Talking Dateline: A Perfect Spring Morning

Lester Holt sits down with Blayne Alexander to discuss her latest episode, “A Perfect Spring Morning.” Leslie Preer was found brutally murdered in her Chevy Chase, Maryland, home in May of 2001. Her husband, Sandy, was investigators’ prime suspect until DNA cleared him and the case went cold. After more than 20 years of persistence fromLauren Preer, the couple’s only child, detectives caught Leslie’s killer: Lauren’s ex-boyfriend from high school, Eugene Gligor. Blayne tells Lester about the lasting effects both the crime and the lengthy investigation had on Lauren and Sandy and shares how a new set of eyes on the case made all the difference. Later, Blayne shares a podcast-exclusive clip ofLeslie’s brother Bill Jennings speaking at Gligor’s sentencing. Plus, Blayne and Lester answer viewer and listener questions. Have a question for Talking Dateline? DM us a video to @DatelineNBC or leave a voicemail at (212) 413-5252. Your question may be featured in an upcoming episode. Listen to the full episode of “A Perfect Spring Morning” on Apple: https://apple.co/3J67KjH Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0q1RPIDq1rMJE5u1GrRJH2

Episode 251022 of the Dateline NBC podcast, hosted by NBC News, titled "Talking Dateline: A Perfect Spring Morning" was published on October 22, 2025 and runs 23 minutes.

October 22, 2025 ·23m · Dateline NBC

Summary

Lester Holt sits down with Blayne Alexander to discuss her latest episode, “A Perfect Spring Morning.” Leslie Preer was found brutally murdered in her Chevy Chase, Maryland, home in May of 2001. Her husband, Sandy, was investigators’ prime suspect until DNA cleared him and the case went cold. After more than 20 years of persistence fromLauren Preer, the couple’s only child, detectives caught Leslie’s killer: Lauren’s ex-boyfriend from high school, Eugene Gligor. Blayne tells Lester about the lasting effects both the crime and the lengthy investigation had on Lauren and Sandy and shares how a new set of eyes on the case made all the difference. Later, Blayne shares a podcast-exclusive clip ofLeslie’s brother Bill Jennings speaking at Gligor’s sentencing. Plus, Blayne and Lester answer viewer and listener questions. Have a question for Talking Dateline? DM us a video to @DatelineNBC or leave a voicemail at (212) 413-5252. Your question may be featured in an upcoming episode. Listen to the full episode of “A Perfect Spring Morning” on Apple: https://apple.co/3J67KjH Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0q1RPIDq1rMJE5u1GrRJH2

Episode Description