Dateline Originals – Deadly Engagement

Episode 1: The Telltale SUV (November 13, 2025)

Overview

The premiere episode of "Deadly Engagement" dives into the tragic murder of Danita Smith, a beloved graduate student just months from starting a bright future. As host Josh Mankiewicz and investigators piece together the hours leading up to her death, themes of love, jealousy, betrayal, and a community in shock emerge. The dark morning at Danita's apartment complex unspools into a chilling whodunit driven by a “telltale” burgundy SUV—a clue that may be the key to solving the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Crime: Last Moments of Danita Smith

• A promising life cut short:
  • Danita, a 25-year-old overachiever with dreams of a PhD and a recent engagement, leaves her apartment early for a magazine internship.
  • [00:54] “At 25, Danita was as disciplined as a Marine. Maybe because she had a lot on her plate…” – Josh Mankiewicz
• The attack:
  • As she descends the stairs, a shot (“a bullet pierced the back of Danita’s head”) is fired, sending her tumbling ([02:09]).
  • For nearly two hours, her body lies undetected in front of Building 1100 until a student calls 911, thinking she fell ([02:43]).
• Early speculation:
  • Robbery is ruled out (valuables remain on her), suggesting targeted violence ([04:01], [04:29]).

The Investigation Begins

• Lead Detective Sean Pate’s first homicide case:
  • “I came from Special Victims Units. …The only difference is, in Special Victims, usually your victim can talk.” ([06:35])
• Canvassing for witnesses:
  • Few students present due to Christmas break.
  • Conflicting witness reports on gunshots—echoes cause confusion ([07:18]).
• Danita’s background:
  • Highly connected and admired, described as a “rising star” ([08:22]).
  • “Everybody kind of was jealous of her and her relationship…” ([09:11])
• Suspicion focuses on Danita’s roommate and her boyfriend:
  • Roommate seems disconnected, uncomfortable discussing her boyfriend or his relationship with Danita ([10:48]–[11:31]).
  • Police put a tracker on the roommate’s car, acting on a hunch ([11:59]).

The Ripple Effect on Loved Ones

• Danita’s mother, Sharon Smith, recounts the moment she heard the news:
  • “My son called me and said, Mom, Danita fell down the steps at her apartment…” ([14:10])
  • The family rushes to Durham, still hoping for the best ([14:49]–[16:25]).
• Danita’s passion for photography and journalism highlighted by her mother ([16:43]–[17:12]).
• Friends learn the truth:
  • Best friend Edith Kearns receives confusing calls and cannot reach Danita ([18:58], [19:46]).
  • She describes frantic efforts to connect with Danita and fiancé Jermere ([20:13]–[21:02]).
  • At the clubhouse, Edith learns “unfortunately, she’s not alive,” leading to a highly emotional scene ([23:18]–[24:12]).
• Fiancé Jermere Stroud’s reaction:
  • Appears “blank” and subdued, cries when the news is delivered ([24:28]–[26:09]).

A Breakthrough: The Telltale SUV

• Maintenance supervisor Michael Hedgepeth becomes a key witness:
  • Saw a tall Black woman leaving the scene quickly, got in his black truck, and encountered her in a burgundy SUV ([27:22]–[27:44]).
  • The woman in the SUV seemed distraught, wore a greenish uniform shirt with a patch ([28:13]).
• 911 call at 8:18 a.m.—two hours before Danita is found ([29:07]):
  • Call from the maintenance supervisor, reporting a possible gunshot.
  • Patrol car arrives but misses Building 1100, where Danita lay ([29:49]).
• Detective Pate’s frustration:
  • “There had to be thousands of Burgundy SUVs in the Raleigh Durham area. ...We didn’t even have a brand. It could have been anything, any year.” ([30:26], [30:45])

Aftermath and Next Steps

• Early the next morning, fiancé Jermere contacts police; discovers the homicide was by gunshot ([30:50]).
• Police ask, “Do you know anyone that drives a burgundy SUV?”—to which Jermere responds, “Oh my God,” and turns around ([31:46]–[32:03]).

Memorable Quotes

• “One selfish act destroyed two families.”
  — Detective Sean Pate ([04:13])
• “She was a happy person. Everybody loved her. She loved everybody.”
  — Sharon Smith, Danita’s mother ([16:25])
• “The shame in his eyes … was there for everyone to see.”
  — Detective Sean Pate, foreshadowing later developments ([32:06])
• “Investigators started to get a sense that the roommate's relationship with Danita was off.”
  — Josh Mankiewicz ([10:48])
• “As soon as she rolls down the window he looks and can tell she looks distraught….”
  — Detective Sean Pate ([27:44])

Important Timestamps

• [00:54] – Introduction to Danita Smith and the last morning of her life.
• [02:09 & 2:43] – The shooting and discovery of Danita.
• [06:10–07:56] – Detective Pate takes over, initial crime scene analysis.
• [08:19–09:11] – Danita’s background as a rising star.
• [10:26–11:43] – Roommate’s account and first hints of tension.
• [14:10–16:43] – Danita’s family grapples with the news and shares memories.
• [19:13–21:09] – Best friend Edith tries to piece together what happened.
• [23:18–25:13] – Friends and fiancé gather at the clubhouse and learn the truth.
• [27:22–29:07] – Maintenance man’s pivotal account of a “tall Black woman” and the burgundy SUV.
• [30:22–30:50] – Realization that the SUV is a critical but elusive clue.
• [31:46–32:03] – Police inquiry about the SUV triggers a significant reaction from Jermere.

Notable Moments

• Police’s critical miss: The patrol car responds but never checks the building with Danita’s body ([29:49]).
• Roommate’s potential connection: Her evasiveness and connection to a boyfriend are flagged early ([11:31]).
• The emotional gut-punch: The moment family and friends are told confirms the devastating reality ([23:18], [25:13]).

Episode Tone

Narrated with the classic Dateline blend of suspense, poignancy, and relentless search for truth. The voices of family, friends, and law enforcement are interwoven with deep empathy and an eye for detail, pulling listeners into both the human tragedy and the procedural mystery.

Listen On

This episode ends with the stage set: a complex web of relationships, a mysterious SUV, and the first major clues in the hunt for Danita’s killer. The investigation continues in future episodes of "Deadly Engagement."