Overview of Dateline True Crime Weekly (NBC News)
This episode — hosted by Andrea Canning — covers several ongoing criminal-justice stories and a consumer warning: (1) a murder prosecution in eastern Kentucky involving a dentist’s son and alleged evidence tampering; (2) Cal (Kyle) Harris’s civil lawsuit against investigators after his multi‑trial prosecution and eventual acquittal in his wife’s disappearance; (3) a Dateline Roundup with updates on multiple cases (including the murder of aspiring beauty queen Kata Scott, Dan Serafini’s bid for a new trial, and Angie Solomon’s alleged murder‑for‑hire plot); and (4) an FBI‑documented rise in rental scams on social media with practical consumer tips from Vicky Nguyen.
Kentucky: Michael “MK” McKinney murder case
- What happened: Amber Spradlin, 38, a restaurant hostess in Prestonsburg, KY, was found stabbed to death in the home of Dr. Michael McKinney on June 17, 2023. Autopsy: at least 12 stab wounds.
- Defendants/charges:
- Michael “MK” McKinney (the dentist’s son): charged with murder and multiple counts of tampering with evidence; pleaded not guilty.
- Dr. Michael McKinney (father) and family friend Josh Mullins: charged with tampering with evidence; pleaded not guilty.
- Prosecution’s evidence/claims:
- DNA matching the McKinneys was found under Amber’s fingernails (could match father or son).
- MK had scratches on his forearms consistent with defensive wounds; the father did not.
- Alleged disposal/removal of clothes, a home security camera, a hard drive, and a knife handle.
- Defense position:
- Attacks reliability of witness Roy Kidd (who found Amber) and argues MK has no criminal record; defense suggested Roy could be responsible and criticized prolonged pretrial detention.
- Trial status:
- Trial was scheduled for Dec 1, 2024, but the prosecutor moved to postpone, citing outstanding state crime lab testing (blood found on clothing, couch, bedroom door, sink traps; hairs on clothes).
- Prosecutor cited lab backlogs as the reason for delay. The judge agreed to pause the trial; a follow-up hearing will set next steps.
- MK remains jailed on a $5 million bond; the father and Mullins are out on bond.
Cal (Kyle) Harris civil trial: accused investigators and others
- Background: Michelle Harris disappeared Sept 11, 2001; her body has never been found. Kyle Harris was tried four times (convicted twice with verdicts later overturned; third trial hung; acquitted in a bench trial on May 24, 2016). Bloodstains in the house tested as Michelle’s blood.
- Civil suit: In 2017 Kyle Harris sued more than a dozen officials (including investigators, the original prosecutor, and the couple’s babysitter), alleging malicious prosecution, fabrication, and witness coaching.
- Recent trial outcome:
- Jury heard testimony from investigators and emotional testimony from Harris’s son Tanner.
- The jury found for the defendants — Harris did not prove a conspiracy or fabrication of evidence.
- Notes: Harris and his attorneys have long argued the blood was minor and not evidence of murder; investigators maintain the investigation and charges were proper. The case could still evolve if new physical evidence (e.g., a body) emerges.
Dateline Roundup — shorter case updates
- Kata (Keita/Keita/Cata — transcript alternates spellings; commonly reported as Kata/Keita) Scott (Philadelphia)
- Disappeared Oct 4; body found 14 days later in a shallow grave behind an abandoned school. Cause of death: single gunshot wound to the head.
- Keon King charged; court documents show texts linking him and the victim. King previously faced, then had dropped, charges in another violent case. Prosecutors added robbery, theft, firearms crimes, and tampering; he’s held on $2.5M bail. A public funeral and a planned internship in her name were noted.
- Dan Serafini (former MLB pitcher)
- Convicted in July for shooting his in‑laws (June 2021); defense seeks a new trial.
- Central issue: Juror No. 6 admitted to using computer tools (snipping tool, zoom) to compare screenshots from surveillance videos and show them to fellow jurors. Defense claims juror conducted independent analysis; a hearing on juror misconduct is set for Dec 8. A separate hearing on ineffective assistance of counsel is scheduled for January.
- Angie (Angelia) Solomon (Tennessee)
- Charged with first‑degree attempted murder for allegedly trying to hire a hitman to kill ex‑husband Erin Solomon (alleged motive: trust fund for daughter).
- Case includes highly contested allegations (abuse, molestation, connection to a son’s death) and a civil suit filed by the daughter against her father. Angie’s next hearing is in December.
Consumer report — social‑media rental scams (Vicky Nguyen)
- Scope: FBI data cited — Americans lost nearly $1.5 million to social‑media rental scams last year. Scammers repost real agents’ videos, create imposter realtor profiles, and advertise below‑market rents.
- Common scam pattern:
- Attractive low price + urgency (“act fast”).
- Request for deposit/application fees via Zelle/PayPal/Venmo, often $200–$400 (but in some places application caps exist; e.g., NYC max application fee $20).
- After payment, scammers vanish or ghost the renter.
- Red flags:
- Rent far below market rate.
- Pressure to send money immediately.
- Requests for nonrefundable or unusually large “application” sums, or refusal to meet in person.
- Safety tips / action items:
- Verify the listing: look up the realtor or property manager independently and contact them via verified phone/website.
- Know local rules (maximum application fees, tenant protections).
- Avoid sending money sight unseen; if you must, use payment methods with fraud protections and document everything.
- If scammed: contact your bank immediately to try to recover funds; report to local police and to the social platform (TikTok/Instagram) to get listings/accounts removed.
- Social platforms say they remove many fake accounts, but scammers continually reappear.
Key takeaways
- Kentucky case: pending forensic testing at an overloaded state crime lab delayed the trial; DNA and physical evidence are central but contested by defense.
- Cal Harris civil case: jury rejected claims that prosecutors/investigators conspired or fabricated evidence, closing (for now) a long chapter in a disputed missing‑person case without a recovered body.
- Dateline Roundup: investigations and appeals continue in several high‑profile cases — juror‑conduct and counsel‑competence claims can lead to new hearings or retrials.
- Consumer warning: social‑media rental scams are rising; verification and caution before sending funds are essential.
Notable quotes
- Defense attorney in the Kentucky hearing: “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too,” arguing the state cannot both claim a strong case and keep MK jailed while saying they need more time.
- From the Cal Harris story (archival): reported quote relayed in investigation: “I wouldn’t need a gun to kill you. And if I did kill you, they’ll never find your body.” (Used by prosecutors as alleged prior statement.)
Credits: episode features reporting from Blaine Alexander, Sue Simpson, Alex LeRae, and Vicky Nguyen; host Andrea Canning.