Dateline Presents: Five Miles From Home

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dateline Presents: Five Miles From Home

Podcast: Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist
Date: June 8, 2026
Episode Overview:
This episode of Sunday Sitdown features a special presentation of Dateline’s investigative podcast, “Five Miles From Home,” narrated by Keith Morrison. The episode dives into the haunting disappearance of Mickey Costanzo, a 16-year-old high schooler from the small Nevada casino town of West Wendover. Morrison and the investigative team unravel the mystery surrounding Mickey’s final walk home—a seemingly routine journey that turned tragic—exploring the emotional devastation of her disappearance and the community’s pursuit of truth and justice.

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Episode Theme

The Disappearance of Mickey Costanzo:
Exploring the tragic and disturbing case of Mickey Costanzo, the episode peels back layers of an ordinary day turned extraordinary through a lens of suspense, heartbreak, and the dogged search for answers.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Setting the Scene in West Wendover

• Keith Morrison immerses listeners in the “tiny casino town tucked away in the desert” (00:57), emphasizing the ordinariness and seeming safety of Mickey’s home and community.
• Notable sense of shock: "Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did." — Investigator (01:03)

2. Mickey’s Last Day

• The calm, everyday act of walking home from school is highlighted, intensifying the sense of loss:
  “Such an ordinary thing on an ordinary day to walk home from high school.” — Keith Morrison (00:04)
• Early hints of danger as contrasting voices reflect disbelief and instant dread.

3. Immediate Reactions and Dread

• Family and investigators describe gut feelings of impending tragedy:
  “In the bottom of my heart, I knew something was really, really wrong.” — Investigator (00:25)

4. The Investigation Begins

• Initial confusion and fear dominate:
  “We didn't know whether she'd met with foul play or if she was being held somewhere.” — Keith Morrison (00:29)
• The case did not make sense to those close to Mickey:
  “It didn't make sense.” — Investigator (00:36)
• Little-by-little, the community’s fears are realized as suspicion grows and personal confessions surface.

5. Search for Suspects and Unraveling Truths

• Early leads point to unexpected directions, with texts and rumors circulating:
  “I had gotten a text saying that he had had her. And I said, I know where she's at. Let's go.” — Investigator (01:11)
• Keith Morrison presses interviewees for emotional reactions:
  “What'd you think when you got that call? I thought the worst.” — Morrison and Investigator (01:18)
• The eventual confession shockwaves through the group, introducing new suspects and motives:
  “As soon as he actually confessed to doing it, then I knew she had something to do with it.” — Investigator (01:21)

6. Themes of Jealousy, Rage, and Deceit

• Morrison marks the turning point:
  “It's a story of jealousy, rage and deceit. The hatred grew more and more. It just escalated.” — Morrison and Investigator (01:27-01:32)
• Emotional escalation and peer dynamics are revealed as central to the crime.

7. Consequences and Unanswered Questions

• The community grapples with senselessness and ongoing pain:
  “I still wonder to this day why? What even really happened?” — Investigator (01:53)
• Morrison summarizes the case’s darkness:
  “It's something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire. Disturbing would be the word. Confessions, cover-ups and lies.” — Keith Morrison (01:35)

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Memorable Quotes and Moments

• Keith Morrison (00:13):
  “Her name was Mickey Costanzo. Just 16. She didn't have far to go. Seemed perfectly safe. Until it wasn't.”

• Investigator (00:48):
  “This is not over yet. Until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice.”

• Keith Morrison (01:35):
  “It's something that got out of hand, that went very, very wrong. Just went haywire. Disturbing would be the word. Confessions, cover-ups and lies.”

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Notable Segment Timestamps

• 00:04 – The Ordinary Turned Tragic: Morrison opens with the central motif of a safe, mundane daily act gone wrong.
• 00:25 – Intuition and Family Fear: Immediate dread sets the emotional tone.
• 00:57 – Introduction to Wendover: Establishing the close-knit, unsuspecting community.
• 01:11 – The Text and Turning Point: The emerging evidence and first big break.
• 01:35 – The Escalation and Aftermath: Describing the motives, emotional fallout, and loss of innocence.

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Tone and Language

Consistent with Dateline’s style, the narration is evocative, somber, and emotionally resonant. Morrison’s delivery is empathetic yet investigative, drawing listeners deeply into the human cost of the crime while methodically unraveling facts and emotions.

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Summary

The episode “Five Miles From Home” is a compelling exploration of the vulnerability that can exist in the most everyday moments. Through emotional storytelling, insider perspectives, and Morrison’s signature empathy, this podcast lays out the haunting journey from hope to heartbreak for Mickey Costanzo and her community. It’s as much a true crime investigation as a meditation on loss, justice, and the ripple effects of violence in small-town America.

Transcript

[Keith Morrison]

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

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

I thought that everything was fine. Everything was normal.

[Keith Morrison]

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

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

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

[Keith Morrison]

We didn't know whether she'd met with foul play or if she was being held somewhere. What happened to Mickey?

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

It didn't make sense.

[Keith Morrison]

Came out of the blue. I was blindsided.

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

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

[Keith Morrison]

Who happened to Mickey?

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

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

[Keith Morrison]

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

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

Nothing happens in Wendover. And something did.

[Keith Morrison]

Unlikely victim, unlikely suspects.

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

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

[Keith Morrison]

What'd you think when you got that call? I thought the worst.

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

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

[Keith Morrison]

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

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

The hatred grew more and more. It just escalated.

[Keith Morrison]

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

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No one would have ever seen this coming. Just isn't possible.

[Podcast Narrator/Investigator]

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

[Keith Morrison]

I'm Keith Morrison and this is five Miles from Home, an all new podcast from Dateline. Listen to the latest episodes completely free or 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.

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