Survivors' haunting texts in Idaho. Questions for a New York prosecutor. And a spring break mystery.

Summary

Dateline NBC: Episode Summary Title: Survivors' Haunting Texts in Idaho. Questions for a New York Prosecutor. And a Spring Break Mystery. Release Date: March 13, 2025

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Dateline NBC, the host Veronica Mazeka navigates through a series of intense true-crime stories, blending recent developments with timeless mysteries. From the haunting aftermath of a tragic massacre in Idaho to the prolonged pursuit of justice in a New York cold case, and a puzzling disappearance during spring break, this episode delves deep into the heart of each narrative, offering listeners a comprehensive and emotionally charged exploration of each case.

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1. Unveiling Secrets in Idaho: The Bryan Kohberger Trial

Duration: 02:05 – 09:16

Overview: The episode opens with a detailed examination of the Idaho murders that shook the University of Idaho community in November 2022. Four students were brutally stabbed to death in their dormitory, leading to the arrest of Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded not guilty. The anticipation builds as Kohberger's trial is set for August amid newly unsealed court documents that shed light on the harrowing events of that fateful night.

Key Developments:

• Unsealed Filings: Judge Stephen Hippler's decision to unseal more than a dozen documents reveals crucial insights from the surviving roommates' experiences. "The biggest revelations are the transcript of the 911 call and the text messages that are being sent between the two surviving roommates around 4 in the morning of the night that the students were killed," explains NBC News Senior Legal Correspondent Laura Jarrett at [04:05].

• Survivors' Testimonies: The roommates’ texts and 911 call transcripts provide a terrifying timeline:

  • At 4:19 AM, roommate Dylan Mortenson awakens to what she believes is a stranger in the house, prompting her to alert her second roommate, Bethany Funk.
  • Their communications reveal fear and urgency: "I'm so freaked out right now" ([04:45]) and descriptions of a masked individual, potentially Kohberger, wearing what Dylan describes as "like a ski mask almost" ([05:04]).

• Defense Motions: Kohberger's defense team submitted motions to exclude certain terms and arguments, including claims of his Autism Spectrum Disorder, arguing that the death penalty would constitute cruel and unusual punishment ([06:42]). Laura Jarrett notes the uphill battle faced by the defense in Idaho’s legal landscape regarding mental health considerations ([07:09]).

Notable Quotes:

• "Any suggestion that I or anyone in my office did anything to tamper with or in some fashion compromise the investigation into Ms. McDonald's death is inaccurate, unfair and offensive," states District Attorney David Hoover in response to accusations of investigation tampering ([16:24]).

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2. The Long Road to Justice: Megan McDonald’s 20-Year Cold Case

Duration: 10:37 – 18:06

Overview: Megan McDonald's tragic disappearance and subsequent murder in Orange County, New York, remains a poignant narrative of familial endurance and the relentless pursuit of truth. After two decades, the trial of her alleged killer commenced, bringing to light not only the complexities of the case but also institutional challenges that delayed justice.

Case Highlights:

• Initial Disappearance: On March 13, 2003, 20-year-old Megan McDonald vanished after attending a birthday party and visiting a friend’s house. Her body was discovered with severe blunt force trauma ([10:37]).

• Arrest and Trial: DNA evidence linked Bryan Kohberger to the crime scene, leading to his arrest in April 2023. The trial's commencement marks a significant milestone for Megan's family, who have tirelessly sought answers ([11:43]).

• Allegations Against the DA: The McDonald family accuses District Attorney David Hoover of obstructing the investigation. Internal reports suggest Hoover may have deliberately hindered progress, prompting the appointment of two special prosecutors to oversee the case ([16:10]).

Notable Quotes:

• Megan’s Testimonies: "Waiting for this day for 20 years," reflects the profound patience and hope of Megan's family ([11:43]).

• District Attorney David Hoover: "Any suggestion that I or anyone in my office did anything to tamper with or in some fashion compromise the investigation into Ms. McDonald's death is inaccurate, unfair and offensive," vehemently denies the allegations ([16:24]).

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3. Dateline Roundup

Duration: 18:06 – 27:46

a. Menendez Brothers’ Parole Efforts

Duration: 20:22 – 23:16

Overview: Lyle and Eric Menendez, incarcerated for nearly three decades for the matricide of their parents, face continued struggles in their quest for parole. A recent shift in the District Attorney’s office under Nathan Hockman has significantly impacted their chances.

Latest Developments:

• Rescinding Resentencing: Former DA filed a motion for resentencing, but the newly elected DA, Hockman, reversed this stance, arguing the brothers have not taken full responsibility ([20:55]).

• Family’s Stand: With the passing of Kitty’s brother, a strong advocate for the brothers’ release, the remaining family members collectively support their parole efforts ([22:26]).

Notable Quotes:

• "This DA is showboating and grandstanding and trying to confuse the issue and put the ball back in the governor's court," states the brothers' lawyer, highlighting the contentious relationship with the DA’s office ([22:30]).

b. Dana Chandler’s Third Murder Trial

Duration: 23:16 – 24:32

Overview: Dana Chandler faces her third trial for the murders of her ex-husband and his girlfriend in Kansas. The prolonged legal battle includes self-representation and conflicting jury verdicts, culminating in a first-degree murder conviction this week.

Key Points:

• Trial History: Chandler’s first conviction was overturned by the Kansas Supreme Court, followed by a hung jury in her second trial. This third trial concluded with a guilty verdict on both counts of first-degree murder ([23:45]).

• Courtroom Atmosphere: Dana’s composed demeanor, even after conviction, underscores the emotional toll of the trial on all parties involved ([24:11]).

Notable Quotes:

• "I suspect it's not the last we heard of Dana Chandler," suggests the ongoing complexity of her legal struggles ([24:29]).

c. Spring Break Mystery: Sudiksha Konanki’s Disappearance

Duration: 24:32 – 26:19

Overview: The mysterious disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic has captured significant attention. Last seen on a beach with a 24-year-old from Iowa, conflicting testimonies and elusive surveillance footage add layers to the mystery.

Case Details:

• Timeline of Disappearance: Sudiksha was reported missing after venturing out for a walk at 4 AM. Her car was later found abandoned, and extensive search efforts involving multiple agencies are ongoing ([25:00]).

• Suspect Identification: The 24-year-old identified as a person of interest, whose inconsistent stories have raised suspicions. An Interpol alert has been issued to locate him globally ([25:54]).

Notable Quotes:

• "I know her local sheriff from Virginia has been very vocal about this as well," emphasizes the collaborative efforts in the search for Sudiksha ([25:54]).

d. The Role of Expert Witnesses in Trials

Duration: 26:19 – 27:46

Overview: Delving into the controversial use of expert witnesses, especially in the Karen Reed case, this segment highlights the delicate balance between providing specialized knowledge and maintaining judicial integrity.

Key Discussions:

• Expert Witness Dynamics: Legal analyst Danny Savalos explains how expert witnesses can sometimes present conflicting evidence, complicating juror decisions ([29:17]).

• Karen Reed’s Defense Team Controversy: Accusations against Reed’s lawyers for undisclosed payments and undisclosed relationships with expert witnesses have stalled pretrial hearings, raising ethical concerns ([30:11]).

Notable Quotes:

• "Any old expert to come in and start testifying to a jury," underscores the judiciary’s role in vetting expert testimonies to prevent misleading information ([29:29]).

• "That may be a lot of what we call lawyerly backpedaling at this point," Danny Savalos comments on the defense's attempt to mitigate the impact of undisclosed information ([31:24]).

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Conclusion

This episode of Dateline NBC masterfully intertwines multiple narratives, each underscored by themes of pursuit of justice, institutional challenges, and the human capacity to endure. From the chilling details of the Idaho murders to the intricate legal battles in New York and Kansas, and the baffling disappearance in the Dominican Republic, Dateline provides listeners with a nuanced and deeply engaging exploration of true crime complexities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Bryan Kohberger trial brings renewed attention to the unresolved horrors of the Idaho murders, with unsealed documents offering fresh perspectives.
• Megan McDonald's 20-year ordeal highlights systemic challenges within the legal system and the enduring resilience of a grieving family.
• The Menendez brothers' parole efforts reveal the intricate dynamics between long-term incarceration and evolving legal strategies.
• The Dana Chandler trial underscores the unpredictable nature of the judicial process, especially in high-stakes murder cases.
• The Sudiksha Konanki disappearance serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced during seemingly carefree moments like spring break.
• The expert witness segment in the Karen Reed case emphasizes the critical role and potential pitfalls of specialized testimonies in legal proceedings.

As Dateline NBC continues to shed light on these compelling stories, listeners are reminded of the profound impact crime and justice have on individuals and communities alike.

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For more in-depth analyses and updates on these cases, visit Dateline True Crime Weekly or follow Dateline NBC on social media.

Transcript

[Andrea Canning]

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[Danny Savalos]

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[Andrea Canning]

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[Laura Jarrett]

Hey, good morning.

[Veronica Mazeka]

DATELINE story. Meeting is getting underway. We're talking about losing my hour of light. I'm just talking to William, who's here watering the plants, and he is not happy with it. Me either. Our editorial team is catching up on the latest twists and turns in cases we've been watching around the country. I wonder, I mean, do we think she would ever talk?

[Meghan McDonald]

Would we be interested in that?

[Veronica Mazeka]

Monica supposedly has her lover saying she didn't do it, I did it.

[Meghan McDonald]

He thinks the family of the missing woman feels something happened to her, but they have no evidence of that yet.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's March 13th, and here's what's on our docket. After a college student was murdered in a New York town over two decades ago, her family refused to stop looking for answers. This week, the trial of her accused killer finally began.

[Sergey Ivonen]

Meghan's family and the New York State Police say that one person really stood in the way.

[Veronica Mazeka]

We've got our roundup of the latest crime headlines. A verdict in the third murder trial of Dana Chandler, the latest on the search for a college student who disappeared on spring break in the Dominican Republic and an update from the prosecutor handling the Menendez brothers case.

[Meghan McDonald]

He says the brothers haven't taken responsibility.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Plus, expert witnesses in the courtroom. After Karen Reed's defense team came under fire recently for their use of expert witnesses, we wondered, what are the rules? NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos breaks it down for us.

[Danny Savalos]

Not only do they take money, they take a lot of money.

[Veronica Mazeka]

But before all that, we're heading to Idaho, where we learned terrifying new details last week about the night four students were murdered in 2022. It's a case you know well by now. 4 University of Idaho students stabbed to death in their beds in November of 2022. Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with their murders and who has pleaded not guilty, is set to go on trial in August. But many details in the case have been filed under seal, kept out of the public until last week, when Judge Stephen Hippler ordered more than a dozen filings be unsealed. And what those filings revealed are harrowing details from the night and morning after the murders, as told in real time by the two roommates who survived. Here to help us break down what we've learned is NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett. Hey, Laura.

[Laura Jarrett]

Always happy to be with you.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Thank you for coming on. So this. This is pretty big. It hasn't been often in this case that we've gotten these sorts of documents unsealed. Any idea? First of all, these court filings are being unsealed now.

[Laura Jarrett]

Yeah. So I think partly the background here is that there is a relatively new judge on the case who is acting a lot more expeditiously on everything and has a much different approach to sealing. Some judges are very lenient with sealing. Some judges really don't like it. Given that these two surviving roommates are likely gonna be called to testify at trial, I'm sure the judge's position is all of this is is gonna come out pretty soon anyway, so there's really not the same urgency in keeping it secret.

[Veronica Mazeka]

What are the big new things that we've learned from these motions being unsealed?

[Laura Jarrett]

The biggest revelations are the transcript of the 911 call and the text messages that are being sent between the two surviving roommates around 4 in the morning of the night that the students were killed. And all of that we had never seen before.

[Veronica Mazeka]

The text messages and phone calls really help give a timeline of what these surviving roommates experienced. It's very terrifying. Around 4:19am, one of the roommates, Dylan Mortenson, is woken up and has presumably seen a stranger in the house. And the filing reveals that she calls her housemates out of fear and really to warn them. Right.

[Laura Jarrett]

And she was clearly freaked out. You see her even say, I'm so freaked out right now.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And then a few minutes later, according to the filing, Dylan, who is on the second floor, texts the other roommate, Bethany Funk, who is in the basement, about what she sees the stranger wearing. She says it's like a ski mask almost.

[Laura Jarrett]

It's also clear they're not quite sure what they saw.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Yeah.

[Laura Jarrett]

You know, by all accounts was this was a party house. Right. There's A lot of people coming in and out. And so I don't think it was that unusual for them to probably see someone that they didn't know in the house. But they were scared enough that it appears from their text messages that they hunker down together in the bedroom because you can see one saying the other, come here. Run. And then you don't see them say anything until the next morning around 10:30. They start texting their deceased roommates, not knowing, of course, that they had been killed, saying, please answer. And then they finally call 911.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And so the. The unsealing of the transcript, the 911 call that was placed about the murders, that gives also a window into what happened the following morning.

[Laura Jarrett]

Yeah, so we knew they called 91 1, obviously, and we knew when they called, but we hadn't seen sort of the back and forth. And what becomes clear is at least one or possibly two other individuals and friends come over to the house. They go look, and they find Zanner Kernodle's body. And they say to the 911 operator, something has happened in our house. We don't know what, but you have to come over here because something has happened. And they say, she's not waking up. And you think, like, gosh, they've been stabbed. What a horrific scene they must have seen there. But it's interesting, they don't say that on the 911 tape. And it's just. Is it the shock? Is it. Was it too overwhelming? Could they not tell right away? It's unclear what's going on there, but they don't mention any blood on the 911 call, which I thought was curious, but again, it's hard to know. Is it they're so overwhelmed in the moment, or they didn't see.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Another filing that was unsealed last week was one from the defense team. They've previously tried to get the death penalty taken off the table for Kohberger unsuccessfully. But they are trying again, and this time with a different argument. They are saying that a psychological evaluation shows Kohberger has autism Spectrum disorder and that subjecting him to the death penalty would be cruel and unusual punishment.

[Laura Jarrett]

The judge has not yet resolved that motion, so it's gonna be interesting to see how he handles it. But given his posture on the other death penalty motions, I think it's gonna be an uphill battle for the defense team. Also, because the state of Idaho does not use mental difference or disability or illness as a way of changing the culpability of somebody's mental state. When it comes to a case like this. And so it's not at least so far been a grounds to get the death penalty stricken in Idaho.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Another big motion from the defense. They're asking to limit the use of some words in trial words that could be key in a murder case.

[Laura Jarrett]

Yeah, they wanna limit the use of the word murderer which you can imagine a prosecutor is gonna fight that cuz they were gonna use that in closing as in openings. They also wanna limit the use of the word psychopath and sociopath which in my mind are like medical definitions that actually have specific meanings. And so I'm not sure that the prosecutors would've intended to use those terms anyway. And then they also wanna keep out the phrase bushy eyebrows which is gonna be a big fight. The surviving roommates at to authorities that she saw a masked man with bushy eyebrows. That's gonna become an important fact I think later on at trial as that sort of the only person who's still living that's gonna be able to ID Bryan Kohberger in some way. Now of course bushy eyebrows, it's not like a tattoo or a birthmark or something. There's lots of people who have bushy eyebrows. And I'm sure he's gonna say that's not enough to ID him. But that's really all authorities have for someone spotting him in the house. And so gonna be a fight about that.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Do you expect these motions to possibly get approved or when can we expect another ruling given that the judge is moving quickly?

[Laura Jarrett]

I would think in at least the next few weeks or so. Cuz so much of this just has to get wrapped up to keep the trial date which the judge intends to keep at least so far. And it seems like, you know, August is a while out from right now, but these, these things have a way of taking a while. And so I would imagine the judge is gonna get all of this wrapped up pretty soon.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Fascinating case and very scary and sad case as well. Laura. For breaking this all down for us as we inch closer and closer to trial anytime. Coming up as a murder trial begins in a more than 20 year old cold case, the victim's family says the local prosecutor has some explaining to do. Create your oasis with Thuma, a modern design company. Crafting simple elevated furniture from premium eco friendly materials. Thuma's core collection, the classic bed, nest dresser and pillar bookshelf combines the technique of Japanese joinery with thoughtful design for timeless style and lasting quality. Assembly is quick and easy, taking just 5ish minutes with no tools. Required. Explore the full collection at Thuma Co or visit their flagship location in New York City. For $100 off your first bed, head to Thuma Co. That's Thuma Co. Hey everybody, I'm Al Roker from the Today Show.

[Danny Savalos]

Let's kickstart your wellness journey with the all new Start Today app.

[Veronica Mazeka]

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[Danny Savalos]

It's built to fit your lifestyle and.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Our experts will guide you every step of the way. Come on, let's do this.

[Andrea Canning]

To subscribe, download Start today from the.

[Veronica Mazeka]

App Store on your Apple device. Now.

[Andrea Canning]

Terms apply.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Cancel anytime through Apple under profile settings. Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with one of the brightest stars in all of music right now, Jelly Roll, telling me about singing those hits that inspire and telling the story of his rise from a difficult past. You can get our conversation now for free wherever you download your podcasts. On March 13, 2003, 20 year old Megan McDonald did what any college student might do. On a Thursday night, she went to a friend's house to watch tv. She stopped by a birthday party. But the next day, her family and friends couldn't reach her. And her body was later found on a dirt path in Orange County, New York. The cause of death, blunt force trauma with multiple fractures to her skull. In April 2023, there was finally an arrest in the case. Here's our affiliate NBC 4 New York State Police revealing this afternoon that DNA evidence linked the alleged killer to the crime scene. McDonald's family telling us that they've been.

[Meghan McDonald]

Waiting for this day for 20 years.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And this week, the trial of Megan's alleged killer finally began. But Megan's family wants to know what took so long. And they aren't the only ones. In a startling turn of events, New York State Police investigators are also pointing the finger at a man they say stood in the way of justice. And that is the local district attorney. DATELINE digital producer Veronica Mazeka is here to bring us up to speed. Veronica, welcome back to the podcast.

[Sergey Ivonen]

Thanks for having me.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Yeah. So let's just start with. Tell us about Megan McDonald. Who was she?

[Sergey Ivonen]

Yeah, absolutely. She, you know, was a student at SUNY Orange Community College. I've spoken with her sister Karen and her brother in law James, and they both describe her as warm, loving, compassionate. You know, she was the life of the party, big, bright smile.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So Veronica, what Do we know about the last day of Megan's life? Yeah.

[Sergey Ivonen]

So Megan was actually a waitress. She was working a shift, and then she spent the evening hanging out with friends. And then the following day, she was scheduled to work again at that cafe at about noon. And then. So her family and friends really knew something was wrong when she didn't show up for work.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Investigators learned that Megan had stopped by a birthday party that Thursday night, But she didn't go inside.

[Sergey Ivonen]

Yes. So it was a birthday party for someone's 21st, and she had driven by the party before she went to go hang out with her friend and watch the TV show friends. And she had said to two people that she didn't want to go inside because there was someone there named Edward Hawley who she did not want to see. Megan had dated Holly, and according to conversations and information that's come out from the investigation, he owed her money. And she had also tried to cut off the relationship in the days before she died.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So it sounds like things weren't great between the two of them. But Megan did end up going back to that birthday party, and then this ends up being the last time she's seen alive, right?

[Sergey Ivonen]

Yes. So, according to investigators, Megan had told some friends that she was going to be looking for marijuana, and she had planned to actually ask Holly for some on her way back home.

[Veronica Mazeka]

We know Megan's body was found on a dirt path, and her car was found parked in an apartment complex nearby. But, Veronica, do we know what happened when she left the birthday party? Did anyone see anything?

[Sergey Ivonen]

Some witnesses say that they saw someone driving her car through the parking lot the night that investigators say she was killed, and that it was being followed closely by a dark colored Honda Civic that had a noticeably loud sound system, which Holly's mother had. A purple Honda Civic hatchback registered to her, and Holly was known to drive that during the timeframe of the murder.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So Holly was interviewed by police all those years ago, and at some point, the investigation hit a wall. But they took another look at him.

[Sergey Ivonen]

Hawley, kind of the statements that he had been making to police through the years. They realized that there were inconsistencies.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So Edward Hawley became the prime suspect. But investigators also say Holly wasn't the only one at the scene of the murder. Right.

[Sergey Ivonen]

So they believe that he was in the backseat of her car and that there was someone else also in the car who they refer to as suspect number two. Suspect number two is someone that actually died many years ago. But he had come forward to a defense attorney and said he had details about the night of Megan's murder and he wanted to take a plea deal.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Why didn't that go anywhere?

[Sergey Ivonen]

You know, I'm not sure why that didn't go anywhere at the time.

[Veronica Mazeka]

All right, so Edward Hawley was indicted in January 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to second degree murder charges. And his defense says the prosecution's looking in the wrong place, that they should really be looking at a different ex boyfriend. So we'll learn a lot more over the coming weeks at trial. But one really important thing looming over all of this is Megan's family. Her family says the case against Holly should have been made years ago. They want answers. Why did this take so long?

[Sergey Ivonen]

So Megan's family and, you know, the New York State Police say that one person really stood in the way of getting these answers sooner. And they say that person was the Orange County District Attorney, David Hoover.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Did he feel like there was not enough to go after Holly?

[Sergey Ivonen]

That is something that he has said previously. He felt there wasn't enough to bring the case before a grand jury. But Hoover is the person who was the defense attorney that suspect number two had come to back in 2008, before Hoover was the district attorney. When Hoover became the D.A. he did have an opportunity to recuse himself from the case at the time, but he did not. So the New York State Police, there was an internal report that found that as DA he deliberately tampered with the investigation. And he has made statements to NBC News about this. He did say, quote, any suggestion that I or anyone in my office did anything to tamper with or in some fashion compromise the investigation into Ms. McDonald's death is inaccurate, unfair and offensive. He remains the DA but he has recused himself from this case.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And two special prosecutors have been appointed who are outside Hoover's office to try the case. Megan's mom was on the stand earlier this week. This must be just so hard for them on so many levels.

[Sergey Ivonen]

Yeah. So Megan's family has been holding steady over the last 20 plus years. You know, they obviously are still reeling from the pain of losing Megan, but they did say that they trust the legal system to hold the person responsible for Megan's murder accountable.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Veronica, thank you so much. This is such a sad story that the family has had to deal with this for this long. We'll see what happens.

[Sergey Ivonen]

Thank you.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. We'll have the latest on the Menendez brothers efforts to get out of prison and new information about the college student missing in the Caribbean. The last known person to see her on the beach that night was a 24 year old from Iowa. Does his story add up? Plus, we're taking a look at expert witnesses. We'll do a deep dive into their role in the courtroom and why Karen Reed's defense team is in hot water. March is national kidney month. 37 million Americans have chronic kidney disease, also known as CKD, and most don't know it. High blood pressure and diabetes increase the risk for ckd. Symptoms of kidney disease may include fatigue, shortness of breath, lower back pain, high blood pressure or changes in urination. If you want to protect your kidneys or learn how to get tested, Fresenius Kidney Care can help. Learn [e-mail] that's kidneyrisk.com Every morning we choose how to begin our day. I think about the people at home. They tune in because they are curious. They care about their world and they care about each other. There's always something new to learn, whether a news event or a new recipe. And when we step through the morning together, it makes makes the rest of the day better. We come here to make the most of today. We are family. We are today.

[Andrea Canning]

Watch the Today show with Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, weekdays at 7am on NBC. It was late past midnight when they broke into the farmhouse.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Never in a million years would you think that you'd see your parents house taped off by that yellow tape. And they said, you know, I'm dead at being killed.

[Andrea Canning]

They left behind a wall of blood and a clue that took a case of double murder on a long, strange tr.

[Veronica Mazeka]

She looked at me and she said I'm screwed.

[Andrea Canning]

Murder in the Moonlight, a new podcast from Dateline. All episodes of Murder in the moonlight are available now. To listen ad free, subscribe to DATELINE Premium on Apple podcasts, Spotify or DatelinePremium.com.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Welcome back to the show. For this week's roundup, we've asked DATELINE producer Sergey Ivonen to join us. Hey, Sergey.

[Meghan McDonald]

Hi, Andrea. Good to see you.

[Veronica Mazeka]

You too. So the case getting the most attention this week as it has for almost six months now, is Lyle and Eric Menendez, who are still fighting to get out of prison. They have been incarcerated for almost 30 years since being convicted for killing their parents back in 1989. We have a new DA in town, Sergei, as of last year and he was gonna make some decisions. So what is the latest on the brothers?

[Meghan McDonald]

Yeah. Last October, the former LA County DA filed a motion asking the court to consider resentencing the brothers. But then a new DA Was elected, and his name is Nathan Hockman. And Monday, he gave a press conference. He's asking the court to reverse what the previous DA Did. He wants to withdraw the motion asking for the brothers resentencing and said that at a hearing scheduled for late next week, he will argue that the brothers should not be made eligible for parole.

[Veronica Mazeka]

This is a big blow for the brothers. You know, they were finally getting some traction. What do we know about what he sees differently? Why this big reversal? Different beliefs.

[Meghan McDonald]

Right. Well, this DA Came out and said, look, we might be amenable to resentencing, but he says the brothers haven't taken responsibility.

[Veronica Mazeka]

If the Menendez brothers at some point, unequivocally, sincerely and fully accept complete responsibility for all their criminal actions, acknowledged that the self defense defense was phony, and their parents weren't going to kill them the night of August 20th when they murdered them in cold blood, District attorney's office will reconsider whether or not we would want to go forward with a risk sentencing motion. So the Menendez brothers had a reaction through their lawyer who spoke to the Today Show. Have you spoken to Lyle and Eric since this happened and what's their reaction?

[Andrea Canning]

Already prepared him for it. I mean, this DA had made up his mind.

[Meghan McDonald]

Their lawyer said the DA Is showboating and grandstanding and trying to confuse the issue and put the ball back in the governor's court.

[Danny Savalos]

This DA re traumatizes the family repeatedly.

[Andrea Canning]

He's almost serially abusing them with his lies.

[Meghan McDonald]

Their extended family put out a statement saying the DA has blinders on the fact that Eric and Lyle were repeatedly abused, feared for their lives, and have atoned for their actions. And another twist is that the only family member, Kitty's brother, who for a long time opposed their release, he died last week. So, right as things stand today, all the people affected are united in wanting Lyle and Eric out.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Okay, let's talk about a trial that we've been watching closely. Dana Chandler's third prosecution on charges of killing her ex husband and his girlfriend. This is happening in Kansas. This is a story that you've been working on. Sergey. Tell us what the latest is there.

[Meghan McDonald]

Well, yes, this is the case where the defendant chose to represent herself, called herself as a witness for the defense, and spoke for days. So proceedings took longer than anyone expected.

[Veronica Mazeka]

The first trial, the jury convicted her. That conviction was thrown out by the Kansas Supreme Court. The second one was a hung jury. And now we have this third jury that did come to a resolution. We as a jury find Dana Chandler guilty of murder in the first degree is charged in count one. Verdict form count two. We the jury find Dana Chandler guilty of murder in the first degree as charged in count two.

[Sergey Ivonen]

Okay.

[Meghan McDonald]

The reaction in the courtroom was actually pretty anti climatic, I would say. Dana turned to her family and her supporters before she was handcuffed and walked out her face said as though she had anticipated that outcome.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Yeah, this has been a long saga. We'll see if it's actually truly over.

[Meghan McDonald]

I suspect it's not the last we heard of Dana Chandler.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Exactly. Finally, last week, a 20 year old pre med student from Northern Virginia, Sudiksha Konanki, was reported missing by her friends. The group of six women were at a resort in the Dominican Republic for spring break. And Sergei, the first reporting was that she went out for a walk on the beach and didn't come back. New information keeps coming out as this story picks up traction.

[Meghan McDonald]

What we know is like the whole group of them went to the beach. They were there at 4 in the morning, as students are known to do. And then they left her there with a guy, they say who had been partying with them earlier that night. There's still a massive search on for her. They're looking for in the water, on land, helicopters, drones. Investigators have said they're looking at surveillance footage from the moment that, that, you know, those students landed last week. You know, the State Department, the FBI, the dea, they're all involved in this. But an interesting thing is that her friends, you know, her friends who stayed on the beach and partied, they did not say anything. They didn't report her missing until 4pm.

[Veronica Mazeka]

I know her local sheriff from Virginia has been very vocal about this as well. And he has named a person of interest. As of now, this has not been declared a criminal investigation. But do investigators think foul play was involved?

[Meghan McDonald]

The last person seen with her was a 24 year old from Iowa who was a guest at the resort as well. And according to the police, he told three different stories. So on Monday, the sheriff in Virginia filed an Interpol alert. It's a worldwide police alert for a missing person.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Yeah. Let's hope that the family gets answers soon. Thank you so much, Sergey, for bringing us roundup this week.

[Meghan McDonald]

My pleasure.

[Veronica Mazeka]

For our final story, we're getting to the bottom of a legal question that recently stopped one of Karen Reid's pretrial hearings in its tracks. As you all know, Karen Reid is the Massachusetts woman being retried in April on charges she murdered her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, an accusation she vehemently denies. But this week, we're not talking about what Karen did or didn't do. We're talking about her defense team. As we told you on the podcast a few weeks ago, the prosecution has accused Reed's lawyers of being misleading about their use of expert witnesses. We've covered lots of trials here at Dateline that feature expert witnesses. So this made us wonder what the rules actually are. Here to break it down for us is NBC legal analyst and a criminal defense attorney himself, Danny Savalos. Hey, Danny.

[Danny Savalos]

Hey. Thanks for having me.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So, to start, I mean, I know this feels like a fairly obvious question, but it's really important. Why are expert witnesses called to testify during trials?

[Danny Savalos]

Expert witnesses serve a very specific function. If the subject of their testimony is going to be outside the knowledge of your ordinary juror, then you may be permitted to call an expert witness in that area.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And I think some people are surprised to learn that some of these experts take money to testify.

[Danny Savalos]

Oh, not only do they take money, they take a lot of money. If you have the world's foremost expert on fingerprints, DNA, any of these hyper technical issues, this is somebody that's going to be expensive. And the other important point is that the other side is not only permitted to usually discover that, but also, you can bet they're going to raise that in their cross examination just as a matter of course. It's something we always do. Isn't it true that you were paid over a hundred, $100,000 for your testimony? And that's true, but it's often justified.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And so it, you know, it brings up that. That challenge for the juror. Of course, the prosecution is only gonna put someone on the stand who agrees with the narrative that they're painting, and the defense is only gonna put someone on the stand, you know, who agrees with the narrative they're painting. And having talked to jurors a lot after some of these trials, you know, you'll hear them say, well, they canceled each other out, so it's tricky.

[Danny Savalos]

Yeah, you're talking about a phenomenon we call battle of the experts. You know, we think of something like science as immutable or unchallengeable, and yet it's not too hard to go out and find two experts who will take dramatically different positions on either side. Now, is that only because they're being paid? No, not necessarily. I mean, you can cherry pick your area of expertise to fit what you need in your trial, but yes, you're absolutely Right. As you've seen all too often, you'll have experts take the stand and completely contradict each other and leave it for the jury to decide who they like the best.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And a lot of times on Dateline, we hear that term junk science, where, you know, this expert will present something and then the opposing, you know, attorneys will say, hey, this is. This is junk.

[Danny Savalos]

You're exactly right. So there are limitations on expert testimony. I mean, I mean, you can't just make up an area of science that serves your purpose and then say you're entitled to call an expert to testify about that area. So the judge acts as a gatekeeper before the jury ever hears that testimony to determine that this is a legitimate area, whether it be scientific, technical, whatever the case may be, it's gotta meet at least a minimum standard before a judge allows any old expert to come in and start testifying to a jury.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So that brings us to the Karen Reed case. Can you break down for us what the judge's issue was exactly with the defense and these experts?

[Danny Savalos]

This is a very unusual situation. This controversy involves accident reconstruction experts. The defense didn't actually hire these experts. The defense used these experts after they had already been retained by a federal agency conducting its own investigation. What's alleged is that the defense team said to the court and to the prosecution, we have had limited access to these guys. We're basically taking them as we find them. We're barely talking to them. We haven't paid them anything. Well, now it seems that the defense may have possibly violated their obligation to disclose information about the level of, let's say, coziness that the defense had with these experts. Prosecutors allege that there were emails between the defense team and these experts, and in addition, an alleged payment of about $24,000. If true, and this wasn't disclosed, that's a huge problem for the defense.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And the defense is saying they're not hiding anything. That working with these experts that simply their statements in previous motions were poorly worded. Is that. Do you buy that?

[Danny Savalos]

That may be a lot of what we call lawyerly backpedaling at this point. But here's the thing. You've got to disclo information about your expert. You've got to give the other side the opportunity to cross examine them as completely as they can.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Reid's pretrial hearings resume on March 18, and we'll certainly be watching. Danny, thanks so much for joining us.

[Danny Savalos]

Thanks for having me.

[Veronica Mazeka]

That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. To find out more about the cases discussed on the podcast, check out datelinetruecrimeweekly.com and if you've got any questions for us, hit us up on Social DATELINE NBC. And coming up this week on Dateline, Blaine has an all new two hour episode. After a beloved art teacher is shot to death in her home. Her husband tells investigators about the other woman and their unusual marriage. A mistress with the key to the whole mystery. What did you think? It just seemed an odd situation. Is there anything that you would like to add to this statement? I hope to catch her. Watch Deadly Entanglement this Friday on NBC at 9, 8 Central or stream it on Peacock starting this Saturday. Thanks for listening. Dateline True Crime Weekly is produced by Franny Kelly and Katie Ferguson. Our associate producers are Carson Cummins and Caroline Casey. Our senior producer is Liz Brown Koroloff. Production and fact checking help by Sara Kadir. 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. Have a great day everybody. Bye bye bye everyone.

[Andrea Canning]

Friday night on an all new Dateline.

[Meghan McDonald]

Oh my gosh.

[Veronica Mazeka]

It's like one of those crazy movies. Tell me it's a lie. Tell me it's a lie.

[Andrea Canning]

Behind closed doors, anything can happen.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Have you ever heard a motive like that?

[Andrea Canning]

No, I've never had a case like that before.

[Laura Jarrett]

Talk about twists.

[Veronica Mazeka]

I was completely blown away how it all played out.

[Andrea Canning]

An all new Dateline Friday night at 9, 8 Central, only on NBC.