Dateline NBC “Malice” February 27 2026
NBC’s Dateline returns Friday, February 27, with a new episode titled “Malice,” reported by Blayne Alexander. Airing at 9/8c, the broadcast explores a case that began with a ruling of suicide but later raised serious questions after Jake Embert’s family pushed for a deeper investigation. The two-hour program follows the twists and turns of a legal battle that spanned more than a decade and ultimately ended with a murder conviction.
What initially appeared to be a straightforward tragedy soon became a complex case involving disputed forensic evidence, financial concerns, and allegations that the crime scene had been staged. Through interviews and investigative reporting, Dateline examines how persistence from family members helped uncover a very different version of events.
A Death Ruled Suicide Raises Doubts
On June 28, 2014, authorities in Albany, Georgia, responded to a 911 call from Susan Embert, who reported that her husband, Jake Embert, had died by suicide. Investigators at the scene accepted that conclusion, and the case was initially closed without an autopsy or toxicology testing.
Jake’s adult children, however, quickly became uneasy with the circumstances surrounding their father’s death. They said his behavior and health had changed after his marriage and were troubled by reports that his finances had been placed under his wife’s control. Concerned that key questions had gone unanswered, the family hired a private investigator to take a closer look.
A Private Investigation Uncovers New Evidence
The independent inquiry revealed several findings that challenged the original determination. Financial records showed that a substantial amount of money had been transferred into Susan Embert’s personal account after her husband’s death. The investigator also raised concerns about the physical evidence at the scene, suggesting that the positioning of the weapon and Jake’s hands was inconsistent with suicide.
Additional claims pointed to the possibility of long-term poisoning, though that evidence later became the subject of legal disputes. The investigator’s findings were presented to prosecutors, leading to Susan Embert’s arrest in February 2015. She was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and related firearm offenses.
Years of Legal Battles and Multiple Trials
Susan Embert was first convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The case took a dramatic turn in 2022 when her conviction was overturned after it was discovered that a juror had been legally ineligible to serve. Subsequent legal challenges focused on her constitutional right to a speedy trial, resulting in a temporary dismissal of the charges in 2024.
The Georgia Supreme Court later reinstated the case, sending it back for retrial. A second trial ended in a mistrial, but prosecutors moved forward once again. In January 2026, following her third trial, Susan Embert was convicted on all major counts and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with an additional consecutive sentence.
What Dateline’s “Malice” Reveals
“Malice” takes viewers inside the lengthy investigation and courtroom battles, featuring interviews with investigators, legal experts, and members of Jake Embert’s family. The episode examines how early assumptions shaped the case, the role of independent investigators, and the challenges of prosecuting a death initially ruled a suicide.
Blayne Alexander’s report also focuses on the emotional toll of the long pursuit of justice and the determination of a family that refused to accept the original findings. With new details about the investigation and the final outcome, Dateline provides a comprehensive look at a case defined by persistence, controversy, and years of legal complexity.
Dateline NBC: “Malice” airs Friday, February 27 at 9/8c on NBC.
