Cases to watch in 2026: Pam Hupp and Kouri Richins. Plus, home burglars going high-tech
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Hey everyone, it's Andrea Canning. Happy New Year. You are listening to Dateline True Crime Weekly.
A lot going on all of a sudden.
It's January 1st, 2026, the start of a new year in courtrooms across the country. So this week, we're going to tell you about some cases we'll be paying close attention to this year.
There's another trial too, right?
Is this going to throw a wrench in the whole trial? Is it going to be delayed?
Gosh, could we have a verdict tomorrow?
Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly's Look Ahead 2026. Here's what's on our docket. In Utah, Corey Richens, the woman who wrote a children's book about grief before being accused of fatally poisoning her husband, prepares for trial. And she's adamant about her innocence. I'm anxious to get to trial, and I'm ready to get this one heck of a fight. In Dateline Roundup, we've got a rundown of upcoming trials to watch out for. From the trial of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann to Brendan Banfield, the IRS agent accused of murdering his wife with the help of the family au pair.
This may be one of the more outlandish murder plots we've heard in a while. We've got dates and details.
Plus, a troubling new trend. Thieves are going high-tech. We'll have tips on how to keep your home safe. A burglary happens about every 28 seconds in the U.S. But before all that, we're headed to Missouri for a preview of one of the most highly anticipated trials of 2026. And a defendant Dateline fans know all too well. If you've been watching and listening to Dateline in recent years, you'll surely recognize the name Pam Hupp. She's been the subject of six Dateline episodes and one of the very first podcast series we ever did.
This is a strange story. A strange story and a career of strange stories.
What is the upcoming trial of Pam Hupp about?
You may also have seen the NBC miniseries, The Thing About Pam, starring Renee Zellweger, which was based on our reporting. You know when people want you to admit to something you didn't do?
I can't do that. I'm not that kind of person.
But believe it or not, the Pam Hupp saga isn't done yet. The case revolves around the 2011 stabbing death of Hupp's friend, Betsy Faria. Even though he had an alibi, Betsy's husband, Russ, was charged with her murder. And in 2013, a jury convicted him, thanks in large part to Hupp's testimony against him. But Russ, who always maintained his innocence, was granted a new trial in 2015 and acquitted. While Russ rebuilt his life, Pam's began to unravel. In 2016, she fatally shot a man by the name of Louis Gumpenberger. She claimed it was in self-defense that the man tried to kidnap her and made it look like he'd been hired by none other than Russ Faria. But investigators didn't buy it. They uncovered evidence that Pam had lured the victim to her home by posing as a Dateline producer and then murdered him.
Why would she do that? Well, like most things involving Pam Hupp, it's complicated. We'll get into that in a minute. Pam Hupp ended up taking an Alford plea for Gumpenberger's murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Then in 2021, I'm here to announce that we have filed murder charges in the first degree against Pamela Hupp in the stabbing death of Betsy Faria. We will be seeking the death penalty in this case.
She has pleaded not guilty. Her trial is expected to start in August. And Keith is here to make sure we're ready for it. Keith, thanks for joining us.
What are the details surrounding Kouri Richins' murder trial?
Thank you for having me. Yes, this is quite an epic story.
So, Keith, why did it take 14 years to get Pam on trial for Betsy's murder? You know, what changed?
Well, the wheels of justice run slow, and it just took a long time to put everything together.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–2:20
2
What is the upcoming trial of Pam Hupp about?
2:20–3:56
3
What are the details surrounding Kouri Richins' murder trial?
3:56–7:04
4
What high-tech methods are burglars using today?
7:04–7:53
5
How did Pam Hupp's actions lead to her arrest?
7:53–12:44
6
How can homeowners protect themselves from high-tech burglaries?
12:44–21:14
7
What evidence do prosecutors have against Pam Hupp?
21:14–32:20
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from Dateline NBC
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