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Talking Dateline: The Bluegrass Mystery

Explore episode Jul 15, 2026

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Jason Hans: The Ex-Husband with a Haunted Past

At 8:47 · chapter starts 6:35

Just when Glenn looked like the obvious suspect, Blayne reveals a fact that genuinely shocked Andrea: Jason Hans had already lost a first wife, Irina, to an unsolved murder more than two decades earlier. Lightning, it seemed, had struck twice. Investigators knew they couldn't ignore the coincidence. But when Blayne sat down with Jason, he offered a poignant and unexpected distinction: Irina's murder, however devastating, felt like a product of some societal failure — a stranger's violence. Ella's murder, killed by the man who was supposed to keep her safest, filled him with a different kind of rage. He still teared up talking about Irina, even 20 years removed from the crime — something that caught even him by surprise.

True Crime
Jason Hans: Lightning Strikes Twice

Talking Dateline: The Bluegrass Mystery · Jul 15, 2026 True Crime

Jason Hans, Ella's ex-husband and close friend, also lost his first wife Irina to an unsolved murder more than 20 years ago. The coincidence made investigators look hard at him — but it also gave him a harrowing frame of reference for understanding what Ella suffered.

True Crime
Irina Hans: A Cold Case Crying Out for Tips

Talking Dateline: The Bluegrass Mystery · Jul 15, 2026 True Crime

Irina Hans was shot point blank near the Green Line metro in the DC area in 2002, during the height of the DC sniper panic. Nothing was taken. A can of mace was found in her hand. Investigators believe someone knew her routine. Prince George's County Police are still seeking tips at 1-866-411-TIPS.

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