Verdict in double murder trial. Olympian accused of being drug kingpin. Plus, catfishing.

0:02Mazda has been named Consumer Reports' safest new car brand. It starts with our approach. Every Mazda comes standard with proactive safety features. So you're more aware of what's around you, more focused on the road ahead, and ready before problems ever start. Mazda. More of what matters most to you. Go to mazdausa.com to learn more. Consumer Reports does not endorse or promote any product. Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building. You're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog, HVAC on its last leg.

0:45If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering, and 24-7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Grainger. For the ones who get it done. Welcome to Dateline True Crime Weekly. I'm Andrea Canning. It's February 5th, 2026. Before we get to this week's show, we wanted to talk about Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of our dear friend and colleague Savannah Guthrie. Nancy was reported missing on Sunday, and according to the Pima County Sheriff, she was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona home. We do believe that Nancy was taken from her home against her will, and that's where we're at.

1:29Nancy, who lives alone, was last seen by family on Saturday night around 945 when she was dropped off at her house after dinner. When she didn't show up for church the next morning, her family went to check on her. She was nowhere to be found. According to the sheriff, Nancy's phone and wallet were left behind at the home, along with critical medicine she takes on a daily basis. He said his detectives and FBI agents are doing everything they can to move the case forward, sending DNA samples off to the crime lab, pouring over cell phone data and trying to access footage from security cameras at the house.

2:04He acknowledged that all of this will take time. Late Wednesday, Savannah, her sister Annie and brother Cameron released the following statement on Instagram. On behalf of our family, we want to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mom, Nancy. We feel them, and we continue to believe that she feels them too. Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. she is funny spunky and clever she has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses she loves fun and adventure she is a devoted friend she is full of kindness and knowledge talk to her and you'll see savannah also had this to say to whoever might have taken her mom.

3:12We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us. mommy if you are hearing this you are a strong woman you are God's precious daughter Nancy we believe and know that even in this valley he is with you everyone is looking for you mommy everywhere We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again.

4:39time. And here's what's coming up on today's episode of Dateline True Crime Weekly. With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, we've got the story of a former Olympian behind bars in Southern California. Federal prosecutors say the one-time snowboarder is a drug kingpin responsible for several murders. According to prosecutors, Wedding put out a hit on him. He put out a bounty on him. In Dateline Roundup, a big ruling in the case of Luigi Mangione and a crucial court hearing for Charlie Adelson, the Florida dentist convicted of conspiring to murder his former brother-in-law, FSU law professor Dan Markell.

5:16His lawyer made arguments in front of a panel of appellate judges about why his conviction should be overturned. Plus, this week, we'll talk to a cybersecurity detective about catfishing. What is it and how to avoid it? Every site nowadays or any interaction you have on a digital front, you can be catfished. But before all that, we've got a verdict in the trial of the Virginia man accused of masterminding a double murder plot to start life over with the family au pair.

5:47For the past three weeks, the jury at the trial of Brendan Banfield has listened to testimony about infidelity, catfishing and murder. Banfield is the former IRS agent accused of plotting to kill his wife Christine and a complete stranger by the name of Joe Ryan. According to prosecutors, Brendan and his lover Juliana, the family's Brazilian au pair, used a fetish website to lure Ryan to the Banfield's home on the morning of February 24, 2023, with the promise of a sexual encounter with Christine. After Ryan arrived at the house, prosecutors say Brendan and Juliana both shot Ryan, and Brendan stabbed Christine.

6:29It was all part of their elaborate plan, prosecutors say, to frame a stranger for Christine's murder so the lovers could be together. There was no plan. That is absolutely crazy. When we last checked in on the trial, Brendan Banfield was on the witness stand about to share his version of that morning. Here to walk us through what he said is Dateline producer Brad Davis. Brad, welcome back. Great to be here. So Brad, Brendan's testimony was always going to be the cornerstone of his defense. The jury, you know, when there's a story like this, they want to hear it from the person involved. And this is the first time that Brendan has ever talked about all of this publicly, right?

7:09Exactly. He never spoke to the cops about this. He never really gave his version of events. So let's dive into Brendan Banfield's testimony. He said he remembered that morning in great detail because of something very specific on his calendar. That's right. He said that morning that he had an important meeting at his IRS offices with his supervisor that he thought was potentially going to lead to a promotion for him. So he left the house early to get ready for that meeting, and then he stopped by McDonald's to get some breakfast on the way. Okay, so he's at McDonald's, and he says that's where he gets a call from Juliana, the au pair, about a stranger going into the house.

7:46And was she alarmed at the time? She appeared to be, she sounded that she was very stressed. What does he say happened from there? He says that he turned around and just drove home. And he said that's where he met up with Juliana, who was there with his daughter at the house. They left the daughter, Valerie, in the basement, and then he headed up towards the bedroom. So Brendan Banfield goes on to say that he could hear noises coming from the bedroom. I heard the sounds of, I would say, moaning as well as sound of skin on skin contact. What did you think was going on at that point? Sex. Why didn't you call 911 at that point?

8:33Well, I believe that it was an affair that was going on at that point. So Brendan testified, Brad, that at some point the sounds from the bedroom became something different. He said it sounded like Christine was in pain. Yeah, so he says he rushed into the bedroom and that's when he saw Ryan, this other man, over his wife on the bedroom floor. Christine said, Brendan, he has a knife. What were you thinking in terms of Joe Ryan with a knife to Christine's neck? I was extremely terrified.

9:15I don't know that I've ever been more panicked in my life. Brendan was an armed agent for the IRS and told the jury that he took his gun out of his holster, but didn't fire it right away. Why not if his wife is in danger? Yeah, he said it was a very tight space, and he didn't want to fire and hit Christine. He also said he hadn't fired his gun very much in an uncontrolled situation before. He said that when he saw Ryan stabbing Christine, he did fire his gun. Then he kicked the knife away and rushed to his wife's aid. And at the same time all this was going on, he described Juliana rushing to get a gun and a gun safe that he kept in the home.

9:54And she shot at Joe Ryan as well. Okay, so we should remind people that Juliana has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in Ryan's death. And Brendan's attorney pointed out to the jury that she got a lighter sentence in exchange for testifying against Brendan. That's right. So Brendan Banfield continues painting a very dramatic picture, and it gets very graphic. Yeah, he said that Christine was able to speak even though she had been stabbed in her neck. Christine told me that she was bleeding out and that she was sorry and that she loved me. But even when he was describing all this, he didn't really show a lot of grief or sadness.

10:38I mean, there were no tears when he was testifying. He was very matter-of-fact about it all, which I think the jury probably picked up on. So when it was the prosecution's turn to cross-examine Brendan, they zeroed in on the way he characterized his relationship with the au pair. Yeah, Brendan really tried to minimize his relationship with Giuliani. He said it really was not a big deal to him that he'd had other affairs, and this was just another affair to him. But the prosecution pressed him on this, and he started to get pretty defensive. You indicated earlier in your testimony that this affair with Juliana was really a nothing, right?

11:17This was not a relationship, correct? I would say that it was a relationship, but it is an affair, but I wouldn't categorize it as serious. Not serious. Okay. Did you love her? There was points that I told her that I loved her. You told her that you loved her, but you didn't actually love her. I would say that I had feelings for her, but they weren't nearly as strong as feelings for my wife. Another big moment, Brad, from the prosecution came when they asked Brendan about a relationship he'd pursued on a fetish website. Yes. Brendan admitted that he'd been looking for a woman to be his, quote, sugar baby.

12:03But what matters here is that Brendan was admitting that he'd actually gone to fetish websites. Remember, prosecutors say the way he lured Joe Ryan to the house was by posing as his wife on a fetish website. Brendan denied all of that, but it does show that it wasn't a world that he was unfamiliar with. Brad, was there any proof that Christine had ever been on any fetish websites at any point in her life that would make this make sense? No, neither side presented any sort of evidence about that at all. So the prosecutor also pushed back on some of the details Brendan had given about the morning of the murders.

12:37They question whether Christine would have been able to even speak following those stab wounds to her neck. And all of this talking is happening with what at that point in time has to be all seven of the wounds in her neck, correct? Yes. And then one more blow the prosecution landed on Brendan's credibility was, remember, he had a clear recollection about leaving home early for his big meeting. Well, the prosecution called his supervisor, and the supervisor testified that that meeting didn't happen and was not supposed to happen. Were you scheduled to meet with Mr. Banfield? I was not. Oh, wow.

13:12That is really catching Brendan Banfield in what appears to be a lie. All right, so it was time for closing arguments, and the state went first. Yeah, the prosecution really leaned into the motive here. They said that Brendan had concocted this elaborate plan. he really wanted to be with Juliana and that the relationship with Juliana was far more serious than he led jurors to believe in his testimony. What was the defense's main argument in closings? The defense lawyer basically said you can't trust Juliana's story. She's not reliable as a witness, nor can you trust the state's catfishing theory, that it was only a theory.

13:47The jury got the case on Friday. The verdict came back Monday night after nine hours of deliberation. Brad, what did they decide? I'm guilty on all the charges against him. The two aggravated murder charges carry mandatory life sentences, so he'll spend the rest of his life behind bars. He's going to be sentenced in May, and there will be victim impact statements then. Juliana's sentencing, the au pair sentencing, should be at some point before that. So we'll be waiting for that. Okay, Brad, thank you. So many lives ruined over this bizarre case. Just really sad. Thank you for breaking it down for us.

14:22Sure. Been glad to talk to you.

14:26Coming up, the snowboarder who ended up on the FBI's 10 most wanted list.

14:36In the U.S., there's a break-in every 26 seconds. That means somewhere right now, an intruder is getting closer. The problem is, most security systems only alert you after a break-in has already started. And that's too late. When intruders step near, SimpliSafe Home Security steps up. Using the Outdoor Camera Series 2 and Advanced AI Alerts, SimpliSafe's U.S.-based live agents identify threats on your property and help deter them, stopping crime before it starts. That's why over 5 million people rely on SimpliSafe, and why U.S. News and World Report name them the best home security system of 2026.

15:17SimpliSafe. No long-term contracts. Plans start at around a dollar a day. Right now, get 50 % off a custom system at simplisafe.com slash dateline. That's half off at simplisafe.com slash dateline. There's no safe like SimpliSafe. Insurance is not one size fits all. That's why drivers have trusted Progressive's Name Your Price tool for years. Just tell Progressive what you want to pay, and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Visit Progressive.com to find a car insurance rate that works for you. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law.

15:58This episode is brought to you by Penn Foster. Sometimes things don't go as planned, especially with high school. When you start to feel like you're falling behind, having another option can make a real difference. Penn Foster High School is an accredited online diploma program built for flexibility. So whether you're hoping to go back and finish what you started, or you're the parent of a teen who needs a different approach to education, there is a way forward. With self-paced courses, you have the freedom to learn on your own schedule. That way you can fit school around everything else going on in your life and stop falling behind.

16:39Don't just get back on track. start moving forward with Penn Foster. Visit pennfoster.edu slash dateline to learn more.

16:52For our next story, we're taking you to the ski slopes at the Winter Olympics, but we're not talking about Milan Cortina 2026. We are talking about Salt Lake City, Utah, and the year is 2002. That's when a 20-year-old snowboarder by the name of Ryan Wedding represented Canada in the parallel giant slalom. Welcome, everyone, to Park City, Utah, and the continuation of snowboarding. Today, it is parallel giant slalom men's qualification. Two decades later, Ryan Wedding is making headlines again, but not for the reasons you might expect. In 2025, the one-time Olympian ended up on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, accused of heading up an international drug trafficking organization and for ordering a string of killings, including the murder of a federal witness.

17:41This is what FBI Director Cash Patel had to say about Wedding at a recent press conference. He is a modern-day El Chapo. He is a modern-day Pablo Escobar. Two weeks ago, after an international manhunt, Ryan Wedding was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States to face charges. He has pleaded not guilty. NBC News producer Michael Kosner, who covers the Justice Department, has been following the case closely and is here to tell us what he has found out about Ryan Wedding's surprising journey from Olympian to alleged kingpin. Michael, thanks for coming on the show. Absolutely. Glad to be here.

18:16You know, it seems like Ryan was sort of a hero at one point in Canada going to the Olympics and in a sport that was, you know, really up and coming at that time, snowboarding. It was, and it was a pretty meteoric rise. By the time he could walk, his family had him on skis. By the time he was 15 years old, he was winning junior titles. And that all culminated in this amazing run where at 20 years old, he was named to the Olympic team for the giant slalom. How did he do at the Olympics? He did not fare well. He came in 24th in the first round in his heat, and he did not even make it to the next round.

18:53That really ended his competitive career at that Olympics. So what does he do then for the next few years if snowboarding competitively is not in his future. He moves to Vancouver and he goes to a university there. He gets way into bodybuilding. So he begins lifting weights. He gets work as a bouncer in a bunch of clubs and drops out of the university. And allegedly he starts a marijuana growing operation in the area, a gigantic farm that is very lucrative. Fast forward six years after the Olympics and Ryan Wedding was arrested in San Diego. Yeah, he got into a cocaine ring and he set up a cocaine deal in San Diego.

19:36Turned out it was an FBI sting. And he was arrested in 2008. He was convicted at trial in 2009. He got quite a break. I think he got 48 months in prison. By 2011, he's out. But one of the key things is he spent a lot of time in the jail in San Diego waiting trial. And law enforcement say that that That was the beginning of him making associates to get into the trade in Mexico and Colombia. Yeah, sounds like a recipe for disaster. So he moves to Montreal and allegedly forms this new relationship with the Sinaloa cartel. Exactly. Prosecutors tell us he's got these associates, and now he's really working on transnational drug trafficking.

20:23He's moving drugs from Colombia through Mexico into Southern California to Canada. By 2015, law enforcement sources tell us there was a huge operation to finally take him down in Canada. But he got away. He'd already made it to Mexico. And that's when he really went into hiding, was really under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel. So federal prosecutors say over the next decade he's building a criminal enterprise, banning multiple countries, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars. I mean, this just feels like it's going to be a movie, doesn't it? Absolutely. 100 percent. I mean, they talk about him showing up for meetings in fancy clothes and fancy jewelry and high-priced watches and things like that.

21:13Like, he lived the part. So U.S. federal prosecutors filed an indictment against Ryan in June 2024, hitting him with 12 federal drug charges and murder charges. And one of the allegations against Wedding is that he took down a witness, a federal witness. Yes. In 2024, that's when prosecutors and agents in the U.S., they were able to flip one of his associates. And according to prosecutors, Wedding put out a hit on him. And then law enforcement say, while this individual was in a restaurant in Medellin, a gunman came up to him and fired five bullets into him. Man. So it's after that that Wedding is put on the most wanted list, the FBI most wanted list.

21:59Yeah. And when you get on the top 10 most wanted list, that gives the FBI more resources to do publicity. And they hit it hard. They flooded the zone, for lack of a better phrase. The FBI did social media. They posted on Facebook. They did all kinds of stuff down in Mexico for two reasons. One, maybe they get the extra tip they need. But two, they know darn well that he's watching, that he's seeing all this. And he's starting to run out of options. They put pressure on his family. And then they start taking the assets out as well. They got$40 million worth of motorcycles. They take out a$13 million.

22:38I didn't know there was such thing as a$13 million Mercedes. but apparently there is. Wow. So just two months after that raid where they got the Mercedes and the motorbikes, they arrested him. That was January 22nd. Olympic snowboarder turned alleged cocaine trafficker. Ryan Wedding was let off a plane in California in handcuffs. FBI Director Kash Patel announced that he was captured in Mexico and extradited here to face trial. He stepped out of that plane. It was kind of dramatic, actually. I mean, they describe him is 6 '3", 240. He was all of that. Not the pictures that you see of the snowboarding sort of baby-faced athlete.

23:21All right. So he was extradited to California. What happens to him now? Is he in jail? Yeah, he is. He's in federal detention. He's got another appearance in the next few weeks. He's got a pretty noted defense attorney. He's already spoken out a little bit. So we have to see how this plays out from here. Michael, thank you so much. This is really fascinating. My pleasure. Up next, it's time for Dateline Roundup. The Florida dentist convicted of conspiring to murder his former brother-in-law, FSU law professor Dan Markell, wants a new trial. And we've got some news in the case of Luigi Mangione.

24:01Plus, we're doing a deep dive on catfishing. What you need to know.

24:10Two iconic soap operas collide in a high-stakes showdown. Beyond the Gates and Young and the Restless come together for a must-see CBS crossover event. The drama reaches new heights as powerful families, long-held secrets, and unexpected alliances collide. Packed with love and betrayal, this crossover event changes everything. Don't miss the Beyond the Gates and Young and the Restless crossover event All this week on CBS and streaming on Paramount Plus Mint Mobile plans are only$15 per month Wondering what's the catch? There isn't one There are no gimmicks and no gotchas Just unlimited talk, text and data Fast, reliable coverage on the nation's largest 5G network And an award-winning care team That makes Mint Mobile a catch You can bring your current phone and your phone number.

25:03Choose from three, six, or 12-month plans and say goodbye to a monthly bill. Ditch overpriced wireless with Mint Mobile. It's so easy. Sign up online and get three months of premium wireless service for 15 bucks a month. To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to mintmobile.com slash dateline. That's mintmobile.com slash dateline. Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com slash dateline. That's it. There's no catch. $45 upfront payment required, equivalent to$15 a month. New customers on first three-month plan only. Speed slower above 40 gigabytes on unlimited plan.

25:45Additional taxes, fees, and restrictions apply. See Mint Mobile for details. Summer is the perfect time to rethink what clothes you're reaching for every day. With the warmer weather, you want lighter fabrics, better materials, pieces that just feel good the moment you put them on and look effortless. That's where Quince comes in. Quince's summer essentials are crafted from fabrics like linen, organic cotton, washable silk, without the luxury markup. And it's not just clothing. With Quince, you can find elevated essentials across home, kitchen, bedding, and beyond. And according to Quince, they work directly with ethical factories, cut out the middlemen.