The Menendez brothers' chance at freedom. Questions for top investigator at Karen Read retrial. Plus, what's RICO?

Summary

Dateline: True Crime Weekly – Episode Summary Release Date: May 15, 2025

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Overview

In this episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly, host Andrea Canning delves into several high-profile true crime cases, offering in-depth analysis and fresh insights. The episode primarily focuses on the Menendez brothers' recent resentencing, the retrial of Karen Reed in the case of John O'Keefe's death, and provides updates on other significant cases, including Donna Adelson, Lori Valo Debel, Harvey Weinstein, and Sean "Diddy" Combs. Legal expert Laura Jarrett and digital producer Veronica Mazeca join Canning to shed light on these complex narratives.

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1. The Menendez Brothers' Resentencing: A Chance at Freedom

Background

The episode opens with a thorough examination of the Menendez brothers—Lyle and Eric—who were convicted for the 1989 murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in Beverly Hills. Initially sentenced to life without parole, a recent court decision has re-sentenced them to 50 years to life, opening the door for potential parole.

Key Discussions

• Historical Context & Media Influence

  Laura Jarrett highlights the case's enduring fascination, noting its place as one of the first sensationalized, televised trials in the early '90s. The resurgence of interest due to recent documentaries and media portrayals has played a significant role in the case's revival.

  "They are. And I think part of what's so fascinating about this case is that it obviously gripped everyone in the early 90s because it was really the first time a trial that had been so sensationalized was televised."
  — Laura Jarrett [03:34]

• Changing Societal Attitudes

  The brothers' defense hinged on claims of long-term abuse by their father, a perspective that has gained more societal understanding over the past three decades. Jarrett emphasizes the shift in recognizing and addressing childhood sexual abuse, particularly among boys.

  "And as a society, people have come around more to, you know, understanding feelings people have of, you know, being sexually assaulted..."
  — Laura Jarrett [05:21]

• Legal Developments

  A new California law allowing resentencing for inmates of a certain age with good records has provided the legal pathway for the Menendez brothers' plea. However, the appointment of a new District Attorney, Nathan Hockman, has introduced challenges, as he withdrew support for their resentencing, questioning their full accountability.

  "DA Nathan Hockman came into office and then completely withdrew support from the resentencing effort."
  — Laura Jarrett [06:21]

Courtroom Dynamics

The court session was emotionally charged, with family members of the victims expressing their anguish. The brothers themselves publicly apologized and took responsibility, a stark contrast to their initial defense of self-defense against abuse.

"I take full responsibility for my actions. I lied to police. I lied to my family. I'm so sorry. We own it."
— Lyle and Eric Menendez [07:47]

Future Implications

Following Judge Michael Jessick's ruling, the case moves to the parole board, with Patricia parole hearings expected within six months and final approval by Governor Newsom.

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2. Karen Reed Retrial: Investigative Challenges

Case Overview

Karen Reed, a Massachusetts state police sergeant, is retried for her involvement in the death of John O'Keefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend. Prosecutors allege that Reed intentionally left O'Keefe in a snowstorm after heavy drinking, resulting in his death. Reed maintains her innocence, claiming she was a victim of a law enforcement cover-up.

Key Testimony

Sergeant Yuri Buchanak, who supervised the original investigation, faced intense scrutiny during his three-day testimony. The prosecution aimed to position Buchanak as the lead investigator, minimizing the controversial role of Michael Proctor, who was dismissed for misconduct.

• Prosecution's Strategy

  The prosecution attempted to downplay Proctor's involvement by referring to him ambiguously and focusing on Buchanak's credibility.

  "I will answer your question. Absolutely. The investigation was conducted with honor and integrity."
  — Yuri Buchanak [01:28]

• Defense's Approach

  Defense Attorney Alan Jackson aggressively challenged Buchanak's account, highlighting procedural missteps and Proctor's tainted reputation to undermine the prosecution's case.

  "He had some input or had some connection to nearly every part of the case, be it the physical evidence, the search warrants, the interviews, things of that nature."
  — Yuri Buchanak [14:56]

Courtroom Atmosphere

The trial has been marked by high emotions, particularly among the victims' families. Jurors have remained attentive, with notable reactions to Jackson's courtroom theatrics.

"They're very attentive... this guy, if he could applaud, he would."
— Sue Simpson, Producer [15:46]

Next Steps

The defense faces strategic decisions on whether to call Michael Proctor or Karen Reed herself as witnesses. Reed declined to comment directly due to a gag order, leaving the jury anticipating future testimonies.

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3. Other High-Profile Cases

a. Donna Adelson's Retrial Delay

Donna Adelson, a Florida grandmother accused of orchestrating a 2014 murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, has faced multiple delays in her trial. After her defense attorney withdrew due to a conflict of interest, a new trial date was set but subsequently postponed due to a new state investigation involving wiretaps and phone record searches of her late husband, Harvey. The trial is now rescheduled for August, with jury selection beginning on the 19th.

b. Lori Valo Debel's Upcoming Trial

Known as "Mommy Doomsday," Lori Valo Debel stands accused of attempted murder involving her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreau. Despite her previous conviction related to the murder of her husband, Charles Vallow, Debel has filed a motion to dismiss the current charges, citing a violation of her right to a speedy trial. The motion was denied, and the trial proceeds as scheduled.

c. Harvey Weinstein Retrial

The retrial of Harvey Weinstein in Manhattan continues with the introduction of a new accuser, Kaya Sokola—a former model and psychologist. Sokola's emotionally charged testimony alleges multiple assaults by Weinstein starting when she was 16. His defense targets her credibility, questioning her ongoing relationship with Weinstein post-assault. The trial is expected to extend for some time as both sides present their cases.

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4. Racketeering 101: Understanding RICO in Modern Prosecutions

Feature Segment with Danny Savalos

Legal analyst Danny Savalos breaks down the complexities of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), particularly its application beyond traditional organized crime to high-profile figures like Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Key Points

• Definition and Scope

  RICO targets the criminalization of corrupt organizations, requiring proof of an enterprise's direction and a pattern of racketeering activities—essentially two or more crimes committed in furtherance of the enterprise.

  "RICO is a pretty complicated law, but the concept is simple enough."
  — Danny Savalos [26:00]

• Application to Modern Figures

  Unlike classic mob bosses, RICO is now employed in cases involving entertainment and business moguls. For instance, Sean Combs is accused of using his enterprise to orchestrate and benefit from criminal activities.

  "The focus is on what's called the enterprise... they have the established company and now they have to show that Combs directed it and that he used it for his unlawful means."
  — Danny Savalos [27:11]

• Comparative Cases

  R. Kelly's prosecution under RICO serves as a precedent, illustrating how the statute extends to non-traditional forms of organized crime, such as leveraging an entertainment empire for sexual exploitation.

  "The allegations against R. Kelly were more like he was using his organization to achieve the sexual exploitation of women."
  — Danny Savalos [28:21]

Implications for Sean Combs

Prosecutors allege that Combs used his network—including bodyguards and assistants—to control and abuse victims, framing his actions within the RICO statute to demonstrate a pattern of criminal behavior tied to his enterprise.

"Instead of just charging with a federal-based sex crime, the key to the RICO allegations is that there's an organization involved."
— Danny Savalos [28:44]

Defense Counterarguments

Combs' defense labels the RICO charges as prosecutorial overreach, arguing the lack of concrete evidence linking him directly to racketeering activities.

"It's prosecutorial overreach, that there is no proof of racketeering."
— Andrea Canning [29:07]

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Conclusion

This episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly provides listeners with a comprehensive overview of significant ongoing legal battles in the true crime landscape. From revisiting decades-old cases like the Menendez brothers to exploring the intricacies of modern legal frameworks like RICO, Andrea Canning and her team deliver insightful analysis and authoritative commentary. Whether you're a seasoned true crime aficionado or a newcomer, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the evolving nature of crime, punishment, and justice in the United States.

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Notable Quotes

• "We own it." — Lyle and Eric Menendez [07:47]
• "The investigation was conducted with honor and integrity." — Yuri Buchanak [01:28]
• "Instead of just charging with a federal-based sex crime, the key to the RICO allegations is that there's an organization involved." — Danny Savalos [28:44]

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Stay Connected

For more detailed coverage and daily updates on these cases, subscribe to Dateline: True Crime Weekly on your preferred podcast platform. Engage with the team through social media or leave a voicemail at 212-413-5252 with questions or case suggestions.

Transcript

[Keith Morrison]

Parents when you visit California. Childhood rules. If you don't remember how awesome childhood is, just ask yourself, what'll the kids do? Let childhood rule your family vacation. Start planning your trip to the ultimate [e-mail] Spring's here.

[Andrea Canning]

Flowers are blooming, birds are singing. And allergies. Yeah, they're back, too. Sneezing, watery eyes. When they hit, you need a tissue fast. That's where Kleenex Ultra Soft Tissues comes in, whether you're at home or on the go. Kleenex Ultra Soft Tissues, have you covered Allergist approved Kleenex Ultra Soft Tissues are gentle on your eyes and nose so you can power through allergy season without missing a beat. Because while allergies are unpredictable, staying prepared is easy. For whatever happens next, grab Kleenex.

[Keith Morrison]

Alrighty.

[Andrea Canning]

I think I can get started. It's time for dateline's morning meeting.

[Tony]

So it's Tony.

[Laura Jarrett]

He works at the waterfront.

[Andrea Canning]

Our team is swapping tips about the latest crime news. The case ends up going cold for about two decades. They're tired after three weeks and they don't want to come back here on Monday to deliberate. Isn't Yuri one of the guys Proctor was texting with? Welcome to DATELINE True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's May 15th and here's what's on our docket. In Dedham, Massachusetts, the state police sergeant who oversaw the investigation into the Karen Reed case faces tough questions at her retrial.

[Sergeant Buchanak]

So, Sergeant Buchanak, you don't want to answer my question, correct?

[Yuri Buchanak]

I will answer your question. Absolutely. The investigation was conducted with honor and integrity.

[Andrea Canning]

In DATELINE Roundup updates in the case of Donna Adelson, the Florida grandmother accused of masterminding a hit on her former son in law. Blistering testimony in the Harvey Weinstein retrial and the latest motion filed by Lori Valo Debel ahead of her third trial.

[Veronica Mazeca]

She was just claiming that her constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, Racketeering 101. It's one of the counts Sean Combs is facing in federal court. But what does RICO actually mean? NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos will be here with an explainer.

[Danny Savalos]

Instead of just charging with a federal based sex crime, the key to the RICO allegations is that there's an organization involved.

[Andrea Canning]

But before all that, it was one of the biggest true crime stories of the past three decades, the murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez by their own sons. On Tuesday night, the brothers got a shot at redemption. Lyle and Eric Menendez are in their 50s now. They were just 18 and 21 years old when they gunned down their parents in their Beverly Hills home. Prosecutors at their trial said the killings were premeditated and motivated by financial gain. The brothers said that they had acted in self defense to put a stop to their father's sexual abuse. After their first trial ended with a hung jury, they were convicted in a second trial in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. And that's where they might have stayed. But on Tuesday afternoon in a Los Angeles courtroom, Judge Michael Jessick ruled the brothers were changed men and re sentenced them to 50 years to life, which meant a chance at parole and a chance at freedom. Here to tell us more about the brothers journey and what might happen next is NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett. Hey, Laura.

[Laura Jarrett]

Hi. Great to be back with you.

[Andrea Canning]

Great to have you. We've seen so much on TV lately with the Netflix documentary everyone was talking about. And Keith, of course, had his special for dateline. Lots of people very interested in the Menendez brothers again.

[Laura Jarrett]

They are. And I think part of what's so fascinating about this case is that it obviously gripped everyone in the early 90s because it was really the first time a trial that had been so sensationalized was televised. Right. And then it goes dormant for the better part of 30 years. And then there's sort of this resurgence because of a Netflix series, a peacock documentary, a Max documentary, if I'm not mistaken, too. And so there's like this flurry of activity. And then the DA at the time decides, oh, I think I should support their resentencing. That was a huge moment. New DA comes to town, pulls that support, which was another big moment. And it's sort of all culminating now in this new path for freedom for them.

[Andrea Canning]

You know, it's been put out there right into the universe, all this new retelling of this story. But it's people's attitudes, Right. Toward some of the content that has changed since all those years ago.

[Laura Jarrett]

Yeah. Because their claim fundamentally was not that they didn't do it.

[Andrea Canning]

Right.

[Laura Jarrett]

Everyone sort of quickly figured out that they did it. And so they had to come clean about that. But that part of the explanation was that they endured, they say, years and years of violent, awful sexual abuse at the hands of Jose Menendez, their father. And they had a habeas petition, which, as you know, is trying to get a new trial based on the idea that they went through all of this abuse and so they should be less culpable, not that they didn't do it, but that they should be less culpable.

[Andrea Canning]

And I think, as a society, people have come around more to, you know, understanding feelings people have of, you know, being sexually assaulted, which is their claim.

[Laura Jarrett]

And the shame associated with it. And sort of the campaign of silence around childhood sexual abuse, I think, for boys in particular, has changed dramatically over the past 35 years.

[Andrea Canning]

The other thing that has changed is attitudes towards crime and punishment. And in California, a new law means that inmates of a certain age, you know, if they have a good prison record, they. They can have their case looked at again.

[Laura Jarrett]

Yeah, that has. Has sort of provided this springboard for them to take advantage of the law. And the law was there to say, look, people are gonna commit crimes when they're young, and at a certain point, we may decide they're rehabilitated. And it doesn't mean they're gonna automatically go. There's gonna be a case by case analysis. And there's hundreds of these petitions that have come forward, and they're sort of just one of those cases that we happen to be focused on.

[Andrea Canning]

Laura, you mentioned there's a new DA in town in Los Angeles that really threw a wrench in the brother's plan. They had quite a fight on their hands to keep this going.

[Laura Jarrett]

DA Nathan Hockman came into office and then completely withdrew support from the resentencing effort. He thought they had not owned up to their lies. And his sort of party line on this has been, we can't say for sure that their level of dangerousness is zero if they're not willing to fully come clean with all of the ways that they lied.

[Andrea Canning]

And this new DA Actually went to court to block the resentencing from moving forward, but he lost. Judge Jessick granted the brothers a resentencing hearing, and that's what happened on Tuesday. The several witnesses testified on behalf of the brothers.

[Laura Jarrett]

Laura, who showed up, it was mostly family members who have been almost universally supportive of the brothers. And remember, these are the cousins of the two people that were murdered. And those family members testified about what a toll this has taken on the family. But they also had people who, you know, had been in prison with them and to talk about the rehabilitation. Right. Their whole thing is that they've participated in various programs in prison and have been active members of trying to help other people. I did think it was interest the prosecution didn't put on a single witness. Basically was just making arguments that we've heard before about the lies and about the fact that they still, again, in the prosecution's view, had not fully owned up to everything.

[Andrea Canning]

So we also got to hear from the brothers themselves.

[Laura Jarrett]

If you listen to their allocution, which is when they sort of have a chance to make a little spiel, it's all about, I take full responsibility for my actions. I lied to police. I lied to my family. I'm so sorry. We own. We own it.

[Andrea Canning]

Our NBC News producers were in the courtroom when the judge announced his decision. Tell me about the mood and the reactions in court.

[Laura Jarrett]

It was quite emotional again, because so many family members were there. They're sobbing listening to the judge announce that resentencing is the right decision here. Sobbing when Eric and Lyle are apologizing to them for the damage this has caused their family. I think emotions were really raw in there because again, they've waited so long for this moment.

[Andrea Canning]

Let's take a listen to their press conference that they held outside afterwards. We're feeling grateful, grateful to Judge Jessic for restoring our faith in the justice system, for reading the law as it was written, for not being distracted by the circus that our family tends to bring to town. So we are, we're happy and elated. Laura, what happens next?

[Laura Jarrett]

Now, this will go to the parole board. They're supposed to get a hearing not more than six months from now. Then the parole board gets to take some time to evaluate the evidence. I think 120 days. And then even after that, Governor Newsom gets a say and Governor Newsom can decide to approve or reject what the parole board has done.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, Laura, thank you so much for your insight and for coming on Dateline.

[Laura Jarrett]

True Crime Weekly anytime. I'll be back when we finally get a word from the parole board.

[Andrea Canning]

Coming up, three days of testimony from a sergeant in the Karen Reed case. The prosecution is trying to put him at the center of the investigation, but the defense keeps bringing up someone else.

[Keith Morrison]

Parents, when you visit California, childhood rules. If you don't remember how awesome childhood is, just ask yourself, what would kids do? Let childhood rule your family vacation. Start planning your trip to the ultimate [e-mail].

[Andrea Canning]

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After nearly four weeks of testimony in Karen Reed's retrial, prosecutors are still carefully laying out their case. They argue that after a night of heavy drinking in January 2022, Karen Reed hit John O' Keefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her SUV and left him to die during a snowstorm. Reed has pleaded not guilty, and her defense says she is the victim of a cover up by law enforcement. So far we've heard from Okeeffes family and friends, first responders, and law enforcement officers who investigated the case. This week, all eyes were on one of those officers who spent three days on the stand.

[Yuri Buchanak]

Good morning. Good morning. Sir, could you please introduce yourself to the jury? My name is Yuri Buchanak. I work for the Massachusetts State Police.

[Andrea Canning]

Dateline producer Sue Simpson is here to bring us up to speed on this witness and what his testimony is tells us about where the retrial may go next. Sue, thank you so much for joining us again.

[Tony]

Hi, Andrea. It's a pleasure.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. And my first question is always, did you win the lottery? Did you get a seat in the courtroom?

[Tony]

I am a winner.

[Andrea Canning]

Yay. Okay. All right.

[Tony]

So it is great to be there.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, so this is like firsthand then, right up close. So, sue, these past few days, they've been intense. Tell us about this witness who has been on the stand for so long and how he fits in into the case.

[Tony]

Yuri Buchanak is a sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police.

[Yuri Buchanak]

On the day or the morning of January 29, 2022, do you know who was assigned to take calls for new cases? Yes. Before 7am on the 29th, it was Michael Proctor that was assigned to be on call. Was there a supervisor assigned that morning? Yes, there was. And who was that? It was myself.

[Tony]

Buchanak and Proctor worked together to develop the theory of how John o' Keefe was killed. Now, Michael Proctor was fired earlier this year due to misconduct in part because of demeaning and derogatory text messages he sent about Karen to his friends and even to his supervisors during the investigation. Buchanak was on one of those group text chains, and he even liked one of the messages.

[Andrea Canning]

And the prosecution had Buchanan read some of those messages he received from Michael Proctor.

[Tony]

The prosecution is trying to make Sergeant Buchanak the face of the investigation and minimize Proctor's role because of those demeaning text messages he sent. Andrea, you probably remember how damaging Proctor's testimony was in the first trial. So they're trying to avoid a repeat of that, and they're trying to avoid mentioning Michael Proctor's name as much as possible. Prosecutor Hank Brannon did things like refer to Proctor as the case officer instead of the lead investigator. And they also had Buchanan show physical evidence collected from the scene to the jury instead of getting Michael Proctor to do that.

[Andrea Canning]

So the defense clearly has a different perspective on the investigation. What did they have to say on cross examination?

[Tony]

So the defense, of course, had exactly the opposite strategy. Alan Jackson insisted that Proctor was really at the center of the investigation. Remember, Jackson called him a cancer in his opening argument. And just. Just as he did when he cross examined Proctor during the last trial, Alan Jackson really hammered Buchanan about how the investigation was conducted. He asked him about procedural missteps, like witnesses being interviewed in groups and not being brought down to the station, for instance, to be recorded. And Buchanak was often evasive when Jackson pushed him and tried to pin him down about Proctor's role in the case.

[Sergeant Buchanak]

Let me just ask you this. Do you believe that Michael Proctor, his involvement in this case, tainted the investigation? No, not at all.

[Yuri Buchanak]

The investigation was done with honor, integrity, and all the evidence pointed in one direction, one direction only.

[Sergeant Buchanak]

You do know that he touched or had input in nearly every part of his case, obviously as the case officer. Correct.

[Yuri Buchanak]

He managed the case.

[Sergeant Buchanak]

So he had some input or had some connection to nearly every part of the case, be it the physical evidence, the search warrants, the interviews, things of that nature.

[Yuri Buchanak]

He was one of the involved with collecting evidence, conducting interviews, and signing affidavits for the search warrants.

[Sergeant Buchanak]

He didn't take a minor role in this case. He had a major role in this case. Would you at least agree with that?

[Yuri Buchanak]

He had a role that was more significant than others. With a team of the size that we had working on this case, he did not have a major role.

[Andrea Canning]

Sue, as we mentioned, you've been in the courtroom. What has it been like in the room? And is the jury very attentive as this is happening. Can you see them kind of perking up?

[Tony]

Oh, they're very attentive. There's no question about that. And I have noticed one man on the jury where every time Alan Jackson gets, you get the sense that this guy, if he could applaud, he would. Other jurors are more studious. They're taking notes. But this gentleman is clearly enjoying the spectacle, the theater that Alan Jackson brings.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah. So you talked to Karen Reid after Buchanak's testimony finally wrapped up. And it appears at this point that the state will not be calling Michael Proctor. Did she offer any insight as to whether the defense would call him?

[Tony]

Well, yeah. I mean, first of all, let me say that Karen Reed, the defendant, has become kind of the voice of the defense team because there is a gag order. Remember, Andrea, the lawyers were gagged even before the trial started, so we can't talk to them. So Karen will sometimes talk to the media after a day in court. I asked her one on one, you know, what is going to happen with Michael Proctor? And she said, tbd. They're still deciding. And it's a really interesting debate, Andrea, about whether or not they're going to call him. The defense may be thinking that Alan Jackson's cross examination has left jurors with the impression that Proctor is the bad actor in the investigation. And the calculation the defense team has to make is this. If they put Michael Proctor on the stand, will they in some way humanize him? And is that a risk that they're willing to take? So they've got a big decision to make and they have to make it relatively soon.

[Andrea Canning]

One last question, Sue. Aside from Michael Proctor, there is another witness people are eager to hear from, and that is Karen Reid herself. You know, whether her team will call her up there. You know, we're a few weeks into trial. Do you think that she will testify?

[Tony]

You know, Andrea, you know that's the million dollar question, right? It's something she's asked about almost every day. And so far, all she said was that's also to be determined.

[Andrea Canning]

I mean, this is hotly anticipated. You know, whether this will happen or not. And we know you'll be there. So, sue, thank you for this great update on what is happening in the trial. Trial. We appreciate it.

[Tony]

Thank you, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. We've got the latest on the retrial of movie producer Harvey Weinstein and both Donna Adelson, the Florida grandmother accused of conspiring to murder her ex son in law and Lori Valo Daybell get closer to trial. Plus, it's a crime you hear about a lot in gangster movies. Racketeering. So why have prosecutors pinned the charge on Sean Diddy Combs?

[Keith Morrison]

Parents, when you visit California, childhood rules. If you don't remember how awesome childhood is, just ask yourself, what would kids do? Dance to a giant organ played by ocean waves? Yep. Camp in floating tree houses hundreds of feet off the ground? Check. Jump in a big tub of mud. On purpose. Call it rejuvenation. We don't care. Just pack your fun pants and let childhood rule your family vacation. Discover why California is the ultimate [e-mail] Mom.

[Laura Jarrett]

Mom.

[Andrea Canning]

You never know what's ahead. Honey, please stop. I'm trying to drive today. You're taking your kid for a drive, then before you know it, they're taking.

[Keith Morrison]

You for a while. Honey, stop.

[Andrea Canning]

Mom.

[Tony]

I got it.

[Andrea Canning]

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Spring's here. Flowers are blooming. Birds are singing. And allergies. Yeah, they're back, too. Sneezing, watery eyes. When they hit, you need a tissue fast. That's where Kleenex Ultra Soft Tissues comes in. Whether you're at home or on the go. Kleenex Ultra Soft Tissues. Have you covered? Approved Kleenex Ultra Soft tissues are gentle on your eyes and nose so you can power through allergy season without missing a beat. Because while allergies are unpredictable, staying prepared is easy. For whatever happens next, grab Kleenex.

Welcome back. Joining me for this week's roundup is DATELINE digital producer Veronica Mazeca. Hey, Veronica.

[Veronica Mazeca]

Hi, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

For our first story, we wanted to talk about someone we haven't mentioned in a while. Donna Adelson, the Florida grandmother accused of orchestrating the 2014 murder for hire plot that killed her former son in law, law professor Dan Markell. She has pleaded not guilty to charges including first degree murder and solicitation. So Veronica, Donna was supposed to go to trial last fall, and now there are some updates about a new trial date since that one never happened.

[Veronica Mazeca]

Donna's defense attorney withdrew from the case literally on the eve of the trial last September, citing a conflict of interest. He represented Donna's son Charlie, who was convicted of Dan Markell's murder in 2023. It took a while for Donna to find new attorneys, but a Trial date was eventually set for next month, only for Donna's defense to ask the judge for another delay, in part because they said the state had opened a new investigation into the case, which was taking up a lot of their time.

[Yuri Buchanak]

Wow.

[Andrea Canning]

What did the judge say to that request?

[Veronica Mazeca]

The judge granted the defense's request to delay the trial, so it's now set for August, with jury selection starting on the 19th.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, we'll see if that one sticks. You mentioned a new investigation. What do we know about that?

[Veronica Mazeca]

We don't know too much. The defense did not give much away, but according to a petition they filed with an appellate court, we learned that investigators asked the judge in charge of Donna's case for a warrant to search the phone records of her husband Harvey and put a wiretap on his phone. Harvey has never been charged in connection with any crime.

[Andrea Canning]

Interesting, Veronica, because wiretaps have been a key part of this case so far. Prosecutors played wiretaps of Donna's phone calls with her son Charlie at his trial. Okay, up next, across the country in Arizona, there was a familiar face in the news. Lori Valo Daybell. Also known by Dateline viewers as Mommy Doomsday. She was recently convicted in an Arizon court for her role in the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Valo. Now she is preparing for yet another trial that starts at the end of this month. Veronica, what's this one all about?

[Veronica Mazeca]

So Lori Valo Debel is expected to stand trial in an attempted murder case involving her niece's ex husband. His name is Brandon Boudreau. And not long after divorcing Lori's niece, Boudreau was in his car when he says someone shot at him, shattering his window. He says the shooter was driving a Jeep with Texas plates. And investigators say the car was connected to Lori Valo Debel's brother, Alex Cox.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, and Veronica, to remind our listeners who Alex is, he is the person investigators say shot Lori's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, to death.

[Veronica Mazeca]

That's right. And the shooting happened just a few months before. Boudreau says he was targeted. Alex actually died in 2019, so he's never faced any charges.

[Andrea Canning]

Laurie has pleaded not guilty in this case. There is an update. Lori, who's representing herself again, filed a motion arguing that this conspiracy to commit murder charge against her should be dismissed. So, Veronica, what is her argument, really?

[Veronica Mazeca]

She was just claiming that her constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, we know Lori's been hitting the law books in prison. Did her argument work?

[Veronica Mazeca]

The judge Actually denied the motion to dismiss the charges. So the trial will be moving forward. Okay.

[Andrea Canning]

And we'll, of course, be covering the trial. Finally, we have an update in the retrial of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who is currently standing trial in Manhattan on one count of third degree rape and two counts of a criminal sexual act. He has pleaded not guilty. Veronica, we talked about this case a few weeks ago, and you told me that there was a big difference in the prosecution's case against Weinstein this time around. The prosecution has a new accuser. Yes.

[Veronica Mazeca]

Her name is Kaya Sokola, and she's a former model and aspiring actress, now a mom and a psychologist who says she first met Weinstein when she was 16.

[Andrea Canning]

What has she told the jury so far about her experience with Weinstein?

[Veronica Mazeca]

So she testified that Weinstein assaulted her shortly after they met and again when she was 19. Her testimony has been extremely emotional. She said she wanted to come forward for the sake of her son.

[Tony]

Wow.

[Andrea Canning]

Powerful. She's been under cross examination for days now. What kind of questions are Weinstein's attorneys asking?

[Veronica Mazeca]

They are really just going after her credibility. They have asked her why she stayed in touch with Weinstein for years after that first alleged assault. And she said she hoped he'd help her acting career.

[Andrea Canning]

Seems like a common theme we're hearing with his victims and alleged victims. How much longer do we think is left in the trial?

[Veronica Mazeca]

A while.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, thank you so much for all these updates, Veronica.

[Veronica Mazeca]

Thank you.

[Andrea Canning]

Testimony began this week in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean Diddy Combs. As anyone who's been listening to our daily coverage of the trial will already know, he's facing five criminal charges. For our final story this week, we wanted to talk about one of them. Racketeering conspiracy, or what is also known as RICO conspiracy. It's a charge that is more often associated with mob bosses than than record label executives like Combs. But this isn't the first time the state has used RICO in the prosecution of a high profile person. So we've invited our resident expert, NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos, to come on and break it down for us. Welcome back, Danny.

[Danny Savalos]

Thank you for having me.

[Andrea Canning]

Sure. So RICO refers to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act, but what does that mean?

[Danny Savalos]

RICO is a pretty complicated law, but the concept is simple enough. What it does essentially is that it criminalizes corrupt an organization. It can be a company, but it doesn't have to be. It can be any enterprise, a loose association of people. You need to show that Somebody directed the enterprise and then that they committed a pattern of racketeering activity. That's a fancy phrase, but all it really means is that you have to prove that they committed two or more crimes in furtherance of this enterprise.

[Andrea Canning]

And Danny. So RICO has been used in the past to take down mob bosses?

[Danny Savalos]

It has. It was inspired by the problem of the Mafia. And anyone who watches mob movies knows that there's often some guy who's at the head of the organization who doesn't actually commit any of the crimes. But as long as he is agreeing to be involved in the organization and has some awareness that these crimes are out there being committed, then he can be held responsible.

[Andrea Canning]

So this is how they are able to use this for Sean Combs, saying that Sean Combs was having his people commit crimes.

[Danny Savalos]

Right, Exactly. The focus is on what's called the enterprise. And when you have a company like Bad Boy Entertainment, that makes it a little easier for prosecutors because you already have the established company and now they have to show that Combs directed it and that he used it for his unlawful means.

[Andrea Canning]

We've started to see RICO in more of these high profile cases, R. Kelly being one of them, the RNB star.

[Danny Savalos]

You're absolutely right. R. Kelly charged with rico. And you wouldn't think of R. Kelly as a traditional Mafia boss at all. But that's what federal prosecutors are very good at, especially with rico. They don't necessarily limit the use of the statute to specific traditional organized crime. They will look for any organization that they believe has been corrupted and bring those charges. And it is actually similar to what's being alleged against Combs there. They alleged in Kelly's case that he had this criminal enterprise. But instead of what you might see in the Mafia, which might be, I don't know what you see in movies. They steal a bunch of trucks and sell a bunch of shoes. The allegations against R. Kelly were more like he was using his organization to achieve the sexual exploitation of women.

[Andrea Canning]

And it's similar to Combs in that prosecutors alleged that he was using bodyguards, runners, assistants, you know, all these people they say helped him control and abuse his victims.

[Danny Savalos]

Exactly right. And instead of just charging with a federal based sex crime, the key to the RICO allegations against both Kelly and Sean Combs is that there's an organization involved.

[Andrea Canning]

So we can expect to see some former employees of Combs taking the stand. I would assume.

[Danny Savalos]

You can absolutely expect that the government has gone to some of his former employees and made it very clear that it's in their best interest to come in and testify against their employer or their former employer.

[Andrea Canning]

Combs's defense team, you know, is saying that this is prosecutorial overreach, that there is no proof of racketeering.

[Danny Savalos]

Yeah. So there are really limited avenues for Combs in this case. It was no surprise in the opening statement that the defense gave that they took the approach of, you may think my client's a jerk, but even if he's a jerk, even if he's into some kind of sex that you think is deviant, as long as it's consensual, it is not a federal crime, what the prosecution calls a RICO enterprise for the purpose of sexual gratification. It's not that he's charged with very specific federal crimes. And these facts do not meet the government's proof.

[Andrea Canning]

All right. And we should say that Sean Combs has pleaded not guilty in this case and denies all the allegations against him. Danny, thank you so much for breaking this down for us. RICO can be very complicated. You definitely simplified it it for us.

[Danny Savalos]

Thank you.

[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. But remember, if you want to take a listen to our daily coverage of the Sean Combs trial, you can find it on our podcast channel, which is dedicated to all things DATELINE True Crime Weekly every day after court. That's where we'll be dropping my conversations with NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss about what she's seen, the witnesses, the evidence and what it all means. So search for DATELINE True Crime Weekly wherever you get your podcasts and follow us to keep listening. And if you've got any questions for the team or any cases you think we should cover, send us a message through social media or leave us a voicemail at 212-413-5252. Coming up, this Friday on Dateline, the murder of a North Dakota student left a community searching for answers. Why would somebody want to hurt Mindy? Who would hurt the outgoing, caring, compassionate girl that everybody loved? The answer to that question was right in front of them. Watch Keith's episode who Killed Mindy Morgenstern? This Friday on NBC at 9, 8 Central. Thanks for listening. DATELINE True Crime Weekly is produced by Franny Kelly and Katie Ferguson. Our associate producers are Carson Cummins and Caroline Casey. Our senior producer is Liz Brown Kurloff. Production and fact checking help by Kim Flores Gaynor. Veronica Mazeka is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original Music by Jesse McGinty Bryson Barnes is head of audio production. Paul Ryan is executive producer. And Liz Cole is senior executive producer of Dateline. Thanks, everybody. Good to see you all.

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