Introducing: Five Miles From Home

Summary

Podcast Summary: “Introducing: Five Miles From Home”

Podcast: Murder in the Moonlight (Dateline)
Host: NBC News (Keith Morrison)
Episode Air Date: June 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this gripping preview episode, Keith Morrison introduces Dateline’s newest podcast, “Five Miles From Home.” The series promises to unravel the mysterious and tragic story of Mickey Costanzo, a 16-year-old who vanished while walking home from high school in West Wendover, Nevada—a town described as sleepy and uneventful until this crime shattered its peace. The investigation quickly spirals into a web of unexpected suspects, intense emotions, and a haunting quest for justice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Setting and Victim

• Ordinary Day, Ordinary Place
  • The podcast opens with the familiar scene of a teenager walking home from school. Listeners are immediately drawn into the everyday normalcy that precedes the tragedy.
    • “Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school.” (A, 00:04)
  • The victim, Mickey Costanzo, is introduced as a seemingly typical 16-year-old whose routine should have been safe.
    • “Her name was Mickey Costanzo. Just 16. She didn't have far to go. Seemed perfectly safe. Until it wasn’t.” (A, 00:13)

Family and Community Realize Something is Amiss

• Immediate Concern and Fear
  • Family members recall the sinking realization that something is very wrong.
    • “In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong.” (C, 00:25)
  • The uncertainty and hope that Mickey might simply be missing, not harmed.
    • “We didn’t know whether she’d met with foul play or if she was being held somewhere.” (D, 00:29)

The Crime and Its Impact

• Shock and Disbelief
  • The crime perplexes everyone—nothing about it makes sense.
    • “What happened to Mickey, it didn’t make sense.” (A, 00:34)
    • “Came out of the blue. I was blindsided.” (D, 00:38)
  • The lingering trauma for those left behind is clear.
    • “Not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what happened.” (B, 00:40)

Unraveling the Mystery

• A Web of Emotion and Motive
  • The podcast hints at a story complicated by intense feelings and personal histories: “It’s a story of jealousy, rage, and deceit.” (A, 01:27)
  • Hateful emotions and personal animosities are revealed to have “just escalated.” (C, 01:32)
  • One speaker summarizes the dark turn of events: “It’s something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire. Disturbing would be the word.” (D, 01:35)

The Investigation: Suspects and Confessions

• Unlikely Perpetrators
  • The town is shocked as suspicion falls on unlikely individuals.
    • “Unlikely victim, unlikely suspects.” (A, 01:07)
  • Communication and confessions among those involved are highlighted:
    • “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)
    • “As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it.” (C, 01:21)

The Search for Justice

• The Lingering Question
  • The community and Mickey’s loved ones remain haunted by unresolved questions.
    • “Who happened to Mickey?” (A, 00:45)
    • “I still wonder to this day why? What even really happened?” (B, 01:53)
  • An adamant promise for closure is made: “This is not over yet until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice.” (C, 00:48)

Series Launch & Listener Invitation

• Podcast Details
  • Keith Morrison invites listeners to subscribe or listen for free, offering early access and ad-free options.
    • “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…” (A, 01:59)

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school.” (A, 00:04)
• “Her name was Mickey Costanzo. Just 16. She didn't have far to go. Seemed perfectly safe. Until it wasn’t.” (A, 00:13)
• “In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong.” (C, 00:25)
• “What happened to Mickey, it didn’t make sense.” (A, 00:34)
• “Unlikely victim, unlikely suspects.” (A, 01:07)
• “It’s a story of jealousy, rage, and deceit.” (A, 01:27)
• “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)
• “I still wonder to this day why? What even really happened?” (B, 01:53)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04 – Setting the scene: Mickey’s final walk home
• 00:25 – Family’s first sense of dread
• 00:34 – Community’s confusion and disbelief
• 01:07 – Introduction of suspects and investigation twists
• 01:27 – Underlying motives: jealousy, rage, deceit
• 01:35 – Emotional fallout and escalation of events
• 01:59 – Keith Morrison’s invitation to listen to the series

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Final Thoughts

This introductory episode skillfully sets up the complex, emotional, and disturbing case at the heart of “Five Miles From Home.” Through chilling firsthand recollections and evocative narration, the preview promises a deep dive into a crime that left a town—and its listeners—searching for answers.

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For the full story, listen to “Five Miles From Home” starting June 8th or subscribe for early, ad-free episodes via Dateline Premium.

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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