Verdict in the roommate murder trial. Mom accused of murder by fire and van. And, actor Dennis Quaid.

Summary

Dateline NBC Podcast Summary Episode: Verdict in the Roommate Murder Trial. Mom Accused of Murder by Fire and Van. And, Actor Dennis Quaid.

Release Date: March 27, 2025

---

1. Verdict in the Roommate Murder Trial

Overview: The episode opens with an in-depth look into the high-profile murder trial of Nicole Rice, the roommate accused of killing her 18-year-old roommate, Anita Knutson, in Minot, North Dakota. The case, which remained cold for nearly 15 years, was reignited by new evidence and statements aided by the "Cold Justice" television show.

Key Points:

• Crime Details: On June 4, 2007, Gordon Knutson discovered his daughter Anita murdered in her apartment. She was stabbed twice, and the alleged murder weapon—a pocket knife—was left at the scene. Despite over 40 interviews, the case stalled until Nicole Rice was arrested in 2022.

• Trial Proceedings: The recent trial featured testimonies from key witnesses, including a former boyfriend who recounted an incident where Rice allegedly confessed to the murder during a party (07:53). Another witness testified to receiving a confession from Rice while giving her a ride (08:15).

• Defense Strategy: Nicole Rice maintains her innocence, with her defense team presenting alternate suspects, including a man with a violent past who had been in town during the time of the murders (08:36).

• Verdict: On March 26, 2025, the jury acquitted Nicole Rice of the murder charges (09:40). The decision was met with mixed emotions—relief from Rice’s family and devastation from Anita’s family (10:03).

Notable Quotes:

• Haley Barber: “This was, I think, stunning to a lot of people in the courtroom... very emotional for everyone on both sides” (10:11).
• Al Roker: “Is this the jury's verdict? Can you calm down a little bit, please? Is this the jury's verdict?” (10:03).

---

2. Linda Sturmer's Second Murder Trial

Overview: The podcast delves into the second trial of Linda Sturmer, who is accused of murdering her husband, Todd Stermer, by setting him on fire and running him over with her van.

Key Points:

• First Trial and Conviction: In 2010, Linda was convicted based on evidence that included Todd being set on fire and subsequently run over. She was sentenced to life without parole but was released in 2018 after a federal appeals court found her original trial was flawed (13:10).

• New Trial: Now, Linda faces trial again almost two decades after the incident. The prosecution presents evidence linking her to multiple arson cases connected to Todd’s properties, suggesting a pattern (15:09).

• Defense Argument: Linda denies responsibility, asserting she was in the basement doing laundry when the incident occurred. Her defense team questions the integrity of the new evidence, highlighting inconsistencies and the role of media pressure in her initial conviction (09:09).

Notable Quotes:

• Dennis Quaid: “By all accounts, the 80s and the 90s were a happy time for the couple... he had a temper” (13:21).
• Dennis Quaid: “Linda says she has no understanding of how Todd got hit by her van... neighbors say she was incoherent when they saw her on site” (15:33).

---

3. DATELINE Roundup

a. Bryan Kohberger Case Update

Key Points:

• Latest Filings: Over a dozen court filings reveal the prosecution's strategy, including using a selfie of Bryan Kohberger taken hours before the murders and his Amazon purchase history for military knives (20:32).

• Evidence Analysis: Experts consider Kohberger’s Amazon searches as potentially indicative of premeditation, though the defense seeks to exclude this evidence from trial (21:37).

• Security Footage Dispute: The prosecution wants to introduce 12 hours of security footage showing a driver circling the crime scene, while the defense argues it's too extensive to be relevant (22:04).

Notable Quotes:

• Sergey Ivonin: “Experts are saying that the Amazon click activity could prove premeditation...” (21:37).

b. Yolanda Marodi Arrest

Key Points:

• Crime Details: Yolanda Marodi was arrested in Mexico for the murder of her wife, Rebecca Marodi, a firefighter who was fatally stabbed in February 2025 (23:22).

• Motive: The arrest affidavit cites text messages indicating Rebecca was planning to end their marriage, leading to a confrontation where Yolanda allegedly confessed to the fight and ensuing violence (23:55).

• Criminal History: Yolanda has a prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter of her husband in 2003, adding complexity to her current charges (24:15).

c. Karen Reed Case Update

Key Points:

• Accusation: Karen Reed, a Massachusetts woman, is accused of murdering her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, in 2022. She denies all charges vehemently.

• Trial Preparations: Jury selection is imminent, with over 200 jurors summoned to determine her fate (24:42).

d. Interview with Dennis Quaid

Overview: Actor Dennis Quaid discusses his portrayal of serial killer Keith Jesperson in the upcoming series "Happy Face." He emphasizes the emotional depth required to depict such a complex character and highlights the impact of true crime storytelling on personal healing.

Notable Quotes:

• Dennis Quaid: “I had no ambition or attraction to playing a serial killer at all... It really helped her, I think, too, because you have to think, is this in me?” (27:52).
• Laura Quaid: “She's really kind of a hero of mine.” (28:57).

---

Conclusion

The episode of Dateline NBC offers a comprehensive exploration of significant true-crime cases, providing listeners with detailed narratives, expert interviews, and insightful commentary. From courtroom verdicts to ongoing investigations and personal stories of those affected, the podcast continues to shed light on the complexities of true crime.

For More Information:

• Subscribe to DATELINE Premium: Access ad-free episodes and exclusive content at DatelinePremium.com.
• Follow on Social Media: For questions or case suggestions, send audio messages on social media or voicemail at 212-413-5252.

---

Notable Contributors:

• Host: Veronica Mazeka
• Interviews: Haley Barber, Dennis Quaid
• Producers: Franny Kelly, Katie Ferguson
• Executive Producers: Paul Ryan, Liz Cole

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the Dateline NBC podcast episode, providing a detailed overview for those who haven't listened.

Transcript

[Andrea Canning]

The last thing you want to hear when you need your auto insurance most is a robot with countless irrelevant menu options. Which is why with USAA Auto insurance, you'll get great service that is easy and reliable, all at the touch of a button. Get a quote Today, restrictions apply. USAA A true crime story never really ends. Even when a case is closed, the journey for those left behind is just beginning. Since our DATELINE story aired, Tracy has harnessed her outrage into a mission.

[Veronica Mazeka]

I had no other option to do something.

[Andrea Canning]

Catch up with families, friends and investigators on our bonus series after the Verdict. Ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with strength and courage.

[Veronica Mazeka]

It does just change your life.

[Haley Barber]

But speaking up for these issues helps me keep going.

[Andrea Canning]

To listen to after the Verdict, subscribe to DATELINE Premium on Apple Podcasts, Spotify [e-mail].

[Haley Barber]

Hey, good morning. Good morning.

[Veronica Mazeka]

It's the start of another workday for the DATELINE team here at 30 Rockefeller Center.

[Haley Barber]

This was supposed to be a great.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Buzzer beater game last night.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Hope your brackets are still intact.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news around the country.

[Dennis Quaid]

Is there anything new?

[Al Roker]

The alternate suspect questioning is a strong.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Case, prosecutors said bad blood, as Taylor Swift might say. Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's March 27th and here's what's on our docket. In western Michigan, a woman accused of murdering her husband is on trial for the second time. Can a renowned arson investigator clear her name?

[Dennis Quaid]

It'll come down to science, the science of fire.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Other stories we're watching this week, new details in the prosecution's case against Bryan Kohberger. The wife of a murdered California firefighter is arrested in Mexico and it's not the first time she's been charged with murder. And the latest on Karen Reid's upcoming trial.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Jury selection will start on Tuesday. More than 200 jurors have been summoned.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Plus, we've got our first celebrity here on DATELINE True Crime Weekly. DATELINE fan and actor Dennis Quaid. He's got a new role as a serial killer.

[Laura]

He killed eight women in five years and he would leave notes and sign them with happy face.

[Veronica Mazeka]

But before all that, we're heading to the North Dakota prairie for the latest chapter in a murder that stumped investigators for decades until a surprising arrest three years ago on June 4, 2007, Gordon Knudson was worried that he hadn't heard from his 18 year old daughter, Anita. She was a first year college student and hadn't shown up for work or answered his so he drove over to her apartment. What he found there would shake not just the Knutson family, but the community of Minot, North Dakota. Anita had been murdered, stabbed to death in her bed. Following the killing, police had no shortage of leads. They interviewed more than 40 people and said there were several possible suspects. But the case went cold until almost 15 years later. Anita's roommate, Nicole Rice, was charged with her murder. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial finally began last week. Stateline producer Haley Barber is in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and joins us now to bring us up to speed on the case and take us inside the courtroom as the verdict was read. Haley, thank you for joining us.

[Haley Barber]

Of course. Thank you so much for having me, Andrea.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So, Hailey, to start, can you tell us a little bit about Anita Knutson? What have you learned about her?

[Haley Barber]

So, by all accounts, she is just this bubbly ball of energy. She's only 4 foot 10. She's really tiny, but she just makes friends with everyone and. And she's just a really sweet person to be around.

[Veronica Mazeka]

She liked kids. She was studying elementary education.

[Haley Barber]

Yeah. She wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. And her friends joked that that was the perfect job for her because only the kindergartners would be shorter than her.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So sad that her life just was so abruptly ended in that way. Horrible. After Anita's father found her body, police came to the apartment. Was there anything out of place, any clues that might have given them an idea of who could have done this?

[Haley Barber]

Yeah, her purse was there. She. Her wallet was there. This didn't appear to be a robbery when police went in, but the window to her bedroom, the screen had been cut. And that definitely seemed a little bit mysterious.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So something really big the police found. They found what they believe was the murder weapon in the apartment.

[Haley Barber]

That's right. Yeah. And it appeared to be a pocket, basically a pocket knife that you would kind of bend in half. And she had been stabbed twice. So whoever did this, you know, left this weapon behind.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Were there any fingerprints on it, any DNA?

[Haley Barber]

No fingerprints were recovered from the scene, and limited DNA was recovered from the knife itself.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So, as we know, Anita had a roommate, Nicole, the woman now on trial for her murder. When did police first talk to her?

[Haley Barber]

Right away. They call her to the scene. They want her to look and see if anything is out of place.

[Veronica Mazeka]

At the trial last week, one of the detectives who responded to the crime scene talked about that.

[Al Roker]

Best of my recollection, my exact words were, I'm sorry to tell you that your roommate's deceased and she's been killed. I used the word she's been killed. How did the defendant react to that? She didn't. She was flat. Just no real reaction at all. Was that reaction unusual compared to the other times that you've relayed the death of someone? It was unusual. And I remember thinking, what. What's going on here?

[Haley Barber]

Right away, she tells police that her ipod is missing.

[Al Roker]

She just kind of fixated on that. She was very. All of a sudden, she was animated, and she was animated about this listening device. And I thought, this is what excites you here? This is. This is what you're concerned about.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So that stuck out to investigators at the time, and they also discovered there was tension in this roommate relationship.

[Haley Barber]

Yeah, these are things that, looking back on having roommates when you're 18, you know, Anita wasn't turning her alarm off. Nicole was maybe going out and partying. Yeah.

[Veronica Mazeka]

I mean, I think a lot of college kids have those sort of petty arguments with their roommates, but this seemed like it was more than that.

[Haley Barber]

Yeah. And it seemed like it was kind of at a heating point. In the months and weeks leading up to Anita's murder, what did Nicole tell.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Police about where she was at the time of the murder?

[Haley Barber]

Yeah, so she tells police that that night she is out at her family's farm, and her parents back this up and say, yep, she was here. But she gives two more statements to police, and they're a little bit different. So her stories are kind of changing.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So 15 years go by, and then finally there is an arrest of Nicole in 2022. What changed?

[Haley Barber]

Yeah, so a Oxygen television show called Cold justice teamed up with the Minot Police Department, and they did this new investigation of the case, and they were able to get a couple of new statements from other witness who said that Nicole had admitted to the killing. And based on these other statements and other information, the Minot Police Department made this arrest.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And you were in the courtroom when those witnesses testified for the prosecution, including a man Nicole had dated at one time.

[Haley Barber]

That's right. He claims that one night they're at a party and everyone is drinking, and somehow Anita's murder comes up. At this party, Nicole and I were.

[Al Roker]

Sitting on the couch, and a couple buddies were playing video games, and someone from the kitchen was talking about it. And that's when it was stated, the comment. When what was stated, the comment was that from Nicole Rice, it was that she had did it, that she had killed Anita.

[Andrea Canning]

Nicole said that?

[Al Roker]

Yes.

[Haley Barber]

Then another. There was actually another witness that took the stand and said, I gave her a ride one night. And she, you know, made a confession to me as well.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Nicole, of course, denies committing this murder. Right off the bat, the defense really went after alternate suspects in this trial. In their opening statement, they were pointing the finger at other people.

[Al Roker]

There was other work that was done in this case that showed other suspects that were much more culpable than Nicole.

[Haley Barber]

There's one particular suspect, a man who had come into town that weekend, and he kind of had a violent past. We knew that he had a federal conviction. He had assaulted a woman. And it's, again, kind of varying stories about where he was that night.

[Veronica Mazeka]

The defense also, you know, has really questioned, you know, why it took a TV show to shake the trees on this.

[Al Roker]

It was pressure from a TV show, a nationally syndicated program that came in, didn't dig up anything of substance, but put an incredible amount of pressure on the state's attorney's office, the police department, to bring charges in this case.

[Haley Barber]

Yeah, and there's been a lot of testimony about that. You know, when a case goes on, as we know, Andrea, for so many years, can we really trust, you know, these new witnesses, this new information to put someone away for a murder that she says she didn't commit?

[Veronica Mazeka]

The trial moved very quickly, and we heard closing arguments in the case on Tuesday, and then we got a verdict. We, the jury, duly empanelled and sworn, find the defendant, Nicole Aaron Rice, not.

[Al Roker]

Guilty of information dated at Grand Forks.

[Veronica Mazeka]

North Dakota, this 26th day of March, 2025.

[Al Roker]

Is this the jury's verdict? Can you calm down a little bit, please? Is this the jury's verdict?

[Dennis Quaid]

Okay.

[Al Roker]

The juror nodded.

[Haley Barber]

This was, I think, stunning to a lot of people in the courtroom. You know, on one side, you have Nicole's family, and obviously, this is a relief, but very emotional to them. And for Anita's family, I think this was a crushing and devastating blow. It was emotional for everyone on both sides, I think.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Hailey, thank you so much for joining us to talk about this trial.

[Haley Barber]

Thank you, Andrea.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Coming up, the Michigan mom accused of burning her husband before running him over with a van is heading to trial for the second time. She says investigators got it all wrong.

[Andrea Canning]

Auto insurance can all seem the same until it comes time to use it. So don't get stuck paying more for less coverage. Switch to USA Auto Insurance, and you could start saving money in no time. Get a quote. Today, restrictions apply. Usaa.

[Veronica Mazeka]

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.

[Andrea Canning]

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 the rest of the day better.

[Veronica Mazeka]

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.

[Al Roker]

Hey everybody, I'm Al Roker from the Today Show. Let's kickstart your wellness journey with the all new Start Today app. Everything you need for a healthier you all in one place, fitness challenges for all levels, meal plans that are easy and delicious and so much more. It's built to fit your lifestyle and 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 App Store on your Apple device now. Terms apply. Cancel anytime through Apple under profile settings.

[Veronica Mazeka]

On a cold and rainy January day in 2007, fire trucks raced to a house in Lawrence Township, western Michigan. The home was destroyed, and Todd Stermer, who'd run out of the building with the top half of his body in flames, died in the yard. Three years later, a jury convicted Todd's wife, Linda Sturmer, of murdering him by first setting him on fire and then running him over with her van. Her mandatory sentence was life in prison without the possibility of parole. But in 2018, Linda was released. A federal appeals court ruled Linda hadn't received a fair trial because of mistakes her defense attorney made. This week, almost 20 years after her husband's death, she is standing trial yet again. DATELINE producer Sergey Ivonin was there as a jury was selected. Sergey, thank you for coming on the podcast.

[Dennis Quaid]

Good morning, Andrea. Thanks for having me.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Set this up for us, Sergey, because I understand at the beginning of their relationship, Linda and Todd Sturmer seemed to have a great relationship, a lovely blended family.

[Dennis Quaid]

By all accounts, the 80s and the 90s were a happy time for the couple. Linda had two daughters when they met, and by the time they married, Todd and she already had two sons also together. It seems finances became an issue for them, and according to their sons, there was some infidelity on Linda's part. Linda denied that, and all of her children said that Todd had a temper. Linda's daughters especially say that Todd sometimes hit Linda and her oldest daughter when she was a teenager. Todd did have an arrest record for a misdemeanor assault and drug charges and a dui. So according to all of their children, Linda and Todd had a big blowout fight the night before the house was set on fire.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So the allegations here are that Linda killed Todd by setting him on fire?

[Dennis Quaid]

Well, there's that and more. The state said that she had doused Todd in gasoline and then started a fire in their living room. And then he ran outside on fire and she drove over him in her Ford van. She denies that and said she was in the basement doing laundry, and he was yelling at her from the living room. And then his yells turned into screams. So when she went upstairs, he was on fire, and there was fire separ. So she said she ran outside to her van to get some help. Once she was there, she saw Todd run out of the house, and she tried to get him to drop and roll and, you know, get the fire off of him or get in the van, but he just wouldn't do it. And she said while she tried again to leave, the van got stuck in the mud because it had been raining and snowing. And that's when the next door neighbors got to the house and found Todd lying on the ground and called 911.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So is Linda saying that she didn't hit him or that she accidentally hit him?

[Dennis Quaid]

Linda says she has no understanding of how Todd got hit by her van. The state says it must have happened because they found Todd's blood on the bumper and the undercarriage on the vehicle. The neighbors say she was incoherent when, you know, they saw her on site.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So I'm assuming at her first trial, the state presented evidence that Linda started the fire, committed ar to be able to get that conviction.

[Dennis Quaid]

The state's fire investigator said that the fire was intentionally set in the living room and Todd was at the center of it. Linda's lawyer at the time told her, according to both of them, that she didn't need to hire a fire investigator of her own because their argument was that it was Todd, not Linda, who committed an arson and he had accidentally set himself on fire.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So how does that work? Are they trying to say that it was actually Todd trying to kill Linda?

[Dennis Quaid]

Well, he had other properties that suspiciously caught on fire, and he was in debt on each of them.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Those fires were investigated as arson, but according to Todd's sister, someone else was eventually held responsible for them, right?

[Dennis Quaid]

Yes, but Todd's mother actually testified about those fires at Linda's first trial, and she said, quote, I, I will be hard pressed to find somebody who has had one house burned down, but three. Three. So the argument was that he knew how to do it, and Linda didn't have a trace of gasoline on her when they tested the clothes that she was wearing that day.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Interesting. But the jury still convicted her back in 2010, and they didn't deliberate for very long, did they?

[Dennis Quaid]

Not even a full day. So she was sentenced to life and served eight years. One of her daughters actually reached out to a well known investigator in Michigan called Bob Trankel who made a report that Linda's team got to the U.S. court of Appeals saying that wasn't enough evidence. And not only that did Linda start to fire, but anyone did intentionally. He said that the county's investigation was inadequate and the appeals court agreed with him. Faulted her lawyer for not countering that official's testimony.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So Linda has been out on bail.

[Dennis Quaid]

Since 2018 and she's been living here locally with one of her daughters. She's 60 years old now, and when I spoke with her, she sounds confident and ready for the new trial.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So the fire evidence will be newly contested this time. But what about Linda driving over Todd with her van? How will they handle that if the.

[Dennis Quaid]

Next door neighbors are called to testify and saying they saw any movement of the van's wheels, that would be that testimony would be certainly damaging to her. So we'll just have to wait and see.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Okay. Well, thank you, Sergei, for this. I know you're heading off to court as we speak, so please keep us posted.

[Dennis Quaid]

Thanks for having me. Of course I will.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. We've got details from the latest court filings in the case against Bryan Kohberger. And after a month on the run, a woman wanted for the murder of her firefighter wife is finally in custody. Custody plus actor Dennis Quaid tells us what he learned playing the Happy Face serial killer.

[Andrea Canning]

Auto insurance can all seem the same until it comes time to use it. So don't get stuck paying more for less coverage. Switch to USA Auto insurance and you could start saving money in no time. Get a quote today, restrictions apply. Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with Eva Longoria to talk about her rise from the small Texas ranch where she grew up to the heights of Hollywood as an actress, producer, director and philanthropist. You can get our conversation now for free wherever you download your podcasts. Five immersive worlds, one amazing theme park. Get ready to explore the all new new Universal Epic Universe featuring the Wizarding world of Harry Potter, Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, how to train your Dragon, Isle of Burke and Dark Universe. Epic Universe opens May 22 at Universal Orlando Resort. Our universe will never be the same. Tickets and packages on sale [e-mail].

[Veronica Mazeka]

Foreign welcome back. Joining us for this week's DATELINE roundup is DATELINE Digital producer Veronica Mazeka. Hey, Veronica.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Hi, Andrea.

[Veronica Mazeka]

For our first story, we are off to Idaho for the latest in the case of Bryan Kohberger. He is the man accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November of 2022. Last week, more than a dozen court filings were made public giving us a glimpse of what the prosecution and defense might be planning in the run up to his trial, including a selfie. Tell us about that, Veronica.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Yeah, so there were a couple of things that came out in recent filings. One of those things was the selfie which shows Bryan Kohberger, he has a little bit of a grin and he's giving a thumbs up to the camera. It seems like the prosecution is hoping that this photograph will help support their bushy eyebrow evidence. If you remember, one of the surviving roommates says that she saw a man with bushy eyebrows leaving the residence. And if the prosecution is right, this photo was taken within hours of the murders.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Also in recent filings, Veronica, prosecutors talk about Kohberger's alleged click activity on Amazon. What he was searching.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Essentially, there was a search warrant on Coburger's Amazon activity. Investigators say that he purchased a military brand knife on Amazon about eight months before the murders, which matches the knife sheath found next to one of the victims. We reported that development in our dateline back in 2023. But what we hadn't heard before was that Coburger's online shopping activity revealed that he was shopping for another knife just days after the murders.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Some legal experts are calling Kohberger's searches on Amazon a smoking gun, saying the evidence is catastrophic to the defense's case.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Yeah, so experts are saying that the Amazon click activity could prove premeditation, but his defense team is hoping to have his Amazon activity kept out of the tr. And the judge has yet to rule on their motion to exclude this evidence.

[Veronica Mazeka]

There's also been some back and forth over security footage from an apartment building near the crime scene.

[Sergey Ivonin]

That's right. The prosecution has identified about 12 hours of security footage that they want to enter into evidence, which they say shows a driver circling the house in various times before the murders. But in a motion, Coburger's defense team said it's too long to sort through so they want it out.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And the prosecution filed something that that involves Bryan Kohberger's family and how they could get dragged into this.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Yeah. In the filings we learned that Kohberger's family may actually be called as a witness for the prosecution. We don't know what they might say or how the prosecution thinks they'll help the case. So we'll be watching for more on that.

[Veronica Mazeka]

For our next story, we're off to the west coast where there's news in the murder of a California fire captain, Rebecca Becky Marodi, who was fatally stabbed this February in her house.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Yeah. The 49 year old Captain Marodi was a veteran firefighter. Just weeks before her death, she had been battling the Eaton fire out in California and her mom found her stabbed in her neck and chest and it was just horrible.

[Veronica Mazeka]

And then the San Diego County Sheriff's Department named her wife Yolanda as the suspect.

[Sergey Ivonin]

So according to the arrest affidavit, she was seen on ring camera chasing Rebecca Marotti. And Rebecca is saying, I don't want to die. And Yolanda is seen holding a knife.

[Haley Barber]

Wow.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So where does Yolanda go from there then? What did authorities say?

[Sergey Ivonin]

She's been on the run for about five weeks until this past weekend when Mexican officials located her at a hotel just south of the U.S. border. She's now in custody in San Diego on suspicion of murder.

[Veronica Mazeka]

What are they saying, the police, about the prosecutors, about a possible motive here?

[Sergey Ivonin]

The arrest affidavit says that Yolanda Marodi texted an unnamed witness the day after Rebecca's killing, saying that Rebecca had met someone else and was planning to end their marriage. According to the affidavit, Yolanda said, quote, we had a big fight and I hurt her. I'm sorry.

[Veronica Mazeka]

This isn't Yolanda's first run in with the law, is it?

[Sergey Ivonin]

That's correct. In 2003, Yolanda Morodi pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter of her husband and was released from custody nearly a decade later.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Thanks for the update on that. We also have an update on the Karen Reed case. The Massachusetts woman accused of murdering her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, 2022, something she vehemently denies. What is the news in Karen Reedland this week, Veronica?

[Sergey Ivonin]

Well, it looks like she might finally be heading to trial. The judge confirmed jury selection will start on Tuesday. More than 200 jurors have been summoned, so could take a while, but we'll be there watching.

[Veronica Mazeka]

All right. Thank you so much, Veronica, for all these updates.

[Sergey Ivonin]

Of course. Thank you.

[Veronica Mazeka]

For our final story this week, I am joined by a famous actor who's been a household name for decades. You might know him from his role as an astronaut in the Right Stuff or a loving father in the Parent Trap or his most recent film role as a TV producer in the Substance. Now he is tackling something in our wheelhouse, a completely new genre, playing serial killer Keith Jesperson in the series Happy Face. He is also a friend of mine, and he likes to watch Dateline with his wonderful wife Laura. So we invited him on the show to talk true crime. Dennis, thank you for making time to come on the podcast.

[Laura]

Thank you. We don't just like we obsessed. We've seen every episode.

[Veronica Mazeka]

I love it. Well, as you may remember, my favorite role of yours is in the Rookie, where you play the older baseball pitcher.

[Laura]

Right.

[Veronica Mazeka]

This is not that.

[Laura]

No, no. Happy Face is not the rookie 2. It's not a sequel.

[Andrea Canning]

No.

[Veronica Mazeka]

This is so much darker. Let's just start with. Can you just give our listeners a quick snapshot of who Jesperson was and.

[Laura]

What he did in the 90s? He killed eight women in five years. He was a trucker, and he would leave notes on bathroom walls and sign them with Happy Face.

[Veronica Mazeka]

That's how he got the nickname.

[Laura]

Yeah. He's in a hole in Oregon, and that's exactly where he should be. He had a very loving, close relationship with his daughter, who was a little girl, and then she was 15 when he got caught. And so she had to reconcile this loving, sweet dad with who was this monster. And I had no ambition or attraction to playing a serial killer at all. But this is told from her point of view, and it's the relationship between her and her father. And she really had a lot of courage to even tell this story. And that's why I'm doing it.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Does he know about the show?

[Laura]

Yes, he knows about it. Usually when I do play a real person who's alive, I always want to meet them. But with this number one, I didn't feel like I was going to get the true story from him. And I didn't want to give him any kind of satisfaction or entertainment or take away from the boredom of prison that he deserves. And so I read his daughter Melissa's book, and Melissa knows him better than he knows himself.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Seeing the relationship between you and her was so creepy.

[Laura]

Yeah. He found ways to get in contact with her. He wrote her letters. I mean, huge amounts of letters. That's what kind of prompted her to start her podcast about this and her way of healing. And, you know, in a way, it's, how do you heal from anything like this, but was eventually to reach out to the families of her father's victims and the families of other perpetrators. And it really helped her, I think, too, because you have to think, is this in me? And then the shame, it's shame that you're living with. And shame is something that holds us back. But if you out into the world, it loses its power.

[Dennis Quaid]

Yeah.

[Veronica Mazeka]

So true.

[Laura]

That's how courageous she has been. And she's really kind of a hero of mine.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Yeah. We deal with so many families on dateline, you know, families of the killer, families of the victims and these people, you know, that are collateral damage and.

[Laura]

All of this not to take anything away from the victims, but they're more people affected by this. And I guess the silence of it, it ripples out. And if you don't speak of it, it continues.

[Veronica Mazeka]

You said it so well. I mean, this is something that we know on DATELINE is this ripple effect of a murder and crime. On another note, I'm putting you on the spot. Do you have a most fascinating dateline or are there too many?

[Laura]

We're gonna ask that question. The betrayal is always the best. Love triangles just, you can't believe it. Who was the woman who killed her own kids?

[Veronica Mazeka]

Oh, Lori Valo Debo.

[Laura]

Yeah. I mean, that's one that is just still sticks with you. And it's ongoing still. That's what makes it so fascinating is how could people do that to each other, to those that they loved? I mean, especially a parent and a child. That's the most unthinkable you could possibly imagine.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Yeah. I'm working on a Dateline right now that involves a mother and her two children that's airing very soon. So you'll look forward to that one. Dennis, thank you so much for this conversation.

[Laura]

I've been really looking forward to this.

[Veronica Mazeka]

I encourage everyone to watch Happy Face. Thank you so much. And our hats off to Melissa for her bravery and for telling her story. It sounds like she's on the road to healing by doing things like this with you.

[Laura]

Thank you. It's streaming on Paramount and it's available now. The first episode just dropped a few days ago.

[Veronica Mazeka]

Excellent. Thank you so much, Dennis.

[Laura]

Thank you.

[Veronica Mazeka]

That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. To get ad free listening for all our podcasts, subscribe to Dateline Premium. Dateline is off this Friday for the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships, but get ready for a whole lot of DATELINE for the next couple of months. We'll have episodes Fridays Saturdays and Sundays starting next week. And we've also got plenty to keep you busy on dateline's podcast feed. Coming up this Friday, we have a treat for DATELINE premium subscribers. Listen in as Josh, Dennis and Keith talk about a very special anniversary, their 30 years spent working on Dateline, from their very first stories to prison interviews that didn't quite go according to plan. You'll hear them reflect on what DATELINE and you mean to them.

[Andrea Canning]

30 years. Yeah. Hard to believe now, you know, it.

[Al Roker]

Kind of depends on how you measure time. Oh, here we go. Here we go. You're going to do this Einstein thing on us, huh?

[Veronica Mazeka]

One last thing before we go. If you have any questions for the DATELINE True Crime Weekly team or suggestions for a case we should look into, send us an audio Message on social ainenbc. Or you can leave us a voicemail at 212-413-5252. 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 Kurloff. 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.

[Haley Barber]

Okay, see you later.

[Andrea Canning]

Auto insurance can all seem the same until it comes time to use it. So don't get stuck paying more for less coverage. Switch to USAA auto insurance and you could start saving money and in no time get a quote. Today, restrictions apply.

[Veronica Mazeka]

USA.