Podcast Team

The judge has not ruled yet, but that could be a big deal for both sides, right? Whatever this decision is.

The judge has not ruled yet, but that could be a big deal for both sides, right? Whatever this decision is.

There were no words, just a pin drop sharing her location. Jasmine never came home after that. Sensing something was wrong, Jasmine's mother Katrina and her family went into investigation mode. They went to the location of the pin drop, a condo complex where the family forced open the door to an apartment.

There were no words, just a pin drop sharing her location. Jasmine never came home after that. Sensing something was wrong, Jasmine's mother Katrina and her family went into investigation mode. They went to the location of the pin drop, a condo complex where the family forced open the door to an apartment.

So much going on in this case. All right. For our next story, we're headed to California, the Bay Area, where there's a new development in a wild case from 2015, which we covered at Dateline. It also got a lot of attention about a year ago when Netflix put out a doc series on it. That's right.

So much going on in this case. All right. For our next story, we're headed to California, the Bay Area, where there's a new development in a wild case from 2015, which we covered at Dateline. It also got a lot of attention about a year ago when Netflix put out a doc series on it. That's right.

I remember this story very well. Investigators did not believe him. They thought he had killed Denise. Then two days after she went missing, Denise Huskins walked into her parents' house to say, yes, she had in fact been kidnapped and raped repeatedly.

I remember this story very well. Investigators did not believe him. They thought he had killed Denise. Then two days after she went missing, Denise Huskins walked into her parents' house to say, yes, she had in fact been kidnapped and raped repeatedly.

And that's when people started saying this sounds a lot like the movie Gone Girl, where the female main character fakes her own kidnapping.

And that's when people started saying this sounds a lot like the movie Gone Girl, where the female main character fakes her own kidnapping.

So, Sue, what is the development?

So, Sue, what is the development?

Finally, the latest on another story we covered a lot last year. This is the double murder of two schoolgirls, Liberty German and Abigail Williams, whose bodies were found near a creek in Delphi, Indiana in 2017. In November, a local man, Richard Allen, was convicted of killing them. And just before Christmas, he was sentenced to a lot of years, Sue.

Finally, the latest on another story we covered a lot last year. This is the double murder of two schoolgirls, Liberty German and Abigail Williams, whose bodies were found near a creek in Delphi, Indiana in 2017. In November, a local man, Richard Allen, was convicted of killing them. And just before Christmas, he was sentenced to a lot of years, Sue.

Oh, yeah, to be sure. Okay. Thank you so much, Sue, for joining us for this week's Roundup. Thank you, Andrea. Well, you might have spent the first few days of 2025 thinking about all the new year has in store. Fun trips, events, new experiences. You probably haven't thought about what you might be called to do. With a new year comes new cases, new trials, and of course, new juries.

Oh, yeah, to be sure. Okay. Thank you so much, Sue, for joining us for this week's Roundup. Thank you, Andrea. Well, you might have spent the first few days of 2025 thinking about all the new year has in store. Fun trips, events, new experiences. You probably haven't thought about what you might be called to do. With a new year comes new cases, new trials, and of course, new juries.

Katrina took several items she found there, including Jasmine's phone, license, and credit cards, and was left with a bad feeling.

Katrina took several items she found there, including Jasmine's phone, license, and credit cards, and was left with a bad feeling.

So whether or not you've received your jury summons yet, we're talking with jury consultant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Dr. Natalie Gordon. Hey, Natalie. Hi, Andrea. Thanks for being here. So some people, you know, they just don't want to be on juries. It feels like an inconvenience. I, on the other hand, want to do jury duty.

So whether or not you've received your jury summons yet, we're talking with jury consultant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Dr. Natalie Gordon. Hey, Natalie. Hi, Andrea. Thanks for being here. So some people, you know, they just don't want to be on juries. It feels like an inconvenience. I, on the other hand, want to do jury duty.

You've, Natalie, talked to jurors after trials. I have as well. What do they usually say after they're finished with the trial?

You've, Natalie, talked to jurors after trials. I have as well. What do they usually say after they're finished with the trial?

So let's run through a general overview of what being on a jury looks like. Of course, this varies case to case, courthouse to courthouse. What can you expect once the actual selection of a jury begins?

So let's run through a general overview of what being on a jury looks like. Of course, this varies case to case, courthouse to courthouse. What can you expect once the actual selection of a jury begins?

I knew it wasn't good. A few days later, Jasmine's body was found stuffed in a suitcase. She'd been stabbed 60 times. Police had already zeroed in on a suspect, Jasmine's boyfriend, Jason Chen. He was charged with murder and abuse of a corpse. He has pleaded not guilty.

I knew it wasn't good. A few days later, Jasmine's body was found stuffed in a suitcase. She'd been stabbed 60 times. Police had already zeroed in on a suspect, Jasmine's boyfriend, Jason Chen. He was charged with murder and abuse of a corpse. He has pleaded not guilty.

Earlier in the episode, we discussed the Jasmine Pace case and how the jurors are being brought in from another county because of concerns about pretrial publicity. They're also being sequestered in a hotel. So how does this pretrial publicity impact jury decision-making?

Earlier in the episode, we discussed the Jasmine Pace case and how the jurors are being brought in from another county because of concerns about pretrial publicity. They're also being sequestered in a hotel. So how does this pretrial publicity impact jury decision-making?

So if you are impaneled on a jury and the trial formally begins, obviously you see the evidence, you hear witness testimony, and then you go off to deliberate. What can you expect in that deliberation room?

So if you are impaneled on a jury and the trial formally begins, obviously you see the evidence, you hear witness testimony, and then you go off to deliberate. What can you expect in that deliberation room?

Yeah. I mean, a jury room, there's nothing like it because you have such a cross-section of people, different opinions, different ethnicities, different ages. That's what it's supposed to be, right? A cross-section of America.

Yeah. I mean, a jury room, there's nothing like it because you have such a cross-section of people, different opinions, different ethnicities, different ages. That's what it's supposed to be, right? A cross-section of America.

If the jury is able to reach a unanimous verdict, you know, it's read aloud in court, your jury duty is over. Have you ever spoken to jurors who have mixed feelings about the verdict that was reached?

If the jury is able to reach a unanimous verdict, you know, it's read aloud in court, your jury duty is over. Have you ever spoken to jurors who have mixed feelings about the verdict that was reached?

Well, Natalie, wow. Thank you so much. Maybe this is my year. We'll see. I'm still waiting for my summons.

Well, Natalie, wow. Thank you so much. Maybe this is my year. We'll see. I'm still waiting for my summons.

I'm happy to have helped. Thank you, Andrea. Thank you. That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. Coming up on Dateline, we've got the TV episode that inspired Josh's hit podcast series, Deadly Mirage. It's a story about betrayal and murder in the California desert.

I'm happy to have helped. Thank you, Andrea. Thank you. That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. Coming up on Dateline, we've got the TV episode that inspired Josh's hit podcast series, Deadly Mirage. It's a story about betrayal and murder in the California desert.

But in the more than two-year run-up to Chen's trial, the unauthorized investigation by Jasmine's desperate mother has come under heavy fire from the defense.

But in the more than two-year run-up to Chen's trial, the unauthorized investigation by Jasmine's desperate mother has come under heavy fire from the defense.

And a young couple who seemed to have it all until the husband ended up dead and investigators uncovered a web of dark secrets.

And a young couple who seemed to have it all until the husband ended up dead and investigators uncovered a web of dark secrets.

everything watch josh's story deadly mirage airing friday on nbc at 9 8 central or stream it on peacock and for dateline premium subscribers out there check out our latest episode of after the verdict when keith morrison catches up with susan altman a woman who pushed investigators to take a closer look at the mysterious death of her sister resulting in the conviction of her sister's husband

everything watch josh's story deadly mirage airing friday on nbc at 9 8 central or stream it on peacock and for dateline premium subscribers out there check out our latest episode of after the verdict when keith morrison catches up with susan altman a woman who pushed investigators to take a closer look at the mysterious death of her sister resulting in the conviction of her sister's husband

Susan talks about her work trying to raise awareness around domestic violence. And to get ad free listening for all of our podcasts, subscribe to Dateline Premium. 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-Kurloff.

Susan talks about her work trying to raise awareness around domestic violence. And to get ad free listening for all of our podcasts, subscribe to Dateline Premium. 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-Kurloff.

Production and fact-checking help by Sara Kadir. Veronica Mzeika 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.

Production and fact-checking help by Sara Kadir. Veronica Mzeika 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.

How might it all impact the trial set to begin next week? Here to bring us up to speed is Grayson Gordon, a news reporter from our NBC affiliate WRCB Local 3 News. Grayson, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having me. This is such a sad story. To start, can you just tell us tell us about Jasmine Pace and who was she?

How might it all impact the trial set to begin next week? Here to bring us up to speed is Grayson Gordon, a news reporter from our NBC affiliate WRCB Local 3 News. Grayson, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having me. This is such a sad story. To start, can you just tell us tell us about Jasmine Pace and who was she?

You're listening in to Dateline's morning meeting in 30 Rockefeller Center. Happy New Year. Happy New Year, everybody. Our editorial team is catching up on breaking crime news around the country. He actually felt afraid that people were after him.

You're listening in to Dateline's morning meeting in 30 Rockefeller Center. Happy New Year. Happy New Year, everybody. Our editorial team is catching up on breaking crime news around the country. He actually felt afraid that people were after him.

Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's January 9th, and here's what's on our docket. In Ohio, there were tears and rage at a sentencing last week as multiple family members admitted their parts in what's been called the Pike County Massacre.

Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's January 9th, and here's what's on our docket. In Ohio, there were tears and rage at a sentencing last week as multiple family members admitted their parts in what's been called the Pike County Massacre.

So her mom sort of turns investigator, right? Because it's unlike Jasmine to not check in with her mom.

So her mom sort of turns investigator, right? Because it's unlike Jasmine to not check in with her mom.

So Jason's not there in the apartment and they gain entry and And that's when they say they found Jasmine's phone, credit cards, and driver's license. So obviously very scary for the family to not know where their daughter is and to walk in and find that.

So Jason's not there in the apartment and they gain entry and And that's when they say they found Jasmine's phone, credit cards, and driver's license. So obviously very scary for the family to not know where their daughter is and to walk in and find that.

And police also say during the search, they found blood spatter on the bathroom wall, cleaning supplies, a large amount of blood that had been cleaned up in the living room. This is a very disturbing scene. Parents taking matters into their own hands. You understand that. If your child is missing, you will do anything. The defense has made this a big deal.

And police also say during the search, they found blood spatter on the bathroom wall, cleaning supplies, a large amount of blood that had been cleaned up in the living room. This is a very disturbing scene. Parents taking matters into their own hands. You understand that. If your child is missing, you will do anything. The defense has made this a big deal.

And that all makes sense from a defense perspective. Katrina, the mom, was actually cross-examined on the stand. What did she have to say about her actions and gaining entry to the apartment?

And that all makes sense from a defense perspective. Katrina, the mom, was actually cross-examined on the stand. What did she have to say about her actions and gaining entry to the apartment?

Oh, wow. So with regard to any alleged evidence found by the mom, did the judge rule that that will be admissible in trial? Yes.

Oh, wow. So with regard to any alleged evidence found by the mom, did the judge rule that that will be admissible in trial? Yes.

And we should just remind our listeners, Jason Chen has pleaded not guilty, and we will learn more about his defense when the trial gets underway next week. This is interesting because the case has had so much media attention. Jurors are actually being brought in from another county. Absolutely.

And we should just remind our listeners, Jason Chen has pleaded not guilty, and we will learn more about his defense when the trial gets underway next week. This is interesting because the case has had so much media attention. Jurors are actually being brought in from another county. Absolutely.

In Dateline Roundup, Karen Reid's defense team was back in court this week talking about dogs. And we've got details on new charges filed against the man at the heart of what's been called the real-life Gone Girl case.

In Dateline Roundup, Karen Reid's defense team was back in court this week talking about dogs. And we've got details on new charges filed against the man at the heart of what's been called the real-life Gone Girl case.

Well, we will keep an eye on this one, Grayson. Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. Thank you. Thank you. Up next, there was talk of Satan and Jesus in an Ohio courtroom last week as a mother and son were sentenced for their roles in one of the most gruesome crimes in Ohio history.

Well, we will keep an eye on this one, Grayson. Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. Thank you. Thank you. Up next, there was talk of Satan and Jesus in an Ohio courtroom last week as a mother and son were sentenced for their roles in one of the most gruesome crimes in Ohio history.

For our next story, we're heading to an Ohio courtroom where emotions and rage bubbled over last week at the dramatic sentencing of three family members for their roles in one of the bloodiest crimes in Ohio history.

For our next story, we're heading to an Ohio courtroom where emotions and rage bubbled over last week at the dramatic sentencing of three family members for their roles in one of the bloodiest crimes in Ohio history.

The horror began on the morning of April 22nd, 2016, when a woman walked into her brother-in-law's home and found him shot to death, along with his cousin. His name? Chris Roden Sr. But they weren't the only members of the Roden family found dead that day.

The horror began on the morning of April 22nd, 2016, when a woman walked into her brother-in-law's home and found him shot to death, along with his cousin. His name? Chris Roden Sr. But they weren't the only members of the Roden family found dead that day.

In total, seven adults and one 16-year-old boy were found gunned down in four different locations, victims of what's been dubbed the Pike County Massacre. Two years later, police arrested six members of another family, the Wagners, after uncovering what prosecutors say was a ruthless plot to stamp out the rodents over a custody dispute.

In total, seven adults and one 16-year-old boy were found gunned down in four different locations, victims of what's been dubbed the Pike County Massacre. Two years later, police arrested six members of another family, the Wagners, after uncovering what prosecutors say was a ruthless plot to stamp out the rodents over a custody dispute.

Here to catch us up on this case that he's been covering for years is Dateline producer Jay Young. Jay, thanks for joining us.

Here to catch us up on this case that he's been covering for years is Dateline producer Jay Young. Jay, thanks for joining us.

So the scope of this crime spree is really unlike anything a lot of us have ever seen before.

So the scope of this crime spree is really unlike anything a lot of us have ever seen before.

Jay, police zeroed in on the Wagner family. Who are the Wagners?

Jay, police zeroed in on the Wagner family. Who are the Wagners?

So what went wrong?

So what went wrong?

Just sounds so unbelievable.

Just sounds so unbelievable.

So the Wagners alleged that the rodents were abusing Sophia, but investigators found no evidence of that.

So the Wagners alleged that the rodents were abusing Sophia, but investigators found no evidence of that.

Plus, a new year could mean an unexpected summons to jury duty. A jury consultant gives us her tips on what to expect.

Plus, a new year could mean an unexpected summons to jury duty. A jury consultant gives us her tips on what to expect.

Okay, so it took more than two years for investigators to make arrests in the case. Jake Wagner, along with his parents and older brother, were charged with multiple counts, including aggravated murder. Jay, what evidence did the prosecutors say they had against them?

Okay, so it took more than two years for investigators to make arrests in the case. Jake Wagner, along with his parents and older brother, were charged with multiple counts, including aggravated murder. Jay, what evidence did the prosecutors say they had against them?

So we should say that Jake's dad, Billy Wagner, has consistently denied having anything to do with the murders or any plot. He is still in custody awaiting trial. And Jake's brother also denied being a part of the plot, but he was convicted at trial in 2022. A big twist to this case, Jake and his mom, Angela, did something that surprised everyone.

So we should say that Jake's dad, Billy Wagner, has consistently denied having anything to do with the murders or any plot. He is still in custody awaiting trial. And Jake's brother also denied being a part of the plot, but he was convicted at trial in 2022. A big twist to this case, Jake and his mom, Angela, did something that surprised everyone.

They decided to plead guilty and they started cooperating with investigators.

They decided to plead guilty and they started cooperating with investigators.

So take us inside the courtroom last week. Who was being sentenced?

So take us inside the courtroom last week. Who was being sentenced?

Before they were sentenced, the victims' families got to talk.

Before they were sentenced, the victims' families got to talk.

But before all that, we're heading to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where a highly publicized murder trial is about to get underway. And the mother of the victim has faced questions about what she did to try to find her daughter and whether she went too far. In the early morning hours of November 23rd, 2022, 22-year-old Jasmine Pace sent her mother an unsettling text message.

But before all that, we're heading to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where a highly publicized murder trial is about to get underway. And the mother of the victim has faced questions about what she did to try to find her daughter and whether she went too far. In the early morning hours of November 23rd, 2022, 22-year-old Jasmine Pace sent her mother an unsettling text message.

What were the sentences then?

What were the sentences then?

So this all leaves Billy Wagner, the father. He was supposed to go to trial this week. What happened?

So this all leaves Billy Wagner, the father. He was supposed to go to trial this week. What happened?

Okay, so this trial is supposed to be sometime this year?

Okay, so this trial is supposed to be sometime this year?

Okay, Jay Young, thank you for breaking down this extremely horrific story and also complicated story.

Okay, Jay Young, thank you for breaking down this extremely horrific story and also complicated story.

Next, it's time for Dateline Roundup. We've got the latest from the courtroom as Karen Reid's defense team gears up for her second trial. And more on the new chapter in what's been called the real-life Gone Girl case. Plus, what do you need to know if you get a jury summons? We've got tips from a jury consultant.

Next, it's time for Dateline Roundup. We've got the latest from the courtroom as Karen Reid's defense team gears up for her second trial. And more on the new chapter in what's been called the real-life Gone Girl case. Plus, what do you need to know if you get a jury summons? We've got tips from a jury consultant.

Joining me for this week's Roundup is Dateline producer Sue Simpson. Hey, Sue. Hey, Andrea. Happy New Year. Yeah, happy New Year. So, Sue, our first story is something very familiar to both of us, the Karen Reid case. For anyone who doesn't know, she's the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, by backing her car into him after a night of drinking.

Joining me for this week's Roundup is Dateline producer Sue Simpson. Hey, Sue. Hey, Andrea. Happy New Year. Yeah, happy New Year. So, Sue, our first story is something very familiar to both of us, the Karen Reid case. For anyone who doesn't know, she's the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, by backing her car into him after a night of drinking.

She denies doing that, of course, and a jury deadlocked at her trial last year that you were at, Sue, every day.

She denies doing that, of course, and a jury deadlocked at her trial last year that you were at, Sue, every day.

Yeah, so this week, there was the second part of a hearing about something pretty crucial to the case.

Yeah, so this week, there was the second part of a hearing about something pretty crucial to the case.

Yeah, important, obviously, because Karen Reed's defense says that John O'Keefe wasn't run over. He was beat up by people at a house where she says she dropped him off. The people there at the house, they deny that. But at this house, there was a dog. She was a German shepherd named Chloe. So how did this expert do on the stand?

Yeah, important, obviously, because Karen Reed's defense says that John O'Keefe wasn't run over. He was beat up by people at a house where she says she dropped him off. The people there at the house, they deny that. But at this house, there was a dog. She was a German shepherd named Chloe. So how did this expert do on the stand?

The judge has not ruled yet, but that could be a big deal for both sides, right? Whatever this decision is.

There were no words, just a pin drop sharing her location. Jasmine never came home after that. Sensing something was wrong, Jasmine's mother Katrina and her family went into investigation mode. They went to the location of the pin drop, a condo complex where the family forced open the door to an apartment.

So much going on in this case. All right. For our next story, we're headed to California, the Bay Area, where there's a new development in a wild case from 2015, which we covered at Dateline. It also got a lot of attention about a year ago when Netflix put out a doc series on it. That's right.

I remember this story very well. Investigators did not believe him. They thought he had killed Denise. Then two days after she went missing, Denise Huskins walked into her parents' house to say, yes, she had in fact been kidnapped and raped repeatedly.

And that's when people started saying this sounds a lot like the movie Gone Girl, where the female main character fakes her own kidnapping.

So, Sue, what is the development?

Finally, the latest on another story we covered a lot last year. This is the double murder of two schoolgirls, Liberty German and Abigail Williams, whose bodies were found near a creek in Delphi, Indiana in 2017. In November, a local man, Richard Allen, was convicted of killing them. And just before Christmas, he was sentenced to a lot of years, Sue.

Oh, yeah, to be sure. Okay. Thank you so much, Sue, for joining us for this week's Roundup. Thank you, Andrea. Well, you might have spent the first few days of 2025 thinking about all the new year has in store. Fun trips, events, new experiences. You probably haven't thought about what you might be called to do. With a new year comes new cases, new trials, and of course, new juries.

Katrina took several items she found there, including Jasmine's phone, license, and credit cards, and was left with a bad feeling.

So whether or not you've received your jury summons yet, we're talking with jury consultant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Dr. Natalie Gordon. Hey, Natalie. Hi, Andrea. Thanks for being here. So some people, you know, they just don't want to be on juries. It feels like an inconvenience. I, on the other hand, want to do jury duty.

You've, Natalie, talked to jurors after trials. I have as well. What do they usually say after they're finished with the trial?

So let's run through a general overview of what being on a jury looks like. Of course, this varies case to case, courthouse to courthouse. What can you expect once the actual selection of a jury begins?

I knew it wasn't good. A few days later, Jasmine's body was found stuffed in a suitcase. She'd been stabbed 60 times. Police had already zeroed in on a suspect, Jasmine's boyfriend, Jason Chen. He was charged with murder and abuse of a corpse. He has pleaded not guilty.

Earlier in the episode, we discussed the Jasmine Pace case and how the jurors are being brought in from another county because of concerns about pretrial publicity. They're also being sequestered in a hotel. So how does this pretrial publicity impact jury decision-making?

So if you are impaneled on a jury and the trial formally begins, obviously you see the evidence, you hear witness testimony, and then you go off to deliberate. What can you expect in that deliberation room?

Yeah. I mean, a jury room, there's nothing like it because you have such a cross-section of people, different opinions, different ethnicities, different ages. That's what it's supposed to be, right? A cross-section of America.

If the jury is able to reach a unanimous verdict, you know, it's read aloud in court, your jury duty is over. Have you ever spoken to jurors who have mixed feelings about the verdict that was reached?

Well, Natalie, wow. Thank you so much. Maybe this is my year. We'll see. I'm still waiting for my summons.

I'm happy to have helped. Thank you, Andrea. Thank you. That's it for this episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. Coming up on Dateline, we've got the TV episode that inspired Josh's hit podcast series, Deadly Mirage. It's a story about betrayal and murder in the California desert.

But in the more than two-year run-up to Chen's trial, the unauthorized investigation by Jasmine's desperate mother has come under heavy fire from the defense.

And a young couple who seemed to have it all until the husband ended up dead and investigators uncovered a web of dark secrets.

everything watch josh's story deadly mirage airing friday on nbc at 9 8 central or stream it on peacock and for dateline premium subscribers out there check out our latest episode of after the verdict when keith morrison catches up with susan altman a woman who pushed investigators to take a closer look at the mysterious death of her sister resulting in the conviction of her sister's husband

Susan talks about her work trying to raise awareness around domestic violence. And to get ad free listening for all of our podcasts, subscribe to Dateline Premium. 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-Kurloff.

Production and fact-checking help by Sara Kadir. Veronica Mzeika 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.

How might it all impact the trial set to begin next week? Here to bring us up to speed is Grayson Gordon, a news reporter from our NBC affiliate WRCB Local 3 News. Grayson, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for having me. This is such a sad story. To start, can you just tell us tell us about Jasmine Pace and who was she?

You're listening in to Dateline's morning meeting in 30 Rockefeller Center. Happy New Year. Happy New Year, everybody. Our editorial team is catching up on breaking crime news around the country. He actually felt afraid that people were after him.

Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's January 9th, and here's what's on our docket. In Ohio, there were tears and rage at a sentencing last week as multiple family members admitted their parts in what's been called the Pike County Massacre.

So her mom sort of turns investigator, right? Because it's unlike Jasmine to not check in with her mom.

So Jason's not there in the apartment and they gain entry and And that's when they say they found Jasmine's phone, credit cards, and driver's license. So obviously very scary for the family to not know where their daughter is and to walk in and find that.

And police also say during the search, they found blood spatter on the bathroom wall, cleaning supplies, a large amount of blood that had been cleaned up in the living room. This is a very disturbing scene. Parents taking matters into their own hands. You understand that. If your child is missing, you will do anything. The defense has made this a big deal.

And that all makes sense from a defense perspective. Katrina, the mom, was actually cross-examined on the stand. What did she have to say about her actions and gaining entry to the apartment?

Oh, wow. So with regard to any alleged evidence found by the mom, did the judge rule that that will be admissible in trial? Yes.

And we should just remind our listeners, Jason Chen has pleaded not guilty, and we will learn more about his defense when the trial gets underway next week. This is interesting because the case has had so much media attention. Jurors are actually being brought in from another county. Absolutely.

In Dateline Roundup, Karen Reid's defense team was back in court this week talking about dogs. And we've got details on new charges filed against the man at the heart of what's been called the real-life Gone Girl case.

Well, we will keep an eye on this one, Grayson. Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. Thank you. Thank you. Up next, there was talk of Satan and Jesus in an Ohio courtroom last week as a mother and son were sentenced for their roles in one of the most gruesome crimes in Ohio history.

For our next story, we're heading to an Ohio courtroom where emotions and rage bubbled over last week at the dramatic sentencing of three family members for their roles in one of the bloodiest crimes in Ohio history.

The horror began on the morning of April 22nd, 2016, when a woman walked into her brother-in-law's home and found him shot to death, along with his cousin. His name? Chris Roden Sr. But they weren't the only members of the Roden family found dead that day.

In total, seven adults and one 16-year-old boy were found gunned down in four different locations, victims of what's been dubbed the Pike County Massacre. Two years later, police arrested six members of another family, the Wagners, after uncovering what prosecutors say was a ruthless plot to stamp out the rodents over a custody dispute.

Here to catch us up on this case that he's been covering for years is Dateline producer Jay Young. Jay, thanks for joining us.

So the scope of this crime spree is really unlike anything a lot of us have ever seen before.

Jay, police zeroed in on the Wagner family. Who are the Wagners?

So what went wrong?

Just sounds so unbelievable.

So the Wagners alleged that the rodents were abusing Sophia, but investigators found no evidence of that.

Plus, a new year could mean an unexpected summons to jury duty. A jury consultant gives us her tips on what to expect.

Okay, so it took more than two years for investigators to make arrests in the case. Jake Wagner, along with his parents and older brother, were charged with multiple counts, including aggravated murder. Jay, what evidence did the prosecutors say they had against them?

So we should say that Jake's dad, Billy Wagner, has consistently denied having anything to do with the murders or any plot. He is still in custody awaiting trial. And Jake's brother also denied being a part of the plot, but he was convicted at trial in 2022. A big twist to this case, Jake and his mom, Angela, did something that surprised everyone.

They decided to plead guilty and they started cooperating with investigators.

So take us inside the courtroom last week. Who was being sentenced?

Before they were sentenced, the victims' families got to talk.

But before all that, we're heading to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where a highly publicized murder trial is about to get underway. And the mother of the victim has faced questions about what she did to try to find her daughter and whether she went too far. In the early morning hours of November 23rd, 2022, 22-year-old Jasmine Pace sent her mother an unsettling text message.

What were the sentences then?

So this all leaves Billy Wagner, the father. He was supposed to go to trial this week. What happened?

Okay, so this trial is supposed to be sometime this year?

Okay, Jay Young, thank you for breaking down this extremely horrific story and also complicated story.

Next, it's time for Dateline Roundup. We've got the latest from the courtroom as Karen Reid's defense team gears up for her second trial. And more on the new chapter in what's been called the real-life Gone Girl case. Plus, what do you need to know if you get a jury summons? We've got tips from a jury consultant.

Joining me for this week's Roundup is Dateline producer Sue Simpson. Hey, Sue. Hey, Andrea. Happy New Year. Yeah, happy New Year. So, Sue, our first story is something very familiar to both of us, the Karen Reid case. For anyone who doesn't know, she's the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, by backing her car into him after a night of drinking.

She denies doing that, of course, and a jury deadlocked at her trial last year that you were at, Sue, every day.

Yeah, so this week, there was the second part of a hearing about something pretty crucial to the case.

Yeah, important, obviously, because Karen Reed's defense says that John O'Keefe wasn't run over. He was beat up by people at a house where she says she dropped him off. The people there at the house, they deny that. But at this house, there was a dog. She was a German shepherd named Chloe. So how did this expert do on the stand?