Dateline NBC Talking Dateline: Malice
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Mar 4, 2026 Ann Preisman, Dateline producer who handled interviews and courtroom coverage. Allison Orr, senior producer who led reporting and trial reporting. They recount the shift from a quick suicide ruling to a homicide charge, the private investigator’s findings, tense courtroom moments, a revealing interview clip, and listener questions about the investigation and coroner credentials.
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Family's Decade Long Fight Changed The Ruling
- Jake Embert's death was quickly labeled suicide despite family disbelief and minimal scene investigation.
- Allison Orr highlights the story became a decade-long fight by the family to uncover what really happened leading to a murder conviction.
Coroner Qualifications Differ Widely
- Coroner systems vary widely; in some Georgia counties an elected coroner needs only a high school diploma and a 40-hour course.
- Allison Orr contrasts rural elected coroners with medical examiners in big cities and explains how that affected this case.
Private Investigator Dug Up Key Background
- The family hired PI Lee Wilson, a former local detective, who dug into records and conducted classic detective work.
- Ann Preisman says Lee unearthed heavy evidence and interviewed Susan's prior husbands to build a detailed profile.