Verdict day in Karen Read's second trial. A courtroom twist in South Carolina. And tariff scammers.

Summary

Dateline: True Crime Weekly – June 19, 2025

Hosted by Andrea Canning, NBC News

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Dateline: True Crime Weekly, Andrea Canning delves into three high-stakes true crime cases, providing detailed updates on verdicts, courtroom twists, and ongoing investigations. Additionally, the podcast addresses emerging consumer threats related to tariff scams. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of each segment, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for clarity.

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1. Verdict Day in Karen Reed's Second Trial (00:34 – 11:42)

Overview of the Trial

Karen Reed, a resident of Dedham, Massachusetts, faced a second trial for charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. After a protracted legal battle spanning over three years, the courtroom was set for a dramatic conclusion.

Closing Arguments

• Defense Attorney Alan Jackson (03:54 – 06:24):

  • Initial Statement: "There was no collision. There was no collision." (03:54)
  • Emphasis on Reasonable Doubt: Jackson underscored the presumption of innocence and the necessity of eliminating reasonable doubt.
  • Key Quote: "A moral certainty means a level of confidence so strong, so incredibly unshakable that you could go home, look your loved ones in the eye and say, I am certain." (05:31 – 06:24)

• Prosecutor Hank Brennan (06:38 – 08:57):

  • Characterization of the Victim: Brennan portrayed John O'Keefe as a selfless individual who tragically needed help.
  • Evidence Presentation: He highlighted significant evidence, including blood samples showing Reed was over the legal alcohol limit and the disarray of her car's taillights.
  • Key Quote: "There’s a collision because her taillight's all over the yard... she was drunk. She hit him. Then she left him to die." (07:02 – 08:32)

The Verdict

As the jury deliberated, tension mounted outside the courtroom. Finally, the verdict was delivered:

• Judge's Query: "Mr. Foreman, on docket number 2282cr117001, murder in the second degree. What say you? Is the defendant at the bar guilty or not guilty?" (03:15 – 10:11)
• Verdict: "Not guilty." (09:59 – 10:11)
• Immediate Reactions:
  • John O'Keefe's mother broke down in tears.
  • Karen Reed was sentenced to one year of probation for operating a vehicle under the influence.

Post-Verdict Reflections

Reed addressed her supporters on the courthouse steps:

• Karen Reed: "I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me financially and more importantly, emotionally for almost four years." (10:23 – 10:59)

Future Implications

The case, shrouded in mystery, remains unsolved. Reed's acquittal on the most serious charges leaves lingering questions about John O'Keefe's death. Andrea Canning previews an in-depth report titled Center of the Storm, featuring interviews and case file analyses, airing at a special time on NBC.

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2. Courtroom Twist in South Carolina: Michael Colucci's Case (12:57 – 21:07)

Background

Michael Colucci, a South Carolina businessman, was initially charged with the murder of his wife, Sarah Lynn, following her apparent suicide in May 2015. Despite maintaining his innocence, Colucci's first trial in 2018 ended in a deadlocked jury.

Retrial Developments

In a surprising turn of events during the second trial:

• Legal Motion: The defense highlighted a Brady violation, where crucial information about Sarah's mental state was withheld from the defense.
• Judge's Decision: "This court is quashing this indictment without prejudice." (19:31 – 19:42)
• Outcome: The charges against Colucci were dismissed, effectively nullifying the indictment.

Courtroom Reaction

• Andrea Canning's Observation: "It took a moment for people even to realize they could stand up." (19:46 – 20:12)
• Colucci's Response: He broke down in tears upon his release, embracing his daughter in an emotional scene. (20:12 – 20:40)

Prosecutors' Next Steps

While the case is dismissed for now, prosecutors retain the option to present the evidence to a grand jury, which may lead to a new indictment. The future remains uncertain as legal proceedings continue.

Key Quotes:

• Michael Colucci: "It's really unbelievable." (20:15)
• Prosecutor Hank Brennan: "Ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt what happened that night." (30:41)

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3. Dateline Roundup (21:08 – 29:59)

a. Jennifer Doulos' Case Update (22:11 – 23:38)

• Case Overview: Jennifer Doulos, a Connecticut mother of five, disappeared in May 2019 and was later declared dead. Her estranged husband, Fotus Doulos, was initially charged but died attempting suicide. Michelle Troconis, Fotus's girlfriend, was convicted for her role in the conspiracy.
• Latest Development: Kent Mawhinney, a lawyer friend of Fotus, faced reduced charges from conspiracy to murder to interfering with an officer. He accepted an Alford plea and was sentenced to 11 months, which he had already served.
• Key Quote: "No, if I did, I would tell them." – Kent Mawhinney (23:32)

b. Corey Richens' Case Update (24:11 – 25:12)

• Case Overview: Corey Richens, a children's author from Summit County, Utah, was accused of poisoning her husband with fentanyl in 2022 amidst financial troubles.
• Latest Development: The trial, once postponed to determine the venue, is now set to begin on February 23 and will last approximately five weeks, with a subsequent hearing on August 1.
• Key Quote: "I'm anxious to get trial and I'm ready to get this one heck of a fight." – Corey Richens (24:37 – 24:43)

c. Lori Valo's Case Update (25:12 – 26:09)

• Case Overview: Lori Valo, also known as Lori Daybell, faced charges for conspiring to kill Brandon Boudreau, her niece's former husband.
• Latest Development: Valo received her second conviction for murder conspiracy within two months. She awaits sentencing for both this and her April conviction for conspiracy to kill her husband, Charles Vallow, with the possibility of life sentences for both.
• Key Quotes:
  • Judge: "All right, the clerk will read and record the verdict." (25:30 – 25:32)
  • Vicky Wynn: "She had her second conviction in less than two months." (25:38 – 25:51)

d. Tariff Scammers Alert (26:12 – 29:59)

• Insight from Vicky Wynn: A new wave of scammers exploits confusion around tariffs, targeting consumers through deceptive practices.

  • Types of Scams:

    1. Additional Tariff Fees: After making a purchase, scammers claim additional tariffs are required for delivery, coercing victims into sending more money.
    2. False Tariff Relief: Scammers promise government tariff relief payments, leading victims to phishing sites to steal personal and financial information.

  • Identification Tips:

    • Verify retailers by researching reviews and checking for sponsored ads.
    • Scrutinize website details for misspellings and suspicious pricing.
    • Avoid clicking on unsolicited links promising tariff relief.

  • Preventive Actions:

    • Use reputable retailers.
    • Report fraudulent activities to credit card companies, banks, the FTC, and the FBI.
    • Remain vigilant against unexpected payment requests.

• Key Quotes:

  • Vicky Wynn: "Scammers are nothing if not on trend, Andrea." (26:35)
  • Andrea Canning: "If anyone is offering you any sort of tariff relief, run away." (28:42)

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Conclusion

Andrea Canning and her team at Dateline: True Crime Weekly offer an in-depth exploration of some of the most compelling true crime cases and emerging consumer threats. From courtroom verdicts that change lives to the ongoing pursuit of justice in complex cases, the podcast provides listeners with comprehensive coverage and critical insights. Additionally, the practical advice on avoiding tariff-related scams equips consumers with the knowledge to protect themselves in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Listeners are encouraged to stay informed and engaged, as the pursuit of truth and justice continues to unfold on Dateline. Don’t miss the special reports and ongoing series that delve deeper into these and other riveting stories.

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Notable Quotes:

• Alan Jackson on Reasonable Doubt (05:31): "A moral certainty means a level of confidence so strong, so incredibly unshakable that you could go home, look your loved ones in the eye and say, I am certain."
• Hank Brennan on the Collision (08:12): "There’s a collision because her taillight's all over the yard. It's all over the yard."
• Karen Reed on Supporters (10:23): "I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me financially and more importantly, emotionally for almost four years."
• Kent Mawhinney (23:32): "No, if I did, I would tell them."
• Vicky Wynn on Scammers (26:35): "Scammers are nothing if not on trend, Andrea."

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Stay Tuned

For more updates and in-depth analysis, tune into Dateline: True Crime Weekly every Thursday. Subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive content, and watch Dateline tonight at 9 PM Central on NBC for comprehensive coverage of the Karen Reid case and other major true crime stories.

Transcript

[Commercial Voiceover]

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[Josh Mankiewicz]

This was a Saturday night in Tacoma, Washington.

[Andrea Canning]

So we get our shoes and we go to our lanes.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Theresa Czepeski was there with two of her daughters, her boyfriend, some family and some friends.

[Andrea Canning]

And Tika sees the video games.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Tika was Teresa's two year old.

[Andrea Canning]

It was my turn to bowl and I told my brother and my boyfriend, me, make sure you watch Tika so nothing happens to her.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Her attention was diverted for maybe 15 seconds and something did happen.

[Andrea Canning]

She was gone.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

The search for Tika began that night and it still is not over.

[Commercial Voiceover]

Maybe you could be the key to solving her case. DATELINE Missing in America. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Listen now.

[Andrea Canning]

Good morning.

It's the start of another workday for the DATELINE team here at 30 Rockefeller Center. Prosecutors saying she is a master manipulator.

She is a evil woman.

Our producers are catching up on breaking crime news around the country, swapping tips and story ideas.

Gosh, could we have a verdict tomorrow? That seems unlikely. I know they're not deliberating on the weekend. We will see what happens tomorrow.

Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's June 19th and here's what's on our docket. A massive courtroom twist at the retrial of a South Carolina businessman accused of staging his wife's murder to look like suicide.

Everyone was stunned. It took a moment for people even to realize they could stand up in.

DATELINE Roundup, the latest in the trial of children's author Corey Richence. And in Connecticut, a plea deal for someone connected to the case of murdered mom of five Jennifer Doulos.

[Vicky Wynn]

Authorities alleged that he helped FOTUS create an alibi for the time of Jennifer's disappearance.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, NBC News chief investigative consumer correspondent Vicky Wynn on a whole new scam to watch out for involving tariffs. But before all that, we're heading back to dedham, Massachusetts. Since 2022, Karen Reed has been fighting for her freedom, facing a potential sentence of life in prison on charges including second degree murder. We were there in court as she finally learned her fate. 31 days of testimony and 49 witnesses, 38 witnesses for the prosecution, 11 for the defense. Yesterday afternoon, after more than three years, we finally got something we didn't get in the first trial, a verdict.

[Judge]

Mr. Foreman, on docket number 2282cr117001, murder in the second degree. What say you? Is the defendant at the bar guilty or not guilty?

[Andrea Canning]

Not guilty.

We'll tell you everything you need to know about the dramatic conclusion to this case. But first, before the verdict came down, I talked to DATELINE producer Sue Simpson about how the lawyers on both sides made their final pitch to the jury and what was happening outside the courtroom as the jury went off to deliberate. Sue, let's start with closing arguments. Alan Jackson was first up for the defense. Let's take a quick listen.

[Alan Jackson]

There was no collision. There was no collision. There was no collision.

[Andrea Canning]

This was almost identical to how Alan Jackson began his opening statement. What was the argument that he laid out for the jury in his closing?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, Andrea, as you know, I mean, this is his final sales pitch, right? And he started off so smartly by thanking them for their attention and their patience and also for their courage.

[Alan Jackson]

Courage is what this moment, this moment demands. Not just to listen, but to stare directly at injustice and say, not here, not now, not on our watch. That's what you're being asked to do, stare down injustice. You folks are the last line of defense, the last line of defense between an innocent woman and a system that has tried to break her, that falsely accused her, that tried mightily, mightily to bury the truth.

[Sue Simpson]

So Jackson said the case was corrupted from the start. You know, he pointed at the lead investigator, Michael Proctor, and he said his misconduct infected every single part of the case. Alan Jackson also wanted to talk about reasonable doubt and how it is, in his words, the bedrock on which the entire system of justice is built. So from the start, he's really laying out this idea that Karen Reid was entitled to the presumption of innocence, of course, and that the heavy burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt was on the state, not the defense.

[Alan Jackson]

You think about one or more of the charges, you think, you know what, maybe, maybe that's true, it might be true. Then you vote not guilty. If you think it's possibly true or probably true, your vote must be not guilty. If someone among you thinks it's likely true or even very likely to be true, your vote is not guilty. It's because none of those standards maybe might be possibly, probably likely, very likely to none of those meets the extraordinary burden of beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty. A moral certainty means a level of confidence so strong, so incredibly unshakable that you could go home. You would go home, look your loved ones in the eye and say, I am certain.

[Andrea Canning]

The prosecutor sue was up next, and he began by talking about John o' Keefe. He spoke about how he spent his life helping people and what a good man he was. And you'll remember, he was selflessly raising his.

[Sue Simpson]

That's right. As we know, the niece and nephew were orphaned, and John stepped in as single uncle and became their. What they called their funkle, their fun uncle. Prosecutor Hank Brennan wanted to drive home the message that this was a good man who died. And on the morning of January 29, 2022, John O' Keefe, who had helped so many, was the one who needed help himself.

[Hank Brennan]

And that one person who could help him that morning was this defendant right here, Karen Glee. And she made a decision in her Lexus with the shattered taillight. Debris failed all over the front yard, and John o' Keefe lying helpless like a child on the front yard. She made a choice. She drove away. She was drunk. She hit him. Then she left him to die.

[Andrea Canning]

What else did Hank Brennan focus on, Sue?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, you know, like the defense, Hank Brennan went back over a lot of the evidence during his closing argument. He talked about how blood samples indicated Karen was two to three times over the legal limit. He also talked about the battery temperature of the cell phone. Andrea. And this was a whole new piece of the state's case as compared to the first trial. He really honed in on the data surrounding the temperature of the phone battery to try to. That John o' Keefe was outside versus inside the house all night, as the defense had suggested. He also spoke about physical evidence at the scene. Those tail light pieces, there's no doubt.

[Hank Brennan]

There'S a collision because her taillight's all over the yard. It's all over the yard. And when he falls back and he hits the back of his head, his basal fracture, he's then lying there helpless. When Mr. Meade leaves, she leaves behind tons of her tail light all over the island.

[Andrea Canning]

Brennan. Sue also had audio and videos that he played during the closing argument.

[Sue Simpson]

That's right. He played those angry voicemails that Karen left John that night. And Hank Brennan played clips from Karen Reed's own media interviews, including the one she did with Dateline. And some of the statements she made really were sort of seemed to be her admitting that maybe she had, for instance, a bit too much to drink.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, so what was the atmosphere like around the courthouse as deliberations got underway? You know, this has really gotten worldwide attention.

[Sue Simpson]

It is big. And, boy, I can tell you, Andrea, outside the courthouse these past couple of days, the crowd has been growing and growing and growing, and it's all a heaving sea of people in pink, you know. Supporters of Karen Reid.

[Andrea Canning]

We love you.

As jury deliberation stretched into a fourth day, Karen supporters were still there in the streets, waiting. Then word came. The jury had a verdict. The prosecutor and defense teams filed back into the courtroom, and Karen stood before the judge.

[Judge]

Mr. Foreman, on docket number 2282 CR 117001, murder in the second degree. What say you? Is the defendant the bar, guilty or not guilty?

[Andrea Canning]

Not guilty.

[Judge]

So say you, Mr. Foreman. So say you? No. No. Do you agree?

[Andrea Canning]

Yes.

[Judge]

002. What say is the defendant at the bar? Not guilty or guilty?

[Andrea Canning]

Not guilty.

[Judge]

003. What say is the defendant at the bar leaving the scene after accident resulting in deaths? Defendant? Not guilty or guilty. So say you, Mr. Foreman. So say you all?

[Commercial Voiceover]

Yes.

[Andrea Canning]

Not guilty. On the most serious charges of second degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. A roar came from outside the courthouse. John o' Keefe's mother broke down in tears. Karen was found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence and immediately sentenced to one year of probation. Moments later, she spoke on the courthouse steps. I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me.

And my team financially and more importantly.

Emotionally for almost four years. With that, the case that has transfixed the nation for more than three years was at an end. The mystery of what happened to John O' Keefe in a snowstorm back in January 2022 still lingers. It's a case we've been covering here at Dateline since the beginning. And tonight, on Thursday's edition of Dateline, you can watch our in depth report, center of the Storm. We'll bring you the whole story, including one of Karen Reid's first television interviews. I didn't know what the hell.

[Sue Simpson]

What the hell happened?

[Andrea Canning]

And I'll talk to a man at the center of the case, disgraced former trooper Michael Proctor. What do you want to say to anyone who believes that you framed Karen Reed?

It did not happen.

As well as his wife Elizabeth.

[Kent Mawhinney]

But he did say, there's some really embarrassing text messages that I have to read. And I said, okay, well, own it.

[Andrea Canning]

We'll dive into the case files, the theories, the evidence, and you'll also hear from John o' Keefe's family about their journey and what they wish people knew.

[Kent Mawhinney]

She has put my family through hell to save herself.

[Andrea Canning]

That's airing at a special time of 9, 8 Central this Thursday on NBC. Coming up, seven years after a jury deadlocked in the trial of a South Carolina businessman accused of killing his wife, his retrial is stopped in its track. We'll take you inside the courtroom.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

I'm Josh Mankiewicz and I hope you'll join us for season four of dateline Missing in America. In each episode of dateline's award winning series, we will focus on one missing persons case and hear from the families, the friends and the investigators, all desperate to find them. You will want to listen closely. Maybe you could help investigators solve a mystery.

[Commercial Voiceover]

Search DATELINE Missing in America to listen on Apple Podcasts.

[Alan Jackson]

Taking over the helm of NBC nightly news, a 75 year old broadcast. It's a great responsibility.

[Andrea Canning]

Good evening.

[Alan Jackson]

I'm Tom Yamas. You have to go out there to bring people at home closer to the store. Wildfires continue to be a threat. With that massive hurricane comes the massive response. The best reporters in our business know how to listen. And when you listen, you get the truth for NBC News. For NBC News, NBC News, I'm Tom Yamas. That's what we do every night, NBC.

[Andrea Canning]

Nightly News with Tom Yamas, evenings on NBC. For our next story, we're headed to a South Carolina courthouse where a prominent jeweler was set to go before trial this week for allegedly murdering his wife. Before we continue, we should warn you there is some discussion of self harm in this case. On the evening of May 20, 2015, Michael Colucci called 911 from outside a warehouse he was renting for his business. He said he found his wife, Sarah Lynn, hanging from a fence with a garden hose wrapped around her neck and begged them to hurry. Come on, baby, come on. Leave now. They're on the way, sir. Paramedics got to the scene within minutes, but it was already too late. Sarah Lynn was dead. Michael told investigators that she had been depressed and suspected it was a suicide. But a year later, he was arrested and charged with her murder. He pleaded not guilty and stood trial in 2018, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict. This week, Colucci was in the courtroom getting ready to stand trial again when a last minute twist changed everything. DATELINE producer Carol Gable is here to tell us more. Carol, welcome back to the show.

Good to be Here.

So, Carol, before we get to that big twist, let's go over some of the basics of this case. Who was this couple?

Well, they were two people who were thrilled to get that elusive second chance at love. They were each a single parent to a daughter. They met on a blind date. They, from all accounts, pretty much fell instantly in love and got married.

The two of them ran this jewelry business together.

Yes. I don't think Sarah really was there full time, but she certainly was in some ads you can still see on the Internet for the jewelry store. She was tall, blonde, beautiful, very personable, and so she did work at the store from time to time.

What were Michael and Sarah doing at the warehouse that night?

Well, it was kind of the last stop on a big day of errands. They started out at a lawyer's office, and then they ended up at the very famous cemetery here in Charleston called Magnolia Cemetery, where Sarah's first husband, who died of a suicide, was buried at the grave. Sarah got really upset. His death were very stressful, even after all these years. And then they began to drive home. And Sarah had this quirk that if she needed to go to the bathroom, she did not want to go in a public restroom. So she had Michael pull over, according to Michael, so she could go relieve herself behind this warehouse along very busy Highway 17. So she gets out of the car, according to Michael, to go do this. And while she's gone, he says he plays some music. You know, he may have fallen asleep, we don't know. Next thing, he looks up, and Sarah is hanging from a garden hose that had been draped over a chain link fence.

Wow. So awful. What eventually made local investigators suspicious of Michael's story?

Well, at first they thought it might be a suicide, but Sarah's father, Ronnie, and her mother, Barbara, were up, absolutely insistent that Michael had something to do with it. So they basically just bombarded the local sheriff, and eventually the sheriff called the state Law Enforcement division to come in and do their own investigation. And they send a person named David Owen to investigate this. And I say the name because it may sound familiar to Dateline viewers because he would become the lead investigator in the Alex Murdaugh case years later.

What motive did prosecutors say Michael might have had for killing his wife?

In the first trial? It seemed that the prosecutors were painting a picture of this couple being very volatile. So in their scenario, they were having a fight, and somehow it led to her death.

Carol, back in 2018, the jury couldn't agree on a verdict at the first trial. Now, here we are 20, 25 retrial. And the defense presents a motion filed last week. Tell us about that.

Well, it centers on a conversation that David Owen had with Barbara Moore, Sarah's mother, in which Barbara said that in the days before her death, she had found Sarah drinking and crying uncontrollably. Her face was swollen, and she was saying that if it were not for the girls coming home, she would commit. Commit suicide. And that piece of information did not make its way to the defense, which in legal ease is a Brady violation. You are required to return over to the defense any piece of information that might be in favor of the defendant. And so what the defense said in this case is, had that information been turned over earlier, that even the state's witnesses could have come to a different conclusion and would have testified differently, which would have meant a potential different outcome.

So what did the judge decide with this motion?

When he came out and read his decision, it was huge. This court is quashing this indictment without prejudice.

So the judge dismissed the charges against Michael Coluchy.

He dismissed it as if it had never happened.

What was the reaction like in the courtroom?

I think everyone was stunned. I think it took a moment for people even to realize they could stand up. And the judge went further to say, you know, telling Mr. Colucci, you know, you don't have to wear that ankle bracelet anymore, the monitoring device. You're free to go. You're not even on bond anymore.

That's incredible. And he started crying. Colucci.

Oh, yeah. He cried for the rest of the time in the courtroom. And it was very poignant, too, because his daughter, who thought she was going to come for opening arguments, was headed up the stairs to the courtroom, and Michael Colucci was running down the aisle, and they sort of, you know, met in the middle in one of those embraces.

It's really unbelievable. So. So, Carol, this trial is. Is not happening, but this isn't over. The prosecution still has a card to play.

They do have a card to play. They could go to a grand jury with what they have, and a different grand jury could decide to indict him again. We don't know what they're going to decide.

Carol, fascinating case. Thank you so much for bringing this to us.

You're welcome.

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. We've got the latest in the Corey Richens case. She' children's author accused of poisoning her husband. And the final defendant facing charges in the case of Connecticut mom Jennifer Doulos learns his fate. Plus scammers are taking advantage of consumers confusion around tariffs. How to spot the red flags. Welcome back. For this week's roundup, we're joined by DATELINE digital producer Veronica Mazzin. Veronica, thanks for coming back.

[Vicky Wynn]

Thanks for having me.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so up first, Veronica, we've got an update in a case that will likely be familiar to DATELINE fans. Jennifer Doulos, the Connecticut mom of five. She went missing in May of 2019 after dropping her kids off at school. Her body has never been found, but she's been declared dead. Remind us just a little bit about the case.

[Vicky Wynn]

Yes. So her estranged husband, Fotus Doulos, was charged with her murder. He maintained his innocence and later died after attempting suicide. Investigators had surveillance video of him dumping garbage bags they said contained items connected to Jennifer's murder. And his girlfriend at the time, Michelle Troconis, was found guilty at trial last year of charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so what is new in the case now?

[Vicky Wynn]

So Fotus's friend, a lawyer named Kent Mawinney, had also been charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities allegedly alleged that he helped Fotus create an alibi for the time of Jennifer's disappearance. What's new is that the state has reduced Mooney's charge to interfering with an officer. They say police asked him if he had spoken to Fotis on the day of the murder, and Moini denied it. But forensic evidence later showed that Mawini had spoken to Fotis when he was allegedly disposing of evidence. After the reduction, Moinney took an Alford plea and a judge sentenced him to 11 months, which he had already served. So he walked for years.

[Commercial Voiceover]

8.

[Andrea Canning]

He spoke afterwards. Kent Mawhinney with his attorneys. Let's take a listen.

Obviously, it's tragic, but you know, I.

[Alan Jackson]

Have as much responsibility for that tragedy as you do.

[Vicky Wynn]

When he was asked if he knew where Jennifer Doulos was, he said, quote, no, if I did, I would tell them.

[Andrea Canning]

Hmm. Wow. Yeah. It's such a shame that they've never been able to find her body. Very sad. Up next, we are headed to Summit County, Utah. We've got an update on the case of Corey Richens. You might remember she is the mom who wrote a children's book about grief after her husband died in March three years ago. But then she was arrested for his murder and charged with nine felonies, including aggravated murder and multiple counts of forgery and fraud. Veronica, remind us of some more of the details of this case.

[Vicky Wynn]

Yeah. So prosecutors say that Richins allegedly poisoned her husband Eric by putting a lethal dose of fentanyl in his drink in 2022. According to. According to prosecutors, Corey was in financial hot water over some real estate deals and had taken out life insurance policies on Eric. And she pleaded not guilty in the past.

[Andrea Canning]

Veronica, we played some exclusive recordings that Richen sent us from jail. We played them on the podcast. Here's a quick clip of one of them.

[Sue Simpson]

I'm anxious to get trial and I'm ready to get this one heck of a fight.

[Andrea Canning]

So what is the latest in the case?

[Vicky Wynn]

The trial was supposed to start this spring, but the judge allowed a delay so that the Utah Supreme Court could consider whether the trial should be moved to a different county. Last week, they declined to hear the case. So at a hearing on Friday, Richins finally got a new trial date. It's now scheduled to begin on February 23 and is expected to last five weeks. And Richins will be back in court on August 1 for a hearing on trial preparations.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, we'll keep you posted. Another high profile trial. Lori Valo, Daybell. Quick update with her. There has been a verdict in the latest trial in Arizona. She was accused of conspir to kill her niece's former husband, Brandon Boudreau. So what did the jury decide?

[Judge]

All right, the clerk will read and record the verdict.

[Kent Mawhinney]

Plead the jury do find the defendant Vori Dabel guilty.

[Vicky Wynn]

And this is her second conviction for murder conspiracy in less than two months. In April, a jury found her guilty of conspiring to kill her husband, Charles Vallow. In 2019, she will be sentenced for.

[Andrea Canning]

Both of her convictions at the same time, even though they were separate trials.

[Vicky Wynn]

Yes. So Laurie will be sentenced for this conviction as well as the April conviction on July 25. And both carry the possibility of a life sentence.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, Veronica, thank you so much for all this great information.

[Vicky Wynn]

Thank you.

[Andrea Canning]

We have all seen tariffs making headlines in recent months, and it can be confusing at times to know if the things we're buying are affecting. And that's the perfect opportunity for scammers, according to my next guest, NBC News chief investigative consumer correspondent Vicki Nguyen. She's back to tell us what to watch out for and how to avoid becoming the victim of these new tariff scams. Hey, Vicki.

[Kent Mawhinney]

Hey, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, so, okay, this is one I would not have thought of. I was very surprised.

[Kent Mawhinney]

Scammers are nothing if not on trend, Andrea. Right. So tariffs in the headlines, major buzzword. And so what these scammers have done is after you place an order for something that you online, suddenly they'll follow up and say, hey, we've got your item. But there's a delay because of additional tariffs that need to be paid. So if you want to get your item and have it be released and sent to you, we're going to need you to send some more money. You may fall for that because you want this item. And so that's why the Better Business Bureau has put out an alert to say, beware of the retailers with whom you're shopping online. And if anyone tries to ask you for money after the fact, that's a major red flag.

[Andrea Canning]

So you, Vicki, reached out to the Better Business Bureau. What did they tell you as far as what we all can do?

[Kent Mawhinney]

They want to go back to shopping with reputable retailers and really watching out for something called a sponsored ad. You're going to see a lot of these popping up, especially on social media, and it'll say, oh, check out this new company, this product. It looks really great. Some of those are definitely legitimate new small businesses, but others are absolutely purchased and run by scammers. And so anytime you're going to spend money with a retailer you haven't heard of, I just want you to take the name of that business and put it into an Internet search along with the word scam or along with the word review and just see what are other buyers saying? Have any complaints come up? Also, look carefully at the website itself. Are there misspellings? If anything looks suspicious on that site or the price is too good to be true, that's typically a red flag.

[Andrea Canning]

And Vicki, so you out that there's another kind of tariff scam. The scammers are promising tariff relief. What's that?

[Kent Mawhinney]

This is wild. And it's the opposite. Instead of saying, hey, you need to pay us for tariffs that are due, the scammers are saying, hey, the government owes you money for tariffs. We're giving you some relief to offset the extra cost of these tariffs.

[Andrea Canning]

No, run.

[Kent Mawhinney]

Hear me loud and clear when I say the government is not paying you one single center for tariff. So just if anyone is contacting you, and usually this comes in the form of some message that you did not ask for in your email, as a text on your phone, and they say, click here to get your tariff relief payment. And really what that link is taking you to is a phishing website. They're going to try to get your name, your payment information, bank account information, even your address to send you a check in the mail. The big picture here, if anyone is offering you any sort of tariff relief relief, run away.

[Andrea Canning]

And Vicki, if you are one of the unfortunate ones who's fallen victim to one of these tariff scams, what can you do?

[Kent Mawhinney]

Make sure if you've already made a purchase that you call your credit card company or your bank right away, report it as fraud. If it's very serious and you've lost a lot of money, you can report it to your local police department as well as the ftc, the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI. And that just helps them to keep track of trends and online crimes that are happening so they can put warnings out to the rest of us once in a while. They are able to help people recover, cover their money. But, you know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say.

[Andrea Canning]

Vicki, this is such good information as always. Thank you for joining us.

[Kent Mawhinney]

Thank you.

[Andrea Canning]

That's it for this episode of DATELINE True Crime Weekly. Don't forget to take a listen to our coverage of the Sean Combs trial Every day after court. I'll be chatting with NBC News correspondent Chloe Meloss about what she's seen, the witnesses, the evidence and what it all means. And Josh has a new season of his award winning podcast series, DATELINE Missing in America. Episodes 1 and 2 are out now wherever you get your podcasts. So listen closely. You could be the key to solving a mystery. To get ad free listening for all of our podcasts, subscribe to DATELINE Premium. And a reminder that DATELINE is on tonight. Thursday, you can watch my in depth coverage of the Karen Reid True.

[Hank Brennan]

Ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt what happened that night.

[Alan Jackson]

This case should be over right now. Why is she even here?

[Andrea Canning]

That's center of the storm tonight at 9, 8 Central on NBC. 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. Veronica Mazeca is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound design. 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. Anything else, anyone? All right. Thanks very much. See you soon.

[Commercial Voiceover]

Hey, guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, to talk about that Star wars role that has shaped his Life for nearly 50 years now and his gripping new film from the Mind of Stephen King. You can get our conversation now for free wherever you download your podcasts.