A verdict in Kentucky's "trial of the decade." Snapchat messages on the stand. Plus, Josh Mankiewicz drops by.

Summary

Dateline: True Crime Weekly – July 10, 2025

Host: Andrea Canning, Guest: Josh Mankiewicz and Rachel White

---

1. Verdict in Kentucky's "Trial of the Decade"

Background: Kentucky's high-profile murder trial centered on the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, the mother of five. Crystal vanished a decade ago in July 2015, just before the 4th of July celebrations. Her abandoned car was discovered on the Bluegrass Parkway with her keys, phone, and purse inside; however, her body has never been found. Eight years later, Crystal's ex-boyfriend, Brooks Hauck, was arrested for her murder, alongside Joseph Lawson, one of Hauck's employees, who is accused of aiding in the cover-up by disposing of Crystal's car.

Trial Proceedings: Both Brooks Hauck and Joseph Lawson pleaded not guilty. The defense hinged on the absence of a body, challenging the prosecution's ability to prove that a crime had indeed occurred. Over the past three weeks, intense courtroom drama unfolded as both defendants stood trial together.

Courtroom Atmosphere: Rachel White, Dateline producer, reported from the Bowling Green courthouse:

“[03:37] Rachel White: Yeah, the courtroom was completely full. By the time we got to closing arguments, people were being turned away.”

A notable moment occurred when Brooks's mother, Rosemary, made an unexpected appearance in court, despite being labeled an unindicted co-conspirator by the prosecution.

Closing Arguments:

• Joseph Lawson’s Defense:

  “[04:19] Rachel White: ...he was only brought into it because he's the only possible link between Brooks Hauck and Steve Lawson. ...both Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson were known to have substance abuse issues.”

• Brooks Hauck’s Defense:

  “[05:07] Rachel White: ...police were giving marching orders to get Brooks Hauck years ago. ...no forensic evidence, no DNA evidence that pointed to Brooks killing Crystal at all.”

The prosecution, led by Shane Young, focused on Brooks's suspicious behavior post-disappearance:

“[07:23] Rachel White: ...he only called her twice and did not try to find her... if Crystal did not come home from the Hauck family farm that night in July 2015, then Brooks Hauck was guilty of her murder.”

Verdict and Sentencing: After approximately four hours of jury deliberation, both defendants were found guilty:

“[07:57] Rachel White: Guilty. ...the jury recommended the maximum sentence, life in prison for Brooks Hauck, and 20 years for Joseph Lawson, with lesser sentences for tampering with physical evidence.”

The sentencing will be formally held on August 21, 2025.

---

2. Karina Cooper’s Trial and Snapchat Evidence

Case Overview: Karina Cooper stands accused of murdering her husband, Ryan Cooper, in their Iowa farmhouse in June 2021. The crime scene revealed Ryan shot execution-style, with only a shell casing found at the scene. Initially, Karina claimed an intruder was responsible, but emerging evidence suggests a potential affair with Houston Danker, whose Snapchat messages with her have become pivotal in the prosecution's case.

Prosecution's Evidence: Digital forensic investigator testimony highlighted incriminating Snapchat messages between Karina and Houston:

“[14:41] Houston Danker: ...there were a number of Google searches in which Karina is asking, will my messages truly be deleted?”

Key Messages:

• Houston Danker at [15:49]: "Remember those casings? Remember those?"
• Karina Cooper at [16:04]: "Absolutely 100%."

These messages imply premeditation and involvement in the crime, supported by the physical evidence linking Danker to the weapon used.

Defense’s Argument: Karina’s defense contends that any financial gain from a potential life insurance policy would go to her children via a trust, negating her motive. They also argue that Karina was unhappy and may have been influenced by Houston Danker, although both deny an affair.

Trial Developments: Houston Danker, also charged with Ryan’s murder, faces his own trial set for mid-August. The prosecution alleges Danker pulled the trigger, supported by ballistic evidence linking him to the shell casing found at the scene.

Prosecutor’s Summary:

“[07:09] Josh Mankiewicz: ...if Crystal did not come home from the Hauck family farm that night in July 2015. Then Brooks Hauck was guilty of her murder.”

Key Testimonies:

• Friends of the Couple: Described Karina as having a bad temper, especially under the influence of alcohol.
• Detective William Noel: Expressed long-term dedication to the case and the emotional toll on Crystal’s family.

Current Status: Karina Cooper has pleaded not guilty. The trial highlights the challenges of prosecuting a case without a body, relying heavily on digital communications and circumstantial evidence.

---

3. DATELINE Roundup

a. Colorado Dentist Murder Trial: James Craig, accused of poisoning his wife Angela's protein shakes, faces a tumultuous pre-trial phase. His attorney, Robert Working, was arrested for arson while his home burned, leading to further delays and challenges in securing qualified legal representation as previous attorneys have withdrawn multiple times.

b. Former MLB Player Dan Serafini’s Verdict: Dan Serafini, a former major league baseball pitcher, was on trial for the violent attack on his in-laws in Lake Tahoe, resulting in the death of his father-in-law and severe injury to his mother-in-law. The prosecution presented damning evidence, including security footage and threat-laden communications, while the defense contested eyewitness identifications and alleged misconduct from alleged accomplices.

c. Sean "Diddy" Combs’ Sentencing: Following a split verdict in his federal trial, Sean Combs faces sentencing on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. A joint sentencing date has been set for October 3rd, 2025, where prosecutors seek a range of four to five years, while the defense argues for a lighter sentence of approximately two years based on mitigating factors.

---

4. Missing in America: The Case of Nancy Snow

Overview: Nancy Snow, a 44-year-old campaign worker, disappeared in November 1980 amid a significant election year. Her last confirmed sighting was at a hotel in Baltimore on election night, after which she was allegedly picked up by a former acquaintance, Paul Collins, to embark on a boat trip to Fort Lauderdale. Despite promising to return by Christmas, Nancy never resurfaced.

Investigation Insights: Josh Mankiewicz delves into this cold case with producer Keith Greenberg, uncovering potential connections and personal ties that may shed light on Nancy’s disappearance. They explore:

• Potential Motives and Relationships:

  “[12:36] Houston Danker: ...they seem like a dream match...”

• Digital and Forensic Evidence: Newly recovered Snapchat messages suggest premeditation and coordination between Karina Cooper and Houston Danker, paralleling the detailed investigation into Nancy Snow’s analog-era case with limited technological resources.

Call to Action: Keith Greenberg urges listeners with any information to come forward:

“[30:47] Keith Greenberg: ...if you know anything about this, this is the time to talk about it because, you know, it's been 45 years and her family needs answers in this.”

Personal Connection: Josh reveals a personal stake in the case, suspecting a possible encounter with Nancy during his early reporting days in Washington, D.C.:

“[27:55] Keith Greenberg: ...she had been at a bar...”

---

5. Upcoming Episodes and Final Thoughts

Andrea Canning wraps up the episode by highlighting upcoming content:

• In-depth coverage of Sean Combs' sentencing.
• Further exploration of Nancy Snow’s disappearance in the "Missing in America" series.

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Dateline Premium for an ad-free experience and to stay tuned for future episodes that promise more gripping true crime stories and exclusive insights from seasoned reporters and legal experts.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Rachel White on Verdict:

  “[07:57] Rachel White: Guilty. ...the jury recommended the maximum sentence, life in prison for Brooks Hauck, and 20 years for Joseph Lawson, with lesser sentences for tampering with physical evidence.”

• Houston Danker on Snapchat Messages:

  “[15:56] Josh Mankiewicz: Remember those casings? Remember those?
  [16:04] Rachel White: Absolutely 100%.
  [16:07] Houston Danker: Danker sends this message to remember to pick up the shell casings.”

• Keith Greenberg on Nancy Snow:

  “[30:47] Keith Greenberg: ...if you know anything about this, this is the time to talk about it because, you know, it's been 45 years and her family needs answers in this.”

---

Stay Connected: For more detailed analyses, behind-the-scenes scoops, and upcoming trial coverage, subscribe to Dateline: True Crime Weekly on your preferred podcast platform. Don’t miss out on the latest developments in these riveting true crime stories.

Transcript

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[Josh Mankiewicz]

Good morning. It's the start of another workday for the DATELINE team.

[Rachel White]

He was somewhere else, so he's been totally cleared.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

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

[Keith Greenberg]

We spoke to the prosecution this weekend.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

They're going to have a determination later today.

[Rachel White]

He fails a polygraph, which is, you know, never great.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

He wanted to walk out of the courthouse. Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's July 10th, and here's what's on our dock in Iowa. Snapchat messages take center stage at the trial of a woman accused of murdering her husband.

[Houston Danker]

She wishes that he would get hit by a semi truck.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

At one point in DATELINE Roundup, a pretrial twist for a Colorado dentist. Closing arguments in the murder trial of former major league baseball player Dan Serafini. And when will Sean Diddy Combs learn his fate?

[Andrea Canning]

In a joint letter, both the prosecution and the defense have agreed to the judge's proposed sentencing date.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Plus, Josh Mankiewicz will be here to tell us what it was like reporting on a missing persons case involving someone he might actually know.

[Keith Greenberg]

It was a walk down memory lane trying to look through my old notebooks, trying to find out whether I'd written down Nancy Snow's name somewhere before all.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

That, we're heading to a Kentucky courtroom where emotions were running high this week as a jury decided the fate of two men accused in the murder of missing mom of five Crystal Rogers. Crystal Rogers went Missing a decade ago, just before the 4th of July. Within days of her disappearance, her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway with the keys in the ignition and her phone and purse inside. Her body has never been found. Eight years later, Crystal's former boyfriend, Brooks Hauck, was arrested for her murder and accused of trying to cover it up with the help of one of his employees, a man by the name of Joseph Lawson. According to investigators, it was Lawson who dumped Crystal's car on the parkway, and he was criminally charged, too, with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence. Both men pleaded not guilty, and over the past three weeks, they stood trial together. Their defense was a simple one. Without a body, where's the proof a crime even occurred? On Tuesday, the jury got the case. DATELINE producer Rachel White was on verdict watch in the Bowling Green courthouse and is here to tell us all about what happened. Rachel, welcome back to the podcast.

[Rachel White]

Thanks, Andrea.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

So, Rachel, I know you've spent a lot of time there. What was the atmosphere like in the courtroom as the case was winding down? Of course, this trial was a long time coming for many people.

[Rachel White]

Yeah, the courtroom was completely full. By the time we got to closing arguments, people were being turned away. And on that day, we also saw one of the key players that we haven't seen in court before, Brooks's mother, Rosemary. And as we've talked about on the podcast, prosecutors have called her an unindicted co conspirator in the case. She had not been in the courtroom for the trial up to that point, so it was, you know, noticed that she showed up that day.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Let's talk about closing arguments, Rachel. The defense was up first. And this case was uncommon in that the defendants were being tried at the same time. So each had their own attorney give a closing argument. How did that go and what did they say?

[Rachel White]

Yeah, so Joseph Lawson's lawyer was up first, and he called him collateral damage in this case and said that he was only brought into it because he's the only possible link between Brooks Hauck and Steve Lawson. And Steve Lawson is Joseph's father, who, if you remember, was found guilty in May of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence in Crystal's disappearance. Joseph's attorney argued in his closing argument that Brooks, who he called a, quote, sophisticated businessman, wouldn't have trusted Joseph and his father with this important job of moving Crystal's car because both Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson were known to have substance abuse issues.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Okay. And Brooks Hou's defense attorney also gave his closing argument, did it differ a lot from Lawson's?

[Rachel White]

It did, because Brooks's attorney, Brian Butler, really kind of went point by point throughout his closing argument to talk about the evidence that was presented. And he argued that police were giving marching orders to get Brooks Hauck years ago. And he argued that there was no forensic evidence, no DNA evidence that pointed to Brooks killing Crystal at all.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

The defense had an explanation for inconsistencies in Hauck's story, which the prosecution had really hammered on.

[Rachel White]

So during the first week of the trial, the prosecution called witnesses to help disprove what Brooks Hauck wrote in his statement to police about his whereabouts the day that Crystal went missing. Some of the businesses that he had reported dealing with that day were actually closed due to it being the 4th of July holiday weekend. And so those people denied seeing him that day. So prosecutors said that Brooks was actually at his family farm, where they believe that Crystal was killed for the majority of that day, and that he minimized that. In his statement to police during the closing argument, Brian Butler, Brooks's attorney, also said that Brooks was listing people he needed to meet with instead of people that he actually met with. So that was him trying to clear that up. And then Butler also pointed out that if Brooks was doing something nefarious on his family farm, they've never found any evidence to support that, and the farm has been searched over and over again over the years.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

The prosecution went second in this case, delivering their closing arguments. What did they want to leave with the jury?

[Rachel White]

The prosecutor, Shane Young, started off by arguing that the main evidence against Brooke Hauck were his own words. And just as in the prosecution's opening statement, there was some focus on Brooks's mother and brother, both of whom have never been charged in this case. Brooks's mother, Rosemary, had made statements about wanting to get rid of Crystal, according to one witness. And his brother is a former police officer who the prosecution pointed out, was trained in crime scenes and evidence collection.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

And that's the elephant in the room, right? That Crystal's disappearance, her body has never been found, which always makes things harder for the prosecution to prove murder. Did they address that in their closing argument?

[Rachel White]

Yes. Shane Young spoke about Brooks's behavior after Crystal's disappearance. He pointed out that he only called her twice and did not try to find her. He was saying that it was because Brooks knew that there was no sense in looking for Crystal. He also said that he ignored texts from her children who were asking him where their mom was. And Young said that if Crystal did not come home from the Hauck family farm that night in July 2015. Then Brooks Hauck was guilty of her murder.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

This case went to the jury on Tuesday morning, and just after lunch that afternoon, there was a verdict. Rachel, give it to us both.

[Rachel White]

Guilty. It was about four hours of deliberation, so relatively fast when you have two defendants on trial. Crystal's family was in tears, leaving the courtroom. The judge did ask everyone to not react in the moment. So I think that there was a lot of effort going into that to keep, you know, the courtroom silent and respect the jury's decision. But I did look over and see her mother's. Bless herself. You know, I think that she was really emotional in that moment.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Yeah. And the detective who led the investigation got emotional, too, Right?

[Rachel White]

He did. I mean, these people have been working on this case since 2015. We're in 2025. So it has been a long time that they have been thinking about Crystal, looking for Crystal, investigating her disappearance. And, you know, she had five children that she left behind. So I think there were just a lot of people who really wanted to get some answers for those. For her children.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Yeah, I'm. I'm sure a lot of healing to do in the years to come. After the verdict, the jury also recommended what the sentence should be for both men. Rachel, what did they decide?

[Rachel White]

So they recommended the maximum sentence, life in prison for Brooks Haug, and they recommended 20 years in prison for Joseph Lawson for his, you know, conspiring to commit murder charge. And lesser sentences for both men with the tampering of physical evidence.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

And the final sentencing will happen later this summer, August 21st. Thank you so much, Rachel.

[Rachel White]

Thank you.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

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[Keith Greenberg]

I'm Josh Mankiewicz and I hope you'll join us for season four of DATELINE Missing in America. In each episode of dateline's award winning series, we will focus on one missing persons case and hear from the families, the friends and the investigators, all desperate to find them. You will want to listen closely. Maybe you could help investigators solve a mystery. Search DATELINE Missing in America to listen on Apple Podcasts.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

In the early hours of June 18, 2021, Karina Cooper called 911 in hysterics.

[Keith Greenberg]

911.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

She said she'd found her husband Ryan dead in the living room of their Iowa farmhouse. Sheriff's deputies raced to the scene and found Karina on top of Ryan's body, covered in his blood. He'd been shot execution style, but there was no sign of a gun, just one shell casing on the living room floor. After she calmed down, Karina told investigators she'd heard loud noises in the night and suspected an intruder had murdered Ryan. Years went by with no arrest. Then in 2024, investigators got what they considered a huge break in the case. They recovered Snapchat messages between Karina and a man named Houston Danker, evidence they believe of a murder plot. They arrested Karina for her husband's murder and this week she is standing trial in a Cedar Rapids courtroom. She has pleaded not guilty. Here to bring us up to speed and give us more details on the contents of those Snapchats is DATELINE producer Keith Greenberg. Hey, Keith.

[Houston Danker]

Hey, Andrea.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

So you're in Iowa. You've been following this. Give us some background on Karina and her husband, Ryan Cooper. What do we know about them and their relationship?

[Houston Danker]

Well, they've been together about 15 years, and Ryan comes from a very well respected family in the area. The family's been farming for generations. Likewise, Karina comes from a lovely family. On the surface, they seem like a dream match. And so to many, this seemed to truly come out of nowhere.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Take us into the courtroom for the prosecution's opening statement. Why? Why did they think she killed Ryan? What was her motive? Do they say?

[Houston Danker]

Well, prosecutors contend she had this much younger boyfriend, Houston Danker. And you know, there was also a $500,000 insurance policy. Apparently, Karina was in some debt. And if the prosecution is to be believed, this would be a way for her to discard debt and discard a husband. She was no longer happy with Karina's.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Defense had their turn with their opening statement. What did they want to get across to the jury?

[Houston Danker]

Well, one of the defense lawyers, she kept the opening extremely succinct, less than two minutes long.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Houston Danker killed Ryan Cooper. Houston Danker shot Ryan Cooper in the face.

[Houston Danker]

The defense claims that Karina never intended to kill Ryan, that she was unhappy and griped to Yeeston and Karina was caught up in this dream world that, to use a cliche, turned into a nightmare.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

They also addressed the insurance, the life insurance payout in the opening statement.

[Houston Danker]

Yes, they did. The defense claims that that payout goes into a trust for the children and there was no financial gain that she would have from this.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

All right, so the prosecution called a witness who is a digital forensic investigator to talk about these Snapchat messages that we mentioned. They're really important to the prosecution's case, right, Keith?

[Houston Danker]

I mean, the prosecution's case hinges on it. I believe these Snapchat messages tell a story. There's a lot of complaining about Ryan. She wishes that he would get hit by a semi truck at one point. Karina fantasizes about Houston Danker essentially just filling in for Ryan and becoming a father to their children.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

And Keith, as we know, Snapchat is one of those apps. The messages are supposed to disappear once the person reads them. But as we know from working at Dateline, just because it says they're going to disappear doesn't mean they're going to truly disappear.

[Keith Greenberg]

Right.

[Houston Danker]

They disappear on the screen. And, you know, there were a number of Google searches in which Karina is asking, will my messages truly be deleted?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

No. Yeah.

[Houston Danker]

No. The answer's no.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

So one of the biggest revelations, Keith, that came out was that Houston and Karina were messaging before Karina called 911.

[Keith Greenberg]

Houston Danker sent an additional message. What was the time of that message?

[Rachel White]

At 3:31:55 in the morning.

[Keith Greenberg]

What message did he send to Karina Cooper?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Remember those casings? Remember those?

[Rachel White]

No ifs and or buts.

[Keith Greenberg]

She responded 14 seconds later. What did she say?

[Rachel White]

Absolutely 100%.

[Houston Danker]

Danker sends this message to remember to pick up the shell casings. As fate would have it, one shell casing was left behind and the investigators found it.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Who else has testified for the prosecution so far?

[Houston Danker]

I'd say the strongest witnesses on a human level so far have been the friends of the couple. Ryan's best friend said he loved Karina as a sister, but mentioned that Karina had a very bad temper, especially when alcohol was involved.

[Keith Greenberg]

Will Karina be mean to Ryan Cooper? She would be upset with him at times, yes.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Do you recall some threads that she made when you were there?

[Keith Greenberg]

I hate you. I wish you were dead. Obviously the big one you're thinking of is we were in his shop one night and she said, I could shoot you in the face, which was surprising.

[Houston Danker]

Some people talk in exaggerated ways, but the way he died, it puts that comment in a different light.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Keith, let's circle back to Houston Danker. Karina denies having an affair with him. He has denied the affair as well. He is also charged with Ryan Cooper's murder and he has his own trial scheduled in mid August. He has pleaded not guilty. What do prosecutors allege was his role in the murder versus Karina's role?

[Houston Danker]

It's believed that Houston Danker is the one who pulled the trigger. Word got back to the investigators after a while that Houston danker had given a.22 to a buddy not long after the murder. And it was pretty easy to track that friend down. And the friend handed over the gun. And when they brought it to the firing range, lo and behold, it matched the shell casing found on the ground.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Houston also made quite an incriminating search on his phone. According to the prosecution, it read how.

[Houston Danker]

To positively get away with murder.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Do you believe that the defense is going to say that Karina was somehow under Houston's spell and that it was all his idea?

[Houston Danker]

Yeah, that's exactly what I think the defense is. And I'm curious to see which witnesses they call.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

All right, Keith, thank you so much for bringing us your insight into this trial and what's been going on. We very much appreciate it.

[Houston Danker]

Thank you, Andrea.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. A house catches fire on the eve of a Colorado dentist murder trial while former major league baseball player Dan Serafini's trial comes to a close and Sean Diddy Combs gets a sentencing date. Plus, Josh will be here with details of his Latest reporting for Dateline. Missing in America, the disappearance 45 years ago of campaign worker Nancy Snow.

[Mike Nardi]

We all belong outside. We're drawn to nature, whether it's the recorded sounds of the ocean we doze off to or the succulent that adorn our homes. Nature makes all of our lives, well, better. Despite all this, we often go about our busy lives removed from it. But the outdoors is closer than we realize. With alltrails, you can discover trails nearby and explore confidently with offline maps and on trail navigation. Download the free app today.

[Keith Greenberg]

Hey, everybody, I'm Al Roker from the Today show here to tell you about our Jumpstart July event. The Start Today app has everything you need to get and stay motivated on your wellness journey all in one place, like walking challenges for all levels to get you moving, healthy recipes that are easy and delicious and so much more. And now when you subscribe for an annual plan, you'll get your first month completely free with promo code Jumpstart. Just download the Start Today app now to get started. Offer in 73120 must enter code at checkout, must be 18 or up after.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

First month, you will be automatically charged 65.99 a year plus tax for an.

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[Josh Mankiewicz]

Apple Account C website for full terms. As the day wraps up, get the scoop on what's been happening with here's the Scoop, a new podcast from NBC News. With me, your host, Yasmin Vesugian, along with Morgan Chesky and Brian Chung. We'll take a deep dive into the day's top stories with NBC News trusted journalists. It's a fresh take that's sharp, thoughtful and it's informative, bringing you closer to the headlines and conversations that are shaping our world. From the front page to the zeitgeist, all in 15 minutes or less. Here's the scoop from NBC News. Listen daily on Apple Podcasts. Welcome back, everyone. Joining me for this week's roundup is Dateline producer of Mike Nardi. Welcome back, Mike.

[Andrea Canning]

Hi, Andrea. Thanks for having me.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

For our first story, we're off to Colorado and the murder trial of dentist James Craig, who was accused of killing his wife Angela in 2023 by putting poison in her protein shakes. Jury selection is expected to start soon. But Mike, earlier this week we weren't sure that would happen. After a big twist in this case that really none of us saw coming.

[Andrea Canning]

That's right, Andrea. One of his attorneys, Robert Working, was arrested last week on suspicion of arson. According to the Arapaho County Sheri Sheriff's Office, Working was found sitting on the porch outside his Centennial, Colorado home as it burned to the ground behind him. Two days after his arrest, Working withdrew from Craig's case.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

It's so bizarre. So what's wild about this, Mike, is that this wasn't the first time one of Craig's attorneys has withdrawn from the case at a critical moment.

[Andrea Canning]

That's right. That's right. Back in November, Craig's previous attorney also withdrew. He did that on the day jury selection was set to begin. That attorney claimed that new Information revealed in discovery left him no choice but to withdraw. Craig's trial was delayed, which brought us.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

To this week and we should say James Craig has pleaded not guilty. And we will certainly be keeping a close eye on this. Our coverage of the trial will begin next week, assuming there are no more surprises. Up next, closing arguments got underway earlier this week in the murder trial of former major league baseball pitcher Dan Serafini. He is the man accused of attacking his in laws at their Lake Tahoe home, killing his father in law, Gary Spohr, and seriously injuring his mother in law, Wendy Wood. Mike, talk us through those closing arguments. What did the prosecution hit on?

[Andrea Canning]

So the prosecution began by showing photos of the bloody crime scene before walking through the events in the day prior and the day of the attack. The prosecutor then showed security camera footage of who they claimed to be Dan Serafini walking into the home.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

As we saw the prosecution lay out their case these past several weeks, they alleged that Sarafini's motive for killing his in laws was long standing family tension and big financial troubles. Did that come up during the closing argument?

[Andrea Canning]

It did. It did. Some of those profanity laced emails written by Sarafini to his in laws were read aloud. Then the prosecutor looked at Sarafini, pointed his finger at him and called him a murderer.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Of course, the defense got their turn to give their closing arguments. Mike, what did they have to say?

[Andrea Canning]

Well, they pointed towards some of what they considered to be indisputable evidence of Serafini's innocence. The defense said Serafini, who was 6 3, couldn't be the same in the video because an FBI agent said the person was 6 2. He also brought up Samantha Scott's testimony on the stand, his alleged accomplice, saying she gave a made up testimony to get a plea deal.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

The case is now in the hands of the jury, so we'll be watching for the outcome of their deliberations. And finally, we have music mogul Sean Combs. He had a remote hearing scheduled for this week. It comes after his federal trial came to an end last week with a split verdict. The jury acquitted him of the most serious charges, racketeering and sex trafficking, but convicted him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. So, Mike, that hearing never happened.

[Andrea Canning]

It did not happen. They were supposed to talk about the sentencing date, but in a joint letter, both the prosecution and the defense have agreed to the judge's proposed sentencing date, which is October 3rd, 2025.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Okay, so Sean Combs now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, though federal sentencing guidelines indicate could be a shorter sentence.

[Andrea Canning]

Right. Typically, federal judges don't assign the maximum sentence, but based on preliminary calculations, prosecutors say a penalty range of four to five years is likely. But that doesn't stop them from asking for more time. According to Combs defense team, their calculations bring the sentence range closer to two years.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

And Mike Combs will remain behind bars until the sentencing hearing, I'm assuming.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. The trial judge has denied his release on bail partly because of his own admissions of domestic violence during the trial.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Okay. Big week. Thanks for all this information, Mike, good to talk to you.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, thanks, Andrea. Thanks for having me.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

For our final story, we're heading back in time to 1980, the year Ronald Reagan was elected president and 44 year old campaign worker Nancy Snow suddenly vanished. 1980 was also the year Josh Mankiewicz was an up and coming reporter in Washington, D.C. and he believes he may have crossed paths with Nancy Snow at some point.

[Keith Greenberg]

I had a strong sense when I heard her name that I had met your mom.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Wow.

[Keith Greenberg]

People talk a lot about six degrees of separation. It turned out there are fewer than that between Nancy Snow and myself. I'm Josh Mankiewicz and this is Missing in America, a podcast from dateline.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Josh and his team decided to dig into the decades long mystery of what happened to Nancy for his latest season of dateline, Missing in America. And he is here now to tell us what they found out. Welcome back to the show, Josh.

[Keith Greenberg]

Hi, Andrea.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

So take us back to November 1980. This was the last time Nancy was seen.

[Keith Greenberg]

Yeah, it was election day and the day right after Nancy worked for the Republican National Committee and she had been assigned to a Senate race in Missouri. They didn't win that race, but the Senate tipped over that year and went from Democrat to Republican. And also Reagan beat Jimmy Carter. So it was a huge victory for Republicans nationally. There was a big party election night at a hotel outside Baltimore that she apparently was in attendance at. And then that next morning is when it happens. She leaves the hotel and there was this guy she knew who she dated a little bit named Paul Collins. And he had been house sitting for her in her apartment in Annapolis and he picked her up. That's his story. That moment appears to be the last time Nancy was seen alive, Josh.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

At that time, no one had cell phones. You know, this is where you used landlines to call each other. But, but you, you found that Nancy was in constant communication with her daughters.

[Keith Greenberg]

She called them, she wrote them letters. We have her letters. There were, you know, this was also the era of of, you know, recording a cassette tape for somebody. You're too young for this, but we used to do that. And, you know, you'd tell somebody what you'd been up to that summer and mail them the cassette tape and then they listened to it for a half hour. So, you know, she did stuff like that, that Nancy was not somebody who was out of touch for very long. And so when she didn't call her family, that's what made people think something's wrong, because that was something she wouldn't do.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Josh, you brought up the house sitter. This man named Paul Collins. One of the daughters says that he told them that Nancy had gone on a boat trip.

[Keith Greenberg]

Nancy had told people in the latter stages of the 1980 campaign that she wanted to change her life. And one of the things she talked about doing was maybe working on a sort of ocean going yacht in the Caribbean, maybe being a cook on a, on a, on a boat for hire or a crew member. Her friend, her house sitter, Paul Collins, said that she had been at a bar. She'd met this guy named Captain J. That's all he was known as. And he'd said, oh, yeah, I need somebody right now to work on this boat that I'm going to be getting on in Fort Lauderdale. And, and Paul Collins says Nancy got into this van with some other people and off she went to Fort Lauderdale to start this life working on boats.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

So my dad did call and talk to Paul Collins, and he said that my mom had gone on this boat trip and she'll be home by Christmas.

[Keith Greenberg]

Christmas came and went, and Nancy had not returned.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Josh, this story was personal to you?

[Keith Greenberg]

Well, I mean, the interesting thing about this is that when I heard Nancy Snow's name, when we were first talking about what stories to cover in season four of Missing an America, I. There was something about her name that seemed familiar to me and there was something about her photograph that seemed familiar to me. And in 1980, I was working for ABC as an off air reporter and I was covering the House and Senate races. So it's extremely likely that Nancy Snow and I were in the same room at some time or at the same briefing, the same event. I'm not saying we knew each other, but did I meet her? It's possible that I did.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

You've done four seasons of Missing out in America. Now, how does it feel doing one where you, like, go back in time personally? You know, when you were just starting.

[Keith Greenberg]

Out, you know, I mean, it was a walk down memory lane trying to look through my old scripts from back then and my old address book, my old notebooks trying to find out whether I'd written down Nancy Snow's name somewhere. She's not in it, but it was, look, it was, you know, it's a walk down memory lane is what it is.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Josh, this case is active. It has a detective assigned to it. Corporal William Noel, you interviewed him. This can't be easy looking into this all these years later.

[Keith Greenberg]

Look, you know, I mean, all of the sort of traditional methods of solving crimes that we now kind of take for granted weren't available then. So it's old fashioned shoe leather reporting which involves finding witnesses and getting their story on the record. And you know, that much time goes by, people's recollections fade. Even well meaning people tell different stories over time or something else occurs to them. Sometimes time can be your friend as well as your enemy in those things.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

So at the, at the beginning of every Missing in America episode, Josh, you ask our listeners to listen closely. What do you want to say to people listening about this case?

[Keith Greenberg]

First of all, the thing I want to say is if you know anything about this, this is the time to talk about it because, you know, it's been 45 years and her family needs answers in this. So if anybody knows anything, this is a wonderful time to call Annapolis police.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Do it for her family, do it for her daughters. Thank you so much, Josh. What a fascinating story. And to hear your personal perspective for the full story, Josh's episode the Cold Case of Nancy Snow is out wherever you get your podcasts. And we'll have a link in our episode description where you can link learn more about Nancy's case. Thanks for joining us, Josh.

[Keith Greenberg]

Thank you.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

That's it for this episode of DATELINE True Crime Weekly. To get ad free listening for all our podcasts, subscribe to Dateline Premium. And coming up this Friday on dateline, you can watch my brand new episode on the trial of Sean Combs. I'll be talking to insiders at the center of the case and the center of Combs's world about what they saw. He told me, like if something happens, I'm gonna have to like, you know.

[Rachel White]

Do something to you.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

And what's next for the music mogul? Watch Sean Combs. The Insiders speak at 10, 9 Central. 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 Production and fact checking has help by Terry Dickerson. Veronica Mazeca 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. Hi, everyone.

[Keith Greenberg]

The hit podcast Dateline Missing in America is back with a new season and more unsolved cases that you might be able to help solve. People talk a lot about six degrees of separation. It turned out there are fewer than that between Nancy Snow and myself. Nancy's missing persons case is one of the oldest and maybe the coldest at the Annapolis Police Department. Kimberly, Justine and Stacy Snow are her daughters.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

I have been obsessed with my entire life with finding my mom. You spend years and years just researching, researching, researching.

[Keith Greenberg]

They are convinced they know who is responsible for their mother's disappearance.

[Rachel White]

Why couldn't they solve it?

[Keith Greenberg]

Listen now to Dateline Missing in America, and maybe you could be the key to solving her case. Available now wherever you get your podcasts.