Brian Walshe on tape. Ole Miss murder twist. Plus, the true crime geek of the Real Housewives.

Summary

---

Dateline: True Crime Weekly – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Brian Walshe on tape. Ole Miss murder twist. Plus, the true crime geek of the Real Housewives
Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Andrea Canning (with guests: Dorothy Newell, Isar Harpaz, Mario Garcia, Emily Simpson)

---

Episode Overview

This week, host Andrea Canning and her Dateline colleagues cover three major true crime stories shaking the headlines:

• The ongoing murder trial of Brian Walshe, accused of murdering and dismembering his wife, Ana Walshe
• A dramatic twist in the Ole Miss murder case involving Timothy Harrington and the death of Jay Lee
• An engaging interview with Emily Simpson of Real Housewives of Orange County, who leverages her legal experience to fight wrongful convictions

The team also brings updates on the Luigi Mangione trial and a new documentary on Sean "Diddy" Combs. The episode is rich with courtroom developments, exclusive interviews, and insight into both headline-grabbing and under-the-radar true crime cases.

---

Key Stories & Analysis

1. The Brian Walshe Murder Trial (Massachusetts)

[01:04–09:34]

Case Background

• Brian Walshe: Boston man, previously under house arrest for art fraud, accused of murdering and disposing of his wife Ana on New Year's Day, 2023.
• Ana Walshe: High-powered D.C. real estate professional, disappeared after returning home for the holidays.
• Body Never Found: Ana’s DNA was found on items in trash bags, including a hatchet, but her body remains missing.

Prosecution’s Case

• Opening Statement ([04:00–04:40]):
  • Brian was seen buying a hatchet and cleaning supplies around Ana’s disappearance.
  • Suspicious Google searches on children's devices:
    • “Best way to dispose of a body” ([04:31])
    • “Best way to dispose of body parts after a murder” ([04:37])
• Alleged Motive:
  • Prosecution claims a romantic affair on Ana's part was Brian's motive.
  • “Basically, yes. In their openings, prosecutors said that Walsh told investigators he didn't know about an extramarital affair. But his Google searches proved otherwise.” – Dorothy Newell ([05:12])

Defense’s Argument

• Unexpected Strategy ([05:40–07:37]):
  • Admits Brian lied to police and purchased incriminating items, but insists Ana died of natural causes—specifically, a “sudden, unexplained death.”
  • Quote from defense ([06:24]):
    “But he nudged Anna, his wife. She didn't respond. He nudged her again a little harder. She didn't respond. ... It didn't make sense that somebody that he had just been with and enjoyed New Year's Eve into New Year's Day would suddenly be dead. You will hear evidence in this case of sudden, unexplained death.” – Greg Conner reading defense's statement
  • Brian panicked, concealed the body fearing he’d be blamed, and was motivated in part by concern for his children and ongoing legal troubles.
  • Maintains Brian and Ana’s marriage was happy, and Brian did not know of any affair.

Memorable Courtroom Moments

• Brian on Tape ([08:21–09:12]):
  • Jurors heard Brian’s interviews with police; he was described as “chatty, comfortable” with kids playing in the background, appearing “so incredibly normal… almost unconcerned.” – Dorothy Newell ([08:24])
• Will He Testify?
  • Hint from defense that Brian Walshe may take the stand himself. ([09:12–09:29])

---

2. The Ole Miss Murder Case: Timothy Harrington and Jay Lee ([11:25–18:53])

Story Recap

• Jay Lee: Outspoken LGBTQ activist, University of Mississippi grad student, disappeared 2022.
• Timothy Harrington: Grandson of a prominent pastor, accused of murdering Jay Lee to hide their secret relationship. Jury deadlocked in the first trial; Lee’s body was missing.
• Break in Case ([15:29]):
  • Hunters discovered Jay Lee’s remains. Duct tape found with the body matched tape from Harrington's apartment, solidifying the link.

Dramatic Twist

• Just as the new trial was to begin, Harrington pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and body tampering ([16:30]).
• Community and Family Response:
  • Jay Lee’s father, also a pastor, faced Harrington in court, offered words of faith and forgiveness ([16:56]).
  • “He talked a lot about the faith that helped him survive these years. But he also spoke about Jay Lee and how his face and how his voice and how his son could only exist in his memories, how he would never be able to see him again or look him in the eyes again.” – Isar Harpaz ([16:56])
• Sentencing: Harrington received the maximum – 40 years.
• Judge’s Statement ([18:07]):
  • “I want the world to know that Mississippi got it right this time. This case was investigated more thoroughly than any case I've ever dealt with in my 35 years in criminal justice system.”

---

3. Dateline Roundup – News Bites

A) Luigi Mangione Update ([20:55–23:12])

• Mangione faces trial for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
• High public interest: Some supporters camped out two nights early to get courtroom seats.
• Debate over admissibility of body cam footage and Mangione’s handwritten notebooks (“manifesto”).
• Defense claims Miranda rights violated; prosecution says rights were clearly explained.

B) Sean "Diddy" Combs Documentary ([23:21–25:10])

• Four-part Netflix series “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” produced by 50 Cent, covers Combs’s career and criminal allegations, including new and old accusations.
• Includes previously unseen footage of Combs.
• Combs’s legal team is fiercely contesting the documentary’s content and footage.

---

4. Special Interview – Emily Simpson: Real Housewife & True Crime Advocate ([25:24–30:12])

Dual Careers

• Emily Simpson: Real Housewives of Orange County cast member, licensed attorney, innocence activist, and co-host of the “Legally Brunette” podcast.
• Discusses transition from teaching to law, inspired partly by "Legally Blonde."
• “If Elle Woods can do it, I can do it. I was very inspired by the movie.” – Emily Simpson ([27:08])

Advocacy for the Wrongfully Convicted

• Volunteered for the Innocence Project during the pandemic; now uses her public platform to raise awareness and advocate for exonerees.
• Receives case suggestions from fans—e.g., started covering the Karen Read case after DMs from followers.
• Describes the emotional toll of wrongful imprisonment and importance of post-exoneration support:
  • “I focus on the after effects of once they come out because I've gotten to know a lot of exonerated persons and I know how important it is that it's not just the release, but how to help them assimilate back into society.” ([29:34])

Notable Podcast and TV Integration

• Emily is the only Real Housewife who brings “heavy subjects” like wrongful convictions into her reality storyline, highlighting the convergence of pop culture and serious legal advocacy.

---

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Best way to dispose of a body.” – Prosecution evidence in Brian Walshe trial ([04:31])
• “You will hear evidence in this case of sudden, unexplained death.” – Defense statement in Brian Walshe trial ([06:24])
• “He talked a lot about the faith that helped him survive these years… but how his son could only exist in his memories.” – Isar Harpaz on Jay Lee’s father ([16:56])
• “I want the world to know that Mississippi got it right this time.” – The Judge in the Jay Lee case ([18:07])
• “If Elle Woods can do it, I can do it.” – Emily Simpson ([27:08])

---

Additional Noteworthy Segments by Timestamp

• [01:32] First coverage of the Ole Miss murder trial twist.
• [09:34] Preview of Ole Miss Harrington update.
• [20:55] Dateline Roundup: Evidence hearing in Mangione trial.
• [23:21] Diddy docuseries news.
• [25:24] Emily Simpson interview begins: her transition from law to reality TV to innocence work.
• [29:34] Simpson discusses struggles faced by exonerees after release.

---

Tone & Style

• Straightforward, analytic, yet empathetic: The hosts maintain journalistic neutrality and sensitivity, especially with victim and family interviews.
• Light, relatable banter is woven in (especially with Emily Simpson), but they treat all crime coverage with seriousness and compassion.

---

Summary Table of Major Story Segments

| Segment | Starts | Highlights | |-----------------------------------------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | Brian Walshe murder trial | 01:04 | Prosecution/defense strategies, Google searches, audio of Walshe | | Ole Miss Jay Lee murder, Harrington plea| 11:25 | New evidence, plea deal, sentencing, judge’s remarks | | Luigi Mangione trial update | 20:55 | Supporters, evidence hearings, police testimony | | Sean Combs Netflix doc series | 23:21 | New allegations, backlash, 50 Cent interview | | Emily Simpson interview | 25:24 | Law career, Innocence Project, reality TV integration |

---

Engaging for Newcomers

This episode provides accessible recaps and explanations for each case, ensuring listeners are caught up even if unfamiliar with previous coverage.

---

For true crime aficionados and newcomers alike, this episode is a compelling mix of headline news, courtroom drama, in-depth reporting, and a unique perspective on how the pop culture world intersects with justice and advocacy.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

Looking for a last minute gift for your people. You know, your people, that weird bunch of friends and family that you love dearly. Well, here's an easy idea. Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratchets. Because your people, they're the ones that, amidst all the holiday crowds and endless notifications, help you find the fun, which calls for a little gift that brings big cheer. Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratchets. You know where to find them. Grab some today. Must be 18 or older to play Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.

[Mayra Amit]

A Mochi moment from Tara, who writes for years all my doctor said was eat less and move more, which never worked. But you know what does? The simple eating tips from my nutritionist at Mochi. And after losing over 30 pounds, I can say you're not just another GLP1 source, you're a life source. Thanks, Tara. I'm Mayra Amit, founder of Mochi Health. To find your mochi moment, visit joinmochi.com.

[Andrea Canning]

Mochi members have access to licensed physicians and nutritionists and are compensated for their stories. Results may vary.

[Emily Simpson]

I think we've got a quorum here.

[Andrea Canning]

You're listening in to the DATELINE story.

[Dorothy Newell]

Meeting, so we will go ahead and get started.

[Andrea Canning]

Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news.

[Commercial Narrator]

What clearly made the difference was they found the body.

[Emily Simpson]

She wants the GPS off because she.

[Andrea Canning]

Wants to be able to become an influencer. She's on plane. He'll have an update this week. Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's December 4th, and here's what's on our docket.

In Mississippi, a stunning courtroom twist in the case of a college student accused of murdering his secret lover.

[Isar Harpaz]

He went to the witness stand so he could look directly into Tim Harrington's.

[Andrea Canning]

Eyes in DATELINE Roundup, a new documentary about Sean Diddy Combs as making headlines and scenes from the courthouse at an important pretrial hearing for Luigi Mangione.

[Mario Garcia]

One woman told me that she had started waiting in line Saturday night to get in for a Monday morning hearing.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, we've got a special guest for you. You may know Emily Simpson from the TV show the Real Housewives of Orange county, but she's also a lawyer on a mission.

[Emily Simpson]

That's when I reached out and just asked if I could be a part of it, if I could volunteer, how could I help? What could I do?

[Andrea Canning]

But before all that, we're heading back to a Massachusetts courthouse where the trial of Brian Walsh, the art swindler accused of murdering his wife, is finally underway.

A few Weeks ago, we told you about Brian Walsh, the Boston area man who dropped two bombshell guilty pleas just as selection was set to start in his trial for the murder and dismemberment of his wife, Ana. Her body has never been found.

[Commercial Narrator]

You wish to offer a change of plea from not guilty to guilty?

[Andrea Canning]

I do. Walsh pleaded guilty to disposing of his wife's body and lying to police about it. What he did not plead guilty to was Ana's murder. He denied having anything to do with her death. This week, as Walsh's murder trial finally began, we heard for the first time what his explanation is for how Ana ended up dead in their home in the early morning hours of New Year's Day, 2023. Here is his defense attorney, Larry Tipton.

[Greg Conner]

One hour he's with her. He cleans the kitchen. He comes back up, and she is dead.

[Andrea Canning]

Returning to the show to bring us up to speed is DATELINE producer Dorothy Newell. Thanks for being here, Dorothy.

[Dorothy Newell]

Happy to be here.

[Andrea Canning]

So Dorothy briefly set the scene for us for anyone who isn't up to speed on this case.

[Dorothy Newell]

Okay, so Ana Walsh worked for a big real estate firm in D.C. during the week while her husband Brian took care of their three kids. Massachusetts. He was home with the kids because he kind of had to be. Walsh was under house arrest after pleading guilty to selling some fake Andy Warhol paintings. Ana had come home for the holidays, but she didn't show up for work after the New Year, so her employer called the police. And just a few days after Ana was reported missing, Brian Walsh was arrested for misleading police. Later that month, he was charged with her murder.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, so, Dorothy, let's start with the prosecution's opening statement. Assistant DA Greg Conner hit hard on some of the details we've known about for a while. The fact that Walsh was seen on security camera shopping for a hatchet and cleaning supplies around the time Ana disappeared. The prosecutor also talked about suspicious Google searches found on Walsh's children's devices. Let's take a listen.

[Greg Conner]

January 1st, at 4:54am the MacBook searched.

[Commercial Narrator]

Best way to dispose of a body at 11:28am Best way to dispose of.

[Greg Conner]

Body parts after a murder.

[Andrea Canning]

The prosecution also told the jury that a man fitting Walsh's description was seen throwing garbage bags into Dumpsters. Like we said, Ana's body has never been found, but her DNA was found on items in those bags, including a hatchet. So pretty grim stuff. Dorothy, what else have we learned? What have we learned about any potential witnesses?

[Dorothy Newell]

What I think will be really Interesting is one particular witness, a man who was said to be romantically involved with Ana in D.C. are prosecutors saying this.

[Andrea Canning]

Affair was Walsh's motive for murder?

[Dorothy Newell]

Basically, yes. In their openings, prosecutors said that Walsh told investigators he didn't know about an extramarital affair. But his Google searches proved otherwise. He looked up the man Ana was involved with and Googled things like Best strategies to divorce for a man.

[Andrea Canning]

And then it was the defense's turn. This opened opening statement is one that we've all been waiting for to hear how they plan to defend Brian Walsh. What happened, Dorothy?

[Dorothy Newell]

Andrea, I've never heard anything like this. The first thing the defense attorney said was that Bryan lied to police again and again. And they also said that, yes, he did go shopping at Lowe's and Home Depot. And I guess the jurors could assume he did that for the same reason the prosecutors said he did, to buy cleaning supplies and tools to get rid of Ana's body. It seemed like the defense and prosecution were in agreement about a lot of things, except for the most important point. The defense said Brian absolutely did not kill Ana. The defense told the story of how they hosted a New Year's Eve dinner with an old friend. After Ana went to bed, Walsh cleaned up the kitchen and headed upstairs. And this is what the defense says happened next.

[Greg Conner]

But he nudged Anna, his wife. She didn't respond. He nudged her again a little harder. She didn't respond. You will hear evidence that now he is panicking and he doesn't understand what has happened and what is happening. It didn't make sense that somebody that he had just been with and enjoyed New Year's Eve into New Year's Day would suddenly be dead. You will hear evidence in this case of sudden, unexplained death.

[Andrea Canning]

So he's saying Ana died of natural causes. Sudden, unexplained death.

[Dorothy Newell]

That's right. The defense attorney said it's something that is not well understood by non medical professionals and that when it happened to Ana, Brian just flipped out.

[Andrea Canning]

This is how the defense is explaining the COVID up, that Instead of calling 911, Brian Walsh thought it would be better to dispose of his wife's body in a dumpster. I mean, Dorothy, I think a lot of people listening to this will feel like it doesn't really make sense.

[Dorothy Newell]

I think that's what a lot of people are saying, Andrea. But the defense said he was desperate. He feared that somebody would think he'd committed murder, and that's why he tried to hide the body for fear of losing his Children.

[Andrea Canning]

Did the defense say anything about the alleged affair?

[Dorothy Newell]

Yes. The defense said Brian and Ana were happy that Brian didn't even know about the relationship and that they were planning for their future together and that their biggest struggle was the federal case against Bryan for selling fake Andy Warhol paintings. As to why he googled about the best way to get a divorce. The defense said that case to the art fraud case too, that Walsh knew he was heading to prison and was worried about the well being of Anna and the kids, so he was considering a divorce to free them up.

[Greg Conner]

The evidence in this case is that Brian Walsh loved Anna Walsh.

[Andrea Canning]

We are already hearing from witnesses in this trial. The prosecution called an investigator who interviewed Brian Walsh and the jury got to hear some of that interview.

[Greg Conner]

Brian interrupted me. Yeah, Brian Walsh.

[Commercial Narrator]

Brian Walsh.

[Dorothy Newell]

So I thought this was fascinating. The jurors were listening to the audio recordings of Brian's early interviews with investigators. And he seems, you know, chatty, comfortable. The kids are playing in the background. He sounds so incredibly normal. Andrea, almost unconcerned.

[Greg Conner]

Please, if you have any other questions, please ask me. Don't hold back.

[Dorothy Newell]

And yet the jury knows, as they are listening to Brian talk about his happy life with his beautiful wife, that she was already dead and that he knew it. Presumably, the prosecution wants the jury to believe that you can't trust anything he says. But maybe Walsh's attorneys are hoping that if Brian admits to some lying, maybe the jury will give him the benefit of the doubt when he says he is telling the truth about Ana's death. I'm curious to see how it all plays out.

[Andrea Canning]

And you got a possible little hint that Brian Walsh himself might testify?

[Dorothy Newell]

Yeah, the defense attorney said at least one time, as Brian Walsh will tell you. So does that mean he's going to testify? I couldn't say for certain, but it definitely caught my attention.

[Andrea Canning]

Dorothy, we will be sure to check in as the trial continues. Thank you so much for filling us in.

[Dorothy Newell]

Thanks, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Coming up, the Mississippi college student accused of murdering his secret lover makes a game changing decision on the eve of trial.

[Commercial Narrator]

Looking for a last minute gift for your people, you know, your people, that weird bunch of friends and family that you love dearly. Well, here's an easy idea. Oregon Lottery holiday scratchets. Because your people, they're the ones that, amidst all the holiday crowds and endless notifications, help you find the fun. Which calls for a little gift that brings big cheer. Oregon Lottery Holiday scratchets. You know where to find them. Grab some today. Must be 18 or older to play lottery games. Are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.

[Mayra Amit]

Emoji moment from Mark who writes I just want to thank you for making GLP1s affordable. What would have been over $1,000 a month is just $99 a month with Mochi. Money shouldn't be a barrier to healthy weight. Three months in and I have smaller jeans and a bigger wallet.

[Andrea Canning]

You're the best.

[Mayra Amit]

Thanks, Mark. I'm Mayra Amit, founder of Mochi Health. To find your mochi moment, visit joinmochi.com.

[Andrea Canning]

Mochi members have access to licensed physicians and nutritionists and are compensated for their stories. Results may vary.

[Greg Conner]

Own a small business and need a reliable way to reach new customers?

[Andrea Canning]

Try TikTok for business.

[Greg Conner]

We've generated over 100,000 leads which has converted into over 40,000 sales for our pet insurance policies. I am the CEO of Spot Pet Insurance. TikTok smart plus AI powered automation takes the guesswork out of targeting, bidding and optimizing creative. If I can advertise on TikTok, you can to drive more leads and scale your business.

[Andrea Canning]

Today with TikTok for Business, head over.

[Greg Conner]

To get started.TikTok.com TikTok ads.

[Andrea Canning]

This time last year we brought you inside a Lafayette County, Mississippi courtroom for the murder trial of SHELDON Timothy Harrington Jr. The grandson of a renowned pastor, Harrington had been accused of murdering a 20 year old university of Mississippi student by the name of Jimmy J. Lee. Prosecutors argued Harrington, who pleaded not guilty and killed lee back in 2022 to cover up their secret relationship. But the defense said there was no evidence a murder had even taken place. J. Lee's body had never been found. After nine and a half hours of deliberation, the jury was deadlocked. So the judge stepped in.

[Judge]

I'm on clarity mistrial. I appreciate your effort.

[Andrea Canning]

This week, prosecutors were back in court, armed with new witnesses and new evidence, ready to make their case against Harrington for a second time. But on Monday, a stunning twist stopped Jury SEL in its tracks. Dateline producer Isar Harpaz was there and is joining the podcast to bring us the latest. Hey Isar.

[Isar Harpaz]

Hi there Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So Isar, this case has been filled with so many twists and turns over the course of the last three years. Before we get into what happened this week, give us some background. Tell us a bit about who Jay Lee was.

[Isar Harpaz]

Yeah, so Jay Lee had graduated University of Mississippi with honors in three years, was about to go into graduate school for social work. He was very active on social media and he was sort of, you know, out and proud. He was LGBTQ activist. He liked to perform in drag shows. He was who he was.

[Andrea Canning]

All right. And this relationship with Timothy Harrington, tell us about that.

[Isar Harpaz]

There was this sexual relationship going on. They weren't dating, they weren't out together because Tim was not out. He was somebody who didn't talk or reveal his interest in men, his sexuality.

[Andrea Canning]

Isar Investigators say based on phone records, Timothy Harrington was the last person to see Jay Lee alive. And they arrested Harrington just a few weeks after Lee disappeared, charged him with murder. What evidence did prosecutors say they had against him?

[Isar Harpaz]

They had very powerful circumstantial evidence. They had this Google search that Tim had typed into his computer literally minutes after Jay left his apartment on his way to him. And it was, how long does it take to strangle someone?

[Andrea Canning]

And I remember you telling me last time you were on the podcast that police found some surveillance footage that shows Tim Harrington driving a moving van to his parents house. He loads up a wheelbarrow and shovel and then leaves. What happens next on the footage?

[Isar Harpaz]

Isar for 54 minutes he was gone. And when he came back, he unloaded the wheelbarrow and the shovel. But they couldn't find any signed that Jay Lee had been in touch with any of those items. They didn't have any sign of struggle. They didn't have any sign of violence. They couldn't find Jay Lee's body.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. And they. And you don't see him transporting a body either on any of this surveillance footage. You were there in Mississippi last December when Harrington went on trial for the first time. That didn't go as planned for the prosecution. This jury really struggled with this case.

[Isar Harpaz]

It seems that it was one juror who struggled with the case in particular, that there was no body. At one point they said they couldn't come to an agreement and the judge brought them out and he asked him, without telling me which side you're going for, tell me what the breakdown is of the jury on the issue. And they said 11 to 1. Later on, it turned on that it was 11 for capital murder and one for not guilty. And the judge was essentially forced to declare a hung jury.

[Andrea Canning]

Prosecutors made it clear soon after that they planned to retry Harrington. ISAR There was a big discovery in February which really upended the case. Tell us about that.

[Isar Harpaz]

Yes. A couple of hunters, deer hunters, were hunting in a isolated stretch of forest about an hour and a half from Oxford. And they came upon human remains. And the human remains turned out to be jaily. So that was huge. And some say it was the hand of God guiding them.

And there was something that really very strongly connected the human remains to Tim. There was a duct tape that was around the moving blankets that hid the body. And that duct tape matched directly the duct tape. Duct tape that they found in Tim Harrington's apartment.

[Andrea Canning]

Isar, you went to court on Monday as jury selection was set to begin. Jury selection did get underway, but very soon after, there is a major twist in the courtroom.

[Isar Harpaz]

Absolutely. Tim Harrington pleaded guilty to second degree murder and to tampering with a body. Yeah.

[Andrea Canning]

Much lesser charges than capital murder, which he was going to face at trial. Issar, what was the reaction when this happened?

[Isar Harpaz]

I understand that the family was very relieved, and they didn't want to go through the second trial.

[Andrea Canning]

And Jay Lee's father spoke at sentencing.

[Isar Harpaz]

Yes. So obviously, nobody had prepared any victim impact statements. This happened on very short notice. But Jay Lee's father went to the witness stand so he could look directly into Tim Harrington's eyes. And he talked a lot about forgiveness. He's a pastor as well, and he talked a lot about the faith that helped him survive these years. But he also spoke about Jay Lee and how his face and how his voice and how his son could only exist in his memories, how he would never be able to see him again or look him in the eyes again.

[Andrea Canning]

Tim Harrington received 40 years. He got the maximum. And the judge also made a powerful statement about the case and about the state of Mississippi after handing out the sentence.

[Isar Harpaz]

Yes, that is correct. Remember, this was a murder of a member of the LGBTQ community. The community felt that a lot of times law enforcement was not interested in solving or bringing to justice those who committed these crimes. And the judge gave voice to that.

[Judge]

When I heard that we'd been getting national publicity over Mr. Lee's death and the fact that he lived a lifestyle that was different from most people in Mississippi. I assumed that a lot of people in this country thought that there will not be justice in this case. I want the world to know that Mississippi got it right this time. This case was investigated more thoroughly than any case I've ever dealt with in my 35 years in criminal justice system.

[Isar Harpaz]

And Jay Lee's family was nodding. They thanked the Oxford Police Department with all their hearts for the work that they had done.

[Andrea Canning]

Isar, thank you so much. This is such a sad story. Thank you for bringing it to us.

[Isar Harpaz]

Thank you so much, Andrea, for having me on.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, it's time for Dateline Roundup. We've got the latest on Luigi Mangione. And Sean diddy Combs. Plus the real housewife who's also a lawyer, Emily Simpson, will be here to talk about her work with the wrongfully convicted.

[Commercial Narrator]

Looking for a last minute gift for your people? You know, your people, that weird bunch of friends and family that you love dearly. Well, here's an easy idea. Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratchits. Because your people, they're the ones that, amidst all the holiday crowds and endless notifications, help you find the fun, which calls for a little gift that brings big cheer. Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratchets. You know where to find them. Grab some today. Must be 18 or older to play lottery Games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.

[Mayra Amit]

A Mochi moment from Sadie who writes, I'm not crying. You're crying. This is what I said during my first appointment with my physician at Mochi because I didn't have to convince him I needed a GLP one. He understood and I felt supported, not judged. I came for the weight loss and stayed for the empathy. Thanks, Sadie. I'm Mayra Amit, founder of Mochi Health. To find your mochi moment, visit joinmochi.com.

[Andrea Canning]

Mochi members have access to licensed physicians and nutritionists and are compensated for their stories. Results may vary.

[Udemy Narrator]

Not sure if you have the experience to start your dream job. Good news these days, it's the skills that count. Udemy can help you get those in demand. Skills. Want to be an AI mastermind? Learn with us game developer. We've got you covered. AWS certified cloud practitioner. We can help you prep. You'll learn from real world experts who love what they do so that you can love what you do. Go to udemy.com for the skills to get you started and get set for your dream job.

[Andrea Canning]

Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is Dateline producer Mario Garcia. Hey, Mario.

[Mario Garcia]

Hey, Andrea. How are you?

[Andrea Canning]

Great. So, Mario, for our first story, we're in Manhattan where there are major developments in the case of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A year ago outside a hotel, Mangione was arrested after a five day nationwide manhunt. He is now facing both federal and state charges. And this week a judge is deciding what evidence will be allowed in his state trial. Mary, you were there for some of the hearing. Describe the scene to us. He's, you know, becoming something of a cult figure almost with these people who are supporting him.

[Mario Garcia]

Yeah, Andrea, I mean, it was kind of a wild scene. There was a large crowd waiting outside to get in. One woman Told me that she had started waiting in line Saturday night to get in for a Monday morning hearing.

[Andrea Canning]

And this hearing was pretty high stakes, Mario. The defense was trying to persuade the judge that statements Mangione made at the time of his arrest and evidence officers took from the scene should not be admissible because Mangione didn't know what was going on. What kind of evidence are we talking about?

[Mario Garcia]

Yeah, I mean, there is body cam footage from the police officers and his attorneys are trying to get a bunch of these videos tossed out. And they don't want his, what they're calling the notebooks to be entered as evidence.

[Andrea Canning]

The notebooks, Mario, are from his words.

[Mario Garcia]

They're his words. They've been colloquially referred to as his manifesto. They're kind of set at the center of all this. Those two notebooks were in his backpack when he was detained in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

[Andrea Canning]

You actually heard from some of the officers who took part in the arrest?

[Mario Garcia]

That's correct. There was a police officer, Joseph Detwiler, who's of the first to respond to the scene. He first approached Mangione and he testified that in his opinion, Mangione looked nervous. He initially claimed he was homeless, first showed officers a fake New Jersey id. Officer Detwiler said he was trying to keep things calm, even at one point whistling Jingle Bells Rock as Mangioni just kept eating his egg McMuffin or whatever he had ordered.

[Andrea Canning]

His defense team says that officers started asking Mangione questions before reading his Miranda rights. That's why they say his statements to the police should be thrown out. What is the prosecution saying?

[Mario Garcia]

Prosecutors kept emphasizing that the body cam video shows Mangione being read as Miranda writes clearly and can be heard saying that he understood what that meant.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so the hearing continues. We'll wait to see what the judge decides about allowing what evidence can go to trial and when the trial will be.

For our next story, we're talking about Sean Diddy Combs, the rap mogul convicted of transportation to engage in sexual prostitution earlier this year. He's serving his sentence in a prison in New Jersey. So, Mario, new Netflix doc about Combs produced by Curtis 50 Cent Jackson, is making headlines. What do we know about this series?

[Mario Garcia]

Indeed it is, Andrea. It's a four part series. The title, Sean Combs the Reckoning, a little dramatic, dropped on Tuesday and it traces Combs rise in hip hop alongside a wave of new allegations. The documentary digs into everything from unsolved murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls and claims from former Danity Kane singer Aubrey o', Day, who shared explicit messages she says he sent to her while he was her boss. Representatives for Combs told NBC News that they won't comment on individual claims and argue that many people featured in the documentary have long standing grievances.

[Andrea Canning]

And there's a secret video that a lot of people have talked about. Tell us about that.

[Mario Garcia]

That's right. Indeed, the documentary includes a never before seen clip of Combs filmed just days before his arrest where he's talking about his legal troubles. And Mr. Jackson 50 Cent sat down with NBC News entertainment correspondent Chloe Melodic to discuss the series, but stayed pretty tight lipped about where he got his information.

[Andrea Canning]

How did you get that footage of Diddy?

[Judge]

I figured most journalists would not disclose their sources.

[Andrea Canning]

Combs's team, are they pushing back?

[Mario Garcia]

They are vigorously pushing back his publishers cause the footage private and unauthorized and says Netflix had no right to use it. Combs's attorneys even sent a cease and desist letter. Netflix, though, and the director insist they obtained everything legally.

[Andrea Canning]

What is 50 Cent saying about why he decided to do this?

[Mario Garcia]

Mr. Jackson 50 Cent says he felt someone within the hip hop community needed to speak out and that silence could be looked at as complicity.

[Andrea Canning]

All right. And Combs, of course, is in prison. On November 4, the judge granted his request to fast track his appeal and his opening brief is due in December. Thanks so much for the roundup this week, Maryam.

For our final segment this week, we are joined by someone you might recognize from a favorite reality series.

[Mario Garcia]

Kelly.

[Emily Simpson]

That's my husband. Hey, that's my husband.

[Andrea Canning]

Talk to my husband. Emily Simpson is a cast member on Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange county. But something you may or may not know about her. She's also a lawyer and hosts a podcast called Legally Brunette with her husband Shane. They dissect the top crime stories of the day and they also use their platform to advocate for the wrongfully convicted.

[Emily Simpson]

When you were in prison and you absolutely had nothing to do with this, how do you get through a day?

[Andrea Canning]

I think I just breathe.

[Commercial Narrator]

It was gut wrenching.

[Andrea Canning]

Every day this week we wanted to have Emily on the show to talk about her journey from reality TV to true crime. Emily, thank you for joining us.

[Emily Simpson]

Hi. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here. Big Dateline fan.

[Andrea Canning]

We love that. I don't know if I told you this, but we here at Dateline have a Real Housewives of Dateline text chain.

[Emily Simpson]

Okay.

[Andrea Canning]

All the ladies here at Dateline who are into Real Housewives, we talk about all Things Real Housewives. So we're big fans. Talk about how this even started you becoming a lawyer.

[Emily Simpson]

Yeah, you know, I actually. I graduated from college. Oh, my gosh. Back in 1998. That's how old I am. But then, you know, I immediately started working. I taught high school on Spanish, actually, and I did that for about four years. And then I was like, this is not what I want to do the rest of my life. I always wanted to go to law school, so I just. I did. I just. I applied lots of different law schools.

[Andrea Canning]

And you were inspired by a movie?

[Emily Simpson]

Oh, I. Yes. Well, I mean, okay, so Legally Blonde came out right in 01, I think. I started law school in O2. So I watched it. I was like, if Elle woods can do it, I can do it. I was very inspired by the movie. I still love the movie.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, I'm right there with you. And I actually named my fifth daughter Elle after Elle Woods. She doesn't believe me. She thinks that's ridiculous. And I tell her, nope, actually, you're named after Elle Woods. Right. I'm not joking.

All right, so what kind of law did you practice?

[Emily Simpson]

You know, I did family law for a while, and then once Shane and I were married and we had kids, I did copyright. And then in 2018, that's when I joined season 13 of Real Housewives. And I actually did practice. The first two years I was on the show, I practiced part time and filmed the show, and it became very, very difficult for me to continue to do that. So then I just kind of segued out of practicing into reality tv. And then during COVID I didn't know what was going on with my life or TV or anything at that point. So that's when I reached out to the Innocence Project and just asked if I could be a part of it. If I could volunteer, how could I help? What could I. Which helps with that need to have that legal tie, even though I don't practice anymore. And also, the podcast kind of gives me that nerdy element that I'm missing.

[Andrea Canning]

Tell us about your cases that you choose. You told me you get a lot of feedback from fans, right? With information as well.

[Emily Simpson]

I do. I'll tell you, Karen Reed was not initially on my radar. I don't know why, but I didn't really. I hadn't really heard of it, but I had gotten so many dms from fans on my Instagram saying, you have to talk about Karen Reid. Have you heard of Karen Reid? And so that's when I started to dive into it, obviously, because I'm kind of in that pulp cultural type of world. We do try to stick to whatever is current. We try to stick to, like, what people are currently buzzing about.

[Andrea Canning]

I love how on the show, and again, I'll remind people I have not missed one episode of the Real Housewives of Orange County. I love how you always integrate the Innocence center and your work into the show because you're the only, of all the franchises, you're the only one talking about such a, you know, a very heavy subject. Right. Of people who are wrongfully accused to.

[Emily Simpson]

To be in prison for that long and then to come out and, and to reintegrate with society, but with your family and to find a job. But to explain that you, oh my gosh, you know, 20 years in prison and then to explain. But you were wrongfully convicted. It's just I, I can' I can't fathom. That's why I've, I've switched. Well, I still do a lot of fundraising, but I also really focus on the after effects of once they come out because I've gotten to know a lot of exonerated persons and I know how important it is that it's not just the release, but how to help them assimilate back into society.

[Andrea Canning]

Absolutely. Emily, thank you so much for all your good work.

[Udemy Narrator]

Thanks, Andrea.

[Emily Simpson]

Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it.

[Andrea Canning]

That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. Make sure to check out Keith's brand new podcast series, Something About Carrie. After single mother Carrie Farver disappeared, her boyfriend and his ex started getting threatening texts and emails. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. So this is the woman from hell.

[Mario Garcia]

Now, all of a sudden. Yeah, or in the course of a couple of hours.

[Andrea Canning]

The first two episodes are available now wherever you get your podcasts. Or you can subscribe to Dateline Premium and get early access to new episodes and listen ad free. Free. And coming up this Friday on Dateline, Lester's got an all new episode. After a man called police to report his father missing, a tumultuous interrogation turned the case upside down.

[Mario Garcia]

We just told you we found your dead dad and you don't give a.

[Andrea Canning]

F. Not a tear, not a. I'm sorry, what? Watch the ruse this Friday at a special time after Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer at 10:16, 9:16 Central Time on NBC. Thanks for listening. Dateline True Crime Weekly is produced by Carson Cummins, Caroline Casey and Keani Reed. Our associate producers are Ellery Gladstone Groth and Aria Young. Our senior producer is Liz Brown. Kurloff production and fact checking help by Audrey Abrahams. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Cole is senior executive producer of Dateline. Thanks very much, Jane. Yeah, thanks, Chuck. Full.

Amazon has everything for everyone on your list. Like your sister who refuses to accept that she does not have a face for bangs. Get her a lovely hat and with Amazon holiday deals, you'll save big. Maybe grab her some barrettes too.