Karen Read's bombshell lawsuit. Twist in Crystal Rogers case. Plus, Legally Brunette host Emily Simpson.

Summary

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Dateline NBC – "Karen Read's Bombshell Lawsuit. Twist in Crystal Rogers Case. Plus: Legally Brunette Host Emily Simpson."

Air date: June 11, 2026
Host: Andrea Canning (NBC News)
Special Guests: NBC producers Sue Simpson, Rachel White, Brad Davis; Emily Simpson (Legally Brunette podcast; RHOC)

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Episode Theme & Overview

This episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly centers on seismic new developments in two headline-making cases:

1. Karen Read’s explosive lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police, following her acquittal in the murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe.
2. A twist in the Crystal Rogers case – with the arrest of Nick Houck, brother of Crystal’s convicted killer, on new criminal charges. Additionally, the episode features a deep dive into the true-crime documentary "The Crash" and the controversial Mackenzie Shirilla case with Legally Brunette host (and RHOC star) Emily Simpson.

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1. Karen Read Files Bombshell Lawsuit (Segment begins ~[02:18])

Case Recap and Lawsuit Details

• Background: Karen Read was acquitted in 2025 after standing trial twice for the 2022 murder of her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe. Her acquittal was met with "thunderous applause and cheers" from supporters ([02:18]).

  • “When the verdict was read, I was sitting inside the Norfolk Superior Courthouse and could hear the thunderous applause and cheers from her supporters outside.” – Andrea Canning ([02:32])

• The Lawsuit: Read files suit against the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and Canton PD, demanding accountability for what her legal team alleges were corrupt and biased police investigations.

  • “The ultimate goal is to ensure that we bring to light the institutional biases, the institutional corruption that permeates the Massachusetts law enforcement system. That’s what this lawsuit’s going to do.” – Alan Jackson, Karen’s attorney ([04:17])

Explosive Allegations & Evidence

• Key Allegations: The suit claims both agencies were negligent—hiring, supervising, and retaining prejudiced and unfit officers, particularly naming former MSP trooper Michael Proctor and former Canton officer Shawn Good.

• New Evidence: For the first time, the suit exposes "dozens of texts and voicemails" between Proctor and Good, many containing “offensive and disturbing” content so explicit they couldn’t be aired. These include:

  • Use of racist, sexist slurs, and demeaning statements about women.
    • Example voicemail (allegedly from Proctor about an accident scene):
      “If you’re working, let them die.” ([08:39])
    • Another voicemail about women:
      “You want a filthy pig that you just do dirty things to.” ([08:54])

• Corruption Claims: The defense argues Proctor was never objective, making up his mind against Karen early on and using derogatory language about her.

  • "[Proctor] called Karen Reed a babe, and he also used the C word about her." – Sue Simpson ([06:27])
  • On the stand, Proctor admitted to calling Karen a “whack job,” “gross,” and remarking “No nudes so far” in texts to colleagues. ([06:45])

Official Reactions

• Police Response: Both law enforcement agencies condemned the texts and actions as not representative of their values.

  • “These racist, sexist, and abhorrent comments absolutely do not reflect the values of the MSP.” – MSP Statement ([09:17])
  • “These messages are deeply offensive, hateful, and do not reflect the values of the Canton Police Department or its members.” – Town of Canton ([09:33])

• Proctor’s Defense: Proctor and his attorney challenge the relevance of these messages, claiming personal comments shouldn’t affect employment or the murder investigation.

  • “In 12 years, I’ve never had a single complaint... I still love the job. I still want to be a trooper.” – Michael Proctor ([10:07])

Multiple Legal Fronts

• Karen Read faces:
  • The current lawsuit (against the police departments),
  • A separate federal suit—alleging conspiracy against partygoers and Proctor,
  • A defamation suit filed by partygoers from the night of John O’Keefe’s death,
  • A wrongful death suit from the O'Keefe family (trial expected in 2027) ([11:06]).

Memorable Quotes

• “I think it would be a waste for me to just disappear and go live on an island.” – Karen Read, TODAY interview ([11:55])
• “There’s so much floating out there. I think if we get answers, they may come from the wrongful death suit filed by the family.” – Sue Simpson ([12:10])

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2. Twist in the Crystal Rogers Case (Segment begins ~[14:09])

Case Background

• Victim: Crystal Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five, vanished in 2015 after a weekend with boyfriend Brooks Houck.
  • Her father, Tommy Ballard, was murdered a year after Crystal went missing; his murder remains unsolved ([15:16]).

Prosecutions and Lingering Suspects

• Recent Convictions: Brooks Houck (boyfriend), Stephen and Joseph Lawson (father and son) were convicted in Crystal’s murder, even though her body was never found.
• Nick Houck (Brooks’ brother):
  • Former Bardstown police officer, suspected involvement in both Crystal's disappearance and indirectly in Tommy Ballard's murder.
  • Fired from the police for “interfering with the investigation” ([18:29]).

New Charges

• Development: Nick Houck is indicted for felony perjury for making false statements to investigators between July 2015 and April 2023. Connection to Crystal’s case is likely but not explicitly confirmed by prosecutors ([21:45]).

  • “Jurors heard testimony from Nick’s former girlfriend...prosecutors pointed out that those calls were made during the same period when Crystal disappeared.” – Rachel White ([20:38])
  • “Brooks’s defense said there was a perfectly innocent reason for Nick’s phone being off. He was fighting with his girlfriend.” ([21:13])

• Family Response: Crystal’s mother, Sheri, relayed relief at the arrest:

  • “It was like finally. Oh my gosh.” ([15:16])

Open Questions & Next Steps

• Nick’s arraignment is set for June 18, 2026.
• The Ballard/Rogers family continues to seek answers for both Crystal’s disappearance and Tommy's murder.

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3. Dateline Roundup (Segment begins ~[25:26])

The Brendan Banfield "Catfishing" Murder

• Background: Former IRS agent Brendan Banfield convicted of murdering his wife, Christine, in a plot involving the family au pair and a catfishing scheme using fetish websites ([25:51]).

  • “Christine Banfield was a pediatric nurse and she had been fatally stabbed...not far from her was the body of another person, Joseph Ryan.” – Brad Davis ([25:52])

• Victim Impact:

  • “I will forever carry both the grief of losing her too soon and the gratitude of having loved her for 37 years and being loved by her in return. That bond will not end because we will always be sisters.” – Danielle Hawker, Christine’s sister ([27:09])

• Banfield’s Speech & Sentencing:

  • Banfield maintained innocence, claiming conviction was impossible.
  • “She really didn’t [hold back]. It’s rare for her to see someone with no remorse.” – Brad Davis, on the judge’s remarks ([28:49])
  • “You did not just take her mother from her. You placed her in the middle of the horror you created. ... I carry no burden and find no hesitation in sentencing you to life.” – The judge ([29:14])

Maya Millette Case Update

• Allegations: Husband Larry Millette accused of murdering his wife, Maya, after consulting paid spell casters ([29:41]).
  • Evidence includes text admissions of tracking devices, spell-casting, and Maya’s journal describing fear of Larry ([30:16]).

Bahamas Mystery – The Disappearance of Lynette Hooker

• Background: Lynette vanished while boating with husband Brian; he claimed she fell overboard with the dinghy keys ([30:56]).
• Developments: Investigators uncovered inconsistencies in Brian’s account, using GPS data and cadaver dogs for new searches. No body located; investigation ongoing ([31:57]).

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4. "The Crash" & The Mackenzie Shirilla Case (Segment begins ~[32:16])

Case Overview

• Incident: Mackenzie Shirilla, Ohio teen, convicted for intentionally crashing her car at 100 mph into a wall, killing boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan ([32:16]).
  • A Netflix documentary “The Crash” brought renewed, controversial attention.

Documentary Reaction

• Mackenzie's Interview: Emphasizes lack of intent and cites a medical condition (POTS) as cause for blacking out.

• Emily Simpson’s Legal Perspective:

  • “She wanted to make sure she hammered in the intent, that there was no intent.” ([34:03])
  • “I feel like...if she did have some type of medical episode...your body would have gone relaxed. The fact that the car was a hundred miles per hour, her foot never came off the gas. To me, it means that she had to grip tightly to keep that car going 100 miles an hour straight into a Wall.” – Emily Simpson ([34:44])

• Media & Social Media Fallout:

  • Mackenzie expresses, in jail call, hope Kim Kardashian will notice her case.
    • “You have to figure out, because I’m real nervous. And I want Kim Kardashian to be my little lawyer.” – Mackenzie Shirilla ([35:56])
  • Simpson responds: “Can we just say that Kim is not an attorney?...She did pass the baby bar, but she did not pass the big old the bar.” ([36:01])

• Influence of Social Media:
  Prosecutors used Mackenzie’s influencer ambitions and social posts (including a macabre Halloween costume after the crash) as evidence of lack of remorse.

  • “It just shows just a lack of accountability, a lack of remorse.” – Emily Simpson ([36:55])

• Impact on Victims’ Families:

  • “There are actually grieving families behind this entertainment that’s out there for everybody else.” – Christine Russo, Dominic’s sister ([37:11])

Criminal Profits Legal Discussion

• Son of Sam Laws: Designed to prevent criminals from profiting off their crimes via books/media; families are pushing to update these to include digital media.

  • “The point is that someone that commits a violent crime...doesn’t then get to benefit...I believe it was written in the 70s, so it, it has not progressed to this digital age...” – Emily Simpson ([37:49])

• Sentence: Shirilla sentenced to 15 years to life; next parole eligibility 2037 ([38:20]).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “If you’re working, let them die.” – Alleged Proctor voicemail ([08:39])
• “These racist, sexist, and abhorrent comments absolutely do not reflect the values of the MSP.” – Massachusetts State Police ([09:17])
• “I am not responsible for her death.” – Brendan Banfield ([28:30])
• “She is young now, but one day she will understand your true self and she will understand what you took from her, which is everything.” – Judge, Banfield sentencing ([29:01])
• “You want Kim Kardashian to be my little lawyer.” – Mackenzie Shirilla ([35:56])

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Key Timestamps

• 02:18 — Karen Read lawsuit segment starts
• 04:17 — Karen’s lawyer details lawsuit purpose
• 06:45 — Proctor’s offensive language revealed at trial
• 08:39 — Proctor voicemail “let them die” example
• 09:17 — Official police responses to lawsuit
• 14:09 — Crystal Rogers case update begins
• 21:45 — Nick Houck indicted for perjury
• 25:26 — Dateline roundup (Banfield case and others)
• 29:41 — Maya Millette trial update
• 32:16 — “The Crash”/Mackenzie Shirilla discussion with Emily Simpson
• 37:49 — Explanation of Son of Sam laws

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Structure of the Episode

• [02:18-12:21] – Karen Read: lawsuit details, wider corruption allegations, key figures, and pending litigation.
• [14:09-22:50] – Crystal Rogers: background, lingering mysteries, new perjury charge for Nick Houck.
• [25:26-32:13] – Roundup: Banfield sentencing, Maya Millette, Lynette Hooker disappearance.
• [32:16-38:43] – “The Crash” Netflix doc; Mackenzie Shirilla; legal/media implications; Emily Simpson’s insights.

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Investigative and reflective: The episode maintains Dateline’s signature tone—combining hard-hitting investigative reporting with compassionate attention for victims’ families.
• Intense scrutiny: Both major cases highlight police conduct, evidentiary issues, and the shifting role of public and media engagement in high-profile crime.
• Critical debate: The final segment illustrates the divide over how new media and influencer culture intersect with the justice system, victim’s rights, and legal reforms.

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This summary delivers a detailed, structured account for listeners who might have missed the episode, preserving the episode's nuance, key revelations, direct quotations, and discussion flow.

Transcript

[A]

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[A]

all right, let's begin.

[B]

You're listening to the DATELINE story meeting.

[A]

I mean, I have Josh backing me

[B]

up, which is great.

[A]

Good morning all.

[B]

Our team is catching up on breaking crime news. It's really horrifying. It's all on video.

[A]

When do you think it's going to wrap up?

[B]

Well, I think we have to find out more. Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's June 11th and here's what's on our docket. A stunning arrest in Bardstown, Kentucky. The brother of the man convicted of murdering Kentucky mom of five, Crystal Rogers is now facing criminal charges, too.

[C]

Prosecutors alleged that Nick made false statements. But between July 2015 and April 2023,

[B]

in Dateline Roundup, we've got updates from the Bahamas about the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a Michigan woman. And Brendan Banfield, the former IRS agent convicted of murdering his wife so he could start life over with the family au pair learns his fate. You did not just take her mother

[D]

from her, you placed her in the

[B]

middle of the horror you created. Plus, Emily Simpson, the lawyer turned real housewife who hosts the true crime podcast Legally Brunette, will be to dissect one of the biggest true crime documentaries of the year.

[D]

Two young people died and you know she's dressing up as a corpse. It just shows just a lack of accountability, a lack of remorse.

[B]

Before all that, we're heading to Massachusetts where Karen Reed has filed a bombshell new lawsuit. It's been nearly a year since Karen Reid was acquitted of murdering her police officer boyfriend, John o'. Keefe. When the verdict was read, I was sitting inside the Norfolk Superior Courthouse and could hear the thunderous applause and cheers from her supporters outside.

[A]

Defendant not Guilty or guilty.

[B]

So say you, Mr. Foreman.

[A]

So say you all.

[B]

Yes, after standing trial twice, Karen finally won her freedom. But she wasn't finished fighting. She has filed suit against the Massachusetts State Police and the Canton Police Department. The lawsuit says the two agencies should be, quote, forced to answer for the way their investigators handled her case. Reid's new lawsuit exposes for the first time dozens of texts and voicemails former Massachusetts State trooper Michael Proctor is alleged to have exchanged with former Canton police officer Shawn Good. The voicemails are so offensive, we can't play most of them for you. Karen Reed and her defense team argue the officers were unfit to serve and their supervisors knew it. Here to tell us more is DATE producer Sue Simpson. Hey, Sue.

[E]

Hi, Andrea.

[B]

Here we are back again, talking about Karen Reid. You were there with me when she stood on the courthouse steps after her acquittal. Sue, did you think that would be the last we'd hear from her?

[E]

Not a chance, Andrea. Not after what Karen Reid has been through. She sees herself as a victim of corruption and bigotry, hence the lawsuit.

[B]

Karen sat down for an exclusive interview on the Today show last week, and right by her side was her attorney, Alan Jackson. Take a listen. I was never going to be able

[C]

to just forget that this happened to me, that I was wronged in this way. I couldn't just go back to life as it was, but I always knew this was going to happen if I could get the help legally to do this.

[A]

The ultimate goal is to ensure that we bring to the light the institutional biases, the institutional corruption that permeates the Massachusetts law enforcement system. That's what this lawsuit's going to do

[B]

ultimately, before we dive into the lawsuit, sue for people who don't remember, refresh us on the case.

[E]

So back to January 29, 2022. John O' Keeffe's battered body was found on the lawn of a home in Canton. He was lying in the snow. He was unresponsive. Karen Reed said she dropped him off at a house party hours earlier, and he didn't come home. She didn't know what had happened.

[B]

Karen was arrested days later on February 1, 2022, and accused of killing John. Give us a quick overview of the prosecution's case against her.

[E]

Prosecutors argued that Karen drove John to the house party and then she ran him over with her SUV in a drunken rage.

[B]

Two juries were not convinced by the prosecution's theory. We saw sue one hung jury and one acquittal. Karen's defense team said the investigation had been Shoddy from the start. They also said that John's injuries weren't consist with being run over, that it looked like he'd been beaten up and been bitten by a dog.

[E]

Right, Andrea? And that's important because the people inside the house where Karen had dropped John off owned a German shepherd. At the time, the defense questioned why the lead investigator hadn't talked to anyone in the house. And it turns out that the house belonged to a Boston police officer named Brian Albert. And the lead investigator, Michael Proctor, had personal ties to Albert.

[B]

Michael Proctor, who is such a big part of this new lawsuit. He came into focus for us at Karen's first trial. Sue, you were in the courtroom the day he was on the witness stand. And the prosecution asked him to read texts that he had sent to some high school friends within hours of John's body being found.

[A]

And can you read that response for the jury? There'll be some serious charges brought on the girl.

[E]

So what was so surprising about that text and others was that it seemed like Proctor had made up his mind about the case very early in the investigation. And then the text went on. He called Karen Reid a babe, and he also used the C word about her.

[B]

And there was even more. On cross examination, the defense got Proctor to read texts he'd sent to his work colleagues. And let's take a listen to some of that.

[A]

She's a whack job. She's gross. No nudes so far.

[B]

No nudes so far.

[A]

Correct? Correct. And you said that to your bosses? Yes, sir.

[B]

The day the jury announced it was deadlocked in Karen's first trial, Michael Proctor was suspended from his job and was eventually fired in part because of those messages. Now Proctor is front and center again in this new civil lawsuit. Sue, what are the main allegations?

[E]

Well, the lawsuit boils down to something quite simple. Karen Reed says both the Mass State Police and the Canton PD were negligent in how they hired, trained, and supervised their officers. She says what she calls Proctor's, quote, bias and corrupt investigation was the natural consequence of hiring and promoting bias and corrupt law enforcement officers.

[B]

She's not just talking about Michael Proctor. The lawsuit also names former Canton police officer Sean Good, who we mentioned off the top. Remind us of who he is.

[E]

Well, Sean Good testified at Karen Reed's first trial. According to the lawsuit, Sean Good had known Proctor for years. He was a police sergeant on the Canton PD the lawsuit notes that they exchanged thousands of communications over the years.

[B]

Sue, this. This batch of voicemails and texts between Proctor and Good that are Part of this suit. Have these messages been authenticated?

[E]

Well, Proctor and Good haven't commented on these ones in particular. At least that we know of and at least not publicly.

[B]

So you've gone through all the messages, sue, and they are so offensive and disturbing, we can't even share most of them. Tell us what you can about what they're saying.

[E]

The suit alleges both men used racial slurs. Here's one example. A voicemail the lawsuit said came from Proctor calling Good to give him a heads up about a car accident. Take your time.

[A]

I saw was involved, so I wouldn't rush. If you're working, let them die.

[E]

The lawsuit also quotes both men calling women the C word. Sluts.

[B]

Here's another voicemail. This is allegedly Proctor talking about women.

[A]

You want a filthy pig that you just do dirty things to.

[E]

Wow.

[B]

And these are the things we can tell you about. My goodness, Sue. The lawsuit alleges that the two men's supervisors should have known about their prejudices. Karen Reed is asking for damages from the Massachusetts State Police and the Canton Police Department. How have they responded to the lawsuit?

[E]

The MSP put out a statement saying, quote, these racist, sexist, and abhorrent comments absolutely do not reflect the values of the msp. The statement went on to say, those values aren't tolerated and they underscore the decision made to terminate Michael Proctor. Now, the town of Canton told NBC, these messages are deeply offensive, hateful, and do not reflect the values of the Canton Police Department or its members.

[B]

So I spoke to Michael Proctor for our Dateline episode on the case last year. And sue, he told us that he should not have been fired over the text messages. Those are the text messages we knew about back then. And that he should be reinstated to the Massachusetts State Police and get his job back.

[A]

In 12 years, I've never had a single complaint. I've never been the subject of any disciplinary actions. All my employee evaluations are either outstanding or excellent. And I still love the job. I still want to be a trooper.

[B]

Has Michael Proctor said anything about the latest allegations?

[E]

Proctor's attorney dismissed these new messages saying that anything Proctor did or said in his personal life years before Officer o' Keefe was killed had no bearing whatsoever on the investigation of Karen Reed.

[B]

As for Sean Good, he was put on paid leave by the Canton Police Department back in October when. We don't know why, other than that he was being investigated by Internal Affairs. Just before the lawsuit was announced, he resigned from the force. We don't know if that was because of the lawsuit. NBC News reached out to good, but he has not made any comments so far. So Sue Amazingly, this is not the only legal battle right now that Karen Reed is embroiled in.

[E]

Well, the partygoers at Brian Albert's house the night of John o' Keefe's death filed a defamation suit against Karen Reed and the blogger known as Turtle Boy. Then there's Karen's own federal lawsuit against the partygoers and Michael Proctor himself, in which she claims they conspired to frame her for murder. And finally, John o' Keefe's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Reeb. A trial, if there is one, is expected to happen in 2027.

[B]

2027. That's a long way off. On the Today show last week, Craig Melvin asked Karen about her life after all of this.

[A]

So let's say you win the civil suit. Then what comes next for you personally?

[C]

Personally, I'd like to keep talking about what I've experienced. I haven't really been free enough, especially with all these lawsuits, to say all that I've experienced.

[B]

And I think it would be a

[C]

waste for me to just disappear and go live on an island.

[B]

Although I would like to do that. Sue, there are so many theories about what happened to John o' Keeffe the night he died. Do you think we're ever going to know what really happened that night?

[E]

There's so much floating out there. I think if we get answers, they may come from the wrongful death suit filed by the family. But, you know, we're just going to have to wait and see.

[B]

Thank you so much for coming on. Coming up, a new development in a case I've been covering for years, the murder of missing Kentucky mom Crystal Rogers. Mazda has been named Consumer Reports safest new car brand. It starts with our approach. Every Mazda comes standard with proactive safety

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[B]

On July 3, 2015, 35 year old Crystal Rogers vanished after spending the holiday weekend with her boyfriend Brooks Hauk. Crystal's parents, Sherry and Tommy Ballard, spent every moment trying to find out what happened to her, searching, putting up billboards around town and organizing vigils. And then a year after her disappearance, another tragedy hit. Someone shot and killed Tommy, Crystal's dad. His murder remains unsolved. But answers did come in Crystal's case last year, 10 years after she disappeared. And even though her body has never been found, three men were convicted in connection with her murder. Her boyfriend Brooks Hauck, and father and son Stephen and Joseph Lawson. But over the years, another name kept surfacing during the investigation. Brooks brother Nick Hauck, a former Bardstown police officer. Nick had come under suspicion early but was never charged with a crime. Until now. Crystal's mother, Sheri, told NBC affiliate Wave she's been waiting for this moment. It was like finally.

[E]

Oh my gosh.

[B]

Here to bring us the latest twist in this saga is DATELINE producer Rachel White, who has been relentlessly following this story from the beginning. Hey, Rachel.

[C]

Hi, Andrea.

[B]

As we said, so many big twists in this case. But Rachel first remind us of who Crystal was and what happened the day she disappeared back in 2015.

[C]

Sure. So Crystal Rogers was a 35 year old mother of five at the time of her disappearance. She and her boyfriend Brooks Hou had been together for several years and they shared a child together named Eli. On July 3, 2015, she and Brooks went to his family farm at the time. Brooks told investigators that they spent the day there and then went back to their home together. He said that when he went to bed, Crystal was playing games on her phone like she usually did. But when he woke up the next day, Crystal was gone.

[B]

So Rachel investigators immediately begin to poke holes in Brooks's story. What's the prosecution's theory about Brooks's role in Crystal's disappearance?

[C]

So prosecutors argued that Crystal never went back to her home that night that she was killed on the Houck family farm. Jurors heard evidence of infidelity and growing problems between the two. Prosecutors said that Brooks stood to face personal and financial consequences if Crystal did leave him, like paying child support or losing custody of their son, and that that's why he killed her. And they argued that Brooks also enlisted others to help him carry out this plan.

[B]

Okay, so let's talk about Brooks's brother Nick. The whole reason that we are revisiting this story in this moment. How did Nick first become a part of this case?

[C]

So Nick is Brooks Hou's brother. At the time Crystal disappeared, he was a local police officer with the Bardstown Police Department. And just a few days after Crystal went missing on 7-8-20, Brooks was being interviewed by investigators when Nick called him. And Brooks takes the call.

[A]

I'm up here. I know that you didn't know. I'm up here. In this interview with the detective, Detective Snow.

[C]

And what happens next is captured on the tape of this police interview.

[A]

I'm innocent. I ain't done nothing wrong. Well, you know, I know you've told me innocent people have got jammed up, but if you're telling me to leave, I'll get up and leave.

[C]

You can't hear Nick's side of the call. So we can't know for sure what Nick was telling Brooks to do. But we did interview the detective that was in the room during this call for our Dateline episode, as you know, and he said it seemed like Nick was telling Brooks to get up and leave. Nick later said that he was just trying to protect his brother. But obviously, investigators were curious if Nick knew anything, so they interviewed him a week later.

[A]

Did your brother ever call you and say that he'd done something to Crystal? No, he did not.

[B]

During his interview with investigators, Rachel, Nick told them that his brother would never harm Crystal. And he also denied having any involvement himself in Crystal's disappearance.

[A]

So you never helped him move a body?

[B]

I did not.

[A]

Never helped him move any evidence? Never.

[B]

Three months after Crystal's disappearance, Nick was fired from the Bardstown Police Department for, quote, interfering with the investigation. And investigators really kept the heat on him, right?

[C]

Yeah. So the sheriff's office asked him for a DNA sample during one of their searches. A year after Crystal disappeared and he cooperated, his home was searched by the FBI years later. But perhaps the most surprising time I heard his name come up was during a pretrial hearing for his brother Brooks. This was right after Brooks had been arrested. So, like, eight Years or so after Crystal's disappearance, the special prosecutor told the judge in open court that an undercover officer had purchased a gun from Nick that was similar to a gun used in connection to another mysterious death in Bardstown.

[B]

Okay, and this mysterious death is one of those big twists we were talking about at the top of the segment?

[C]

Yes, exactly. And perhaps the most tragic twist in this story. The gun was very similar to the one used to kill Crystal's dad, Tommy Ballard, who was shot dead While hunting in 2016, 16 months after Crystal disappeared. Just a horrible situation, tragic for the family. And no one has ever been charged in Tommy's murder to this day last year.

[B]

Another big moment in all of this. At Brooks's trial, Nick and their mother. Brooks and Nick's mother were identified by the prosecution as unindicted co conspirators in Crystal's murder. Rachel, explain to us what that means.

[C]

So an unindicted co conspirator is someone prosecutors believe participated in a criminal conspiracy, but they've not been charged with a crime. Maybe the prosecution doesn't have enough evidence to bring the charges or just wants to focus on the defendant currently on trial. But it's potentially controversial. The person can't really defend themselves because they haven't been charged.

[B]

So what did prosecutors tell the jury at Brooks's trial about Nick's alleged involvement of the events surrounding Crystal's murder?

[C]

Jurors heard testimony from Nick's former girlfriend, Amber Bowman, and she said that at the time, she and Nick were in the middle of packing up to move when he left, telling her he was going to help Brooks with a rental property. Bowman testified that she repeatedly tried to reach him, but many of her calls went unanswered or went straight to voicemail. Prosecutors pointed out that those calls were made during the same period when Crystal disappeared.

[B]

The prosecution isn't saying exactly what they think Nick did to help his brother. They're just saying they think he helped.

[C]

Correct. So their point is that Brooks couldn't have done what he did by himself. And Nick went dark at the same time as the murder was happening, which they say is suspicious. Brooks's defense said there was a perfectly innocent reason for Nick's phone being off. He was fighting with his girlfriend.

[B]

Well, despite all the suspicion over the years, Nick was never charged in connection to Crystal's murder, and he continued to live in Bardstown. Now, that brings us to this new indictment involving Nick.

[C]

Yeah, this is the big new development. So, last week, Nick Hauck was indicted on a felony charge of perjury if convicted, he could face one to five years in prison. And we should say as of this taping, prosecutors have not publicly said whether this perjury charge is directly tied to Crystal's case. But according to the indictment, prosecutors alleged that Nick made false statements between July 2015 and April 2023, and those dates span much of the Crystal Rogers investigation.

[B]

Nick has not made any public comment about his arrest. He has been released on bond. Rachel, what's next for him?

[C]

His arraignment is scheduled for next week on June 18th. And that hearing may give us our first indication of exactly what statements prosecutors believe constitute perjury.

[B]

Lots of movement as always in this case, Rachel. But of course, the one thing the family truly wants is to know where Crystal is.

[C]

Yeah, I think that would mean a lot to the family. And I think getting answers on what happened to Tommy would mean the world to them, too.

[B]

Absolutely. Thank you, Rachel. Up next, it's time for DATELINE roundup. We'll take you inside the courtroom for the sentencing of Brendan Banfield, the former IRS agent who murdered his wife to start life over with the family au pair. Plus, the Mackenzie Shurilla case is making headlines. Emily Simpson, who hosts the true crime podcast Legally Brunette, will be here to tell us why. Need to pay a friend back for festival tickets or a morning coffee run? Apple Cash makes it simple. Just tap plus in the Messages app

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Welcome back to the podcast. Joining us for this week week's DATELINE roundup is senior producer Brad Davis. Hey, Brad.

[A]

Hey, Andrea. Great to see you.

[B]

You too. For our first story, we are heading to Virginia for the sentencing of former IRS agent Brendan Banfield. Back in February, he was convicted of orchestrating a deadly catfishing plot that left his wife and another man dead. Brad, give us a refresher on this case.

[E]

Sure.

[A]

On February 24, 2023, police responded to a gruesome scene at the Banfield home in Northern Virginia. Christine Banfield was a pediatric nurse and she had been fatally stabbed. And she was lying on the floor of the bedroom. And not far from her was the body of another person, 39 year old Joseph Ryan. Christine's husband, Brendan Banfield told police that he'd walked in on Joseph stabbing Christine and he shot him to try and protect her.

[B]

That story did not add up for the investigators.

[A]

That's right. They quickly suspected that Brendan had killed Christine and discovered evidence that he had been having an affair with the family's au pair and that the two of them had actually come up with an elaborate plan to get Christine out of the way. They had used Christine's photo and her name on a fetish website to try and lure Joseph to the Banfield house. Investigators think that when Joseph showed up, he had thought he was going to have consensual sex with Christine. Instead, Brendan and then Juliana shot him. Him and Brendan stabbed Christine.

[B]

The case of Commonwealth vs Brendan Banfield. Mr. Banfield's present in the courtroom with his attorney. Last Friday, Brendan Banfield appeared for his sentencing hearing at the Fairfax County Circuit Court. It began with victim impact statements. Who was there to represent the victims in this case?

[A]

First of all, it was Christine's sister, Daniel Hawker.

[B]

I will forever carry both the grief of losing her too soon and the gratitude of having loved her for 37 years and being loved by her in return.

[C]

That bond will not End because we

[B]

will always be sisters.

[A]

The family of the other victim, Joseph Ryan, was also there. His mother addressed the court.

[B]

Joe wasn't the disposable caricature he was made out to be. He had a face.

[E]

He had a name.

[B]

He had a life. But Brendan Banfield shot his face,

[D]

soiled

[B]

his name, and treated his life as disposable. Brendan Banfield gave a statement, too. What did he have to say for himself?

[A]

Yeah, Brendan banfield gave an 11 minute speech. He was practically relitigating the case. I was found guilty of a crime that I did not commit, but it's actually impossible to have committed the crime as the prosecution, their experts and their witnesses have presented.

[B]

What was his demeanor like while he was talking to the court?

[A]

It was pretty cold and flat. He kept looking down at his papers, reading his speech plainly. He. He stuttered at some points.

[B]

Did Brendan address the loss of his wife Christine at all?

[A]

He really didn't talk about Christine until the very end of his speech. She truly was. Was a caring. A caring mother, a caring wife, a loving nurse. But I am not responsible. I am not responsible for her death.

[B]

Following Brendan Banfield's speech, the judge did not hold back. Right, Brad?

[A]

Yeah, she really didn't. She pointed out the horror and evil of his crimes, saying it's rare for her to see someone with no remorse for what they've done. And she acknowledged the unspoken victim, Christine's daughter.

[B]

You did not just take her mother from her. You placed her in the middle of the horror you created. She is young now, but one day she will understand your true self and she will understand what you took from her, which is everything.

[D]

I carry no burden and find no

[B]

hesitation in sentencing you to life. All right, let's go to San Diego. Brad, for our next story, where it is week four in the Larry Miliette trial, you'll remember that he's the man accused of murdering his wife Maya. After paying over $1,000 to people cast magic spells on her, Larry has pleaded not guilty. Brad, what is the latest from the courtroom?

[A]

Yeah, so the prosecution is still presenting its case, and they're using some of Larry's own text to try and paint a picture of his relationship with Maya in the time before her disappearance.

[B]

Brad, Larry's sister Genesis has become an important witness in this trial.

[A]

Yes, she has. The prosecution introduced hundreds of her texts with Larry into evidence, and they're pretty intense. According to Genesis, Larry admitted that he had put a tracking device in Maya' car, and he told her about the spell casting He. He sent a picture of a makeshift altar he had set up with candles positioned around a picture of Larry and Maya.

[B]

And jurors heard some revealing passages from Maya's journal this week in court.

[A]

Yes, prosecutors showed entries from years before Maya disappeared addressed to her daughters, where she talked about her fights with Larry. She wrote that she was afraid of him and that he was capable of hurting her.

[B]

We should say Brad, according to court records, Larry was never charged in connection to any domestic violence incidents. For our final story, we are headed back to the Bahamas for an update in the case of Lynette Hooker, who went missing there in early April. Her husband Brian told police that the two were on a dinghy going from Hope down to Elbow Key when Lynette fell overboard with the keys to the dinghy.

[A]

That's right. After you reported her missing. The Royal Bahamas police set off searching for Lynette but didn't find her.

[B]

Her. Lynette's daughter Carly told me that she did not buy Brian's story from the get go. And she mentioned problems in the marriage.

[C]

They have history of not getting along,

[B]

especially when they drink. Brian was taken into custody and questioned. He was released five days later.

[A]

Yes, as you know, he said all along that he had nothing to do with her disappearance and he vowed to keep looking for her. Her.

[B]

So we know the couple's boat called Soulmate, was seized in Florida in May. Brad, what is new?

[A]

A U.S. official told NBC News last week that after examining the boat's gps, it looks like Brian might have given them the wrong location for where Lynette went missing. So US Divers arrived in the Bahamas last week and started looking for her in a different spot, the Abaco Sea. According to photos obtained by NBC News, cadaver dogs were also taken to the boatyard where Brian was on the day he reported to Lynette.

[B]

This On Monday, authorities announced that no body was found. The US Coast Guard said in a statement that their recent search has concluded and that the investigation is ongoing. They encourage anyone with information to come forward. Okay, thank you so much for these updates, Brad.

[A]

You're welcome.

[B]

For our final segment this week, we wanted to talk about a case that has sparked intense debate across social media, the case of Mackenzie Shurilla. In 2023, the Ohio teenager was convicted by a judge of murdering her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and a friend, 19 year old Davion Flanagan. Both were passengers in Mackenzie's car when prosecutors say she drove nearly 100 miles per hour into a brick wall, killing them both. A recent Netflix documentary on the case Called the Crash has been a breakout hit since its debut in May with over over 58 million views worldwide so far, it features Mackenzie's first ever interview. I've never spoke before and I never told my side of the story, but I just want to say my truth and I just know myself and I know I'm not a monster. But not all of the renewed attention on the case has been welcome. Some of the victims family members are speaking out. She's a psychopath, a stone cold psychopath. She has no remorse. She's continuing to lie. I, you know, I wish she was. As I didn't hear her name anymore, I asked Emily Simpson, my friend and fellow true crime podcast host, to come on the show to talk about the case and the documentary's fallout. Emily, who was a lawyer, is no stranger to being in the spotlight. In addition to hosting her podcast Legally Brunette, she's also a cast member on the Real Housewives of Orange County. Hey, Emily. Welcome back to the podcast.

[D]

Hi, Andrea. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.

[B]

Yes, well, you are the one who actually turned me on to this documentary. Thank you.

[D]

Of course.

[B]

And then I saw that our NBC studios team was also covering it for their video podcast, allegedly on Netflix. So, Emily, what was your takeaway from Mackenzie's interview in the doc?

[D]

I do like the fact that they showed that she had her attorney present because you didn't know that in the beginning of her interview. She's just sitting there answering questions, constantly talking about. She wanted to make sure she hammered in the intent, that there was no intent. They showed a little bit of her conversation with her attorney saying basically, did I nail it? You know, did I, did I, I make all the points that there was no intent.

[B]

Part of, I think why people are so interested in this is because of the division.

[D]

Right?

[B]

Like which side are you on? Prosecutors said that Mackenzie intentionally drove her car into the wall. But in her Netflix interview, she blamed what happened on a medical condition called pots, a nervous system disorder. So Mackenzie says she blacked out before the crash.

[D]

But when we talk about the medical condition, I feel like it doesn't take a medical expert or a doctor to think if she did have some type of medical episod where she did pass out or blacked out, wouldn't your hands, your body, it would have gone relaxed. The fact that the car was a hundred miles per hour, her foot never came off the gas. To me, it means that she had to grip tightly to keep that car going 100 miles an hour straight into

[B]

a Wall and Emily from behind bars. Mackenzie appears well aware of the attention that her story is receiving in a recently released undated jail call. And we don't know if this conversation was before or after the DOT came out. Mackenzie spoke with an unidentified friend about the growing interest in her case and even expressed hope that one very famous advocate might take notice. Let's take a listen to that call. My mom was like, well, maybe Kim Kardashian scene. And I was like, I hope, yeah, maybe Kim will now that it's, like, all over. I was like, I mean, that's the only thing that might be good about the whole media thing. Maybe Kim will see it. Yes, I hope. I don't know. You have to figure out, because I'm real nervous. And I want Kim Kardashian to be my little lawyer. So this is now her saying she wants Kim Kardashian to be her lawyer. Why not Emily Simpson?

[D]

Well, first of all, can we just say that Kim is not an attorney? Can we just make that clear? Didn't she.

[B]

Did she finally pass the baby bar?

[D]

She did pass the baby bar, but she did not pass the big old the bar.

[B]

Maybe choose someone else with more experience. So in the Netflix documentary Emily, we learned that before the crash, Mackenzie was very active on social media. She aspired, or appeared to aspire to become a model or an influencer. And some of her posts were even introduced as evidence during her trial. Emily, you as a lawyer and someone, you have your own huge social media presence. Do you think Mackenzie's online Persona might have worked against her in court?

[D]

Oh, it absolutely worked against her. I don't know if you saw the prosecution was smart to bring up all the. Her social media posts in front of the judge. And, you know, two young people died. And, you know, she's dressing up as a court just a couple months after the crash and the Halloween about it, the Halloween costumes, it just shows just a lack of accountability, a lack of remorse.

[B]

As for the victims in this case, Davion and Dominic, their families were also featured in the documentary. Dominic's sister Christine Russo says the aftermath has not been easy. She talked to NBC affiliate WKYC about some of the unwelcome attention it's brought from people online. There's certain things on the Internet that. That people put out for attention that it's just so cruel. I just wanted to spread awareness on, you know, not clicking on those things and not giving that kind of disgusting things attention because there are actually grieving families behind this entertainment that's out there for everybody else.

[D]

So actually I did do an interview yesterday with Christine. Oh, okay. And Christine and the other family, the Flanagan, are working very hard to change the Son of Sam law. Yes, in Ohio, but, you know, hopefully nationwide.

[B]

Emily, just tell us a little bit about the Son of Sam laws. What are they intended for?

[D]

Well, the point is that someone that commits a violent crime, so, you know, rape, murder, doesn't then get to benefit from that crime by receiving profits from writing a book and publishing and doing interviews and things like that. I believe it was written in the 70s, so it, it has not progressed to this digital age where people are able to profit from, you know, having a social presence. And so I know that Christine Russo and the Flanagan family were working to change that. So we're going to follow that and see what happens.

[B]

Mackenzie, after being convicted, she was sentenced to 15 years to life and will not be eligible for parole until 2037. Something tells me we haven't heard the last of Mackenzie or this case. Emily, I knew you were the perfect person to bring on to talk about this topic, so we're so grateful that you joined us. Thank you.

[D]

Well, thanks for having me, Andrea. I appreciate it. And we can't wait to have you back on Legally Brunette.

[B]

Thank you. And you can catch updates on the case on Emily's podcast. As she said, legally Brunette or right here on Dateline True Crime Weekly. And the doc the Crash is available on Netflix. And you can find the video podcast Allegedly also on Netflix. That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. Don't forget to check out Keith's new original podcast series, five Miles from Home. It's a chilling story about the murder of a high school track star in a desert town. Michaela. Mickey Costanzo was just like any other teen, but what happened to her was the ultimate act of betrayal. I had gotten a text saying that he had had her and I said,

[D]

I know where she's at.

[E]

Let's go.

[B]

Episodes one and two are out now. When wherever you get your podcasts to get early access to new episodes ad free. Subscribe to Dateline Premium. And coming up this Friday, Jose Diaz Balart has his first ever Dateline episode. And it's a good one. You know, when you're coming out of a breakup, sometimes you just want to change. That's exactly what 40 year old Anna Kanesevic was looking for when she left her life in Florida behind and headed to Spain in December 2020. It was supposed to be an exciting new chapter full of adventure and new experiences. But just a few months into that journey, Ana vanished. I wanted to come here and just do everything that I can in my power to find my friend. Watch Missing Ana this Friday at 10, 9 Central on Dateline on NBC. Thanks for listening. DATELINE True Crime Weekly is produced by Carson Cummins, Caroline Casey, Keani Reed and Rebecca Gleason. Our associate producers are Ellery Gladstone Groth and Aria Young. Our senior producer is Liz Brown Kurloff. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Kuhl is senior executive producer of Dateline. All right, Happy, whatever it is, Thursday. Bye. Foreign.

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