Dateline NBC “The Prince, The Whiz Kid, & The Millionaire” October 10 2025 Recap & Preview
On Friday, October 10, 2025, at 9/8c, Dateline NBC airs a gripping two-hour special titled The Prince, The Whiz Kid & The Millionaire, reported by Josh Mankiewicz. The broadcast revisits the chilling and complex 2008 murder of Clifford Lambert, a gay retiree from Palm Springs, California, and the web of deception spun by the men who plotted to take his life—and his fortune.
A Conspiracy Built on Lies and Greed
Lambert’s disappearance baffled investigators at first. There was no immediate sign of foul play. But behind the scenes, four men—Kaushal Niroula (nicknamed “The Dark Prince”), Daniel Garcia, David Replogle, and Miguel Bustamante—were orchestrating an elaborate con. They presented themselves as wealthy or connected individuals, but were in fact career fraudsters targeting Lambert for his assets. What began as a financial scheme ultimately turned deadly.
Niroula, who falsely claimed royal lineage from Nepal, became the face of the case and was later killed by a fellow inmate in 2022. Replogle, a disbarred San Francisco attorney, along with Garcia and Bustamante, were convicted and sentenced to life without parole. Craig McCarthy, Bustamante’s former roommate, testified against the group in exchange for the possibility of parole—though he later recanted key parts of his testimony.
A Cold Case Solved and a Cautionary Tale
Lambert’s body wasn’t found until 2016 and 2017 in a remote area of northern Los Angeles County, and wasn’t positively identified until 2020. The long delay in uncovering the truth—and the multiple layers of deception used by the perpetrators—have made this case a true-crime cautionary tale.
San Francisco writer Tyson Wrensch, who co-authored the 2013 book Until Someone Gets Hurt about the case, appears in the episode. He describes the case as not just a horrific crime, but a warning about online cons, emotional manipulation, and financial exploitation—especially within vulnerable communities.
Ongoing Fallout and Renewed Interest
The case has regained public attention with the recent release of the 12-part podcast American Hustlers, which also features Wrensch. Some of the convicted men, including Garcia and Bustamante, have spoken out from prison, continuing to maintain their innocence. Legal battles are still ongoing, with Bustamante filing a defamation lawsuit against McCarthy after his testimony reversal.
Despite years of delay, production hurdles, and legal interference, Dateline’s broadcast finally brings national television coverage to one of California’s most sensational and disturbing cases of murder-for-money.
Don’t Miss It
Tune in to Dateline NBC on Friday, October 10, from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. ET/PT for The Prince, The Whiz Kid & The Millionaire. The episode promises exclusive interviews, archival footage, and a deeper look into a crime built on lies, manipulation, and betrayal. The broadcast will also be available to stream the next day on Peacock.
