Dateline NBC “The Breakup” January 24 2026 Recap & Preview

NBC’s Dateline returns Saturday, January 24, 2026, with a new Weekend Mystery titled The Breakup, airing at 9/8c and reported by Josh Mankiewicz. This episode examines the shocking 2010 murder of LaNell Barsock, a nurse found shot to death in her Palmdale, California home.

When police first arrived at the scene, they believed the case had a clear direction. LaNell’s ex-boyfriend quickly emerged as a likely suspect after investigators uncovered a tense recent breakup and troubling messages. But what seemed open-and-shut soon unraveled. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered new evidence that pointed in an entirely different direction—toward a betrayal no one saw coming.

The Breakup traces the twists and turns of a case filled with red herrings, emotional testimony, and a stunning revelation that would change everything. Through in-depth interviews with law enforcement and those closest to LaNell, the episode pieces together the truth behind a murder fueled by jealousy, lies, and revenge.

Don’t miss this suspenseful hour of Dateline, airing Saturday night on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.