Dateline: True Crime Weekly—Cases to Watch in 2026: Pam Hupp and Kouri Richins, Plus High-Tech Home Burglaries

Podcast: Dateline: True Crime Weekly
Host: Andrea Canning, NBC News
Air Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

This week, Andrea Canning and the Dateline team kick off 2026 with an in-depth look at the most anticipated court cases of the year. The episode spotlights the upcoming trials of Pam Hupp—whose story has tangled through years of Dateline coverage—and Kouri Richins, the Utah mom accused of poisoning her husband. The hosts also run through a lineup of notable upcoming trials and, in a special segment, examine the alarming rise of “high-tech” home burglaries, with practical tips for listeners to protect themselves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pam Hupp: The Saga Continues

[02:21–09:26]

• Background:
  Pam Hupp, a familiar name for Dateline fans, awaits trial in Missouri for the 2011 stabbing death of Betsy Faria. While Betsy’s husband Russ was initially convicted based on Hupp’s testimony, he was later acquitted. Hupp herself later killed Louis Gumpenberger in 2016, taking an Alford plea and being sentenced to life.

• Upcoming Trial:
  Pam now faces first-degree murder charges for Betsy’s death, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. The trial is scheduled for August 2026.

• Motive and Evidence:

  • Alleged motive: financial gain—Pam was made the beneficiary of Betsy’s life insurance.
  • Key evidence: Lack of forensic evidence at the scene, but prosecutors plan to rely on electronic/cellphone records showing Pam near the scene at the time; plus, details about her handling of the insurance payout.
  • Louis Gumpenberger’s murder is believed to be an elaborate attempt by Hupp to frame Russ Faria.

• Defense:

  • Focused on the presence of unidentified male DNA on the murder weapon, not Pam’s.
  • Hupp continues to proclaim her innocence.

• Human Impact:

  • Family trauma is significant. Andrea and Keith reflect on interviews with Betsy’s relatives, including her mother’s unshakable belief in Russ’ guilt, showing the “emotional wrenching changes” the family has endured.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “Pam became aware that Betsy had some life insurance policies, and so Pam arranged for Betsy to name Pam as her beneficiary... I think Pam saw the opportunity.” — Keith Morrison, [04:51]
  • “Assuming she did kill Betsy Faria, she was... very careful not to leave any evidence of herself behind in the crime scene.” — Keith Morrison, [07:46]

2. Kouri Richins: The Utah Mom Murder Trial

[11:25–18:10]

• Case Summary:
  In March 2022, Kouri Richins’ husband, Eric, was found dead from a fatal fentanyl overdose. Months later, Kouri published a children’s book about grief, only to be charged with her husband’s murder shortly after. She faces additional financial crime charges as her February 2026 trial approaches.

• Prosecution’s Theory:
  Kouri allegedly obtained fentanyl through her housekeeper, attempted to poison Eric once before, and was motivated by money—her financial difficulties and Eric’s life insurance. Prosecutors allege she had an affair and was texting her paramour on the night of Eric’s death.

• Defense Strategy:

  • Challenge the source and trace of the fentanyl; claim financial transactions were for cleaning, not drugs.
  • Highlight prosecutorial missteps—such as a key witness, Robert Crozier, recanting his testimony about supplying the housekeeper with fentanyl.
  • Suggest Eric’s death could have been an accidental overdose; dispute claims about Kouri’s financial motives and insurance policies.

• Judge’s Ruling:
  Despite defense motions alleging a “Brady violation” (withholding exculpatory evidence), the judge is allowing the trial to move forward, with the disputed witness’s credibility left to the jury.

• Trial Logistics:
  Jury selection: Feb 10, 2026
  Trial start: Feb 23, 2026 (expected to last 5 weeks)

• Notable Quotes:

  • “I'm anxious to get trial and I'm ready to get this one heck of a fight. You took an innocent mom away from her babies.” — Kouri Richins, [11:25]
  • “The defense says without this testimony, the prosecution can't prove Corey ever got her hands on any fentanyl to poison her husband.” — Karen Israel, [15:41]

3. Dateline Roundup: More High-Profile Trials in 2026

[20:14–27:26]

Producer Sue Simpson joins to preview the following cases:

• Paul Canero (New Jersey):
  Accused of murdering his brother’s family and setting two house fires.
  Motive: Money, debts, and a mistress.
  Trial starting “in just a few days.”
  “We allege that the defendant repeatedly shot and killed his brother and then moved to murder the rest of the family inside the home.” — Prosecutor, [20:53]

• Brendan Banfield (Virginia):
  Former IRS agent accused of killing his wife, Christine, and another man, Joseph Ryan, via an elaborate “catfish” plot, allegedly to start a new life with the family’s au pair (who has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter).
  “This may be one of the more outlandish murder plots we've heard from prosecutors in a while.” — Sue Simpson, [23:28]

• Matthew Farwell (Massachusetts):
  Former police officer charged with murdering Sandra Birchmore, a woman he allegedly groomed in a department youth program; she was pregnant at the time of her death, which was staged as a suicide.

• Rex Heuermann (New York):
  Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer to stand trial for seven murders—case hinges on new “whole genome sequencing” DNA technology.
  "At a pretrial hearing. They called it, quote, magic, not science." — Andrea Canning, [27:18]

4. High-Tech Burglaries: How Criminals Are Outsmarting Your Security

[27:29–32:12]

• The New Reality:
  Burglaries remain common—one every 28 seconds in the US, according to the FBI.

• Rising Threats:

  • “Burglary tourism”: Organized international crews (e.g., from Chile) targeting US homes, including athlete mansions.
  • Use of Wi-Fi jammers to disable security cameras and alarms by cutting off home networks.
  • Camouflaged cameras concealed in lawns or bushes for surveillance.

• Practical Advice (from NBC’s Adrienne Broaddas):

  • Opt for hardwired (non-Wi-Fi-dependent) security systems to prevent jamming.
  • Use resilient Wi-Fi networks (preferably 5G).
  • Employ cameras that save footage locally (SD cards) for evidence retention even during Wi-Fi outages.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “A burglary happens about every 28 seconds in the U.S. and yes, you guys heard me right, every 28 seconds. But the thing is, there's good news. Burglary in the US has been on the decline since 1980.” — Adrienne Broaddas, [28:26]
  • “This Wi-Fi jammer can disable all devices on your home Wi-Fi … They cost about $60 or $70, and they only work in a short range, about a 10 to 12ft radius.” — Adrienne Broaddas, [30:31]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Pam Hupp Trial Motive and Family Impact

  • “In a career of strange stories, you may also have seen the NBC miniseries The Thing About Pam starring Renée Zellweger...” — Andrea Canning, [02:50]
  • “Her story keeps twisting… We look forward to talking to you about this case that keeps on giving.” — Andrea Canning to Keith Morrison, [09:18]

• Kouri Richins Defense Preview

  • “They say the payments made by Corey to her housekeeper can be for cleaning work, not drugs. And we expect them to attack the credibility of the housekeeper's testimony.” — Karen Israel, [16:54]

• Home Security Segment

  • “Picture a small device that you can carry by hand, not much bigger than your cell phone. This Wi-Fi jammer can disable all devices on your home Wi-Fi.” — Adrienne Broaddas, [30:31]

Timestamps for Main Segments

• Pam Hupp Trial Deep Dive: [02:21–09:26]
• Kouri Richins Case and Update: [11:25–18:10]
• Upcoming High-Profile Trial Roundup: [20:14–27:26]
• High-Tech Home Burglaries & Safety Tips: [27:29–32:12]

Tone & Style

The episode maintains Dateline’s signature blend of investigative storytelling and professional gravity, with moments of conversational familiarity—as when Andrea marvels at new developments or exchanges reflections with Keith Morrison and other correspondents. The reporting is empathetic toward victims’ families, curious in the face of legal twists, and practical when discussing true crime’s real-world impact.

Recommended for listeners interested in high-profile crime stories, behind-the-scenes trial insights, and practical safety advice, all delivered with Dateline’s authoritative style.