Josh Mankiewicz

Or a calculating killer?

Or a calculating killer?

That's all for this edition of Dateline. Be sure to check out Josh's original six-episode hit podcast based on tonight's story, Deadly Mirage, available to binge now wherever you listen. I'm Lester Holt. For all of us at NBC News, good night.

That's all for this edition of Dateline. Be sure to check out Josh's original six-episode hit podcast based on tonight's story, Deadly Mirage, available to binge now wherever you listen. I'm Lester Holt. For all of us at NBC News, good night.

Let's talk Dateline.

Let's talk Dateline.

It's a weird story because no matter which way you go with this, whether you believe prosecutors and the sheriff or whether you believe Madison and his supporters, there are big holes in the story. Like none of it makes sense.

It's a weird story because no matter which way you go with this, whether you believe prosecutors and the sheriff or whether you believe Madison and his supporters, there are big holes in the story. Like none of it makes sense.

Well, I mean, then we did a good job because when, you know, you're watching and you're thinking, oh, I understand it. Wait, I don't understand it. Wait, now I think it's this. And then at the end, it's something you didn't see coming. That means we've done our job.

Well, I mean, then we did a good job because when, you know, you're watching and you're thinking, oh, I understand it. Wait, I don't understand it. Wait, now I think it's this. And then at the end, it's something you didn't see coming. That means we've done our job.

Yeah, and that's the kind of dynamic that's going on in houses all across the country, which was one sort of great thing about this story was that it was kind of emblematic what a lot of families are struggling with all over the United States. You and I know from our careers and the stories we've covered, all the things that can go wrong when you have a teenager in the house, right?

Yeah, and that's the kind of dynamic that's going on in houses all across the country, which was one sort of great thing about this story was that it was kind of emblematic what a lot of families are struggling with all over the United States. You and I know from our careers and the stories we've covered, all the things that can go wrong when you have a teenager in the house, right?

And what was Madison doing? Well, he was using some drugs, and he was inviting his friends over when his parents weren't home, and he was lying to them, and he was kind of a little bit of a discipline problem. But, I mean, you look at that measured against the chart of all the things that can happen with teenagers, and those are not the worst things out there.

And what was Madison doing? Well, he was using some drugs, and he was inviting his friends over when his parents weren't home, and he was lying to them, and he was kind of a little bit of a discipline problem. But, I mean, you look at that measured against the chart of all the things that can happen with teenagers, and those are not the worst things out there.

On the right path. I mean, you know, handcuffs are one of those things like hitting your kids, which is you're going to find people on both sides of that issue. That seemed a little extreme to me, given that there was no testimony about him being violent toward his parents. There was certainly plenty of testimony about him misbehaving and not being honest and doing that kind of thing.

On the right path. I mean, you know, handcuffs are one of those things like hitting your kids, which is you're going to find people on both sides of that issue. That seemed a little extreme to me, given that there was no testimony about him being violent toward his parents. There was certainly plenty of testimony about him misbehaving and not being honest and doing that kind of thing.

But you didn't have some record for beating people up or fighting with his parents. I mean... One senses that the parents were more at the end of their rope than actually fearful of Madison. That was my sense. Like, this is more about teaching you a lesson than protecting us.

But you didn't have some record for beating people up or fighting with his parents. I mean... One senses that the parents were more at the end of their rope than actually fearful of Madison. That was my sense. Like, this is more about teaching you a lesson than protecting us.

But I got to say, I mean, putting handcuffs on somebody is kind of a thing you do when you're afraid of what they're going to do, not where they're going in life at the moment.

But I got to say, I mean, putting handcuffs on somebody is kind of a thing you do when you're afraid of what they're going to do, not where they're going in life at the moment.