Overview of Dateline True Crime Weekly (NBC News) — episode dated Jan 22
This episode covers three long-form criminal stories and a roundup of high-profile trials: the disappearance and alleged murder of Texas realtor Suzanne Simpson; the New Jersey trial of Paul Canero, accused of killing his brother and that brother’s family; and a new 12-part podcast revisiting the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley (Dead Certain). The show also runs a Dateline Roundup with updates on the Brendan Banfield trial, the Susan Embert verdict, and the Luigi Mangione arrest.
Suzanne Simpson — San Antonio area disappearance and murder charge
- What happened
- Suzanne Simpson, a 51-year-old realtor and mother of four, disappeared after being seen arguing with husband Brad Simpson on Oct 6–7, 2024. She missed picking up her youngest from school on Oct 7; her friend reported her missing.
- Her body has not been recovered, but prosecutors charged Brad with murder and his colleague James “Val” Cotter with helping hide a weapon.
- Key evidence cited by prosecutors
- DNA from a motorized construction saw matched Suzanne.
- Brad purchased cleaning supplies days after the argument; surveillance showed trash bags and a large covered object in his truck.
- Suzanne’s phone and credit cards were inactive; she was the usual caregiver and would not likely leave her children.
- Their child reportedly told teachers they saw the father hit the mother.
- Texts between Brad and Cotter referenced leaving items “in the pump house, especially the gun.” Cotter’s home search recovered an illegally modified weapon hidden behind a false wall that was identified as Brad’s gun.
- Defense strategy and procedural updates
- Defense challenges chain of custody and evidence integrity, alleging that the Olmos Park police chief let the mayor review evidence and that some investigators had undisclosed past infractions.
- Brad appeared in shackles at a pretrial hearing; supporters of Suzanne attended wearing her favorite colors.
- Trial was continued to allow review of newly disclosed evidence; no plea entered yet.
Paul Canero trial — New Jersey fratricide, arson, and alleged insurance-motive killings
- Allegations
- Paul Canero is charged in the 2018 murders of his brother/business partner Keith Canero, Keith’s wife, and their two children. Prosecutors allege Paul then set their home and his own house on fire to cover the crime.
- Prosecution frames motive as greed: Keith discovered Paul stealing from a life-insurance trust and confronted him hours before the killings.
- Evidence presented
- Home security audio recorded Keith demanding login/passwords and asking where trust money went — played in court and described as chilling.
- Forensic accounting testimony (Detective Deborah Bassender) documented Paul’s heavy expenses and debts: total living costs >$700,000, multiple lease payments (including three Porsches), credit card debt, and support payments to a woman (Giselle/Yiselle Restrepo).
- Friends testified about Keith’s plans and tensions (e.g., Ben Paolucci saying Keith was preparing to stop supporting “everybody else,” specifically Paul).
- Giselle testified she and Paul were friends and denied knowledge of his financial distress; prosecution previously portrayed her as more romantically tied.
- Defense theory and procedural posture
- Defense argues motive is implausible and points to alternate suspect theory (third brother Corey Canaro), arguing authorities didn’t thoroughly investigate him.
- Case is ongoing; prosecution still building its narrative and defense probing for doubt.
Dateline Roundup — other trial updates
- Brendan Banfield (Fairfax County, VA)
- Former IRS agent accused of killing two people to be with a family au pair (Juliana Perez Magalice).
- Prosecution’s complex theory: Banfield and au pair lured a stranger via a fetish site; Banfield allegedly shot the stranger, stabbed his wife, and staged the scene.
- The au pair flipped and testified for the prosecution; case now includes timeline witnesses and forensic testimony. Defense challenges crime-scene integrity.
- Susan Embert (South Georgia)
- After three trials, Susan Embert found guilty of killing husband Jake and staging it as suicide. Jury deliberated ~3.5 hours over two days.
- Sentencing scheduled Jan 28; defense plans to appeal pointing to issues including the 911 call played in court.
- Luigi Mangione (Manhattan shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO)
- Arrest followed a McDonald’s manager’s 911 tip in Altoona, PA, after surveillance images were circulated.
- Police allege they found a loaded 3D-printed handgun and a notebook criticizing insurance companies in his backpack.
- Defense contests warrantless search and Miranda issues. Federal trial tentatively set for Dec 2026/Jan 2027 if death penalty pursued; otherwise possibly Oct 2026. Jury selection expected around Sept 8.
Dead Certain — the Martha Moxley podcast (NBC News Studios)
- Background
- Martha Moxley, 15, beaten to death with a golf club in Greenwich, CT, in 1975. Michael Skakel (a Kennedy cousin) was convicted in 2002, that conviction was overturned in 2018 for ineffective counsel, and charges were dropped in 2020.
- Podcast details
- Dead Certain is a 12-part NBC Studios podcast hosted/produced by Andrew Goldman and Alexa Danner.
- Reporters used police files, investigative reports, Martha’s diary (read in the show to restore Martha’s voice), and new interviews — including with Michael Skakel, who speaks publicly about his case.
- The series highlights overlooked leads and new physical evidence (a mysterious bloodstain) that the reporters contend Greenwich police did not properly pursue.
- Themes
- Examines media attention, class and privilege in a high-profile community, shifting theories, and whether justice was served.
- Podcast seeks to re-center Martha (her diary entries are used to humanize and give her presence in the narrative).
Notable audio/moment highlights
- Home security audio of Keith Canero confronting Paul: emotionally charged recording used by prosecutors.
- 911 call excerpt leading to Luigi Mangione’s arrest (McDonald’s manager on the line).
- Readings from Martha Moxley’s diary used to introduce her voice in Dead Certain.
- Michael Skakel quote excerpted: “I had no idea when Martha was killed. I had no idea what happened. I was a good fall guy.”
Key takeaways and next dates to watch
- Suzanne Simpson: Murder charge with no body; prosecution points to DNA, suspicious purchases, and child testimony; trial continued (new date pending).
- Paul Canero: High-drama prosecution alleging insurance-motive mass murder; trial unfolding with financial forensics and recorded confrontation evidence.
- Brendan Banfield: Case remains active with forensic detail; defense focuses on crime-scene/investigation flaws.
- Susan Embert: Convicted; sentencing Jan 28; appeal expected.
- Luigi Mangione: Legal fights over backpack/search/Miranda; federal trial scheduling depends on death-penalty decisions.
- Dead Certain (Martha Moxley): Podcast reveals new reporting and material that raises questions about investigative choices made decades ago — recommended for listeners interested in cold-case reinvestigation.
For listeners: the episode mixes courtroom reporting, courtroom audio clips, and investigative journalism. Fans of true crime will find both trial updates to follow and the Dead Certain podcast as a deep-dive resource.