A verdict in Kentucky's "trial of the decade." Snapchat messages on the stand. Plus, Josh Mankiewicz drops by.

Summary

Dateline NBC: A Verdict in Kentucky's "Trial of the Decade," Snapchat Messages on the Stand, and Josh Mankiewicz Drops By

Release Date: July 10, 2025

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Dateline NBC, host Andrea Canning delves into Kentucky's most anticipated trial of the decade—the disappearance and suspected murder of Crystal Rogers. As the courtroom drama unfolds, pivotal Snapchat messages come under scrutiny, providing new dimensions to the case. Additionally, renowned journalist Josh Mankiewicz joins the conversation to shed light on a decades-old missing persons case. The episode also features the Dateline Roundup, covering high-profile cases from Colorado and updates on music mogul Sean Combs. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and conclusions.

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Kentucky's "Trial of the Decade" Verdict

Timestamp: 02:10 – 09:17

The episode opens with Andrea Canning introducing the intense trial in Kentucky involving the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, a mother of five who vanished a decade ago. Crystal was last seen near the Bluegrass Parkway, where her abandoned car was found with the keys in the ignition and her phone on the passenger side. Despite extensive investigations, Crystal's body has never been recovered.

Eight years later, Crystal's former boyfriend, Brooks Hauck, and his employee, Joseph Lawson, were arrested and charged with her murder and conspiracy to commit murder, respectively. Both men pleaded not guilty, maintaining that without a body, there's no concrete evidence of a crime.

Courtroom Atmosphere and Key Players

Rachel White, a Dateline producer, provides firsthand insights from the Bowling Green courthouse. She describes the courtroom as "completely full" during closing arguments, with even Brooks Hauck's mother, Rosemary, making a rare appearance (03:37). Rosemary had been previously identified as an unindicted co-conspirator, adding layers of complexity to the case.

Closing Arguments: Defense vs. Prosecution

The defense strategy differed for each defendant. Joseph Lawson's attorney depicted him as "collateral damage," emphasizing his and his father's (Steve Lawson) substance abuse issues to argue that Brooks Hauck, a "sophisticated businessman," wouldn't trust them with such a critical task (04:19).

In contrast, Brooks Hauck's attorney, Brian Butler, methodically dismantled the prosecution's case, highlighting the lack of forensic evidence and questioning the credibility of the police's motives. Butler pointed out discrepancies in Hauck's alibi and emphasized the absence of physical evidence linking him directly to Crystal's disappearance (05:07).

The prosecution, led by Shane Young, focused on Hauck's behavior post-disappearance. Young highlighted Brooks' minimal communication with Crystal and his disregard for his children's concerns, arguing that Hauck's actions indicated he knew there was no point in searching for her (07:23).

Verdict and Sentencing Recommendations

After approximately four hours of jury deliberation, both Brooks Hauck and Joseph Lawson were found guilty (07:57). Crystal's family reacted emotionally as they left the courtroom, emphasizing the long-awaited closure they sought. The jury recommended maximum sentences: life imprisonment for Brooks Hauck and 20 years for Joseph Lawson, with additional time for tampering with physical evidence (08:27).

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Snapchat Messages in the Karina Cooper Case

Timestamp: 11:33 – 18:39

Transitioning to Iowa, Andrea Canning discusses the high-profile trial of Karina Cooper, a farmer's widow accused of murdering her husband, Ryan Cooper. The case took a dramatic turn in 2024 when Snapchat messages surfaced, suggesting a conspiracy between Karina and a man named Houston Danker.

The Incident and Investigation

On June 18, 2021, Karina Cooper reported finding her husband dead in their farmhouse, shot execution-style. Despite the clear signs of foul play, no gun was found at the scene—only a single shell casing. Years passed with no leads until the discovery of incriminating Snapchat messages provided new evidence.

Prosecution's Case and Digital Evidence

Keith Greenberg, a Dateline producer, elaborates on the prosecution's reliance on the Snapchat messages. The exchanges revealed Karina expressing a desire for Ryan to be hit by a semi-truck and fantasizing about Danker taking over her role as a father (14:57). These digital footprints became the cornerstone of the prosecution's argument, suggesting premeditation and a planned murder plot.

A key moment in the trial was a message from Danker at 3:31:55 AM stating, "Remember to pick up the shell casings," to which Karina responded, "Absolutely 100%" (16:09). This exchange implied coordination in the disposal of evidence, further implicating Karina.

Defense's Argument

The defense countered by claiming Karina never intended to kill Ryan and was possibly under Danker's influence. They also argued that the life insurance payout was secured in a trust for their children, negating any financial motive (14:33).

Testimonies and Character Insights

Witnesses painted Karina as someone with a volatile temper, especially under the influence of alcohol, contrasting with Ryan's well-regarded family background. Notable testimonies included Karina's threats towards Ryan, such as "I could shoot you in the face," which took on a sinister tone given the circumstances of Ryan's death (17:08).

Houston Danker's Involvement

The prosecution also connected Houston Danker to the crime, presenting evidence that he may have been the actual shooter. Danker's subsequent possession of a .22 caliber gun and matching shell casing strengthened the case against him (17:48).

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Dateline Roundup

Timestamp: 09:25 – 25:19

In the Dateline Roundup, Andrea Canning covers multiple ongoing cases:

1. Colorado Dentist James Craig Trial Twist

   • Attorney Robert Working was arrested for arson as his home burned down, leading to his withdrawal from James Craig's murder trial of his wife, Angela, accused of poisoning her with toxins in protein shakes. This unprecedented move has delayed the trial (21:03).

2. Dan Serafini's Murder Trial

   • Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini stands accused of attacking his in-laws, resulting in the death of Gary Spohr and severe injuries to Wendy Wood. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including security footage and profane emails, while the defense challenged witness credibility and forensic discrepancies (22:43 – 23:50).

3. Sean "Diddy" Combs Sentencing Update

   • Following a federal trial with mixed verdicts, Sean Combs faces sentencing for transportation to engage in prostitution. Both prosecution and defense have agreed on a sentencing date, with potential outcomes ranging from two to five years in prison (23:50 – 25:19).

---

Josh Mankiewicz on "Missing in America": The Case of Nancy Snowe

Timestamp: 25:39 – 31:26

In a compelling segment, Josh Mankiewicz explores the unresolved disappearance of Nancy Snowe, a campaign worker who vanished in November 1980—a year marked by Ronald Reagan's presidential victory.

Background and Disappearance

Nancy Snowe was last seen on election night at a hotel near Baltimore after attending a Republican Party event. The following morning, she left the hotel with Paul Collins, a former acquaintance, supposedly to embark on a boat trip, fulfilling her dreams of working on an ocean-going yacht (26:19 – 27:08).

Personal Connection and Investigation

Mankiewicz reveals a personal connection to the case, speculating that he may have encountered Nancy during his early career in Washington D.C. He emphasizes the challenges of investigating cold cases, where memories fade and evidence becomes scarce over time (29:40 – 30:41).

Call to Action

Mankiewicz urges listeners with any information to come forward, highlighting the importance of solving Nancy Snowe's disappearance for her family and friends (30:50 – 31:05).

---

Conclusion

This episode of Dateline NBC masterfully intertwines high-stakes courtroom drama with the relentless pursuit of truth in cold cases. From the heartfelt verdict in Kentucky to the digital revelations in Iowa and the nostalgic investigation into Nancy Snowe's disappearance, the episode underscores the profound impact of unresolved mysteries on families and communities. With insightful commentary and compelling narratives, Dateline NBC continues to deliver riveting true-crime storytelling.

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Notable Quotes

• Brian Butler (Brooks Hauck's Attorney): "There was no forensic evidence, no DNA evidence that pointed to Brooks killing Crystal at all." (05:07)

• Shane Young (Prosecutor): "If Crystal did not come home from the Hauck family farm that night in July 2015, then Brooks Hauck was guilty of her murder." (07:23)

• Josh Mankiewicz: "I had a strong sense when I heard her name that I had met your mom." (27:20)

• Ryan Cooper's Friend: "Karina had a very bad temper, especially when alcohol was involved." (16:58)

• Jack Collins (Karina Cooper's House Sitter): "I could shoot you in the face." (17:08)

---

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a long-time Dateline follower or new to the series, this episode offers a deep dive into some of the most intriguing and complex true-crime cases. From courtroom verdicts to the digital age's impact on justice, Dateline NBC continues to illuminate the shadows of unresolved mysteries. Subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive content, and stay tuned for next Friday's episode focusing on Sean Combs's trial.

Transcript

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[Ted Danson]

Hey, everybody, Ted Danson here to tell you about my podcast with my longtime friend and sometimes co host Woody Harrelson. It's called where everybody knows your name. And we're back for another season. I'm so excited to be joined this season by friends like John Mulaney, David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Ed Helms, and many more. You don't want to miss it. Listen to where everybody knows your name with me, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, sometimes, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Andrea Canning]

Good morning. It's the start of another workday for the DATELINE team.

[Rachel White]

He was somewhere else, so he's been totally cleared.

[Andrea Canning]

Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news around the country.

[Rachel White]

We spoke to the prosecution this weekend.

[Keith Greenberg]

They're going to have a determination later today.

[Rachel White]

He fails a polygraph, which is, you know, never great.

[Andrea Canning]

He wanted to walk out of the courthouse. Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's July 10th, and here's what's on our docket In Iowa, Snapchat messages take center stage at the trial of a woman accused of murdering her husband.

[Keith Greenberg]

She wishes that he would get hit by a semi truck. At one point.

[Andrea Canning]

In DATELINE Roundup, a pretrial twist for a Colorado dentist closing arguments in the murder trial of former Major league baseball player Dan Serafini. And when will Sean Diddy Combs learn his fate?

[Mike Nardi]

In a joint letter, both the prosecution and the defense have agreed to the judge's proposed sentencing date.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, Josh Mankiewicz will be here to tell us what it was like reporting on a missing persons case involving someone he might actually know.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

It was a walk down memory lane trying to look through my old notebooks trying to find out whether I'd written down Nancy Snow's name somewhere.

[Andrea Canning]

Before all that, we're heading to a Kentucky courtroom where emotions were running high this week as a jury decided the fate of two men accused in the murder of missing mom of five, Crystal Rogers. Crystal Rogers went missing a decade ago, just before the 4th of July. Within days of her disappearance, her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway with the keys in the Ignition and her phone in person side. Her body has never been found. Eight years later, Crystal's former boyfriend, Brooks Hauk was arrested for her murder and accused accused of trying to cover it up with the help of one of his employees, a man by the name of Joseph Lawson. According to investigators, it was Lawson who dumped Crystal's car on the parkway. And he was criminally charged, too, with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence. Both men pleaded not guilty, and over the past three weeks, they stood trial together. Their defense was a simple one. Without a body, where's the proof a crime even occurred? On Tuesday, the jury got the case. DATELINE producer Rachel White was on verdict watch in the Bowling Green courthouse and is here to tell us all about what happened. Rachel, welcome back to the podcast.

[Rachel White]

Thanks, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So, Rachel, I know you've spent a lot of time there. What was the atmosphere like in the courtroom as the case was winding down? Of course, this trial was a long time coming for many people.

[Rachel White]

Yeah, the courtroom was completely full by the time we got to closing arguments. People were being turned away. And on that day, we also saw one of the key players that we haven't seen in court before, Brooks's mother, Rosemary. And as we've talked about on the podcast, prosecutors have called her an unindicted co conspirator in the case. She had not been in the courtroom for the trial up to that point. So it was, you know, noticed that she showed up that day.

[Andrea Canning]

Let's talk about closing arguments, Rachel. The defense was up first. And this case was uncommon in that the defendants were being tried at the same time. So each had their own attorney give a closing argument. How did that go and what did they say?

[Rachel White]

Yeah, so Joseph Lawson's lawyer was up first, and he called him collateral damage in this case and said that he was only brought into it because he's the only possible link between Brooks Hou and Steve Lawson. And Steve Lawson is Joseph's father, who, if you remember, was found guilty in May of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence in Crystal's disappearance. Joseph's attorney argued in his closing argument that Brooks, who he called a quote, sophisticated businessman, wouldn't have trusted Joseph and his father with this important job of moving Crystal's car because both Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson were known to have substance abuse issues.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. And Brooks Hou's defense attorney also gave his closing argument. Did it differ a lot from Lawson's?

[Rachel White]

It did, because Brooks's attorney, Brian Butler, really kind of went point by point throughout his closing argument to talk about the evidence that was presented, and he that police were giving marching orders to get Brooks Hauck years ago. And he argued that there was no forensic evidence, no DNA evidence that pointed to Brooks killing Crystal at all.

[Andrea Canning]

The defense had an explanation for inconsistencies in Hauck's story, which the prosecution had really hammered on.

[Rachel White]

So during the first week of the trial, the prosecution called witnesses to help disprove what Brooks Hauck wrote in his statement to police about his whereabouts the day that Crystal went missing. Some of the businesses that he had reported dealing with that day were actually closed due to it being the fourth of July holiday weekend. And so those people denied seeing him that day. So prosecutors said that Brooks was actually at his family farm, where they believe that Crystal was killed for the majority of that day, and that he minimized that in his statement to police during the closing argument, Brian Butler, Brooks's attorney, also said that Brooks was listing people he needed to meet with instead of people that he actually met with. So that was him trying to clear that up. And then Butler also pointed out that if Brooks was doing something nefarious on his family farm, they've never found any evidence to support that, and the farm has been searched over and over again over the years.

[Andrea Canning]

The prosecution went second in this case, delivering their closing arguments. What did they want to leave with the jury?

[Rachel White]

The prosecutor, Shane Young, started off by arguing that the main evidence against Brooke Hauck were his own words. And just as in the prosecution's opening statement, there was some focus on Brooks's mother and brother both. Both of whom have never been charged in this case. Brooks's mother, Rosemary, had made statements about wanting to get rid of Crystal, according to one witness. And his brother is a former police officer who, the prosecution pointed out, was trained in crime scenes and evidence collection.

[Andrea Canning]

And that's the elephant in the room, right? That Crystal's disappearance, her body has never been found, which always makes things harder for the prosecution to prove murder. Did they address that in their closing argument?

[Rachel White]

Yes. Shane Young spoke about Brooks's behavior after Crystal's disappearance. He pointed out that he only called her twice and did not try to find her. He was saying that it was because Brooks knew that there was no sense in looking for Crystal. He also said that he ignored texts from her children who were asking him where their mom was. And Young said that if Crystal did not come home from the Hauck family farm that night in July 2015, then Brooks Halk was guilty of her murder.

[Andrea Canning]

This case went to the Jury on Tuesday morning. And just after lunch that afternoon, there was a verdict. Rachel, give it to us.

[Rachel White]

Both guilty. It was about four hours of deliberation. So relatively fast when you have two defendants on trial. Crystal's family was in tears leaving the courtroom. The judge did ask everyone to not react in the moment. So I think that there was a lot of effort going into that to keep, you know, the courtroom silent and respect the jury's decision. But I did look over and see her mother bless herself. You know, I think that she was really emotional in that moment.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. And the detective who led the investigation got emotional, too, right?

[Rachel White]

He did. I mean, these people have been working on this case since 2015. We're in 2025. So it has been a long time that they have been thinking about Crystal, looking for Crystal, investigating her disappearance. And, you know, she had five children that she left behind. So I think there were just a lot of people who really wanted to get some answers for those for her children.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, I'm sure a lot of healing to do in the years to come. After the verdict, the jury also recommended what the sentence should be for both men. Rachel, what did they decide?

[Rachel White]

So they recommended the maximum sentence, life in prison for Brooks Haug, and they recommended 20 years in prison for Joseph Lawson for his, you know, conspiring to commit murder charge. And lesser sentences for Both men with a 2 tampering of physical evidence.

[Andrea Canning]

And the final sentencing will happen later this summer, August 21st. Thank you so much, Rachel.

[Rachel White]

Thank you.

[Andrea Canning]

Coming up, the Snapchat messages between a farmer's widow and the man investigators say was her lover. Do they prove she was a killer, too?

[Kelly Ripa]

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[Andrea Canning]

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[Andrea Canning]

June 18, 2021, Karina Cooper called 911 in hysterics.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

900.

[Andrea Canning]

She said she'd found her husband Ryan dead in the living room of their Iowa farmhouse. Sheriff's deputies raced to the scene and found Karina on top of Ryan's body, covered in his blood. He'd been shot execution style, but there was no sign of a gun, just one shell casing on the living room floor. After she calmed down, Karina told investigators she'd heard loud noises in the night and suspected an intruder had murdered Ryan. Years went by with no arrest. Then in 2024, investigators got what they considered a huge break in the case. They recovered Snapchat messages between Karina and a man named Houston Danker, evidence they believe of a murder plot. They arrested Karina for her husband's murder and this week she is standing trial in a Cedar Rapids courtroom. She has pleaded not guilty. Here to bring us up to speed and give us more details on the contents of those Snapchats is DATELINE producer Keith Greenberg. Hey Keith.

[Keith Greenberg]

Hey Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So you're in Iowa. You've been following this. Give us some background on Karina and her husband, Ryan Cooper. What do we know about them and their relationship?

[Keith Greenberg]

Well, they've been together about 15 years and Ryan comes from a very well respected family in the area. The family's been farming for generations. Likewise, Karina comes from a lovely family. On the surface, they seem like a dream match. And so to many, this seemed to truly come out of nowhere.

[Andrea Canning]

Take us into the courtroom for the prosecution's opening statement. Why? Why did they think she killed Ryan? What was her motive, do they say?

[Keith Greenberg]

Well, prosecutors contend she had this much younger boyfriend, Houston Danker. And you know, there was also a $500,000 insurance policy. Apparently, Karina was in some debt. And if the prosecution is to be believed, this would be a way for her to discard debt and discard a husband she was no longer happy with.

[Andrea Canning]

Karina's defense had their turn with their opening statement. What did they want to get across to the jury?

[Keith Greenberg]

Well, one of the defense lawyers, she kept the opening extremely suspicious, less than two minutes long.

[Andrea Canning]

Houston Danker killed Ryan Cooper. Houston Danker shot Ryan Cooper in the face.

[Keith Greenberg]

The defense claims that Karina never intended to kill Ryan, that she was unhappy and griped to Yeaston and Karina was caught up in this dream world that, to use a cliche, turned into a nightmare.

[Andrea Canning]

They also addressed the insurance, the life insurance payout in the opening statement.

[Keith Greenberg]

Yes, they did. The defense claims that that payout goes into a trust for the children and there was no financial gain that she would have from this.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, so the prosecution called a witness who is a digital forensic investigator to talk about these Snapchat messages that we mentioned. They're really important to the prosecution's case, right, Keith?

[Keith Greenberg]

I mean, the prosecution's case hinges on it. I believe these Snapchat messages tell a story. There's a lot of complaining about Ryan. She wishes that he would get hit by a semi truck. At one point, Karina fantasizes about Houston Danker essentially just filling in for Ryan and becoming a father to their children.

[Andrea Canning]

And Keith, as we know, Snapchat is one of those apps. The messages are supposed to disappear once the person reads them. But as we know from working at Dateline, just because it says they're going to disappear doesn't mean they're going to truly disappear.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Right.

[Keith Greenberg]

They disappear on the screen. And you know, there were a number of Google searches in which Korina is asking, will my messages truly be deleted?

[Andrea Canning]

No.

[Keith Greenberg]

Yeah. No. The answer's no.

[Andrea Canning]

So one of the biggest revelations, Keith, that came out was that Houston and Karina were messaging before Karina called 911.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Houston Danker sent an additional message. What was the time of that message?

[Rachel White]

At 3:31:55 in the morning.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

What message did he send to Karina Cooper?

[Andrea Canning]

Remember those casings? Remember those no ifs and or butts?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

She responded 14 seconds later. What did she say?

[Rachel White]

Absolutely 100%.

[Keith Greenberg]

Danker sends this message to remember to pick up the shell casings. As fate would have it, one shell casing was left behind and investigators found it.

[Andrea Canning]

Who else has testified for the prosecution so far?

[Keith Greenberg]

I'd say the strongest witnesses on a human level so far have been the friends of the couple. Ryan's best friend said he loved Karina as a sister, but mentioned that Karina had a very bad temper, especially when alcohol was involved.

[Andrea Canning]

Will Karina be mean to Ryan Cooper?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

She would be upset with him at times, yes.

[Keith Greenberg]

Do you recall some threats that she.

[Andrea Canning]

Made when you were there?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

I hate you. I wish you were dead. Obviously, the big one you're thinking of is we were in his shop one night and she said, I could shoot you in the face, which was surprising.

[Keith Greenberg]

Some people talk in exaggerated ways, but the way he died, it puts that comment in a different light.

[Andrea Canning]

Keith, let's circle back to Houston Danker. Karina denies having an affair with him. He has denied the affair as well. He is also charged with Ryan Cooper's murder, and he has his own trial scheduled in mid August. He has pleaded not guilty. What do prosecutors allege was his role in the murder versus Karina's role?

[Keith Greenberg]

It's believed that Houston Danker is the one who pulled the trigger. Word got back to the investigators after a while that Easton danker had given a.22 to a buddy not long after the murder. And it was pretty easy to track that friend down. And the friend handed over the gun, and when they brought it to the firing range, lo and behold, it matched the shell casing found on the ground.

[Andrea Canning]

Houston also made quite an incriminating search on his phone. According to the prosecution, it read how.

[Keith Greenberg]

To positively get away with murder.

[Andrea Canning]

Do you believe that the defense is going to say that Karina was somehow under Houston's spell and that it was all his idea?

[Keith Greenberg]

Yeah, that's exactly what I think the defense is, and I'm curious to see which witnesses they call.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, Keith, thank you so much for bringing us your insight into this trial and what's been going on. We very much appreciate it.

[Keith Greenberg]

Thank you, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. A house catches fire on the eve of a Colorado dentist murder trial while former major league baseball player Dan Serafini's trial comes to a close and Sean Diddy Combs gets a sentencing date. Plus, Josh will be here with details of his Latest reporting for Dateline. Missing in America, the disappearance 45 years ago of campaign worker Nancy Snowe.

[Ted Danson]

Hey, everybody. Ted Danson here to tell you about my podcast with my longtime friend and sometimes co host Woody Harrelson. It's called Where Everybody Knows yous Name. And we're back for another season. I'm so excited to be joined this season by friends like John Mulaney, David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Ed Helms, and many more. You don't want to miss it. Listen to where everybody knows your name with me, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson sometimes, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile Now. I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $50 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Andrea Canning]

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[Andrea Canning]

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[Andrea Canning]

Welcome back, everyone. Joining me for this week's roundup is DATELINE producer Mike Nardi. Welcome back, Mike.

[Mike Nardi]

Hi Andrea. Thanks for having me.

[Andrea Canning]

For our first story, we're off to Colorado and the murder trial of dentist James Craig, who was accused of killing his wife Angela in 2023 by putting poison in her protein shakes. Jury selection is expected to start soon. But Mike, earlier this week we weren't sure that would happen after a big twist in this case that really none of us saw coming.

[Mike Nardi]

That's right, Andrea. One of his attorneys, Robert Working, was arrested last week on suspicion of arson. According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, Working was found sitting on the porch outside his Centennial, Colorado home as it burned to the ground behind him. Two days after his arrest, Working withdrew from Craig's case.

[Andrea Canning]

It's so bizarre. So what's wild about this, Mike, is that but this wasn't the first time one of Craig's attorneys has withdrawn from the case at a critical moment.

[Mike Nardi]

That's right. That's right. Back in November, Craig's previous attorney also withdrew. He did that on the day jury selection was set to begin. That attorney claimed that new information revealed in discovery left him no choice but to withdraw. Craig's trial was delayed, which brought us.

[Andrea Canning]

To this week and we should say James Craig has pleaded not guilty and we will certainly be keeping a close eye on this. Our coverage of the trial will begin next week, assuming there are no more supporters. Up next, closing arguments got underway earlier this week in the murder trial of former major league baseball pitcher Dan Serafini. He is the man accused of attacking his in laws at their Lake Tahoe home, killing his father in law, Gary Spohr, and seriously injuring his mother in law, Wendy Wood. Mike, talk us through those closing arguments. What did the prosecution hit on?

[Mike Nardi]

So the prosecution began by showing photos of the bloody crime scene before walking through the events in the day prior and the day of the attack. The prosecutor then showed security camera footage of who they claimed to be Dan Serafini walking into the home.

[Andrea Canning]

As we saw the prosecution lay out their case these past several weeks, they alleged that Sarafini's motive for killing his in laws was long standing family tension and big financial troubles. Did that come up during the closing argument?

[Mike Nardi]

It did. It did. Some of those profanity laced emails written by Serafini to his in laws were read aloud. Then the prosecutor looked at Serafini, pointed his finger at him and called him a murderer.

[Andrea Canning]

Of course, the defense got their turn to give their closing arguments. Mike, what did they have to say?

[Mike Nardi]

Well, they pointed towards some of what they considered to be indisputable evidence of Sarafini's innocence. The defense said Sarafini, who was 6 3, couldn't be the same person in the video because an FBI agent said the person was 6:2. He also brought up Samantha Scott's testimony on the stand, his alleged accomplice saying she gave a made up testimony to get a plea deal.

[Andrea Canning]

The case is now in the hands of the jury, so we'll be watching for the outcome of their deliberations. And finally, we have music mogul Sean Combs. He had a remote hearing scheduled for this week. It comes after his federal trial came to an end last week with a split verdict. The jury acquitted him of the most serious charges, racketeering and sex trafficking, but convicted him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. So, Mike, that hearing never happened.

[Mike Nardi]

It did not happen. They were supposed to talk about the sentencing date, but in a joint letter, both the prosecution and the defense have agreed to the judge's proposed sentencing date, which is October 3rd, 2025.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so Sean Combs now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, though federal sentencing guidelines indicate could be a shorter sentence.

[Mike Nardi]

Right. Typically, federal judges don't assign the maximum sentence, but based on preliminary calculations, prosecutors say a penalty range of four to five years is likely. But that doesn't stop them from asking for more time. According to Combs defense team, their calculations bring the sentence range closer to two years.

[Andrea Canning]

And Mike Combs will remain behind bars until the sentencing hearing, I'm assuming.

[Mike Nardi]

Yeah. The trial judge has denied his release on bail partly because of his own admissions of domestic violence during the trial.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. Big week. Thanks for all this information. Mike, good to talk to you.

[Mike Nardi]

Yep, thanks, Andrea. Thanks for having me.

[Andrea Canning]

For our final story, we're heading back in time to 1980, the year Ronald Reagan was elected president and 44 year old campaign worker Nancy Snowe suddenly vanished. 1980 was also the year Josh Mankiewicz was an up and coming reporter in Washington D.C. and he believes he may have crossed paths with Nancy at some point.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

I had a strong sense when I heard her name that I had met your mom.

[Andrea Canning]

Wow.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

People talk a lot about six degrees of separation. It turned out there are fewer than that between Nancy Snow and myself. I'm Josh Mankiewicz and this is Missing in America, a podcast from dateline.

[Andrea Canning]

Josh and his team decided to dig into the decades long mystery of what happened to Nancy for his latest season of dateline, Missing in America. And he is here now to tell us what they found out. Welcome back to the show, Josh.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Hi, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So take us back to November 1980. This was the last time Nancy was seen.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Yeah, it was election day and the day right after Nancy worked for the Republican National Committee and she had been assigned to a Senate race in Missouri. They didn't win that race, but the Senate tipped over that year and went from Democrat to Republican. And also Reagan beat Jimmy Carter. So it was a huge victory for Republicans nationally. There was a big party election night at a hotel outside Baltimore that she apparently was in attendance at. And then that next morning is when it happens. She leaves the hotel and there was this guy she knew who had she dated a little bit named Paul Collins. And he had been house sitting for her in her apartment in, in Annapolis and he picked her up. That's his story. That moment appears to be the last time Nancy was seen alive.

[Andrea Canning]

Josh, at that time no one had cell phones. You know, this is where you used landlines to call each other. But, but you, you found that Nancy was in constant communication with her daughters.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

She called them, she wrote them letters. We have her letters. There were, you know, this was also the era of, of, you know, recording a cassette tape for somebody. You're too young for this, but we used to do that. And, you know, you'd tell somebody what you'd been up to that summer and mail them the cassette tape, and then they listened to it for a half hour. So, you know, she did stuff like that. Nancy was not somebody who was out of touch for very long. And so when she didn't call her family, that's what made people think something's wrong, because that was something she wouldn't do.

[Andrea Canning]

Josh, you brought up the house sitter. This man named Paul Collins. One of the daughters says that he told them that Nancy had gone on a boat trip.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Nancy had told people in the latter stages of the 1980 campaign that she wanted to change her life. And one of the things she talked about doing was maybe working on a sort of ocean going yacht in the Caribbean, maybe being a cook on a, on a, on a boat for hire or a crew member. Her friend, her house sitter, Paul Collins said that she had been at a bar. She'd met this guy named Captain J. That's all he was known as. And he'd said, oh, yeah, I need somebody right now to work on this boat that I'm gonna be getting on in Fort Lauderdale. And, and Paul Collins says Nancy got into this van with some other people and off she went to Fort Lauderdale to start this new life working on boats.

[Andrea Canning]

So my dad did call and talked to Paul Collins, and he said that my mom had gone on this boat trip and she'll be home by Christmas.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Christmas came and went, and Nancy had not returned.

[Andrea Canning]

Josh, this story was personal to you?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Well, I mean, the interesting thing about this is that when I heard Nancy Snow's name when we were first talking about what stories to cover in season four of Missing in America, there was something about her name that seemed familiar to me and there was something about her photograph that seemed familiar to me. And in 1980, I was working for ABC as an off air reporter and I was covering the House and Senate races. So it's extremely likely that Nancy Snow and I were in the same room at some time or at the same briefing, the same event. I'm not saying we knew each other, but did I meet her? It's possible that I did.

[Andrea Canning]

You've done four seasons of Missing out in America. Now. How does it feel doing one where you like go back in time personally, you know, when you were just starting.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Out, you know, I mean, it was a walk down memory lane, trying to look through my old scripts from back then and my old address book, my old notebooks, trying to find out whether I'd written down Nancy Snow's name somewhere. She's not in it, but it was, look, it was, you know, it's a walk down memory lane is what it is.

[Andrea Canning]

Josh, this case is active. It has a detective assigned to it. Corporal William Noel. You interviewed him. This can't be easy looking into this all these years later.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Look, you know, I mean, all of the sort of traditional methods of solving crimes that we now kind of take for granted weren't available then. So it's old fashioned shoe leather reporting which involves finding witnesses and getting their story on the record. And you know, that much time goes by, people's recollections fade. Even well meaning people tell different stories over time or something else occurs to them. Sometimes time can be your friend as well as your enemy in those things.

[Andrea Canning]

So at the, at the beginning of every Missing in America episode, Josh, you ask our listeners to listen closely. What do you want to say to people listening about this case?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

First of all, the thing I want to say is if you know anything about this, this is the time to talk about it because, you know, it's been 45 years and her family needs answers in this. So if anybody knows anything, this is a wonderful time to call Annapolis police.

[Andrea Canning]

Do it for her family, do it for her daughters. Thank you so much, Josh. What a fascinating story. And to hear your personal perspective for the full story, Josh's episode the Cold Case of Nancy Snow is out wherever you get your podcasts. And we'll have a link in our episode description where you can learn more about Nancy's case. Thanks for joining us, Josh.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Thank you.

[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 coming up this Friday on dateline, you can watch my brand new episode on the trial of Sean Combs. I'll be talking to insiders at the center of the case and the center of Combs's world about what they saw.

[Kelly Ripa]

He told me, like, if something happens, I'm going to have to like, you.

[Rachel White]

Know, do something to you.

[Andrea Canning]

And what's next for the music mogul? 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. Kuriloff production and fact checking help by Terry Dickerson. 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. Hi everyone.

[Kelly Ripa]

Hey there, it's Kelly Ripa. And if you've been listening to my podcast, we are knee deep in season three. And if you haven't heard it, it's time to get on board. After years of interviewing celebs on Came Camera, I finally get to bring you the real conversations that take place when the cameras aren't rolling. Where else are you going to hear Michelle Obama talk about keeping her girls out of Page Six? Hilaria Baldwin's hilarious reaction to Alec running for office? Or Jeremy Renner's lucid hallucinations about Jamie Foxx? Nowhere else. It's raw, it's honest, and best of all, it's off camera. And believe me, that's where you get the good stuff. So download. Let's talk off camera with Kelly Rippa now. Wherever you get your podcasts.