Dateline NBC “Deadly Swagger” April 17 2026

Dateline NBC returns Friday, April 17, 2026, at 9/8c with a compelling new episode titled Deadly Swagger. Reported by Keith Morrison, the broadcast centers on the high-profile case of former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Serafini, who was convicted of murdering his father-in-law and attempting to kill his mother-in-law in a shocking attack that stunned both the sports world and the public.

The case dates back to 2021, when authorities say Serafini carried out a planned shooting at the Lake Tahoe home of his wife’s parents, Robert Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood. Prosecutors argued that the attack was deliberate and financially motivated, claiming Serafini stood to gain from his in-laws’ wealth. Spohr was killed, while Wood survived the shooting but later died by suicide.

In Deadly Swagger, Serafini speaks out publicly for the first time since his 2025 conviction and life sentence. In an exclusive prison interview, he maintains his innocence, insisting that the case against him was based on circumstantial evidence and that the justice system failed him. His account offers viewers a rare look into his perspective following the verdict.

The episode also revisits the trial, where prosecutors presented emails and text messages that they said revealed hostility toward his in-laws, as well as evidence suggesting premeditation. Investigators and those close to the case provide insight into how the evidence came together and what ultimately led the jury to convict.

Deadly Swagger explores the intersection of fame, family conflict, and justice, offering a detailed look at a case that continues to spark debate. Tune in Friday night on NBC, with streaming available the next day on Peacock.