Overview of Dateline True Crime Weekly
This episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly covers several major true-crime developments: the arrest of a suspect in the 1990 murder of Lisa McBride, the ongoing Arizona trial over the 2015 killing of Allison Feldman and her father’s years-long fight for justice, and a roundup of recent cases involving a singer accused of murder, a Utah nurse sentenced for manslaughter, and two missing University of South Florida students. The episode closes with a clear explainer on how wrongful death lawsuits work and why they matter in high-profile cases like Tupac Shakur’s.
Cold Case Breakthrough: The Murder of Lisa McBride
What happened
- Lisa McBride, a 27-year-old bank secretary in northern New Jersey, disappeared after a night out in June 1990.
- Investigators later found signs of foul play at her home, including:
- cut phone lines
- missing bed sheets
- Four months later, a hunter discovered her remains in the woods more than 20 miles away.
The arrest
- Nearly 36 years later, prosecutors announced the arrest of Robert “Bob” McCaffrey in North Carolina.
- He has been extradited to New Jersey and charged with:
- murder
- kidnapping
- burglary
- He pleaded not guilty.
Why the case reopened
- A key break came in 2019 when a man told police McCaffrey had confessed in 1995 to killing Lisa because she would not date him.
- Investigators then used DNA from a washcloth found at the crime scene.
- A CODIS hit linked the evidence to McCaffrey.
Additional twist
- McCaffrey had previously been investigated in the suspicious death of his wife, Gail McCaffrey.
- In that case:
- she was later declared dead
- he was convicted only of obstruction of justice
- DNA from that case eventually helped lead investigators back to Lisa McBride’s murder
Arizona Courtroom Drama: Allison Feldman’s Family Seeks Justice
The case
- Allison Feldman, a 31-year-old medical sales representative, was found dead in her Scottsdale, Arizona home in February 2015.
- Prosecutors said she was:
- sexually assaulted
- violently beaten
- strangled
- covered with bleach in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence
How the case was solved
- The case went cold for years until Arizona adopted familial DNA testing.
- That analysis pointed investigators toward Ian Mitchum through a relative’s DNA.
- Prosecutors say DNA evidence tied Mitchum directly to the crime scene.
Trial and verdict
- Mitchum was found guilty on all counts after a lengthy trial.
- The case then moved into the penalty phase, where jurors must decide between life in prison and the death penalty.
Harley Feldman’s role
- Allison’s father, Harley Feldman, moved to Scottsdale and spent years pushing for progress in the case.
- He also successfully advocated for the use of familial DNA in Arizona.
- In emotional testimony, he told the court he had kept his promise to Allison to keep showing up for justice.
- Tragically, Harley died suddenly just days after addressing the jury.
Dateline Roundup
Singer David / D4vd case
- Prosecutors in Los Angeles released new details in the case against singer David Anthony Burke (known professionally as D4vd).
- He has been charged in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in his car.
- Prosecutors say:
- they met when she was 11
- their sexual relationship began when she was 13
- she may have threatened to expose the relationship
- he allegedly arranged for her to come to his home, killed her, dismembered her, and dumped evidence in the Hollywood Hills
- He has pleaded not guilty.
Utah nurse sentenced in friend’s death
- Megan Sunwall, a former nurse, was sentenced after being convicted of manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the death of her friend Casey Terry.
- Prosecutors said Sunwall gave Terry a lethal dose of insulin.
- Sunwall apologized in court and admitted her role in the death.
- She received:
- 1 to 15 years for manslaughter
- 0 to 5 years for obstruction
University of South Florida students
- Two Bangladeshi doctoral students, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, were reported missing.
- Zamil’s roommate has been charged with murder.
- The update in this episode confirms that Nahida’s body was also found and identified near a bridge in Tampa.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits 101
NBC legal analyst Danny Savalos breaks down how wrongful death civil cases work, using examples like Tupac Shakur, O.J. Simpson, and Karen Read.
What a wrongful death lawsuit is
- A civil claim brought by survivors after someone dies due to:
- negligence
- recklessness
- or a criminal act
- The lawsuit seeks compensation for:
- loss of companionship
- loss of support
- funeral and medical costs
- sometimes punitive damages
Civil vs. criminal standard
- Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Wrongful death cases only require a preponderance of the evidence — meaning “more likely than not.”
- That lower standard is why someone can be acquitted in criminal court but still lose a civil wrongful death case.
Practical realities
- Most wrongful death cases settle before trial.
- Damages can vary widely and often depend on:
- the deceased person’s earning potential
- the support they would have provided
- emotional losses suffered by survivors
- Collecting money can be difficult if the defendant lacks assets or insurance coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Cold cases can break open decades later when DNA technology improves.
- Families often play a critical role in pushing investigations forward.
- Familial DNA can be a powerful but controversial investigative tool.
- High-profile criminal cases often lead to civil wrongful death lawsuits, where the burden of proof is lower and financial damages are a major focus.
- This episode highlights how justice can take years — or even decades — and often depends on persistence from both investigators and victims’ families.