The Michael Proctor files. Parents of murdered daughter want answers. And behind the scenes with a CSI.

Summary

Dateline NBC Episode Summary: "The Michael Proctor Files: Parents of Murdered Daughter Want Answers. And Behind the Scenes with a CSI"

Release Date: August 7, 2025
Host: NBC News
Description: This episode delves into the harrowing true-crime story of Brian Walsh, charged with the murder of his wife Anna Walsh, and explores the relentless pursuit of justice by her grieving parents. Additionally, the episode offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at crime scene investigations with expert insights.

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1. Introduction to the Case of Brian Walsh

The episode opens with a gripping overview of the tragic disappearance of Anna Walsh, a 39-year-old mother of three from Massachusetts. On New Year's Day 2023, Anna failed to appear at work, sparking a missing person investigation. Her husband, Brian Walsh, initially reported her disappearance, claiming she had a work emergency and was en route to Logan Airport in Boston to fly to Washington D.C. However, discrepancies in his story led investigators to suspect foul play.

Key Developments:

• Anna's Disappearance: Anna did not show up for work, and no evidence was found of her taking a ride share or boarding a flight that day.
• Brian's Charges: Two and a half weeks after Anna was reported missing, Brian was charged with her murder. He has pleaded not guilty, and Anna's body has yet to be discovered.

Notable Quote:

"She's dead because she did the right thing. So because she did that, I no longer have my baby." – Anna Walsh’s Father (00:45)

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2. Prosecutors' Allegations and Evidence

Prosecutors have built a case against Brian Walsh by uncovering several pieces of critical evidence:

• Searches on the Child’s iPad: Investigators found troubling Google searches on the iPad used by one of Anna's young sons, including queries like "how long before a body starts to smell," "dismemberment," and "best ways to dispose of a body" (05:21).
• Discovery of Forensic Evidence: A search of ten trash bags in Swampscott revealed gloves, a hacksaw, a necklace piece Anna was seen wearing, and a COVID-19 vaccine card, many of which were bloodstained (05:25).

Prosecutors' Theories:

• Financial Motive: Brian stood to gain from a $2.7 million life insurance policy and had a pending restitution payment of $500,000 related to his conviction for selling counterfeit Andy Warhol paintings (06:15).
• Potential Personal Motive: There are suspicions of Anna having an affair, which could have provided a personal motive for the crime.

Notable Quote:

"Every time it seems like there is more potentially damning evidence that prosecutors are rolling out." – Barry A.J. Fisher (06:43)

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3. Defense's Counterarguments and Investigation Concerns

Brian Walsh's defense team has challenged the prosecution's claims by:

• Rejecting the Infidelity Theory: They deny any knowledge of an affair and question the relevance of a private investigator hired by Brian’s mother to investigate Anna's fidelity (07:14).
• Questioning Evidence Handling: The defense is scrutinizing the role of former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator who was dismissed for misconduct in another case. They argue that Proctor may have biases that compromised the investigation (08:09).

Legal Maneuvers:

• Motions to Exclude Evidence: The defense sought to exclude the Google search data from the child’s iPad, arguing that the search scope was excessively broad. The judge denied this motion (09:26).

Notable Quote:

"You have one chance to get it right." – Matt Fortin (02:13)

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4. Courtroom Developments and Trial Preparations

The legal battle intensifies as both sides prepare for the upcoming trial:

• Prosecution's Efforts: They aim to call out-of-state witnesses, including the private investigator hired by Brian’s mother and Anna’s best friend from D.C., who can testify about the state of Anna's marriage before her disappearance (10:15).
• Judicial Oversight: The judge addressed a potential conflict of interest due to a prosecutor’s personal connections, granting the defense time to respond without recusing herself from the case (10:19).
• Trial Schedule: The trial is set to commence on October 20th, with heightened anticipation surrounding the procedural fairness and the integrity of the investigation.

Notable Quote:

"She did the right thing, because she decided that she was going to stand up for herself when so many other people were afraid to do so." – Erica Pillsbury, Anna’s Mother (18:02)

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5. The Mercedes Vega Case: A Parallel Pursuit for Justice

Switching focus, the episode examines the unresolved case of Mercedes Vega, a 22-year-old woman who was brutally murdered in Tempe, Arizona, in April 2023. Her parents, Erica and Tom Pillsbury, have been relentless in seeking answers and accountability.

Case Overview:

• Initial Incident: On April 16, 2023, Mercedes was last seen entering her apartment's parking garage at 9:17 PM. Her body was discovered the next morning in a burning car over 50 miles away.
• Suspects: Cujo Young, previously charged with Mercedes' attempted robbery on New Year's Day 2020, and two other men, Jared Gray and Sincere Hayes, were implicated based on geographic links and fingerprint evidence (15:00).

Parent's Advocacy:

• Persistent Pursuit: Despite the ongoing trial against Cujo Young, the absence of Anna Walsh's body and unresolved questions about Mercedes' case highlight systemic challenges in securing justice for victims.
• Community Impact: Mercedes' coworkers have expressed fear for their safety, emphasizing the broader implications of her murder on the community (14:07).

Notable Quote:

"Somebody knows something. Somebody tell me why she's not here." – Erica Pillsbury, Mercedes’ Mother (13:30)

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6. Updates on Other High-Profile Cases

Karen Reed Case: Karen Reed, acquitted in the 1982 murder of her husband John O’Keefe, remains in the spotlight due to ongoing civil litigation and efforts to access critical documents related to her trial.

Brooks Hauck’s Jailhouse Calls: Recently convicted of murdering Crystal Rogers, Brooks Hauck made emotional jailhouse calls expressing shock and denial about his life sentence. These calls provide a rare glimpse into the mindset of a convicted murderer (23:58).

Sean Combs Sentencing: The episode covers the latest developments in Sean Combs’ legal battles. After being convicted on two counts related to prostitution, Combs' defense has sought a pardon from former President Trump, a strategy that has so far been unsuccessful (25:58).

Notable Quote:

"You have one chance to get it right." – Matt Fortin (02:13)

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7. Behind the Scenes: Crime Scene Investigations

A pivotal segment features former LA County Sheriff Crime Lab Director Barry A.J. Fisher and digital reporter Matt Fortin discussing the meticulous process of crime scene management.

Key Insights:

• Preservation of Evidence: Emphasis on avoiding contamination, such as not bringing personal items or smoking at the scene, to maintain the integrity of evidence (27:07).
• Critical Role of Photography: Detailed photography allows investigators to reconstruct the crime scene from multiple perspectives, essential for accurate analysis (28:10).
• Chain of Custody: Proper storage and documentation of evidence ensure it remains admissible in court (29:20).

Notable Quote:

"You have one chance to get it right." – Matt Fortin (02:13)

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8. Conclusion and Upcoming Content

The episode wraps up with teasers for upcoming stories, including a classic 1982 murder case and an invitation to Dateline Live in Nashville. The host also highlights future podcast segments and encourages listeners to subscribe to Dateline Premium for exclusive content.

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Final Thoughts:

This episode of Dateline NBC masterfully intertwines the heartbreaking narratives of Anna Walsh and Mercedes Vega, showcasing the relentless pursuit of truth and justice by their families. Through expert interviews and detailed case analyses, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in solving such heinous crimes. The inclusion of behind-the-scenes insights into crime scene investigations further enriches the narrative, providing a multifaceted perspective on the pursuit of justice.

Notable Quotes Highlighted:

• "She's dead because she did the right thing. So because she did that, I no longer have my baby." – Anna Walsh’s Father (00:45)
• "You have one chance to get it right." – Matt Fortin (02:13)
• "Somebody knows something. Somebody tell me why she's not here." – Erica Pillsbury, Mercedes’ Mother (13:30)
• "She did the right thing, because she decided that she was going to stand up for herself when so many other people were afraid to do so." – Erica Pillsbury (18:02)

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and emotional narratives presented in the episode, providing a thorough overview for those who have yet to listen.

Transcript

[Andrea Canning]

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[Matt Fortin]

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[Blaine Alexander]

Hey, good morning.

[Matt Fortin]

Welcome back.

[Blaine Alexander]

It's time for another DATELINE story meeting. Anything new from Friday? Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

We have detectives, we have prosecutors, we have a doctor.

[Blaine Alexander]

What's the motive? We don't know. Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's August 7th, and here's what's on our docket. In an Arizona courtroom, two men faced charges of murdering a woman who was about to testify in a robbery case. And her parents have tough questions for law enforcement. She's dead because she did the right thing. So because she did that, I no longer have my baby. Here in DATELINE roundup, we've got updates for you about Sean Combs and Karen Reed and excerpts from recently released jailhouse calls made by the man convicted of murdering Kentucky mom Crystal Rogers.

[Erica Pillsbury]

You've got a lot of life left to live, babe.

[Cujo Young]

We're not done yet.

[Erica Pillsbury]

I love you so much, honey. I don't deserve you.

[Blaine Alexander]

Plus, we'll be talking to an expert on crime scenes. He'll tell us how investigators can make or break a case within minutes of arriving at the scene.

[Matt Fortin]

You have one chance to get it right.

[Blaine Alexander]

But before all that, we're heading to a place we've talked about a lot on the podcast this year, Norfolk Superior Court in Massachusetts. It's the same courthouse where Karen Reed stood trial this summer. Now another big murder case is gearing up for trial. The last time anybody heard from Anna Walsh, a 39 year old mother of three, was on New Year's Day 2023. Her husband told investigators she Had a work emergency and had to catch a flight early on January 1st. But there is no evidence she ever made it to the airport. And when she show up for work, her employer reported her missing. Two and a half weeks later, her husband Brian was charged with her murder. He's pleaded not guilty and her body has never been found. Last week, between court filings, the judge's rulings and a pretrial hearing, we got a preview of the prosecution's case against Brian Walsh. We also got some surprises. NBC Boston's Matt Fortin, a digital reporter and host of the podcast the Searches for Anna Walsh, joins us now with the latest. Hey Matt, thank you for coming on the podcast.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Thanks for having me, Andrea. I appreciate it.

[Blaine Alexander]

Let's start by telling us about Anna Walsh. Who was she and what does the prosecution allege happened to her?

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Ana Walsh was an immigrant from Serbia. She moved to America when she was a young woman and she started by cleaning hotel rooms. And by the end of her life she was a pretty high powered real estate executive working in Washington D.C. and she was the mom of three young boys. Her husband, Brian, he was mostly a stay at home dad, partly because he was on house arrest actually at the time for a separate federal case.

[Blaine Alexander]

What was Brian charged with?

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

He was accused of selling bogus Andy Warhol paintings. He was convicted of those charges and, and at the time that Ana went missing, he was waiting to be sentenced.

[Blaine Alexander]

So what then happens to Ana? She just goes outta contact. Right. No one can find her.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Yes. Brian has claimed that the last time he saw Ana was New Year's Day 2023, that she took a ride share either Uber or Lyft to Logan Airport in Boston and she was flying to Washington D.C. that morning.

[Blaine Alexander]

This is not adding up. Right. For investigators.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Correct. They called Lyft and Uber and there was no evidence of a rideshare going to that house that morning. No one at JetBlue could say she was on an airplane that morning. They asked Brian if they could look through his cell phone and look through some other devices in the house. So going through those phones, those iPads, there was an iPad that was mainly used by one of their very young sons that investigators said that they found a number of Google searches that were entered on the morning of New Year's Day that all had to do with what to do with a dead body. Quote, how long before a body starts to smell? Quote, dismemberment and the best ways to dispose of a body.

[Blaine Alexander]

And this is on the child's iPad.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

On the child's iPad. They say, yes.

[Blaine Alexander]

Okay, so he ends up getting charged with murder.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Yes, Brian Walsh does get charged with murder. And as he's going into court, every time, it seems like there is more and more potentially damning evidence that prosecutors are rolling out. They discuss at that murder arraignment a search of 10 trash bags that were thrown away in Swampscott. That's a town north of Boston where his mom lives. And they ended up going through these trash bags, and they find gloves, a hacksaw, a piece of a necklace that Ana had been pictured wearing, and a COVID 19 vaccine card that had Anna Walsh's name on it. And many of these were stained in blood.

[Blaine Alexander]

Matt, what do they. What do prosecutors think was Brian's motive if he did this, if he killed his wife?

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

So there's been a few theories that prosecutors have floated, and I think it's going to be interesting to watch which one they really go with when this trial happens. For one, she was having some sort of affair, it seems, with somebody in Washington, D.C. there's also the issue of prosecutors said, look, he was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, and he had half a million dollars to pay in restitution.

[Blaine Alexander]

From the artwork.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

From the artwork case. Correct.

[Blaine Alexander]

And we're talking about a lot of money. 2.7 million for her life insurance policy.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Yeah. And then keep in mind that when she goes missing, when she was allegedly killed by Brian, he had not been sentenced in the Ark fraud scheme yet. So prosecutors said he could have been thinking, if she's out of the picture and I'm a single parent, the judge may be more lenient to let me remain on house arrest and avoid prison time.

[Blaine Alexander]

What is the defense saying about these allegations? How have they so far defended Brian Walsh?

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Brian Walsh's team says he didn't know about any sort of affair going on. Even though Brian Walsh's mother hired a private investigator in December of 2022 to follow Ana to try to confirm infidelity. They also say he was already paying his restitution, so there'd be no reason to try to go after a life insurance policy that would not be necessary. And they're saying that this whole theory about trying to avoid jail time, that's just kind of a hypothetical.

[Blaine Alexander]

And the defense is also making a lot of noise about the original lead investigator on Brian Walsh's case, former Massachusetts state trooper Michael Proctor, who was also the lead investigator on the Karen Reed case. He was fired a few months ago for his behavior during that investigation. I interviewed him for Our DATELINE episode. Matt, how is the defense tying Proctor's work on Karen's case to this one?

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

So their case is how do we know that he also did not have misconduct in the Brian Walsh investigation? Because he has demonstrated that he has biases toward murder suspects. Could he have had also a bias toward Brian Walsh?

[Blaine Alexander]

And they, they've, you know, been trying to get access to the contents of Proctor's cell phone from the time around the investigation.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Yeah. So there are a number of defendants in Norfolk county that are trying to get what have become known as the Proctor files. They were initially obtained through a federal investigation into the Karen Reed investigation. That is over. So they were supposed to be destroyed 30 days after Karen Reid's retrial ended and there had to be an emergency stop put on that by these other defendants, basically saying, hold on, these can't be destroyed yet because we need to try to get these. But regardless of Michael Proctor and if specifics from his device are obtained, I think it's more likely that you're going to have a jury of just random people in Massachusetts who are familiar with Karen Reed and who are a lot more skeptical of police in Massachusetts, especially from this county.

[Blaine Alexander]

Matt, let's talk about the developments over the last couple of weeks. The judge ruled on some motions.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

The Walsh defense team, they were really trying to, for obvious reasons, get these Google searches thrown out under the argument that he did not consent to that wide of a scope of a search through his devices. The judge did not agree with the defense's argument. There was also some new filings from the prosecutors as they're working to get out of state witnesses called to Massachusetts. They want to talk to that private investigator that they say Brian's mom hired. They want to fly him in from Washington, D.C. to testify at this trial. They also want to hear from Ana's best friend in D.C. who they say will testify to the fact that Ana was very, very upset and talking about a strained marriage weeks before she was allegedly killed by her husband.

[Blaine Alexander]

The judge had something pretty important to say on Friday.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Yes. She disclosed on Friday during a very short hearing, a potential appearance of a conflict, that an attorney working with the prosecutors is a mentor and a friend of hers.

[Blaine Alexander]

The judge didn't recuse herself, but gave the defense time to think about how they want to hand handle that information. And the trial is still scheduled for October, right?

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Yes, October 20th.

[Blaine Alexander]

Matt, thank you so much.

[Barry A.J. Fisher]

Thank you, Andrea.

[Blaine Alexander]

And if you want to hear more about this case, listen to Matt's podcast series with NBC Boston called the searches for Anna Walsh. Coming up after a 22 year old woman was kidnapped from her apartment complex and murdered, her friends wondered if they were next.

[Andrea Canning]

This episode is brought to you by WhatsApp. On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages. So the calls with your mom, chats about the latest work drama, late night voice messages and all those photos and videos of your dog. Every personal message stays private because no one, not even WhatsApp, can see or hear your personal messages. WhatsApp message privately with everyone. DATELINE is hitting the road for a first of its kind event and you're invited. Join the entire DATELINE team in Nashville, Tennessee for DATELINE Live. Hear from Lester, Blaine, Andrea, Josh, Keith and Dennis. Plus, live demonstrations, a VIP reception and more. The true crime original like you've never seen before. Buy tickets to DATELINE live [e-mail] event. It would be a crime to miss it.

[Blaine Alexander]

I'm Blaine Alexander with a Dateline 247 marathon. We are in the heat of summer and as the temperatures rise, these steamy affairs are about to reach their boiling point. I was thinking about me and only me.

[Erica Pillsbury]

She was maybe a little bit too.

[Blaine Alexander]

Much for him to handle. I know where he was that night.

[Erica Pillsbury]

It really just blew my mind.

[Blaine Alexander]

The whole neighborhood was shocked. What are we supposed to do now? Our heated affairs marathon Saturday through Tuesday on Dateline 24. 7. On the night of April 16, 2023, Mercedes Vega walked into the parking garage of her apartment complex in Tempe, Arizona. The 22 year old was on her way to work. She performed at a strip club called Le Girls, but her dream was to become a personal trainer. She was saving up money for that. Security cameras captured her entering the garage at 9:17pm But Mercedes never made it to the club.

[Cujo Young]

CPS 911, where's your emergency?

[Blaine Alexander]

I asked for a port. A car, it's on fire. The next morning, Mercedes body was recovered from a burning car more than 50 miles from her home. Within hours, sheriff's deputies knocked on her parents door with the news. But after that for years, they say they were left with more questions than answers. Here's her mother. Somebody knows something. Somebody tell me why she's not here.

[Cujo Young]

Tell me.

[Blaine Alexander]

That all changed last week when after more than two years of fighting for justice for their daughter Mercedes, parents Erica and Tom Pillsbury sat in a courtroom facing her accused killers. Here to tell us more is NBC News digital breaking news reporter Tim Stello. Tim, thanks for coming on the podcast.

[Erica Pillsbury]

Of course.

[Blaine Alexander]

So let's Rewind to the early days of the investigation. What did Mercedes parents Erica and Tom know?

[Erica Pillsbury]

So the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told them that they'd found Mercedes body in the backseat of a Chevy Malibu. She had been beaten, shot and burned. But that was about all they knew.

[Blaine Alexander]

That was so awful. Tim. A year went by with no arrests. Dateline spoke to Mercedes parents on the one year anniversary of her murder. What did they have to say then?

[Erica Pillsbury]

They were understandably frustrated by the lack of answers. Mercedes friends and co workers at the strip club had started coming to Erica with their own fears that they could be next. So Mercedes parents went on social media to share their daughter's story.

[Blaine Alexander]

I need the people of the Phoenix area to be aware that my child's killers are still at large.

[Erica Pillsbury]

They even took their pleas to the front doors of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Erica and Tom led a march.

[Blaine Alexander]

What do we want for Mercedes justice? What do we want for Mercedes justice? And they told you something astounding. They thought they knew who had killed their daughter.

[Erica Pillsbury]

That's right. A few years before Mercedes murder, in October 2020, she was parking outside her apartment building after work when a masked man ran toward her, drew a gun and demanded her belongings. That's according to a Phoenix Police Department incident report. Mercedes reported the incident to police and ended up identifying a man named Cujo Young in a police lineup. He was charged with armed robbery and he pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. By April 2023, the robbery case against Young was still ongoing and Mercedes was supposed to testify about it at a court hearing scheduled for the exact day that she was found dead.

[Blaine Alexander]

And there's more. Mercedes coworkers told you that they were also attacked by someone that looked like Kujo Young.

[Erica Pillsbury]

That's right. Mercedes wasn't the only dancer at LA Girl's who said they'd been targeted by a masked gunman after a shift. In the months before and after Mercedes robbery, two other women shared very similar experiences. Young was charged with attempted armed robbery in one case. That case is ongoing. No charges were brought in a third case. And when Kujo Young was arrested, he denied knowing anything about this, but acknowledged going to the club.

[Blaine Alexander]

The girls often Tim Mercedes parents told investigators their suspicions about Young right away. But it took prosecutors more than two years to charge him with her murder. And we should say he wasn't the only person charged in the case. Two other men, Jared Gray and Sincere Hayes, were charged too.

[Erica Pillsbury]

That's right. Authorities have provided few details about the connection between the three men, though a probable cause statement identified a geographic link. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Young is from there. And Hayes and Gray traveled to Phoenix from there around the time of Mercedes murder. Authorities have suggested that Young may have bought his co defendants plane tickets from Tennessee to Arizona. And fingerprints found in Mercedes car and in the Chevy Malibu were linked to both men.

[Blaine Alexander]

Mercedes parents were in court last Friday to watch Cujo Young and one of his co defendants being arraigned. This is number 16 on the calendar state of Arizona versus Young.

[Erica Pillsbury]

Yeah. He did not speak other than to answer a few brief questions from the judge.

[Blaine Alexander]

Can I get your name and date of birth, please?

[Erica Pillsbury]

Koon Young, March 5, 1996.

[Blaine Alexander]

Koojo Young has pleaded not guilty. What about the other two men, Tim?

[Erica Pillsbury]

Cynthia Hayes pleaded not guilty. Jared Gray, he has not yet been arraigned.

[Blaine Alexander]

Mercedes parents have used their daughter's story to start a discussion about protecting victims who speak out against their attackers.

[Erica Pillsbury]

Mercedes parents say that she might still be alive if her robbery case hadn't been continuously delayed and if Mercedes had added protection as she waited to testify.

[Blaine Alexander]

She's dead because she did the right thing, because she decided that she was going to stand up for herself when so many other people were afraid to do so. So because she did that, I no longer have my baby here. And we should say this is just the parents theory right now. Prosecutors haven't outlined any alleged motive in the case yet and haven't made any comment on Erica's allegations that Mercedes didn't receive enough protection. Tim, this is such a sad story, but Erica did tell us one thing that's brought her comfort since she started speaking out about her daughter's death. Let's take a listen. Young women walk up to me and say, are you Mercedes mom? Because of what we've learned about her, we constantly check in on each other. We never go anywhere without another person. And the trial is set for 2026.

[Erica Pillsbury]

That's right.

[Blaine Alexander]

Tim, thank you so much for bringing us up to speed on this.

[Erica Pillsbury]

Absolutely. Thanks for having me.

[Blaine Alexander]

If you want to read more of Tim's reporting on the case, head to nbcnews.com up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. Sean Combs and Karen Reed are back in the news and caught on tape. Hear what Crystal Rogers killer, her former boyfriend Brooks Hauck has to say about his life behind bars. Plus, ever wondered what it's like to show up to the scene of a crime and be the person in charge of collecting all that critical evidence? We've got a conversation with a crime scene expert. Hey everyone, I'm Jenna Bush Hager from the Today show and I'm excited to share my podcast Open Book with Jenna. It is back for season two. Each week, celebrities, experts, friends and authors will share candid stories with me about their lives and new projects. Guests like Rebecca Yarros, Kristin Hannah, Ego Wodom, and more. Like a good book, you'll leave feeling inspired and entertained. Join me for my podcast Open Book with Jenna. Listen now on Apple Podcasts. As the day wraps up, get the scoop on what's been happening with here's the Scoop, the new podcast from NBC News. With me, your host, Yasmin Vesugian, along with Morgan Chesky and Brian Chung. We'll take a deep dive into the day's top stories with NBC News's trusted journalists. It's a fresh take that's sharp, thoughtful and it's informative, bringing you closer to the headlines and conversations that are shaping our world. From the front page to the zeitgeist, all in 15 minutes or less. Here's the scoop from NBC News. Listen daily on Apple Podcasts. I'm Josh Mankiewicz and I hope you'll.

[Andrea Canning]

Join us for season four of dateline Missing in America.

[Matt Fortin]

In each episode of Dateline's award winning.

[Andrea Canning]

Series, we will focus on one missing.

[Matt Fortin]

Persons case and hear from the families, the friends and the investigators all desperate to find them. You will want to listen closely.

[Andrea Canning]

Maybe you could help investigators solve a mystery. DATELINE Missing in America. All episodes available now, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Blaine Alexander]

Foreign welcome back. Joining us now for this week's roundup is DATELINE producer Sue Simpson. Sue, welcome back to the podcast.

[Cujo Young]

Hey, Andrea.

[Blaine Alexander]

All right, so for our first story, we're heading to a place you know very well, Sue Canton, M.A. earlier in the show we were talking about Karen Reed in connection to the Brian Walsh case, but Karen is still making headlines herself. What's the latest news?

[Cujo Young]

Sue that's right, Andrea. As listeners may remember, Karen Reeb was acquitted in June of killing John o'. Keefe. He, of course, was her Boston police officer boyfriend and she was accused of backing into him with her SUV after a night of drinking. She was found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence. So we have a few developments here. The first is that Karen is trying to get her Alexis SUV and her cell phone back. Those were both taken from her very early on as part of the investigation. Last, her defense attorneys filed a motion arguing that they should be released from state police custody.

[Blaine Alexander]

So that is in relation to the criminal trial but let's not forget there is still a civil suit pending against Karen Reed. What's going on with that?

[Cujo Young]

Right. A year ago, John o' Keefe's family filed a wrongful death suit against Karen and the two bars they accused of overserving her that night. Both bars have denied the claims made in the lawsuit and Karen's attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss it. No surprise there. This week, we discovered that Karen's team wants documents from the criminal case. Her attorney sent subpoenas to the Massachusetts State Police and to the Norfolk County DA's office. And they want all the records about witnesses who testified as well as records about the lead investigator, former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor.

[Blaine Alexander]

Interesting. And there was one more piece of news about the civil lawsuit. Indeed.

[Cujo Young]

Yes, indeed. One more. Alan Jackson of the criminal proceedings will be joined Karen Reed's defense team for this suit on Tuesday. He said, quote, the band is not just staying together, getting back together, but we're intending on writing a few new chapters.

[Blaine Alexander]

Wow. And we know some of that includes some production stuff in the works, like a movie. Yeah. We'll see. For our next story, we have some jailhouse calls to play for you. They were made by Brooks Hauk, the former boyfriend of Crystal Rogers, the Kentucky mom who disappeared a decade ago. Last month, Hauck was found guilty of her murder. See, what did he say on these calls?

[Cujo Young]

So our NBC affiliate WAVE in Louisville got calls that Hauk made after his conviction. And he sounds emotional, Andrea, in these calls, and he talks about being in shock and denial over potentially spending the rest of his life in prison. Hauck spoke with his current girlfriend.

[Erica Pillsbury]

You've got a lot of life left to live.

[Cujo Young]

Maybe we're not done yet.

[Erica Pillsbury]

I love you so much, honey. I don't deserve you.

[Cujo Young]

And he also called his brother Nick.

[Erica Pillsbury]

You know, the journey that my life has taken has completely turned around today. You understand that after a jury speaks.

[Blaine Alexander]

Like they did, you know that's a permanent decision. Hauck will be sentenced later this month on August 21st. For our final story, we've got an update in the case of Sean Combs. And it's been a busy week for his defense team. As listeners may remember, last month Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. In his federal trial, he was acquitted on the more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Now Combs is waiting for his sentencing. So what is the latest, Sue?

[Cujo Young]

Andrea, the first thing to remember is Combs is being held at the Metropolitan Detention center in Brooklyn, New York he's been there for almost a year, since last September when he was arrested. Combs defense team has filed multiple unsuccessful motions to get him released on bail. Their latest motion offered up a huge bond of $50 million. But here's what really made news. The defense also filed a letter from an ex girlfriend of Combs, almost, you know, like a character witness. And what's wild is that she's the woman who was known as Victim 3 in the federal indictment against Combs. She didn't end up testifying in his federal trial, though.

[Blaine Alexander]

What did she say in this letter, Sue?

[Cujo Young]

So she said that over the course of her relationship, Combs made visible efforts to become a better person and to address the harm he'd caused and that she did not view as a threat and that his children were dependent on him for emotional and financial support.

[Blaine Alexander]

Okay, that didn't work. The judge denied the motion on Monday.

[Cujo Young]

That's right. He said Combs defense team did not prove their client isn't a flight risk.

[Blaine Alexander]

And sue, there's another update. It's kind of a big one. A source close to the defense told NBC that they have now reached out to President Trump asking for a pardon.

[Cujo Young]

That's right, Andrea. It'll be interesting to see what happens next, for sure. Combs sentencing is scheduled for a October 3rd. And we'll keep you posted.

[Blaine Alexander]

Sue, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks, Andrea. Most investigations we talk about here on the podcast begin with the critical work of crime scene texts. Whether it's a fingerprint, a blood stain, or a piece of shattered glass, they're the ones who carefully gather these clues, knowing that each one could be the key to solving a crime. Joining me to discuss how these texts set the stage for the entire Investigation is former LA County Sheriff Crime Lab Director, Barry A.J. fisher. Welcome to the podcast, Barry.

[Matt Fortin]

Thank you. Pleasure to be here.

[Blaine Alexander]

Let's walk through what actually happens once a crime scene is identified. What is your top priority when there's been a crime?

[Matt Fortin]

Well, the top priority is not to screw it up.

[Blaine Alexander]

Okay. Yeah, that's important.

[Matt Fortin]

Typically, what will happen is that a detective will come out to a crime scene, do a cursory survey, and decide that they need some technical assistance from csis, which means that they would need help photographing the crime scene, collecting fingerprints, collecting evidence, tagging and bagging, if you will.

[Blaine Alexander]

Obviously, the yellow tape goes up. You have protective gear, you know, your suits that you have to wear, masks, whatever that may be.

[Matt Fortin]

Well, you don't want to bring anything to the crime scene that doesn't belong there or remove anything. What we try to do is to tell investigators to be particularly careful. Don't smoke at the scene. Don't bring your coffee cups and leave them behind. Don't pick up a glass off of the countertop to grab a drink, because you could inadvertently be wiping away fingerprints or distorting them.

[Blaine Alexander]

Yeah. Or confusing the crime scene by, you know, leaving your DNA. Exactly how important are photographs?

[Matt Fortin]

The crime scene photographs are a way to allow the detective or the CSI to recount, recall what he saw at the crime scene. In addition, it's a way to show what the relationship was of the various items of evidence. The latest technology will scan a scene and put it together in a way that you could look at it from the victim's perspective, from the suspect's perspective, kind of spin around the room and look at it from different angles.

[Blaine Alexander]

So how do you start making sense of what the scene is telling you?

[Matt Fortin]

You look for obvious things. If you go into a kitchen and food is still warm, that would give you an idea of an approximate time frame that you're dealing with. If there are newspapers or letters around, you can get an idea of the date, perhaps.

[Blaine Alexander]

And once you leave the crime scene, obviously there's a lot more work to do.

[Matt Fortin]

You need to be careful to store the material in an appropriate way, have identifying information on them so they could later be shown through a chain of custody process to come from a particular crime scene. And of course, the notes that you make at the scene are particularly important because sometimes you may not be getting to that evidence right away, and you want to be able to show how all the pieces fit together.

[Blaine Alexander]

Yeah. I mean, this is anecdotal based on my experience, but I feel like a defense attorney will say in court that the detectives, the crime scene texts, they, you know, botched the crime scene somehow with evidence collection or whatever it may be.

[Matt Fortin]

Well, that's, that's kind of their job to. So, yeah, doubt on the part of the jury and the, the job of the forensic scientist, the csi, the detective, is to explain that they did a competent job. It's pretty easy to just go into a crime scene, do a slapdash kind of job and, and move on, but. But taking time. We always tell people you have one chance to get it right.

[Blaine Alexander]

Yeah. Barry, this has been a fascinating conversation. Thank you so much for joining us.

[Matt Fortin]

Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure to be with you today.

[Blaine Alexander]

That's it for this episode of Dateline, True Crime Weekly to get ad free listening for all our podcasts. Subscribe to DATELINE Premium. Coming up this this Friday on Dateline, a classic episode that still haunts me. In 1982, a husband said he came home to find his wife murdered with an axe. Over 40 years later, investigators finally zeroed in on her killer. This case really was about looking at what doesn't fit. All victims deserve justice, regardless of how much time has passed. Watch my episode the Bad man this Friday at 9am and one more thing before we go. DATELINE is hitting the road and we want you to join us. On Sunday, September 28, the whole team, Lester, Keith, Blaine, Josh, Dennis and me will be in Nashville for DATELINE Live. It's a first of a kind event featuring onstage panels, audience Q&As and a VIP reception. Tickets are on sale now at datelinenbc.com event. You can also find a link in the description of this episode. Thanks for listening. DATELINE True Crime Weekly is produced by Franny Kelly, Katie Ferguson and Brittany Morris. Our associate producers are Carson Cummins and Caroline Casey. Our senior producer is Liz Brown. Korloff Production and fact checking help by Georgina DiNardo and Terry Dickerson. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Bryson Barnes is head of audio production, Paul Ryan is as executive producer and Liz Cole is senior executive producer of dateline. See you later.