The Ruse

from Dateline NBC · host NBC News

When Tom Perez Sr. fails to return home after a trip to check the mail, Tom Jr. calls police — only to find himself the focus of their investigation until a stunning revelation upends the case. Lester Holt reports.Keith Morrison and Lester Holt go behind the scenes of the making of this episode in ‘Talking Dateline’Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/48v6UqzListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1EPrfFZ8uK2z6XgMorqbl3 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 9, 2025

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

NOW PLAYING

The Ruse

0:00 28:37

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

Dragnet Entertainment Radio The Dragnet radio show was a groundbreaking and influential police procedural drama that ran on NBC from 1949 to 1957. Here are some key things to know about it:Main Features:Focus: The show followed the cases of Sergeant Joe Friday and his partners, primarily in the Los Angeles Police Department. It depicted the real-life work of detectives, including the tedious investigation process, interviews, stakeouts, and occasional danger.Realism: Jack Webb, the show's creator and star, aimed for authenticity. Episodes were often based on real cases, with details changed to protect the innocent. The dialogue was direct and unvarnished, mimicking the way police officers actually spoke.Famous Intro: The show's opening sequence is iconic: the announcer's voice declaring "This is the city... Los Angeles... California..." followed by the signature "dun-dun-DUN" theme music.Impact:Pioneering Police Procedural: Dragnet is considered a pioneer of

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Dateline NBC?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this Dateline NBC episode published?

This episode was published on December 9, 2025.

Can I download this Dateline NBC episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!