Dateline: True Crime Weekly – September 25, 2025

Episode Focus: "A woman allegedly kills her fifth husband. A hookah bar owner on trial again. Plus, a Dateline LIVE preview."
Host: Andrea Canning (NBC News)
Guests/Contributors: Rachel White, Brittany Thom, Mario, Dennis, Keith, Lester, others

Overview

In this episode, Andrea Canning and the Dateline team explore three major true crime stories making headlines:

1. The upcoming trial of Sarah Hartsfield, accused of murdering her fifth husband in Texas, whose history with mysterious and violent incidents is under scrutiny.
2. The retrial of Boulos Paul Zumat, a California hookah bar owner, after his murder conviction was overturned due to newfound evidence and testimony.
3. A rapid-fire roundup covering updates on high-profile cases (Rex Heuerman, Barry Morphew, Karen Reed) and a preview of “Dateline LIVE” in Nashville.

I. The Murder Trial of Sarah Hartsfield

[01:41–08:57]

Key Points & Timeline

• Case Summary:
  Sarah Hartsfield, set to stand trial in Chambers County, Texas, is accused of poisoning her fifth husband, Joseph Hartsfield, in January 2023. The investigation was spurred when paramedics questioned Sarah’s account of Joseph’s medical emergency and a nurse alerted police with suspicions of poisoning.

• Red Flags and Background:

  • Joseph and Sarah married only three months after meeting.
  • Relationship troubles surfaced:
    • Sarah called Joseph a “nightmare” (Dec 2022) and planned to end the relationship ([04:35], Rachel White).
    • Joseph reportedly asked a family member if he could stay with them, planning divorce, days before his death ([04:53], Rachel White).
    • Joseph’s family had warned investigators that Sarah might harm him.
  • Social media activity:
    • Sarah posted: “Honey, I didn’t marry you just to bury you.” ([05:17], Rachel White)
    • She publicly blamed Joseph’s health, while Joseph’s family suspected her.
  • Autopsy revealed Joseph died from insulin complications. Investigators discovered multiple insulin pens and accused Sarah of ignoring glucose alarms.

• Sarah’s Troubling Past:

  • 2018: Fatally shot fiancé David Bragg, claimed self-defense – not charged ([07:11], Rachel White).
  • 2021: Ex-husband accused Sarah of plotting to kill his new wife (denied; not charged).
  • **Other ex-boyfriend's house burned down after breakup; arson ruled accidental, but suspicions linger ([06:27], Rachel White).

• Upcoming Trial:

  • Jury selection set for September 29th.
  • Prosecutors plan to call witnesses from her past, including ex-husbands and possibly her children ([08:33], Rachel White).
  • Reopened investigation into David Bragg’s shooting ([07:53], Andrea Canning / [08:02], Rachel White).
  • Emotional impact anticipated for Sarah’s family ([08:33], Rachel White).
  • Sarah pleads not guilty to first-degree murder.

Notable Quotes

• “She told him to take better care of his health and wrote, ‘Honey, I didn’t marry you just to bury you.’”
  — Rachel White ([05:17])
• “Many of the men felt that they were in danger...it doesn’t seem like she had many cordial breakups.”
  — Rachel White ([06:27])
• “Her kids…it’s going to be a very emotional trial and one that I’m sure they’re looking forward to putting behind them.”
  — Rachel White ([08:33])

II. Retrial of Boulos Paul Zumat – The Hookah Bar Murder Case

[11:38–18:50]

Case Background

• Incident:
  In October 2009, Paul Zumat returned to his burning home. Inside, the body of his girlfriend, Jennifer Skipsey, was discovered. Investigation found Jennifer was strangled before the fire, and arson was determined ([13:21], Brittany Thom).
• Relationship History:
  • Known for domestic violence reports and restraining orders; Jennifer had received threatening calls in the months prior ([13:50], Brittany Thom).
  • Despite a party thrown for Paul the night before, the couple had fought, and Jennifer threatened to file charges against him ([14:38], Brittany Thom).

First Trial (2011)

• Conviction:
  Paul convicted of murder and arson, sentenced to 33 years ([15:40], Andrea Canning).
• Defense:
  • Represented by Mark Geragos.
  • Maintained his innocence and presented an alibi: at his hookah lounge during the fire, with security camera footage as support ([15:17]–[15:40]).

Why A Retrial?

• Overturned Conviction:
  After 14 years, a federal judge ruled Paul’s trial was tainted by false evidence:
  • Security Footage Discrepancy:
    • Prosecution claimed Paul arrived at hookah lounge eight minutes after fire (tight window), but new grainy footage shows he may have arrived earlier, shrinking the possible crime window ([16:13–17:22], Brittany Thom).
    • “The federal says the prosecution misrepresented the evidence at trial.”
  • Fabricated Phone Evidence:
    • Jennifer received threatening calls from a blocked number, believed to be Paul.
    • New testimony from friend Roy Endeman: Jennifer asked him to make the calls to bolster her restraining order request. Prosecutors were unaware at the time; federal judge ruled this material enough to order a new trial ([17:24–17:56], Brittany Thom).

Retrial Status and Looking Ahead

• Prosecution using much the same evidence and witnesses.
• Roy Endeman to return as a defense witness to address the fabricated calls.
• It’s uncertain if Zumat will testify; “his testimony was not very helpful to his own defense” at his first trial ([18:31], Brittany Thom).
• Defense expected to present a concise case, just three days.

Memorable Moments

• “The federal judge says the prosecution misrepresented the evidence at trial. And he also found Garagos did not do his client any favors by failing to adequately review the security footage.”
  — Brittany Thom ([17:22])
• “Jennifer had asked [her friend] to call her from a blocked number to make it look like she was receiving blocked calls from Paul.”
  — Brittany Thom ([17:24])

III. Dateline Roundup: Updates on High-Profile Cases

[21:51–27:05]
Panel: Andrea Canning & Mario

A. Gilgo Beach Serial Killings – Rex Heuerman

• Latest Developments:

  • Major hearing: Judge denies defense DNA motion; all DNA evidence admissible ([22:23], Mario).
  • “The judge has denied that motion. And so now we know definitively all of the DNA will be admissible in this trial.” — Mario ([22:23])
  • District Attorney has turned over 120 terabytes of evidence – an enormous volume ([22:58], Mario).
  • No trial date set; more motions incoming, with a deadline of January 13, 2026 ([23:24], Mario).
  • Impact of delays on victims and accused’s families: "The longer it drags, the longer they have to basically have their lives on hold." — Dennis (attorney for ex-wife) ([24:10])

• Consolidation:

  • Judge denies motion to sever the trials; will be one consolidated trial ([24:33], Andrea/Mario).

B. Barry Morphew – Colorado Murder Case

• Highlights:
  • Suzanne Morphew vanished in 2020.
  • Barry Morphew, her husband, was arrested for murder a second time this year.
  • Released after posting a $3 million bond, under strict bail conditions: surrender passport, can’t leave Colorado, must use real name ([24:59], Mario).
  • “He must also only use the name Barry Morphew, which is significant because…he was living hundreds of miles away in Arizona under another name.” — Mario ([25:24])
  • Morphew’s next court date: November 3.

C. Karen Reed – Massachusetts Civil Suit

• Background:
  • Karen Reed was found not guilty of killing her police officer boyfriend but convicted on drunk driving.
  • Now faces a civil wrongful death lawsuit from his family, plus two Canton bars ([25:49], Mario).
  • Reed plans to countersue several witnesses, local police, and both the McCabe and Albert families, alleging a broader conspiracy and civil rights violations ([26:24], Andrea/Mario).

Panel Tone

• Emphasizes the emotional toll drawn-out legal proceedings have on families and communities.
• Quick, journalistic updates with pointed follow-up questions from Andrea.

IV. Dateline LIVE Preview – Nashville Event

[27:10–31:39]

What’s Happening?

• The Dateline team teases their first live event, with correspondents (including Keith, Dennis, Lester, Blaine) and celebrity moderators Annette O'Toole, Michael McKean, and Holly Robinson Peete.
• Event to feature:
  • In-depth interviews with memorable case figures (e.g., Colby, son of Lori Vallow).
  • Investigators/detectives discuss cold cases and investigative techniques.
  • An expert on eyewitness identification and the challenge of memory in criminal cases.
  • Behind-the-scenes Dateline stories and "lore."
  • Audience Q&A.

Memorable Quotes

• “We'll talk to an expert about the strength of eyewitness testimony in criminal trials…but this is also going to be an opportunity for us to visit some, let's just say, Dateline lore.”
  — Dennis ([29:16])

• “I always say that I’ve been a Dateline viewer longer than I’ve been a Dateline correspondent.”
  — Andrea Canning ([29:42])

• Anticipation and excitement about being together, audience energy, and music in Nashville:

  • “I love Nashville. Because it’s a music town. And as you know, I'm a music [person].” — Dennis ([31:01])

V. Episode Highlights & Closing Remarks

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Wild story, Rachel. Look forward to hearing more about this one.”
  — Andrea Canning on Sarah Hartsfield ([08:49])
• “This saga continues on and on and on.”
  — Mario, on Karen Reed ([27:02])
• “Travel safe.”
  — Dennis, closing the team conversation ([31:58])

Up Next:

• Season premiere tease: "The Phantom" airing this Friday; an episode focused on detectives being misled by a suspect ([32:24]).

Summary Table

| Segment | Topic | Key Speaker(s) | Timestamps | |----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------| | I. Sarah Hartsfield Trial | Woman accused of killing 5th husband | Andrea, Rachel | 01:41–08:57 | | II. Paul Zumat Retrial | Hookah bar owner’s overturned conviction | Andrea, Brittany | 11:38–18:50 | | III. Dateline Roundup | Gilgo Beach, Morphew, Reed | Andrea, Mario | 21:51–27:05 | | IV. Dateline LIVE Preview | Live Nashville Event Teaser | Andrea, team | 27:10–31:39 |

This summary captures the episode’s engaging stories and energetic group dynamic, blending detailed crime updates with behind-the-scenes insights and the Dateline team's signature tone.