Dateline NBC “Secrets in the Ashes” January 23 2026 Recap & Preview

This Friday, January 23, 2026, Dateline NBC returns with a compelling new episode titled Secrets in the Ashes, airing at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Reported by Andrea Canning, the broadcast unravels a haunting mystery in Goliad, Texas, where a tragic house fire raises far more questions than answers.

The story begins with heartbreak: Patricia Leigh Mills is killed when her home goes up in flames, while her young son somehow survives. Initially believed to be a devastating accident, the case takes a sharp turn when Patricia’s husband, Delbert Mills, remarries just weeks after her funeral. His new bride, Allison, becomes the center of a separate and disturbing investigation—she’s later arrested in a murder-for-hire plot.

As Patricia’s family grows increasingly suspicious, questions swirl about what really happened the night of the fire. Did Delbert play a role in his wife’s death? And if so, did he act alone?

Canning speaks with key figures in the case, including Delbert Mills himself, as well as Patrick and Allison Salinas, to piece together a complicated timeline of events. The episode tracks the investigation as authorities probe deeper into the relationships, financial motives, and the possibility of a carefully orchestrated crime.

Set against the backdrop of rural South Texas, Secrets in the Ashes is a story of loss, suspicion, and the lengths some people may go to keep their secrets buried. Don’t miss this gripping installment of Dateline NBC, airing Friday night and available to stream the next day on Peacock.