Nothing hits that need for a juicy mystery quite like Dateline. And whether you are a hardcore true-crime fanatic or just enjoy the latest cultural mystery, Dateline delivers. While the Dateline television series has been on for years, the podcast has brought hard-hitting journalism to a new generation.
Where should you even get started with a journalistic program spanning nearly 30 years? We dove into the archives (and recent hits) to bring you some of the most unexpected and mind-boggling stories from the Dateline podcast.
The Killings on King Road
- Release date: May 23, 2023
- Duration: 1 hour, 23 minutes
The puzzling murder of four college students in a small Idaho town and the new revelations about the prime suspect.
Moscow, a name often associated with intrigue and mystery, takes on a different shade in Moscow, Idaho. The Killings on King Road cracks the unsettling case of four college students’ mysterious murders in this apparently quiet town. In November 2022, the community was rocked by a crime that defied understanding. Dateline NBC brought new light to the case.
The episode uncovers the suspected murder weapon and casts a spotlight on Bryan Kohberger, the man at the center of this perplexing mystery. It explores the events leading up to his arrest, including what transpired within the Kohberger family home.
Dateline NBC’s The Killings on King Road is not just a crime story; it’s a journey into the heart of a small town’s darkest hour.
Secrets of Lake Seminole
- Release date: April 13, 2022
- Duration: 40 minutes
A hunter’s mysterious disappearance in a Florida lake leads to murder allegations against his widow after she quickly remarries.
A hunter ventures out into the depths of Lake Seminole on the Florida-Georgia line and never comes home. No body is found, leaving investigators to assume that alligators must have killed him. The questions begin to arise only when Mike William’s widow marries again.
Did Denise’s new beau help her take out that life insurance policy on Mike shortly before his end in the lake? Was the weather too cold for alligators to eat Mike alive? This story has all the twists, turns, and bite marks that make a Dateline thrill ride.
The Real Thing About Pam
- Release date: April 19, 2022
- Duration: 1 hour, 24 minutes
The Pam Hupp tale, charged with killing her friend, exposes the complexities of deceit, betrayal and the judicial system itself.
The Real Thing About Pam focuses on the complex and chilling case of Pam Hupp, accused of murdering her friend Betsy Faria.
Pam Hupp’s story is wrapped in mystery, betrayal, and manipulation. As the layers of the case are peeled back, you are drawn into a world where truth and deceit collide in shocking ways.
The wrongful conviction of Russ Faria adds a layer of judicial intrigue and highlights the complexities of the legal system. It’s one of the most fascinating stories Dateline NBC has ever produced and an odd reminder that justice can be elusive.
Along Came Sarah
- Release date: May 2, 2023
- Duration: 1 hour, 23 minutes
Suspected of poisoning her fifth husband, Sarah now faces a renewed investigation into her ex-fiancé’s shooting death.
In the heart of Texas, a story unfolds that reads like a crime novel, yet it’s all too real. Accused of poisoning her fifth husband, Joseph Hartsfield, with lethal doses of insulin, Sarah’s story is a complex web of deceit, betrayal, and alleged murder.
As she remains in Chambers County Jail, the narrative takes another dark turn with the reopening of the investigation into the death of her former fiancé, David Bragg, whom Sarah had shot and killed in 2018, allegedly in self-defense.
The episode traces back to Sarah’s past, revealing a pattern of troubling behavior. This episode stands out for its thorough storytelling, connecting different parts of Sarah’s life. We see her as a woman surrounded by scandals and doubts – and now, murder.
Terror At The Mall
- Release date: January 18, 2023
- Duration: 40 minutes
Several mothers were stalked and killed in mall parking lots in 2007, leading police to search for the mysterious “mall killer.”
A day shopping at the mall – there’s nothing scary about that. Or is there? If you’re a shopaholic, you may want to stay away from this story of a killer who follows mothers through packed shopping mall parking lots.
In 2007, the Town Center at Boca Raton was the scene of several unsolved kidnappings and murders of shoppers in broad daylight. Similarities between the killings – as well as survivor testimony – lead to the same question: Who is the “mall killer”? And is he still out there?
This episode dives into the dangers many unknowing shoppers face when heading to the mall. With interviews with survivors, police officers, and even a suspect himself, this is one episode of Dateline that will leave you spooked.
The Trial of Lori Vallow Daybell
- Release date: May 16, 2023
- Duration: 1 hour, 27 minutes
A beauty queen’s fixation on the end times and a series of deaths reveal a catastrophic psychological manipulation.
When a beauty pageant contestant suddenly becomes obsessed with the end of the world, all hell literally breaks loose. The story of Lori Vallow and the deaths of her children and husband’s ex-wife may seem like a jilted lover’s tragedy – but a closer look shows just how far some will go to guide in the end of the world.
The case, marked by its strange twists and dark turns, exposes a disturbing story of a broken mind and the manipulation of those in power. This episode dives deep into the trial of Lori Vallow and the circumstances that led up to its wild conclusion.
Deep in the Woods
- Release date: August 16, 2022
- Duration: 40 minutes
Kelli Bordeaux’s body was found two years after she vanished near the bar where she was last seen. Why did it take so long?
Kelli Bordeaux, a young Army medic stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was taking time off from her duty at a local bar. A friendly stranger offers the medic a ride home – but she never arrives.
Twenty-five months of searching leads to a shallow grave only ten minutes away from the bar she was last seen at. But what took authorities so long to find out the truth – and what about that mysterious man who offered her a ride home? This story from Dateline follows the long and difficult road to justice for the family of Kelli Bordeaux.
The Haunting
- Release date: October 26, 2022
- Duration: 1 hour, 25 minutes
A robbery at a religious family’s home in Oklahoma becomes a tale of murder and a miracle that shocked the community.
Pastor Richard Douglass and his family lived a peaceful life in Oklahoma until one night in 1979. Then everything changed. Two strangers knocked on their door asking for help but things turned and the family was murdered. However, their son escaped and helped to catch the criminal, leaving the town with more questions than answers. This Dateline episode takes you through the twists and turns of a story that will keep you hooked.
And there you go, our recommendation for the best Dateline episodes. You have enough to start binging on true crime. And you have your own personal Dateline episode? Please share, we would love to know it.
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