Deadly Engagement
9
Episodes
4.6 / 5
Rating

Deadly Engagement

by NBC News

Category
True Crime
Frequency
Twice-a-week series
Language
English
Denita Smith was about to fulfill her dreams. Just months away from getting her master’s degree, Denita had recently gotten engaged to her college sweetheart. But her future vanished in a puff of smoke with one gunshot from a mysterious assailant. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz takes you to North Carolina for a twisted story of sex, lies and betrayal that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Listen Ad-Free with Poddly

Poddly automatically skips ads in your favorite podcasts.

Learn More

Recent Reviews

Outstanding storytelling

FNOMINL•8/12/2026

True to Dateline, story told well. I felt so for Denita’s mom and family! So senseless! I can’t believe that Shannon’s family won’t accept the truth! I’m not happy that the culprit creator of all gets to walk away and live his life! Dude is a prime example of how infidelity wrecks lives! I doubt he gives any damns!

I Have Questions

lrichoux001•6/23/2026

Only reason I give a 4 star is the fact that there are many unanswered questions… for example, can they not prove her voice recordings were fake? Answer the big questions please!! Other than this, I enjoyed the podcast.

Well-done!

WhimsicalRachel•5/29/2026

This was a really well done series. I had heard about it a long time ago, but never heard an in depth retelling. I feel so much for Denita’s family. But I really appreciated hearing her mom talk.

Aqua love ♒️

aqua love ♒️•5/20/2026

Great podcast love the show and the narrator 🩵💙💙

Great podcast

MrsL3thal•4/23/2026

Found this by accident and I really enjoy it! I tend to listen to true crime podcasts and this one was interesting and sad