Dateline Originals

London attorney Philip Lefrank travels to America for a relaxing vacation with his relatives, the Meadowcrofts. But he soon finds himself embroiled in an intense and dangerous family drama.  This episode was originally published on August 26, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brothers Ambrose and Silas go on trial for the murder of John Jago. Naomi swears Ambrose is innocent. But London attorney Philip Lefrank is not so sure. This episode was originally published on August 28, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's tension at the Meadowcroft estate. Farm manager John Jago fights furiously with the owner's sons, Ambrose and Silas. They discover that Jago had a secret meeting with Ambrose's girlfriend, Naomi. And then suddenly... John Jago goes missing.  This episode was originally published on August 27, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...

In this bonus episode of the award-winning Letters from Sing Sing podcast, veteran producer Dan Slepian reflects on the final chapter in J.J. Velazquez’s hard-fought path to full exoneration after being wrongfully convicted of murder over two decades ago.  Dan and J.J. join Kristen Welker on Meet the Press for a “Meet the Moment” conversation to detail their 20+ year path to overturning J.J.’s con...

Terrence Woods grew up in Maryland and was working with a television production crew in a remote area of central Idaho when he was last seen on October 5, 2018. Witnesses told sheriff’s deputies that as they were wrapping up for the day, Terrence, 26, abruptly ran down a steep embankment into the dark. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz speaks with Terrence’s father, Terrence Woods Sr., his former journal...

Melanie James, 21, was last seen in the spring of 2014 in Farmington, New Mexico. Melanie’s sister, Melissa, saw her walking down the street with an unidentified man on April 20. Days later, police discovered Melanie’s purse and duffel bag in an alleyway in Farmington, but saw no sign of Melanie. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz talks to Melanie’s sister, Melissa James, her mother, Lela Mailman, as well...

Shy’Kemmia Pate was last seen near her home in Unadilla, Georgia, on September 4, 1998. She was 8 years old. Several people reported seeing her that evening in the neighborhood. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz speaks with some of her loved ones, as well as Dooly County Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Lamberth, and Natalie Wilson of the Black and Missing Foundation. Shy’Kemmia would be 34 years old today. When s...

Tyler Goodrich left his home in Lincoln, Nebraska on November 3, 2023. On the night of his disappearance, Tyler and his husband, Marshall Vogel, were arguing, and Marshall called 911. Home security video shows a figure running from their house minutes after the call. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz speaks with Marshall, as well as several of Tyler’s family members and close friends.   UPDATE: On March...

Marcus Rutledge disappeared on June 8, 1998, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 23 years old and had been attending Tennessee State University. Nearly a month later, Marcus’s car, a red Plymouth Neon, was found abandoned about 20 miles from his apartment in Nashville. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz talks to his father, David Rutledge, his sister, Felicia Rutledge, his ex-girlfriend Valencia Bryant, and M...

25-year-old Arelie Garcia was last seen leaving her Salinas, California apartment on September 22, 2022. Later that day, Arelie’s bright red Honda Accord was found abandoned in Big Sur on Highway 1. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz speaks with her sisters Veronica Garcia and Elizet Mendoza, and Detective Arras Wilson of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Arelie is 5’5” and about 150 lbs. She has brow...

Hear an exclusive audio excerpt from NBC News and Dateline producer Dan Slepian’s new book “The Sing Sing Files” which chronicles his two-decade journey navigating the criminal justice system to help free six innocent men.  Available now wherever books and audiobooks are sold.  For more details and to purchase, follow this link: https://bit.ly/TheSingSingFilesDateline Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...

In August of 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo grants JJ executive clemency. Three weeks later, JJ steps out of Sing Sing a free man. But he wasn’t exonerated. In the eyes of the law, he was still a convicted felon. Within the first 24 hours of his release, JJ needs to check in with the parole office. He has a curfew. He has to get permission to travel out of state. As he likes to say, he’s freer, but n...

In 2017, JJ finally gets some good news. After years of denials and setbacks, he would appear before a judge for the first time since his conviction. A new judge would determine whether JJ’s rights were violated when the prosecutor at his trial withheld police reports related to his case – reports that, 10 months earlier, had arrived in Dan’s mailbox. But the judge ultimately denies JJ’s request f...

By 2015, JJ had been locked up for nearly 18 years. His mom, Maria, drives to Sing Sing to visit him on his 40th birthday and reflects on how much it hurts to watch him age in prison. In the last decade, JJ has built a rich life in prison in order to survive. He talks about his involvement in the prison’s programs, like organizing fundraisers and leading workshops. He was even elected by the priso...

It’s been eight months since Dan’s investigation into JJ’s case aired on Dateline. When he visits JJ at Sing Sing, JJ is frustrated—he thought he’d be out by now. But the Manhattan DA is looking into his case. In 2010, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance created a conviction integrity unit focused on investigating claims of innocence. Bob Gottlieb and Celia Gordon, JJ’s lawyers, are confident that this unit...

Dan tracks down Juror Number Six: Ramon Aviles. Ramon remembers the moment when the 84-year-old eyewitness, Dorothy Canady, pointed him out as the shooter. He says he was shocked and that people were laughing. The juror breaks down what he remembers from the deliberation room and ultimately admits he might have made a mistake in voting to convict JJ. Dan starts to wonder if other jurors from JJ’s...

It turns out, back in 1998, just days after the crime, the NYPD had a main suspect for the murder of Al Ward: a man named Mustafa. Dan tries to find out more about Mustafa and understand why this lead was dropped after JJ’s name entered the case. He also learns that JJ’s legal team had a court-assigned private investigator. Dan tracks down that private investigator, and discovers that he hardly lo...

JJ Velazquez claimed he had an alibi: a 74-minute phone call on a landline with his mother, Maria Velazquez, that overlapped with the time of the crime. So Dan visits Maria. She lives in a town in New York on the Hudson River directly across from Sing Sing, the maximum security prison where her son is incarcerated. Maria talks to Dan about JJ’s childhood. And she recounts in detail her memory of J...

In December of 2002, NBC News Producer Dan Slepian got a letter from a New York State maximum security prison. It was detailed and meticulous, almost like it had been written by a lawyer. It was from a man serving 25 years to life for murder. And it ended with a desperate plea: look into my case. In 1998, Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez was arrested for killing a retired New York City police officer. A...

Josh Mankiewicz and Dan Slepian discuss the issues of wrongful convictions in front of a live audience at the CrimeCon conference in New Orleans.  This episode was originally published on September 2, 2019. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s been more than 20 years since Richard Rosario was convicted of a murder he says he could not possibly have committed. If he didn’t do it, who did? And what’s next for Rosario and his family? This is the final episode of Dan Slepian’s 3-year investigation.  This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about...

Suddenly, a change that could breathe new life into Richard Rosario’s bid for freedom. Dan Slepian speaks to the woman who could make all the difference.  This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After two decades with their father behind bars, Richard Rosario’s family has new hope that he may be set free. After an emotional prison visit, a court is about to decide if it is time for this family to be finally reunited. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of persona...

Talking to a murder victim’s family is a tough thing to do, but Dan Slepian needs to find out more information about Jorge Collazo in his search for the truth. Collazo’s sister tells Dan she’ll never forget the day her little brother was killed. And, she reveals a surprise about what happened just two weeks before the murder – a lead that could have been critical. This episode was originally publi...

Did anyone fully investigate Richard Rosario’s alibi? Dan Slepian tracks down detectives, lawyers and an eyewitness to the murder – and gets some shocking answers to that question. This episode was originally published on May 16, 2019.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.