Dateline: Season 17
Season 17 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Picks up essential narrative continuity directly following the events of Dateline Season 16.
- Character alliances, factions, and personal loyalties undergo significant shifts under escalating stakes.
- Addresses unresolved cliffhangers and thematic mysteries introduced during previous seasons.
- Establishes the primary seasonal conflict that drives serialized character arcs toward the finale.
Episode Guide
Season 17 Progress Shield
The Mystery of Meredith's Murder
Dec 5, 2008 · 43 min
Seattle student Amanda Knox is a suspect in the murder of her British roommate in Italy.
When Caylee Vanished
Dec 12, 2008 · 43 min
Cindy and George Anthony, grandparents of missing 3-year-old Caylee Anthony, talk about the efforts to find the little girl and the charges against their daughter Casey, Caylee's m
The Evictors; Rick Warren
Dec 19, 2008 · 43 min
In Evictors, A look at families who have been effected by the recent housing crisis. In Rick Warren, a minister has brought opposing sides together - now will he cause a divide? La
A Twist of Fate (2008)
Dec 26, 2008 · 43 min
In 2006, Laura Van Ryn and Whitney Cerak, students at an evangelical college in Indiana, and their families were victims of a ghastly mistake: the wrong girl was identified as the
Killer Instinct
Jan 2, 2009 · 43 min
A woman knows her husband is innocent - but can she convince the authorities?
Death by Deception
Jan 9, 2009 · 43 min
A popular talk radio host is accused of poisoning his wife to death.
Miracle on the Hudson
Jan 16, 2009 · 43 min
A minute-by-minute look at the landing of a US Airways plane in New York's Hudson River includes interviews with some of the survivors and their rescuers.
Beyond the Sea
Jan 26, 2009 · 43 min
The investigation into the disappearance of Olivia Newton-John's then-boyfriend, Patrick McDermott, who went missing while on a fishing trip
Bring Sean Home
Jan 30, 2009 · 43 min
A father struggles to have his son returned to him after an international parental kidnapping.
The Deadly Love Triangle: Update
Feb 1, 2009 · 43 min
An update on the case of Eric McLean, charged with shooting his wife's 18-year-old lover.
Justice for Sparkle
Feb 6, 2009 · 43 min
A story as old as Romeo and Juliet, but with an unpredictable ending.
Where's the Money? A Look at the Bailout
Feb 8, 2009 · 43 min
Tracking the money from the financial bailout to see where it goes and how it is spent by the recipients.
The Run of His Life
Feb 8, 2009 · 43 min
Nothing, including an amputation, could stop this determined runner.
Octuplets
Feb 10, 2009 · 43 min
Nadya Suleman, mother of the octuplets born in California.
February 13, 2009
Feb 13, 2009 · 43 min
Police look for the person who murdered a beloved wife and mother.
February 15, 2009
Feb 15, 2009 · 43 min
Ten wild rides caught on camera, including a skier encountering an avalanche; a camping trip in the woods of Southwestern Virginia turns into a nightmare.
Deadly Sanctuary
Feb 20, 2009 · 43 min
An investigative report on the death of a female parishioner inside the office of the county church, which shocked the congregation and left them suspicious to why this happened. W
Black Box Mystery: The Crash of the Concorde
Feb 22, 2009 · 43 min
Nearly nine years after the crash of the Concorde, controversy continues to surround the accident that killed 113 people.
Reality Bites: Update
Feb 22, 2009 · 43 min
A man promised aspiring young models that they'd be reality TV stars... instead, the hopefuls got a harsh reality check. Update to report originally aired on Dateline on Friday, Ma
February 27. 2009
Feb 27, 2009 · 43 min
A daughter stumbles across a family secret 36 years after her father's murder, leading her to question everything she'd been told about who killed him and why.
With Friends Like These
Mar 6, 2009 · 43 min
A private investigator believes that two elderly women known for helping the homeless are actually killing them
In the Dead of Night: The Sleepwalk Murder Case
Mar 13, 2009 · 43 min
A young man confesses to killing his lover while sleepwalking.
Michael Phelps; George Clooney; International Kidnapping
Mar 15, 2009 · 43 min
Matt Lauer interviews Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. In addition, George Clooney reflects on his cause to end the Darfur crisis while on a trip to the border of Chad and Sudan wit
Flying High at Cocktail Cove
Mar 20, 2009 · 43 min
A report about Michael Schrenker, a financial advisor who faked his own death in January 2009, after being charged with financial fraud, by deliberately ditching the airplane he wa
Inside the Financial Fiasco: The Mortgage Crisis
Mar 22, 2009 · 43 min
How risky home loans helped cause a chain reaction that led to failures on Wall Street
Inside the Financial Fiasco: Debt Trap
Mar 27, 2009 · 43 min
How U.S. families have become mired in debt; the dirty tactics employed by some collection agencies.
Death of a Heartsong
Apr 3, 2009 · 43 min
Keith Morrison explores how a murder ripped apart a seemingly happy couples marriage.
Inside the Financial Fiasco: Promises, Promises
Apr 5, 2009 · 43 min
Scams that target the unemployed and those struggling to save money wherever they can.
Unsolved Case Squad (2009)
Apr 10, 2009 · 43 min
An elite team of investigators enlists the help of viewers to solve two murder cases
Modeling Agency Scams; Dating-Site Scammers
Apr 12, 2009 · 43 min
An undercover report on a modeling agency parents say lost them thousands of dollars; an online dating ploy in Philadelphia.
April 17, 2009
Apr 17, 2009 · 43 min
Dennis Murphy details the devotion of a police officer and an intern to solve the mysterious vanishing of a young woman in Michigan.
A Long Dark Stretch of Road
Apr 23, 2009 · 43 min
An intricate look at a crime near Chappaqua, NY, and the family it ruined.
You Might Be Rich!
Apr 26, 2009 · 43 min
A man whose arctic escapades have put his life and marriage at risk; a team of correspondents scours the country for people who may be unaware that unclaimed property, in some case
The Surfer and the Bird Rock Bandits
May 1, 2009 · 43 min
Authorities investigate the death of a 24-year-old surfer from California.
Why Do People Cheat?; Drew Peterson Update
May 8, 2009 · 43 min
Dateline explores infedility; an update on the arrest of former police officer Drew Peterson, charged in the death of his third wife and suspected in the disappearance of his fourt
Nicholas Cosmo: A Madoff in the Making?; Living Longer, Healthier Lives
May 10, 2009 · 43 min
Reports on an alleged Ponzi scheme led by entrepreneur Nicholas Cosmo;; Welcome to Ikaria, Greece, a tiny island where it seems youth springs eternal. Dateline devled into why the
Trouble in Paradise: The St. Maarten Mystery
May 15, 2009 · 43 min
Authorities are puzzled when a woman disappears from the Caribbean vacation home she and her husband built in an attempt to heal their marital woes.
Cody's Story; Fighting for the Women of Afghanistan; Kids of 'Slumdog'
May 19, 2009 · 43 min
Born prematurely in 2001 and facing serious health issues, Cody McCasland works to raise money for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children; one American works to educate and
The Spy Who Loved Me; The Mystery of the Missing Millionaire
May 24, 2009 · 43 min
A young woman is wooed by a man in Britain who claims to be a spy; a wealthy hedge fund manager disappears with his investors' money.
Justice for Julia
May 25, 2009 · 43 min
A man from North Carolina tries to clear his name after he is suspected of murdering a local couple; Julie Keenan gets the courage to leave her troubled marriage - then goes missin
Fatal Visions
May 29, 2009 · 43 min
Correspondent Josh Mankiewicz investigates the case of the 2001 drowning of a woman inside her own bathtub which has seen many twists and turns throughout the years.
On Tour with Taylor Swift (special)
May 31, 2009 · 43 min
Cameras go behind the scenes of Taylor Swift's first-ever headlining tour; the truth about a mother's disappearance is revealed.
FR1745
Jul 25, 2008 · 43 min
No one could figure out why a college student died in her bed - until a tiny spot launched an epic investigation.
Inside Iran; Shadows and Secrets
Jun 7, 2009 · 43 min
The people of Iran discuss issues that are impacting the nation's presidential election, their country's history and rapidly changing culture; a man fights for custody of his son;
The Trouble on the Hill: Feuding Neighbours
Jun 8, 2009 · 43 min
On a remote canyon road, a minor misunderstanding between next-door neighbours escalated into a series of bitter disputes. Soon, a peaceful community is shattered by a deadly alter
AKA Clark Rockefeller
Jun 14, 2009 · 43 min
The latest on abduction suspect Clark Rockefeller.
Vegas Undercover
Jun 16, 2009 · 43 min
More than 30 million tourists will visit Las Vegas this year. And while they eat, drink and play, another side of Vegas is hard at work: criminals scamming, stealing cars and selli
The Last Voyage
Jun 19, 2009 · 43 min
Two women are determined to solve the mystery of their mother's disappearance; the latest in the case of a couple murdered as they tried to sell their boat in California in 2004.
Where There's Smoke...
Jun 22, 2009 · 43 min
A man is found dead in a garage, and another man is missing, leaving authorities to try to determine whether it is a coincidence or whether a couple's plan to start a new life has
June 28, 2009
Jun 28, 2009 · 45 min
A woman searches for a treatment for her child's rare disease.
Living with Michael Jackson
Jun 29, 2009 · 45 min
An edited version of the 2003 documentary on singer Michael Jackson
Along Came a Spider
Jul 6, 2009 · 45 min
A husband is dead from a gunshot, and a young widow is ensnared in forbidden desire.Keith Morrison reports.
Crossing the Line (2009)
Jul 10, 2009 · 45 min
Two childhood friends from South Boston take divergent paths: John Connolly was one of Boston's most celebrated FBI agents, and James "Whitey" Bulger became a notorious mobster. Co
Mystery in Manson Tunnel
Jul 13, 2009 · 45 min
The truth comes out after a little boy's disappearance and murder; an author recalls a cold case he covered as a crime reporter on Los Angeles.
The Family Business
Jul 17, 2009 · 45 min
When two relatives are killed, is a mob hit or a family secret to blame?
Kidnapped Heiress: The Patty Hearst Story
Jul 24, 2009 · 45 min
Josh Mankiewicz recalls the case of the 1974 Patty Hearst kidnapping by a little known group called the SLA - Symbionese Liberation Army. Mankiewicz talks with another man who clai
The Mystery of the Lost Weekend
Jul 24, 2009 · 45 min
In an unexplainable case, an unassuming elementary school vice principal known for his kindness, was charged with killing his wife and children.
Star-Crossed: The Tucson Developer Murder
Jul 27, 2009 · 45 min
A popular, well-connected businessman dies when his car explodes. Initially, speculation leads to the mob but a big insurance payoff eventually since this cold case to Europe where
Dangerous Liaisons (2009)
Jul 31, 2009 · 45 min
Pregnant girlfriend of ex-NFL player is killed; is another woman to blame?
A Stranger in the House
Aug 3, 2009 · 45 min
Darlene Ewalt was dreaming of an upcoming trip to paradise when she was brutally murdered in her backyard. Was a serial killer just getting started?
Terror at the Mall; Rosemary and the Motorcycle Man
Aug 7, 2009 · 45 min
Investigating a string of violent crimes at a mall in a wealthy neighborhood; a lawyer reveals information about a real estate agent who went missing nine years ago.
Back to Woodstock
Aug 9, 2009 · 45 min
Behind the scenes moments from Woodstock, including home movies and archival footage
No Safe Place
Aug 10, 2009 · 45 min
Questions surrounding the murder of Bud and Melanie Billings; possible suspects and motives; one of their daughters, Ashley Markham, talks about her family.
Deadly Dealing; Down by the River
Aug 14, 2009 · 45 min
A young woman working as an undercover police informant is killed when a drug bust goes bad; police finally solve the disappearance of an 11-year-old boy who went missing more than
Mystery at Chalk Creek
Aug 17, 2009 · 45 min
A mother's "accidental" death leaves behind clues that point to murder
Obsession (2009); Murder in the Family
Aug 21, 2009 · 45 min
No One could figure out why a college student died in her bed - until a tiny spot launched an epic investigation. Also, Dennis Murphy investigates the case of Maggie Locascio, a wo
In the Bedroom
Aug 24, 2009 · 45 min
Police investigate what appears to be a fatal love triangle, arresting the victim's wife, although the victim's mistress failed to appear in court to give testimony.
Flying High in Cocktail Cove (Update); Disappearance Before Dawn
Aug 28, 2009 · 45 min
Four years after a young groom vanished while on his honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean, authorities are still searching for answers - originally aired on Dateline NBC in Septem
Dose of Controversy
Aug 30, 2009 · 45 min
Matt Lauer explores the controversial link between vaccines and autism, interviewing a British doctor whose 1998 study first suggested a possible link and a pediatrician and expert
The Mysterious Death of a Titan
Aug 31, 2009 · 45 min
Insiders reveal what may have led NFL star Steve McNair to a life of danger
The Man Behind the Mask
Sep 4, 2009 · 45 min
A Connecticut woman shares her story after being raped in her own home by a masked man, a crime that divided her community and the police force as well.
Mukhtar's Mission; Highway 50
Sep 6, 2009 · 45 min
Dateline joins New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof as he reports on one Pakistani woman's struggle for justice ; NBC’s Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw is traveling cross-cou
Second Chances: The King Brothers
Sep 7, 2009 · 44 min
Alex and Derek King captured national media attention in 2003 when they confessed to killing their father. The boys, 12 and 13 years old at the time, were two of the youngest child
Cause for Alarm
Sep 11, 2009 · 44 min
Investigating the shooting of a young teacher and her philandering husband that left their families and neighbors divided.