Dateline NBC “Bethany Vanished” October 19 2023 Recap & Preview
In a one-hour special, Dateline takes viewers deep into the mysterious disappearance of Bethany Decker. On Thursday, October 19, at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, as Dateline unravels a story that has haunted Virginia for years.
When Bethany Decker, a young pregnant mother, vanishes without a trace in Virginia, her family’s world is turned upside down. A frantic search ensues, but as time passes, the case grows colder, leaving investigators grasping at straws.
Years later, a glimmer of hope appears on the horizon as investigators cross paths with a woman who carries a harrowing story. This woman may hold the elusive key to unraveling the mysteries surrounding Bethany’s disappearance. As the pieces of the puzzle come together, viewers will be on the edge of their seats.
Renowned Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison leads the way, guiding us through this compelling narrative as he uncovers the truth about what happened to Bethany Decker.
The special features exclusive interviews with key individuals involved in the case, including Investigator Mark Bush, Steve Schochet, Bethany’s family members, and others who will shed light on the puzzling circumstances surrounding Bethany’s vanishing.
The heart of this gripping story is Ashburn, Virginia, where the mystery of Bethany’s disappearance unfolded. As the investigation unfolds, viewers will get a glimpse into the community that was forever changed by this perplexing case.
Mark your calendars for October 19, and join Dateline as they delve into the case of “Bethany Vanished.” This one-hour special promises to be a riveting exploration of a mystery that has perplexed investigators and haunted a community for far too long.
What Happened to Bethany Decker & Killer Ronald Roldan?
Bethany Anne Decker disappeared on January 29, 2011 from her apartment in Ashburn, Virginia, while she was five months pregnant. Her then-boyfriend, Ronald Roldan, claimed to have seen her there later that day, but she has not been seen since. Her absence went unnoticed for three weeks as messages were posted on her Facebook account, purportedly from her.
Bethany had a strained marriage with her husband, Emile Decker, who was frequently deployed to Afghanistan. She started an extramarital affair with Roldan, which became abusive and controlling. She became pregnant by Roldan and moved to a separate apartment in Ashburn, Virginia.
Her husband Emile returned from deployment for a month-long leave, and they went on vacation together. After returning, she went back to her apartment in Ashburn, where Roldan claimed to have seen her. However, she did not show up for work or classes, and her family found her car parked near her apartment, which raised suspicions. She was reported missing, but extensive searches yielded no trace of her or her child.
Roldan, a Bolivian national with a criminal record, was arrested in North Carolina in 2015 and charged with attempted murder after a violent incident with another girlfriend. He never cooperated regarding Bethany’s case. In 2020, he was charged with her abduction upon his release and later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2022. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2023.
As part of a plea deal, Roldan provided an account of the murder. He claimed that during an argument in their Ashburn apartment, he pushed Bethany, causing her to fall and hit her head on a windowsill. He stated that he checked for signs of life but found her dead. Fear and panic led him not to call 911. Instead, he placed her body in a Christmas tree disposal bag and disposed of it in the trash compactor at their complex.
In the weeks following her death, friends and family received messages from Bethany’s Facebook account. While they didn’t know she was deceased at the time, they found the messages uncharacteristic of her. Prosecutors asserted that digital evidence indicated Roldan had impersonated her on social media, although Roldan did not admit to this.
Bethany’s grandmother, wearing earrings gifted by Bethany, testified that she had seen Bethany the night before her murder. She believed Bethany was staying the night because Roldan had been harassing her over the phone. Bethany ran out of her grandmother’s house while on the phone and ultimately met her fate.
