Dateline NBC – "The Night of the Audition"

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Lester Holt
Correspondent: Keith Morrison

Episode Overview

This haunting episode of Dateline NBC explores the disappearance and subsequent murder of Shannon Medill, a vivacious aspiring actress and comedian from Calgary. Through interviews with family, friends, detectives, and one of her romantic interests, the episode delves into Shannon’s personal life, the harrowing investigation, and the shocking confession that uncovered the truth. The episode captures the devastating impact on Shannon’s loved ones and the relentless pursuit of justice by detectives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance of Shannon Medill

• Shannon, age 25, disappears just after an audition for a promising new TV role (03:06).
• She is described as quirky, energetic, and the vibrant center of her family and friend groups (03:53–04:08).
• Family initially rationalizes her absence due to her unpredictable nature (05:28–05:41).

2. Initial Investigation & Family Distress

• Early on, her family and the police consider many possibilities—including personal struggles and the dangers of a Calgary winter (05:52, 07:13).
• Shannon had once threatened suicide, adding another layer to the investigation (09:17).
• The police conduct perimeter searches and canvass the neighborhood without immediate clues (08:36, 09:00).
• A mysterious use of Josh’s credit card in New York and an unnerving art installation distract and complicate the search (09:47, 14:09).

3. Exploring Shannon’s Relationships

• The open nature of Shannon’s marriage to Josh Burgess becomes a focal point, revealing multiple romantic partners and introducing a new pool of potential suspects (17:46–19:52).
• Josh is open-minded but harbors concerns about the arrangement's maturity and honesty (18:13–18:30).
• Family and friends share mixed feelings about the open relationship, noting that complications may have arisen (18:35–19:14).

4. Tensions in the Marriage

• Emotional turmoil intensifies as Shannon learns that Josh’s relationship with another woman may be getting serious, in violation of their open marriage boundaries (24:44–25:40).
• Josh asks for a divorce, devastating Shannon (25:47–26:07).
• They later try to reconcile by closing the marriage, but Josh secretly continues his affair (27:22–27:56).

5. Shifting Focus of the Investigation

• Police notice inconsistencies between Josh’s and his girlfriend's accounts, particularly regarding his whereabouts and communications the night of Shannon’s disappearance (28:42–32:28).
• Forensic analysis shows Shannon’s phone moving after she was last seen, which raises serious questions (33:05–33:33).

6. Police Grow Suspicious of Josh

• Detective Christina Witt becomes convinced of foul play and begins seizing more evidence (34:26–34:39).
• After a period of stonewalling, police finally confront Josh at home in July 2015, nearly eight months after Shannon vanished (35:05–36:27).

7. The Confession

• Josh stalls, then eventually emerges covered in blood and confesses, "I killed her" (36:59–37:20).
• Because the initial confession isn’t recorded, police must coax Josh to confess again on tape in time for charging deadlines (38:29–44:10).
• In a recorded interview, Josh describes a heated argument over misunderstood words ("angry makeup sex" vs "breakup sex"), followed by Shannon’s angry outburst and their fight escalating into strangulation (40:00–42:31).
• Ultimately, Josh admits, "I killed her with my hands. When my hands got tired, I used belts. I don't know why. I just didn't stop..." (42:02–42:15).

8. Aftermath and Impact

• Shannon’s body is found; she was hidden in a bin and later buried in the yard (43:00).
• Josh Burgess is sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder after a plea deal (43:39–43:57).
• Shannon’s mother expresses the challenge of coping, focusing on happier memories to preserve her daughter’s spirit (43:57–44:25).
• The family’s message is one of survival and resilience in the face of devastating loss (44:25–44:47).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Living Through Loss:

  "Unless you've lived through it. You cannot comprehend it. It's a nightmare. And it goes on. It doesn't stop."
  — Lisa Medill (Shannon’s Mother), [02:56]

• On Shannon’s Energy:

  "From the time she could walk and talk, she loved a spotlight and a microphone... She was always telling jokes. She was just one of those people that you liked being around because she brought a really positive energy to everything."
  — Lisa Medill, [03:53]

• On the Open Marriage:

  "She was the one who requested it... I told her I had concerns because one of the most important things is a lot of open, honest conversation."
  — Josh Burgess, [18:13]

  "I was non-judgmental. I did say that I'd known other open marriages and that they hadn't worked. But...you can only listen and hopefully be the shoulder to cry on..."
  — Lisa Medill, [18:50–19:14]

• On Becoming a Suspect:

  "It felt completely surreal. It was almost like one of those experiences where you kind of watch yourself from outside your body..."
  — Ian Wallace, [22:42]

• On Grief:

  "Only people who have lost someone...that ambiguous loss is—it eats your soul."
  — Josh Burgess, [15:39]

• On the Murder:

  "I just wanted her to be quiet. Just couldn't anymore. Put my hands around your neck... When my hands got tired, I used belts. I don't know why. I just didn't stop..."
  — Josh Burgess (Confession), [41:36–42:15]

• On the Family’s Pain:

  "You go through life believing...if you're going to meet somebody who's a serial killer or a sociopath, you'd be able to pick them out. And the reality is, you can't."
  — Josh Burgess (friend, not the murderer), [43:12]

  "The rest of the family is victimized, and they're victimized over and over again with the legal system... But you can choose to stay a victim or you can choose not to be a victim."
  — Lisa Medill, [44:25]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro to the Medill family & Shannon’s audition: [02:56–04:08]
• First signs of alarm, missing person report: [05:28–07:13]
• Police search protocols, initial dead ends: [08:36–09:40]
• Discovery of open marriage, new suspects: [17:46–19:52]
• Tensions and breakdown of the marriage: [24:44–27:56]
• Police grow suspicious of Josh: [28:42–34:39]
• The confrontation and confession: [35:05–42:31]
• Resolution, sentencing, and family reflections: [43:00–44:47]

Episode Tone

The episode maintains Dateline's trademark sober and empathetic tone, guided by Keith Morrison’s and Lester Holt’s balanced, respectful narration. Family members and detectives speak candidly about both heartbreak and perseverance, and the overall language is direct, personal, and emotionally authentic.

Summary

"The Night of the Audition" is a harrowing true-crime investigation anchored in the vibrant, complicated life of Shannon Medill—her dreams, her relationships, and, ultimately, her tragic death. Through meticulous police work, the supportive but increasingly worried family, and a cast of romantic partners, the episode unravels the layers surrounding Shannon’s disappearance. After months of ambiguity, Josh Burgess’s confession brings clarity yet no true comfort. The episode closes with a message of resilience—the Medill family’s struggle to rebuild in the wake of unthinkable loss, honoring Shannon’s memory not as a victim, but as a source of light and laughter.