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Dateline NBC ·Oct 1, 2026 ·37 min

Bombshell witness at American Idol murder trial. Lindsay Clancy back in court. Plus, Cornell lawsuit.

Evaluation and Summary

6.2/10

This Dateline NBC episode covers four distinct true crime stories in a roundup format. The primary focus is the American Idol murder case involving Caleb Flynn, accused of killing his wife in Ohio. A key development is testimony from Flynn's 24-year-old former lover, described as a "bombshell witness," who took the stand before the jury delivered its verdict. The episode also covers the Delphi, Indiana murders case where Richard Allen was convicted of killing teens Abigail Williams and Liberty German in 2017; his defense team is now pursuing a new trial. A third segment updates listeners on Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother whose trial for killing her three children resulted in a hung jury, leaving her legal status uncertain. The fourth story involves Cornell University, where prosecutors have reopened an investigation into a student's sexual assault allegations, raising new questions about the institution's handling of the case. The episode concludes with a segment featuring a veteran K9 handler explaining how police dogs assist in criminal investigations. The episode appears designed as a weekly roundup of ongoing and developing cases rather than deep-dive reporting, touching on multiple stories to give listeners broad coverage of recent true crime developments.

Why this score: Solid true crime roundup with newsworthy developments, but the brevity and multi-story format limits depth and investigation quality compared to Dateline's typical standards.

Worth it if you follow true crime cases regularly and want quick updates on several high-profile ongoing trials and investigations.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.

Show notes

In Ohio, former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn is accused of murdering his wife and staging the scene to look like a break-in. His 24-year-old former lover took the stand against him before the jury delivered its verdict. In Delphi, Indiana, Richard Allen was convicted of the 2017 murders of teens Abigail Williams and Liberty German. His defense is now asking for a new trial. In Dateline Round Up, updates in the case of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother whose trial for killing her three children ended in a hung jury. Questions hang over Cornell University as prosecutors re-open their investigation into a student’s allegations of sexual assault. Plus, a veteran K9 handler breaks down how police dogs help investigate crimes. Listen to the latest episodes of the Dateline podcast, "Before & After with Lester Holt”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-after-with-lester-holt/id6806378137 Find out more about the cases covered each week here: www.datelinetruecrimeweekly.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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