Overview of Dateline True Crime Weekly
This episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly (hosted by Lester Holt) covers three main stories and a feature on photo lineups: the Utah murder trial of Corey Richens (housekeeper testimony about fentanyl purchases), a South Carolina wrongful-death fight after a roadside shootout that was initially ruled self-defense, and a Dateline Roundup (mistrial in the Rashawn Jones case, updates in the Dale Warner trial, and Dan Serafini’s sentencing). The episode also includes an interview with retired police chief Ken Wallentine on best practices and pitfalls of eyewitness photo lineups.
Utah murder trial — Corey Richens
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Case summary:
- Defendant: Corey (sometimes spelled “Corey Richens”), charged with murdering her husband, Eric Richens, who died March 4, 2022.
- Cause of death: Medical examiner ruled fentanyl overdose. Corey pleads not guilty; defense argues overdose could be accidental or self-sourced.
- Alleged motive (prosecution): Life insurance payout and starting over with a lover.
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Key testimony this week:
- Prosecution’s star witness: former housekeeper Carmen Lauber.
- Lauber testified she purchased pills (which she now says were fentanyl) for Corey from a dealer identified as Robert Crozier.
- She described multiple handoffs (in person, hidden on a property, buried near a fire pit) and said purchases occurred around February–March 2022 (including a buy a few days after Eric’s death).
- She admitted a long history of substance abuse, is now sober, and testified under an immunity agreement (prosecutor disclosed this up front).
- Defense strategy:
- Attacked Lauber’s memory and credibility, noting inconsistencies with earlier interviews and her initial denials.
- Suggested detectives may have suggested the fentanyl theory to her; highlighted her incentive to cooperate (avoid prison/drug court consequences).
- Additional witness: Robert Crozier (the alleged dealer) initially signed an affidavit corroborating sales to Lauber but later recanted, saying he didn’t sell fentanyl until later in 2022. Prosecutors noted dealers or drugs can be unknowingly laced with fentanyl.
- Other evidence/witnesses:
- Testimony about marital strain: a friend/associate said Corey said she felt trapped by a prenup (2019).
- Forensic accountant testified Corey was deeply in debt pre-death.
- Later development (after the interview): prosecutors called Corey’s alleged lover, Robert Josh Grossman; his testimony was to be covered next week.
- Prosecution’s star witness: former housekeeper Carmen Lauber.
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Takeaways:
- Lauber’s immunity deal was used proactively by prosecutors to address credibility issues.
- Case hinges on linking Corey to fentanyl procurement and intent; defense emphasizes inconsistencies and alternative explanations.
South Carolina shootout — family seeks answers after no criminal charges
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Incident summary:
- Victim: 33-year-old Scott Spivey, shot dead on a rural road (Sept. 9 referenced).
- Men who shot him: Weldon Boyd (driver) and passenger Kenneth Bradley Williams — they claim self-defense.
- State AG initially declined criminal prosecution under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law.
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Family action and discoveries:
- Scott’s sister, Jennifer Foley, filed a wrongful-death suit and uncovered evidence (phone calls, 911 tapes) she says contradicts a self-defense narrative.
- Key recordings:
- Boyd’s 911 call during the chase: repeatedly warned the operator he’d “put him down” if the driver didn’t stop.
- Boyd’s post-shooting calls: casual remarks (e.g., “I had a blast”), suggesting lack of immediate fear.
- Multiple recorded calls between Boyd and local police officers; one bodycam capture shows an officer handing Boyd a pad with the message “act like a victim.”
- Consequences for officers:
- An officer who wrote “act like a victim” was fired; another police friend of Boyd resigned (denies wrongdoing).
- Civil hearing and ruling:
- Four-day civil hearing reviewed the recordings; Boyd testified under oath.
- Judge denied Boyd civil immunity under Stand Your Ground (found his account not credible), opening him to civil suit and possible criminal review by a special prosecutor.
- Decision on Williams (passenger) postponed for further briefing.
- Family response: Jennifer called the ruling “the first yes” after many years of “no’s,” viewing it as a step toward justice.
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Takeaways:
- Secret/recorded communications and police conduct can critically affect both civil and criminal outcomes.
- Stand Your Ground protections can be revoked in civil court if credibility and facts do not support the claim.
Dateline Roundup — short updates
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Rashawn Jones (Miami):
- Former University of Miami player tried for killing teammate Brian Pata.
- Jury deadlocked after deliberations; judge declared a mistrial. Retrial set for May 18.
- Eyewitness ID (photo lineup) played a central role; jurors had doubts about the ID and motive.
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Dale Warner (Michigan):
- Accused of killing wife Dee Warner in 2021 and hiding her body in a farm fertilizer tank.
- Prosecution rested after a site visit to the farm; defense called witnesses (including Dee’s brother) and then rested. Trial ongoing.
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Dan Serafini (California):
- Former MLB pitcher convicted in 2023 of murdering his father-in-law and attempting to murder his mother-in-law in 2021.
- Sentenced to life without parole. Victim impact statements were strongly critical; Serafini denied murder in court.
Photo lineups — expert interview and best practices
- Guest: Ken Wallentine, retired police chief (West Jordan, Utah)
- Best practices and procedure:
- Lineup composition: typically at least six photos (one suspect + five fillers) matching the witness’s description.
- Instructions to witness: explicitly tell them the perpetrator may or may not be present and that investigation continues regardless of ID.
- Administration: blind administration is best — the person presenting the photos should not know the suspect’s identity to avoid intentional or unconscious cueing (posture, tone, breathing).
- Avoid live lineups in most modern practice; photo lineups/mugshot arrays are common.
- Pitfalls and reliability:
- Memory is reconstructive and vulnerable to suggestion; poor administration and suggestive cues raise risk of misidentification.
- NIJ-cited statistic: mistaken eyewitness IDs have played a role in roughly 75% of wrongful convictions that were later overturned (via DNA).
- After an ID, investigators should treat it as one piece of evidence and continue to corroborate with independent leads and forensic work — don’t let ID be the terminal point of the probe.
Notable quotes & soundbites
- From the South Carolina recordings: Boyd’s 911 line, “If this guy does not slow down and stop, I would put him down.”; post-shooting remark, “I had a blast.”
- From the Utah defense cross-examination of Carmen Lauber: suggestion that detectives “put the word fentanyl in your head.”
- From the judge in the South Carolina civil hearing: found Boyd’s version “not credible” and denied immunity.
Key takeaways and recommendations
- For listeners following these cases:
- Watch how witness credibility, immunity deals, and corroborating evidence (phone records, financials, site visits) shape a prosecution’s narrative.
- Mistrials and retrials are common when juries are divided, especially where eyewitness ID or motive is disputed.
- For law enforcement/investigators (summarized best practices):
- Use blind administration and clear instructions for photo lineups.
- Ensure fillers match witness description, not just suspect features.
- Treat eyewitness ID as valuable but not dispositive — corroborate with independent evidence.
- For families and advocates:
- Civil suits and discovery can surface evidence (recordings, internal communications) not acted on criminally and can change the trajectory of accountability.
Credits: Episode hosted by Lester Holt; reporting and production teams listed in the episode.