I want to keep saying his name, Mark Pottle. He was not playing around. He was not willing to give up on this case after hitting so many dead ends. The sheriff widened his search. And so he learned from Canadian authorities that Ryan had used his passport the day after he was reported missing.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, I mean, I wonder, you know, how he got to Canada. Like, did he call an Uber?

[Marquise Francis]

The local sheriff's department said on Aug. 11 at 10pm Ryan drove to that lake, he capsized his kayak, he dropped his phone in the water, and then he got back to shore in this, like, inflatable child sized boat. He then hopped on an e bike that he'd stashed somewhere nearby and then drove that e bike 70 miles through the night to Madison, Wisconsin. Oh, my gosh, yes, he was dedicated. And then he took a bus from Madison to Detroit, and somehow from there he crossed over into Canada. So this was a very, dare I say, meticulously plain out staged death, or so he thought. Ultimately, Ryan left his laptop behind, and a digital forensic analyst was able to search the laptop and find that Ryan had replaced the hard drive and cleared his browser history. And then earlier that year, in January, he took out a $375,000 life insurance policy out on himself. He also had opened up a foreign bank account and moved money there. And then police found out he'd been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan for months. Once police started putting these details together, it started to create a story that went from a disappearance to now, a faked death situation.

[Andrea Canning]

So Ryan ends up in Canada. Where does he go from there?

[Marquise Francis]

Ryan flew from Canada to Europe, landed in Paris at some point ended in Central Asia. And then he spent a significant time.

[Andrea Canning]

In Eastern Europe, in Georgia, with this woman From Uzbekistan.

[Marquise Francis]

We're still trying to figure out exactly who he was with.

[Andrea Canning]

Was there any thought about where I'm assuming maybe he met this woman online, like in a some type of a place where you connect?

[Marquise Francis]

I think a lot of people are speculating as to what happened.

[Andrea Canning]

Right.

[Marquise Francis]

I talked about this story with some of even my co workers and they've heard similar stories. All we can do right now is speculate. And so I don't wanna put anything out there in terms of who exactly he was with without really knowing. Police said they were finally able to get in contact with Ryan after speaking to a woman who spoke Russian.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. And they heard from Ryan over video, which they played at a later press conference.

[Listener 1]

Good evening.

[Commercial Announcer]

It's Ryan borgward.

[Andrea Canning]

Today is November 11th.

[Listener 1]

I am safe, secure.

[Andrea Canning]

So what was it ultimately that brought him back to America? Did he do it on his own or did they find him and force them to come back?

[Marquise Francis]

Ultimately, Ryan did come back home on his own. In the presser last week, the local sheriff talked about speaking to Ryan for at least a month. And he really said he pulled at Ryan's heartstrings, wanting Ryan to come home before the holidays specifically for his family.

[Commercial Announcer]

On December 10th, Ryan arrived on US soil.

[Marquise Francis]

I said could be a really good Christmas.

[Andrea Canning]

Where is Ryan now? Is he with his family at home?

[Marquise Francis]

It's unsure exactly where Ryan is. Ryan is facing a pretty serious charge of obstructing an officer where he faces up to a $10,000 fine and nine months in prison, but he is out on bail.

[Andrea Canning]

A judge entered a not guilty plea for Ryan last week. Last question, Marquise, has his wife said anything about how she feels about him coming back?

[Marquise Francis]

Last Thursday, she did file for a separation from Ryan, citing the marriage is irretrievably broken.

[Andrea Canning]

That's a tough one to recover from. Marquise, thank you so much for joining us and taking us through this wild story. We really appreciate it and have a happy holiday.

[Marquise Francis]

Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

[Andrea Canning]

When we come back, it's time for Dateline Roundup. New charges for Rex Heuerman, the man accused of being the Gilgo beach serial killer. And a verdict in the case of the tech executive stabbed to death on a San Francisco street. Plus, for anyone planning to travel this holiday season, we'll have some tips for how to keep your home safe.

[Commercial Announcer]

It's the holiday season and the perfect time to gift yourself with a new home for the new year. For a limited time, take advantage of incredible savings and incentives. During Dr. Home Hortons. It's your year savings event going on now through December 22nd. Your perfect home for every holiday season is waiting for you. To find yours, visit any of our participating Dr. Horton communities or visit us at Dr. Horton.com and discover the Dr. Horton difference. Dr. Horton America's builder, an equal housing opportunity builder.

[Andrea Canning]

I need directions for paying down debt. Starting route Apply for a SOFI personal loan and consolidate your debt into one fixed payment. Turn right into a positive outlook and get 5,000 to $100,000 as soon as.

[Listener 1]

The same day you sign with no fees required.

[Andrea Canning]

Got it.

[Listener 1]

You could get out of high interest credit card debt with a SOFI personal loan.

[Andrea Canning]

View your [e-mail] debt in 60 seconds.

[Listener 1]

With no impact to your credit score. Loans originated by SOFI bank and a.

[Andrea Canning]

Member FDIC terms and [e-mail] debt nmls696891.

[Listener 1]

Discover Hydro the best kept secret in fitness, Hydro is a state of the art at home rower that engages 86% of your muscles delivering the ultimate full body workout in just 20 minutes. From advanced to beginner, Hydrow has over 5,000 classes shot worldwide and taught by Olympians and world class athletes. For a 30 day risk free trial, go to hydrow.com and use code FIT to save up to $800 on a Hydrow Pro rower. That's H Y-R-O-Code FIT.

[Andrea Canning]

Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is Dateline digital producer Veronica Mazzaka. Hey Veronica.

[Listener 2]

Hey, how are you?

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. For our first story, we are off to Suffolk County, New York, home of alleged serial killer Rex Heuerman and the notorious Gilgo beach murders.

[Commercial Announcer]

Good morning. As we all know by now, today my office filed a super seating indictment charging the defendant Yurman with a seventh charge, murder in the second degree.

[Andrea Canning]

We have a seventh murder charge now? Yeah.

[Listener 2]

So this week the Suffolk County District Attorney's office announced that the latest victim is a woman named Valerie Mack. And this happened in 2000. Previously, Heuerman, who was an architectural consultant, he had been accused of six murders in the Gilgo Beach, Long island area. And over the years, they found that there are other unidentified human remains that they've not linked to him until this one.

[Andrea Canning]

How were they able to finally charge him with this additional murder? This is over two decades, you know, since the first of Valerie Mack's remains were found.

[Listener 2]

Really what it came down to was there was a hair found on Valerie Mack's left wrist that was linked to Heuerman's wife or daughter. And neither of Them are suspected in this case, but that is definitely a big, big tie. Also, they found a planning document on Heuerman's computer, which in that document, it lists alleged dump sites. And one of the things listed was a place called Mill Road, which is actually where Valerie Mack's remains were found.

[Andrea Canning]

Fascinating. Heuerman has denied all the allegations against him and has pleaded not guilty to this charge and the six other charges. So we will keep an eye out on this one. Next, we're off to Minnesota where there was an emotional sentencing this week in the case of Adam Fral, the man convicted of the 2023 murder of Meline Kingsbury, his ex girlfriend and the mother of his children. What happened, Veronica, with this sentencing?

[Listener 2]

Yeah, so he was found guilty in November of two counts of first degree murder and two counts of second degree murder after the prosecution laid out the argument that he strangled Maddie and dumped her body near his parents home. And this week at sentencing, her sister Megan gave a really powerful victim impact statement. She focused on how it's been really difficult for them, but for Maddie and Adam's two children as well. Our affiliate KTTC was actually in the courtroom and captured some of the sentencing today.

[Andrea Canning]

On this day of sentencing, I ask.

[Commercial Announcer]

The court to reflect on what Adam's.

[Andrea Canning]

Actions have done to the children in our family.

[Commercial Announcer]

The children in our family don't get to walk through their young lives shrouded in a cloak of childhood innocence anymore. It was ripped from each of their tiny shoulders, stomped on, shredded, destroyed. Adam gave each of us a life sentence as well.

[Andrea Canning]

Very sad for all involved. What was Adam's sentence?

[Listener 2]

So he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, which is the mandatory sentence for first degree murder in Minnesota.

[Andrea Canning]

For our final story, we are off to San Francisco where there is finally a verdict in the trial of Nima Momeni, who was accused of fatally stabbing Cash App co founder Bob lee back in 2023. All right, what did the jury decide?

[Listener 2]

So he was originally charged with first degree murder, and after seven days of deliberating, the jury acquitted him of that charge. They did, however, find him guilty of a lesser charge, which was second degree murder with enhancement. And that's the use of a deadly weapon. One of our DATELINE producers, Brittany Thom, she was actually on the podcast a couple times talking about this case. She was in the courtroom when the verdict was read. And she said that there was actually a slight gasp when he was found not guilty of first degree murder. And then when the guilty charge was read for second degree murder it was silent. According to the sketch artist, Momeni wiped away a few tears after the verdict was read.

[Andrea Canning]

Definitely a lengthy deliberation for this case. So what is next for Momeni? When is his sentencing?

[Listener 2]

So there's a hearing in January, it's on the 10th to set his sentencing date. And he faces anywhere from 16 years to life in prison.

[Andrea Canning]

All right. Thank you so much for the updates, Veronica.

[Listener 2]

Yeah, absolutely. Thank you.

[Andrea Canning]

The holidays are just around the corner, and while you might be planning to hit the road to celebrate with your loved ones or just leaving the house to go shopping, you don't want unexpected guests to break in on your holiday fun. So here to share some tips on how to keep your home safe is TODAY show senior consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn. Hey, Vicki.

[Listener 1]

Hey. Good morning.

[Andrea Canning]

Hey. So let's start with just some of the basics of this.

[Listener 1]

The most basic thing, Andrea, is to lock your doors and windows. I know people want to say, oh, I live in this neighborhood. It's so great. We leave our doors unlocked. Well, there are bad guys and they may drive into your neighborhood. So the most basic, simple security thing that you can do is making sure you lock your doors and windows. If you are planning to leave for an extended period of time, talk to your neighbors, let them know that you're going to be gone. The dates, leave a key with them so that they can keep an an eye on your property for you. Something else to think about. A lot of times people have home security systems, but they don't really use them when they're at home. Test it, make sure that thing works and that you know that it's hooked up to your phone and it will alert you if something's going on at your home when you're gone. And finally, remember what you're posting on Social Media Matters as well. We talk about this with our kids, but you don't need to post in real time your location because what you're doing is letting anybody who knows you know that you're not at your home. Save those vacation photos, those family photos, for posting when you get back.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. You say one of the most important steps to keeping your home safe is to actually make it appear like someone is still at home.

[Listener 1]

Yeah. These days there are so many simple and inexpensive ways to do that. When it comes to lighting, for example, installing some basic motion lights that just have lights coming on and off when someone walks by or walks onto your property. Another one is setting a light on a timer. I mean, you can buy these timers for under $20. They're relatively easy to install, and you just set them to go on and off at random times. That makes it look like someone's at home. Something else to always remember. For the magazine subscriptions, the newspapers, the mail, there are simple ways to pause delivery. Or if you've got that trusted neighbor asking them to send a kid over for the week that you're gone, come by and collect your mail every day. And then finally this, this tip, I think is very interesting. Having a car parked in your driveway, moving in and out definitely makes it seem like someone is home. Ideally, you're parking your car in your garage. That's the most secure. But maybe you have a neighbor who has a teenager who has an extra car and they're always parking it on the street. Offer up your driveway for the week or two that you're gone. That's a great way to make it look like someone's home and to protect your property.

[Andrea Canning]

So when, when we think of holiday burglaries, I'm gonna do the home alone reference. Instead of setting up actual booby traps and cardboard cutouts of, of people. Is there anything that you can do inside your house to deter a burglar?

[Listener 1]

Well, number one, consider investing in one of those safes that you can put. And don't put it in your, like, closet in your primary bedroom. Put it in an unexpected location, because sometimes those burglars can take the entire safe with them. But it's good not just for when you're away. It's good for fireproofing documents as well as valuable, expensive jewel. So getting a safe, putting your most valuable things into that safe out of sight is important. Another very simple thing to do, though. Make sure that your laptop, your tablets, your car keys are not within the visual sight line of anybody looking into your kitchen window or your living room window. Some people go so far as to move and rearrange their furniture so that you can't see their television or their valuable china that's in a cabinet. If you can do that, go for it. You might be inclined to just say, I'm not going to bother with any of this, Vicki. I'm just going to close my curtains. You don't want to actually close all of your curtains. That is a sure fire sign to signal to burglars, hey, nobody's home. All their windows and curtains have been closed this entire time. So just strategically close some of them. The ones that are open, make sure there's nothing of value within the sight.

[Andrea Canning]

Line and break ins. Unfortunately, they're not the only thing that you have to worry about when you're traveling.

[Listener 1]

Unplug your appliances. Not only is that safe in case there's a power surge, but it's also gonna save you some money on your energy bill. The Fire Safety Research Institute also recommends closing every door in your home because that can slow down the spread of a fire. You can go on YouTube and see it. It's remarkable, the difference between what happens inside a room when the door is closed versus when it's open.

[Andrea Canning]

Vicki really, really good tips for the holidays. We want everyone's holiday to go off without a hitch.

[Listener 1]

Have a great holiday. Great to be with you.

[Andrea Canning]

That's it for this episode of DATELINE True Crime Weekly. Next week we'll have a special episode for you with some special guests. Josh, Dennis and Keith will be here to take a look back at the biggest stories of 2024. We hope you'll join us for Dateline True Crime Weekly's Year in Review. And coming up this Friday, after a woman survives a brutal attack, investigators work tirelessly to identify a suspect. Only she's convinced they have the wrong man.

[Listener 2]

And I said, what?

[Andrea Canning]

No.

[Listener 2]

I was like, there's a mistake. This is not real. This is not right. This is not accurate. My whole world is flipped upside down.

[Andrea Canning]

Watch Keith's classic two hour mystery Left 4 Dead, airing this Friday at 9, 8 Central on NBC or stream it starting Saturday on Peacock. And for even more, Keith this holiday season starting on Friday, you can listen to him read classic Christmas stories wherever you get your podcasts. To get ad free listening for all our podcasts, subscribe to DATELINE Premium. Thanks for listening. DATELINE True Crime Weekly is produced by Franny Kelly and Katie Ferguson. Our associate producers are Carson Cummins and Caroline Casey. Our senior producer is Liz Brown. Kurollo production and fact checking helped by Sara Kadir. Veronica Mazeka 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. Thanks everyone. Bye.

[Commercial Announcer]

It's the holiday season and the perfect time to gift yourself with a new home for the new year. For a limited time, take advantage of incredible savings and incentives during Dr. Horton's it's yous Year Savings event going on now through December 22nd. Your perfect home for every holiday season is waiting for you. To find yours. Visit any of our participating Dr. Horton communities or visit [e-mail] and discover the Dr. Horton difference. Dr. Horton, America's builder, an equal housing opportunity builder.