Dateline NBC “The Gorge” April 10 2026
Dateline NBC presents a haunting new mystery this Friday, April 10, 2026, at 9/8c with The Gorge. Reported by Andrea Canning, the episode examines the disappearance of Alice Ku Herchen, a California woman who vanished while traveling in Taiwan with her husband, Harald Herchen. Years later, with Alice’s body still never found, a civil courtroom verdict has brought renewed attention to the troubling case.
Alice disappeared on November 29, 2019, after she and Harald spent the day sightseeing near Taroko National Park in Taiwan, an area known for its dramatic cliffs and deep gorges. Harald later claimed he dropped Alice off at a train station and never saw her again. Her family never accepted that explanation, and Alice’s parents, Weichiao Ku and Pi-Lien Kuo, pursued a wrongful death lawsuit in Santa Clara County, California.
In July 2025, a jury found Harald Herchen responsible for Alice’s death and awarded her parents $23.6 million in damages. The unanimous verdict followed a closely watched civil trial that examined cellphone records, email activity, medical testimony, and Harald’s changing explanations about injuries he suffered during the trip. Plaintiffs argued that Harald forged an email from Alice’s Gmail account after her disappearance in an attempt to create a false alibi. Experts also testified that cellphone data contradicted Harald’s account of the day Alice vanished, suggesting their phones returned to the hotel rather than separating at a train station.
The case became even more complicated when prosecutors later charged Harald with seven felony counts of perjury related to statements made during this case and related probate proceedings. Taiwan has also issued an arrest warrant, though the absence of an extradition treaty between Taiwan and the United States creates additional legal barriers.
The Gorge follows Alice’s family as they continue their search for answers and accountability. Through courtroom evidence, interviews, and investigative reporting, Dateline explores how a disappearance in one of Taiwan’s most scenic locations turned into an international legal battle over truth, loss, and justice.
