Podcast Summary: Talking Dateline: Murder & Magnolias

Podcast: Dateline NBC
Host: Blaine Alexander
Guests: Keith Morrison (Host, “Murder & Magnolias”) and Carol Gable (Dateline Producer)
Date: February 25, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of Talking Dateline, Blaine Alexander sits down with legendary correspondent Keith Morrison to break down his original podcast series, "Murder & Magnolias." The discussion delves into the dramatic true crime story of the Latham family in Charleston, South Carolina—a tale of high society, infidelity, murder-for-hire, and Southern charm. Producer Carol Gable later joins for a behind-the-scenes look at bringing this intricate story to light. Listener questions cap off the conversation, offering further personal and professional insights from the team.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story in a Nutshell

[01:40-03:13]

• Keith Morrison outlines the plot: Chris Latham, a Charleston banker and society figure, orchestrates a murder plot against his wife Nancy during a bitter divorce, recruiting his girlfriend Wendy and a dubious criminal network.
• The plan unravels when Aaron Wilkinson, a drug addict recruited to carry out the murder, gets arrested in a routine traffic stop and exposes the entire plot to police, saving Nancy’s life.
• The case stands out for its "fascinating" cast of characters and rare access to interviews inside and outside prison.
  • “It was a rare situation where we were able to conduct interviews with everybody outside and inside prison. Nancy…became a stand-up comedian for a while after this was all over.” — Keith Morrison (03:01)

2. Southern Setting & Character Dynamics

[03:22–05:47]

• The Lathams were Charleston “pillars of society”—he, a well-connected banker, and she, a socialite and hostess.
• The Southern culture and setting amplifies the drama and feel of the story.
  • “I'm not from there. I grew up in Canada, far away from that culture, but I love it.” — Keith Morrison (03:46)
• The archetype of perfect, charming couple hides messy realities beneath the surface.

3. Small Incidents, Big Consequences

[05:47–07:48]

• The murder plot was foiled thanks to chance: Aaron’s traffic stop.
• Keith highlights the recurring theme in Dateline stories where a minor event changes everything.
  • “Without that thing, what might have changed? ...The murder may have occurred.” — Keith Morrison (05:59)
• The contrast between Charleston’s wealthy and impoverished areas is embodied in “America Street,” where Aaron was stopped.

4. The ‘Hit Packet’ & Investigation

[08:31–09:43]

• A “hit packet” meticulously outlined the murder plot, containing everything needed to plan the crime—and, ironically, everything needed to solve it.
  • “People who set out to become tough guy criminals often aren't the brightest bulbs… The hit packet had everything you would want to know if you were going to have to kill somebody.” — Keith Morrison (08:41)
• The hit packet becomes key evidence.

5. Meet Nancy Latham

[09:43–12:06]

• Nancy’s reaction to the threat is explored; she’s portrayed as witty, “spicy,” and resilient. She quips when asked if she was having an affair:
  • Blaine: “Are you having an affair?”
    Nancy: “Are you offering?” (10:23–10:27)
• Nancy copes with trauma through humor, even becoming a stand-up comic after the ordeal.

6. Behind the Scenes with Producer Carol Gable

[13:58–19:24]

• Carol explains the lengthy production process and the challenge of earning trust—“getting everyone comfortable with talking to us.”
• Harrowing details: the “hit packet” even included photos of the Lathams’ daughters, chillingly suggesting their safety was expendable.
• Fallout: one daughter never spoke to her father again; another invited him to her wedding (from which Nancy abstained).
• Access to prisoners: interviews took place in the brief window post-conviction but before state prison transfer, requiring negotiation with local authorities.
  • “You want to be on good terms with the sheriff in every county in the country, if you can.” — Keith Morrison (18:25)

7. Murder-for-Hire Psychology

[19:24–20:33]

• Blaine asks about killers outsourcing crime:
  • “The people at the top of the pecking order rather like to get other people to do the hard work for them.” — Keith Morrison (19:57)
• “It's always odd math to me…they always seem to think [murder’s] cheaper than just getting a divorce.” — Carol Gable (20:13)

8. Aftermath & Ongoing Fallout

[20:35–21:55]

• Although the plotters are now free again, Nancy feels gratitude for surviving and for their convictions—though the story is “never really over.”
  • “For them, the story is never really over. It just enters a new kind of phase.” — Keith Morrison (21:40)
• Nancy has “reinvented herself” as a school IT head, no longer a comic, but is “doing really good.”

9. Who Hatched the Plan? (Unanswered Mystery)

[21:55–22:41]

• Investigators never determined whether Chris or Wendy masterminded the plot. Both Morrison and Gable express opinions but stress there is “no way to know.”

10. Listener Q&A: The Human Side of Reporting

[24:58–28:31]

• Staying in touch: Both Gable and Morrison form lasting connections with case subjects.
• Career highlights: Morrison didn’t plan for journalism but has 60 years in the business.
• Scariest moments: Gable recounts being rushed by a woman with a shotgun; Morrison recalls intimidating interviews and his riskier overseas reporting.
• On interviewing criminals:
  • “Criminals are people like you and me. Usually they're trying to put on a good impression… I have found interviewing criminals is…a more friendly reception than you do with a great many politicians.” — Keith Morrison (28:05–28:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “All lie, probably a lot more than we think we do.”
  — Keith Morrison on human nature in high society divorces (05:11)

• “You can get lost in the witch as soon as you start to describe it.”
  — Keith Morrison on the story’s complexity (03:22)

• (Re: Nancy Latham) “She deals with horror by making fun of it. She doesn’t feel it any less.”
  — Carol Gable (14:09)

• “For them, the story is never really over. It just enters a new kind of phase.”
  — Keith Morrison on the lasting trauma for survivors (21:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:49] Story primer with Keith Morrison
• [03:22] Southern atmosphere & character analysis
• [05:47] The fateful traffic stop
• [08:31] The “hit packet” evidence discussion
• [09:43] Keith and Nancy’s rapport—“Are you offering?”
• [13:58] Carol Gable joins—process and emotional fallout
• [18:25] Interviewing in prison—logistics and legal hurdles
• [20:13] Why murder-for-hire instead of divorce?
• [21:40] Long-term effects on the Latham family
• [24:58] Listener Q&A, including scariest moments

Tone & Style

• The episode blends serious true-crime analysis with plenty of personality, warmth, and Southern wit. The hosts and guests balance professional detachment with genuine empathy, offering candid behind-the-scenes details and honest reflections on the people involved.

Conclusion

“Talking Dateline: Murder & Magnolias” offers a gripping, character-driven breakdown of a Southern murder-for-hire case. It moves fluently from the dramatic surface story—complete with high society, betrayal, and unlikely heroes—to deeper reflections on trauma, justice, and the quirks of human nature. Engaging banter and a strong sense of place make this episode as entertaining as it is insightful, especially for true crime fans and Dateline devotees.