Brenda Breslauer
Appearances
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Major twist there.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
All right, so next we've got two sentencings out of Florida to talk about from two big cases we've covered on the podcast. The first one we're going to talk about is Sarah Boone. She is the defendant in the so-called suitcase murder trial.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
The sentencing was earlier this week. We heard victim impact statements from George's children and his mom.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
All right. And the second big sentencing this week was Ashley Benefield. The former ballerina was convicted of the 2020 killing of her husband, Doug Benefield. So, Sue, what is the news there?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
There were some victim impact statements from Doug's family. We heard from his daughter, Eva, who's been very vocal throughout all of this.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
15 years ago this week, jurors filed back into an Italian courthouse to deliver their verdict in a murder trial that had captivated the world. The victim was a 21-year-old student from England by the name of Meredith Kircher. Mez to her friends. She had been sexually assaulted and her throat slashed in the bungalow she'd been renting on her study abroad trip.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
But it was one of her alleged killers who seemed to get all the attention in the months that followed, Meredith's roommate, Amanda Knox. Prosecutors said the American college student had murdered Meredith. Amanda's supporters said she'd been railroaded by the Italian authorities. Just after midnight on December 5th, 2009, the judge read the verdict.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Another tech entrepreneur, a man named Nima Momeni, was arrested and charged with killing Bob. And his trial, which we've been covering, began this October. On Monday, the prosecution played Bob's 911 call to open their closing arguments. There aren't any cameras in the courtroom, but Dateline producer Brittany Tom has been reporting on the trial for the past couple of months.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Dennis Murphy covered the case from the very beginning and is here to tell us why this case got so much attention and what happened next. Hey, Dennis.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Good. So, Dennis, your first report came out in December of 2007. So let's take a listen.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
You flew out to Perugia, Italy for this first report. In fact, in that clip we just played, you're standing outside the student housing cottage where Amanda Knox and her roommate Meredith Kircher lived. Do you remember what was going on when you filmed that?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
So remind us, what exactly was the prosecution's theory about what happened, what they say she did?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
And you were getting some information from the Italian papers leaked by the prosecutor, right?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
I mean, were you thinking, how in the world does this young woman, girl get a fair trial if all of this is out there in the public? Yeah.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Amanda changed her story at one point.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Amanda's trial, no surprise, was a complete circus. Oh. Cameras galore.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
And she joins us now to let us know how both sides left things with the jury. Brittany, thanks for coming back on the podcast. Thanks, Andrea. The prosecutor beginning his closing arguments with that 911 call is, you know, pretty intense, Brittany.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Yeah, the verdict. She was very dramatic. She's found guilty.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
So much has happened since this guilty verdict. What happened next?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
And the boyfriend?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
So I think I read that she's working on some type of documentary. She went back to Perugia?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
It's like, does anyone not know the name Amanda Knox at this point?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Right. Dennis, what a fascinating story you covered. Really interesting looking back on this. Thank you for joining us and sharing your memories.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Thank you. That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. Coming up this Friday on Dateline, she was a murder victim without a name until strangers gave it back to her.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Watch Keith's story, The Woman With No Name, airing this Friday on NBC at a special time of 1015, 915 Central. And be sure to check out Josh's brand new original podcast series, Deadly Mirage. It's the story of a young couple living in the California desert who seem to have it all until the husband was found murdered and investigators uncovered a web of dark secrets.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
The body lay on the shop floor, the man's shaven head leaning against the front left tire of a service truck. There was a dime-sized hole in his chin and a pool of blood slowly congealing on the concrete floor.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
The first two episodes are available now wherever you get your podcasts. Dateline Premium subscribers get early access to episodes and can listen ad-free. Thanks for listening. Dateline True Crime Weekly is produced by Frannie Kelly and Katie Ferguson. Our associate producers are Carson Cummins and Caroline Casey. Our senior producer is Liz Brown-Koroloff.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Production and fact-checking help by Sara Kadir. Veronica Mazzeca is our digital producer. Rick Kwan is our sound designer. Original music by Jesse McGinty. Bryson Barnes is head of audio production. Paul Ryan is executive producer. And Liz Cole is senior executive producer of Dateline.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Bye, everyone. Bye.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Let's remind listeners briefly, what is the prosecution's theory of the case as they presented it in court?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
A major point of disagreement between the two sides is who brought the knife. The prosecution is saying Nima had it, and they seem to be saying that just taking the knife from his sister's apartment indicates that he had intent.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's December 5th, and here's what's on our docket. Six years after a man was accused of murdering his brother's entire family at their New Jersey mansion, a judge hears arguments about whether cutting-edge DNA analysis can be used against him at trial.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Nima's lawyer addressed the knife in his closings as well. How did he counter the prosecution's story that it was in Nima's possession?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
How are you?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
So what did the defense say about how the knife got to the crime scene then?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Oh, interesting. Okay. This jury has a lot of evidence to go through, and the judge has given them some pretty clear instructions on the charges.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
I guess it's anyone's guess how long it'll take to reach a verdict.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Next up, when a wealthy businessman and his family were brutally murdered at their home six years ago, questions swirled about a possible hit for hire until police arrested the man's brother. We've got the latest from the courtroom.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
For our next story, we're heading to a New Jersey courtroom where a judge is weighing whether a prosecutor can use cutting-edge science in a disturbing quadruple murder case. In November 2018, just a few days before Thanksgiving, two fires broke out at the homes of two brothers, Paul and Keith Canaro. Paul and his family got out alive, but his brother Keith was not so lucky.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
When first responders got to his house, they discovered that Keith had died, but not in the fire. He'd been shot repeatedly. His wife and two children were also dead.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
In Dateline Roundup, we'll fill you in on an unexpected twist in the case of a dentist accused of poisoning his wife. And the Florida woman convicted of murder by suitcase takes the stand at her sentencing.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Tonight, an outpouring of grief for a family police say was targeted and murdered in their own home.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
But by whom? A week later, investigators came up with a stunning theory. Paul Canero had killed his brother and his family and then set fire not only to his brother's house, but to his own to cover up the crime. He was charged with their murders and two counts of arson.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Producer Brenda Breslauer, who has been covering the case for Dateline, is here to tell us what prosecutors believe is Paul's motive and why science is now taking center stage in the courtroom. Hey, Brenda. Hi, Andrea. So, first of all, very interesting that this involves two brothers. What do we know about them, the Caneros, and their relationship?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Yeah, I've been to Colts Neck. It's an absolutely beautiful area of New Jersey.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
You're listening in to Dateline's morning meeting in 30 Rockefeller Center. What was the motive if he was already the ex? Great question. Our editorial team is catching up on breaking crime news around the country.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
It was Keith. And what makes this story so incredibly tragic is that it wasn't just Keith. It was the rest of his family as well, right?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Wow. So what exactly happened here between these two brothers? Do we have a motive?
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Plus, she was one of the most famous defendants in the world, an American student abroad charged with a horrifying crime. Fifteen years ago this week, Amanda Knox was convicted of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kircher. Dennis Murphy reflects on his time in Italy covering this sensational case.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
How has he responded to all of this? Has he said anything? He has pleaded not guilty, and he maintains his innocence. The murders happened back in 2018. Six years later, the case is in court, but still not in trial.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Is the assumption by the prosecution that Paul thought that his jeans and the glove would burn in the fire? I mean, why would you leave these items in your own basement? Yeah.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Okay. Thank you, Brenda, for your insight into this disturbing case. You're welcome. Up next, it's Dateline Roundup. The Florida woman convicted of leaving her boyfriend to die in a suitcase learns her fate. And prosecutors say the Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife has a new target. Plus, Dennis Murphy remembers the Amanda Knox case. Welcome back.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Joining me for this week's Roundup is Dateline producer Sue Simpson. Hey, Sue, welcome back. Thanks, Andrea. Hi. Okay, first up, more stunning headlines in the case involving Colorado dentist James Craig. We mentioned his trial was set to begin in our last episode, but there have been a couple of massive twists we didn't see coming.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
But first, we're heading out to San Francisco for the final days of the trial that's become the talk of the city and beyond. In April of 2023, a 911 dispatcher took a call at 2.30 in the morning.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Before we get to that, just remind people what this alleged crime is and who James Craig is.
Dateline NBC
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
The attorney didn't say what that action was, which he found so repugnant, but something happened the next day which could give us a clue.
Dateline: True Crime Weekly
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
The body lay on the shop floor, the man's shaven head leaning against the front left tire of a service truck. There was a dime-sized hole in his chin and a pool of blood slowly congealing on the concrete floor.
Dateline: True Crime Weekly
Dramatic closings in the tech exec trial. Debate over DNA analysis in a quadruple homicide. And Dennis Murphy on Amanda Knox.
Tonight, an outpouring of grief for a family police say was targeted and murdered in their own home.