Motive for Murder

6,129
True Crime #113

Two murders, months apart, in Houston. The young victims knew each other, but did they also know their elusive killer? Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz takes you inside one of the most twisted and confounding cases he’s ever covered. From the team who brought you the #1 podcast The Thing About Pam comes the chilling story of the race to find a killer by unmasking the motive.

Listen to all episodes of Motive for Murder now completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium to listen ad-free: DatelinePremium.com

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Recent Reviews
  • Gr80macgaming
    Horrible person
    For a while there, I thought he may have killed her thinking it was his daughter. He is just a horrible person altogether.
  • Thyhsu
    The new rules would be a blow against a
    The only way to make it better for you and
  • Iukhkckhg
    Dateline Does It Again
    Josh, you sure do know how to tell a story! This was a terrible tragedy but, you did this podcast justice. Thank you for your reporting!
  • wvkid1
    Good
    Good story and reporting. I didn’t like when he trailed off to content unrelated to the story.
  • Aaron Marcizzle
    This One Really Had Me Guessing
    The longer I listened to this series the more I liked it. One of my favorite dateline long series.
  • Kimmy354
    Get to the Point, Josh
    First two episodes too much dragging out of story and leading on…. come on now.
  • Jenniferlinv
    So good!!!
    Love dateline but he’s the best reporter and investor. Great shows. It’s also the Netflix show “I’m a killer” season 4.
  • very aatisfies with this app
    Motive for murder
    The speed of the talking in this podcast is so annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Nav Saint
    The loss of MANY over the ego of ONE
    Beautiful Nasreen is now FREE, but at what cost? The loss of a twin—one could only imagine the grief. And the courageous, intelligent, beloved daughter & friend to so many—murdered by some pathetic, insecure piece of garbage. I doubt his fellow inmates can stand the ramblings of a madman, but he is exactly where he needs to be: a control freak now controlled by the prison system. Thank you for sharing this story, Josh & Dateline.
  • kimmi429
    New motive podcast
    Awesome job, as always. So excited for more from Dateline. Love all the storytellers. Classics that cannot be duplicated but often imitated. Please continue Dateline❤️
  • I NNR
    Netflix show
    Season 4 of Netflix show ‘I Am a Killer’ features this story. Its great to listen to the podcast then watch the show and hear from the killer brother.
  • Handykay
    Love
    Love listen at work it gets me through the long nights!!
  • Sammipie77
    He is the best!
    This definitely made a 6 hr car ride seem like 2 !! Bravo !!! I was glued from the start!!!
  • snb525
    So good
    So well done! And Josh is so good! One of the best!!!
  • Alisya's mama
    Addictive
    MORE MORE MORE… please!! Makes any car ride seem pleasant. Love this!
  • Jeff Account
    Awful Podcast
    Boring and sterile. Tried listening 3 different episodes and it was painful.
  • GiuCo314
    More please!!!
    I check every day for a new episode???
  • issylives
    Worth the listen
    Josh Mankiewicz did such a good job with the story and relaying of events. This podcast is so good!
  • Hermiome's shadow
    Literally the best
    This summer I have been binge-listening to dateline pods. The thing about Pam and Mommy Doomsday were my favorites, but this is the first time I have heard Josh Mankiewicz and I listened to the entire thing in TWO DAYS it was that good. When are we getting kieth Morrison and Josh Mankiewicz together because that will be FANTASTIC. No doubt this has been my favorite case so far and actually HEARING the murderer’s voice and hear him preach his lies was disgusting but important. People need to listen to dateline because it informs you on criminal activity. It makes you smarter. Listen to dateline. You won’t regret it. From a crime junkie.
  • headmoofy22
    Love it
    Love listening! Keep them coming!
  • He who shall remain nameless
    Very average murder mystery
    Despite the host describing this at the outset S one of the most perplexing stories he’s ever come across, this is actually a fairly unremarkable story in which the guilty party is revealed early in the story. There are no shocking twists or turns. Listeners will never be confused or change their mind. It’s just super unremarkable.
  • NinaNina62
    Love it !!
    Love listening to these podcasts.. keep up the good work…
  • Slewfootannie
    Wow!
    I am hooked! I could not stop listening. You pulled me in and I had to know how it all turned out. Looking forward to more!
  • MoonMaiden 🌙🌙
    Love Josh!!!!
    Love his reporting and the way he brings things to life. I really enjoy listening to his stories. Please don’t ever retire !!!!!
  • phil_furry
    Great story, haunting storytelling
    Josh is one of my favorite Dateline reporters and this story is why. The case is horrific but he shows the humanity behind it.
  • Keeblizzle
    Josh
    I would listen to absolutely anything he narrates!
  • tlbrooke
    Love
    Really really good
  • CoraDidier
    Binge Worthy!
    Awesome Series! I found myself rewinding bites and pieces so I didn’t miss a single thing. Well Done!
  • hurdygerty
    One of the best crime podcasts!
    I absolutely love and look forward to Dateline Podcasts!! Love Josh’s voice!
  • blvdbeat
    A+
    By far the best produced true crime podcast of them all.
  • Herrow herrow how low
    Incredible Story
    Definitely an under-appreciated podcast with an incredible story that deserves far more attention. I read the reviews beforehand, which honestly made me apprehensive to even listen, but it immediately took me in from the first episode and I binged the whole season in one evening. The compassion the reporter showed towards the victims and their loved ones in this podcast, has gone above and beyond any other true crime podcast I’ve listened to (and I’ve listened to well over 100…). The narrative was expertly done. The host’s statements about grief, and sharing his experience as a veteran reporter whose spent decades interviewing bereaved parents during the worst moment in their lives, brought me in tears. As someone whose been dealing with complex grief and loss of two of the most important people in my life (only several years ago, and the other the beginning of this year), and got into true crime after the first death as, when done properly, helps me process or “share” my grief in some odd way — it really touched me how much compassion around grief and loss remained central to this case. The central motivator of this podcast was not “entertainment,” or inserting twists & turns into a story that’s already been solved (like it is with so many popular true crime podcasts); but to simply share this story with the respect it deserves in service of the victims and the truth. Thank you for making this, and sharing such an otherwise dark and confusing story with such focus and clarity. It really forces the listener to empathize with the victims in such a gentle way.
  • Mooremaryjane
    I love your format!
    I can’t listen to any other podcast because they just talk too much! I have listened to all that you have and I want MORE! I drive 50 miles a day to and from work and I enjoy it because of your podcast! Thank you for top notch stories!
  • Mommadukes04
    Josh
    You are my favorite. I work from home and listen to dateline podcasts and I love your stories, how you tell them, and your voice.
  • Genghismom
    If it’s Josh Mankiewicz or Keith Morrison, I’m in!
    Intriguing story. Well told. Bravo!
  • Ang mr
    Josh for President
    Always amazing.
  • WhitneyF
    So good I binged hard
    Started listening to the trailer while getting ready for bed. I couldn’t stop listening & now it’s 4 AM! Worth the loss of sleep!
  • LES Nurse
    Captivating story telling!!!
    This story grabs you from the beginning but I feel it would not have the same impact if it was not for Josh Mankiewicz’s story telling. His sidebar remarks and slightly snarky comments add to a compelling story! Great job Mr Mankiewicz!!!
  • Grizfan-24
    Couldn't take the narrator...
    With many apologies to the narrator, I just couldn't listen to him anymore. Very nasally voice unfortunately kind of ruined the podcast for me. Only made it 1 episode.
  • SophieAuregess
    Great Job Mark!
    I liked what he said about the word Closure!! It resonated to me in so many way!
  • larnold1109
    Twisty
    Josh does a great job with this story- I appreciate his respect for the families while telling this very twisty tale.
  • Avas Mimi
    Dateline
    Absolutely love the show and Pod cast...I go to bed listening to it....then wonder why I have nightmares.
  • uberistrash
    Meh
    This could have been covered in one hour.
  • trixxiedee
    Love the podcast & the professionalism!
    This is a great series done with the professionalism you expect. I was drawn in by the title & reporter, I can listen to Josh anytime but it was the story that kept me there. I felt like an old friend was sharing news about his family but we only had a few minutes to talk. The quickness of the shows is what I need on my drive to & from work. I was never let down, only left wanting to hear more. Great show Dateline!
  • J3di7
    A Scream, Then Silence
    I listened to this podcast on the way home from our trip to Ohio. I recently started listening to podcasts in the car and this story kept me on the edge of my seat! I was intrigued by all the twists and turns this story took, that the time flew by and before I knew it- we were home. I love that podcasts give you the whole story - not the 1-2 hour t.v. show that we’re used to watching. They are great for listening to in the car, or the gym , or while cleaning the house.
  • EmeraldCityGurl
    I Love Dateline
    Great podcast. Josh is a great narrator and interviewer, he says the things that need to be said. The length of episodes is perfect, even tho I binged this in one sitting. Hoping for more from Josh.
  • ruthiejones427
    Love
    💕💕
  • dhjimmyjam
    Manages to cram 45 minutes of information into a 3-hour span
    Maybe I’m spoiled, but this is j u s t . . . t o o . . . d r a g g e d . . . o u t . . . After episode 1, I googled the case and read about it.
  • Cboerst
    Great Reporting
    I really enjoyed. If your a Dateline fan you will too. We’ll done.
  • THUMPER3340
    Love Josh
    This is another great podcast by Dateline NBC. If you’ve ever watched the show then you know how great Josh is at investigating a story and telling it!
  • Define wincest
    Love Dateline
    “The Thing About…” series with Keith Morrison are well worth a listen. Anything with Keith Morrison is always good. “Motive For Murder” was good, but not great. It was a bit jumpy on the storyline, and the narrator sounded tired towards the end. He began to slur his words a bit and was sighing while people talked. I felt like he was ready for the series to be over. Overall, wonderful podcast I’d still recommend and do enjoy!
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