Dateline: Out There in the Dark - A complete timeline of the Brandy Daniels murder case, revisited 

NBC’s Dateline has long been known for its gripping true crime investigations, and the episode titled Out There in the Dark is among them. This chilling installment dives into the tragic murder of Brandy Daniels, a young woman whose promising life was cut short under disturbing circumstances.

The case takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, uncovering a tangled web of relationships, lies, and a search for justice that spanned years. Brandy’s disappearance initially raised more questions than answers, and her loved ones were left clinging to hope.

But as the days turned into months, a darker truth began to surface. In true Dateline style, the episode focuses on every detail, from Brandy's last known moments to the shocking revelations that ultimately led to a conviction.

In this article, we revisit the case and break down the complete timeline of Brandy Daniels’ murder as explored in Dateline: Out There in the Dark, shedding light on the key twists that defined this haunting story.

---

Dateline revisits Brandy Daniels’ murder case

May 5, 2014: The night of the murder

On the night of May 5, 2014, 25-year-old Brandy Daniels left her shift at Kohl’s in Zanesville, Ohio, and drove home. While speaking to her fiancé, Craig Berry, she nervously mentioned that someone was following her. Moments later, the call suddenly disconnected. That was the last time anyone heard from her.

As explained in the Dateline episode, Brandy’s sister Tess was worried and went looking for her and found her car at the end of their parents’ driveway. Brandy was slumped over in the driver’s seat, unresponsive. Emergency crews confirmed she had been shot three times at close range.

Nothing had been stolen. Even Brandy’s phone, purse, and money were still inside the vehicle. The driver’s window was rolled down, and the car was stuck in first gear. Investigators collected three shell casings and a pistol magazine nearby. It was clear this was not a random crime.

Police first looked into Brandy’s fiancé, Craig Berry, since he was the last person to talk to her. But his texts and timeline lined up with the events of that night. After checking his phone and story, investigators cleared him within days. He had no connection to the crime.

Focus then shifted to Josh Daniels, Brandy’s estranged husband and father of her child. Although he was working 4,300 miles away in Alaska, his history with Brandy raised red flags. Phone records and his cooperation seemed to back up his alibi.

Also Read: Dateline: A Shot in the Dark - Who is Cara Ryan and what do we know about her crimes? Disturbing details of the 2015 incident revealed

---

Dateline murder case: How investigators traced Brandy’s killer from loved ones to a hidden criminal past

As the Dateline episode continues, more about the disturbing case is revealed. Police soon turned their attention to Sirius Underwood, a local man who knew Josh Daniels from the gym. Though he had a good public image, deeper checks revealed a troubled past.

He had juvenile offenses and possible links to violent robberies. This raised serious concerns for investigators. When asked, Sirius handed over his phone, but it had already been wiped clean. Despite claiming he knew nothing about the case, his phone history told a different story.

Dateline revealed that he had looked up every news article about Brandy’s murder. This contradiction added to the growing suspicions around him. Digital forensics uncovered more links between Sirius and Josh. A burner phone from Zanesville with a California area code had called both Josh and another burner.

It was bought just a week before Brandy’s death. One deleted voicemail from Josh’s phone even featured Sirius’s voice, tightening the connection.

---

The Dateline episode reveals the legal resolution and sentencing

Every Dateline episode begins with how the crime started and what happened at the end. Similarly, in Brandy's case, the episode, Out There in the Dark explained that the case took a huge turn when a woman in Alaska, once engaged to Josh Daniels, revealed a shocking confession he made while drunk on July 4, 2014.

He claimed to have ordered Brandy’s murder over the phone and said a "Black guy", referring to Sirius, carried it out. Around the same time, someone also tipped off police on Facebook, saying Josh and Sirius were part of a stick-up crew.

This tied back to an old robbery at Josh’s workplace that police had always found suspicious. Police began piecing together the motive: Brandy might have known too much about Josh and Sirius’s crimes and was seen as a threat.

During questioning, Josh admitted he had shared Brandy’s work schedule with Sirius. He also used the word "close" to signal when she left the store, essentially setting her up. It became clear that this murder was carefully planned, not random.

After a long and complicated investigation, authorities finally moved forward with charges in 2016. A grand jury formally indicted both Josh and Sirius, bringing years of suspicion to a turning point. Josh was located and taken into custody in Alaska, while Sirius was arrested in Ohio. In the courtroom, Josh admitted to his role through a plea deal, resulting in a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 28 years.

Meanwhile, Sirius entered an Alford plea, choosing not to admit guilt but accepting that the evidence could lead to a conviction, and was sentenced to life with parole eligibility after 38 years.

The Daniels family now raises Brandy’s daughter, while Dateline follows the two-year, $100,000 investigation that sifted through calls, messages, and tips to uncover the truth and secure a conviction.

---

Also Read: Netflix's Worst Ex Ever: What crime did Benjamin Foster commit? Case details explained

Continue exploring Soap Central for regular updates on TV series, films, and more!