The upcoming episode of Dateline, titled “The Night Hannah Hill Disappeared“, airing on NBC on April 26, 2024, at 1:00 PM, revisits the tragic case of 18-year-old Hannah Hill, a former homecoming queen beloved by her friends and family. On a spring evening in 1999, Hannah disappeared from her home in Akron, Ohio, sparking a frantic search.
The episode investigates the details of Hannah’s disappearance, which remained a mystery for over a week until her body was found in the trunk of her car. The investigation centered on two men and a mysterious black bag, with police facing criticism for their handling of the case. Hannah’s boyfriend, Brad Osborne, initially came under suspicion due to a history of verbal abuse and physical violence towards Hannah. However, he presented a solid alibi, and evidence pointed elsewhere.
The police’s focus then shifted to another man, 20-year-old Denny Ross, a friend of Brad’s, who was the last known person to have seen Hannah alive. A search of his apartment revealed a garbage bag containing Hannah’s missing clothing. Despite protests of innocence and support from his father, Denny was charged with Hannah’s rape and murder.
The case took a surprising turn when a judge declared a mistrial due to jury misconduct, and Denny was released on bond. It wasn’t until 13 years after Hannah’s death that a second trial began, with prosecutors arguing that Denny had lured Hannah to his apartment, resulting in a fatal encounter. This time, the jury found Denny guilty on all counts, including murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
Dateline: The Night Hannah Hill Disappeared airs Friday April 26, 2024 at 1.00pm ET on NBC.
