Dateline NBC “The Necklace” July 18 2025 Recap & Preview

On Friday, July 18, 2025, at 9/8c, Dateline NBC returns with The Necklace, a haunting true crime story reported by Keith Morrison. The episode follows the disappearance and murder of Taylor Wright, a former police officer turned private investigator, whose life was tragically cut short in 2017 under suspicious and deeply personal circumstances.

Wright vanished from Pensacola, Florida, sparking a widespread search. Initially, investigators weren’t sure what to make of her sudden disappearance—especially after her girlfriend received strange text messages from Taylor’s phone that didn’t sound like her. As days passed, concern grew, and those closest to Taylor feared the worst.

What followed was an intense investigation that uncovered betrayal, greed, and deception. The trail led to Ashley McArthur, a former crime scene technician and a close friend of Taylor’s. As the evidence mounted, detectives began to believe that McArthur wasn’t just a witness — she was the killer. A buried secret and a stolen $34,000 led to a chilling conclusion.

The Necklace includes interviews with key figures involved in the investigation, including Pensacola Police Detectives Chad Willhite and Jeff Brown, Taylor’s ex-husband Jeff Wright, and her best friend Barbara Evanson. Also featured is Emma Kennedy, a reporter from the Pensacola News Journal who followed the case closely from the beginning.

The episode paints a heartbreaking picture of a woman who survived high-stress jobs and personal challenges, only to be betrayed by someone she trusted. With Morrison’s trademark storytelling and exclusive interviews, Dateline offers a gripping look into a murder that shocked a community.

Catch The Necklace this Friday on NBC, and stream it the next day on Peacock.