Dateline NBC A woman allegedly kills her fifth husband. A hookah bar owner on trial again. Plus, a Dateline LIVE preview
Sep 25, 2025
Brittany Tom, a Dateline producer known for her detailed reporting on the Paul Zumat case, shares chilling updates on a woman accused of poisoning her fifth husband. She dives into the tumultuous relationship history of Sarah Hartsfield and the evidence leading to her trial. Mario Garcia, another Dateline producer, offers a roundup of pivotal courtroom developments, including updates on high-profile cases like Rex Heuermann and Barry Morphew. The hosts also give a sneak peek of the exciting Dateline LIVE event in Nashville!
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Rapid Marriage, Then Suspicious Death
- Rachel White reports Sarah Hartsfield married Joseph after three months and later called 911 claiming his blood sugar crashed.
- Investigators found inconsistencies, reopened past incidents, and indicted Sarah for Joseph's murder weeks after his death.
Past Behavior Shapes Prosecutor Strategy
- Investigators flagged Sarah's history as crucial to the case and plan to call past partners as witnesses.
- Jury selection was scheduled to start September 29 and prosecutors may introduce prior incidents to show pattern.
2018 Shooting Initially Deemed Self-Defense
- Rachel White described the 2018 shooting of Sarah's fiancé, David Bragg, which Sarah said was self-defense.
- Authorities initially found evidence consistent with her account and did not charge her then, but reopened the case after Joseph's indictment.