7 Dateline episodes that have featured unsolved cases so far

Dateline NBC has made itself a name for telling true stories that captivate the way any thriller would. Across the years, shows have followed up on many crimes, but some of the most unforgettable episodes are those in which, sadly, the answers mosey away from us. These are episodes of disappearances, suspicious deaths, and cold cases that turn families, law enforcement, and viewers around in circles looking for a solution.

From a woman who disappears on a Mediterranean cruise to a college student whose case generated advocacy for over several decades, each carries a terrifying question.

In spite of the years that have passed and any number of breakthroughs, the mysteries at the core of these cases still possess the chilling sorrow. Here are seven episodes of shows that shine the light on unsolved cases, modern-day tales of how justice can so easily slip away, and the importance of the pursuit.

---

7 Dateline episodes that have featured unsolved cases so far

1. The mysterious cruise ship death of Micki Kanesaki

Dateline's "Open Water" presents the enigmatic journey of Micki Kanesaki, who disappeared on a Mediterranean cruise in 2006. What initially appeared to be a sea tragedy turned out to be something else, as investigators started suspecting her former husband, Lonnie Kocontes. The case went cold for years until an investigator finally connected him to the murder of Micki.

In 2020, he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. What is so compelling about this episode is how a seemingly frivolous holiday became a decades-long pursuit of justice, demonstrating how determination and forensic effort can ultimately crack even the most elusive cases.

---

2. The decades-long fight for justice in Kristin Smart’s case

This installment features the tragic disappearance of Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old university student who went missing from California Polytechnic State University in 1996. For years, her family struggled to keep the case alive as it went unsolved. Dateline revisits the enigma, demonstrating how relentless lobbying and emerging investigation technology finally resulted in justice.

The episode also looks back at how Kristin's disappearance impacted missing persons investigations across the country, and her case became a tragedy as well as a driver for systemic change.

---

3. After the Halloween Party - the unsolved murder of Karen Swift

Karen Swift's vanishing act in 2011 continues to haunt Tennessee. The 44-year-old mother of four had last been seen after a Halloween party, and her abandoned car was found outside her house. Weeks went by before her body was found beside a cemetery, but no suspect has ever been convicted. Dateline explored the haunting inconsistencies in the investigation, from possible suspects to lost leads, leaving viewers beset with unanswered questions.

Despite several developments and continuing suspicions over her estranged husband, the case is still unsolved. Karen's tale continues to bring to light the frustration of families that are left in limbo when justice is thwarted or postponed.

---

4. A cold case solved after 40 years: Helene Pruszynski

This horrifying case dates back to 1980, when 21-year-old Helene Pruszynski vanished in Colorado. She was discovered dead in a field of snow, and the killer was never caught until now, almost four decades later. The show takes the viewer through the process in which DNA genealogy ultimately solved the case, resulting in the 2019 arrest of James Curtis Clanton.

What is unique about this episode is that it highlights contemporary forensic science, turning a cold case gone cold into a tale of long-overdue justice. Helene's family finally got their answers after years of sorrow, illustrating how hope and technology can redact even the most ancient crime records.

---

5. The chilling real estate murder of Lindsay Buziak

"Unsolved: Dream House Murder" explores the 2008 stabbing of Canadian real estate agent Lindsay Buziak, one of the most baffling open cases today. She was tricked into showing a property on Vancouver Island, where she was brutally murdered by unidentified assailants. The Dateline show goes into the chilling premeditation of the crime and the failure to make arrests amid global publicity.

Fifteen years on, fresh public campaigns and reporting podcasts still put pressure on officials for explanations. What is exceptional here is the sophistication; the murderers left no definitive evidence, and Lindsay's account remains one of Canada's most chilling enigmas.

---

6. Chameleon - the mystery of John Smith’s missing wives

The Dateline show "Chameleon" explores the strange life of serial con man John Smith, who employed aliases and elaborate deceptions to trick women into marriage. Behind the deceptiveness and charm were deeper secrets; two of his wives vanished under mysterious circumstances. Although Smith was later caught for fraud, the fate of at least one missing wife remains a mystery, making his case a Dateline mystery.

The show portrayed him as a manipulator and potential predator, leaving the audience uneasy at how easily he had escaped blame. All these years later, the truth about his missing wives remains out of reach of investigators.

---

7. Evil Was Watching - The Children Snatched in Daylight

In 1986, two young girls, 13-year-old Jenni Bastian and 12-year-old Michella Welch, were kidnapped and brutally killed while bicycling in daylight in Tacoma, Washington. The case languished unsolved for decades, leaving the community and families devastated and grasping for answers. Dateline's special "Evil Was Watching" re-examines the chilling details, including the personal viewpoint of a detective whose own childhood was defined by the tragedy.

Through DNA advances and dogged investigative efforts, the episode follows how justice ultimately caught up with some different results, but the hurt and the damage remain seared in Tacoma's memory.

---

Unsolved cases always have a way of getting under our skin, and Dateline really does all it can to bring that eerie feeling to the fore. Each episode presents not only the mystifying component but also the torment and strength of those families who never seem to give up. Some cases indeed break to light eventually, while some others remain stubbornly cold.

Yet still, the spotlight keeps hope alive and reminds viewers that even the minutest clue could eventually lead to answers. These stories show that sometimes, justice is not served speedily; well, for all intents and purposes, it is never really without an end, and that pursuit is what makes the show limitless.