Dateline NBC – "A Perfect Spring Morning"

Episode date: October 21, 2025
Host: Lester Holt
Reporter: Blaine Alexander
Key Contributors: Lauren Preyer, Lisa Wood, Brett Reedy, Detectives Tara Augustin & Allison Dupois

Overview

This episode of Dateline NBC, hosted by Lester Holt and reported by Blaine Alexander, explores the decades-long mystery of Leslie Preyer’s murder in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in 2001. What began as a horrifying discovery on a seemingly perfect spring morning spiraled into years of suspicion, fractured families, and a cold case that would only be solved over 20 years later—thanks to scientific advancements and the relentless pursuit of justice by two determined detectives.

The episode is both a classic whodunit and a powerful human story of loss, suspicion, and eventual closure, shining a light on investigative failures, the consequences for those left behind, and the redemptive power of perseverance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Crime & Its Immediate Aftermath

• A Safe Neighborhood Shattered (02:37–09:55)

  • On May 2, 2001, Leslie Preyer, a beloved mother and wife, was found brutally murdered in her Chevy Chase home.
  • Leslie’s boss, Brett Reedy, was the first to notice her absence at work and, after contacting her husband Sandy, went to check on her.
  • Brett recalls entering the house: “I looked right to my right and there was pretty good sized pool of blood... blood splatter all along the wall.” (04:19–04:49)
  • Officer Jim Barnett, first on the scene, describes finding Leslie’s body: “It was clearly obvious there had been a violent struggle… the door to the shower was closed. And when I opened it, the victim was curled up in the corner of the shower stall.” (06:36–07:02)

• Family Devastation

  • Lauren Preyer, Leslie’s 23-year-old daughter, recounts receiving the news: “She was my person and we talked every single day... I went to my bedroom. I just, like, screamed into my pillow.” (07:36–09:05)

Early Investigation: The Focus on Family

• Red Flags & Initial Suspicions (11:32–13:42)

  • Police focus on those closest to Leslie—especially her husband, Sandy.
  • Despite the couple’s reportedly happy marriage (“Best friends. Yeah. They were so sweet together.” – Lauren Preyer, 15:05), detectives zero in on tension points, such as financial stress and past arguments.
  • The back door, often left unlocked, pointed to someone familiar with the home: “No one would do that if it was your first time in the home. This was clearly not a stranger.” (11:04)

• Sandy as Prime Suspect

  • His awkward behavior and inconsistent answers, as well as cuts on his hands, strengthened police suspicion.
  • He failed a polygraph: “He came in and took the polygraph and failed.” (38:37)

• The Breadth of the Net

  • Detectives also looked at Leslie’s boss, Brett, noting his unusual level of involvement: “Many people wouldn’t go out and actually start looking through trash for evidence themselves.” (21:05)
  • Personal relationships—including Lauren’s ex-boyfriends—were scrutinized.

Alternative Theories and Dead Ends

• Other Crimes & Serial Offenders? (22:55–24:17)

  • Investigators looked for connections to other crimes—such as the disappearance of Chandra Levy and the Potomac Rapist—but found no links.

• DNA: The Big Hope and the Big Frustration

  • DNA under Leslie’s fingernails and from the crime scene did not match Sandy or anyone in her immediate circle, nor did it match in national databases (CODIS).

• Lauren’s Relentless Advocacy

  • Year after year, Lauren kept checking in: “You were picking up the phone to say, do you have anything new? What’s going on?” (50:31)
  • Anxiety and fear haunted her: “Every time she needed to take a shower, she would call me... she was terrified of being alone.” (49:44–50:17)

Cold Case Breakthrough: New Detectives, New Tools

• Detectives Tara Augustin & Allison Dupois Take Over (59:03–62:30)

  • In 2022, cold case detectives Augustin and Dupois revisited the file with fresh eyes.
  • Immediately, Augustin determined: “I’m going to solve this.” (60:17)
  • Unlike previous investigators, they dropped the focus on Sandy entirely.

• The Power of Genetic Genealogy

  • Technological advances allowed DNA from the scene to be searched in family history databases.
  • Detective Augustin: “This was my first case using genealogy... when something happens and it clicks, it’s just, like, amazing.” (62:56–63:17)
  • Building the family tree, they matched the DNA to a familiar name: Eugene Glegor, Lauren’s old high school boyfriend—originally listed as a possible suspect, but never DNA-tested (67:53–69:14).

• Critical Oversights and Missed Opportunities

  • Despite Glegor’s name being in the file, earlier investigators never obtained his DNA.
  • Lauren and a friend had even inadvertently vouched for him in connection with an earlier neighborhood assault because they believed he was incapable of violence (70:05–70:59).

Unmasking the Killer

• How Glegor Escaped Detection (71:52–72:37)

  • Familiar with the area, he could flee undetected via the local bike path.
  • The final step: secretly obtaining Glegor’s DNA from a discarded water bottle at the airport, confirming the case-solving match (73:34–73:43).

• The Arrest and Confession

  • Detectives arrested an unsuspecting Glegor in 2023 (74:15–75:02).
  • Confronted with DNA evidence, he initially feigned confusion and innocence:
    • “There’s no tears coming out of your face.” – Detective Augustin (79:05)
    • “I’m very dry right now…I’m partially dehydrated.” – Glegor (79:08–79:11)
  • Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, admitting to the killing after 23 years.

Aftermath, Reflection, and Closure

• The Toll on the Family and Community

  • Years of suspicion haunted Sandy Preyer, who died in 2017: “He died of a broken heart.” – Lauren Preyer (58:32)
  • “Eugene Glegor claimed three victims... Leslie, Sandy, ...and Lauren sentenced to live with anxiety and fear for decades.” (83:26)

• Resolving the Case and Its Legacy

  • The family expresses both relief and sorrow:
    • “Nothing’s going to bring my sister back, but at least we know the murder[er] is starting to pay for the crime.” – Lester Holt (83:15)
    • “The silver lining, that they’re together.” – Lauren Preyer (84:03)

• Critique of the Original Investigation

  • John McCarthy, State’s Attorney, slams the initial focus on Sandy: “I think that police investigations sometimes become myopic. They seized upon a theory... maybe to the exclusion of a lot of other potential leads.” (81:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lester Holt’s introduction:
  “A mom found dead in the shower. A killer hiding for decades. Could two other moms, both detectives, solve this mystery at last?” (02:07)

• Lauren Preyer, on the moment detectives called:
  “I almost fell off my chair. I said, my mom. And she’s like, yes.” (59:18)

• Detective Tara Augustin, on discovering the DNA link:
  “She yells from the back of the room. ‘I got it. I think I got it.’” (66:13)

• Glegor’s initial response to Det. Augustin’s confrontation:
  “I have no recollection. I have no memory. I have no… I don’t know what to say.” (78:47)

• Lauren Preyer, on her father’s death:
  “He died of a broken heart.” (58:32)

• John McCarthy, on Glegor’s belated confession:
  “Where were you for 23 years when Sandy was under the specter of being a suspect in the case? Where were you for 23 years where Lauren, your former girlfriend, was without her mother?” (82:43)

• Closing moment, Lauren on her family’s legacy:
  “The silver lining, that they’re together.” (84:03)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• The discovery and immediate crime scene: 02:37–09:55
• Police focus on Sandy, interviews, and DNA hopes: 11:32–24:49
• Cold case stagnates; Lauren’s perseverance and its toll: 49:44–56:34
• Genealogy search and DNA breakthrough: 62:56–67:56
• Identifying Glegor, tracing his past, DNA match, and arrest: 67:53–75:13
• Confession, plea, and reflections on justice and loss: 80:35–84:14

Final Reflection

This episode stands out for its sensitive and thorough reporting, honest exploration of investigative missteps, and its ultimate celebration of dogged detective work and technological progress. “A Perfect Spring Morning” is a story of heartbreak, human frailty, and resilience, driving home both the cost of wrongful suspicion and the impact of never giving up hope.

For listeners:
If you missed the episode, this summary captures the full arc of Leslie Preyer’s story, the pain endured by her family, and the tireless work of two detectives who finally brought closure after 23 years.