North Carolina mom allegedly poisons family. Singer D4vd arrested. Plus, sexual assault awareness.

Summary

Dateline: True Crime Weekly – April 23, 2026

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, host Andrea Canning and the Dateline team cover three of the week's biggest crime stories:

• The shocking arrest of a North Carolina mom accused of poisoning her family at Thanksgiving
• The sensational case of singer D4vd (David Anthony Burke), charged with the murder of a teenage girl
• Current issues in sexual assault awareness, featuring survivor-turned-advocate Donna Palumbo

The episode weaves together investigative updates, courtroom surprises, and survivor perspectives, spotlighting how true crime impacts individuals, families, and communities.

---

Segment 1: North Carolina Mom Allegedly Poisons Her Family

(Starts ~02:01)

Key Case Details

• Suspect: Gudrun Casper Leinenkugel (formerly Linda Casper), age 53
• Victims:
  • Daughter Leila Leviss (deceased)
  • Daughter Maya (survived)
  • Maya’s boyfriend, Richard (hospitalized, survived)
• Incident: Thanksgiving 2025 dinner in Henderson County, NC, where wine allegedly laced with acetonitrile (a chemical that metabolizes to cyanide) was served.

Investigation Timeline & Insights

• Early police work focused on medical and cell phone records obtained via newly unsealed search warrants.
  • “This is really the first time we're piecing this together from the perspective of the investigators and the prosecutors.” — Carol Gable, 03:43
• Gudrun allegedly called Leila the morning after the dinner, then performed a welfare check herself and found Leila dead.
• Gudrun highlighted the wine in her initial police statements, bringing up possible contamination even before toxicology was completed.
  • "It's so interesting that before anyone even knows what killed Leila, Gudrun was bringing up the wine." — Andrea Canning, 06:05
• Maya didn’t get sick because a fly landed in her glass and she drank less. Gudrun, allergic to grapes, did not consume the tainted wine.

Forensic Findings

• Richard's toxicology showed five times the lethal dose of cyanide.
• Leila's blood showed acetonitrile, which converts to cyanide.
  • “She goes to the hospital... adds in that the wine was stored in an industrial closet where chemicals were possibly kept, including things like rat poison, cyanide...” — Carol Gable, 06:28

Motive & Backstory

• Gudrun had a close relationship with her daughters. No clear motive provided.
• She also faces charges for a 2007 murder (Michael Schmidt), also involving acetonitrile poisoning.

Family Dynamics

• Remaining family members, including Maya and Richard, reportedly support Gudrun.
  • "As of the last that we saw her, [Maya] was supporting her mother in all of this." — Andrea Canning, 10:37
  • “So is the boyfriend who had to be hospitalized.” — Hailey Barber, 10:44

Notable Quotes

• “Gudrun had a very close relationship with her daughters, especially Leila.” — Carol Gable, 08:57
• “This is not the only murder that Gudrun has been charged with.” — Hailey Barber, 09:19

Upcoming

• Gudrun remains in jail without bond. Next court hearing: April 30, 2026.

---

Segment 2: Singer D4vd Arrested in Hollywood Hills

(Starts ~13:00)

Case Facts

• Suspect: David Anthony Burke (D4vd), 21, viral TikTok music star
• Victim: Celeste Rivas, 14 (missing since April 2024, body found in September 2025 in Burke's Tesla)

Timeline

• Burke’s career skyrocketed from 2021 onward, opening for major artists and performing at top festivals (“He has a very big following... went viral with this hit ‘Romantic Homicide.’”—Andrew Blankstein, 14:18).
• Celeste was last seen with Burke; he was 18 and she was 13 at the time.
• Her body was found in Burke’s car after it was towed due to a lingering odor.

Criminal Proceedings

• Burke was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and mutilation/disposal of a body.
  • “These charges include the most serious charges that a DA's office can bring. That is first-degree murder with special circumstances.”—Andrew Blankstein, 17:17
• Burke plead not guilty. Defense claims evidence will prove his innocence.
  • “The actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez... We will vigorously defend David's innocence.” — Defense Statement, 17:47
• At arraignment, Burke showed little emotion.

Victim's Family

• Released a statement: “Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. We love her very much. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste.”

---

Segment 3: Week’s Legal Roundup

(Starts ~21:16)

Alec Baldwin—Rust Set Shooting

• Background: In 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the set of “Rust” when Baldwin fired a prop gun containing a live round.
• Legal Update:
  • Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed convicted and sentenced to 18 months for involuntary manslaughter.
  • Criminal charges against Baldwin were previously thrown out.
  • Civil lawsuit from set gaffer Serge Svetnoy (for emotional distress) will proceed to trial unless settled, slated for October 12, 2026.

Notable Quotes

• “There are incidental accidents on film sets from time to time, but nothing like this.” — Alec Baldwin, 22:13 (archive)

Utah Mom on Trial for Son-in-Law’s Murder

• Defendant: Tracy Grist
• Victim: Son-in-law Matt Restelli
• Key Testimony:
  • Tracy claimed no involvement, said Matt entered the home uninvited.
  • Alleged inspiration from true crime stories (including the prominent Donna Adelson case) refuted as normal interest (“It was a popular true crime story... True crime. Yes.” — Tracy, 27:38-27:59)
• Outcome: Jury reached a guilty verdict on all counts, Tracy faces up to life in prison.

---

Segment 4: Sexual Assault Awareness Month—Advocate Donna Palumbo

(Starts ~29:31)

Survivor Story & Advocacy

• Donna survived a home invasion assault in 1993, faced skepticism from investigators, and was later retraumatized by the process.
  • “The revictimization, Andrea, is what really compelled me to do something.” — Donna Palumbo, 30:58
• Founded Jane Doe No More to combat stigma and support survivors.
  • “We started out to improve the way society responds to victims, survivors of sexual crimes... these crimes are so stigmatized and they expect a victim who's been traumatized to act a certain way, which is impossible to predict.” — Donna, 31:18-31:43
• Organization offers programs starting with young children, social support groups, and training/advocacy.

Advice for Victims & Allies

• Reporting is a personal choice; support can come from various channels.
• Important steps: seek safety, collect evidence (rape kit, even if not reported immediately), document experiences, keep diaries, confide in trusted individuals for corroboration.

Notable Quotes

• “A lot of people don't want to even discuss them. But in order to prevent them, we have to be able to, in age-appropriate language, start very early on.” — Donna Palumbo, 32:12
• “If someone discloses to you, we just say to be there for them in that moment, to ask them what you can do for them and let them share what they want to share.” — Donna, 33:08

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Gudrun had a very close relationship with her daughters, especially Leila.” — Carol Gable, 08:57
• “He has a very big following... went viral with this hit ‘Romantic Homicide.’” — Andrew Blankstein, 14:18
• “These charges include the most serious charges that a DA's office can bring. That is first-degree murder with special circumstances.” — Andrew Blankstein, 17:17
• “If someone discloses to you, we just say to be there for them in that moment…” — Donna Palumbo, 33:08

---

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 02:01 – Gudrun Leinenkugel case introduction
• 03:43 – Details from unsealed search warrants
• 05:15 – Recap of poisoned family dinner
• 07:55 – Toxicology findings and evidence
• 10:06 – Discovery of prior alleged murder
• 13:00 – Arrest of David Burke (D4vd) and background
• 15:37 – Discovery of Celeste Rivas’s body
• 17:17 – Press conference: Charges breakdown
• 21:16 – Alec Baldwin/Rust shooting legal update
• 24:03 – Utah mom murder-for-hire case verdict
• 28:53 – Donna Palumbo recounts her assault
• 31:18 – Jane Doe No More, advocacy work
• 33:08 – Advice for supporting victims

---

Episode Tone

The tone remains measured yet empathetic and detailed, with hosts and guests prioritizing factual accuracy while honoring the impact of violent crime on all parties. The balance of legal analysis, investigatory findings, and survivor advocacy creates a podcast that is both informative for true crime fans and supportive for survivors and families.

---

For Further Listening

Coming up on Dateline (Friday):
A new episode on Corey Richins, the Utah mom accused of killing her husband and then writing a book about grief.

---

Dateline: True Crime Weekly is available on all major podcast platforms. For ad-free listening, subscribe to Dateline Premium.

Transcript

[Andrea Canning]

It's the Smuckers Uncrustables Radio hour with round, soft, pillowy bread filled with delicious PB and J. Here's your host, Uncrustables.

[Andrew Blankstein]

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[Andrea Canning]

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[Carol Gable]

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[Andrea Canning]

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[Carol Gable]

Get a'@lemonade.com pet and they'll help cover

[Andrea Canning]

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[Andrew Blankstein]

Good morning.

[Andrea Canning]

It's the start of another workday for the DATELINE team. Let's jump in. Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news.

[Andrew Blankstein]

And the sentencing is this summer, Right?

[Andrea Canning]

He wasn't able to talk about any of his time in jail or what the police asked him.

[Dateline Advertiser]

There's a lot of suspicion around the girlfriend.

[Andrea Canning]

Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's April 23rd and here's what's on our docket. In Los Angeles, David, the TikTok star who rose to fame with his song Romantic Homicide is charged with first degree murder.

[Andrew Blankstein]

He's wearing a black hoodie. He's behind the glass partition. He's not showing a lot of emotion.

[Andrea Canning]

In DATELINE Roundup, actor Alec Baldwin is heading back to court in connection to the deadly shooting on the set of his movie Rust a few years ago. And the Utah mom on trial for masterminding the murder of her son in law takes the witness stand.

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

I took Katie's face in my hands and I said, Kevin Shotman.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, it's Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We'll be talking to Donna Palumba, a survivor who has transformed her own traumatic experience into advocacy and support for others.

[Donna Palumbo]

These crimes are difficult to talk about, but in order to prevent them, we have to be able to.

[Andrea Canning]

But before all that, we're heading to Henderson County, North Carolina, where we are learning more about the investigation into a woman accused of poisoning her own children at their Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is usually a time for friends and family to gather, express gratitude and share a meal. But according to prosecutors. Last November, 53 year old Gudrun Casper Leinenkugel served up something diabolical to her guests, wine laced with poison. Gudrun's 32 year old daughter Leila died the next day. The boyfriend of her other daughter became violently ill and was hospitalized. He survived. Eight weeks later, Gudrun was charged with murder and attempted murder. But that wasn't all because prosecutors say this isn't the first time she has fatally poisoned someone. Investigators have remained tight lipped about the case, but DATELINE producers Carol Gable and Hailey Barber recently obtained newly unsealed search warrants which provide a first look at what led up to Gudrun's arrest. They are here now to get us up to speed on this complicated case and tell us what they've learned. Hey, Hayley and Carol, thank you for joining us.

[Hailey Barber]

Hey.

[Donna Palumbo]

Hey.

[Hailey Barber]

And we're glad you're on this story with us because it sure has a lot of twists and turns.

[Andrea Canning]

Oh my goodness, so many twists and turns. It's incredible. So let's talk about these search warrants. Early on in their investigation, detectives went to court and applied for the warrants so they could get access to various medical and cell phone records. In order for the judge to sign off, they had to submit a summary of their case. And that's what you got your hands on. Haley and Carol, you've taken a peek and we are learning a lot more.

[Carol Gable]

Yeah, that's right, Andrea. This is really the first time we're piecing this together from the perspective of the investigators and the prosecutors.

[Andrea Canning]

We're going to get into more details of those cases. But first, can you give us a little more background on Gudrun?

[Hailey Barber]

She was actually born Linda Casper and she grew up in this tiny town in Wiscons but later changed her name to Gudrun Kasper Leinenkugel. It's sort of a nod to her personal affinity for German culture. Eventually, a romantic relationship took her to North Carolina in the Asheville area, specifically Hendersonville. She opened a restaurant, the Patent Public House, inspired by public houses in Germany, sort of comfort food, walls covered with beer taps.

[Carol Gable]

The other thing that we know, Andrea, is that we believe Gudrun had four children or has now three children because 32 year old Lela Leviss obviously is the victim in this case and has passed away. And then Maya is another older daughter and she is 28 years old from what we understand. And there are two little kids and we don't know much about them.

[Andrea Canning]

Take us to this Thanksgiving dinner in 2025 well, we know that there are

[Hailey Barber]

six adults there, basically, Gudrun's two older daughters, Leila and Maya. Maya's boyfriend Rich, and then also another man named Jeff and then another man named Landon was also at this dinner.

[Carol Gable]

According to these search warrants, everything seemed fine at this dinner. At first, Goodwin's daughters, as well as Richard went home around midnight. Maya says that Richard started feeling really ill. He has flu like symptoms. By 8am she is dialing 911 and saying he's got to get to the hospital. That morning, Goodrun calls Leila, her daughter, to check in on her, and she's not able to reach her. So she reaches out to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and requests a welfare check. She also hops in the car and goes to check on Leila. When she arrives at the scene, Leila is dead inside the residence.

[Andrea Canning]

So did Gudrun say why she reached out to Leila? Was this in response to Richard getting sick? Do we know?

[Carol Gable]

Yeah, that's a good question. And the timeline's not super clear to us on all of that yet.

[Andrea Canning]

Hailey, according to these search warrants you obtained, Gudrun tells investigators responding to Leila's death that she thinks Leela might have fallen ill from wine Gudrun served at the dinner. It's so interesting that before anyone even knows what killed Leila, Gudrun was bringing up the wine. And then when talking with a doctor treating Richard at the hospital, she adds a new detail.

[Carol Gable]

That's right. So after she leaves Lila's residence, she goes to the hospital. From what we understand, she brings up sort of this wine again. And she adds in that the wine was stored in an industrial closet where chemicals were possibly kept, including things like rat poison, cyanide that they used in their barn. And According to this, Dr. Goodrun said the kids play back there, quote, and may have got to it, unquote.

[Andrea Canning]

So is she trying to say that the younger children might have contaminated the wine?

[Sue Simpson]

Yeah.

[Carol Gable]

It's unclear what theory she's offering here, but Gudrun also tells the doctor that this bottle was already open when she presented it at the party.

[Andrea Canning]

Gudrun said she served Leila and Richard the wine and also her other daughter, Maya. So why did Maya not get sick if the wine was contaminated?

[Hailey Barber]

Well, a fly apparently gets in her glass and it's, you know, she realizes this and spits a little bit. And that she also reported that the wine tasted off, so she didn't have as much as the other two. And also it's interesting. Goodrun did not have any of the wine because she's allergic to grapes. So she had a BlackBerry wine beverage.

[Andrea Canning]

So law enforcement definitely zeroed in on the wine. Are they able to test the wine?

[Carol Gable]

Landon brings that bottle to investigators, and they do conduct testing. Investigators learned that Richard had five times the lethal dose of cyanide in his system.

[Andrea Canning]

Wow.

[Carol Gable]

And one of the detectives talks to the medical examiner who does a toxicology test on Leila. And they report that Leila's blood sample pointed her to the chemical acetonitrile, which basically Andrea converts to cyanide in the body over a period of hours.

[Andrea Canning]

Did Gudrun have any of this chemical in her home, or did she have any use for it? Yeah.

[Carol Gable]

So during a police interview, Gudrun actually admits, apparently, that she did have some of these chemicals in her home, that she had bought this acetonitrile.

[Andrea Canning]

According to prosecutors, Gudrun took that chemical and intentionally spiked the wine before serving it to her Thanksgiving guests. Have they offered up any alleged motive? I mean, a mother poisoning her own daughter? That is just something we at Dateline really almost never hear.

[Carol Gable]

Yeah, that's right, Andrea. And not only that, but from everyone we've spoken to, Gudrun had a very close relationship with her daughters, especially Leila.

[Andrea Canning]

And we should say Gudrun has entered a not guilty plea to all the charges against her. But there is a big twist in all of this. This is not the only murder that Gudrun has been charged with, Carol.

[Hailey Barber]

No, it's not. Investigators learned that there was a man named Michael Schmidt. Goodrun had reported him Dead back in 2007, and she is now charged with his death.

[Andrea Canning]

Yes. She apparently lived inside the house. And he lived in a camper on the property.

[Carol Gable]

That's right. And we believe he was actually the owner of the property at this time. And according to investigators in these new documents, they say that Goodrun was actually the last person who saw Michael alive. But the real twist here is apparently this same chemical, acetonitrile, was found in his system as well.

[Andrea Canning]

Oh, the plot thickens when you hear the same chemical, when there's still a

[Carol Gable]

lot of, I would say, mysteries surrounding his death. At first, Michael's death was ruled accidental. There is a report that this acetonitrile was found in his system, but the cause was maybe accidentally huffing this substance, acetonitrile.

[Hailey Barber]

And we are so early days. We really don't know hardly anything about the defense, except we know that many of her family members are still very supportive of her.

[Andrea Canning]

I think it's very important to say that Maya, as of the last that we saw her, was supporting her mother in all of this.

[Hailey Barber]

Well, she is. And so is the boyfriend who had to be hospitalized. So I think that's a significant factor to keep in mind at this stage of the case.

[Andrea Canning]

Gudrun remains behind bars without bond. Do we know when she is due back in court, Haley?

[Carol Gable]

Yeah, next week, actually. So April 30th, there's another hearing. So be interested to see what happens next.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, just tons of questions. Thank you, Hayley and Carol, so much for bringing us this update.

[Carol Gable]

Thanks for having us, Andrea.

[Hailey Barber]

Thanks, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Coming up, seven months after the body of a teenager was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer David, he's arrested in the Hollywood Hills.

[Andrew Blankstein]

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[Andrea Canning]

You know that thing where you get an amazing pair of shoes at a really great price and want to tell everyone about it?

[Donna Palumbo]

Yeah.

[Andrea Canning]

So do we. Here at Designer Shoe Warehouse. We'll give you something to brag about, like the latest styles from brands you love or the trends everyone's obsessing over or shoes that make you feel like, well, you. So go ahead, show off a little. Buying shoes that get you and prices that get your budget. Head to your DSW store or dsw.com today. DSW. Let us surprise you.

[Dateline Advertiser]

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[Andrea Canning]

late last week, news broke of an arrest in the Hollywood Hills. Video showed armed police officers in tactical gear walking a man by the name of David Anthony Burke to a squad car. But you might know him by another name, David, but spelled D4V D. A singer with a multi million dollar Recording contract. He went viral on TikTok a few years ago with his song Romantic Homicide.

[Carol Gable]

I killed you and I didn't even regret it.

[Andrea Canning]

Seven months ago, he was on a world tour to promote his new album when police made a frightening discovery in the trunk of his Tesla.

[Andrew Blankstein]

After investigators made entry into the car, they found what appears to be the remains of a human being.

[Andrea Canning]

The remains belong to a 14 year old girl named Celeste Rivas. On Monday, Burke was charged with Celeste's murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Here to tell us more about the investigation, other charges Burke is facing, and what comes next is NBC news investigative reporter Andrew Blankstein. Andrew, thanks for being here.

[Andrew Blankstein]

Thanks for having me, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So, Andrew, tell us a little more about David Anthony Burke for people who don't know him. He's a new kind of artist who broke out on social media. Very successful. Right?

[Andrew Blankstein]

So for a lot of younger people, David is, is a really big deal. He has a very big following. And David's born in New York, raised in Houston, raised in a Christian family, grew up listening to gospel. In 2021, he starts making background music for TikToks and like you said, it goes viral with this hit Romantic Homicide. He opened for artist SZA. He releases his debut album Withered in 2025 and he played at well known music festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella.

[Andrea Canning]

So Andrew, his career was definitely on the rise. How does Celeste Rivas fit into the picture here?

[Andrew Blankstein]

She was from Lake Elsinore, this quiet town in Riverside County. We don't know how they met. He's 21 years old now. According to the prosecution, he was 18 years old. Celeste Rivas was 13 years old. Her family knew she was friends with him. Celeste's family reported her missing in April of 2024. They said she left to go see a movie with David and never a runaway situation. Then according to prosecution's timeline, she's alive until April 2025 when she's last seen by others. And then her body was found in September of 2020 five months later.

[Andrea Canning]

How was the body even discovered in the first place in David's Tesla.

[Andrew Blankstein]

So the Tesla has been parked in the Hollywood Hills just above Sunset Boulevard for a number of weeks. And neighbors call and eventually the car is towed to a tow yard in mid city Los Angeles. There's an overpowering smell. Police are called to the tow yard and in the trunk they discover Celeste's body. But they don't know it's her. At that point, there's a coroner's investigation and eventually she's identified.

[Andrea Canning]

We mentioned that David was on tour when this discovery was made. How does he react to this? Because he's not immediately arrested, but it is his car, so that doesn't look great. What does he do?

[Andrew Blankstein]

Well, the tour continues for a little bit of time right after the discovery of the body. But as the tension to this case grows, so does the pressure to kind of not continue that tour. So at that point, David's team said he was cooperating with the investigation, but an LAPD source told NBC4 in November that that wasn't the case. During this period, investigators are canvassing for video. There's a grand jury that's convened where there's testimony taken from people in David's orbit. Obviously, grand jury's proceeding is secret, so we don't know kind of the full extent of it, but they're doing things, trying to figure out how she died and whether it was a criminal act.

[Andrea Canning]

David was arrested, as we said, last week. This is about one year after Celeste was last seen. On Monday, District Attorney Nathan Hockman announced the formal charges against him at a press conference.

[Andrew Blankstein]

These charges include the most serious charges that a DA's office can bring. That is first degree murder with special circumstances.

[Andrea Canning]

Break those charges down for us, Andrew.

[Andrew Blankstein]

Well, the first one, obviously, first degree murder is an intentional murder, premeditated act. The other counts, in addition to first degree murder, were continuous sexual abuse of a minor and also mutilation of a body in terms of the disposal of that body.

[Andrea Canning]

Andrew, what is the defense saying about

[Andrew Blankstein]

these allegations at the time of David's arrest? And this was reiterated during the arraignment and plea, David Berk's attorneys issued a statement that said that when it came to their client, quote, the actual evidence in this case will show that David Bourke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and. And that he was not the cause of her death. We will vigorously defend David's innocence.

[Andrea Canning]

David appeared in court Monday. He entered that not guilty plea. What was his demeanor like?

[Andrew Blankstein]

So David appeared in Division 30 of the Criminal Courts building in downtown Los Angeles. He's wearing a black hoodie. He's behind the glass partition. He's not showing a lot of emotion. It's kind of a fairly quick hearing, but one of the things that comes out of it is his criminal defense attorneys go and say, we want a preliminary hearing where the prosecution has to put its evidence before a judge to see if they will go forward with the trial.

[Andrea Canning]

Members of Celeste's family attended David's arraignment but didn't speak to the media. On Tuesday afternoon, they released a statement thanking the LAPD for their hard work. They said Celeste was a beautiful, strong girl who loved to sing and dance. We love her very much. We miss her deeply. All we want is justice for Celeste. Andrew, we will continue to follow this case. Thank you so much for bringing us what you know so far.

[Andrew Blankstein]

Thanks so much, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE roundup. We've got an update on Alec Baldwin's latest legal troubles. And the Utah mom accused of murdering her son in law testifies in her own defense. Plus, it's Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I'm catching up with a familiar face from one of my DATELINE episodes, a survivor who's turned her own horrific experience into advocacy and is sharing what she believes needs to change. If you're the proud parent of a puppy or kitten, you know you can't pet proof your entire life. There simply isn't a sock drawer high enough or a couch cover thick enough. But you can pet proof your wallet with Lemonade Pet Insurance. Whether it's an unexpected accident or a routine checkup, Lemonade can cover up to 90% of the bill. Plus they can handle claims in as little as two seconds. So before you turn into a complete helicopter pet parent, get a'@lemonade.com pet. You know that thing where you get an amazing pair of shoes at a really great price and want to tell everyone about it?

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

Yeah.

[Andrea Canning]

So do we. Here at Designer Shoe Warehouse, we'll give you something to brag about, like the latest styles from brands you love or the trends everyone's obsessing over or shoes that make you feel like, well, you. So go ahead, show off a little. Find shoes that get you at prices that get your budget. Head to your DSW store or dsw.com today. DSW. Let us surprise you.

[Dateline Advertiser]

A better help ad may is Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder that you don't have to do this life alone. From loneliness to anxiety to financial stress, right now people everywhere are struggling. But having a licensed therapist with you by video phone or chat can make a difference. And BetterHelp makes it easy because no journey should be alone. Visit betterhelp.com for 10% off. That's better. H E L p.com.

[Andrea Canning]

Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is DATELINE producer Sue Simpson. Thanks for being here, Sue.

[Sue Simpson]

Thanks for having me.

[Andrea Canning]

First, we're heading to Los Angeles where there has been a big development in one of the very first cases we Covered here on the podcast, the fatal shooting of cinematographer Helena Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust by actor and producer Alec Baldwin. Before we get to what's new, sue, just remind us of this big story,

[Sue Simpson]

such a big story. Back in 2021, Alec Baldwin was rehearsing a scene for Rust, that's a western he was producing and starring in, and he was pointing a prop gun at the cinematographer Helena Hutchins when it went, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin claimed that it was an accident, and he said he was following instructions when he pointed the gun at Hutchins and that he wasn't aware that the gun had a live round in it.

[Andrea Canning]

Let's take a listen, Sue. Alec Baldwin talked to NBC News in the weeks after the incident.

[Andrew Blankstein]

There are incidental accidents on film sets from time to time, but nothing like this. We were a very, very, you know, well oiled crew shooting a film together, and then this horrible event happened.

[Andrea Canning]

So Baldwin and the movie's armorer were initially criminally charged in connection to the shooting. What happened with those charges?

[Sue Simpson]

Yes, that's right. The armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was convicted at trial of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in the shooting. Baldwin was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the case against him was thrown out in a very dramatic way on the after the judge determined that the prosecution hid evidence from the defense.

[Andrea Canning]

So that was nearly two years ago, if you can believe it. But now, because of a new ruling last week, Baldwin may have to defend himself at trial after all. But this time, sue, we're talking about civil court.

[Sue Simpson]

That's right, Andrea. So a gaffer on the set, Serge Svetnoy, filed a civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin back in 2021, alleging that the bullet narrowly missed him and that he suffered emotional distress because of that. In his lawsuit, he blamed the shooting on the negligence of the armorer and producers. And that, of course, includes Alec Baldwin.

[Andrea Canning]

How has Alec Baldwin's defense team responded to these claims? It seems Alec just can't shake what happened.

[Sue Simpson]

So true. The defense team tried to get the lawsuit thrown out, saying, among other things, that there is no evidence that Baldwin had a duty in his capacity as a producer to ensure everyone's safety on the set.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, so bad news for Alec Baldwin. The judge ruled against him and says that the lawsuit can go to trial. Do we know when that'll be?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, unless a settlement is reached, Andrea, the case is going to go to trial on October 12th.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, we'll keep an eye on that. Next, we are heading to a Utah courtroom for the latest on a case we told you about last week. This is the trial of Tracy Grist, who prosecutors say masterminded a plot to kill her son in law, Matt Restelli. It is week two of the trial and Tracey took the stand on Monday. Before we get to her testimony, sue, just remind everybody about the basics of this one.

[Sue Simpson]

So the victim was 42 year old Matt Restelli. He was married to Tracy's daughter Kate. Matt and Kate lived in California. Tracy lived in Utah. In July 2024, Kate and Matt's marriage was in trouble and Kate took her kids and she went to stay with her mom. Prosecutors say that's when Tracy, the mom came up with a plan to murder Matt. They say she got Kate to lure Matt to her home in Utah. And when Matt walked through the front door, Tracy's son Kevin shot him. And then they placed a knife in his hand to make it look like the shooting was in self defense. Investigators did not buy that story and they arrested all three of them. Tracy, Kevin and Kate. Kate pleaded guilty and she agreed to testify against her mom.

[Andrea Canning]

The prosecution, sue wrapped Monday and then it was the defense's turn to put on its case. Tracy herself took the stand. And she's really the star witness in this. Absolutely.

[Sue Simpson]

Andrea, you know what a big deal it is for the defendant to take the stand. So Tracy denied plotting the killing or even being in the room when Matt was shot. Tracy says her son in law came barging into the house uninvited.

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

I didn't hear the doorbell, I didn't hear a knock and I didn't expect him to walk into the house. Within a few short period of few moments, I heard gun gunfire.

[Andrew Blankstein]

And then what happened?

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

I went to the foot of the stairs and that's where I saw Matt laying down where he had fallen down. And I saw Kevin and I said, kevin, what happened? What happened?

[Andrew Blankstein]

What did Kevin say?

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

He said he had a knife.

[Andrew Blankstein]

So when you went upstairs, what did you do?

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

I said I took Katie's face in my hands and I said, Kevin shot Matt.

[Sue Simpson]

The defense attorney also asked Tracy why she thinks her daughter Kate decided to testify against her. Tracy accused the prosecutors of intimidating her daughter.

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

I suspect she was intimidated by the government and by the evidence, which I don't blame her for being intimidated because it sounds like there was a lot. But I believe that she was making a deal, saying what she needed to, to have the least amount of time in jail as possible or prison. As possible.

[Andrea Canning]

So the defense also pushed back on something that stood out to us here at dateline, Internet searches that Tracy allegedly made. About dateline's coverage of the Donna Adelson, our listeners probably remember she's the Florida grandmother convicted of masterminding a plot to murder her former son in law, FSU law professor Dan Markell. Now in court at Tracy's trial, the prosecution implied that she might have been inspired by Donna Adelson.

[Sue Simpson]

Yeah, it's wild. The defense addressed this with Tracy on the stand saying that she was an avid true crime fan and so was her other daughter, Tara Lynn. And so it was normal for her to read about high profile stories like the Adelsons.

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

It was a popular true crime story and there was no movies out.

[Andrew Blankstein]

Okay. And you listened to a podcast about it.

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

Yeah, Listen to the podcast. And then I would go down a rabbit hole and look at things, look at a picture of a person that's being talked about.

[Andrew Blankstein]

So is this a hobby of yours?

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

Yeah.

[Andrew Blankstein]

True crime.

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

Yes.

[Andrea Canning]

How did the prosecutor, sue, handle Tracy?

[Sue Simpson]

On cross examination, the prosecutor pressed Tracy on a few inconsistencies in her testimony, but she stuck to her version, the story.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, thank you for the update, Sue.

[Sue Simpson]

Thanks, Andrew.

[Andrea Canning]

After we taped this conversation Tuesday, the jury came back with a verdict. Tracy Grist was found guilty on all charges.

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

We the jury impaneled in the about entitled cause find a defendant asked to count one murder as charged in the information. Guilty. Jury for a prison.

[Andrea Canning]

She faces up to life in prison. In September 1993, Donna Palumbo was sexually assaulted by a masked intruder inside her home while her husband was out of town and her young children slept just rooms away.

[Donna Palumbo]

He flipped me onto my stomach and

[Ellery Gladstone Groth]

put the gun in my back and

[Donna Palumbo]

he said, if you call the pigs, I'm going to come back and kill you.

[Andrea Canning]

The intruder fled and Donna ran to a neighbor's house for help. The beginning of a long, difficult path toward justice. I covered Donna's story for the DATELINE episode Evil Paid a Visit. She told me how she was questioned and doubted by investigators in the aftermath of that assault, a second trauma that nearly derailed the case. And how years later, investigators identified her attacker as a family friend, someone she and her husband knew and trusted.

[Donna Palumbo]

It was unbelievable.

[Andrea Canning]

Donna is one of millions of sexual assault survivors. According to the cdc, nearly half of women and more than one in six men experience sexual violence in their lifetime. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the time to support survivors and push for change. It is work Donna now does every day through her Organization Jane Doe no More. And she joins us now to talk about that work. Donna, it's so good to see you again.

[Donna Palumbo]

Great to see you, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, thank you for being here. So, Donna, when you look back on everything that you have personally been through, how did those experiences shape the decision to eventually speak out and share your story publicly? Because I know in the beginning you were anonymous. You didn't wanna share your name.

[Donna Palumbo]

That's right. I was Jane Doe. And honestly, I thought I had done everything right. The night of the crime, I went to the hospital, I had a sex crimes kit done. I was treated for injuries, told officers that were there everything that I could possibly remember about the crime. And I was well on my way to healing, actually trying to keep it all together for my family and young children. And I was re victimized. I was threatened with arrest and I was unbelievable. Yeah. The revictimization, Andrea, is what really compelled me to do something.

[Andrea Canning]

So because of all those things that went wrong, you took that experience, the worst of your life and you turned it into action with your foundation, Jane Doe no More. What was your vision for the organization and what kind of impact are you making today after all these years? Because this is. Jane Doe no More has been around for a while now.

[Donna Palumbo]

We will be 20 years old next year in 2027. So mind blowing. But initially we started out to improve the way society responds to victims, survivors of sexual crimes, because of the way I was treated, because these crimes are so stigmatized and they expect a victim who's been traumatized to act a certain way, which is impossible to predict. And so, you know, we have grown from there. We now have programs, but it begins with education and awareness. And it's a challenge because these crimes are difficult to talk about. A lot of people don't want to even discuss them. But in order to prevent them, we have to be able to, in age appropriate language, start very early on. And even in, you know, we have a program called Safety for Me for boys and girls ages 5 to 11. I mean, it's sad to say, but the majority of our survivors on our survivor Speak team are victims of child sexual abuse by someone they loved and trusted, which is just gut wrenching, but it's a fact. You know, people think these types of crimes, it's a stranger in an actor or, you know, it involves physical force and it's not true.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. So what should someone do if they are a victim and they're listening right now, or they have a friend or a family member and they haven't reported anything yet. Where do they start?

[Donna Palumbo]

Well, it really is a personal choice and we always want to put that forward because some people, some victims will choose not to report for whatever reason, but they can also find support in other ways. We actually have a closed Facebook group called jdnm. The actual for Jane don't know more survivors. It's Grown to almost 600, I think survivors now, men and women who just go there. There's no judgment. And if someone discloses to you, we just say to be there for them in that moment, to ask them what you can do for them and let them share what they want to share. And if they choose to report, to be there for them and to look into ways that you can continue to help them.

[Andrea Canning]

And Donna, if this is happening in the moment, in the future to and it's just happened, obviously calling the police is really important. But are there any tips or anything that people can be armed with now in case this happens later of things they should be doing or asking, getting?

[Donna Palumbo]

I think the first thing to do is get to a place of safety. And then I would strongly urge to call 911 and to go to the hospital to have evidence collected, because even if you choose not to report, you're overwhelmed in that moment. You do not have to report that evening or that day. You can have the sex crimes kit done and it will stay and they have to hold. It depends on which state you're in. They'll hold it so that during that time period, you will be able to get to a point where you can make an educated decision if you want to press charges if you don't. There's a multitude of reasons why someone might not want to. And that's okay, too.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. And I've noticed a lot in these cases when they, when they come forward later, it seems to be really important when victims say, I kept a diary. I wrote this in my diary. Or I told a friend or I told a family member. And then there's like that. It helps with corroboration that it's not just you saying, oh, this happened, but I didn't do anything.

[Hailey Barber]

Absolutely.

[Donna Palumbo]

I remember doing just that. It is important to document, if you can, anything that you can cause, you know, memories lapse. And it's important.

[Andrea Canning]

Donna, wow. Thank you so much for these tips. You're such a inspiration to all kinds of people going through this. We appreciate it.

[Donna Palumbo]

Oh, we appreciate you. Thank you so much, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

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 on DATELINE this Friday, I've got a brand new episode and it's a case we've talked about a lot here on Dateline. True Crime Weekly, the story of Corey Richins, the Utah mom who wrote a book about grief only to be charged with her husband's murder. I went to Utah and talked to the people at the center of the case, including Corey's brother, who is speaking out publicly for the first time since the trial.

[Andrew Blankstein]

My mother said Corey did a good job that she just didn't break down there. And I said, well, it's not a matter of breaking down. I said, it's just shock.

[Andrea Canning]

Watch Book of Lies this Friday at 9, 8 Central on NBC. Or you can stream it starting Saturday on Peacock. I hope you'll join us. 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.

[Donna Palumbo]

Bye everyone.

[Andrew Blankstein]

Sometimes life will get you stressed out. Lucky you can always count on Text Now. Free Talk. Free text. Free 5G and they'll never shut you off. Cause like I said, it's free. Text Now's got your back nationwide. No long term contracts. But I'll be nervous about losing service. Text Now's got your back. That's their sense of purpose. No matter what comes next, you've got free talk and text with the TextNow app. Wireless plans require the purchase of a sim card. Visit textnow.com for terms and conditions.