Dateline NBC: "The Silhouette"

Host: Andrea Canning (with introduction by Lester Holt)
Date: December 2, 2025

Overview

This episode of Dateline explores the mysterious death of Debbie Kelly, a successful and beloved woman shot by her husband, Lars Itzo, in their San Antonio home in the early morning hours. The central question: Did Lars mistake his wife for an intruder, as he claims—or was the shooting deliberate? Through interviews, police investigations, courtroom drama, and personal accounts from family and friends, Dateline unpacks the emotional, forensic, and legal complexities of the case.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Debbie Kelly: Her Life, Character, and Marriage (02:45–10:30)

• Debbie’s Vibrant Life:

  • A driven, successful woman who rose to VP in healthcare.
  • Known for her “whole package” personality—fair, fun, a great leader.
  • Loved tennis; her racquet club friends described her as fiercely independent and private, yet deeply loved by her circle.

• Meeting Lars Itzo:

  • Hired Lars, a laid-back contractor, to remodel her new home.
  • Their romance was described as unlikely but sweet: “They were cute. They were goofy. Yeah, teenagers.” (07:51)
  • Couple married after a year of dating in a joyful Arkansas celebration.

• Early Marriage:

  • Married life was initially content, highlighted by weekends outdoors and time with family.
  • Debbie's promotion led to more travel and stress, inadvertently distancing her from Lars.

The Shooting: What Happened That Night? (11:10–21:30)

• 911 Call & Lars’s Account:

  • At 4:13am, Lars called 911: “I thought there was a burglary… I heard voices when I was in bed.” (15:20)
  • Lars recounted waking to unfamiliar noises, Cody the dog growling—something he claimed never happened before—leading him to grab a shotgun.

• Fatal Error:

  • Lars fired at a silhouette “about three feet away” in the dark hallway, only to discover he shot his wife.
  • Police confirmed Debbie was the only one hit and that Lars’s gun fired the only shot.

• Immediate Aftermath:

  • Lars repeatedly insisted it was an accident, both to police and to Debbie’s grieving parents, who initially stood by him.
  • “He was completely hurt, shattered, you know, he was broken.” (18:44)

Suspicion and Investigation: Accident or Something More? (21:30–32:40)

• Family and Friends React:

  • Debbie’s parents offered support; her tennis friends were furious, feeling Lars was negligent or worse.
  • Discomfort over details, like Lars’s choice of a “broken heart” funeral wreath, spurred further doubt.

• Police Skepticism:

  • Lars agreed to a polygraph but failed parts of it. Investigators pressed him:
    • “How can you not tell that’s your wife? Height, weight, shape? How can you not tell that’s your wife?” (25:10)
    • Lars: “It was dark.”
    • Detective: “You understand how lame that sounds, Lars? You’re 36 inches from a human being and you can’t tell it’s your wife?” (25:48)

• Marriage Under the Microscope:

  • Friends shared Debbie’s frustration at Lars’s lack of household productivity and growing emotional distance.
  • Relationship problems painted a more complicated portrait than Lars presented.

The Darkness Debate: How Visible Was Debbie? (33:00–42:00)

• Crime Scene Analysis:

  • Debate over ambient light in the house. Lars’s brother recreated the early-morning scenario for Dateline:
    • “At 4 in the morning, you don’t see anything. It’s dark. And I don’t think size, weight or complexion matters.” (37:42)

• Prosecutors’ Argument:

  • Maintained that enough light from windows/street would have made Debbie’s silhouette visible.
  • Contrasted testimonies: house guest Liz Sevilla said, “I could easily see at night. There was enough light coming through the big windows that I could find my way.” (53:31)

Legal Proceedings: From Manslaughter to Murder (42:00–1:01:15)

• Charges and Motive:

  • 11 days after Debbie’s death, Lars was charged with manslaughter, later elevated to murder after further review.
  • Prosecutors suggested motive might not be financial, but emotional or rooted in traditional expectations (e.g., Debbie not taking Lars’s last name, keeping bank accounts separate).

• Trial Moments:

  • Emotional displays—from Lars’s sobbing to his composure—scrutinized:
    • “He had that expression of bearing down, and he was kind of turning red and he never saw a tear.” (50:12)
    • Prosecutor: “He knows her scent, he knows her sound, he knows her shape. And he knew who that was in front of him.” (56:41)
  • Lars’s behavior questioned—particularly asking for Dr. Pepper during interviews:
    • “I enjoy Dr. Pepper every now and again, but I don’t want to drink a Dr. Pepper when my hands are covered in my wife’s blood.” (50:54)

• Defense:

  • Characterized shooting as “the most horrific mistake in his entire life.” (59:50)
  • Debbie’s own mother, formerly supportive, testified unwillingly for the defense.

Lars Testifies (1:01:15–1:03:20)

• On the Stand:
  • Lars: “She was the love of my life. A mistake I would regret forever. Still hurts every second of the day. She was sent to me from God. If I could make a list, she would have checked every box.” (1:02:02)
  • Prosecutor pressed: “And you can’t tell it’s her when you pull that trigger?” Lars: “No, sir.” (1:02:40)

Verdict and Aftermath (1:03:20–end)

• Jury Decision:

  • Not Guilty of murder.
  • Guilty of manslaughter.
  • Sentenced to 15 years in prison.

• Public and Family Reaction:

  • Disbelief and anger from Debbie’s friends; sense of injustice.
  • Lars’s family: “It was about them winning. It had nothing to do with justice or the truth.” (1:04:23)

• Final Words:

  • Lars (interviewed in prison): “I kiss her picture every morning, every night.” (1:05:20)
  • Debbie’s parents: “The only real satisfaction would be to have your daughter come back through the door. And that’s never going to happen.” (1:07:10)
  • Tennis friends: “I think Debbie is all around us and supporting us, and we find hints of that constantly in our lives.” (1:08:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lars’s claim of mistaken identity:
  • Detective: “You’re 36 inches from a human being and you can’t tell it’s your wife?” (25:48)
• On the crime scene’s visibility:
  • Andrea Canning (after light test): “I can see a little bit of a silhouette, but I cannot see your face.” (39:11)
• On emotional responses:
  • Prosecutor: “He had that expression of bearing down, and he was kind of turning red and he never saw a tear.” (50:12)
• On motive:
  • “This was not about money. No, it wasn’t. And I think it really has to do with he loved her more than she loved him.” (58:23)
• On Lars’s remorse:
  • Lars: “Still hurts every second of the day. She was sent to me from God.” (1:02:02)
• Debbie’s Father:
  • “The only real satisfaction would be to have your daughter come back through the door. And that’s never going to happen.” (1:07:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Debbie’s Early Life and Tennis Friends: 02:45–10:30
• The Itzo Marriage: 10:30–14:00
• The Night of the Shooting: 14:00–21:30
• 911 Call and Police Response: 15:20–18:44
• Funeral and Initial Support: 18:44–22:30
• Police Interrogation and Polygraph: 24:40–28:00
• Marriage Under Scrutiny: 29:00–33:00
• Crime Scene Darkness Test: 37:42–39:11
• Prosecution Case in Court: 50:12–59:50
• Lars on the Stand: 1:01:15–1:03:20
• Verdict & Sentencing: 1:03:20–1:04:50
• Lars’s Prison Interview: 1:05:20–1:06:45
• Debbie Remembered: 1:08:00–end

Episode Tone and Style

The episode maintains a somber, investigative tone, blending empathetic interviews with sharp legal analysis. There’s a strong focus on the emotional aftermath and how grief, regret, and suspicion ripple through families and communities after such a tragedy.

Conclusion

Dateline’s "The Silhouette" masterfully dissects whether a tragic mistake or a calculated act lay behind Debbie’s death, leaving listeners to weigh conflicting accounts, shifting motives, and the devastating, unhealable loss at the story’s heart. Ultimately, Lars Itzo was held legally responsible for manslaughter, yet the true nature of that dark early morning—accident or murder—remains as shadowy as the silhouette that changed everything.