Kentucky prosecutor wants trial of dentist's son delayed. Cal Harris sues cops. Plus, rental scams.

Summary

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Dateline: True Crime Weekly, November 13, 2025

Episode: Kentucky Prosecutor Wants Trial of Dentist's Son Delayed. Cal Harris Sues Cops. Plus, Rental Scams.
Host: Andrea Canning (NBC News)
Featured Correspondents: Blaine Alexander, Sue Simpson, Alex Lerae, Vicky Wynn

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Episode Overview

This week’s Dateline: True Crime Weekly delivers in-depth coverage on three major crime stories shaking communities across the U.S.:

• The prosecution’s request to delay the Kentucky murder trial of a dentist’s son
• Cal Harris’ civil suit against authorities after years of murder trials
• A sharp rise in sophisticated rental scams on social media

Host Andrea Canning is joined by expert correspondents for fresh reporting, courtroom highlights, and practical advice.

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1. Kentucky Dentist & Son: Murder Trial Delayed

[00:50–09:07]

Summary & Key Points

• The Crime: In June 2023, Amber Spradlin, a beloved 38-year-old restaurant hostess, was found stabbed to death in the home of Dr. Michael McKinney, a small-town dentist in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.

  • McKinney’s son, Michael “M.K.” McKinney, was charged with her murder and evidence tampering in August 2024, alongside his father and a family friend, Josh Mullins, also charged with tampering.
  • All three have pleaded not guilty; MK remains jailed on $5 million bond.

• Victim Profile:

  "She had a huge smile, tremendous personality... just enjoyed being social and flashing that big smile to everyone.”
  —Blaine Alexander [03:16]

• The Night of the Crime:

  • After work, Amber went to a bar with friend Roy Kidd. They met the McKinneys, went to the dentist's house, and partied.
  • The next morning, Roy found Amber dead on the couch; Dr. McKinney called 911:

  “It looks like somebody's came into the house and effing murdered her. There's blood everywhere.”
  —Andrea Canning (quoting 911 call) [03:43]

• Prosecution Theory & Evidence:

  • DNA from Amber's fingernails matched the McKinneys.
  • MK had suspicious scratches; his father did not.
  • No clear motive identified; prosecutor cited MK’s "history of violent outbursts and mental instability," partly relying on Roy Kidd's testimony.

    “MK had told him [Roy] he sometimes heard voices telling him to kill himself and to do bad things.”
    —Blaine Alexander [05:10]

• Defense’s Response:

  • Say Roy Kidd is unreliable and possibly responsible; allege he was "intoxicated to the point of belligerence."
  • Emphasize MK's clean criminal record.

• The Cover-Up Accusations:

  • Prosecutor claims the trio disposed of MK’s clothes, a home security camera, a computer hard drive, and a knife handle.

• Reason for Trial Delay:

  • Prosecutor still awaiting key DNA results:
    • Blood on Amber’s clothing, couch, Dr. McKinney’s bedroom door, and in sink traps
    • Potential hairs on Amber’s clothing
  • Kentucky crime labs face major backlogs:

    “There's a backlog in Kentucky Crime labs… moving as quickly as they can, but it still takes time.”
    —Blaine Alexander [07:25]

• Defense Frustrations:

  “They can't say we're not ready for trial because our case isn't strong enough, but say simultaneously our case is so strong he's got to be held in jail on a five million dollar bond.”
  —Sue Simpson [08:33]

  “You can't have your cake and eat it too.”
  —Andrea Canning [08:46]

• Judge’s Decision:

  • Trial is officially on hold; next hearing scheduled to “iron out those next steps.” [08:53–09:01]

---

2. Cal Harris Sues Law Enforcement After Four Murder Trials

[11:01–19:04]

Background & Timeline

• Case Summary:

  • Michelle Harris disappeared Sept. 11, 2001. Her van was found abandoned; no body ever recovered.
  • Cal Harris was tried four times over 15 years for her presumed murder—convicted twice, acquitted at the fourth trial, spent three years in prison.

• Cal’s Perspective:

  “From his perspective, they put him through hell. Four trials, three years behind bars, and many years of separation from his children.”
  —Sue Simpson [12:54]

• Key Early Evidence:

  • Small blood stains in kitchen rug and garage linked to Michelle.

  “Investigators believe... blood came from a recent act of violence that someone had then tried to clean up.”
  —Sue Simpson [15:04]

• Prosecution Motivation:

  • Cal didn’t search for Michelle; couple’s relationship was rocky and amid a divorce.
  • Prosecutor’s assertion of motive: Custody and financial stress.

• Memorable Moment—Alleged Threats:

  “I wouldn't need a gun to kill you, and if I did kill you, they'll never find your body.”
  —Tioga County DA Jerry Keene, via Alex Lerae [14:36]

• The Four Trials:

  • Conviction 1 overturned after a new witness surfaced.
  • Conviction 2 overturned on appeal due to jury selection errors.
  • Trial 3 ended in a hung jury.
  • Acquitted by judge at trial 4.

Harris’ Lawsuit

• Filed 2017:

  • Defendants: State investigators, former prosecutor, children’s babysitter.
  • Allegations: Fabricated evidence, pressuring the prosecutor, coaching witnesses, doctored photos, babysitter changing testimony under direction.

  "Kyle Harris accused the New York State investigators of pressuring the prosecutor to bring charges, fabricating evidence and grooming witnesses..."
  —Sue Simpson [17:20]

  • Defendants deny all wrongdoing.

    “The lead investigator... testified that her investigation had been exhaustive and that the prosecutor, not her, called the shots about filing charges.”
    —Sue Simpson [17:48]

• Impact on Family:

  • Harris’ son Tanner testified emotionally about prison visits and family separation.

    “Every time they turned around to drive home, how silent it was in the car.”
    —Sue Simpson [18:15]

• Jury Verdict:

  • Jury ruled against Harris—insufficient evidence of a conspiracy or malice by authorities.

• Long-Term Outlook:

  “I find it really hard to believe it's the end... We know that the body hasn't been found, obviously. So that could happen and be a final chapter there.”
  —Sue Simpson [18:54]

---

3. Dateline Roundup: Updates on Ongoing Criminal Cases

[21:13–26:30]

A. Murder of Kada Scott (Philadelphia) [21:20–23:34]

• Case Update:
  • 23-year-old aspiring beauty queen Kada Scott disappeared October 4.
  • Body found 14 days later; single gunshot wound to the head.
  • Suspect Keon King, previously charged with strangulation/kidnapping (charges dropped), now faces additional charges of robbery, firearms violations, and evidence tampering.
  • Outrage as prior charges had been dropped.
  • Philadelphia community and city council now reassessing handling of such violent crime cases.
  • Public funeral: Hundreds attended, many in Kada’s favorite color, pink.

    “We’re going to formally institutionalize the Kada Scott internship in the city of Philadelphia.”
    —Mayor Cherelle Parker [23:18]

B. Dan Serafini—MLB Pitcher Seeks New Trial [23:34–25:16]

• Background:
  • Convicted in July of shooting his in-laws (June 2021).
  • New trial request based on juror conduct; "Juror Number Six" used the computer “snipping tool” to analyze and compare evidence.

  “She testified that she used the snipping tool to grab screenshots from two surveillance videos...”
  —Alex Lerae [24:26]

  • Defense: Claims this amounts to unauthorized analysis.
  • Prosecution: Says juror was just better understanding evidence.
  • Next hearing on Dec 8; a separate hearing on claim of insufficient counsel set for January.

C. Angie Solomon—Murder-for-Hire Accusations [25:16–26:26]

• Background:
  • Tennessee case: Angie Solomon accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill ex-husband, TV anchor Aaron Solomon. Alleged motive: access to a trust fund.
  • Previous divorce litigation included abuse and molestation allegations against Aaron (found without merit by the court). Aaron also sued Angie for defamation (case dismissed).
  • Latest: Daughter has filed a civil suit against Aaron, making public statements on YouTube.
  • Angie’s next court hearing: December.

---

4. Rental Scams Soar: How to Protect Yourself

[26:33–31:17]

Insights from Vicky Wynn, NBC News Chief Consumer Investigative Correspondent

• Rental Scams Are Rising:

  • Social media is the new “frontier”—scammers steal real agents’ videos and images, set up fake listings at bargain prices.
  • Tactics:
    • Push urgency (“act now or lose the unit”)
    • Ask for even small, “refundable” deposits ($200–400), then disappear.
  • Many victims are young, new to the market, or unfamiliar with local pricing.

    "Repost someone else's videos, and in some cases... they're even posing as the realtor themselves."
    —Vicky Wynn [29:08]

• Red Flags for Renters:

  • Super-low rent
  • Sense of urgency or pressure
  • Requests for money upfront, sight unseen
  • Non-traceable payment methods (Zelle, Venmo, etc.)

  "If you're looking at an ad and the rent is just so much lower than the market rate, steer clear."
  —Vicky Wynn [30:22]

• What To Do If Scammed:

  • Report to your bank immediately—try to recover funds.
  • Notify your local police.
  • Report fraudulent listings to the platform (TikTok, IG, etc.)
  • Platforms say they are removing accounts but can’t keep up ("a game of whack-a-mole").

    “[Scammers] know how to find markets that are profitable for them... ripping off a bunch of people... and disappear.”
    —Vicky Wynn [28:45]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Delays in Forensic Processing:

  "I think the public and everybody has this idea that they've got some big assembly line of DNA people like on CSI... they don't do that."
  —Andrea Canning [07:35]

• On Prosecutors' Double Standards:

  "You can't have your cake and eat it too."
  —Andrea Canning [08:46]

• On Family Impact of Four Trials:

  “[Tanner Harris] said every time they turned around to drive home, how silent it was in the car.”
  —Sue Simpson [18:15]

---

Timestamps by Major Segment

• Kentucky Dentist/Son Murder Trial: [00:50–09:07]
• Cal Harris Civil Lawsuit: [11:01–19:04]
• Dateline Round-Up:
  • Kada Scott (Philadelphia Murder): [21:20–23:34]
  • Dan Serafini (MLB Pitcher): [23:34–25:16]
  • Angie Solomon (Murder-for-Hire): [25:16–26:26]
• Rental Scams Segment: [26:33–31:17]

---

Takeaways

• Crime investigations can stall for years due to evidence delays—sometimes at the expense of defendants’ liberty.
• Prosecutorial decisions and law enforcement conduct remain hotly contested, with families deeply affected.
• Social media rental scams have exploded. Growing awareness and a skeptical approach are essential for renters.

---

For more true crime reporting or ad-free episodes, visit DatelinePremium.com.

Transcript

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There were snowflakes on the plaza. It's the start of another workday here at DATELINE headquarters.

[Alex Lerae]

It certainly was cold enough for a little snowflake.

[Andrea Canning]

Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news.

[Alex Lerae]

The husband is speaking out, saying, I had nothing to do with it.

[Andrea Canning]

There was no date for that retrial.

[Alex Lerae]

Right.

[Blaine Alexander]

She wrote in her diary that if.

[Andrea Canning]

I end up dead, then my husband did it. Welcome to DATELINE true Crime weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's November 13th and here's what's on our docker. In upstate New York, a man who stood trial four times for his wife's murder and was acquitted takes the investigators to court.

[Sue Simpson]

From his perspective, they put him through hell. Four trials, three years behind bars and many years of separation from his children.

[Andrea Canning]

In DATELINE roundup updates on the case of Kada Scott, the murdered aspiring beauty queen and former baseball pitcher and convicted killer Dan Serafini pushes for a new trial.

[Alex Lerae]

Serafini's defense attorney questioned the juror in front of the judge about how she used computer tools to review evidence during the case.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, rental scams on social media are on the rise. NBC News chief consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn tells us what to watch out for.

[Vicky Wynn]

They rip off a bunch of people and disappear.

[Andrea Canning]

Before all that, we're heading to a small town in eastern Kentucky where the son of a local dentist is behind bars awaiting trial for murder. His dad has been charged, too, with helping him cover it up. In June 2023, Amber Spradlin, a 38 year old restaurant hostess in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, was found stabbed to death in the home of Dr. Michael McKinney, the town dentist. For over a year, there were no arrests. Then in August 2024, the dentist's son, Michael, or M.K. as he's called, was charged with Amber's murder and multiple counts of tampering with evidence. The the dentist and a family friend were also charged with tampering with evidence. Their trial was expected to begin in December. All three men have pleaded not guilty. But at a recent pretrial hearing, the prosecutor urged the judge to give him more time. The defense wasn't having any of it.

[Sue Simpson]

It's not fair for someone who's never.

[Andrea Canning]

Been charged with a crime to sit.

[Blaine Alexander]

In jail while they get their ducks in a row for a case that they brought here.

[Andrea Canning]

To tell us why the prosecutor wants to put the brakes on the case and what the judge decided is my friend and colleague, DATELINE correspondent Blaine Alexander. Hey, Blaine.

[Blaine Alexander]

Hi, Andrea. Glad to join you.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. So, okay, before we dive into the allegations and talk about what's going on in the courtroom, tell us about Amber. I know you've been working on this story for a while.

[Blaine Alexander]

Yeah. Well, Andrea, Amber loved her family. That's the first thing that her cousin Debbie hall told me. She was just really, really close to all of her family members. She had a huge smile, tremendous personality. She worked at a local restaurant called Brick House, where she loved to talk to customers and really just enjoyed being social and flashing that big smile to everyone.

[Andrea Canning]

Which makes, you know, her final moments, her last hours, all the more heartbreaking. Tell us about what we know.

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, we know that on the night of June 17, Amber finished up her shift at that restaurant, Brick House, and she went to a bar with a friend, Roy Kidd. That's where she and Roy bumped into the dentist, Dr. Michael McKinney, and his son, M.K. they all wound up going back to the dentist's house to just hang out and have a few more drinks together. Well, the next morning, according to prosecutors, it was Roy Kid who found Amber dead on the living room couch and then went over into the next room to get the dentist's help. The dentist called 911 and told dispatch, quote, it looks like somebody's came into the house and effing murdered her. There's blood everywhere. Now, according to the autopsy report, Amber had been stabbed at least 12 times. Andrea, it was just truly a horrible scene.

[Andrea Canning]

A year later, police arrested M.K. the son, and he was charged with Amber's murder. What evidence do prosecutors say implicates him in the murder?

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, according to the prosecution, the medical examiner found DNA under Amber's fingernails which matched the McKinney's. Now, that could be either the dad or the son, and that the pattern of her wound suggested that she tried to fight off her attacker. Now, the prosecution notes that MK had these suspicious scratches on his forearms, and his dad didn't have any of those scratches. So that led investigators to conclude that MK Was the person that Amber had been trying to fight off.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, so they, they. Law enforcement thinks this is a night that went very bad. But what, why? What was the motive? What are they suggesting?

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, so far, they don't have any idea of a motive. But at last year's bond hearing, the prosecutor told the judge that MK had a history of violent outbursts and mental instability. The prosecutor also told the judge that Roy Kid, the friend who found Amber's body, who was there that night, said that MK had told him he sometimes heard voices telling him to kill himself and to do bad things.

[Andrea Canning]

The defense has pushed back against this idea of MK as being dangerous and said Roy Kidd is not a reliable witness.

[Blaine Alexander]

Right, the. You know, the defense is really slamming this entire idea of MK being violent, basically saying that MK has had no criminal record. And in court filings, they have planted this idea that Roy Kidd could just as well be the killer. The defense is alleging that Roy had been, quote, intoxicated to the point of belligerence that night.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so we, we should say Roy Kid has not been charged with anything. And the prosecutor says he's been fully cooperative with investigators. So the judge said MK's bond at $5 million and he's been in jail for more than a year. His father, the dentist, and the family friend got out on bond. Blaine, what exactly are they accused of doing with these allegations that they helped cover up this crime?

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, Andrea, the prosecutor alleges that mk, his dad and that friend, a guy named Josh Mullins, got rid of evidence MK's clothes from that night, a home security camera, a computer hard drive, and a knife handle, all in an attempt to cover up what happened. Now, it's important to note that they have all denied those allegations.

[Andrea Canning]

So fast forward to last week. Trial was supposed to start on December 1st, but at the last minute, the prosecution filed a motion asking to postpone. What is their grounds for this possible postponement?

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, the prosecutor has said that he's still awaiting results from the state crime lab. Now, he mentioned DNA testing that's been done on blood that was found on Amber's clothing, as well as blood on the couch where Amber's body was found and blood on Dr. McKin's bedroom door. The prosecutor said that there also appeared to be blood in the sink traps of the house. And finally, he mentioned that he'd like to test what appeared to be hairs on Amber's clothes.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so do we know why this is all taking so long?

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, the prosecutor explained that quite frankly, there's a backlog in Kentucky Crime labs. He said that the lab has been pushing ahead, just moving as quickly as they can, but it still takes time.

[Andrea Canning]

I think public and everybody has this.

[Vicky Wynn]

Idea that they got some big assembly.

[Andrea Canning]

Line of DNA people like on CSI that's, you know, getting it done. They don't do that.

[Alex Lerae]

You know, they don't have the resources to do that.

[Andrea Canning]

I wish they did. The judge asked the prosecution why they even needed this evidence. And the prosecutor said it was a big deal. Why does he think it's a big deal?

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, the prosecutor pointed out that Roy Kidd had been bleeding that night too. He had cut himself at some point during that party. Prosecutor said that they needed to do the testing to know exactly whose blood was where throughout the house.

[Andrea Canning]

The defense told the judge enough is enough. That MK has been asking for a speedy trial since the get go and it's time to go to trial.

[Blaine Alexander]

So his attorney suggested that the state wants this extra testing because in the defense's words, their case against MK is weak. He also asked the judge to modify MK's bond so that he could get out of jail.

[Sue Simpson]

They can't say we're not ready for.

[Andrea Canning]

Trial because our case isn't strong enough, but say simultaneously our case is so.

[Blaine Alexander]

Strong he's got to be held in jail on a five million dollar bond.

[Andrea Canning]

You can't do it. You can't have your cake and eat it too. What did the judge ultimately decide?

[Blaine Alexander]

Well, the judge decided to put the trial on hold. Now, as for the next steps, we know that there is a hearing coming up and that's when attorneys will iron out those next steps.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, well, we will have you back on to talk about that. Blaine, thank you so much for bringing us this big update.

[Blaine Alexander]

Of course. Thank you.

[Andrea Canning]

Coming up, Cal Harris stood trial four times for his wife's murder before he was finally acquitted. Recently, he squared off with investigators in the courtroom accusing them of ruining his life. I've never felt like this before. It's like you just get me. I feel like my true self with you. Does that sound crazy? And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous. Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home with me. I mean, you can't find shoes this good just anywhere. Find a shoe for every you from.

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On May 24, 2016, Cal Harris stood outside a courthouse in upstate New York and told reporters what it felt like to be acquitted of the murder of his wife, Michelle.

[Alex Lerae]

I was just, I was shocked.

[Blaine Alexander]

I was truly shocked.

[Andrea Canning]

It was the fourth time Harris had stood trial for Michelle's murder in the 15 years since her disappearance. Harris wept for the three years he'd spent in prison away from his children.

[Blaine Alexander]

Best years of my life as a.

[Andrea Canning]

Parent, and I'll never get those years back. A year after his acquittal, Harris filed a civil lawsuit against more than a dozen officials, including two of the investigators and the original prosecutor. Along with his children's babysitter. He accused them of conspiring against him to mount a malicious prosecution, something they have all vehemently denied. This month, Harris was back in a courtroom as the civil case finally went to trial. DATELINE producer Sue Simpson, who reported on this story for years, is here to tell us more. Hey, Sue.

[Sue Simpson]

Hey, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, so, I mean, Sue, I remember this case so well and how hard you worked on it. I feel like I had just started at DATELINE and I could not believe how many times this went to trial.

[Sue Simpson]

I know, it's, it's amazing. It really is a story straight out of the movies.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, it really is. So now, sue, the roles are reversed. Cal Harris is the accuser, and the investigators are the defendants. Did you ever expect Harris to make a move like this?

[Sue Simpson]

You know, Andrea, I am not surprised. Kyle Harris made it clear in our DATELINE interview years ago that but he felt law enforcement had treated him unfairly from day one. From his perspective, they put him through hell. Four trials, three years behind bars, and many years of separation from his children.

[Andrea Canning]

So let's give people who might not know this story the basics of what happened 35 year old Michelle Harris disappeared on the night of September 11, 2001. What did investigators know in those early hours?

[Sue Simpson]

Michelle's van was found abandoned at the bottom of the driveway of the home she and Cal shared with their four children. The key were still in the ignition of that van, but there was no sign of Michelle. And remember, Andrea, it was 9 11, and the rest of the world was looking elsewhere.

[Andrea Canning]

The New York State Police launched a massive search operation. Teams on foot, they had dogs, but they didn't find anything, right? No.

[Sue Simpson]

No, they didn't. Andrea. Michelle's body has never been found.

[Andrea Canning]

So one thing we know, sue, is that when the husband or the boyfriend or the significant other doesn't show up to searches, it always raises red flags. And this was no different. Cal Harris was not participating in the searches for his wife.

[Sue Simpson]

He was not. Now, Cal will tell you, and he did tell us that he didn't go out searching because there were plenty of other searchers and he wanted to be with his children. He is a dedicated dad. But also, the 11 year marriage between Kyle and Michelle was on the rocks, and the two of them were in the process of getting divorced. Some of Michelle's family members and friends told investigators that Kyle was controlling. And just before she disappeared, investigators said he was particularly stressed out by the financial and custody implications of the split.

[Andrea Canning]

And I'll just remind everyone, too, you did this story with Keith Morrison. And Tioga County DA Jerry Keene told Keith something a witness allegedly overheard Harris saying to Michelle. Let's take a listen from that episode.

[Alex Lerae]

What he said to her was, I wouldn't need a gun to kill you, and if I did kill you, they'll never find your body.

[Andrea Canning]

In the heat of passion, people say terrible things to each other. Doesn't mean they kill them, though.

[Alex Lerae]

But he went beyond saying terrible things to her. He told her that he would put her body in a place where it would never be found.

[Andrea Canning]

Sue? Cal Harris has always denied threatening Michelle or hurting her. Without a body, how did investigators even know that there had been a murder?

[Sue Simpson]

Investigators told us the biggest clue was something they found inside the Harris home. Tiny, tiny blood stains on the kitchen rug. There were more blood stains that looked like they had been washed or watered down on the garage floor. So they sent samples off for testing, and tests confirmed that it was Michelle's blood. The investigators believe that the blood came from a recent act of violence that someone had then tried to clean up.

[Andrea Canning]

And according to police and prosecutors, that act of violence was Cal Harris striking his wife and killing her. What Has Harris said about the blood?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, his attorneys said that investigators found less than a teaspoon worth of blood and there was no evidence of a cleanup. They argued that Michelle could have had a minor injury and drip blood on the floor. But this was not, they insisted, evidence of a murder.

[Andrea Canning]

Even so, Harris was arrested for his wife's murder in 2005. He pleaded not guilty. Then came the four trials. Just give us a quick rundown of why there were four.

[Sue Simpson]

So Harris was convicted at his first trial, and that was in 2007, just as he was about to be sentenced. The judge threw out the verdict because of a witness who suddenly came forward at that hearing. And he was a local farmer. This witness, he said he was out hauling hay early, early. And he said he saw Michelle at the end of the driveway. She was crying, he said. And he said she was with a brown haired man. He later identified that person as being someone Michelle knew from the restaurant where she worked. So Harris got a new trial, and he was convicted again. At trial number two, he went to prison. But that verdict was then overturned on the appellate court. Said the judge had made mistakes in jury selection. Then trial number three ended in a hung jury. So a mistrial was declared. Trial number four, Cal Harris, opted to have a judge hear the case against him, and the judge acquitted him.

[Andrea Canning]

Incredible. So, sue, that brings us to present day. Harris filed his federal lawsuit in 2017. By the time it got into a courtroom just, just last month, there were three defendants, two of the investigators, and the family babysitter. So what did the attorney say the investigators had done wrong?

[Sue Simpson]

Kyle Harris accused the New York State investigators of pressuring the prosecutor to bring charges, fabricating evidence and grooming witnesses to get the result they wanted. He said that Steve Anderson, one of the investigators who found the blood, had doctored photos of the blood stains. And then Kyle accused the family babysitter of working with investigators. She changed her story, he said, at their direction to make them look guilty.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, so what are they all saying to this?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, they denied there'd been any conspiracy and definitely nothing malicious. The lead investigator, Sue Mulvey, testified that her investigation had been exhaustive and that the prosecutor, not her, called the shots about filing charges. Steve Anderson denied doctoring any photos, and he stood by his blood analysis. And the babysitter denied working for investigators or lying for them.

[Andrea Canning]

So the jury got to hear from Cal Harris and his youngest son, Tanner.

[Sue Simpson]

According to reporters in the courtroom, Tanner's testimony was very emotional. He described what it was like as a little kid. To visit his dad when he was in prison, how hard those visits were. And what I remember, Andrea, he said every time they turned around to drive home, how silent it was in the car.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. So sue, what did the jury decide?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, the jury decided against Kyle Harris. The jury said his attorneys hadn't proved that there was a conspiracy or fabrication of evidence.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. And with Cal Harris, we know sometimes just when you think things are over, they're not. Do you think this is the final chapter in this very long saga?

[Sue Simpson]

I find it really hard to believe it's the end. Andrea. We know that the body hasn't been found, obviously. So that could happen and be a final chapter there.

[Andrea Canning]

Thank you so much for bringing us this big update.

[Sue Simpson]

Thank you, Andrew.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE roundup. We've got updates on the murder of aspiring beauty queen Katis Scott. And more family drama in the case of a former TV anchor whose ex wife allegedly tried to take out a hit on him. Plus, growing concerns about sophisticated rental scams on social media. NBC News chief consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn has tips on how to steer clear. What are you doing in a meeting that could have been an email?

[Blaine Alexander]

That's right, you're losing interest.

[Andrea Canning]

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[Andrea Canning]

Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is DATELINE field producer Alex Lerae.

[Alex Lerae]

Hey, Alex, thanks for having me, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So, Alex, for our first story, we're going back to a case out of Philadelphia that we covered a few weeks ago, the disappearance of 23 year old aspiring beauty queen Kayda Scott. Kada vanished on October 4. Her body was found in a shallow grave behind an abandoned school 14 days later. And Alex, new details about the case have since come out.

[Alex Lerae]

That's right, Andrea. Last time we covered this, we told listeners about a man by the name of Keon King who had been charged with K's murder. But what we didn't know were the details of their relationship. Court documents now show a string of texts exchanged between the two before K was killed, indicating that they knew each other. We do know what Kada's cause of death death was, which was a single gunshot wound to the head.

[Andrea Canning]

That's awful, Alex. And this wasn't King's first time facing these types of charges.

[Alex Lerae]

Right. King had actually been charged earlier this year in another case involving strangulation and kidnapping, but those charges were ultimately dropped when the victim didn't show up to court. Now the DA's office has reopened the case, but many in the Philly community are outraged that King was ever even let back onto the streets. In fact, Philadelphia council members are taking a closer look at how the system handles cases like this.

[Andrea Canning]

So where do the King charges stand now?

[Alex Lerae]

So prosecutors have upped the charges against King, adding robbery, theft, violation of the Uniform Firearms act, tampering with evidence. He's still being held on a $2.5 million bill as prosecutors continue to build their case.

[Andrea Canning]

We should also say that we've reached out to King's attorney for comment, but have not received a response. Such a heartbreaking outcome for Kate's family.

[Alex Lerae]

Yeah, extremely. A public funeral was held for her this past Saturday. Hundreds packed of Philadelphia church, including her family, friends, activists, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.

[Andrea Canning]

What do we do to ensure that her legacy truly lives on?

[Blaine Alexander]

We're going to formally institutionalize the Kada Scott internship in the city of Philadelphia.

[Alex Lerae]

And Andrea, if you were there, you'd notice this wasn't typical funeral attire. Everyone was wearing pink, Kada's favorite color.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, you can really tell that Kada was very loved. And our thoughts are, of course, with her family. Alex. For our next story, we've got an update on a familiar case to our podcast. Dan Serafini, the former Major League baseball pitcher Convicted in July of shooting his in laws back in June 2021. He is asking for a new trial. What is the latest with that? That.

[Alex Lerae]

Right. So juror number six is at the center of Serafini's push for a new trial, and she was back in the courtroom on Monday. Serafini's defense attorney questioned the juror in front of the judge about how she used computer tools to review evidence during the case. She testified that she used the snipping tool to grab screenshots from two surveillance videos shown at trial. One showing Serafini in a hotel lobby the day before the shootings, and the other showing a masked hooded figure outside the victim's home on the day of the murders.

[Andrea Canning]

You're saying she was comparing the two images side by side and showing them to the other jurors?

[Alex Lerae]

Right, Exactly. The juror also said that she zoomed in on parts of the suspect's body, the face, shoulders, legs, and shoes, but didn't brighten or alter the images.

[Andrea Canning]

What's the defense saying about that?

[Alex Lerae]

Yeah. So defense attorney Barry Zimmerman argues that her actions went too far, that she was basically doing her own analysis. But prosecutors say that she was just trying to make sense of what she saw with the tools that she had. Now the judge has to decide whether that was harmless or enough to grant Serafini a whole new trial.

[Andrea Canning]

How long before the judge makes a decision, do we know?

[Alex Lerae]

It's a good question. Another hearing on juror misconduct is set for December 8. Serafini also claims that he had insufficient counsel, and that hearing is scheduled for January.

[Andrea Canning]

For our last story, we're heading to Tennessee, where a case that's been making headlines just took another turn. Angelia, or Angie Solomon, is facing first degree attempted murder charges for allegedly trying to hire a hitman to kill her ex husband, former TV anchor Aaron Solomon. Give us a refresher on this one, Alex.

[Alex Lerae]

Yeah. So prosecutors say the alleged hit was all about money, Specifically a trust fund that would go to her daughter if Aaron died. But the couple's messy divorce revealed way more layers. Angie accused Aaron of abusing her and their children, making graphic claims that he molested their daughter when she was a minor. The court found no merit to those claims. She also blamed Aaron for their son's tragic death in 2020. Aaron has denied all of it and even sued Angie for defamation over those accusations in 2022, though that case was dismissed by the judge.

[Andrea Canning]

So what's new?

[Alex Lerae]

The couple's daughter has come forward, doubling down on claims against her father. She's already spoken publicly about the allegations on YouTube, but now she's filed a civil suit against her dad.

[Andrea Canning]

When is Angie expected back in court?

[Alex Lerae]

Her next hearing is scheduled for December.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, thank you so much for bringing us roundup this week, Alex.

[Alex Lerae]

No problem, Andrea. Anytime.

[Andrea Canning]

Anyone looking to rent an apartment in a major city knows how expensive it can be. And with so much competition when a space becomes available, renters want to act fast. But NBC News chief consumer investigative correspondent Vicky Wynn says slow down, especially when looking for rentals on social media. According to the FBI, Americans lost nearly a million and a half dollars to social media rental scams last year. Vicki is joining us now with some things to think about before you send off that application fee.

[Blaine Alexander]

Hey, Vicki.

[Vicky Wynn]

Hey, Andrea. Great to be with you.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. So tell us about what's popping up on social media and what are these scammers doing exactly in this arena?

[Vicky Wynn]

This is a new frontier and a really wild one. Andrea. So a lot of younger generations go not on just Craigslist or street. Easy to look for apartments and rental homes these days. They're looking for them on TikTok Tock and Instagram. And while there are legitimate accounts, scammers have found a way to rip off tons of videos from real real estate agents. And realtors make new bogus imposter accounts and they post the same apartment for a fraction of the cost. It's too good to be true. But if you are new to an area or you're a first time renter, you might not know that this apartment for $1500 actually goes for $15000 in New York City. Right. Because 1500 still seems like a lot of money.

[Blaine Alexander]

Yeah.

[Vicky Wynn]

So what they do is they take these videos and they attract people and once they get them on the hook, they're like, hey, this apartment's going to go really fast. I'm going to need you to send a fully refundable deposit. But you need to do this and act quickly. So there's a couple of red flags. Right. The price is too good to be true and you need to act fast. There's a sense of, of urgency. And so they'll ask you for 2, 3, $400, which a lot of people in hot rental markets think that's reasonable. And then they find out the account has ghosted them. Once they've zelled or PayPal or Venmoed the money over, that person cuts off all communication.

[Andrea Canning]

Can these people just take all the brains that they're putting into this and, you know, have real jobs or start A business, because it sounds like they're actually kind of smart.

[Blaine Alexander]

Smart.

[Vicky Wynn]

They're definitely smart. These scammers know how to find markets that are profitable for them. And when they rip off a bunch of people at the tune of two, $300 each and disappear, I mean, there's a lot of fish in the sea. Especially because we know that the rental market is on fire right now. So this is happening coast to coast, according to FBI data, in small towns, big cities, anywhere where someone can set up a social media account, repost someone else's videos, and in some cases, Andrea, they're even posing as the realtor themselves. We spoke to a realtor who's getting hate messages and threatening messages, accusing him of scamming people when it's just his own identity that's been stolen and other people are posing as him and creating accounts as. As this realtor.

[Andrea Canning]

And you know, people are so desperate when they need a place to live and when it's so competitive to get these places, you know, you're. You feel like you're under the gun and you've got to do something very quickly.

[Vicky Wynn]

Totally. So you want to make sure that when you are looking for an apartment or a rental home, you slow down just a little bit. You've done your research so you know what the going market rate is. And if you're looking at an ad and the. The rent is just so much lower than the market rate, steer clear. And then if you are going to contact someone, look them up separately. Don't just call the number or the email is in the listing itself. Look up that person, find their actual real estate website and contact them that way, because that way you'll know you're talking to the real representative for that property. And try your best not to send money site unseen. By the way, you should know in a city like New York, the maximum that anyone can charge you for a rental application is actually $20. So figure out what that is in your area. They shouldn't be able to charge you 300, 400. And if they are, that's also a red flag.

[Andrea Canning]

Like, and what can renters do if they. If they are scammed?

[Vicky Wynn]

So first things first, report it to your bank. See if you can get the money back. The next thing I would do after you try to get your money back is report the scam to your local police and then also report the listing to the social media site so that hopefully they can take it down. We did talk with TikTok and Instagram and they say that they're proactively removing literally tens of thousands of these accounts. However, the scammers are constantly evolving and it's a little bit like a game of whack a mole.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, Vicki, thank you so much. Hopefully we had some renters listening to the podcast today. That's it for this episode of DATELINE True Crime Weekly. To get ad free listening for all our podcasts, subscribe to DATELINE Premium. Coming up this Friday, I have an all new episode about a case in my hometown. When a burning car was discovered at the bottom of a ditch, investigators unraveled a calculated cover up to find their suspect. I said, I just want you to know that you will spend the rest of your life paying for this. Be sure to tune in this Friday at 9, 8 Central. Thanks for listening. Dateline True Crime Weekly is produced by Carson Cummins, Caroline Casey and Keani Reed. Our senior producer is Liz Brown. Karloff production and fact checking help by Audrey Abrahams. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Raquan is our sound designer. Original Music by Jesse McGinty. Paul Ryan is executive producer and Liz Cole as senior executive producer of Dateline.

[Blaine Alexander]

See you soon.

[Andrea Canning]

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