Introducing: Trace of Suspicion

Summary

Trace of Suspicion – Episode Summary

Podcast: Trace of Suspicion
Host: Josh Mankiewicz (NBC News)
Episode: Introducing: Trace of Suspicion
Date: February 27, 2026

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Overview of the Episode

This introductory episode sets the stage for Trace of Suspicion, Dateline’s gripping new podcast. Host Josh Mankiewicz unpacks the mysterious and controversial case of Todd Sommer, a seemingly healthy 23-year-old Marine who died suddenly. When Todd’s widow, Cindy Sommer, began spending lavishly and socializing wildly after his funeral, authorities grew suspicious. They launched an investigation that uncovered arsenic in Todd’s body, leading to Cindy’s arrest for murder—a case sparked by rumors, forensic puzzles, and shocking twists.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Couple’s Contrasting Backgrounds

• [00:01] Josh Mankiewicz introduces Todd as a “handsome” young Marine with a “religious aspect,” while Cindy, in her own words, is “a hippie” and “a deadhead”—a free-spirited contrast to her husband’s disciplined life.
  • Quote – Cindy Sommer: “I'm a hippie. I'm a deadhead.” [00:11]

Tragedy Strikes

• [00:13–00:22] Todd collapses suddenly at home. Cindy’s 911 call kicks off the mystery, revealing confusion and distress.
  • Notable 911 Exchange:
    • Dispatcher: “Do you have a regiment?”
    • Cindy: “Yeah. My husband just collapsed.” [00:20]
    • Cindy: “He just collapsed. He woke up and couldn't believe he crashed.” [00:22]

A Marine’s Solemn Farewell

• [00:26] Todd receives a full military funeral. Afterwards, behavior around Cindy changes dramatically—she diverges from the expected script for a grieving widow.

The Widow “Goes Off Script”

• [00:43] Cindy begins throwing parties and spending lavishly soon after the funeral, drawing the attention and judgment of neighbors.
  • Quote from Neighbor: “She started having a lot of parties shortly after his funeral. A lot of the neighbors was just like. She got over that pretty quickly.” [00:43]

The Spark: Cosmetic Surgery and Suspicion

• [00:51] Cindy’s use of the insurance payout for “new bling, new lovers, new look”—specifically breast implants—becomes the initial focus for suspicion, setting off local gossip and a full-fledged criminal probe.
  • Josh (on the investigation): “This case started because of the breast implants. Think about it. If she had a nose job, would we even be talking about it?” [00:51]

A Startling Forensic Finding

• [01:07] Chemists discover arsenic in Todd’s tissues, making Cindy the prime suspect in his alleged poisoning.

The Arrest and Shock

• [01:37] Cindy is arrested, learning from investigators that “some foreign substance” was found in her husband’s body.
  • Conversation:
    • Cindy: “What am I being arrested for?” [01:37]
    • Investigator: “Like I told you yesterday, there was some foreign substance that was found in his body, and…”
    • Cindy: “So are you charged with murder? Oh, my gosh. Are you serious?” [01:43]

The Justice System Under the Microscope

• [01:46] The story evolves into a critique of zealotry among prosecutors and investigators who pursue a theory, at times, to the exclusion of doubt or conflicting evidence.
  • Josh: “It's a story about investigators in dogged pursuit of a theory... It's about prosecutors hell bent on winning and about what happens when the wheels of justice go off the rails.” [01:46]

The Cost of Defense

• [02:05] Cindy recounts the financial and emotional toll of her prosecution, revealing the sacrifices her family made.
  • Cindy: “It was over a million. My mom sold her house, cashed in all of their retirements, all their every everything.” [02:05]

Larger Implications

• [02:13] Josh reflects on the broader issue: “It shouldn't be a game. It shouldn't be a situation where let's see what we can get away with. And that's what happened in this case.” [02:13]

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Notable Quotes

• Josh Mankiewicz: “He was a young Marine, handsome in his dress blues. He had a religious aspect to him. She was a free spirit who didn't care about convention.” [00:01]
• Cindy Sommer: “I'm a hippie. I'm a deadhead.” [00:11]
• Unidentified Neighbor: “She got over that pretty quickly.” [00:43]
• Josh Mankiewicz: “This case started because of the breast implants. Think about it. If she had a nose job, would we even be talking about it?” [00:51]
• Cindy Sommer: “It was over a million. My mom sold her house, cashed in all of their retirements, all their every everything.” [02:05]
• Josh Mankiewicz: “It shouldn't be a game. It shouldn't be a situation where let's see what we can get away with. And that's what happened in this case.” [02:13]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01–00:13: Introduction of Todd and Cindy Sommer
• 00:13–00:26: Todd’s sudden death and funeral
• 00:26–00:51: Post-funeral behavior, neighbors' suspicions
• 00:51–01:21: Insurance payout, breast implants, and start of investigation
• 01:21–01:37: Discovery of arsenic, comments on pursuit of justice
• 01:37–01:46: Arrest of Cindy Sommer
• 01:46–02:05: Perspective on investigation and prosecution
• 02:05–02:13: Personal and financial cost to Cindy’s family
• 02:13–End: Host’s commentary on the justice system and preview of the series

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Episode Tone and Style

The episode maintains a classic Dateline tone—measured, suspenseful, and richly detailed—juxtaposing Cindy Sommer’s free-spirited personality against the strict expectations placed on a military widow. Mankiewicz’s narration leans into both intrigue and skepticism, offering a preview of deeper questions to come about truth, justice, and the cost of prosecution.

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In summary: This episode introduces listeners to a tale where personal choices, forensic science, and the justice system collide. Through a mix of first-person accounts, neighborly gossip, and prosecutorial zeal, Trace of Suspicion invites listeners to question not just the “who” and “how,” but the “why” and “what if” behind a notorious case.

Transcript

[Josh Mankiewicz]

He was a young Marine, handsome in his dress blues. He had a religious aspect to him. She was a free spirit who didn't care about convention.

[Widow]

I'm a hippie. I'm a deadhead.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

They married and made a life together. And then one night, The Marine died. 911. Do you have a regiment?

[Widow]

Yeah. My husband just collapsed.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

What happened?

[Widow]

He just collapsed. He woke up and couldn't believe he crashed.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Drums rolled, guns saluted, and a flag was folded for the widow. All of it by the book. Solemn, dignified, appropriate. And then something happened. The widow went off script.

[Widow]

She started having a lot of parties shortly after his funeral. A lot of the neighbors was just like. She got over that pretty quickly.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

With her husband's insurance money, the widow lived it up. New bling, new lovers, new look. This case started because of the breast implants. Think about it. If she had a nose job, would we even be talking about it? Eyebrows arched, tongues wagged. And an investigation was born. Chemists found arsenic in the Marine's tissues, and his widow was accused of murder.

[Widow]

You know, we need to try to pursue justice for this young Marine and his family.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Our latest podcast takes us to San Diego, where an untimely death and some unseemly behavior added up to a murder rap.

[Widow]

What am I being arrested for?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Like I told you yesterday, there was some foreign substance that was found in his body, and.

[Widow]

So are you charged with murder? Oh, my gosh. Are you serious?

[Josh Mankiewicz]

Yes. It's a story about investigators in dogged pursuit of a theory. I told them they might want to get the stuff retested and find out what's going on. It's about prosecutors hell bent on winning and about what happens when the wheels of justice go off the rails.

[Widow]

It was over a million. My mom sold her house, cashed in all of their retirements, all their every everything.

[Josh Mankiewicz]

It shouldn't be a game. It shouldn't be a situation where let's see what we can get away with. And that's what happened in this case. I'm Josh Mankiewicz, and this is Trace of Suspicion, an all new podcast from dateline beginning Tuesday, March 10th. You can listen to the latest episodes completely free or. To begin listening now, subscribe to Dateline Premium on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Dateline premium.com subscribers get early access to new episodes and can listen to all Dateline podcasts ad free sat.