Bryan Kohberger's bombshell plea. A double prosecution in Kentucky. Plus, a verdict for Sean Combs.

Summary

Dateline: True Crime Weekly – Detailed Episode Summary

Release Date: July 3, 2025

Host: Blaine Alexander (filling in for Andrea Canning)

---

1. Bryan Kohberger’s Breakthrough Plea Deal

Timestamp: [02:33] – [10:45]

The episode opens with a significant development in the high-profile case of Bryan Kohberger, the accused murderer of four University of Idaho students. Initially slated for a trial set to commence in five weeks, the courtroom landscape shifted dramatically when Kohberger opted to plead guilty to four first-degree murder charges and an additional felony burglary charge. This plea deal was struck to remove the possibility of the death penalty from his sentencing options.

Notable Observations:

• Kohberger’s Demeanor: As described by Keith Morrison at [04:08], Kohberger appeared "perfectly erect in his chair, wearing a shirt and tie," displaying a composed and respectful demeanor throughout the hearing.
• Courtroom Atmosphere: The hearing maintained a "very quiet, well-ordered" environment ([05:48]), with visible emotions among the victims' families, indicating the weight of the proceedings.
• Plea Hearing Dynamics: Kohberger was prompt in his responses, swiftly affirming guilt to each charge ([04:34] – [05:22]). Morrison notes, "He seemed almost a jump at the chance to say it," highlighting Kohberger's readiness to accept responsibility.

Insights:

• Reason for Plea: Morrison suggests the defense was "out of moves" after unsuccessful attempts to present alternative perpetrator evidence ([06:43] – [07:25]). With a weak alibi defense, the plea was seen as the most viable path forward.
• Prosecutorial Benefits: Accepting the plea deal allowed the prosecution to secure a guaranteed life sentence, avoid the unpredictability of a trial, and save substantial judicial resources ([07:29]).

Family Reactions:

• Mixed Emotions: While some families, like Madison Mogan’s and Ethan Chapin’s, supported the plea, others, such as the Gonzalez family, expressed fury and felt betrayed by the state's handling of the case ([08:28] – [09:03]).

2. Double Prosecution in the Murder of Crystal Rogers

Timestamp: [11:11] – [19:43]

The podcast delves into the ongoing trial in Kentucky concerning the disappearance and presumed murder of Crystal Rogers. After ten years of investigation, Crystal vanished on her birthday, July 3, 2014. Her car was found abandoned, and her body has never been located. Two men, Brooks Hauck and Joseph Lawson, have been charged with her murder and conspiracy to commit murder, respectively.

Key Testimonies:

• Danny Singleton’s Testimony ([14:17] – [15:04]): Singleton, a former employee of Brooks, testified about conversations with Rosemary Hauck, Brooks' mother, who allegedly requested the removal of Crystal from Brooks' life. However, his credibility was challenged as he admitted to lying about his whereabouts during Crystal's disappearance, citing drug use ([15:05] – [15:59]).

• Heather Snelling’s Account ([16:24] – [17:05]): The ex-girlfriend of Joseph Lawson's father claimed to have overheard discussions about moving Crystal’s body using a skid steer, suggesting premeditation and cover-up efforts.

• Charlie Gurdley’s Testimony ([17:12] – [18:37]): Another former employee stated that Joseph Lawson had detailed plans to bury Crystal with a skid steer and disturb her dental records to impede identification. His story was met with skepticism as the defense highlighted his history of drug use and changing narratives ([18:07] – [19:07]).

Defense Strategy: The defense aims to discredit prosecution witnesses, suggesting manipulation and fabrication of testimonies to fit the prosecution's narrative ([19:14] – [19:35]).

Prosecution’s Case: Despite challenges to witness credibility, the prosecution has built a robust case emphasizing premeditation and conspiracy, positioning Rosemary Hauck as a co-conspirator, though she has not been formally charged.

3. Verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs’ Racketeering Trial

Timestamp: [21:37] – [23:30]

The episode covers the verdict in the federal racketeering trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. After a prolonged trial featuring extensive testimony and evidence, the jury delivered mixed verdicts:

• Guilty: Two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
• Not Guilty: Two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy.

Courtroom Reactions:

• Combs’ Response: Seated beside his attorney, Combs reacted with visible distress, sinking to his knees in what appeared to be a prayerful pose ([22:40]).
• Family Support: His family expressed relief and satisfaction with the guilty verdicts, viewing them as accountability for his actions ([23:12]).

Legal Implications: With sentencing pending, Combs faces four to five years in prison based on the charges he was convicted of. The judge has denied bail, ensuring Combs remains in custody until his sentencing.

4. Corey Richens Faces Additional Charges in Utah

Timestamp: [24:00] – [26:32]

Corey Richens, a children’s book author accused of fatally poisoning her husband with fentanyl, has been indicted on over two dozen new charges related to financial crimes. These include:

• Mortgage Fraud
• Communications Fraud
• Forgery
• Issuing Bad Checks
• Money Laundering
• Pattern of Unlawful Activity

These additional charges are part of the homicide investigation and were filed just before the statute of limitations expired on some of them. Richens maintains her not guilty stance, with her murder trial slated for February 2026. The emergence of these charges adds complexity to her legal battles, though no trial dates have been set for the financial offenses.

5. Introduction of the Turquoise Alert System in New Mexico

Timestamp: [27:05] – [31:37]

Addressing the critical issue of missing Indigenous individuals, New Mexico has implemented the Turquoise Alert System. This new system aims to expedite and enhance the response to disappearances within the Indigenous community, addressing a significant gap where previous alert systems like Amber and Silver Alerts did not adequately cover the demographic most affected.

Key Points from Secretary Josette Monette:

• Necessity of the Alert: Over 200 Indigenous people are missing in New Mexico, often mandating delayed reporting protocols that can hinder timely interventions ([28:37]).
• Operational Mechanics: The Turquoise Alert functions similarly to existing alert systems, utilizing road signs, radio, and TV to disseminate information swiftly to the public ([29:38] – [30:00]).
• Symbolism of the Name: "Turquoise" was chosen to resonate culturally and geographically with Native communities in New Mexico, reflecting its significance as a powerful stone ([30:00] – [30:38]).

Impact on Cases: The system is hoped to prevent delays in reporting and increase the chances of recoveries, as exemplified by the case of Tiffany Reed, who vanished in 2004. Although the system was not in place during her disappearance, officials express optimism that it could make a difference in future cases ([31:13] – [31:28]).

6. Additional Case Updates

Timestamp: [19:43] – [26:37]

Dan Serafini’s Trial: Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini is on trial for the shooting of his in-laws in Lake Tahoe. His wife, Aaron Spore, testified, defending Serafini while portraying the main prosecution witness, Samantha Scott, as deceitful and attempting to replace Aaron’s role in their relationship. This testimony includes claims that Scott was trying to emulate Aaron's appearance and influence.

Key Takeaways:

• Aaron Spore’s Testimony: Described Scott as "creepy" and suggested she was trying to take her place in Serafini's life ([25:17] – [26:18]).
• Samantha Scott’s Admission: Scott admitted to being Serafini’s lover and driving him to the scene of the crime ([25:29] – [25:44]).

Trial Progress: Jurors are set to receive instructions with final arguments scheduled for July 8th, leading to imminent deliberations.

---

Conclusion: This episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly unraveled multiple intricate cases, highlighting significant legal developments, plea deals, and the emotional toll on victims' families. From the controversial plea of Bryan Kohberger to the groundbreaking Turquoise Alert system in New Mexico, the podcast provided listeners with in-depth analyses and firsthand accounts from key participants in these high-stakes legal battles.

Stay Informed: For those interested in further details, the episode encourages tuning into ongoing coverage and related podcasts such as DATELINE Missing in America.

---

This summary aims to encapsulate the critical discussions and revelations presented in the July 3, 2025, episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly. For a complete understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.

Transcript

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[Shane Bishop]

We're getting a live shot from Franny, who is at the courthouse.

[Blaine Alexander]

Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news.

[Shane Bishop]

The defense begins their case on Monday. Recently bought McDonald's was still in the charred kitchen.

[Blaine Alexander]

Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Blaine Alexander filling in today for Andrea Canning, who's on vacation. It's July 3rd, and here's what's on our docket. In a Kentucky courthouse, prosecutors lay out their case against the man they say killed Crystal Rogers, a mother of five, and the case against a second man who they say helped cover it up.

[Shane Bishop]

She overheard Steve and Joseph Lawson talking about moving a body at Brooks Family's.

[Blaine Alexander]

Farm in DATELINE roundup. Big news from Utah in the case of Corey Richens, the children's book author who's accused of fatally poisoning her husband. She is now facing more than two dozen new charges. And we've got a verdict in the racketeering trial of music mogul Sean Diddy Combs. I'm going to interrupt you just closely here because we are getting the verdict.

[Shane Bishop]

Coming in right now.

[Blaine Alexander]

And you might be familiar with the Amber alert for missing children, but what about the turquoise alert? Officials are hoping it will help save lives.

[Shane Bishop]

There is no wait time in New Mexico to make a report about somebody. You should report your missing loved one right away.

[Blaine Alexander]

But before, before all that, we're off to Idaho, where a case that has gripped and horrified the nation came to a dramatic and unexpected conclusion this week. Five weeks from now, reporters, family members and public spectators were set to flock to Boise, Idaho, to attend the trial of Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students back in 2022. The courthouse was reserved and lawyers on both sides were preparing to present their cases. But all of that changed earlier this when news broke that Kohberger had agreed to plead guilty to four first degree murder counts and an additional charge of felony burglary, all in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table. Kohberger appeared in court on Wednesday for a change of plea hearing. Keith Morrison and DATELINE producer Shane Bishop were watching that, and they're here now to tell us what happened. Keith and Shane, you two have been on this story from the very beginning. You've broken news on this story. So I am so glad to talk to you about this latest huge development in this case. Welcome.

[Keith Morrison]

Thank you very much for, for asking us, for having us here. It was pretty big. I, you know, I, but I was initially kind of surprised, but then not so much after about half an hour of thinking about it. What did you think, Shane? Were you surprised? I wasn't. I felt like the judge was always moving this case toward a plea deal in subtle ways.

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, I want to talk more about that, but first, let's talk about how this hearing unfolded on Wednesday. Both of you watched the live streamed plea hearing. We saw Kohberger sitting there at the defense table. What was his demean demeanor? What was he looking like?

[Keith Morrison]

Well, I saw a young man sitting there perfectly erect in his chair, wearing a shirt and tie, not the suit jacket that he had worn in the past. This time he sat. He paid attention. At one point early on, he wanted to stand up to address the judge and Mr. Kohlberg, just to make it easier. You don't need to stand when you speak to me. I appreciate the sign of respect, but for convenience, you can remain seated. All right. But he was just, he was being Mr.

[Blaine Alexander]

Correct.

[Keith Morrison]

Yeah. I could see he had a fresh haircut. I noticed the lack of suit jacket as well. And he looked like the teaching assistant at the college, which he was. Right.

[Blaine Alexander]

I think there were a couple of things that stood out to me that were especially chilling. One, hearing Bryan Coburger's voice, hearing him repeatedly say yes when the charges were read out.

[Keith Morrison]

And then let me ask you, did you kill and murder Madison Mogan a human being? Yes. And did you do that willfully, unlawfully, deliberately, and with premeditation and malice aforethought?

[Blaine Alexander]

Yes.

[Keith Morrison]

Did you, Honor, about that same date, kill and murder Kaylee Gonsalves, a human being? Yes. And did you, on that same date, kill and murder Zana Kernodle, a human being?

[Blaine Alexander]

Yes.

[Keith Morrison]

Did you kill and murder Ethan Chapin, a human being?

[Blaine Alexander]

Yes.

[Keith Morrison]

He seemed almost a jump at the chance to. To say it, to get that in, that word in there as quick as you could. To me, it was like, here is the well versed criminology student knowing how this is going to work, knowing what his answers would have to be or should be, and wanting to be able to supply them. Boom, boom, quickly and easily.

[Blaine Alexander]

Now, as he was going through this, guys, what was the reaction inside the courtroom?

[Keith Morrison]

Well, you know, from what I could see, it just seemed like a very quiet, well ordered room where, you know, nobody was going to speak out of turn. Nobody wanted this to go sideways. The only time that there was anything that was other than what seemed to be very carefully planned ahead of time was when the prosecutor completed his recitation of the facts of the case. He became somewhat emotional. On November 13, 2022, excuse me. Mr. Kohberger entered the residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho. He did that with the intent to kill, and that he then killed Matty Mogan, Kaylee Gonzalez, Ethan Chapin, and Santa Cruz. Thank you, you, Honor. Thank you.

[Blaine Alexander]

And I understand that there were some family members who were almost sobbing during portions of this as well.

[Keith Morrison]

It's not an easy story to hear. And for a family member especially, you.

[Blaine Alexander]

Know, I want to step back and just talk quickly about how this plea deal came about. I mean, we're so close to the start of the trial. Why now?

[Keith Morrison]

Well, my belief is that the defense was out of moves. In June, there was a closed door hearing where the defense tried to argue that they should be allowed to present alternate perpetrator evidence during the trial. The judge heard their proffer and decided that basically there was nothing to it. So with that gone and Coburger's, I think, very weak alibi defense that he was stargazing and turned his phone off during the time of the exact time of the murders, I think the defense was out of moves.

[Blaine Alexander]

I'm curious why the prosecutors would take this. What was the benefit to them?

[Keith Morrison]

Well, let me say one thing. One thing that really blew my mind was when the judge said he was going to call in 10,000 prospective jurors. I mean, that is, that is a mind boggling number. Sure. In a jury pool, I think it's often in the states interest to reach a plea first, you know, you get a guaranteed life sentence. The guy is not going to be a danger to anybody else. Secondly, Dylan and Bethany don't have to testify. And thirdly, I mean this saves millions, if not tens of millions of dollars for the county and the state.

[Blaine Alexander]

Let's talk about the victims families because one thing, when the news broke on Monday, almost immediately thereafter, we saw this Facebook statement from the Gonzalez family essentially saying, we are beyond furious at the state of Idaho. They have failed us. Steve Gonzale, the father of K. Legan's office actually spent the hearing outside of the courthouse. He refused to go inside. He did speak, however. He spoke to some reporters. Let's listen to that.

[Keith Morrison]

Why do you want this to go to trial? Because then my peers, this community will.

[Blaine Alexander]

Decide that he's guilty.

[Keith Morrison]

One man shouldn't decide what four souls are worth.

[Blaine Alexander]

You said they made a deal with the devil. Yeah, they did. On the other hand, there were some families who were actually almost relieved by this plea deal. Right.

[Keith Morrison]

Even Chapin's parents were completely behind it. Madison Mogan's family put out a statement saying they were behind it and ready to move on. I believe it was Zanna Kernodle's aunt who said she was not good with it. As the Gonsalves family expressed, they were not good with it.

[Blaine Alexander]

And we say this all the time. You don't know how you would feel about something unless they're in that position. So I could certainly understand how families could be split on either side. Yeah, I think one thing is certain, that this case has generated a tremendous amount of public interest. A lot of people have questions and really were looking to watch this trial and hoping to have some of those questions answered.

[Keith Morrison]

The question that is remains unsass unanswered, of course, is why and why he chose we the investigators believed it was Matty Mogan who was the target and the other ones in some way became collateral damage. Well, I think one of the big things is everybody wants to know where the knife went. Our sources tell us he probably dumped it in the river down in Lewiston the next day. As for why, I mean, I've talked to people throughout the last two and a half years about motive. And someone once told me he wanted to make pretty girls ugly. Yeah, and I think that's probably the best explanation you're going to get from somebody who's not a forensic psychologist. That's the suggestion and I think it makes sense, some sense whether it's actually correct or true or not. I I don't know we'll ever know.

[Blaine Alexander]

And finally, let's talk about sentencing happening later this month. I mean a couple of changes there. One, Brian Coburger will not be wearing regular street clothes. He'll be appearing in jail attire. But what can we expect to see during the sentencing hearing?

[Keith Morrison]

I I think the sentencing hearing there will be so much emotion as the victims families are all by law able to speak. The question I have in my mind is whether Bryan Kohberg's parents will make a statement on what they might have to say or will he say anything.

[Blaine Alexander]

Well Shane and Keith, like I said, nobody knows this case better than the two of you. So I really appreciate you two joining us to break it down today. Thank you.

[Keith Morrison]

Thank you. Thanks Blaine.

[Blaine Alexander]

Up next, the jury hears chilling testimony at the trial of two men accused of being involved in the murder of Kentucky mom Crystal Rogers. We've got all the details.

[Shane Bishop]

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[Shane Bishop]

Thank you. I'm glad to be here. Plane.

[Blaine Alexander]

We've heard from dozens of witnesses. Just kind of tell us about some of the ones that have stood out to you so far.

[Shane Bishop]

Sure. Well, we heard from one witness, Crystal's friend. She spoke with and saw Crystal on the day she disappeared. She said on the stand that the night that she ended up going missing, Brooks had planned this like kid free date night.

[Blaine Alexander]

And Marissa, according to the prosecution, that date night never actually happened. Right. Instead, they went to Brooks family farm where the prosecution believes Crystal died. What else did we learn here?

[Shane Bishop]

She also gave some insight into the relationship between Brooks and Crystal. She talked about how sometimes Brooks could say things about Crystal's appearance and how Brooke's mother, Rosemary didn't seem to approve of the relationship.

[Blaine Alexander]

Brooke's mother, Rosemary, she came up in the testimony of another witness as well. Right. Who was that witness and what did he have to say about her?

[Shane Bishop]

Yes. So that witness was Danny Singleton and he was a former employee of Brooks. He'd worked for brooks for about 15 years. And Danny said he spoke to Rosemary two weeks before Crystal disappeared and she asked him if he could find someone to get rid of Crystal.

[Blaine Alexander]

The prosecution in their opening statement called Rosemary Hauck a co conspirator, but she has never actually been charged with anything. In fact, on cross examination, the defense really went after Singleton's credibility, pointing out that he had been arrested for perjury related to this case. What, what does that stem from?

[Shane Bishop]

Yeah, the defense got Danny to admit that he lied about his whereabouts the night of July 3rd when Crystal disappeared. And Danny had told investigators that he was at a bar. But on the stand he admitted he was doing drugs and he said he lied when he first talked to investigators because he didn't want to get arrested for doing drugs. Yes, but Danny held firm under cross examination that now he is telling the truth in this trial. He says he is telling the truth.

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, you know, we've heard from a lot of witnesses. Someone else we heard from, Marissa, was the ex girlfriend of Joseph Lawson's father, Steve. Now, just a quick reminder to our listeners. Steve was convicted for his role in Crystal's murder a few weeks ago. Like Joseph, Steve Lawson had been charged with conspiracy and tampering with evidence. So what did we learn from her testimony? The ex girlfriend's testimony?

[Shane Bishop]

This is a woman named Heather Snelling. She said she overheard Steve and Joseph Lawson talking about moving a body at Brooks family's farm using a skid steer, which I had never heard of. But the skid steer is a piece of.

[Blaine Alexander]

What is that?

[Shane Bishop]

Yeah, it's a piece of equipment that I guess usually has a bucket in front, and it's used for digging and moving things in landscape and construction, that kind of thing. On cross, the defense went through the interviews she'd done with law enforcement, and they were pointing out she never brought up what she says she overheard.

[Blaine Alexander]

Another striking piece of testimony about Joseph Lawson came on Monday from another former employee of Brooks.

[Shane Bishop]

That's right. This came from Charlie Gurdley, and he'd also testified at Steve Lawson's trial as well. Gurdley said Joseph Lawson once talked with him about Crystal. And according to Gurdley, Joseph said he would bury her with a skid steer and nobody would ever find her. Charlie said also the day Crystal went missing, he saw Brooks give Joseph Lawson Crystal's car keys. But there was also this really dramatic moment when Charlie said Joseph said he would pull her teeth and the hogs would do the rest.

[Blaine Alexander]

Oh, wow.

[Shane Bishop]

Yeah.

[Blaine Alexander]

And assuming pull her teeth, meaning get rid of a way to identify her with her dental records. Wow. Oh, my gosh. So how did the defense try to counter Gurdley's testimony on cross?

[Shane Bishop]

They did what they've been doing with other witnesses. They really questioned Charlie's credibility, and they pointed out that he was a drug user and that his story had changed significantly over the years. And Charlie himself admitted that one time when he was being questioned by state police investigators, he'd been awake for five to six days, high on drugs, too.

[Blaine Alexander]

Wow.

[Shane Bishop]

And the defense also pointed out that even as late as 2023, Charlie told investigators Brooks had never talked to him about Crystal. And Charlie had had said at that point that Brooks was not involved at all. And the defense insinuated that investigators really led Charlie into telling them a story that neatly fit into what their theory of the crime is.

[Blaine Alexander]

Okay. Well, the prosecution has now arrested its case. So what do we know so far about the defense here?

[Shane Bishop]

So the defense has started. It seems like overall they're trying to paint this picture that the facts and the proof in this case were replaced by assumptions and theories and that witnesses were really manipulated and they said, even bullied into fitting a certain narrative of this crime.

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, Marissa, we know that you're going to stay all over it as always, and we really appreciate you talking with us today. Thanks so much.

[Shane Bishop]

Thank you so much, Blaine.

[Blaine Alexander]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. Children's book author and accused killer Corey Richins faces new charges. The murder trial of former major league baseball player Dan Serafini winds down with his wife on the stand. And after 13 and a half hours of deliberations, a verdict in the trial of music mogul Sean Diddy Combs. Plus, New Mexico's secretary of Indian affairs joins us to talk about a new law that she thinks will be a game changer in the search for missing indigenous people. Hi, we're Emoji Health, your long term weight loss solution. We'll connect you with a board certified provider to discuss your unique goals. Eligible patients can Access custom formulated GLP1 medications at an affordable fixed price. Deliver to their door monthly. Take our free eligibility [e-mail] and use code AUDIO40 at checkout for $40 off your first month of membership. That's joinmochi.com Results may vary. Eligible GLP1 patients typically lose one to two pounds per week in their first six months with Mochi. When combined with a healthy lifestyle, we all belong outside.

[Shane Bishop]

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.

[Blaine Alexander]

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[Shane Bishop]

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[Blaine Alexander]

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[Shane Bishop]

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[Blaine Alexander]

Brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas and more at your DSW store or dsw.com welcome back. To kick off this week's roundup, we've got big news and a story that we've been covering in our daily podcast on trial. After seven weeks of testimony, 34 witnesses and more than 13 hours of deliberations, the jury came back Wednesday morning with a verdict in the federal trial of music mogul Sean Combs.

[Shane Bishop]

I'm going to interrupt you just closely here, Misty, because we are getting the verdict coming in right now.

[Blaine Alexander]

This is coming in real time. She faced a lifesaver sentence on the most serious charges. Just after 10:15am Combs held the hand of one of his defense attorneys as the verdict was read out. Guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, not guilty on two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy, the charges that could have seen him face decades behind bars. After the jury was excused, Combs sank to his knees, resting his head on a chair as if praying. His family in the courtroom clapped and cheered. Outside the courthouse, the civil attorney representing Cassie Ventura Combs, ex girlfriend, and one of the main prosecution witnesses spoke to the press.

[Keith Morrison]

We're pleased that he's finally been held responsible for two federal crimes, something that he's never faced in his life.

[Blaine Alexander]

A few hours later, the judge denied Combs request for bail and ordered him to remain in custody until his sentencing. According to the prosecution, Combs could face at least four to five years in prison based on sentencing guidelines. We'll keep you posted as we learn more. If you want to hear more in depth coverage of the case, remember to check out our podcast on trial. All right. And for the rest of this week's headlines, I'm joined by DATELINE digital producer Veronica Mazeka. And we're starting with a case out of Utah. Veronica, thanks so much for being here with us today.

[Shane Bishop]

Thanks for having me.

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, Veronica, a flurry of new charges have been filed against Utah mom Corey Richards. Just a reminder for our listeners. She's the woman accused of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl and then writing a children's book about grief. She has pleaded not guilty to her murder charge, but just this week she was hit with 26 new charges. What's that about?

[Shane Bishop]

They were all pertaining to financial crimes that prosecutors allege took place in the months leading up to her husband's death. These charges stem from the homicide investigation and include mortgage fraud, communications fraud, forgery, issuing a bad check, money laundering and a pattern of unlawful activity.

[Blaine Alexander]

And these charges come more than two years after she was Charged with her husband's death and just two days before the statute of limitations was set to expire on some of these charges. Richen's murder trial is scheduled for February 2026, but there's been no trial date yet set for these new charges. We'll watch and see what happens there. And finally, we are checking into the trial of former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini. He's the man accused of shooting his in laws at their home in Lake Tahoe, killing his father in law, Gary Spore, and seriously wounding his mother in law, Wendy Wood. Aaron Spore, Dan Serafini's wife, continued her testimony on the stand. What were the main takeaways from her testimony?

[Shane Bishop]

She defended her husband, Dan, but when it came to Samantha Scott, she called her deceitful. And when asked if Samantha Scott could be trusted and Aaron answered, quote, absolutely not.

[Blaine Alexander]

And just a reminder, Samantha Scott is the woman who says she actually drove Serafini to Lake Tahoe the day of the attack and has taken a plea for her role in the shooting.

[Shane Bishop]

Yes, she also admitted on the stand that she became Seraphini's lover.

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, the defense then projected four photos. Two of Samantha Scott during the trial and two of Aaron. They asked Aaron to comment on whether she thought that Samantha Scott was trying to be her. What was that?

[Shane Bishop]

Yeah, so she said that it appeared that she was. And she also said that the similarities in their appearances were, quote, creepy.

[Blaine Alexander]

So she was saying that essentially she thought that Samantha was trying to become her in a way, pretty much, I.

[Shane Bishop]

Guess, and taking her spot, if you will, since she became Dan's lover as well.

[Blaine Alexander]

Interesting. Okay, well, jurors will be receiving their instructions this week with closing arguments scheduled for next week, July 8th. So of course we will be be following that trial as it winds down and the jury begins deliberations. Veronica, thanks so much for joining me this week.

[Shane Bishop]

Thank you.

[Blaine Alexander]

21 years ago, 16 year old Tiffany Reed vanished from her small town of Shiprock, New Mexico, located on the Navajo reservation. She has never been found. Her family blames the local police for not acting more quickly. Tiffany's big sister spoke with Josh Mankiewicz for his most recent episode of Dateline, Missing in America.

[Shane Bishop]

They asked if my sister had taken off from home before and my mom.

[Blaine Alexander]

Said, yeah, she has.

[Shane Bishop]

And they just basically ran with that and said, okay, well, maybe she just ran away from home. So if she's not back in 72 hours, then you can report her missing.

[Blaine Alexander]

You must have thought about that delay.

[Keith Morrison]

A lot in the last 20 years.

[Shane Bishop]

I have.

[Blaine Alexander]

Tiffany is one of nearly 200 missing indigenous people in the state of New Mexico. This week, the state became the fourth in the nation to introduce an alert system designed to get more attention more quickly for indigenous people who go missing. It's called the Turquoise Alert System. My next guest, Josette Monette, is New Mexico's Cabinet Secretary of Indian affairs, and she's joining us now to tell us more about this new alert system. Secretary Monette, welcome and thank you so much for joining us today.

[Shane Bishop]

Hi. Thank you so much for having me today.

[Blaine Alexander]

You once said too many Native American families have faced crisis and the heartbreak of a loved one disappearing without the swift response they deserve. Why do you believe that's the case?

[Shane Bishop]

Well, we know from various studies that there has been a large portion of Native American people that have gone missing and not always having a quick response. And so that's. That was kind of my thought, is this. Is this hopefully will help get to bridging some of that gap of having an alert system specifically for Native American people, even when they might go missing.

[Blaine Alexander]

In your experience, have you found that these cases have not been prioritized in the same way as other missing people?

[Shane Bishop]

I can't speak for any individual, law enforcement, or a family member, and, you know, I've been lucky enough that this hasn't been something I've experienced personally. What we do know in Indian country are there are jurisdictional questions for what is federal land, what state land, and who has the jurisdiction over that? So those sometimes do become issues. One of the gaps that we were trying to cover in particular what the Turquoise still learned, is we know that the Amber Alert covers younger children. A silver alert covers a larger age group, but most missing Indigenous people fall between, like, 18 to 46. And there was no alert system for that age group. And so one of the things with the Turquoise alert is trying to ensure that there's an alert system in place for that age group of missing and murdered indigenous people.

[Blaine Alexander]

Just walk me through how this would work.

[Shane Bishop]

It does function very much like an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert based on, you know, what the criteria is for a person who has gone missing due to an involuntary or unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

[Blaine Alexander]

We're talking about road signs, radio alerts, TV alerts, different ways to get that information out immediately to the public. Right?

[Shane Bishop]

Correct.

[Blaine Alexander]

Turquoise, the name Turquoise, that was not chosen by mistake. That's very intentional. Tell our listeners why that was chosen as this alert.

[Shane Bishop]

We actually had a staff member at the Indian Affairs Department who was kind of was creative in her thinking. And, you know, turquoise means a lot to New Mexico and a lot to native people in the Southwest. It's a powerful stone. She kind of had this creative thought of, you know, you have silver and you have amber. So like a stone or kind of a material of sources. She's like, what if we use turquoise solar to kind of represent native people here in New Mexico? And I was like, oh, that's a great idea. So, so we ran with it. We thought it was great.

[Blaine Alexander]

You know, in Tiffany Reed's case, her family has said that police told them to wait 72 hours to file a missing persons report. And they say that even after all of that, police then waited four days, according to the family, to put Tiffany's information into a national database for missing people. Now, police wouldn't comment to our DATELINE team on what they say happen happened, citing an open and active investigation. So I guess my question to you is, had this law been in effect back in 2004 when she originally went missing, do you think that this would have made a difference in her case?

[Shane Bishop]

I can't really say for sure whether or not it would have. I can say that my hope is that having this alert system moving forward does help prevent some of those things. You should report your missing loved one right away.

[Blaine Alexander]

Secretary Mona, thank you so much for your time. Thanks for joining us today to talk about this very important system. We appreciate it.

[Shane Bishop]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Blaine Alexander]

That's it for this episode of DATELINE True Crime Weekly. To get ad free listening for all of our podcasts, subscribe to DATELINE Premium. And if you want to learn more about missing persons cases, don't forget to check out Josh's new season of the DATELINE Missing in America podcast. Episodes one through four, including his report on the Tiffany Reed case case, are out now wherever you get your podcasts. And remember to listen closely because you could be the key to solving a mystery. And reminder, there's no DATELINE this Friday. But don't worry, friends. You can watch our When Sparks Fly marathon on the Dateline 24. 7 channel Friday through Monday. Except, of course, when you take a break Saturday at 98 Central to watch a classic two hour Keith Mystery on NBC. Thanks so much 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 Kuriloff. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Production and fact checking help by Terry Dickerson. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original music by Jesse Mcginty Bryson Barnes is the head of audio production, Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Cole is senior executive producer of Dateline.

[Keith Morrison]

Thanks, everybody. Have a great time.

[Shane Bishop]

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[Blaine Alexander]

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[Keith Morrison]

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[Blaine Alexander]

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[Keith Morrison]

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[Blaine Alexander]

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