A verdict in Chattanooga. A widow accused of murder. And how to avoid natural disaster scammers.

Summary

Dateline NBC: A Verdict in Chattanooga, A Widow Accused of Murder, and How to Avoid Natural Disaster Scammers

Release Date: January 23, 2025

In this compelling episode of Dateline NBC, host Andrea Canning delves into three major true-crime stories: the swift conviction in the Chattanooga murder trial, the high-profile trial of a widow accused of orchestrating her husband's death, and the reopening of the decades-old case of Tupac Shakur's alleged killer. Additionally, the episode provides crucial insights on avoiding scams related to natural disasters. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented throughout the episode.

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1. Verdict in Chattanooga: The Jason Chen Case

The episode opens with significant developments in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Jason Chen was convicted of the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Jasmine Pace.

Trial Proceedings:

• Trial Duration: Jason Chen's 10-day trial concluded remarkably quickly, with the jury delivering a verdict in under an hour. (08:02)
• Charges: Chen faced first-degree premeditated murder charges for allegedly stabbing Jasmine 60 times in 2022, subsequently placing her in a suitcase and disposing of it next to a creek.
• Defense Argument: The defense claimed that Jasmine had attacked Chen first, leading to a spontaneous killing, and that Chen attempted to cover up the murder out of shame. (04:26)

Key Evidence:

• Medical Examiner's Testimony: The medical examiner highlighted the focused nature of the wounds, suggesting premeditation as Jasmine was found bound in a fetal position within the suitcase. (04:45)
• Witness Testimony: A neighbor testified hearing screams and yelling, supporting the prosecution's narrative over the defense's claim of a spontaneous fight. (05:10)

Prosecution vs. Defense:

• Prosecution's Case: Emphasized the methodical nature of the crime, including cell phone records and traffic camera footage indicating premeditation. (06:29)
• Defense's Case: Attempted to argue the absence of a clear motive and spontaneous nature of the crime, but was undermined by evidence such as missing Tinder data from Chen's phone. (05:50)

Jury Deliberation and Verdict:

• Deliberation Time: Less than an hour, indicating the jury's decisive agreement. (07:53)
• Verdict: Guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and abuse of a corpse. (07:53)
• Sentencing: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, decided unanimously by the jury. (09:37)

Emotional Impact:

• Jasmine Pace's family delivered heartfelt testimonies, emphasizing the personal loss and tragedy of the case. (08:25)

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Chen’s Mother: "He knows he made a mistake. He's still young. Please give him a chance to live his life and learn from his mistakes." (08:25)
• Jasmine’s Cousin: "That Jazzy had experienced... you haven't just torn apart our family. I pray for your mother. You have torn apart two families." (09:00)

---

2. Trial of Monica Smentilli: Accused of Masterminding Her Husband's Murder

The episode shifts focus to Los Angeles, where Monica Samentilli faces trial for the murder of her husband, Fabio Samentilli, a renowned hairstylist.

Case Background:

• Murder Details: In January 2017, Fabio Samentilli was found stabbed to death on his patio. Initially suspected as a burglary gone wrong, investigators soon considered it an inside job. (11:54)
• Motive: Monica allegedly planned the murder with her lover, Robert Lewis Baker, primarily driven by a $1.6 million life insurance policy. (16:05)

Evidence Against Monica:

• Security System Manipulation: Monica installed a new home security system months before the murder and shared its instructions with Baker via email. (16:03)
• Suspicious Activity: Intruders took the DVR from an obscure location, and Fabio's Rolex was left untouched, suggesting a non-random motive. (13:28)

Robert Lewis Baker’s Involvement:

• Plea: In July 2023, Baker pleaded no contest to murder charges, denying Monica's involvement. (16:30)
• Testimony: Baker maintained he acted alone, claiming Monica was unaware of the plot. (17:15)

Recent Developments:

• Third Suspect Arrested: Christopher Austin, initially a minor suspect, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is expected to testify that Monica was aware of the murder plan. (17:39)

Community Impact:

• Fabio Samentilli’s murder has shaken the local community and led to widespread support for Monica during her trial, despite the allegations. (18:43)

Notable Quotes:

• Prosecutor Cody Womp: "Jasmine Pace is not just some girl listed in an autopsy report. She is a person. She had family that loved her." (07:26)
• Monica’s Brother: "This really gives us incredible hope." (22:36)

---

3. Tupac Shakur’s Accused Killer in Court: Duane “Keefe” Davis

The episode revisits the long-unsolved murder of hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur, with new developments in identifying and charging Duane Davis as the alleged killer.

Case Overview:

• Murder Details: On September 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. (24:32)
• Chronic Unsolved Case: The murder has fueled numerous conspiracy theories over the years until Davis’s recent arrest.

Evidence Against Davis:

• Self-Incrimination: Davis admitted in his 2019 memoir to providing the gun used in the shooting, linking him directly to the crime. (24:58)
• Legal Proceedings: Despite his plea of not guilty, the judge upheld the charges against Davis, rejecting his motion to dismiss based on alleged constitutional violations. (25:04)

Courtroom Developments:

• Prosecutor’s Stance: Argues that Davis’s confession and evidence are sufficient for a fair trial, despite the passage of time and loss of key witnesses. (25:33)
• Upcoming Trial: The murder trial is scheduled to proceed in March, with no indications of dismissal. (25:44)

Notable Quotes:

• Defense Argument: "This really puts him there." (24:32)
• Judge’s Ruling: "The judge rejected the motion and upheld the murder case against Davis." (25:20)

---

4. West Virginia Pharmacist Accused of Poisoning Husband: The Natalie Cochran Trial Update

In West Virginia, the trial of pharmacist Natalie Cochran continues to unfold, focusing on allegations that she poisoned her husband with insulin.

Case Details:

• Accusation: Natalie Cochran is accused of administering lethal doses of insulin to her husband, Michael Cochran, leading to his death. (23:07)
• Witness Testimonies: Friends and contractors testified about Michael’s declining health and Natalie’s refusal to seek medical help. (23:07)

Prosecution's Evidence:

• Insulin Vial: An FBI chemist confirmed the presence of insulin in a vial found at the crime scene. (23:42)
• Defense Counterargument: The defense questioned the logic behind storing the murder weapon (insulin) in the fridge, suggesting a lack of premeditation. (23:54)

Current Status:

• Court Proceedings: The chemist’s inability to confirm the vial's use in the murder raised questions about the prosecution's case. The trial continues as both sides present their evidence. (24:13)

Notable Quotes:

• Defense Argument: "If you're going to murder someone, why would you keep the murder weapon in your fridge?" (23:54)
• Prosecutor's Rebuttal: Emphasized the connection between the evidence and premeditation. (06:43)

---

5. Avoiding Natural Disaster Scams: Tips from Vicky Wynn

In light of recent natural disasters like Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the wildfires in Los Angeles, NBC News senior consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn provides essential tips to help listeners avoid falling victim to disaster-related scams.

Key Tips to Avoid Scams:

• Verify Fundraisers: Use GoFundMe’s centralized hub to ensure fundraisers are legitimate and have been verified by their trust and safety team. (27:00)
• Common Sense Practices: Donate to fundraisers connected to friends or family, and scrutinize descriptions for organizer information and beneficiary relationships. (27:00)
• Reverse Image Search: Use Google’s reverse image search to check if images used in fundraisers are genuine or stock photos, which is a common scam tactic. (27:50)
• Government Interaction: Be wary of unsolicited phone calls claiming to be from FEMA. Verify caller authenticity by checking government IDs and official registration numbers. (28:50)
• No Fees for Aid: Legitimate FEMA assistance does not require payment. Any solicitation for money or personal information is a red flag. (29:08)

Advice for Those Seeking Help:

• Government Assistance: Reach out to FEMA directly through official channels for aid with short-term rent, lodging, and rebuilding efforts. (28:19)
• Contractor Verification: Ensure contractors are licensed by verifying their names, phone numbers, and license numbers through official state resources before hiring. (29:52)

Notable Quotes:

• Vicky Wynn: "Always pause, get a second opinion before you ever give out your personal information or pay a penny to anyone." (30:20)
• Andrea Canning: "The best defense is listening to Vicki because these tips are so, so good." (30:11)

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6. Upcoming Stories and Final Remarks

Andrea Canning wraps up the episode by highlighting upcoming stories, including a Pittsburgh dentist’s mysterious death and the anticipation of Bryan Kohberger’s summer trial. Listeners are directed to the Dateline True Crime Weekly website and social media channels for more information and to subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free content and exclusive bonuses.

Teaser for Next Episode:

• Classic Mystery Feature: "After a Pittsburgh dentist predicts his own death, his friends and family vow to track down his killer." (31:11)

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Conclusion

This episode of Dateline NBC masterfully navigates through intense courtroom dramas and provides invaluable consumer advice, cementing its reputation for in-depth true-crime storytelling and public safety education. The detailed coverage of each case, combined with emotional testimonies and strategic legal insights, offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of these complex and riveting stories.

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Notable Contributors:

• Andrea Canning: Host
• Jim: Co-host
• Mario Garcia & Jess Koenig: Producers covering the Jason Chen case
• Chetna Joshi: Producer covering the Monica Samentilli trial
• Sue Simpson: Producer covering the Karen Reed and Natalie Cochran trials
• Vicky Wynn: Senior Consumer Investigative Correspondent

Timestamp Highlights:

• Jason Chen Verdict: (07:53)
• Monica Samentilli Trial Developments: (12:19 - 17:39)
• Duane Davis Court Ruling: (25:20)
• Natalie Cochran Trial Update: (23:07 - 24:13)
• Scam Avoidance Tips: (27:00 - 30:37)

For more detailed information on these cases and to stay updated with the latest episodes, visit Dateline True Crime Weekly and follow them on social media at @datelinencbc.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Andrea Canning]

You're listening in to Dateline's Morning Meeting in 30 Rockefeller Center.

[Jim]

Good morning, Jim. You got a weather report?

[Commercial Announcer]

Yes. Today it is cold.

[Andrea Canning]

Our editorial team is catching up on breaking crime news around the country probably.

[Jim]

Will get really big. It's a crazy story. It's contrary to what he said in our interview. He breaks down on the stand and they basically have to end his testimony because he is so upset.

[Andrea Canning]

Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's January 23rd, and here's what's on our docket. In California, eight years after a celebrity hairstylist was found stabbed to death on his patio, his widow is set to stand trial for allegedly masterminding his murder with her lover.

[Jim]

She's apparently glued to her phone watching her home security system when the intruders had broken into the home and were murdering her husband.

[Andrea Canning]

In DATELINE roundup, rap icon Tupac Shakur was gunned down 30 years ago. This week, his accused killer appeared in court. And an update on the trial of the West Virginia pharmacist accused of poisoning her husband.

[Sue Simpson]

The defense argued that if you're going to murder someone, why would you keep the murder weapon in your fridge? Right?

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, NBC News senior consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn is back. And in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Vicky has tips on how to avoid disaster related scams wherever you live.

[Vicky Wynn]

Just do a gut check, always pause, get a second opinion before you ever give out your personal information or pay a penny to anyone.

[Andrea Canning]

But before all that, we're heading to Chattanooga where there have been some big developments in a story we've been watching closely on the podcast the murder trial of Jason Chen. There were sobs and cheering in a Tennessee courtroom earlier this week when Jason Chen's 10 day trial for murdering his girlfriend Jasmine Pace came to a rapid conclusion. Oh, the jury has the verdict state received. Verdict?

[Jim]

Yes, that's right. Yes, sir.

[Andrea Canning]

Chen had been facing charges of first degree premeditated murder for allegedly stabbing Jasmine 60 times in 2022, then packing her into a suitcase and leaving the suitcase next to a creek. His defense, that Jasmine had actually attacked him and that he'd killed her spontaneously before covering up her death out of shame. When we talked about this trial last week, the prosecution was making its case. The defense took over on the holiday weekend. Here to fill us in on what we missed is Dateline producer Mario Garcia and associate producer Jess Koenig. Hey guys.

[Mario Garcia]

Hey, Andrea.

[Jess Koenig]

Hey, Andrea. Thanks for having us.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, let's do a quick reminder of this case. It's the one where Jasmine's family took matters into their own hands.

[Mario Garcia]

They did indeed, Andrea. I mean, in court we found out that they went into Jason Chen's the accused department at least three times and then they called 911 after the first time. But they were desperate and they, as Katrina, the mother said on the stand, I would have done anything to try and find my daughter.

[Andrea Canning]

And according to the prosecution and the defense, their actions of going in there kind of lit a fire under the police. And then that led to a search warrant and they found blood on the rug and floors, which was huge in.

[Jess Koenig]

This, the blood in their words, all over the apartment, bedroom, bathroom. It was everywhere.

[Andrea Canning]

So Jason Chen has admitted to killing Jasmine. His defense lawyer said as much in his opening statement.

[Commercial Announcer]

Jason Chen is guilty, but he's not guilty of the crime that he's charged.

[Andrea Canning]

So really at the heart of this is was it premeditated or not? The medical examiner testified last week for the prosecution. Did the medical examiners testimony support that it was premeditated?

[Mario Garcia]

The medical examiner went through very precisely and said, look, all 60 of the wounds were in a very focused small area. And really the only sense that it made was that she was already bound in that fetal position that she was.

[Andrea Canning]

Found in right in the suitcase. She had handcuffs on that locked her wrist to her ankle. One of the key witnesses for the defense was a neighborhood who overheard something.

[Jess Koenig]

Yeah, Andrew. So the, the first witness up for the defense team was a neighbor that lived right below his apartment. And she says that at about 2:11am she was woken up by a scream and then heard some Yelling. And it was a female.

[Commercial Announcer]

Do you hear any crying?

[Andrea Canning]

The voice that came after the screaming, that was.

[Jim]

It kind of sounded like when you're.

[Andrea Canning]

Already upset, but you're trying to prove a point which can connect, you know, to possibly that this was a spontaneous fight.

[Mario Garcia]

I mean, it fit their narrative. The narrative was Jasmine was the provoker of the fight, upset about alleged messages on a dating app that she didn't know about, and she came at him.

[Andrea Canning]

But there was a witness for the prosecution that poked a big hole in that narrative. A tech investigator for the district attorney, right?

[Jess Koenig]

Yeah. So they went through Jason Chang's phone records and they found that there was no Tinder data at all from November 22nd or from the early morning of November 23rd. So, okay, suddenly the defense's story that Jasmine saw a Tinder message pop up in the middle of the night makes zero sense anymore.

[Andrea Canning]

Closings were on Monday. The prosecution's first argument was quite methodical. Going through everything again.

[Mario Garcia]

They started the closings where they started the openings. They had the suitcase again and let it sit there while they went through the timestamps. All of the cell phone records, all of the traffic cameras. Everything we've shown you leads to premeditation.

[Andrea Canning]

What did the defense say in their closing argument?

[Mario Garcia]

Their closing was pretty short and just tried to emphasize what premeditation meant.

[Jim]

Everything that Jason did showed that there was no plan.

[Vicky Wynn]

It showed that he wasn't acting rational.

[Jim]

Rational people don't shackle individuals and put them in garbage bags and put them in a suitcase.

[Mario Garcia]

And then the prosecutor, the da, Cody Womp, she had a rebuttal and she literally opened with wow, just like that. And said nothing. They just said connects to their opening. They gave you this theory about what happened. And we've heard nothing else about this in this trial.

[Jim]

Certainly not a defense when you say it and you never prove it.

[Mario Garcia]

It was one of the most dramatic closings we've ever seen.

[Jim]

Jasmine Pace is not just some girl listed in an autopsy report. She is not the photos that you have seen. She is a person. She had family that loved her.

[Andrea Canning]

So the jury got the case at about 4:30 Monday afternoon. How long did they deliberate for?

[Jess Koenig]

Well, it was less than an hour. And we were back in the courtroom and they announced that he was found guilty on first degree premeditated murder and abuse of a corpse.

[Andrea Canning]

Gotta be one of the shortest deliberation times I've ever heard.

[Jess Koenig]

Yeah. And honestly, I think it was due to the fact that the jury was attentive. They were asking questions yeah, that's so true, cuz.

[Andrea Canning]

You had told us that in this trial, the jurors could ask in real time. Jason's mother gave a statement at the sentencing hearing the day after the verdict.

[Jess Koenig]

Yeah, she was sobbing. Jason was wiping his tears away. And she just kept repeating, he made a mistake. Like he knows he made a mistake. He's still young. Please give him a chance to live his life and learn from his mistakes.

[Andrea Canning]

Did Jasmine's family speak?

[Mario Garcia]

Her older sister spoke. Then her older cousin spoke. And she took out a glass jar and started dropping blue little glass stones into the glass jar. And she counted out 60 little glass stones for each stab wound.

[Vicky Wynn]

Oh, my gosh.

[Mario Garcia]

That Jazzy had experienced.

[Andrea Canning]

For two years and two months, I have fought at this very moment, the moment I would have the chance to confront the subhuman villain sitting among us.

[Mario Garcia]

She also said, you know, you haven't just torn apart our family. I pray for your mother. I feel awful for your mother. You have torn apart two families.

[Andrea Canning]

That's heartbreaking. The jury also had say in the.

[Mario Garcia]

Sentencing they did in Tennessee, if you're found guilty of first degree premeditated murder, the jury then decides the sentence. The jurors spent about 20 minutes deliberating the sentencing. We the jury, do unanimously agree that.

[Andrea Canning]

The defendant's sentence shall be life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

[Mario Garcia]

The Pace family did let out a little triumphant scream. His mother and his brother were crying.

[Andrea Canning]

Mario and Jess, thank you for covering this for us.

[Jess Koenig]

Thank you, Andrew.

[Mario Garcia]

Thanks for having us.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, with her trial set to begin in Los Angeles, we've got all the details. In the case of the widow accused of masterminding a plot to murder her celebrity hairstylist husband, Will her lover testify for or against her?

[Chetna Joshi]

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[Chetna Joshi]

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[Andrea Canning]

In January 2017, respected Hollywood hairstylist and executive Fabio Simentilli was found stabbed to death on the patio of his multi million dollar mansion in the upscale Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. There had been a run of burglaries in the area and the crime seemed like a break in gone wrong. Until six months later, here's what our affiliate NBC 4 Los Angeles, had to say at the time.

[Jim]

Neighbors we talked to were initially concerned.

[Commercial Announcer]

This might be a robber or a.

[Jim]

Burglary or a random. But now it appears police believe it was much closer to home.

[Andrea Canning]

Monica Sementilli, Fabio's wife of almost 20 years, was arrested and charged with first degree murder. And she wasn't the only one. Her lover, a man named Robert Lewis Baker, was also charged. Both pleaded not guilty. Now, after eight years, Monica's trial is set to begin next week. DATELINE producer Chetna Joshi is here to break down the story for us. Chetna, welcome to the podcast.

[Jim]

Happy to be here.

[Andrea Canning]

So many of our datelines start out this way where, you know, police have to look at, could this have been, you know, a more random murder? There was a string of burglaries in the area. In this case, though, there were some details that stuck out to the detectives that maybe this wasn't one of those burglaries.

[Jim]

Yeah, that's, that's exactly right. They did find video. Very early on, investigators came across video of two suspects running towards the house wearing hoodies so you couldn't see their faces. Only the master bedroom appeared to have been ransacked. Another thing is that the intruders who broke in, they took the DVR of the home security system, which was tucked away in the garage, not really in an obvious place. And it would sort of call into question. If you're taking that, how did you even know where that was? And I Think the most odd thing that stuck out to investigators minds was that Fabio had a Rolex watch that was still left on his wrist after the murder.

[Andrea Canning]

So, yeah, that's something you would very likely wanna take as a. If you're a burglar.

[Jim]

Right.

[Andrea Canning]

This got investigators thinking that this could be an inside job. And one thing they discovered was that Monica was having an affair.

[Jim]

Yeah. Apparently, according to court documents, Monica had been having an affair with a racquetball instructor at her local gym.

[Andrea Canning]

So his name is Robert Lewis Baker. Their affair had been about a year.

[Jim]

And a half, according to the documents. Yeah.

[Andrea Canning]

Was there a murder weapon found?

[Jim]

They've never found a murder weapon. Fabio was a big guy. He was a really big guy. And for one person to have been able to take him out like that, you know, would not have been an easy feat.

[Andrea Canning]

Was there any evidence left at the crime scene that, you know, pointed perhaps to the man Monica's having an affair with?

[Jim]

They did find blood at the crime scene, but they weren't sure who it belonged to. Fabio's Porsche was also taken. And a couple of days after the murder, they find this Porsche, and inside, there's blood. And when they test it, it comes back to Robert Baker.

[Andrea Canning]

From the beginning, prosecutors said that Monica wasn't involved in the actual murder, but that she helped plan it.

[Jim]

Yeah, so Monica told officers that she was at the local Target running some errands when this crime happened. Prosecutors say there's apparently video from inside the target that shows Monica on her phone glued to her. We haven't seen this video yet, so we're waiting to see it in trial. But she's apparently glued to her phone, watching her home security system when the intruders had broken into the home and were murdering her husband. There's also information that came out in court documents that she had set up a new home security system several months prior to Fabio's murder, and that she had taken the instructions on how to work this home security system and emailed it to Robert Baker.

[Andrea Canning]

What do they believe was her motive?

[Jim]

Yeah, you know, we haven't gotten a firm answer on this, but based on what we've been able to put together over these last several years and. And attending court hearings and. And listening to prosecutors. Fabio had a sizable life insurance policy. $1.6 million. And they alleged that Monica and Baker had plans to be together, to take this money and to pursue their relationship together.

[Andrea Canning]

In July 2023, Baker ended up pleading no contest to the murder charges.

[Jim]

Yeah, so that. That plea really took a lot of us by surprise. He decided to do this on his own free will. For whatever reasons he decided to do it. No contest is basically a def. Is accepting the conviction without admitting guilt, but saying, okay, I'm prepared to take responsibility for this and accepting the sentence.

[Andrea Canning]

Most of the time with these cases, you know, it's kind of like who's first when there's a couple of people involved and who's gonna flip on the other, you know, to get a better deal. Did we see that in this case? Did Baker flip on Monica?

[Jim]

No, Baker. According to court documents, Baker maintains that he was responsible for this, that Monica had no knowledge about this, and that she wasn't involved in any way.

[Andrea Canning]

So you mentioned, Chetna, that there were on the video the two men in hoodies. What happened to this other man? If Monica's at Target and you've got two guys on the video.

[Jim]

Yeah. So this third suspect, for years and years and years, I mean, we waited and it was almost. Almost like a forgotten person because the cases were moving forward with Monica and Baker and no real mention of this third suspect up until October of 2024. And they arrest a man named Christopher Austin. He cooperates with police from everything that we've been able to tell, and just this past Friday, he ended up pleading guilty to second degree murder. And we've been told that he is going to testify for the state at the tr and what we expect is that he's going to say that Monica was aware of what was going on as well, was aware of this plan. It'll be interesting to see.

[Andrea Canning]

I always think about, you know, hairstylists and how close they get to their clients. And this must have been such a shock for so many. So many people connected to Fabio and his family.

[Jim]

Yeah. You know, I've been covering this case since it happened in 2017. I remember, like, the first, especially those first few hearings. All of Fabio's family is in Toronto, so they couldn't make it to all these hearings. But I would end up seeing other people that Fabio worked with. I mean, people that would drive up from San Diego, people that would come far distances just to sit in court for like a, you know, 10, 15 minute hearing. You know, they knew Fabio. They were touched by Fabio. I think he made a big impact on and a lot of people.

[Andrea Canning]

Chetna, thank you so much for giving us this preview before this trial starts. A fascinating, fascinating case.

[Jim]

Nice talking to you.

[Andrea Canning]

Coming up, it's Dateline roundup. We've got an update on an important pre trial ruling in the Karen Reed case and the latest from the trial of the West Virginia pharmacist accused of poisoning her husband. Plus tips from NBC News senior investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn on how to steer clear of disaster related scams.

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[Chetna Joshi]

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[Andrea Canning]

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

[Sue Simpson]

Hi, Andrew. Hi.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so we all know you're our expert on all things Karen Reed. She is the Massachusetts woman accused of hitting her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, with her car and leaving him to die in the Snow. Back in 2022, Reed pleaded not guilty. Her murder trial ended with a deadlocked jury and a retrial set for April of this year. Sue, we have some new information.

[Sue Simpson]

So, Andrea, last time we spoke on the podcast, we were waiting for a judge to rule on whether or not a dog expert could testify for the defense at the retrial. And that ruling has now come in. The dog expert will be allowed to testify. That's a big win for the defense because this expert testified during Karen Reed's first trial that the injuries on John O'Keefe's arm were consistent with a dog attack, not with being struck by a car. As you know, the prosecutors allege Karen.

[Andrea Canning]

Reid of course, had so many supporters at the courthouse during her trial. We talked about that before. But even in the bitter cold this past weekend, some of them were out in force across New England at protests they're calling standouts.

[Sue Simpson]

It is remarkable, isn't it? You know, in Rhode island, our affiliate NBC10 spoke with Karen Reid's brother Nathan. Here's what Nathan had to say about how he and his family are feeling about the retracement.

[Commercial Announcer]

Very strong, you know, this, this turnout both here in Rhode island and throughout New England, to be honest. We've got Today, we've got 29 standouts across the country. This really gives us incredible hope.

[Andrea Canning]

Amazing. An arctic blast does not deter Karen Reid supporters. Up next, an update on a story we told you about last week. This is the murder trial of Natalie Cochran. She is the West Virginia pharmacist accused of poisoning her husband with insulin. Sue, what's the latest from the courtroom?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, Andrea, last week's witnesses painted a vivid picture of what happened in the days leading up to Michael's death. And it's pretty remarkable how all these people were in and out of the Cochrans house and they were watching his health deteriorate. One friend testified about Natalie's refusal to take Michael to a hospital to be looked at.

[Jim]

Did she accept any of those injections? No. She said she was going to let him sleep it off.

[Sue Simpson]

And a contractor working for the couple recalled speaking to Michael a few months before his death and that Michael told him he was feeling dizzy and that he felt he'd been poisoned.

[Andrea Canning]

On Friday, an FBI chemist testified about the evidence central to the prosecution's case against Natalie. The vial of insulin recovered from the Cochrans home. What did he tell the jury?

[Sue Simpson]

This chemist confirmed that one of the vials was in fact insulin. But. But during cross, when he was asked if he could confirm whether he knew the vial had been used, this chemist said that was not in his area of expertise. The defense argued that if you're gonna murder someone, why would you keep the murder weapon in your fridge? Right.

[Andrea Canning]

Well, we'll keep an eye on this one. Up next, we're headed to a Las Vegas courtroom with an update in the murder case against hip hop legend Tupac Shakur's alleged killer. His name is Duane Keefe D. Davis. Remind us about the murder itself, Sue. It certainly has been a very long time.

[Sue Simpson]

It has been a long time. 1996 to be exact. And that's when Shakur was fatally shot. He was sitting in the passenger seat of a BMW when a white Cadillac pulled up alongside the car and shots were fired.

[Andrea Canning]

So his murder has been unsolved, fueling conspiracy theories until, of course, an arrest was made in 2023. Dwayne Davis, he was charged with the murder. How does law enforcement say he was connected to the crime?

[Sue Simpson]

It was really his own words, authorities say that put him there. He wrote six years ago in his 2019 memoir that he provided the gun that was used in the drive by shooting.

[Andrea Canning]

So they feel that he incriminated himself with those words. Davis team filed a motion in the beginning of January seeking dismissal of the charges against him.

[Sue Simpson]

Davis attorney claims that his client's constitutional rights were violated because of a delay prosecuting the case. Witnesses have died. Evidence has potentially been lost. You know, all of that can negatively impact the fairness of a trial.

[Andrea Canning]

How did the judge rule this week.

[Sue Simpson]

The judge rejected the motion and upheld the murder case against Davis.

[Andrea Canning]

Davis has pleaded not guilty. What's next?

[Sue Simpson]

Murder trial is still on, happening in March.

[Andrea Canning]

Sue, thank you so much for joining us.

[Sue Simpson]

Thank you, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

These past few months, our hearts have gone out to those impacted by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the wildfires in Los Angeles. The devastation is truly massive. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed. Thousands of people have lost their homes or been displaced. So many of us, of course, want to help. Unfortunately, according to the Federal Communications Commission and the Better Business Bureau, scammers often take advantage of natural disasters to prey both on those looking to give help and those most in need of it. So here to give us some tips on how to avoid getting scammed is NBC News senior consumer investigative correspondent Vicki Wynn. Vicki, thanks for joining us again, Andrea.

[Vicky Wynn]

I love this topic. It's very timely to talk about right now.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, I know you're gonna have amazing tips on this subject. So, Vicki, in the past week or so, we've seen lots of fundraising links go up for things like GoFundMe on social media. I've seen some that have surpassed $100 million. But I've also heard there are some fake GoFundMes going around where scammers are posing as disaster victims and pocketing the money, which is so horrible. If you wanna donate, how can you be sure the money is actually going to the people?

[Vicky Wynn]

GoFundMe actually has this centralized hub for all of its fundraisers related to the wildfire. And their trust and safety team has verified that. So you can go to that hub to make sure the fund that you're trying to donate to is legitimate. They do have a money back guarantee for your peace of mind, but they Also say, please use your common sense not just for this disaster, but for all GoFundMe accounts that are set up. So some tips, donate to fundraisers where you directly know someone or it's a friend of a friend. That way at least you have a connection. If it's a stranger, you want to look at the description and make sure it has information about the organizer and their actual relationship to the beneficiaries. And this one's a little trickier, but if you know how to go on Google and use a reverse image search, Google will allow you to look up the images on that GoFundMe to see if those are just stock photos.

[Andrea Canning]

Almost like catfishing in a way.

[Jim]

Totally.

[Vicky Wynn]

Exactly. They use these great images that really tug on your heartstrings and then you realize, oh, this is from like 2009. And honestly, it just takes a moment, right, to do a quick Google search. Has this GoFundMe or this organization been written about by reputable news outlets?

[Andrea Canning]

You know, I have a lot of friends who've been displaced. I have one friend who lost his house. What can people do who are looking for help right now? As they start thinking about the long process of rebuilding, the first thing they.

[Vicky Wynn]

They need to do is understand what the benefits are that they're eligible for. People can get assistance from fema. They can get help with short term rent, with lodging, like if they need to stay at a hotel or somewhere and rebuilding. But you do need to reach out to the government, fema. You know, his website is there for you to go and fill out those applications. But you need to make sure that the people you are interacting with really are from the federal government.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. So that could be an opportunity for scammers to step in. What should you watch out for on this end of it?

[Vicky Wynn]

Yeah, be very careful if you're getting a phone call from a random number. Right. Scammers will pose as callers from FEMA. Sometimes, Andrea, they will spoof FEMA's number to make it look like it's coming from FEMA. So if anyone is calling to ask you for your personal financial information, that is a red flag.

[Andrea Canning]

No, do not give it you to.

[Vicky Wynn]

Reach out to the government, not for someone to call and, you know, solicit that information from you. Right. Also, if someone comes to you, you know, maybe you're going through the belongings you have at your home and they show up, you want to ask what is your government id? A FEMA jacket. That's not enough. You can buy that online and put that on they should have a registration number as well. If you've already set up your account, you're going through the process, they should be able to verify information to you, not vice versa. If you are applying for aid through fema, you don't have to pay anything. It is free. You do not have to pay an application fee at all. If someone's trying to charge you, that is a scam. Same for any sort of inspection from FEMA that is free.

[Andrea Canning]

There will be a lot of rebuilding in the coming weeks and months and, of course, years.

[Vicky Wynn]

What I want people to know is contractors will be out, people will be soliciting business. But what you want to do is make sure you get their name, their phone number, their license number, and you can look up whether or not they are a licensed contractor in the area where you're rebuilding because taking the time to do that research will save you so much heartache later on.

[Andrea Canning]

The best defense is listening to Vicki because these tips are so, so good. Vicki, thank you for everything you're doing to help people.

[Vicky Wynn]

We're so grateful for the opportunity to talk about this. So I want people to be empowered with this information and just do a gut check. Always pause, get a second opinion before you ever give out your personal information or pay a penny to anyone.

[Andrea Canning]

Such good work on this vi. Thank you.

[Vicky Wynn]

Thank you.

[Andrea Canning]

That's it for this episode of DATELINE True Crime Weekly. Next week we'll have the latest from the courtroom and the run up to Bryan Kohberger's summer trial. You can read more about the cases featured on the podcast on our website, datelinetruecrimeweekly.com and if you have any questions or comments for us, you can reach us on social media aightlinenbc. And coming up this Sunday on Dateline, after a Pittsburgh dentist predicts his own death, his friends and family vow to track down his killer. It does seem outrageous that this person is not being looked at closer and.

[Vicky Wynn]

They want to make me or friends.

[Jim]

Feel like we're expecting the impossible. Why is that so impossible to do? Why is that expecting too much?

[Andrea Canning]

You can watch my classic two hour mystery, the Premonition this Sunday on NBC at 9, 8 Central. And if you have any questions or comments for us, you can reach us on social media. A LinenBC 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 Kurloff Production and fact checking help by Sara Kadir. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original music by Jesse McGee. Bryson Barnes is head of audio production. Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Kuhl is senior executive producer of Dateline.

[Commercial Announcer]

Anybody have anything else?

[Jim]

Great.

[Andrea Canning]

Thanks everybody.

[Commercial Announcer]

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