Verdict in double murder trial. Olympian accused of being drug kingpin. Plus, catfishing.

Summary

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Dateline: True Crime Weekly — Episode Summary

Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Andrea Canning and guest correspondents
Main Topics: Double murder verdict, Olympian turned alleged drug kingpin, legal updates, and catfishing explained

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Episode Theme and Purpose

This week’s Dateline: True Crime Weekly delivers updates on high-profile crime stories: the verdict in the double murder trial of Brendan Banfield, the arrest and extradition of former Olympian Ryan Wedding on drug trafficking and murder charges, significant courtroom developments in the Luigi Mangione and Charlie Adelson cases, and practical guidance on catfishing—what it is and how to avoid it. The episode blends courtroom revelations, investigative reporting, and expert advice with the direct, no-nonsense tone typical of Dateline.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. (01:20) - Update: The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

• Host Statement: Andrea opens by sharing news about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of colleague Savannah Guthrie.
• Case Details: Nancy, 84, was abducted from her Tucson, AZ home. Personal belongings and critical medication were left behind; law enforcement, including the FBI, are investigating.
• Family's Public Plea: Savannah Guthrie’s statement asks for safe contact and confirms their readiness to negotiate, expressing hope and faith for Nancy's return.
• Tip Line: “If you have any information to pass on to authorities, the tip line number is 1-800-CALL-FBI.” (04:02)

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2. (05:50) - Verdict: The Brendan Banfield Double Murder Trial

Case Background

• Accused: Brendan Banfield, former IRS agent, charged with orchestrating the murders of his wife Christine and Joseph Ryan, a stranger.
• Prosecution’s Theory: Brendan and Juliana (the family's Brazilian au pair and his lover) used a fetish website to lure Ryan to their home, intending to frame him for Christine's murder and cover up their affair.

Testimony Highlights

• Brendan’s Story: Claims he was out for a potential IRS promotion meeting and stopped for McDonald’s breakfast when Juliana alerted him to a stranger entering their house.
  • Quote: “He said that morning that he had an important meeting... so he left the house early to get ready for that meeting, and then he stopped by McDonald's to get some breakfast on the way.” — Brad Davis (07:43)
• Encounter at the House: Brendan claims he returned to a chaotic scene with “moaning” sounds, believing his wife was having an affair, then heard distress and saw Ryan over Christine with a knife.
  • Quote: “I was extremely terrified. I don't know that I've ever been more panicked in my life.” — Brad Davis (09:29)
• Action in the Bedroom: Brendan says he hesitated to fire his gun because of proximity to Christine; eventually shot Ryan, while Juliana also fired at him.
• Juliana’s Role: She pleaded guilty to manslaughter, received a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against Brendan (10:18).

Cross-Examination & Key Moments

• Prosecution Focus:
  • Questioned Brendan’s account of his affair with Juliana (“Not serious. Okay. Did you love her?” — Andrea Canning, 11:50).
  • Highlighted his activity on fetish websites, including seeking a “sugar baby.”
  • Challenged his claim that Christine could have spoken after sustaining fatal neck wounds.
  • Exposed key lie: Brendan’s supposed IRS meeting never existed—his supervisor denied it under oath (13:32).

Closing Arguments & Verdict

• Prosecution: Emphasized motive—a desire to be with Juliana and a calculated plan.
• Defense: Sought to undermine Juliana’s credibility and labeled the catfishing setup a “theory.”
• Outcome: Convicted on all charges; faces mandatory life sentences.
  • Quote: “The two aggravated murder charges carry mandatory life sentences, so he'll spend the rest of his life behind bars.” — Brad Davis (14:16)

Notable Moment:

• “...no tears when he was testifying. He was very matter of fact... which I think the jury probably picked up on.” — Brad Davis (10:40)

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3. (16:19) - The Olympian Turned Accused Drug Kingpin: Ryan Wedding

Background & Rise

• Olympic Past: In 2002, Ryan Wedding competed for Canada in snowboard slalom—did poorly, ending his competitive career.
  • Quote: “He did not fare well. He came in 24th... and he did not even make it to the next round.” — Michael Kosner (18:13)
• Post-Sports Life: Moved to Vancouver, dove into bodybuilding and club security jobs, then reportedly began a lucrative marijuana grow operation.

Entry Into Organized Crime

• First Arrest: 2008 cocaine ring bust in San Diego (an FBI sting); convicted and served ~2 years.
• Criminal Networking: While in jail, established ties with Mexican and Colombian traffickers.

Criminal Empire

• Expansion: Linked with the Sinaloa cartel; ran a transnational operation trafficking drugs from Colombia to Canada via the U.S.
• Indictments: U.S. prosecutors issued 12 drug and murder-related charges in June 2024, including conspiracy to murder a federal witness.
  • Quote: “He is a modern day El Chapo. He is a modern day Pablo Escobar.” — FBI Director Kash Patel (17:13)

Capture and Current Status

• Manhunt: FBI placed Ryan Wedding on the Ten Most Wanted List.
• Arrest and Extradition: Captured in Mexico (Jan 22, 2026), extradited to California. Now in federal detention, awaiting trial.
  • Notable detail: Seized luxury assets, including “$40 million worth of motorcycles” and a rare $13 million Mercedes (21:26).

Memorable Moment:

• “He stepped out of that plane. It was kind of dramatic, actually... not the pictures that you see of the baby-faced athlete.” — Michael Kosner (22:31)

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4. (25:34) - Dateline Roundup: Major Court Updates

A. Luigi Mangione Case

• Ruling: Federal judge dropped two charges—including murder and weapons (thus death penalty off the table) due to jurisdictional constraints; Mangione still faces state charges.
  • Quote: “She realized some people might find the decision strange, but she had to follow the law.” — Sue Simpson (26:31)
• Admissible Evidence: Police search of Mangione’s bag, containing notes and a gun, was ruled justified and admissible.

B. Charlie Adelson / Dan Markel Case

• Background: Florida dentist Charlie Adelson convicted for orchestrating Dan Markel’s murder in 2014 over a child custody dispute.
• Appeal: Adelson seeks retrial citing prejudicial media coverage; prosecution argues appeal points have already been waived.
  • Quote: “At the time of jury selection, 40% of potential jurors told the court that they'd already made a determination about Charlie's guilt.” — Sue Simpson (29:07)
• Status: Awaiting appellate decision.

C. Gabby Petito Civil Suit

• Update: Petito’s family’s wrongful death suit against Moab Police Department (for failing to act during a traffic stop preceding her murder) was dismissed under Utah’s governmental immunity act. Utah Supreme Court has now scheduled oral arguments for the family’s appeal.
  • Quote: “...the city released a statement saying... Moab Police Department was not responsible for Petito's eventual murder.” — Andrea Canning (31:56)
• Date: Oral arguments scheduled for March 4.

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5. (33:10) - Catfishing: A True Crime Deep Dive

What is Catfishing?

• Definition: Creating a false online identity, to deceive, manipulate, or scam (often for emotional, sexual, or financial purposes).
  • Quote: “Catfishing is when someone uses a fake online identity... to deceive, manipulate, or scam others.” — Cody Brunig (33:30)
• Methods: Can involve both human actors and bots, across all digital platforms (dating sites, phone scams, social media, etc.).

Advice & Red Flags

• Red Flags:
  • New online account; low followers or activity
  • Stock or reverse-image-searchable photos
  • Urgency, emotional appeals, or sudden requests for money
  • Inconsistencies in communication
  • Quote: “Listen to your instincts, because our bodies are going to tell us right away...” — Cody Brunig (35:11)
• Teen Vulnerability: Teens particularly at risk due to impulsivity and lack of experience—may share compromising material.
• If Victimized:
  • Don’t isolate—report to law enforcement and trusted adults
  • “You're not alone... we are all catfished in our lives.” — Cody Brunig (37:20)

Notable Moment:

• “It is never, never have to carry that burden alone as parents, but as people, we're here for each other.” — Cody Brunig (37:36)

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Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• “There was no plan. That is absolutely crazy.” — Brad Davis on Banfield’s defense (06:58)
• “He is a modern day El Chapo... Pablo Escobar.” — Director Kash Patel on Ryan Wedding (17:13)
• “If you have any information to pass on to authorities, the tip line number is 1-800-CALL-FBI.” — Andrea Canning (04:02)
• “Closing arguments... prosecution really leaned into the motive here...” — Brad Davis (13:41)
• “Account creation... probably a new account with low number of followers...” — Cody Brunig (35:11)
• “If you messed up, it’s okay. We all make mistakes. We can fix it.” — Cody Brunig (37:20)

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Nancy Guthrie abduction update | 01:20–05:18 | | Brendan Banfield verdict coverage | 05:50–14:42 | | Ryan Wedding: Olympian turned suspected kingpin | 16:19–23:07 | | Dateline Roundup (Mangione, Adelson, Petito) | 25:34–32:17 | | Catfishing interview and safety advice | 33:10–37:50 |

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Conclusion

This episode offers a gripping blend of criminal justice news and real-world safety insights, moving briskly from the emotional gravity of an unsolved abduction to detailed legal drama, and finishing with actionable advice on protecting oneself online. The reporting is straightforward, compassionate, and focused on both facts and implications, making it accessible and meaningful for listeners—even those new to these stories.

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Transcript

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[Andrea Canning]

Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's February 5, 2026. Before we get to this week's show, we wanted to talk about Nancy Guthrie, the 84 year old mother of our dear friend and colleague Savannah Guth. Nancy was reported missing on Sunday and according to the Pima County Sheriff, she was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona home.

[Brad Davis]

We do believe that Nancy was taken from her home against her will, and.

[Andrea Canning]

That'S where we're at. Nancy, who lives alone, was last seen by family on Saturday night around 9:45 when she was dropped off at her house after dinner. When she didn't show up for church the next morning, her family went to check on her. She was nowhere to be found. According to the sheriff, Nancy's phone and wallet were left behind at the home along with critical medicine she takes on a daily basis. He said his detectives and FBI agents are doing everything they can to move the case forward, sending DNA samples off to the crime lab, pouring over cell phone data and trying to access footage from security cameras at the house. He acknowledged that all of this will take time. Late Wednesday, Savannah, her sister Annie, and brother Cameron released the following statement on Instagram on behalf of our family, we want to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mom, Nancy. We feel them and we continue to believe that she feels them too. Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. She is funny, spunky and clever. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you'll see. Savannah also had this to say to whoever might have taken her mom, we are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us, Mommy. If you are hearing this, you are a strong woman. You are God's precious daughter. Nancy. We believe and know that even in this valley, he is with you. Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again. If you have any information to pass on to authorities, the tip line number is 1-800- call FBI. That's 1-800-225-5324 and we'll put that number on the description for this episode as well. Our thoughts and prayers are with Savannah during this incredibly difficult time. And here's what's coming up on today's episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, we've got the a former Olympian behind bars in Southern California. Federal prosecutors say the one time snowboarder is a drug kingpin responsible for several murders.

[Michael Kosner]

According to prosecutors, Wedding put out a hit on him. He put out a bounty on him.

[Andrea Canning]

In Dateline Roundup, a big ruling in the case of Luigi Mangione and a crucial court hearing for Charlie Adelson, the Florida dentist convicted of conspiring to murder his former brother in law, FSU law professor Dan Markel.

[Sue Simpson]

His lawyer made arguments in front of a panel of appellate judges about why his conviction should be overturned.

[Andrea Canning]

Plus, this week we'll talk to a cybersecurity detective about catfishing. What is it and how to avoid it?

[Cody Brunig]

Every site nowadays or any interaction you have on a digital front, you can be catfished.

[Andrea Canning]

But before all that, we've got a verdict in the trial of the Virginia man accused of masterminding a double murder plot to start life over with the family au pair. For the past three weeks, the jury at the trial of Brendan Banfield has listened to testimony about infidelity, catfishing, and murder. Banfield is the former IRS agent accused of plotting to kill his wife Christine, and a complete stranger by the name of Joe Ryan. According to prosecutors, Brendan and his lover Juliana, the family's Brazilian au pair, used a fetish website to lure Ryan to the Banfield's home on the morning of February 24, 2023, with the promise of a sexual encounter with Christine. After Ryan arrived at the house, prosecutors say Brendan and Juliana both shot Ryan and Brendan stabbed Christine. It was all part of their elaborate plan, prosecutors say, to frame a stranger for Christine's murder so the lovers could be together.

[Brad Davis]

There was no plan. That is absolutely crazy.

[Andrea Canning]

When we last checked in on the trial, Brendan Banfield was on the witness stand about to share his version of that morning. Here to walk us through what he said, Stateline producer Brad Davis. Brad, welcome back.

[Brad Davis]

Great to be here.

[Andrea Canning]

So, Brad, Brendan's testimony was always going to be the cornerstone of his defense. The jury, you know, when there's a story like this, they want to hear it from the person involved. And this is the first time that Brendan has ever talked about all of this publicly, right?

[Brad Davis]

Exactly. He never spoke to the cops about this. He never really gave his version of events.

[Andrea Canning]

So let's dive into Brendan Banfield's testimony. He said he remembered that morning in great detail because of something very specific on his calendar.

[Brad Davis]

That's right. He said that morning that he had an important meeting at his IRS offices with his supervisor that he thought was potentially going to lead to a promotion for him. So he left the house early to get ready for that meeting, and then he stopped by McDonald's to get some breakfast on the way.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. So he's at McDonald's, and he says that's where he gets a call from Juliana, the au pair, about a stranger going into the house. And was she alarmed at the time?

[Brad Davis]

She appeared to be. She sounded that she was very stressed.

[Andrea Canning]

What does he say happened from there?

[Brad Davis]

He says that he turned around and just drove home, and he said that's where he met up with Juliana, who was there with his daughter at the house. They left the daughter, Valerie, in the basement, and then he headed up towards the bedroom.

[Andrea Canning]

So Brendan Banfield goes on to say that he could hear noises coming from the bedroom.

[Brad Davis]

I heard the sounds of. I would say moaning as well as sound of skin on skin contact.

[Andrea Canning]

What did you think was going on at that point?

[Brad Davis]

Sex. Why didn't you call 911 at that point? Well, I believe that it was an affair that was going on at that point.

[Andrea Canning]

So Brendan testified, Brad, that at some point, the sounds from the bedroom became something different. He said it sounded like Christine was in pain.

[Brad Davis]

Yes, so he says he rushed into the bedroom, and that's when he saw Ryan, this other man, over his wife on the bedroom floor. Christine said, brendan, he has. Brendan, he has a knife.

[Andrea Canning]

What were you thinking in terms of Joe Ryan with a knife to Christine's neck?

[Brad Davis]

I was extremely terrified. I don't know that I've ever been more panicked in my life.

[Andrea Canning]

Brendan was an armed agent for the IRS and told the jury that he took his gun out of his holster but didn't fire it right away. Why not, if his wife is in danger?

[Brad Davis]

Yeah, he said it was a very tight space and he didn't want to fire and hit Christine. He also said he hadn't fired his gun very much in an uncontrolled situation before. He said that when he saw Ryan stabbing Christine, he did fire his gun. Then he kicked the knife away and rushed to his wife's aid. And at the same time all this was going on, he described Juliana rushing to get a gun and a gun safe that he kept in the home, and she shot at Joe Ryan as well.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so we should remind people that Juliana has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in Ryan's death. And Brendan's attorney pointed out to the jury that she got a lighter sentence in exchange for testifying against Brendan.

[Brad Davis]

That's right.

[Andrea Canning]

So Brendan Banfield continues painting a very dramatic picture, and it gets very graphic.

[Cody Brunig]

Yeah.

[Brad Davis]

He said that Christine was able to speak even though she had been stabbed in her neck. Christine told me that she was bleeding out and that. That she was sorry and that she loved me. But even when he was describing all this, he didn't really show a lot of grief or sadness. I mean, there were no tears when he was testifying. He was very matter of fact about it all, which I think the jury probably picked up on.

[Andrea Canning]

So when it was the prosecution's turn to cross examine Brendan, they zeroed in on the way he characterized his relationship with the au pair.

[Brad Davis]

Yeah, Brendan really tried to minimize his relationship with Giuliani. He said it really was not a big deal to him, that he'd had other affairs, and this was just another fair to him. But the prosecution pressed him on this, and he started to get pretty defensive.

[Andrea Canning]

You indicated earlier in your testimony that this affair with Juliana was really a nothing. Right. This was not a relationship. Correct.

[Brad Davis]

I would say that it was that it was a relationship, but it is an affair. But I wouldn't categorize it as serious.

[Andrea Canning]

Not serious. Okay. Did you love her?

[Brad Davis]

There was points that I told her that I loved her.

[Andrea Canning]

You told her that you love her, but you didn't actually love her?

[Brad Davis]

I would say. I would say that I had feeling, that I had feelings for her, but they weren't nearly as strong as feelings for my wife.

[Andrea Canning]

Another big moment. Brad, from the prosecution came when they asked Brendan about a relationship he'd pursued on a fetish website.

[Brad Davis]

Yes, Brendan admitted that he'd been looking for a woman to be his, quote, sugar baby. But what matters here is that Brendan was admitting that he'd actually gone to fetish websites. Remember, prosecutors say the way he lured Joe Ryan to the house was by posing as his wife on a fetish website. Brendan denied all of that, but it does show that it wasn't a world that he was unfamiliar with.

[Andrea Canning]

Brad, was there any proof that Christine had ever been on any fetish websites at any point in her life that would make this make sense?

[Cody Brunig]

No.

[Brad Davis]

Neither side presented any sort of evidence about that at all.

[Andrea Canning]

So the prosecutor also pushed back on some of the details Brendan had given about the morning of the murders. They question whether Christine would have been able to even speak following those stab wounds to her neck. And all of this talking is happening with what, at that point in time, has to be all seven of the wounds in her neck, correct?

[Brad Davis]

Yes. And then one more blow the prosecution landed on Brendan's credibility was, remember, he had a clear recollection about leaving home early for his big meeting. Well, the prosecution called his supervisor, and the supervisor testified that that meeting didn't happen and was not supposed to happen.

[Andrea Canning]

Were you scheduled to meet with Mr. Banfield?

[Brad Davis]

I was not.

[Andrea Canning]

Oh, wow. That is really catching Brendan Banfield in what appears to be a lie. All right, so it was time for closing arguments, and the state went first.

[Brad Davis]

Yeah, the prosecution really leaned into the motive here. They said that Brendan had concocted this elaborate plan, he really wanted to be with Juliana, and that the relationship with Juliana was far more serious than he led jurors to believe in his testimony.

[Andrea Canning]

What was the defense's main argument in closings?

[Brad Davis]

The defense lawyer basically said, you can't trust Juliana's story. She's not reliable as a witness. Nor can you trust the state's catfishing theory, that it was only a theory.

[Andrea Canning]

The jury got the case on Friday. The verdict came back Monday night after nine hours of deliberation. Brad, what did they decide I'm guilty.

[Brad Davis]

On all the charges against him. The two aggravated murder charges carry mandatory life sentences, so he'll spend the rest of his life behind bars. He's going to be sentenced in May, and there will be victim impact statements. Then Juliana's sentencing. The au pair sentencing should be at some point before that, so we'll be waiting for that.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay. Brad, thank you. So many lives ruined over this bizarre case. Just really sad. Thank you for breaking it down for us.

[Cody Brunig]

Sure.

[Brad Davis]

Been glad to talk to you.

[Andrea Canning]

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For our next story, we're taking you to the ski slopes at the Winter Olympics. But we're not talking about Milan Cortina 2026. We are talking about Salt Lake City, Utah. And the year is 2002. That's when a 20 year old snowboarder by the name of Ryan Wedding represented Canada in the Parallel Giant Slalom.

[Brad Davis]

Welcome everyone, to Park City, Utah, and.

[Cody Brunig]

The continuation of snowboarding. Today, it is Parallel Giant Stall, a men's qualification.

[Andrea Canning]

Two decades later, Ryan Wedding is making headlines again. But not for the reasons you might expect in 2025, the one time Olympian ended up on the FBI's 10 most wanted list, accused of heading up an international drug trafficking organization and for ordering a string of killings, including the murder of a federal witness. This is what FBI Director Kash Patel had to say about Wedding at a recent press conference.

[Michael Kosner]

He is a modern day El Chapo. He is a modern day Pablo Escobar.

[Andrea Canning]

Two weeks ago, after an international manhunt, Ryan Wedding was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States to face charges. He has pleaded not guilty. NBC News producer Michael Kosner, who covers the Justice Department, has been following the case closely and is here to tell us what he has found out about Ryan Wedding's surprising journey from Olympian to alleged kingpin. Michael, thanks for coming on the show.

[Michael Kosner]

Absolutely. Glad to be here.

[Andrea Canning]

You know, it seems like Ryan was sort of a hero at one point in Canada, going to the Olympics. And in a sport that was, you know, really up and coming at that time, snowboarding it was.

[Michael Kosner]

And it was a pretty meteoric rise. By the time he could walk, his family had him on skis. By the time he was 15 years old, he was winning junior titles. And that all culminated in this amazing run where at 20 years old, he was named to the Olympic team for the giant slalom.

[Andrea Canning]

How did he do at the Olympics?

[Michael Kosner]

He did not fare well. He came in 24th in the first round in his heat, and he did not even make it to the next round. That really ended his competitive career at that Olympics.

[Andrea Canning]

So what does he do then for the next few years if snowboarding competitively is not in his future?

[Michael Kosner]

He moves to Vancouver and he goes to university there. He gets way into bodybuilding. So he begins lifting weights. He gets work as a bouncer in a bunch of clubs and drops out of the university. And allegedly he starts a marijuana growing operation in the area, a gigantic farm that is very lucrative.

[Andrea Canning]

Fast forward six years after the Olympics and Ryan Wedding was arrested in San Diego.

[Michael Kosner]

Yeah, he got into a cocaine ring and he set up a cocaine deal in San Diego. Turned out it was an FBI sting and he was arrested in 2008. He was convicted at trial. In 2009, he got quite a break. I think he got 48 months in prison. By 2011, he's out. But one of the key things is he spent a lot of time in the jail in San Diego waiting trial and law enforcement say that that was the beginning of him making associates to get into the trade in Mexico and Colombia.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, sounds like a recipe for disaster. So he moves to Montreal and allegedly forms this new relationship with the Sinaloa cartel.

[Michael Kosner]

Exactly. Prosecutors tell us he's got these associates and now he's really working on transnational drug trafficking. He's moving drugs from Colombia through Mexico into Southern California to Canada by 2015. Law enforcement sources tell us there was a huge operation to finally take him down in Canada, but he got away. He'd already made it to Mexico. And that's when he really went into hiding, was really under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel.

[Andrea Canning]

So federal prosecutors say over the next decade, he's building a criminal enterprise spanning multiple countries, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars. I mean, I. This just feels like it's going to be a movie, doesn't it?

[Michael Kosner]

Absolutely. 100%. I mean, they talk about him showing up for meetings and in fancy clothes and fancy jewelry and high priced watches and things like that. Like he lived the part.

[Andrea Canning]

So US federal prosecutors filed an indictment against Ryan in June 2024, hitting him with 12 federal drug charges and murder charges. And one of the allegations against Wedding is that he took down a witness. A federal witness?

[Michael Kosner]

Yes, in 2024. That's when prosecutors and agents in the U.S. they were able to flip one of his associates. And according to prosecutors, Wedding put out a hit at him. And then law enforcement say while this individual was in a restaurant in Medellin, a gunman came up to him and fired five bullets into him.

[Andrea Canning]

Man. So it's after that that that Wedding is. Is put on the most wanted list. The FBI most wanted list.

[Michael Kosner]

Yeah. And when you get on the top 10 most, that gives the FBI more resources to do publicity. And they hit it hard. They flooded the zone, for lack of a better phrase. The FBI did social media, they posted on Facebook, they did all kinds of stuff down in Mexico for two reasons. One, maybe they get the extra tip they need. But two, they know darn well that he's watching, that he's seeing all this and he's starting to run out of options. They put pressure on his family, and then they start taking the assets out as well. They got $40 million worth of motorcycles, they take out a $13 million. I didn't know there was such thing as a $13 million Mercedes, but apparently there is.

[Cody Brunig]

Wow.

[Andrea Canning]

So just two months after that raid where they got the Mercedes and the motorbikes, they arrested him. That was January 22nd.

[Brad Davis]

Olympic snowboarder turned alleged cocaine trafficker Ryan Wedding was let off a plane in California in handcuffs.

[Andrea Canning]

FBI Director Cash Patel announced that he.

[Brad Davis]

Was captured in Mexico and extradited here to face trial.

[Michael Kosner]

He stepped out of that plane. It was kind of dramatic, actually. I mean, they describe him as 63240. He was all of that, not the pictures that you see of the snowboarding sort of baby faced athlete.

[Andrea Canning]

All right, so he was extradited to California. What happens to him now? Is he in jail?

[Michael Kosner]

Yeah, he is. He's in federal detention. He's got another appearance in the next few weeks. He's got a pretty noted defense attorney who's already spoken out a little bit. So we have to see how this plays out from here.

[Andrea Canning]

Michael, thank you so much. This is really fascinating.

[Michael Kosner]

My pleasure.

[Andrea Canning]

Up next, it's time for DATELINE Roundup. The Florida dentist convicted of conspiring to murder his former brother in law, FSU law professor Dan Markel, wants a new trial. And we've got some news in the case of Luigi Mangione. Plus, we're doing a deep dive on catfishing. What you need to know. Why have we asked our contractor we found on Angie.com to be our kid's legal guardian? Because he took such good care when redoing our basement that we knew we could trust him to care for our kids, all eight of them, should something happen to us? Are you my dad now?

[Brad Davis]

No, sorry. I do basements.

[Cody Brunig]

Connecting homeowners with skilled Pros for over.

[Andrea Canning]

30 years, Angie, the one you trust.

[Cody Brunig]

To find the ones you trust.

[Andrea Canning]

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[Sue Simpson]

Hey, Andrea.

[Andrea Canning]

So, sue, up first, we're off to the federal courthouse in Manhattan where a judge has issued two big rulings in the case of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson back in December 2024. Sue, what is the latest with these rulings?

[Sue Simpson]

Sure. So judge ruled that two of the four federal charges Mangione was facing should be dropped, a federal firearms charge and the murder charge. That would have allowed prosecutors to seek the death penalty. So this was a big deal. Andrea Mangione will no longer face the death penalty. He will still stand trial in federal court on two counts of stalking. He's pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

[Andrea Canning]

Sue, how did the judge reach this decision to drop the murder charge, which was a little surprising? I mean, isn't he behind bars because he's been accused of fatally shooting someone and planning it?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, yes, exactly, Andrea. But remember, murders are usually tried in state court and not federal court unless they're are specific circumstances that make the murder a federal crime. Examples might be that someone commits murder during an act of terrorism or someone kills a federal employee. So in her ruling, the judge said she realized some people might find the decision strange, but she had to follow the law. She said prosecutors had not met the legal standard to prove Mangione was technically guilty of a federal murder. Obviously, this ruling has nothing to do with what happens to Mangione and state court. He's facing multiple charges there, including second degree murder. And again, he's pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

[Andrea Canning]

The judge did hand the prosecution a big win in this hearing, allowing evidence recovered from Mangione's backpack to be admissible at trial.

[Sue Simpson]

That's right, Andrea. This is the backpack that police recovered when Mangione was arrested at that McDonald's, remember, in Pennsylvania. So they found a notebook inside the backpack with his writings, a gun and a silencer. And the defense said this evidence should not be admissible because the authorities didn't have a warrant to search his bag. But the Judge said the police were justified in their search.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so Mangione is scheduled to go on trial in both his state and federal cases later this year. We'll keep an eye on that. Up next, we're off to a Florida courthouse to talk about Charlie Adelson. He is the man convicted of conspiring to murder his former brother in law, FSU law professor Dan Markel. Charlie is fighting for a new trial. Sue. Charlie Adelson is one of five people convicted in this complicated case. Remind listeners about this one and break it down for us as best you can. It is so complicated. Absolutely.

[Sue Simpson]

So after Dan Markel was gunned down in his driveway in 2014, investigators uncovered a sprawling murder for hire plot involving Charlie and Charlie's mom, Donna Adelen. Prosecutors argued that Charlie and his mother plotted to murder Dan Markel because Dan was caught up in a contentious custody dispute with Wendy Adelson, who was Charlie's sister and Donna's daughter.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, so now he's trying to get a new trial.

[Sue Simpson]

He is. He was sentenced to life in prison after his conviction in 2023. And at a hearing this week in Tallahassee, his lawyer made arguments in front of a panel of appellate judges about why his conviction should be overturned. One of Charlie's lawyers argued that his trial should have been moved because the case had been so highly publicized in the media.

[Brad Davis]

This case permeating Tallahassee media sources for almost a decade at the time of this trial.

[Sue Simpson]

Charlie's attorney went on to argue that at the time of jury selection, 40% of potential jurors told the court that they'd already made a determination about Charlie's guilt. That argument didn't seem to sit well with the judges who pointed out that all those jurors were dismissed.

[Andrea Canning]

What did the prosecution have to say about all this?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, Andrea, the assistant attorney general representing the state said Charlie and his lawyer had the chance to challenge the composition of the jury his trial, but they didn't. And that he'd also waived his change of venue argument. In other words, it's too late now to bring up these arguments.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, we'll bring you that decision when we get it down the road. Sue. Salt Lake City we have an update about a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of Gabby Petito. She is, of course, the 22 year old woman strangled to death while on a cross country road trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie back in 2021, of course, captured the nation's attention. So interesting that Gabby is back in the news. What is this wrongful death suit about.

[Sue Simpson]

Well, back in 2022, Petito's family filed a $50 million lawsuit against the Moab Police Department. They claimed police negligence led to Petito's death. And the family cited an incident from August 2021, when Moab police officers pulled over the couple's van responding to a one call about a physical altercation. After interviewing Gabby and Brian, the police classified the incident as a mental health issue rather than a domestic violence assault, and they separated the couple for the night. It was a little over a month later that Gabby was found dead.

[Andrea Canning]

Let's take a listen to some of that police body cam footage. We want to know the truth.

[Cody Brunig]

If he actually hit you, I guess.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, but I hit him first.

[Cody Brunig]

Where you did he hit you? Don't. Don't worry. Just be.

[Andrea Canning]

So Gabby's family is essentially using that police body cam footage to show that these officers were not trained properly to respond or identify a domestic violence situation, and that ultimately failed to protect her. In response to the wrongful death lawsuit, the city released a statement saying that the Moab Police Department was not responsible for Petito's eventual murder. As we said, the family filed this suit back in 2022. In 2024, their lawsuit was dismissed in a district court. What happened there?

[Sue Simpson]

Well, a judge dismissed the case, saying that Utah's government Immunity act protected the officers from liability.

[Andrea Canning]

Petito's family's fight for justice didn't end there. They appealed the court's dismissal of the wrongful death lawsuit. And this week, they got big news from the Utah Supreme Court. Right, Big news.

[Sue Simpson]

That's right. Oral arguments have been scheduled for March 4. The Petito family put out a statement saying they remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for Gabby.

[Andrea Canning]

Okay, thank you. We'll wait to hear what happens with this appeal. Sue, thank you so much for being here.

[Sue Simpson]

Thanks for having me.

[Andrea Canning]

For our final story this week, we wanted to take a closer look at catfishing, something we've been talking about a lot in the past three weeks in connection to the Brendan Banfield double murder trial. As we talked about earlier, in this episode, Brendan made contact with Joseph Ryan posing as his wife Christine on a fetish website. Listen to how prosecutors described their communication. Joe engaged in friendly conversation with who he thought was an attractive woman new to kink. Brendan, posting as Christine, spent a month creating this relationship with jokes that would eventually lead to Joe's murder. What happened to Joseph Ryan is an extreme form of catfishing, but it made us wonder, what exactly is catfishing? And what are some red flags to watch out for? Here to help us get up to speed is cybersecurity expert Cody Brunig of Black Dog Forensics. Hey, Cody.

[Cody Brunig]

Hey, how are you?

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, thank you for being here. So, before we talk about the Banfield case, break down for us what exactly catfishing is. You know, we've all heard the term. We know there's a reality show out there about catfishing, fishing, but there are so many tentacles to catfishing and the way people use it and how they use it.

[Cody Brunig]

Yeah, there really is. Just to give you a simple understanding, catfishing is when someone uses a fake online identity. Now, that's either created by a person or a lot of times nowadays is actually created by a bot. And oftentimes it's used to deceive, manipulate, or scam others.

[Andrea Canning]

So Joseph Ryan, authorities say he was catfished on this fetish website, which is one of the reasons, you know, that this case got a lot of attention. But you know that people can be vulnerable on any site at any time.

[Cody Brunig]

Absolutely. Every site nowadays, or any interaction you have on a digital front, you can be catfished. That could be just a scammer on the phone. It can be social media accounts, all, of course, all the common ones. Facebook, dating profiles, dating websites out there, anywhere where somebody can create a fake identity is all open for catfishing.

[Andrea Canning]

Oh, this is so hard to hear that people are falling prey to this. And you're a parent. I'm a parent. How do you worry about teenagers specifically with catfishing? What is there? Are there differences between teens and adults or is it the same?

[Cody Brunig]

There are, especially with teenagers or people who are younger, don't have the life experience that say, you and I would have. You and I can pause and say, wait a minute, there's some red flags, but teenagers can often be hormone driven and act spontaneously. And so if they believe they're talking to somebody, pictures might start flying, at which case they share intimate details or intimate photographs that are then used against them quickly.

[Andrea Canning]

And what are some red flags that you can look for if you think you might be talking to a scammer?

[Cody Brunig]

So the biggest thing I tell people is nowadays, listen to your instincts, because our bodies are going to tell us right away. But outside of that, other red flags we want to look for is account creation. When was that account created? Chances are it's probably a new account with low number of followers, low activity. It's going to have photographs that are easily identifiable online, not just private photographs. So if they're showing these photographs to be private and you can reverse search them and find that they're out online. Those are all red flags. Outside of that, though, you're going to typically have behavior or communication red flags. Right. Something in the sense that's trying to push you to hurry, wants you to act quickly, wants to appeal to your emotions to do something. Oh, you don't have to do this. Come on, we know each other other. It's some of those red flags. And then of course, if they start asking for money and you've never met this person or know this person, which is a large number of cases, those are all red flags that should immediately make you pause.

[Andrea Canning]

So, Cody, what can you do if you fall victim to catfishing? What are the number one pieces of advice that you have?

[Cody Brunig]

Yeah, the number one thing you want to understand what the end game, to the degree that you can, is it monetary driven? Right. Is there some ulterior motive? Were they just trying to scrape information about you that could be used in a fraudulent scam? Was it potentially sexual related where they were trying to get these photographs of you? Each one of these changes what you should and should not do. If it's something that's going to result in either a financial harm or harm to somebody through reputation, bring it to law enforcement's attention, but at very least bring it to other people's attention. Don't ever feel like that's a burden you have to carry on your own, especially with children. Andrea, you have children, I have children. I tell my kids all the time, I want you to be safe to come talk to me. If something's going on, if you messed up, it's okay. We all make mistakes. We can fix it, we can work through it. But you're not alone. And that's the big thing I want to tell people, is you're not alone. And in fact, you're part of a much bigger group because a lot of people are catfished. Probably at some point. We are all catfished in our lives.

[Andrea Canning]

Yeah, I totally agree with you. And I'm totally serious when I say it's time for a catfishing talk with my kids. Because I think that kids are afraid that they're gonna get in trouble or they're embarrassed and we really have to hammer that home. That no, it's much better to talk about it than to not.

[Cody Brunig]

It is never, never have to carry that burden alone as parents, but as people, we're here for each other.

[Andrea Canning]

This is, as I predicted, Cody, amazing advice. Thank you so much for all of you of this Absolutely.

[Cody Brunig]

Thank you for having me.

[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. You won't be able to watch Dateline on Fridays on NBC for the next three weeks. It's the Winter Olympics, but you can still find us streaming on Peacock. And look out for something special in our podcast feed On Monday. We'll be dropping the all all six episodes of Keith's original series, the Thing About Helen and Olga. It's a twisted tale about two elderly women in Los Angeles who offer to help the homeless but left a trail of horror and homicide in their wake. Two little old ladies, angels perhaps, in a city named for angels.

[Brad Davis]

But as you might expect from a Dateline podcast, this is also a story.

[Andrea Canning]

About murder of a very gruesome kind. And you can catch Keith talking to Lester about Pellen and Olga's story in a special edition of Talking Dateline on Wednesday. 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 Abraham. 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. Why have I asked my electrician I.

[Brad Davis]

Found on Angie.com to bury my pet hamster?

[Andrea Canning]

I was so moved by how carefully he buried my electrical wires, I knew.

[Brad Davis]

I could trust him to bury my.

[Michael Kosner]

Sweet nibbles after his untimely the end.

[Andrea Canning]

This is very strange, Angie. The one you trust Define the ones you trust.

[Cody Brunig]

Find pros for all your home projects at Angie Combination.