Talking Dateline: The Ruse

Talking Dateline: The Ruse

Author: NBC News December 10, 2025 Duration: 26:49
Keith Morrison sits down with Lester Holt and Dateline senior investigative producer Dan Slepian to talk about their episode, “The Ruse.” In August of 2018, Tom Perez Jr. called the Fontana, California, police asking for help finding his father. As police began investigating the case, they started to suspect Tom Jr. was hiding something — possibly involvement in his father’s disappearance. Over the course of 17 hours, investigators interrogated Tom and he eventually confessed to his father’s murder. But then, in an astonishing turn of events, Tom Perez Sr. turned up alive. Tom Jr. had confessed to a murder he didn't commit. Lester and Dan talk about the evidence that led police to believe Tom was guilty of a crime that hadn’t been committed, and the interrogation techniques that led to his false confession. Later, they play a podcast-exclusive clip from interrogation expert Steve Kleinman. Then, Lester and Dan answer your questions about the episode from social media. Have a question for Talking Dateline? DM us a video to @DatelineNBC or leave a voicemail at (212) 413-5252. Your question may be featured in an upcoming episode. Listen to the full episode “The Ruse” on Apple: https://apple.co/4pYP30T Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1K4SvFqpY0tXhcCjVM0rAl

For decades, Dateline NBC has been a trusted voice in storytelling, peeling back the layers of the most gripping true-crime mysteries and societal questions of our time. This podcast, presented by NBC News, brings you the full audio experience of the iconic television series, along with original reporting and deep-dive investigations you won't find anywhere else. Each episode is a meticulously crafted narrative, built on thorough journalism and a commitment to uncovering the truth. You'll hear directly from reporters, victims, families, and sometimes even those accused, as complex human stories unfold with a detail that only audio can provide. It’s more than just a recap; it’s an immersive journey into the heart of each case. The podcast serves as a central hub for both current episodes and a vast archive of classic stories, covering everything from shocking crimes to powerful documentaries that examine culture and justice. Listen for the distinctive style and careful pacing that has defined Dateline for generations, all while exploring the nuances of every investigation. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, the Dateline NBC podcast delivers compelling, thought-provoking content that stays with you long after the story ends.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 102

Dateline NBC
Podcast Episodes
Talking Dateline: Deadly Swagger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
Lester Holt sits down with Keith Morrison to discuss his latest episode, “Deadly Swagger.” In 2021, wealthy California couple Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood were gunned down in their home on Lake Tahoe. Investigators quickly…
Deadly Swagger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:31
After a couple is shot in their home on Lake Tahoe, investigators work to find a masked killer seen on camera at the house. The man convicted of the crime speaks exclusively with Keith Morrison. Lester Holt and Keith Mor…
Talking Dateline: The Gorge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
Blayne Alexander sits down with Andrea Canning to discuss her latest episode, “The Gorge,” about the 2019 disappearance of Alice Ku, a private tutor from California, and her family's desperate search to find her. With th…
The Gorge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:40
After a California tutor vanishes on a trip to Taiwan, her family’s search for answers reveals secrets and a trail of digital evidence that contradicts everything they thought they knew. Andrea Canning reports. Blayne Al…
Talking Dateline: Temptation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Blayne Alexander sits down with Andrea Canning to discuss her latest episode, "Temptation." In 2023, IRS agent Brendan Banfield told police he'd walked into the bedroom of his Virginia home to find a stranger brutally st…
Temptation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:19
Blayne Alexander reports on the Virginia double murder case of a father accused of killing his wife and a stranger in a sinister plan involving the family au pair. Andrea Canning and Blayne Alexander go behind the scenes…