Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.

Summary

Dateline NBC Podcast Episode Summary
Episode Title: Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Release Date: December 5, 2024
Host/Author: NBC News

---

1. Introduction

In this episode of Dateline NBC, listeners are taken through a gripping exploration of current true-crime cases, including high-stakes trials, groundbreaking forensic debates, and a reflective look back at the notorious Amanda Knox case. The episode is structured into several segments, each delving deep into different criminal mysteries and courtroom dramas.

---

2. Tech Executive Trial: The Nima Momenti Case

Location: San Francisco, California
Case Overview: Nima Momenti, a 43-year-old tech executive, stands accused of murdering his friend Bob Lee after a harrowing 911 call was made at 2:30 AM on April 2023. Bob pleaded for help 47 times before succumbing to his injuries at San Francisco General Hospital.

Key Discussions:

• Prosecution's Argument: Prosecutors argue that Nima harbored a grudge against Bob for introducing his sister, Kazar Momeni, to a man who may have sexually assaulted her. They claim Nima's actions were premeditated, taking a knife from his sister's kitchen, driving Bob to a secluded area under the Bay Bridge, and committing the murder ([03:34]).

  "Nima intentionally took the knife from his sister's apartment, then chose to drive Bob to a secluded area, a place he was very familiar with because he had a lot of friends that lived in the area." – Prosecutor, [04:15]

• Defense's Counter: Nima and his sister testify that there was no animosity towards Bob. Nima describes the encounter as friendly, with the situation escalating only after a bad joke led to a knife being drawn. The defense introduces a video suggesting Bob possessed the paring knife used in the attack, challenging the prosecution's narrative ([05:14]).

  "Bob walked away calmly on his phone, and he didn't look like he had any injuries at all." – Nima Momenti, [05:14]

• Jury Deliberations: The trial has left the Bay Area community in suspense, with public opinion divided and keenly observing the proceedings. The judge has instructed the jury on various charges ranging from premeditated murder to involuntary manslaughter, with deliberations set to begin ([07:58]).

Notable Quotes:

• "We've had it with him, so it's crazy." – Attorney, [01:07]
• "There's an increased risk of a false positive." – Defense Expert, [17:45]

---

3. Quadruple Homicide in New Jersey: The Paul Canaro Case and DNA Analysis Debate

Location: Colts Neck and Ocean Township, New Jersey
Case Overview: Six years post the brutal murders of Keith Canaro, his wife Jennifer, and their two children, investigators have charged Keith's brother, Paul Canaro, with orchestrating the killings and setting fires to both homes to obfuscate evidence.

Key Discussions:

• Motive and Relationship: Paul and Keith were once close, with Keith being the best man at Paul's wedding. However, financial disputes surfaced, with allegations of missing funds from their business ventures leading to the tragic events ([12:49]).

  "The prosecution has said the motive was financial." – Brittany Tom, [14:42]

• Use of Starmix DNA Software: A pivotal aspect of the case is the prosecution's use of Starmix, a sophisticated DNA analysis tool that deconvolutes mixed DNA samples. The software identified Paul's nephew, Jesse, as a donor of DNA found on a bloodstained glove and jeans ([15:50]).

  "Starmix is a computer software program that takes a sample of DNA that may be from multiple people, a complex sample, and uses mathematical modeling to separate them out." – Brittany Tom, [15:50]

• Defense's Challenge: Paul's defense team questions the reliability of Starmix, citing insufficient research on its error rates and potential false positives, especially when analyzing relatives' DNA. They argue that the prosecution's evidence is flawed and that the DNA could have been contaminated or misinterpreted ([17:08]).

  "The method is particularly problematic when it comes to analyzing the DNA of relatives. There's an increased risk of a false positive." – Defense Expert, [17:45]

• Judicial Impact: The outcome of the preliminary hearing on the admissibility of Starmix could set a precedent for future criminal cases in New Jersey, potentially revolutionizing or hindering forensic investigations across the state ([17:58]).

Notable Quotes:

• "The prosecution's theory is that Nima pulled it from a set of knives at his sister's apartment." – Sue Simpson, [05:29]
• "This hearing doesn't just have implications for this case, it goes beyond that." – Dennis Murphy, [17:40]

---

4. Dateline Roundup

A. Colorado Dentist James Craig Case

Case Overview: James Craig, a dentist from Colorado, was charged with poisoning his wife, Angela Craig, by contaminating her protein shakes in 2023. The trial, initially set to commence amid media attention, faced unexpected turns when Craig's legal team withdrew, leading to additional charges of solicitation to commit murder and perjury. He allegedly attempted to hire an inmate to murder the detective investigating his wife's case ([20:43]).

Key Developments:

• Withdrawal of Defense Team: Craig's attorney cited fundamental disagreements with the prosecution's direction, leading to an indefinite postponement of his trial ([21:25]).

• New Charges: Following the withdrawal, prosecutors added serious allegations against Craig, complicating his defense and casting a darker shadow over the case ([21:49]).

B. Florida's Suitcase Murder Conviction

Case Overview: Sarah Boone was convicted for the gruesome murder of her boyfriend, George Torres, whom she allegedly suffocated inside a suitcase. Despite her claims of self-defense and prior abuse, the jury found her guilty after a swift deliberation.

Sentencing Highlights:

• Victim Impact Statements: George's family expressed profound grief and loss, emphasizing his beloved nature ([22:25]).

• Sarah's Testimony: Boone employed a Japanese ceramic metaphor, likening herself to a broken vase held together by forgiveness, highlighting her emotional turmoil and alleged abuse ([23:05]).

  "All of the gold that held me together was forgiveness." – Sarah Boone, [23:25]

• Sentence: Boone received a life sentence, reflecting the severity of her crime despite her defense arguments ([23:57]).

C. Amanda Knox Reflection

Case Overview: Dennis Murphy revisits the infamous Amanda Knox case, recalling his initial coverage in 2007 and the subsequent legal battles that spanned years. Originally convicted alongside her boyfriend in the murder of Meredith Kercher, Knox's case became a global media spectacle.

Key Discussions:

• Media Influence: Brenda Breslauer discusses how media portrayal, including Amanda's nickname "Foxy Noxie," fueled public bias and overshadowed the victim's identity ([26:27]).

  "The court of public opinion had decided." – Brenda Breslauer, [28:23]

• Legal Proceedings: The series of trials saw Knox initially convicted, later exonerated on appeal, and finally declared innocent, highlighting flaws in forensic evidence and judicial processes ([29:16]).

  "They showed that all of the forensic evidence was junk science." – Brenda Breslauer, [30:26]

• Aftermath and Advocacy: Post-exoneration, Knox has become an advocate for the wrongfully accused, using her experience to aid others facing similar injustices ([31:07]).

---

5. Upcoming Episodes and Promotions

The episode concludes with teasers for upcoming stories, including a special feature on a victim rediscovering her identity and a new podcast series, Deadly Mirage, exploring dark secrets behind a seemingly perfect couple in the California desert.

---

6. Production Credits

Dateline True Crime Weekly is produced by Frannie Kelly and Katie Ferguson, with contributions from Carson Cummins, Caroline Casey, Liz Brown, Sara Khadir, Veronica Mazeka, Rick Kwan, Jesse McGinty, Bryson Barnes, Paul Ryan, and Liz Cole. Special thanks to Patrick Adams and Sarah Rafferty for their promotional segments.

---

Notable Exclusions:
Advertisements, promotional segments unrelated to the core content, and non-content sections were omitted to maintain focus on the true-crime narratives.

---

Conclusion:
This episode of Dateline NBC offers an in-depth look into complex criminal cases, highlighting the interplay between legal strategies, forensic science, and media influence. From the high-profile Nima Momenti trial to the contentious use of DNA evidence in Paul Canaro's case, and reflections on the Amanda Knox saga, listeners are provided with comprehensive insights into the multifaceted world of true crime.

Transcript

[Andrea Canning]

Grand Canyon University, a private Christian university in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, believes that we're endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. GCU believes in equal opportunity and the American dream starts with purpose. Whether your pursuit involves a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, GCU provides a path to help you fulfill your dreams, offering 350 academic programs as of June 2024. Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University, Private christian affordable visit gcu.edu this episode is brought to you by Progressive, where drivers who save by switching save nearly $750 on average. Quote [e-mail] to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings of $744 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2022 and May 2023. Potential savings will var not available in all states and situations.

[Dennis Murphy]

Hi.

[Brittany Tom]

Good morning.

[Dennis Murphy]

How are you?

[Brenda Breslauer]

Good.

[Brittany Tom]

We're all excited about the tree lighting.

[Dennis Murphy]

You're listening in to Dateline's morning meeting in 30 Rockefeller Center. What was the motive if he was already the ex?

[Brittany Tom]

Great question.

[Dennis Murphy]

Our editorial team is catching up on breaking crime news around the country. Was this murder for hire?

[Yara Shahidi]

Did someone know that he had plans for something?

[Andrea Canning]

They were about to start jury selection.

[Dennis Murphy]

And the attorney said, we've had it with him, so it's crazy. Welcome to DATELINE, True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's December 5th, and here's what's on our docket. Six years after a man was accused of murdering his brother's entire family at their New Jersey mansion, a judge hears arguments about whether cutting edge DNA analysis can be used against him at trial.

[Brittany Tom]

What he decides has the potential to impact all New Jersey criminal cases going forward.

[Dennis Murphy]

In DATELINE Roundup, we'll fill you in on an unexpected twist in the case of a dentist accused of poisoning his wife. And the Florida woman convicted of murder by suitcase takes the stand at her sentencing.

[Yara Shahidi]

I didn't mean for this to happen to the entire planet. Please forgive me.

[Dennis Murphy]

Plus, she was one of the most famous defendants in the world. An American student abroad charged with a horrifying crime. Fifteen years ago this week, Amanda Knox was convicted of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Dennis Murphy reflects on on his time in Italy covering the sensational case.

[Brenda Breslauer]

Here I was before this house that was all over the headlines, called the House of horrors. And it turned out to be all of that.

[Dennis Murphy]

But first, we're heading out to San Francisco for the final days of the trial. That's become the talk of the city and beyond. In April of 2023, a 911 dispatcher took a call at 2:30 in the morning.

[Brittany Tom]

There's a male screaming help, saying someone.

[Andrea Canning]

Stabbed me, advised he's bleeding out.

[Dennis Murphy]

He is outside on the street on that call. Bob Lee, a 43 year old tech executive and father of two, asked for help 47 times. He died on an operating table at San Francisco General Hospital a few hours later. Another tech entrepreneur, a man named Nima Momenti, was arrested and charged with killing Bob. And his trial, which we've been covering, began this October. On Monday, the prosecution played Bob's 911 call to open their closing arguments. There aren't any cameras in the courtroom, but DATELINE producer Brittany Tom has been reporting on the trial for the past couple of months and she joins us now to let us know how both sides left things with the jury. Brittany, thanks for coming back on the podcast.

[Sue Simpson]

Thanks, Andrea.

[Dennis Murphy]

The prosecutor beginning his closing arguments with that 911 call is, you know, pretty intense. Brittany.

[Sue Simpson]

Yes, the room was silent as he simply just played that 911 call. Bob is pleading with the operator for help and I think it was an effective way to start closing. His family was sitting in the front two rows and even though some of them had heard this call before, they were visibly very emotional. In contrast, the prosecutor pointed out that nima never called 911 or talked to police about what happened, even though in his testimony he claimed it was one of the most traumatic experiences of his life.

[Dennis Murphy]

Let's remind listeners briefly what is the prosecution's theory of the case as they presented it in court?

[Sue Simpson]

Right. So prosecutors say the evidence shows Nima was angry at Bob because he had introduced Nima's little sister Kazar Momeni to a man who may have sexually assaulted her. They've argued that Nima took a knife from his sister's kitchen, drove Bob to a secluded area under the Bay Bridge, stabbed him three times, then threw the knife over the fence.

[Dennis Murphy]

Okay. The defense, of course, has a very different theory about what happened that night.

[Sue Simpson]

Nima and his sister had testified that Nima actually wasn't angry with Bob at all. And Nima even said on the stand that by the time he and Bob ended up in that secluded place in the car, they were friendly, trying to figure out where they wanted to go. Afterwards, he testified he then made a bad joke and Bob flipped on him, took out a knife from his pocket. Nima claimed that they tussled with the knife a little bit and he pushed the knife away. Eventually, the knife went on the ground and he threw it over a fence so Bob couldn't pick it up again. He then said Bob walked away calmly on his phone, and he didn't look like he had any injuries at all.

[Dennis Murphy]

A major point of disagreement between the two sides is who brought the knife. The prosecution is saying Nima had it. And they seem to be saying that just taking the knife from his sister's apartment indicates that he had intent.

[Sue Simpson]

Yes, they said that for sure, that Nima intentionally took the knife from his sister's apartment, then chose to drive Bob to a secluded area, a place he was very familiar with because he had a lot of friends that lived in the area. And on top of that, even though the defense said, oh, they were on great terms, they were friendly, the prosecutor actually argued, oh, this was actually kind of a ruse to be chummy and pretend because he was actually very upset with Bob. That also shows intent.

[Dennis Murphy]

Nima's lawyer addressed the knife in his closings as well. How did he counter the prosecution story that it was in Nima's possession?

[Sue Simpson]

Nima's lawyer brought up how tiny the knife was. A few times. He actually brought a cardboard cutout of the knife and showed the jury how small it was. So the prosecution's theory is that Nima pulled it from a set of knives at his sister's apartment. The paring knife was missing. So the defense makes this point. Of all the knives around, he picks the smallest, most beat up knife to commit a murder. And, you know, Nima has this big jacket on. He could have concealed a cleaver if he wanted to.

[Dennis Murphy]

So what did the defense say about how the knife got to the crime scene then?

[Sue Simpson]

So Nemo testified that he never brought a knife, didn't have any weapons on him. And then in the defense's closing argument, he played a new video that the jury has never seen before. Video that. That the defense attorney claims the prosecution had buried in thousands of hours of surveillance footage, and it turned over. So the video shows Bob and his friend Beau outside of a social club. This happened earlier in the night before Bob saw Nima. And in the video, you can see Bob is using a small, narrow object to scoop what the defense is alleging to be cocaine out of a baggie. Nima's attorney say that small object is actually the paring knife that was used in the attack. He's basically saying that Bob had that paring knife the entire night and his client had no possession of it. Then after court, Krista Lee, Bob's former wife Told the media that that wasn't a knife at all. It was actually a collar. Stay. It's a piece of plastic that comes inside of a men's button down shirt. It also can be metal. That's how Bob typically liked to do cocaine, not with a knife.

[Dennis Murphy]

Oh, interesting. Okay, this jury has a lot of evidence to go through and the judge has given them some pretty clear instructions on the charges.

[Sue Simpson]

Yes. So the charges rang from premeditated murder, so first degree, second degree to voluntary manslaughter, which the judge describe as basically imperfect self defense. And the least serious crime is involuntary manslaughter. And then of course, there's also not guilty.

[Dennis Murphy]

They were sent to deliberate Wednesday. I guess it's anyone's guess how long it'll take to reach a verdict.

[Sue Simpson]

Yeah, we really don't know. The defense made a point stating that we all know that Nima's team doesn't have to prove Nima killed Bob in self defense. It's the prosecution that has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Nima intentionally murdered Bob.

[Dennis Murphy]

Brittany, you live in the Bay Area. What are. What are people saying about this case? This trial?

[Sue Simpson]

Yeah, I mean, from the very beginning when this case broke to even to this trial, this has been in the headlines, in the local papers. Everyone's kind of heard about it. I think a lot of eyes are watching. The people in the Bay Area are curious what the jury is going to decide on.

[Dennis Murphy]

Well, we will wait and see. Thank you, Brittany.

[Sue Simpson]

Thanks. Yeah, we'll be at the courthouse waiting for the verdict.

[Dennis Murphy]

Next up, when a wealthy businessman and his family were brutally murdered at their home six years ago, questions swirled about a possible hit for hire until police arrested the man's brother. We've got the latest from the courtroom.

[Andrea Canning]

Let's talk about a gift that's perfect for any occasion. Edible arrangements. Whether you're hosting, sending a thank you gift, or celebrating, there's an edible for that. Edible is your one stop shop with chocolate dipped fruit arrangements, decadent new dessert boards, fresh flower bouquets and balloons, and more. The best part, they deliver next day, same day, even one hour. Just hop on edible.com pick what you want and let edible handle the rest. From fresh baked cookies to classic chocolate covered strawberries, edibles handmade treats are fresh and delicious and impressive every time. So next time you need a gift or something for your table, check out edible.com or visit your local store. To order, use promo code Dateline10 to save $10 on your order. Over $59. Offer ends 12-31-2024 at 11:59 EST. Additional terms and conditions apply. See site for details. Do you like podcasts, music and audiobooks? Because when you subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited, you get all three in one app. Imagine listening to your favorite podcasts and music on the go to work, school, the gym, or better yet, vacation. Now imagine being on vacation with your favorite audiobook from Audible and then listening to a new one every month from a huge selection of popular titles. That sounds like a pretty good vacation, right? Audible is now included on Amazon Music Unlimited. Download the Amazon Music app now to start listening. Terms apply. Hey, friends, Ted Danson here, and I want to let you know about my new podcast. It's called Where Everybody Knows yous Name with Me, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson. Sometimes doing this podcast is a chance for me and my good bud Woody to reconnect after Cheers wrap 30 years ago. Plus, we're introducing each other to the friends we've met since, like Jane Fonda, Conan O'Brien, Eric Andre, Mary Steenburgen, my wife, and flee from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And trust me, it's always a great hang when Woody's there. So why wait? Listen to where everybody knows your name wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dennis Murphy]

For our next story, we're heading to a New Jersey courtroom where a judge is weighing whether a prosecutor can use cutting edge science in a disturbing quadruple murder case. In November 2018, just a few days before Thanksgiving, two fires broke out at the homes of two brothers, Paul and Keith Canaro. Paul and his family got out alive, but his brother Keith was not so lucky. When first responders got to his house, they discovered that Keith had died, but not in the fire. He'd been shot repeatedly. His wife and two children were also dead.

[Brenda Breslauer]

Tonight, an outpouring of grief for a.

[Dennis Murphy]

Family police say was targeted and murdered in their own home. But by whom? A week later, investigators came up with a stunning theory. Paul Canero had killed his brother and his family and then set fire not only to his brother's house but to his own to cover up the crime. He was charged with their murders and two counts of arson. Producer Brenda Breslauer, who has been covering the case for dateline, is here to tell us what prosecutors believe is Paul's motive and why science is now taking center stage in the courtroom. Hey, Brenda.

[Brittany Tom]

Hi, Andrea.

[Dennis Murphy]

So first of all, very interesting that this involves two brothers. What do we know about them? The Canaros and their relationship?

[Brittany Tom]

Yeah, that's kind of the crux of the whole story Here they appeared to be close. According to press reports, Keith was the best man at Paul's wedding. And when Keith built a tech company from scratch, he brought in his older brother, Paul. Keith owned a mate in Colts Neck, an affluent neighborhood in New Jersey, and he lived there with his wife Jennifer and two children, 11 year old Jesse and Sophia, who was eight.

[Dennis Murphy]

Yeah, I've been to Colts Neck. It's an absolutely beautiful area of New Jersey. What can you tell us about Paul?

[Brittany Tom]

So Paul lived in nearby Ocean Township, about 12 miles away. He had a more modest home, but he also drove a Porsche. And a family friend told NBC News that the brothers treated each other with love and respect.

[Dennis Murphy]

Take us to the day of the fires. What exactly happened?

[Brittany Tom]

Okay, well, starting about 5:00am, police got a call from someone at Paul Canaro's home.

[Andrea Canning]

Our alarm just went all over my whole house with smoke.

[Yara Shahidi]

Is everyone out of the house? Yes.

[Brittany Tom]

Then around 12:30, two different neighbors called 911 to say they could see smoke coming out of Keith's house. The 911 operator told one of them to walk over and check it out.

[Andrea Canning]

Oh my God, there's blood here.

[Dennis Murphy]

It's a corp. That's what. Somebody is dead here.

[Brittany Tom]

It was Keith.

[Dennis Murphy]

And what makes this story so incredibly tragic is that it wasn't just Keith, it was the rest of his family as well, right?

[Brittany Tom]

Yeah. His wife Jennifer and the two children, Jesse and Sophia, were found dead inside the house. The children had been stabbed. And then about a week later, as you mentioned, Paul was arrested and charged with the four murders.

[Dennis Murphy]

Wow. So what exactly happened here between these two brothers? Do we have a motive? Has the prosecution released that yet?

[Brittany Tom]

The prosecution has said the motive was financial. According to a police document, there had been arguments over money. And the day before the murder, Keith forwarded an email to a family member saying money had gone missing from the businesses.

[Dennis Murphy]

Paul Canaro was also charged with theft. How has he responded to all of this? Has he said anything?

[Brittany Tom]

He has pleaded not guilty and he maintains his innocence.

[Dennis Murphy]

The murders happened back in 2018. Six years later, the case is in court, but still not in trial. What is happening?

[Brittany Tom]

I know it's been a long time. Part of it Covid, of course, and then some back and forth on these DNA issues. A pretrial hearing has now been going on for three weeks. It centers on the issue of whether the prosecution can present certain DNA evidence to the jury at the upcoming trial. The labs used a cutting edge software called starmix, which the defense is arguing is not reliable.

[Dennis Murphy]

I've Never heard of Starmix, but it sounds like something right out of a sci fi movie. How does it work?

[Brittany Tom]

It does sound like something out of a sci fi movie. So Starmix is a computer software program that takes a sample of DNA that may be from multiple people, a complex sample, and uses mathematical modeling to separate them out. And it can get results from much smaller samples of DNA. So in this case, it was used to analyze more than a dozen samples from bloodstained genes and gloves, latex gloves that were found in Paul Canero's basement after the murders. One stain on the jeans revealed nothing when it was examined using the traditional DNA method, according to a prosecution expert. But when it was run through Starmix, she was able to identify the source as Paul's nephew Jesse. The 11 year old.

[Dennis Murphy]

Is the assumption by the prosecution that Paul thought that his jeans and the glove would burn in the fire? I mean, why would you leave these items in your own basement?

[Brittany Tom]

Right. Well, that is something. The prosecutor did allege that there were two reasons for the fires. One was to make it look like the whole family was being targeted. And the second was. Yeah, to burn the evidence.

[Dennis Murphy]

But Paul's defense team says that Starmix can't be trusted.

[Brittany Tom]

Right. I've been watching the testimony, and the back and forth has been quite heated. Paul is being represented by the state public defender's office. Their forensic experts are questioning whether enough research has been done on this software to establish its error rates and its limitations. And the other thing that's interesting is they're arguing that the method is particularly problematic when it comes to analyzing the DNA of relatives. There's an increased risk of a false positive.

[Dennis Murphy]

This hearing doesn't just have implications for this case, it goes beyond that.

[Brittany Tom]

That's true. It really is a test case for the state of New Jersey. It's being heard by one of the top judges in the county, and what he decides has the potential to impact all New Jersey criminal cases going forward.

[Dennis Murphy]

Very long. Preliminary hearing. When will Paul Canero's jury trial begin?

[Brittany Tom]

That's projected to begin at the end of March and last about six weeks.

[Dennis Murphy]

Okay, thank you, Brenda, for your insight into this disturbing case.

[Brittany Tom]

You're welcome.

[Dennis Murphy]

Up next, it's Dateline Roundup. The Florida woman convicted of leaving her boyfriend to die in a suitcase learns her fate. And prosecutors say the Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife has a new target. Plus, Dennis Murphy remembers the Amanda Knox case.

[Yara Shahidi]

Hey, I'm Yara Shahidi, and I'm the host of the Optimist. Project. This is the podcast that asks what gives you hope. Each week I sit down with change makers you may or may not know from comedy, music, academia and more to uncover what inspires them to create a better tomorrow. Join us as we find out ways that we can cultivate optimism in our own lives. You can find the Optimist Project wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

[Dennis Murphy]

Parents did you know that only 50% of US adults are financially literate? Millions of people don't fully understand how to manage money and it's up to you to not let your kids grow up into that statistic. With Greenlight's educational money app and parent controlled debit card, you can teach them how to earn, save and invest wisely. The earlier they learn, the better prepared they'll be to manage their money and build a financially secure life. Give your kids the financial edge they need. Sign up for Greenlight [e-mail] podcast. That's Greenlight.com podcast. Hey, I'm Ryan Reynolds. Recently I asked Mint Mobile's legal team if big wireless companies are allowed to raise prices due to inflation. They said yes. And then when I asked if raising prices technically violates those onerous two year contracts, they said, what the are you talking about, you insane Hollywood? So to recap, we're cutting the price of mint unlimited from $30 a month to just $15 a month. Give it a [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront.

[Sue Simpson]

Payment equivalent to $15 per month. New customers on first three month plan only taxes and fees, extra speed slower.

[Dennis Murphy]

Above 40 gigabytes of detail. Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is DATELINE producer Sue Simpson. Hey, Sue. Welcome back.

[Yara Shahidi]

Thanks, Andrea. Hi.

[Dennis Murphy]

Okay, first up, more stunning headlines in the case involving Colorado dentist James Craig. We mentioned his trial was set to begin in our last episode, but there have been a couple of massive twists we didn't see coming. Before we get to that, just remind people what this alleged crime is and who James Craig is.

[Yara Shahidi]

James Craig was charged with murdering his wife, Angela Craig by poisoning her protein shakes back in 2023. He pleaded not guilty and his trial was on the docket to begin this month. But on the day of jury selection, his legal team actually withdrew from the case.

[Dennis Murphy]

Do we know why?

[Yara Shahidi]

Well, Andrea, here's what we know. According to the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, his defense attorn said his client was persisting in a course of action that he reasonably believed is criminal or fraudulent. That's a quote from the document. And two, that his client was insisting on action that, quote, he considers repugnant or has a fundamental disagreement with.

[Dennis Murphy]

The attorney didn't say what that action was, which he found so repugnant. But something happened the next day which could give us a clue.

[Yara Shahidi]

That's right. So the following day, prosecutors filed two new charges against Craig. Solicitation to commit murder and solicitation to commit perjury. He allegedly tried to persuade an inmate to commit murder for him.

[Dennis Murphy]

Do we know who his alleged target is?

[Yara Shahidi]

The Aurora Police Department says the intended target was an Aurora police detective who investigated his wife's murder case.

[Dennis Murphy]

Major twist there. So when do we expect this trial to begin?

[Yara Shahidi]

Great question. Court documents show the trial has been postponed indefinitely. So we shall see.

[Dennis Murphy]

All right, so next we've got two sentencings out of Florida to talk about from two big cases we've covered on the podcast. The first one we're gonna talk about is Sarah Boone. She is the defendant in the so called suitcase murder trial. Yeah.

[Yara Shahidi]

So Sarah Boone was accused of zipping her boyfriend, George Torres into a blue suitcase and leaving him to suffocate. Sarah pleaded not guilty and she testified on the stand that she acted in self defense. She alleged she'd suffered previous abuse at the hands of her boyfriend. The jury didn't buy that and convicted her after less than two hours of deliberation.

[Dennis Murphy]

The sentencing was earlier this week. We heard victim impact statements from George's children and his mom. He loved my son. I love him.

[Brittany Tom]

And I miss him a lot.

[Dennis Murphy]

And my family miss him a lot, too. And Sarah testified as well.

[Yara Shahidi]

Sarah did. And she compared herself to a broken vase. Kento sukuroi is a kind of Japanese ceramic style, which means to repair with gold. When a ceramic piece breaks, an artisan will fuse the pieces back together again using liquid gold or gold dust lacquer. And each piece becomes more beautiful because it has been broken.

[Dennis Murphy]

Sounds kind of odd.

[Yara Shahidi]

It is odd. And Boone went on to say that all of the gold that held her together was forgiveness. She said she forgave Torres for beating her senseless. And she rattled off a bunch of other allegations of abuse. I didn't mean for this to happen. Forgive me, George. Forgive me, Torres family. Forgive me, Judge Kranek. To the entire planet. Please forgive me. Once Boone was finished, the prosecutor was not shy about what he thought of her testimony.

[Brenda Breslauer]

It's all about Sarah Boone. Everything's about Sarah Boone, about how she is the victim.

[Dennis Murphy]

What was her sentence?

[Yara Shahidi]

She was sentenced to life. Life in prison.

[Dennis Murphy]

All right, and the second big sentencing this week was Ashley Benefield. The former ballerina was convicted of the 2020 killing of her husband, Doug Benefield. So, sue, what is the news there?

[Yara Shahidi]

So we weren't sure this sentencing was actually gonna happen until a few days ago. Remember, Benefield's team asked for a new trial based on alleged juror misconduct just before Thanksgiving. The judge rejected the motion and sentencing did take place on Tuesday.

[Dennis Murphy]

There were some victim impact statements from Doug's family. We heard from his daughter Eva, who's been very vocal throughout all of this.

[Sue Simpson]

Ashley, since the day you shot my father, I have only had one question to ask you.

[Dennis Murphy]

Why did Ashley give a statement?

[Yara Shahidi]

She did not.

[Dennis Murphy]

All right, what did she get?

[Yara Shahidi]

The judge sentenced Ashley to 20 years in prison with credit for time served, followed by 10 years of probation.

[Dennis Murphy]

Okay, Law. Lots of updates. Sue, thank you so much.

[Yara Shahidi]

Lots of news. Thank you, Andrea.

[Dennis Murphy]

Fifteen years ago this week, jurors filed back into an Italian courthouse to deliver their verdict in a murder trial that had captivated the world. The Victim was a 21 year old student from England by the name of Meredith Kercher. Mez to her friends, she had been sexually assaulted and her throat slashed in the bungalow she'd been renting on her study abroad trip. But it was one of her alleged killers who seemed to get all the attention in the months that followed. Meredith's roommate, Amanda Knox. Prosecutors said the American college student had murdered Meredith. Amanda's supporter said she'd been railroaded by the Italian authorities. Just after midnight on December 5, 2009, the judge read the verdict.

[Brenda Breslauer]

Amanda Knox guilty of the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher.

[Dennis Murphy]

Dennis Murphy covered the case from the very beginning and is here to tell us why this case got so much attention and what happened next. Hey, Dennis.

[Brenda Breslauer]

Hey, Andrea. How are you?

[Dennis Murphy]

Good. So, Dennis, your first report came out in December of 2007, so let's take a listen.

[Brenda Breslauer]

The awful crime here on Via Sant Antonio would quickly have been forgotten as yet another head shaking statistic. Sad, but not all that uncommon, except for the authorities chilling theory of the murder.

[Dennis Murphy]

You flew out to Perugia, Italy for this first report. In fact, in that clip we just played, you're standing outside the student housing cottage where Amanda Knox and her roommate Meredith Kercher lived. Do you remember what was going on when you filmed that?

[Brenda Breslauer]

Oh, I so well remember standing there looking at that little building. Andrea, here's Perugia, this medieval beauty of a town known for making chocolate and educating Students. And yet here I was before this house that was all over the headlines called the House of Horrors, and it turned out to be all of that.

[Dennis Murphy]

So remind us, what exactly was the prosecution's theory about what happened, what they say she did?

[Brenda Breslauer]

Well, our most interesting stop on that trip, we went to the office of the chief prosecutor, and he sat us down and he took us through this very lurid, operatic theory of the crime. He said there were three people involved here. It was three on one. It was a sex game gone wrong. Amanda Knox holding the victim with a knife under her chin. Her boyfriend of just a few days, an Italian boyfriend, and a third man who sexually assaulted the roommate. And it all took place in that little cottage, the House of Horrors.

[Dennis Murphy]

And you were getting some information from the Italian papers leaked by the prosecutor, right?

[Brenda Breslauer]

The Italian authorities leaked every bit of information I think they had at the time, especially to the British tabloids. The media had a field day when it found Amanda's MySpace webpage. Her online nickname was Foxy Noxie. Who was Foxy Noxie? This young woman seen in her high school photo playing soccer. And it was nothing more than that. That was an allusion to her ability to play soccer. But somehow this appellation that she was known as Foxy Noxy became this portrayal of a promiscuous young American woman.

[Dennis Murphy]

I mean, were you thinking, how in the world does this young woman girl get a fair trial if all of this is out there in the public?

[Brenda Breslauer]

Exactly. The court of public opinion had decided. We've seen her in the paper every day. What is she doing giggling while she's buying lingerie with her boyfriend? What is the story we hear about being in the police station doing cartwheels? It all added up to a guilty on that side of the Atlantic.

[Dennis Murphy]

Amanda changed her story at one point.

[Brenda Breslauer]

She did. They bring her in, and she doesn't have an attorney, and she's being interrogated by the homicide detectives in Italian, and she gives up. What they said at the time was something like a confession, where she seemed to implicate herself by being in the house. She recalled the screams of Meredith. And the other thing that happened is that they said, who is the third man? And Amanda Knox, under interrogation, gave up the name of her boss, the owner of a small cafe where she part time waitressed in town, and she said, he was the guy. He's your third man. None of those things turned out to be true.

[Dennis Murphy]

Amanda's trial, no surprise, was a complete circus. Oh, cameras galore.

[Brenda Breslauer]

I wasn't in Italy at The time. But I was watching the coverage, of course, and I remember feeling so sorry for her. She was so disturbed. Her face was just, just. It revealed everything that was going on.

[Dennis Murphy]

Yeah, the verdict. She was very dramatic. She's found guilty.

[Brenda Breslauer]

Sobbing, sobbing at her table. And just like that, it was over 26 years for Amanda, 25 for her one time boyfriend.

[Dennis Murphy]

So much has happened since this guilty verdict. What happened next?

[Brenda Breslauer]

Well, it goes to an appeals court. And here it's very interesting because everything shifts to Amanda Knox's favor. They throw out all of the forensic evidence as junk science, incompetently collected and processed. And then there was a second trial. And once again, she was found guilty. And then the appellate court did something interesting. They not only said there is not enough evidence to support a guilty verdict, they said she did not do it. You got the wrong person here. So after nearly four years in prison, she was completely exonerated. And the boyfriend, the boyfriend was let go too.

[Dennis Murphy]

So I think I read that she's working on some type of documentary. She went back to Perugia.

[Brenda Breslauer]

I think you could say that the events of her early twenties have really shaped the person she is today. She's living back in Seattle. As I understand it, she's married with children and has become a vocal advocate for those who are wrongfully accused, wrongfully convicted. And yes, she went back to Perugia to revisit it all. It's not a case that she lets go. And unfortunately for Amanda, Andrea, it's not a case that a lot of members of the general public will let go either.

[Dennis Murphy]

Yeah, it's like, does anyone not know the name Amanda Knox at this point?

[Brenda Breslauer]

And she doesn't deserve that. And no one really remembers the name of the victim that easily. Meredith Kercher, you can't call that up as easily as you can call up Foxy Noxy.

[Dennis Murphy]

Right? Dennis, what a fascinating story you covered. Really interesting looking back on this. Thank you for joining us and sharing your memories.

[Brenda Breslauer]

It's been interesting to retrieve some of these memories again.

[Dennis Murphy]

Yeah. Thank you. That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. Coming up this Friday on Dateline, she was a murder victim without a name until strangers gave it back to her.

[Andrea Canning]

To those armchair detectives and their partner. She was as important as you or me.

[Sue Simpson]

It doesn't matter what walk of life you come from.

[Dennis Murphy]

Everybody's a person.

[Andrea Canning]

That's the way they should be treated.

[Dennis Murphy]

Watch Keith's story, the Woman with no Name, airing this Friday on NBC at a special time of 10:15, 9:15 Central. And be sure to check out Josh's brand new original podcast series, Deadly Mirage. It's the story of a young couple living in the California desert who seemed to have it all until the husband was found murdered and investigators uncovered a web of dark secrets.

[Brenda Breslauer]

The body lay on the shop floor, the man's shaven head leaning against the.

[Brittany Tom]

Front left tire of a service truck.

[Dennis Murphy]

There was a dime sized hole in.

[Brenda Breslauer]

His chin and a pool of blood.

[Dennis Murphy]

Slowly congealing on the concrete floor. Tell me exactly what happened. I opened the garage door and there's a light bulb busted out. Get in.

[Sue Simpson]

The office tore up and he's on.

[Dennis Murphy]

The ground bleeding out of his head. The first two episodes are available now. Wherever you get your podcast. Dateline Premium subscribers get early access to episodes and can listen ad free. Thanks for listening. Dateline True Crime Weekly is produced by Frannie Kelly and Katie Ferguson. Our associate producers are Carson Cummins and Caroline Casey. Our senior producer is Liz Brown Kuroloff Production and fact checking helped by Sara Khadir. 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. Okay, thanks Jane. Bye everyone. Hi, my name is Patrick Adams. You may know me as Mike Ross on the TV series Suits and I'm Sarah Rafferty and I play Donna Paulson on Suits. And we have a podcast called Sidebar where every week we watch and discuss episode of the show. Because here's the thing, neither of us have really watched it. That's true. At least until now. So we're going to cover all nine seasons, share behind the scenes stories and talk to our co stars and friends like Gina Torres and Aaron Korsh. So look, if you love Suits Amazing.

[Yara Shahidi]

This podcast is for you.

[Dennis Murphy]

And if you've never watched Suits, also amazing, you can join us and we'll watch it together. I think we're going to have a lot of fun.

[Brittany Tom]

Listen to Sidebar wherever you get your.

[Dennis Murphy]

Podcasts and don't forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.