Introducing: Five Miles From Home

Summary

Morrison Mysteries: "Introducing: Five Miles From Home"

Podcast: Morrison Mysteries (Dateline NBC)
Host: Keith Morrison
Episode Date: June 1, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this special introduction to Five Miles From Home, Keith Morrison invites listeners into a new season of chilling true-crime storytelling. The episode previews the central case: the mysterious disappearance of 16-year-old Mickey Costanzo from a quiet desert casino town, West Wendover, Nevada. Listeners are teased with themes of jealousy, rage, deceit, and the catastrophic effects of a seemingly normal day gone wrong. Season 3 sets up both a classic whodunnit atmosphere and emotional stakes as the investigation unravels deeper secrets.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. A Day Like Any Other Turns Dangerous

• The narrative opens with the mundane—“Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school.” (A, 00:04)
• Mickey Costanzo is introduced: “Her name was Mickey Costanzo. Just 16. She didn't have far to go. Seemed perfectly safe. Until it wasn't.” (A, 00:13)

2. The Sudden Shock and Realization

• The initial confusion and growing fear are palpable:
  • “In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong.” (C, 00:25)
  • The uncertainty in the early hours: “We didn't know whether she'd met with foul play or if she was being held somewhere.” (D, 00:29)

3. A Town Upended

• West Wendover, a tiny desert casino town, is established as an unlikely backdrop:
  • “Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did.” (B, 01:03)
• The ordinary setting contrasts with the extraordinary crime, heightening the suspense.

4. The Search and Suspicion

• Tensions rise as communication provides potential leads:
  • “I had gotten a text saying that he had had her. And I said, I know where she's at. Let's go.” (B, 01:11)
• Expectation and dread set in:
  • “What'd you think when you got that call?” (A, 01:18)
  • “I thought the worst.” (D, 01:20)

5. Confession and Conspiracy

• Surprising twists as confessions come to light:
  • “As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it.” (C, 01:21)
• Themes of increasing hatred and emotional escalation:
  • “The hatred grew more and more. It just escalated.” (C, 01:32)
  • “It's something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire. Disturbing would be the word.” (D, 01:35)

6. Aftermath and Lingering Questions

• The case is marked by confessions, cover-ups, and disbelief:
  • “Confessions, cover ups and lies. No one would have ever seen this coming. Just isn't possible.” (A, 01:44)
• The effects continue to haunt those left behind:
  • “I still wonder to this day why? What even really happened?” (B, 01:53)
• A call for justice remains poignant:
  • “This is not over yet until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice.” (C, 00:48)

7. Setting the Stage for the Season

• Morrison’s closing sets expectations for the season, drawing listeners into the drama and unresolved mysteries.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school.”
  — Narration (A), [00:04]

• “Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did.”
  — Speaker B, [01:03]

• “As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it.”
  — Speaker C, [01:21]

• “The hatred grew more and more. It just escalated.”
  — Speaker C, [01:32]

• “Not a day that goes by that I don't think about what happened.”
  — Speaker B, [00:40]

• “This is not over yet until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice.”
  — Speaker C, [00:48]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04–00:25 — Introduction of Mickey and the ordinary day gone wrong
• 00:29–00:38 — Family and community’s growing concern
• 01:03–01:07 — Portrait of West Wendover, introduction of the crime’s impact
• 01:11–01:27 — The search, suspicious messages, confessions
• 01:32–01:44 — Emotional escalation and unraveling of relationships
• 01:44–01:59 — Reflections on the tragedy and ongoing uncertainty

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Style and Tone

The preview is conducted in Keith Morrison’s signature suspenseful, evocative narration, laced with emotional interviews from those close to the case. The language is accessible but haunting, employing concise statements and direct quotations to draw listeners into the unfolding mystery.

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Summary

"Five Miles From Home" promises an immersive, chilling journey through a real-life mystery of a teen’s disappearance in rural Nevada. The episode sets up a story rich in emotion and suspense: a tragedy rooted in ordinary life suddenly tipped into chaos by jealousy, secrets, and violence. Morrison and the voices of those affected weave a tapestry of pain, confusion, and the relentless search for answers and justice — setting the stage for a gripping new season of Morrison Mysteries.

Transcript

[A]

Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school.

[B]

I thought that everything was fine. Everything was normal.

[A]

Her name was Mickey Costanzo. Just 16. She didn't have far to go. Seemed perfectly safe. Until it wasn't.

[C]

In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong.

[D]

We didn't know whether she'd met with foul play or if she was being held somewhere.

[A]

What happened to Mickey, it didn't make sense.

[D]

Came out of the blue. I was blindsided.

[B]

Not a day that goes by that I don't think about what happened.

[A]

Who happened to Mickey?

[C]

This is not over yet until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice.

[A]

Our latest podcast takes us to West Wendover, Nevada, a tiny casino town tucked away in the desert.

[B]

Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did.

[A]

Unlikely victim, unlikely suspects.

[B]

I had gotten a text saying that he had had her. And I said, I know where she's at. Let's go.

[A]

What'd you think when you got that call?

[D]

I thought the worst.

[C]

As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it.

[A]

It's a story of jealousy, rage and deceit.

[C]

The hatred grew more and more. It just escalated.

[D]

It's something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire. Disturbing would be the word.

[A]

Confessions, cover ups and lies. No one would have ever seen this coming. Just isn't possible.

[B]

I still wonder to this day why? What even really happened?

[A]

I'm Keith Morrison and this is five Miles From Home, an all new podcast from dateline. Starting Monday, June 8th, you can listen to the latest episodes completely free or to begin listening now, subscribe to Dateline Premium on Apple podcasts. Spotify or DatelinePremium.com subscribers get early access to new episodes and can listen to all Dateline podcasts ad free.

[E]

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