Ella Jackson made nearly 70 secret recordings of her husband before he killed her — and then her ex-husband and his wife adopted her young son.
Dateline NBC
Ella Jackson made nearly 70 secret recordings of her husband before he killed her — and then her ex-husband and his wife adopted her young son.
TL;DR
Andrea Canning and Blayne Alexander unpack the Bluegrass Mystery — the 2019 disappearance and murder of Ella Jackson in Kentucky by her husband Glenn, who made a chillingly calm 911 call before ultimately taking an Alford plea. They discuss Glenn's bizarre behavior, the haunting 70 secret recordings Ella made, and the still-unsolved 2002 murder of Jason Hans' first wife, Irina. The episode's most uplifting note: Jason and his wife Natalia adopted Ella's young son Alex [1] — Blayne Alexander "Ella Jackson secretly recorded close to 70 interactions with Glenn as she tried to build a case to safely leave him. She feared his money a…" 17:11 . The single most useful takeaway is that victims can speak powerfully from beyond through their own pre-recorded words [2] — Blayne Alexander "~70 secret recordings by Ella: Ella Jackson secretly recorded close to 70 interactions with her husband Glenn as she tried to build a case …" 17:57 .
Andrea Canning and Blayne Alexander discuss the Bluegrass Mystery case — the 2019 disappearance and murder of Ella Jackson in Kentucky. Glenn Jackson, her husband, was ultimately convicted after a chillingly calm 911 call, secret recordings by Ella, and an eventual Alford plea. The episode also covers the unsolved murder of Jason Hans' first wife Irina, the touching adoption of Ella's son Alex by Jason and his wife Natalia, and viewer questions from social media.
The episode opens with back-to-back sponsor reads. Progressive Insurance promotes its Name Your Price tool, encouraging drivers to visit progressive.com to find coverage that fits their budget. Capital One follows, touting its no-fee, no-minimum checking accounts and the availability of Capital One Cafes seven days a week. Both are standard pre-roll reads that set the stage before the hosts begin.
Andrea Canning kicks off Talking Dateline by welcoming Blayne Alexander to the show, noting it's Blayne's 40th birthday with warmth and a little good-natured teasing — 'I thought you were 30.' After the brief personal exchange, Andrea sets the agenda: Blayne will walk listeners through the Bluegrass Mystery, they'll share an exclusive clip from neighbor JoLynn Stevenson remembering Ella as a mother, and they'll answer questions from social media. It's a brief but warm opening that establishes the conversational tone of the episode.
Blayne sets the stage: Ella Jackson, a devoted Kentucky mother with adult son Philip and young son Alex, went missing in October 2019. Her husband Glenn called 911 first — calmly, almost indifferently, citing a TV show as his reason for not waiting — and her adult son Philip called 24 hours later insisting something was very wrong. Investigators examined three men: Glenn, ex-husband Jason Hans, and Philip. They ultimately settled on Glenn [1] — Blayne Alexander "Glenn Jackson called 911 to report his wife Ella missing and opened with 'this is not an emergency.' He said he personally didn't think any…" 03:10 . Andrea then shares a striking personal parallel: years ago as a local TV reporter in Cincinnati, she watched a calm man report his wife missing at a police station window. She offered to help with news coverage; he declined. The wife's body was later found behind a motel. He eventually pled guilty. The parallel underscores how telling composure — or the lack of it — can be.
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 [1] — Blayne Alexander "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 coincidenc…" 06:35 . 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 [2] — Blayne Alexander "He said, but when he talks about Ella, the fact that she was killed by somebody with whom she was supposed to have been the safest, her spo…" 07:27 . He still teared up talking about Irina, even 20 years removed from the crime — something that caught even him by surprise.
Irina Hans was shot dead near the Green Line metro station while walking home from the stop to her apartment in 2002 — right in the middle of the DC sniper panic. Nothing was taken, there was no sign of struggle, and she was found with a can of mace in her hand. The circumstances were so random and execution-style that investigators initially investigated it as a possible sniper attack before ruling it out [1] — Blayne Alexander "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 tak…" 08:47 . Blayne spoke with both the Prince George's County executive and detectives, who remain eager for tips. Their working theory: someone knew Irina's commute route and was laying in wait. If you have any information about Irina Hans, call Prince George's County Police at 1-866-411-TIPS.
The break opens with a teaser for 'Five Miles From Home,' a new Dateline podcast hosted by Keith Morrison, following the story of 16-year-old Mickey Costanzo who disappeared walking home from high school. Then an Xfinity ad promotes same-day Wi-Fi installation with a Minions movie tie-in. Both are brief mid-roll inserts bookending the transition back to the main conversation about Ella's son Alex.
Blayne describes the adoption of Alex as a rare, genuinely beautiful ending in a genre defined by tragedy. Jason's reasoning was disarmingly simple: 'I love him simply because she loved him.' His current wife Natalia, who had no children of her own, stepped up without hesitation to become a full-time mother [1] — Blayne Alexander "After Ella's murder, her ex-husband Jason Hans and his wife Natalia adopted her young son Alex. Jason's reasoning was simple: he loved Alex…" 12:49 . For Blayne, the whole arc is a testament to the many forms love can take — Jason and Ella didn't make it as a couple, but their bond endured strongly enough that he was the person she called for advice on how to escape Glenn, and ultimately the person who would raise her son. Andrea calls it one of the best endings she's seen in a while.
In an exclusive clip, JoLynn Stevenson — who watched Ella raise young Alex from a neighboring home — paints a vivid picture of a woman for whom motherhood was everything [1] — JoLynn Stevenson "Ella's neighbor JoLynn Stevenson describes her as completely devoted — someone who wanted to give her children a magical childhood to prote…" 14:14 . Ella wanted to pour so much love and joy into her children that they would be shielded from whatever she herself had been through. She never spoke negatively about her boys, never let frustration spill over to others. JoLynn found it an almost incomprehensible skill. After the clip, Blayne shares her own encounter with Alex during production: she describes a remarkably worldly, intellectually curious kid whose brilliance clearly reflects his mother's dedication. He participated in the episode to honor her, while choosing not to show his face.
Andrea reflects on a pattern she sees repeatedly in Dateline stories: victims speaking from beyond through their own pre-recorded words [1] — Blayne Alexander "Ella Jackson secretly recorded close to 70 interactions with Glenn as she tried to build a case to safely leave him. She feared his money a…" 17:11 . Ella's case is a powerful example. Blayne reveals she made close to 70 secret recordings of Glenn — not just out of fear, but as a strategic legal move [2] — Blayne Alexander "She even told her adult son, hey, if something happens to me — here's where you need to look." 18:38 . She was working with attorneys and advocates, trying to line up evidence that would allow her to leave without losing custody of Alex. Jason, who was her confidant through this period, describes Ella as acutely aware of the danger she was in. She wrote in her journal. And she sat her adult son Philip down and told him plainly: if anything happens to me, this is where you look. Every precaution she took ultimately became evidence against her killer.
Blayne describes the body camera footage of Glenn at a dog park: squatting, rising repeatedly, making women uncomfortable enough to call police. Seemingly unrelated to the murder, the footage nonetheless painted a portrait of a deeply strange man. The lead detective — speaking publicly about the case for the very first time with Dateline — described Glenn's interview style as a relentless filibuster of meandering, self-congratulatory explanations [1] — Blayne Alexander "Body camera footage captured Glenn harassing women at a dog park, squatting and standing repeatedly in a way that made them uncomfortable e…" 19:15 . Three separate witnesses — the detective, JoLynn, and another friend named Dana — all independently described Glenn the same way: someone who always had to be the smartest person in the room, who talked down to those around him. Andrea's summary: he was actually just the weirdest person in the room.
In one of the strangest twists in the case, Glenn Jackson arranged a play date, then took both his and his friend's phones and placed them in the car before the conversation began. He then effectively confessed to killing Ella. His friend — who knew Ella was still missing at the time — didn't immediately go to police, saying he wasn't sure the confession was real [1] — Blayne Alexander "Glenn arranged a play date with a friend, then removed both their phones to the car before essentially confessing to Ella's murder. The fri…" 20:53 . Andrea was visibly incredulous: a man hides the phones, confesses to murder, and you're not sure? Blayne was diplomatic about it on-air, but the subtext was clear. The friend eventually did come forward, and the confession became part of the evidentiary picture against Glenn.
The legal outcome in Ella's case became its own controversy. Glenn made bond on murder charges — remarkable in itself — and spent five years on house arrest, during which Ella's neighbor JoLynn could see him walking to his mailbox from her house, knowing he had been arrested for allegedly killing her close friend [1] — Andrea Canning "Glenn Jackson made bail on murder charges, served five years on house arrest — during which Ella's friends could still see him walking to h…" 21:58 . He was then credited that time toward his sentence. He ultimately took an Alford plea, which Blayne explains for listeners: it's a way of acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict without ever saying 'I did it' or taking responsibility. The resulting sentence was short enough that Glenn could potentially be released by 2034 — a fact that drew widespread outrage from viewers and people close to Ella [2] — Blayne Alexander "An Alford plea, for anybody who's listening, it's basically acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict you without a…" 23:10 .
The final segment turns to audience interaction. Three viewers wrote in to reveal they were students in Glenn Jackson's classes at Eastern Kentucky University while he was being investigated for Ella's murder — an astonishing intersection that Andrea and Blayne found genuinely stunning [1] — Andrea Canning "Multiple viewers wrote in to say they had been students in Glenn Jackson's class at Eastern Kentucky University during the very time he was…" 23:55 . A Facebook commenter named Daniel Kramer earned shoutouts for watching with a notepad, carefully tracking body language in every interview. From there the conversation drifts warmly into the Dateline fan experience: viewers who recognize Blayne's voice from podcast-only listening (including a man at a salad counter who identified her by voice before looking up), people who fall asleep to the podcast, and the hosts' love of fan encounters in airports and in the field. A viewer question about Glenn's motive closes the segment: investigators believe Ella finally moving to leave the marriage was the tipping point that sent him over the edge.
Andrea signs off by inviting listeners to submit questions for future episodes via DM to @DatelineNBC or voicemail at (212) 413-5252. She notes viewers can watch the video version of Talking Dateline on Peacock or YouTube and subscribe via the NBC News app. A promo for the next Friday night Dateline episode — featuring two brothers' homes burning and a 'mass murder of regular people' in a close-knit town — closes out the episode with Blayne's voice teasing: 'The last person you would expect.'
Chapter 2 · 01:02
Andrea Canning kicks off Talking Dateline by welcoming Blayne Alexander to the show, noting it's Blayne's 40th birthday with warmth and a little good-natured teasing — 'I thought you were 30.' After the brief personal exchange, Andrea sets the agenda: Blayne will walk listeners through the Bluegrass Mystery, they'll share an exclusive clip from neighbor JoLynn Stevenson remembering Ella as a mother, and they'll answer questions from social media. It's a brief but warm opening that establishes the conversational tone of the episode.
Glenn Jackson called 911 to report his wife Ella missing and opened with 'this is not an emergency.' He said he personally didn't think anything was wrong, that his son was fine, and that he only called because he heard on a TV show you shouldn't wait to report someone missing. It's one of the most eerily calm missing-person calls on record.
Chapter 3 · 03:14
Blayne sets the stage: Ella Jackson, a devoted Kentucky mother with adult son Philip and young son Alex, went missing in October 2019. Her husband Glenn called 911 first — calmly, almost indifferently, citing a TV show as his reason for not waiting — and her adult son Philip called 24 hours later insisting something was very wrong. Investigators examined three men: Glenn, ex-husband Jason Hans, and Philip. They ultimately settled on Glenn [1] — Blayne Alexander "Glenn Jackson called 911 to report his wife Ella missing and opened with 'this is not an emergency.' He said he personally didn't think any…" 03:10 . Andrea then shares a striking personal parallel: years ago as a local TV reporter in Cincinnati, she watched a calm man report his wife missing at a police station window. She offered to help with news coverage; he declined. The wife's body was later found behind a motel. He eventually pled guilty. The parallel underscores how telling composure — or the lack of it — can be.
Claims made here
Glenn Jackson called 911 to report his wife Ella missing and explicitly stated it was not an emergency and that he personally didn't think anything was wrong.
Philip, Ella's adult son, made a second 911 call approximately 24 hours after Glenn's, urging investigators to look into the disappearance.
Glenn Jackson called 911 to report his wife Ella missing but explicitly said it was not an emergency and that he personally didn't think anything was wrong.
Philip, Ella's adult son, made a second 911 call approximately 24 hours after Glenn's first call, urging police to investigate because the disappearance was out of character for his mother.
Ella's adult son Philip made a second 911 call roughly 24 hours after Glenn's, insisting this was not normal for his mother and urging investigators to take it seriously. The lead detective credits Philip's call as the reason the investigation got off the ground.
Chapter 4 · 06:35
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 [1] — Blayne Alexander "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 coincidenc…" 06:35 . 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 [2] — Blayne Alexander "He said, but when he talks about Ella, the fact that she was killed by somebody with whom she was supposed to have been the safest, her spo…" 07:27 . He still teared up talking about Irina, even 20 years removed from the crime — something that caught even him by surprise.
Claims made here
Jason Hans' first wife Irina was murdered more than 20 years ago and her case remains unsolved.
Irina Hans' murder occurred during the DC sniper investigation, which initially led detectives to consider whether she was a sniper victim.
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.
Jason Hans told Blayne that Ella's murder — being killed by her own spouse — was the more enraging of the two tragedies because marriage is supposed to be where you're safest. The randomness of Irina's death was a societal failure; Ella's was a personal betrayal.
Jason Hans' first wife, Irina Hans, was shot and killed near a DC metro station over 20 years ago and the case remains unsolved to this day.
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.
Irina Hans was killed during the DC sniper investigation in 2002, leading detectives to initially wonder if she was a sniper victim before ruling it out.
Chapter 5 · 08:50
Irina Hans was shot dead near the Green Line metro station while walking home from the stop to her apartment in 2002 — right in the middle of the DC sniper panic. Nothing was taken, there was no sign of struggle, and she was found with a can of mace in her hand. The circumstances were so random and execution-style that investigators initially investigated it as a possible sniper attack before ruling it out [1] — Blayne Alexander "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 tak…" 08:47 . Blayne spoke with both the Prince George's County executive and detectives, who remain eager for tips. Their working theory: someone knew Irina's commute route and was laying in wait. If you have any information about Irina Hans, call Prince George's County Police at 1-866-411-TIPS.
Claims made here
Irina Hans was found shot dead with nothing taken — no credit cards, no money — and a can of mace in her hand, with no sign of a struggle or assault.
Investigators believe the killer knew Irina Hans' route from the metro station to her apartment, suggesting the attack was premeditated.
Prince George's County Police Department is actively seeking tips in the cold case murder of Irina Hans and can be reached at 1-866-411-TIPS.
Chapter 6 · 11:00
The break opens with a teaser for 'Five Miles From Home,' a new Dateline podcast hosted by Keith Morrison, following the story of 16-year-old Mickey Costanzo who disappeared walking home from high school. Then an Xfinity ad promotes same-day Wi-Fi installation with a Minions movie tie-in. Both are brief mid-roll inserts bookending the transition back to the main conversation about Ella's son Alex.
After Ella's murder, her ex-husband Jason Hans and his wife Natalia adopted her young son Alex. Jason's reasoning was simple: he loved Alex because Ella had loved him. Natalia, who had no children, became a full-time mom overnight. It's the rare happy ending in a Dateline story.
After Ella's murder, her ex-husband Jason Hans and his current wife Natalia adopted Ella's young son Alex, providing him a home with people who had known and loved his mother.
Chapter 7 · 12:50
Blayne describes the adoption of Alex as a rare, genuinely beautiful ending in a genre defined by tragedy. Jason's reasoning was disarmingly simple: 'I love him simply because she loved him.' His current wife Natalia, who had no children of her own, stepped up without hesitation to become a full-time mother [1] — Blayne Alexander "After Ella's murder, her ex-husband Jason Hans and his wife Natalia adopted her young son Alex. Jason's reasoning was simple: he loved Alex…" 12:49 . For Blayne, the whole arc is a testament to the many forms love can take — Jason and Ella didn't make it as a couple, but their bond endured strongly enough that he was the person she called for advice on how to escape Glenn, and ultimately the person who would raise her son. Andrea calls it one of the best endings she's seen in a while.
Ella's neighbor JoLynn Stevenson describes her as completely devoted — someone who wanted to give her children a magical childhood to protect them from whatever she herself had been through. She never spoke negatively about her kids, never burdened others with frustration. It was, JoLynn says, an incredible skill.
Chapter 8 · 14:30
In an exclusive clip, JoLynn Stevenson — who watched Ella raise young Alex from a neighboring home — paints a vivid picture of a woman for whom motherhood was everything [1] — JoLynn Stevenson "Ella's neighbor JoLynn Stevenson describes her as completely devoted — someone who wanted to give her children a magical childhood to prote…" 14:14 . Ella wanted to pour so much love and joy into her children that they would be shielded from whatever she herself had been through. She never spoke negatively about her boys, never let frustration spill over to others. JoLynn found it an almost incomprehensible skill. After the clip, Blayne shares her own encounter with Alex during production: she describes a remarkably worldly, intellectually curious kid whose brilliance clearly reflects his mother's dedication. He participated in the episode to honor her, while choosing not to show his face.
Chapter 9 · 17:11
Andrea reflects on a pattern she sees repeatedly in Dateline stories: victims speaking from beyond through their own pre-recorded words [1] — Blayne Alexander "Ella Jackson secretly recorded close to 70 interactions with Glenn as she tried to build a case to safely leave him. She feared his money a…" 17:11 . Ella's case is a powerful example. Blayne reveals she made close to 70 secret recordings of Glenn — not just out of fear, but as a strategic legal move [2] — Blayne Alexander "She even told her adult son, hey, if something happens to me — here's where you need to look." 18:38 . She was working with attorneys and advocates, trying to line up evidence that would allow her to leave without losing custody of Alex. Jason, who was her confidant through this period, describes Ella as acutely aware of the danger she was in. She wrote in her journal. And she sat her adult son Philip down and told him plainly: if anything happens to me, this is where you look. Every precaution she took ultimately became evidence against her killer.
Claims made here
Ella Jackson made close to 70 secret recordings of interactions with her husband Glenn.
Ella feared that Glenn's money and connections would allow him to gain custody of Alex if she left without sufficient evidence.
Ella Jackson explicitly told her adult son Philip that if something happened to her, he should look to Glenn.
Ella Jackson secretly recorded close to 70 interactions with Glenn as she tried to build a case to safely leave him. She feared his money and connections would let him win custody of Alex if she left without evidence. She also wrote in her journal and told her son Philip exactly who to blame if anything happened to her.
Ella Jackson secretly recorded close to 70 interactions with her husband Glenn as she tried to build a case to safely leave him while protecting custody of her son Alex.
Before her death, Ella told her adult son Philip that if anything happened to her, he should look to Glenn as the responsible party.
Chapter 10 · 19:15
Blayne describes the body camera footage of Glenn at a dog park: squatting, rising repeatedly, making women uncomfortable enough to call police. Seemingly unrelated to the murder, the footage nonetheless painted a portrait of a deeply strange man. The lead detective — speaking publicly about the case for the very first time with Dateline — described Glenn's interview style as a relentless filibuster of meandering, self-congratulatory explanations [1] — Blayne Alexander "Body camera footage captured Glenn harassing women at a dog park, squatting and standing repeatedly in a way that made them uncomfortable e…" 19:15 . Three separate witnesses — the detective, JoLynn, and another friend named Dana — all independently described Glenn the same way: someone who always had to be the smartest person in the room, who talked down to those around him. Andrea's summary: he was actually just the weirdest person in the room.
Claims made here
The lead detective's first interview on camera about this case was for the Dateline Bluegrass Mystery episode.
Body camera footage captured Glenn harassing women at a dog park, squatting and standing repeatedly in a way that made them uncomfortable enough to call police. The lead detective, a college professor who filibustered interviews with meandering explanations, described Glenn as always wanting to be the smartest person in the room.
Chapter 11 · 20:53
In one of the strangest twists in the case, Glenn Jackson arranged a play date, then took both his and his friend's phones and placed them in the car before the conversation began. He then effectively confessed to killing Ella. His friend — who knew Ella was still missing at the time — didn't immediately go to police, saying he wasn't sure the confession was real [1] — Blayne Alexander "Glenn arranged a play date with a friend, then removed both their phones to the car before essentially confessing to Ella's murder. The fri…" 20:53 . Andrea was visibly incredulous: a man hides the phones, confesses to murder, and you're not sure? Blayne was diplomatic about it on-air, but the subtext was clear. The friend eventually did come forward, and the confession became part of the evidentiary picture against Glenn.
Claims made here
Glenn Jackson arranged a play date with a friend, removed both their phones to his car, and then confessed to killing Ella.
Glenn arranged a play date with a friend, then removed both their phones to the car before essentially confessing to Ella's murder. The friend delayed telling police because he wasn't sure it was real — a decision that baffled both Andrea and Blayne.
Glenn Jackson essentially confessed to Ella's murder to a friend during a play date, first removing both their phones from earshot before making the admission.
Chapter 12 · 21:58
The legal outcome in Ella's case became its own controversy. Glenn made bond on murder charges — remarkable in itself — and spent five years on house arrest, during which Ella's neighbor JoLynn could see him walking to his mailbox from her house, knowing he had been arrested for allegedly killing her close friend [1] — Andrea Canning "Glenn Jackson made bail on murder charges, served five years on house arrest — during which Ella's friends could still see him walking to h…" 21:58 . He was then credited that time toward his sentence. He ultimately took an Alford plea, which Blayne explains for listeners: it's a way of acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict without ever saying 'I did it' or taking responsibility. The resulting sentence was short enough that Glenn could potentially be released by 2034 — a fact that drew widespread outrage from viewers and people close to Ella [2] — Blayne Alexander "An Alford plea, for anybody who's listening, it's basically acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict you without a…" 23:10 .
Claims made here
Glenn Jackson's sentence was short enough that he could potentially be released by 2034.
Glenn Jackson made bond on murder charges and was placed on house arrest for five years before his trial.
Glenn Jackson took an Alford plea, which allowed him to acknowledge sufficient evidence for conviction without admitting guilt.
Glenn Jackson made bail on murder charges, served five years on house arrest — during which Ella's friends could still see him walking to his mailbox — then took an Alford plea. His sentence was short enough that he could be released by 2034, drawing widespread outrage.
Glenn Jackson received a sentence short enough that he could potentially be released by 2034, drawing outrage from viewers and those close to Ella.
Glenn Jackson made bond on murder charges and was placed on house arrest for five years before trial — an arrangement his neighbors, including Ella's friend JoLynn, found deeply unsettling.
Glenn Jackson resolved his case with an Alford plea, which acknowledges the prosecution has sufficient evidence to convict without the defendant actually pleading guilty or taking responsibility.
Chapter 13 · 23:55
The final segment turns to audience interaction. Three viewers wrote in to reveal they were students in Glenn Jackson's classes at Eastern Kentucky University while he was being investigated for Ella's murder — an astonishing intersection that Andrea and Blayne found genuinely stunning [1] — Andrea Canning "Multiple viewers wrote in to say they had been students in Glenn Jackson's class at Eastern Kentucky University during the very time he was…" 23:55 . A Facebook commenter named Daniel Kramer earned shoutouts for watching with a notepad, carefully tracking body language in every interview. From there the conversation drifts warmly into the Dateline fan experience: viewers who recognize Blayne's voice from podcast-only listening (including a man at a salad counter who identified her by voice before looking up), people who fall asleep to the podcast, and the hosts' love of fan encounters in airports and in the field. A viewer question about Glenn's motive closes the segment: investigators believe Ella finally moving to leave the marriage was the tipping point that sent him over the edge.
Multiple viewers wrote in to say they had been students in Glenn Jackson's class at Eastern Kentucky University during the very time he was being investigated for Ella's murder. He was still teaching while all of this was unfolding.
No indexed bits in this chapter.
Ella Jackson secretly recorded close to 70 interactions with Glenn as she tried to build a case to safely leave him. She feared his money and connections would let him win custody of Alex if she left without evidence. She also wrote in her journal and told her son Philip exactly who to blame if anything happened to her.
After Ella's murder, her ex-husband Jason Hans and his wife Natalia adopted her young son Alex. Jason's reasoning was simple: he loved Alex because Ella had loved him. Natalia, who had no children, became a full-time mom overnight. It's the rare happy ending in a Dateline story.
Glenn Jackson called 911 to report his wife Ella missing and opened with 'this is not an emergency.' He said he personally didn't think anything was wrong, that his son was fine, and that he only called because he heard on a TV show you shouldn't wait to report someone missing. It's one of the most eerily calm missing-person calls on record.
This episode
Ella Jackson's husband, who made a suspiciously calm 911 call, was convicted of her murder, and took an Alford plea resulting in a sentence that could see him released by 2034.
The murder victim at the center of the Bluegrass Mystery case — a devoted Kentucky mother whose husband Glenn was convicted of killing her.
Ella Jackson's ex-husband and close friend who was briefly a suspect; his first wife Irina was also murdered in an unsolved case; he and his wife Natalia adopted Ella's son Alex.
Ella Jackson's young son, approximately six years old at the time of her murder; subsequently adopted by Jason Hans and his wife Natalia.
Jason Hans' first wife, murdered near a DC Green Line metro station over 20 years ago in a case that remains unsolved; Prince George's County Police are seeking tips.
Ella Jackson's adult son, whose urgent second 911 call launched the investigation; Ella had privately told him to suspect Glenn if anything happened to her.
Ella Jackson's neighbor and close friend who provided an exclusive interview about Ella's extraordinary devotion as a mother.
The 2002 series of sniper shootings in the Washington DC area that coincided with Irina Hans' murder, causing detectives to initially consider her a sniper victim.
Jason Hans' current wife, who agreed to adopt Ella's son Alex and became a full-time mother after Ella's murder.
The law enforcement agency handling the still-unsolved cold case murder of Irina Hans; actively seeking public tips.
The university where Glenn Jackson worked as a professor during the period he was under investigation for Ella's murder.
Referenced in the episode description as a resource for anyone experiencing domestic violence; 1-800-799-SAFE.
NBC's streaming platform where the full Bluegrass Mystery Dateline episode and the video version of Talking Dateline can be watched.
The state where Ella Jackson lived and was murdered, giving the Dateline episode its 'Bluegrass Mystery' title.
Stats
This episode
Factual claims made this episode, and whether a source was named.
Glenn Jackson called 911 to report his wife Ella missing and explicitly stated it was not an emergency and that he personally didn't think anything was wrong.
Philip, Ella's adult son, made a second 911 call approximately 24 hours after Glenn's, urging investigators to look into the disappearance.
Jason Hans' first wife Irina was murdered more than 20 years ago and her case remains unsolved.
Irina Hans' murder occurred during the DC sniper investigation, which initially led detectives to consider whether she was a sniper victim.
Irina Hans was found shot dead with nothing taken — no credit cards, no money — and a can of mace in her hand, with no sign of a struggle or assault.
Investigators believe the killer knew Irina Hans' route from the metro station to her apartment, suggesting the attack was premeditated.
Ella Jackson made close to 70 secret recordings of interactions with her husband Glenn.
Ella feared that Glenn's money and connections would allow him to gain custody of Alex if she left without sufficient evidence.
Ella Jackson explicitly told her adult son Philip that if something happened to her, he should look to Glenn.
Glenn Jackson made bond on murder charges and was placed on house arrest for five years before his trial.
Glenn Jackson took an Alford plea, which allowed him to acknowledge sufficient evidence for conviction without admitting guilt.
Glenn Jackson's sentence was short enough that he could potentially be released by 2034.
Glenn Jackson arranged a play date with a friend, removed both their phones to his car, and then confessed to killing Ella.
The lead detective's first interview on camera about this case was for the Dateline Bluegrass Mystery episode.
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