Dateline Originals · Podcast summary
Five Miles From Home - Ep. 5: Let's Make a Deal
Tony Fratto's plea deal to testify against Cody Patton in the murder of Mickey Costanzo reveals a new, shocking version of events, raising questions about who was truly responsible.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 🤔Detective Burnham was stumped by the murder, unable to determine the primary aggressor or the motive, despite Cody and Tony being in custody.01:04
- 📱Cell phone records revealed 111 calls and texts between Tony and Cody over 10 hours, but a crucial 1 hour and 45-minute gap in Cody's phone activity on the day Mickey disappeared became a key focus.02:44
- 💬Tony's initial account to her lawyer described receiving a text from Cody saying, "I had her," and her immediate gut feeling of unease and not knowing what was happening.04:20
- ⚖️Cody initially accepted a plea deal to avoid the death penalty but later refused to implicate Tony, choosing to face a jury instead.06:24
- 🤝Tony accepted a better plea deal, agreeing to testify against Cody and presenting a new story where Cody forced her to witness and help commit the murder.07:51
- 🔪Tony's new testimony detailed Cody forcing her to hit Mickey, witnessing Mickey being stabbed, and helping to bury her, while insisting she was horrified and only Cody used the knife.14:07
Chapters
- 1:03Detective Burnham's Investigation
- 3:30Cell Phone Triangulation and Digital Data
- 7:00Tony's First Account
- 10:24Cody's Plea Deal and Refusal to Cooperate
- 12:31Tony's Plea Deal and New Narrative
- 19:04Tony's New Story: A Forced Witness to Murder
- 28:12Tony's Sentencing: Life in Prison
- 34:55Unanswered Questions and Lingering Doubts
- 39:50The Diaries: A Glimpse into Tony's Mind
- 47:04The Shifting Blame: Tony as the Mastermind?
- 53:38Cody's Sentencing: No Parole
The digest
This episode of Five Miles From Home delves into the dramatic twists and turns in the murder investigation of Mickey Costanzo, focusing on the unexpected plea deal offered to Tony Fratto and the subsequent revelations that completely altered the narrative of the crime.
The Initial Stalemate: Detective Burnham's Stumped Investigation
Detective Donald Burnham found himself at a dead end, despite Cody Patton and Tony Fratto being securely locked up and awaiting trial. Two major mysteries plagued his investigation: who was the primary aggressor between Cody and Tony, and why was Mickey killed? Burnham believed that one of them had to be more in charge than the other, and the motive for Mickey's murder remained elusive. Mickey was described as a smart, sweet, popular young woman who had never harmed a living soul, making her murder all the more perplexing.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 11-minute article, 10 more sections, and every new episode from Dateline Originals and the creators you follow.
- Unlocking the Truth: Cell Phone Triangulation and Digital Data
- Tony's First Account: A Text Message and a Gut Feeling
- Cody's Plea Deal and Tony's Refusal to Cooperate
- Tony's Plea Deal: A Better Offer and a New Narrative
- Tony's New Story: A Forced Witness to Murder
- The Sentencing: Life in Prison for Tony Fratto
- Unanswered Questions and Lingering Doubts
- The Diaries: A Glimpse into Tony's Mind
- The Shifting Blame: Tony as the Mastermind?
- Cody's Sentencing: No Parole
More from Dateline Originals
Five Miles From Home - Ep. 6: "Haywire"
In this episode of "Five Miles From Home," Keith Morrison investigates the murder of Mikaela Costanzo, focusing on the shifting narratives of Cody Patton and Tony Fratto, and the deep-seated jealousy and manipulation that may have led to the tragic event.
Five Miles From Home - Ep. 1: Mickie
In the premiere episode of "Five Miles From Home," Keith Morrison investigates the mysterious disappearance of Mickie Costanzo, a bright and popular high school student from the small desert town of West Wendover, Nevada.