Dateline: The Phantom - Everything we know about the latest true crime episode

NBC’s Dateline: The Phantom is bringing forth the tragic murder case of Kristil Krug, who was found dead in her house on December 14, 2023. Kristil had been getting threatening text messages and emails before her death, indicating a possible stalker. Her husband, Daniel Krug, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the crime.

Dateline: The Phantom will air on NBC on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 9/8c on NBC. The episode will be available on Peacock the next day. Correspondent Josh Mankiewicz will take the audience through the harrowing case in the two-hour special. The episode will also feature police footage as well as interviews from family members and investigators.

Dateline: The Phantom - What happened to Kristil Krug?

Kristil Krug lived in Colorado with her husband, Daniel, and three children. She started receiving threatening messages from a stalker, who was observing her closely. In October 2023, she got in touch with the police and shared her suspicions about her ex-boyfriend being the stalker.

The constant texts and emails made Kristil and her family increasingly anxious. On December 14, 2023, Kristil returned home after leaving her children at school. She was found dead in the garage, beaten and stabbed. The authorities initially assumed that Kristil was murdered by her stalker.

Dateline: The Phantom – Daniel Krug is charged for the murder of his wife

As the police started tracking down the evidence and investigating the case, details emerged that shocked everyone. Before Kristil was murdered, she had shared doubts about her husband with the investigators.

As per U.S. News, a prosecutor revealed at the trial that she suspected Daniel could have been behind the messages. The prosecutors alleged that on the day of the incident, he attacked her in their garage and stabbed her in the heart. He later drove to his work.

Daniel Krug’s computer at work became one of the key pieces of evidence as the email used to send the threatening messages to Kristil was created on it. Additionally, one of the text messages came from a burner phone that was bought using a gift card under his name. The cameras at home were also found tampered with.

According to Deadline, while there was enough evidence against Daniel, there was no direct physical DNA linking his presence at the crime scene. The Prosecutors established that Daniel imitated his wife’s ex-boyfriend to make it appear that someone else was a threat to her.

On the other hand, Daniel’s defense attorney emphasized that there was no forensic evidence against him. One of the points of argument was also the fact that Daniel continued with his daily routine after the incident, something a killer is unlikely to do.

Jurors found Daniel guilty on four charges, including first-degree murder, stalking, and criminal impersonation. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Watch Dateline: The Phantom on NBC at 9/8c on September 26, 2025.

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