5 most unforgettable Dateline episodes that got re-aired over time

Dateline NBC has been a trusted category of crime journalism on television since its launch in 1992.

The show has narrated hundreds of heart-gripping stories that have fascinated millions of viewers. Certain episodes stand out among the others due to shocking twists, memorable mysteries, and characters.

Audiences cannot get enough of these stories that keep re-airing. The audience cannot resist stories about false arrests, killer gangsters, and secrets of their family that blow up in their faces.

The show unfolds another aspect of truth with each episode, and the fans are hooked to the screen in every episode. We are going to look at the 5 best nail-biting and bone-chilling episodes.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

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1. The Phone Call

This is one of the saddest stories ever broadcast on Dateline. Pete Coones had served thirteen years in prison associated with a crime he had never committed. His father’s housekeeper, Kathleen Scholl, and her husband died in what police called a murder suicide.

A phone call before her death became the focus of investigators and led to Pete’s conviction. He was imprisoned despite weak evidence and his physical disabilities. Years later, new forensic proof cleared his name. Pete was freed, but cancer claimed his life only months later.

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2. The Doomsday Files

The Doomsday Files of Dateline explores one of the most sinister cult tales in recent history. Lori Vallow, a former suburban mother, has become obsessed with strange beliefs and world-ending conspiracy theories. She encountered Chad Daybell, a proponent of apocalyptic visions in his books, and they got into a conspiratorial marriage. They saw themselves as divine figures, and their obsession turned deadly.

Lori’s children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, were murdered because they believed God had commanded it. The couple’s manipulation and crimes shocked viewers and exposed terrifying human weakness.

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3. Deep in the Woods

‘Deep in the Woods’ from Dateline tells the chilling story of army medic Kelli Bordeaux, who vanished near Fort Bragg. Investigators immediately focused on her partner, Mike Bordeaux, who was last seen with her.

The case took a shocking turn when private investigator David Marshburn dug deeper and found that Kelli had met Nicholas Michael Holbert at a local bar. Their meeting ended in tragedy when Holbert murdered her and hid her body in the woods. Marshburn’s persistence led to Holbert’s confession and the discovery of her remains.

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4. The Real Thing About Pam

The Dateline episode will present the audience with a glimpse into the chilling reality of Pam Hupp, whose crimes look like fiction. In 2011, she killed her friend Betsy Faria, who was fighting cancer.

Pam took Betsy home following the sessions; however, instead of assisting her, she stabbed her several times and set the stage to appear as though they were fighting in the home. She even called 911 to spin a false story that framed Betsy’s husband. The shocking twists and Pam’s deception later inspired a dramatic series that revealed her terrifying double life.

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5. The Secret Keepers

Dateline’s ‘The Secret Keepers’ unravels a shocking family conspiracy that began with the mysterious death of Randy Baker. Initially, doctors thought that he had died due to health complications, but further examination showed there were two bullet wounds. The seemingly ordinary case soon changed to a frightening murder inquiry.

Detectives found that Randy was involved in a scheme made by his wife, Kelly, his sister, Carol, and his nephew, Kelly Raisley, to get insurance money. Kelly carried out the killing while the others pushed her forward. The betrayal stunned viewers and exposed greed at its darkest.

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