Overview of Talking Dateline: Conversations at CrimeCon Part 2
In this live CrimeCon conversation taped at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NBC News correspondent Josh Mankiewicz and Ellison Barber discuss the emotional realities of covering violent crime, the long-lasting impact of murder on families, and how several Dateline cases have helped expose gaps in stalking laws and victim protection. The conversation moves from the idea of “closure” to the practical work families do after tragedy, then into specific cases that helped drive legal and investigative change.
Key Themes
Grief, trauma, and the myth of “closure”
Mankiewicz pushes back on the common idea that solving a murder brings closure for families.
- He says Dateline avoids using the word closure because it suggests a neat ending that real life doesn’t provide.
- He describes murder as something that splits a family’s life in half: before and after.
- He notes that the effects of violent loss ripple outward for years, influencing children, parenting decisions, and family dynamics long after the crime.
Families can be shattered — or transformed
The conversation highlights that some families are devastated beyond repair, while others channel grief into advocacy.
- Mankiewicz cites examples of families who have been reduced to heartbreak and others who become powerful advocates.
- He mentions Dana Eros, mother of murder victim Tori Veneau, as someone who eventually became a victim advocate and now helps other families.
- He also references Project Beloved, founded after a violent loss, as another example of advocacy emerging from tragedy.
- The Smart family is described as relentless in continuing to seek answers in the Kristen Smart case, even after a conviction.
Case Discussions
Kristen Smart: persistence, pressure, and investigative breakthroughs
Mankiewicz discusses the ongoing attention around the Kristen Smart case and what helped push it forward.
- He credits the Smart family’s persistence for keeping pressure on authorities.
- He also praises the local sheriff for making the case a priority after campaigning on it.
- A major factor, he says, was the role of a podcast — specifically Chris Lambert’s Your Own Backyard — in surfacing information and prompting renewed action.
- He frames this as an example of law enforcement becoming more willing to accept help from non-traditional sources like podcasters and private citizens.
The stalking episodes: Christelle Krug and Megan Fox
Barber asks about two Dateline episodes that spotlight stalking and its dangers.
Christelle Krug
Mankiewicz explains that Christelle Krug was murdered by her husband, who had been pretending to be a phantom stalker to manipulate her.
- The husband allegedly created fake stalking messages to make her fear leaving him.
- Police had already sought records from phone and internet companies, but the information came back too late.
- If it had arrived sooner, Mankiewicz says, she likely would have protected herself and the murder might have been prevented.
- Her family, especially a cousin who was a domestic violence prosecutor, helped turn the case into legislative action.
- That effort led to Christelle’s Law in Oregon, which requires faster response times from tech companies when stalking-related warrants are issued.
Megan Fox
Mankiewicz describes the Megan Fox case as a workplace stalking situation.
- The victim was stalked by a coworker at a FedEx packaging facility.
- The stalker ultimately murdered a coworker he was obsessed with.
- Mankiewicz uses the case to show that stalking is not only domestic or romantic — it can also occur in workplaces and other settings.
Main Takeaways on Stalking and the Law
Stalking is still under-addressed
A major part of the discussion focuses on how stalking remains poorly understood and under-penalized.
- Mankiewicz says stalking is not even a felony in about half of U.S. states.
- He compares current stalking law to where domestic violence law was decades ago: often treated as something to warn against rather than a serious, escalating crime.
- He stresses that stalking frequently escalates into more violent crimes.
Cyberstalking has changed everything
The conversation also emphasizes how modern stalking now happens online and through phones.
- Existing laws often do not adequately address cyberstalking.
- Social media and ubiquitous smartphones make it easier for stalkers to monitor and harass victims.
- Mankiewicz argues that laws need to reflect this new reality.
Faster tech-company response can save lives
The Christelle Krug case is used to illustrate a specific legal reform need.
- Search-warrant data from phone and internet companies can take too long to return.
- In cold cases, that delay may not matter much — but in stalking cases, it can be the difference between life and death.
- Mankiewicz says laws like Christelle’s Law should be expanded nationally.
Audience Q&A Highlights
Keith Morrison shoutout
An audience member asks Josh to tell Keith Morrison they miss him at CrimeCon.
- Mankiewicz says he will pass along the message.
- He jokes that Morrison will definitely be on many stories in the coming months.
How to help victims’ families
An audience member asks for guidance on connecting a friend to an advocate after a daughter’s murder.
- Mankiewicz recommends reaching out to Dana Eros.
- He also mentions The Murder Survivor’s Handbook, a resource that helps families navigate violent loss.
Story follow-ups and long-term impact
Another audience member asks whether Dateline ever revisits stories years later.
- Mankiewicz says Dateline Premium offers “After the Verdict” updates on stories, including what changed after the original broadcast and what happened to reforms or issues raised in the reporting.
Bill Hader’s impression of Josh
Mankiewicz laughs about seeing Bill Hader’s impersonation of him.
- He says the impression was excellent and especially nails Keith Morrison.
- He jokes that if he ever runs into Hader, he’ll have to thank him in person.
Closing and Upcoming Projects
- Lester Holt plugs a new podcast series, Before and After, launching later that month.
- The series will feature interviews with people including Jeremy Renner, Colin Kaepernick, and Gabby Giffords about life-changing moments and resilience.
- The episode closes with reminders that viewers can contact Dateline through social media or voicemail, and that most video episodes are available on Peacock and YouTube.
Bottom Line
This episode is a wide-ranging look at how violent crime reshapes families, how Dateline approaches grief without romanticizing “closure,” and how real-world reporting can influence law and policy. The central message is that stalking is often dismissed too lightly, but in the cases discussed here, faster action and stronger laws could have made a life-saving difference.