Deadly Engagement – “Homecoming” (NBC News / Dateline)

Air Date: September 23, 2025
Host/Narrator: Josh Mankiewicz

Episode Overview

“Homecoming” dives into the tragic murder of Denita Smith—an ambitious, soon-to-be college graduate and recently-engaged woman—whose life was ended by a single, mysterious gunshot. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz methodically unwinds the intricate web of relationships, betrayals, and shifting accounts circling Denita’s death. The episode presents new insights from police interviews, family and friends, and, most strikingly, a detailed account from Shannon Crawley—the woman accused of murder. The result is a tense, emotionally charged exploration of love, jealousy, and suspicion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Secret Affair: Jermier Stroud and Shannon Crawley

• Jermier Stroud, a Greensboro police officer, began a clandestine relationship with Shannon Crawley while dating Denita Smith in Durham. The affair was kept secret from most family and friends.
• Det. Sean Pate reflects:

  “Years ago we had a friendship and a sexual relationship… I had a girlfriend.” (02:27)

• Shannon Crawley recalls:

  “We were teasing her, saying, you know, what is he going to bring us to the house? We're going to meet your boyfriend. And she's like, it’s not even like that.” (02:45)

2. The Murder and Investigation

• Denita’s killing was recognized immediately as a murder, not an accident. Detectives zeroed in on romantic entanglements as motive.
• Josh Mankiewicz:

  “This was an obvious murder. It wasn't just a tragic accident.” (03:29)

• Det. Pate describes his impressionable first homicide case and tracking down Shannon.

  “This was actually my very first homicide, and everything was happening at a thousand miles an hour.” (05:15)

• Shannon’s misleading statements about gun ownership and her whereabouts in Durham increased suspicion.

  “She might have lied about never owning a gun. Maybe she’d also lied about never having been to Durham.” (05:28)

• During arrest, Shannon said to her family:

  “Raise them like they’re your own.” (06:34)

3. Interrogation and Revelations

• Shannon maintained she bought a gun only days before the murder, got nervous about it, and disposed of it at a mall—separating the gun and bullets in different trash cans.
  (09:06-09:29)
• When confronted with cell phone evidence placing her near the crime scene, Shannon had “no response. She simply lowered her head and said nothing.” (09:32)
• Pate pressed her about what happened:

  “Did you do this? She said, you need to worry about where Jamere was.” (09:50)

4. The Love Story: Denita and Jermier

• Through interviews with Denita’s family and friends, a picture emerges of a happy relationship, at least superficially.
• Sharon Smith (Denita’s Mother):

  “Try to find every reason not to like him… I failed because again, like I said, he was very polite, he was very respectful.” (14:17-14:44)

• Friends recalled Denita as being smitten:

  “She was like, he’s so handsome.” (13:57)

• The engagement at NCCU Homecoming was a high point:

  “He had a photographer and did this big, beautiful speech, and he proposed.” (16:21)

• After Denita’s murder, Jermier cried frequently at the family home. Sharon Smith reflects:

  “Now that I think back and look back on that, I know why he was crying.”
  “He knew a secret.” (17:12-17:51)

5. The Aftermath and Recriminations

• Public awareness of Jermier’s affair with Shannon, the accused killer, hit Danita’s circle at the funeral.
• Sharon Smith:

  “[He] rode in the family car with us. He cried the whole time… I felt I had to hold it together.” (20:40)

• Sharon later confronts Jermier, demanding answers:

  “Why Danita wasn’t enough woman for you?” (23:34)

• Jermier expresses shame and sorrow, but, as Sharon says, “That doesn’t bring Danita back.” (23:53)

6. Shannon’s Family’s Perspective & Building a Defense

• Shannon’s family firmly believed her innocence, sharing stories of perceived harassment by Jermier to her defense team.
• Shannon’s Mother:

  “He would call her all the time…constantly.” (25:42)

• Lisa Smith (Shannon’s Supervisor):

  “I even asked her point blank one time, are you afraid of him? … and she said no, no, I’m not afraid of that.” (26:58)

• Shannon claimed she did not know about Denita, nor that Jermier was engaged.

  “Shannon didn’t know Jermir had another woman. Didn’t know he was engaged and wouldn't have been with him if she had known.” (27:56-28:04)

7. Shannon Crawley’s Alternate Version of Events

• Shannon, after being released on bond, gives a detailed account:
  • She claims Jermier forced her, under threat to her children, to accompany him to Durham on the day of Denita’s murder.
  • She describes being outside Denita’s apartment as Jermier goes upstairs, followed by arguing, a gunshot, and Jermier fleeing the scene with her.
  • She insists she tried to alert a maintenance man to trouble by signaling with her eyes, but to no avail.

  “I kept motioning with my eyes toward the back seat in hopes the maintenance man would see Jermir back there.” (35:26)

• After the killing, she claims Jermier orchestrated the return, maintained threats, and left her to go to work as usual.
  (37:01-37:21)
• Her narrative neatly explains most of the physical evidence.

8. Detective’s Perspective – Doubt and Logic

• Det. Pate admits the story was plausible:

  “So when she’s telling this story, I’m thinking, wow, this actually sounds pretty decent so far.” (39:03)

• Yet ultimately he dismisses it:

  “None of it makes any sense. Even if this story...was true, why didn’t you tell it the first day?” (39:17)

• Shannon cites fear for her children as the reason for silence.
  (39:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (04:34) Arrest Night
  Shannon to her family: “Raise them like they're your own.”
• (09:30) On disposing of the weapon:
  Det. Pate (sarcastically): “A model citizen.” / “Absolutely.”
• (17:51) Sharon Smith to Host:
  “He knew a secret.”
• (20:40) Funeral Tension:
  Sharon Smith: “Jameer rode in the family car with us. He cried the whole time.”
• (23:34) Sharon confronting Jermier:
  “Why Danita wasn't enough woman for you?”
• (35:26) Shannon’s attempted signal:
  “I kept motioning with my eyes toward the back seat in hopes the maintenance man would see Jermir.”
• (39:03) Det. Pate’s doubt:
  “Wow, this actually sounds pretty decent so far.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:02] – Introduction of Jermier and Shannon’s secret relationship
• [03:27] – Murder revealed and the beginning of multiple perspectives
• [05:15] – Detective Pate on his first homicide investigation
• [06:34] – Shannon’s “Raise them like they’re your own” moment during her arrest
• [11:54] – Denita’s college life and meeting Jermier
• [16:21] – The engagement at homecoming
• [17:12] – Jermier grieving and Sharon’s suspicion
• [20:40] – Tension at Denita’s funeral
• [23:30] – Sharon confronts Jermier about the affair and his feelings
• [25:09] – Shannon’s family recounts fears and harassment
• [29:22] – Shannon provides her timeline and alternate account
• [35:03] – The maintenance man’s crucial encounter
• [39:03] – Detective Pate on Shannon’s proffered story
• [39:42] – Shannon explains her silence out of fear for her children

Conclusion & Tone

This episode balances factual investigation with emotional testimony. The tone is somber, tense, and reflective, with moments of raw vulnerability, particularly from Denita’s mother. The storytelling weaves dueling narratives—one of calculated violence and another of helpless complicity—leaving the listener to wrestle with trust, doubt, and the lingering pain of unanswered questions. The accounts are delivered in a direct, conversational style typical of Dateline’s reporting, with careful attribution to keep the story grounded in participants’ authentic voices.