Introducing: Five Miles From Home

Summary

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Dateline Originals: Introducing "Five Miles From Home"

Host: NBC News (Keith Morrison)
Episode Date: June 1, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode serves as a gripping introduction to Dateline’s newest true crime mini-series, "Five Miles From Home." With Keith Morrison as narrator, the series explores the mysterious disappearance of 16-year-old Mickey Costanzo from the small desert casino town of West Wendover, Nevada. Blending interviews with friends and family, brief reconstruction, and a tone of shock and urgency, the episode establishes the emotional depths and chilling questions at the heart of the story.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Ordinary Turned Unthinkable

• The Setup: Mickey Costanzo, a typical teenager, planned to walk home from high school on what seemed like an ordinary day in a safe town.
  • "Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school." (A, 00:04)
• All Seemed Fine: Family and friends recount how nothing seemed off initially.
  • "I thought that everything was fine. Everything was normal." (B, 00:10)

The Sense of Dread

• Immediate Alarm: Those close to Mickey recall the instant sense that something was deeply wrong.
  • "In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong." (C, 00:25)
  • "We didn't know whether she'd met with foul play or if she was being held somewhere." (D, 00:29)
• Community Shock: Mickey's fate was perplexing and sudden.
  • "What happened to Mickey, it didn't make sense." (A, 00:34)
  • "Came out of the blue. I was blindsided." (D, 00:38)

Unraveling Mystery and Emotional Fallout

• Lingering Questions: The trauma remains unresolved for those left behind.
  • "Not a day that goes by that I don't think about what happened." (B, 00:40)
  • "Who happened to Mickey?" (A, 00:45)
  • "This is not over yet until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice." (C, 00:48)

Small Town, Big Secrets

• West Wendover: The town’s seemingly quiet nature is upended.
  • "Our latest podcast takes us to West Wendover, Nevada, a tiny casino town tucked away in the desert." (A, 00:57)
  • "Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did." (B, 01:03)

Unlikely Perpetrators and Shocking Twists

• Unexpected Suspects: The narrative teases how those least suspected become entangled.
  • "Unlikely victim, unlikely suspects." (A, 01:07)
  • "I had gotten a text saying that he had had her. And I said, I know where she's at. Let's go." (B, 01:11)
• Confession and Complicity: The confessions that shattered perceptions.
  • "As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it." (C, 01:21)

Motive and Emotion

• Unpacking Motives: Feelings of jealousy and rage are central.
  • "It's a story of jealousy, rage and deceit." (A, 01:27)
  • "The hatred grew more and more. It just escalated." (C, 01:32)
  • "It's something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire. Disturbing would be the word." (D, 01:35)

The Enduring Impact

• Ongoing Search for Answers: Even after the confessions and the investigation, questions persist.
  • "No one would have ever seen this coming. Just isn't possible." (A, 01:44)
  • "I still wonder to this day why? What even really happened?" (B, 01:53)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school." – (A, 00:04)
• "In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong." – (C, 00:25)
• "Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did." – (B, 01:03)
• "As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it." – (C, 01:21)
• "It's a story of jealousy, rage and deceit." – (A, 01:27)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04-00:34 – Setting the Stage: Introduction of Mickey Costanzo and the day she disappeared
• 00:34-01:07 – Community Shock and Initial Reactions
• 01:07-01:27 – Shocking Suspects and Confessions
• 01:27-01:44 – Motives and Emotional Fallout
• 01:44-01:59 – The Enduring Mystery and Unanswered Questions

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Tone & Delivery

With Keith Morrison’s signature gravitas and the earnest voices of friends and family, the tone is haunting, reflective, and unsettling. Listeners are drawn into a mystery layered with normalcy turned nightmare, hinting at deeper betrayals and unresolved agony.

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Conclusion

This episode hooks the listener with a tantalizing blend of personal testimony and true crime intrigue, previewing a series about Mickey Costanzo’s disappearance that promises deep dives into the unexpected, the inexplicable, and the emotional reality left in the wake of tragedy.

New episodes of "Five Miles From Home" release starting June 8, 2026.

Transcript

[A]

Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school.

[B]

I thought that everything was fine. Everything was normal.

[A]

Her name was Mickey Costanzo. Just 16. She didn't have far to go. Seemed perfectly safe. Until it wasn't.

[C]

In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong.

[D]

We didn't know whether she'd met with foul play or if she was being held somewhere.

[A]

What happened to Mickey, it didn't make sense.

[D]

Came out of the blue. I was blindsided.

[B]

Not a day that goes by that I don't think about what happened.

[A]

Who happened to Mickey?

[C]

This is not over yet until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice.

[A]

Our latest podcast takes us to West Wendover, Nevada, a tiny casino town tucked away in the desert.

[B]

Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did.

[A]

Unlikely victim, unlikely suspects.

[B]

I had gotten a text saying that he had had her. And I said, I know where she's at. Let's go.

[A]

What'd you think when you got that call?

[D]

I thought the worst.

[C]

As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it.

[A]

It's a story of jealousy, rage and deceit.

[C]

The hatred grew more and more. It just escalated.

[D]

It's something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire. Disturbing would be the word.

[A]

Confessions, cover ups and lies. No one would have ever seen this coming. Just isn't possible.

[B]

I still wonder to this day why? What even really happened?

[A]

I'm Keith Morrison and this is five Miles From Home, an all new podcast from dateline. Starting Monday, June 8th, you can listen to the latest episodes completely free or to begin listening now, subscribe to Dateline Premium on Apple podcasts. Spotify or DatelinePremium.com subscribers get early access to new episodes and can listen to all Dateline podcasts ad free.

[E]

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