Dateline NBC Podcast Summary Release Date: May 1, 2025

1. Retrial of Karen Reed in Dedham, Massachusetts

Overview: Karen Reed faces a retrial for the alleged murder of her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, whom she is accused of striking with her SUV, leaving him to die in a snowbank three years prior.

Key Points:

• Prosecution's Evidence: Prosecutor Hank Brennan utilized digital forensics to establish a timeline based on phone data. Expert Ian Wyther presented data showing John’s phone temperature decreasing steadily, suggesting it never entered a house, implying he was left outside (03:37).

  Sue Simpson (Producer): "The whole picture isn't straightforward... this kind of data hasn't been used often." (05:28)

• Defense's Challenge: The defense questioned the validity of the phone temperature data, highlighting the absence of temperature records for Canton on the night in question.

  Karen Johnson (Producer): "You have to wonder if the jury how much weight they'll put into it." (05:37)

• Witness Testimony: Jen McCabe, a close friend of both Karen and John, testified about Karen’s erratic behavior the morning John was found, including frantic calls and screaming without recalling visiting an after-party.

  Jen McCabe: "She was screaming my name. Screaming so many different things." (06:25)

• Prosecutor’s Theory: The prosecution posits that John was incapacitated outside, allowing Karen to abandon him.

Notable Quote:

Jen McCabe: "I was frozen. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that was him just lying there." (07:52)

Current Status: The jury deadlocked after five days of deliberation. Karen Reed maintains her innocence, claiming that John was assaulted by others after dropping him off at a party.

2. Cold Case Arrest in Ohio: Paul Hicks

Overview: Paul Hicks has been arrested for the 2001 murder of his estranged wife, Regina Rowe Hicks, 24 years after her body was discovered in a pond.

Key Points:

• Previous Charges: In 2022, Hicks pleaded no contest to an elaborate arson scheme but was acquitted of more severe felony charges, leading to his release.

• New Evidence: Investigators uncovered bizarre purchases made by Hicks before the 2015 arson, including a wig identical to his ex-girlfriend's hair and a custom-made mask from "That's My Face," suggesting he attempted to frame his ex-girlfriend for the fire (13:02).

  Unnamed Producer: "They believe that he hired two people to go in, set the fire to his home, and that way he can frame his ex girlfriend." (14:04)

• Motive: Suspicions arise from their rocky marriage and Hicks' potential desire for custody of their child and insurance money.

• Indictment Details: Authorities allege that Hicks kidnapped Regina, placed her in the passenger seat, and drove her car into a pond, leaving a window open to facilitate his escape.

Notable Quote:

Unnamed Producer: "I do believe it put more eyes on Paul Hicks... more people started talking." (16:50)

Current Status: Paul Hicks has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and murder. He is currently in jail awaiting trial, with his bond set at $2 million and a pretrial hearing scheduled for May 19th.

3. Dateline Roundup

a. Sean Combs' Sex Trafficking Trial

Overview: Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs faces federal sex trafficking charges. A pivotal pretrial ruling allows the prosecution to introduce a controversial security video.

Key Points:

• Controversial Video: A CNN-broadcast security video from 2016 allegedly shows Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie. The defense argued the video was altered, but the judge permitted its use in court (18:28).

• Other Rulings:

  • Anonymity granted to alleged victims to protect their identities.
  • The judge denied the defense's request to dismiss psychologist Dawn Hughes' testimony entirely, allowing limited aspects related to victim behavior but excluding discussions on coercive control (19:42).

• Prosecution's Stance: The government offered a plea deal, which Combs has rejected, maintaining his innocence.

Notable Quote:

Alex Leray: "The trial is coming up very soon. Jury selection starts on Monday, May 5th." (20:16)

Current Status: Combs has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection begins on May 5th, with the trial anticipated to proceed shortly thereafter.

b. Brian Kohberger's Trial Update

Overview: Bryan Kohberger stands accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in 2022.

Key Points:

• Death Penalty Eligibility: The judge ruled that Kohberger remains eligible for the death penalty, dismissing defense arguments related to his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, as no court has deemed ASD a disqualifying factor for capital punishment (20:34).

Notable Quote:

Alex Leray: "No court has ever found ASD to be death disqualifying diagnosis." (20:01)

Current Status: The ruling upholds the possibility of the death penalty pending a summer trial.

c. Anna Kanesevich Case

Overview: Anna Kanesevich, a Colombian-American woman, disappeared in Madrid in early 2024. Her husband, David Kanesevich, was arrested for her presumed murder.

Key Points:

• Evidence Against David: Security footage depicting a masked individual resembling David entering Anna's building and spray-painting cameras. Additionally, David was seen purchasing the exact brand of spray paint used in the incident (21:19).

• Recent Development: David Kanesevich was found dead in the Federal Detention Center in Miami, ruled a suicide. His death halts the upcoming trial, leaving Anna's fate unresolved.

  Alex Leray: "Her family... now we may never know where he put Anna's body." (22:34)

Notable Quote:

Anna's Family Statement: "The suicide of Anna's murderer closes a painful chapter in our lives." (22:34)

Current Status: With David Kanesevich's death, the case remains unresolved, and Anna's body has yet to be found.

4. Courthouse Security with Sheriff James Brown

Overview: Sheriff James Brown discusses the complexities of maintaining security in courthouses, especially during high-profile and volatile trials.

Key Points:

• Security Measures: Deputies are strategically placed to respond to unpredictable behaviors. In high-risk cases, plainclothes officers are deployed to blend in and respond swiftly when necessary (24:10).

• Handling Protests: Temporary barricades and collaboration with other agencies ensure that protesters do not impede courthouse access while respecting the right to peaceful demonstration (26:50).

• Protecting Individuals: Protection is extended not only to judges and attorneys but also to defendants, who could be targets from disgruntled family members or others (25:20).

Notable Quote:

Sheriff James Brown: "You have to have a lot of plans and flexibility to be able to address any threat that comes up." (25:49)

Insights: Effective courthouse security requires a balance between visible protection and unobtrusive presence to maintain a safe and fair judicial environment.

5. National Awareness and Upcoming Episodes

National Day of Awareness: Monday marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Andrea Canning highlights the alarming statistics and shares a report on Nevaeh Kingbird, a 15-year-old who disappeared in Bemidji, Minnesota, in 2021.

Upcoming Episodes:

• Sean Combs' Trial: A special episode delves into everything necessary to know before Combs faces trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

• Murder in Minot: A two-hour episode explores the chilling murder of a popular college student in North Dakota, the ensuing fear in the community, and the relentless pursuit of truth by her family and friends.

Final Note: Stay informed and engaged with the latest true-crime investigations by following Dateline NBC. For more detailed coverage, visit DatelinePremium.com for ad-free listening and exclusive content.

Produced by Franny Kelly and Katie Ferguson. Associate Producers: Carson Cummins and Caroline Casey. Senior Producer: Liz Brown Kuriloff. Additional credits include Kim Flores, Gaynor Veronica Mazeka, Rick Kwan, Jesse McGinty, Bryson Barnes, Paul Ryan, and Liz Kula.