Dateline NBC Talking Dateline: Take Two
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Mar 18, 2026 Andrea Canning, investigative journalist and Dateline correspondent, discusses the Bernstein murder-for-hire plot. She recounts the undercover sting, the car salesman who posed as a hit man, and a shocking second attempted plot that reads like a movie. Andrea also reflects on going undercover and shares unreleased detective audio and listener questions.
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Affair Escalated Into Murder Plot
- The murder-for-hire plot began from an affair between Ira Bernstein and patient Kelly Gribalook that escalated quickly into plotting Susan's death.
- Their scheme involved recruiting outside help and nearly succeeded until Markenzie intervened and alerted police.
Car Salesman Turned Undercover Decoy
- Markenzie, a car salesman, was approached to be a hit man but instead helped police by wearing a wire and doing repeated sting meetups.
- He wired his car, met Ira multiple times, and thought on his feet when Ira spotted a camera to avoid exposure.
Undercover Stings Depend On Civilian Courage
- Participating in stings requires major time commitments and personal risk from ordinary citizens like Markenzie, who balanced family life while repeatedly meeting suspects.
- His calm demeanor and willingness to help were crucial to preventing the plot from progressing.