Dateline NBC “Justice for Kristin Smart” August 15 2025 Recap & Preview

Dateline NBC presents an emotional and long-awaited special on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 9/8c titled Justice for Kristin Smart. Reported by Josh Mankiewicz, this powerful episode features the first network exclusive interview with the parents of Kristin Smart following the recent sentencing of their daughter’s killer.

Kristin Smart, a California Polytechnic State University student, disappeared in 1996 after leaving a campus party. Her case remained unsolved for over two decades and drew national attention, not only for the tragedy itself but for the relentless efforts of her family and law enforcement to keep the case alive.

Now, with a conviction secured and sentencing handed down, Kristin’s parents open up about their emotional journey, the weight of their loss, and what it means to finally hear the word “justice.” The episode also revisits key moments in the investigation, including the years of dead ends, the breakthrough in 2021, and the trial that finally brought answers after 25 years.

With new interviews and in-depth reporting, Justice for Kristin Smart offers a poignant look at a family’s decades-long pursuit for truth—and a community’s long-awaited closure.

Tune in to Dateline NBC Friday night, August 15, and stream the episode the next day on Peacock.