Dateline: The Stranger, April 18, 2024, NBC

In this episode of classic Dateline, titled “The Stranger,” Keith Morrison reports on the disappearance of Brittany Tavar, who vanishes from her home along with her dogs, leaving her loved ones baffled and concerned.

The episode, which originally aired on NBC on March 17, 2013, delves into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Tavar’s disappearance. Friends and family members are left searching for answers as they try to piece together what happened to the 45-year-old woman who lived alone in a beach house in St. Augustine, Florida.

Tavar was last seen on the evening of July 6, 2010, when she attended a neighborhood party and later stopped at a gas station around 9:00 p.m. to refuel her Toyota Rav4. Her friends checked on her house, which appeared normal from the outside, but they noticed a strong smell of cleaning products, particularly bleach. Tavar’s two small white bichon frise dogs, Ku Bear and Huey, were also missing, raising concerns as she would not typically leave them alone.

The police were initially not involved as there was no evidence of foul play, but Tavar’s friends informed them that she had been worried and afraid due to a dispute with her neighbor, Ann. The two women had a falling out when Ann needed to make room for her boyfriend, leading to a physical altercation and battery charges against Tavar. Tavar was due in court regarding a civil suit against Ann, but she never showed up, adding to the mystery.

The investigation took a turn when authorities discovered that a man named Joseph Dean Roberts, who had recently been staying with Tavar, was also missing. Roberts, a drifter, had met Tavar at a Barnes & Noble bookstore just a few weeks before her disappearance. He told her he was homeless after losing his job, and she kindly offered him a place to stay. However, Roberts had a history of mental health issues and angry outbursts, and he was wanted in connection with grand theft auto and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Tavar’s credit card transactions were traced to multiple states, and on October 12, 2010, Roberts was arrested for shoplifting in Seattle. He eventually confessed to the murder of Tavar, revealing that they had argued about a DVD she wanted him to make for her court case. He admitted to hitting her with a hammer and cutting her throat. Roberts led the police to Tavar’s body, which was found in a wooded area off State Road 207.

The episode, “The Stranger,” sheds light on the disappearance and tragic death of Brittany Tavar, highlighting the impact on her loved ones and the eventual resolution of the case.

Dateline: The Stranger airs on NBC at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 18, 2024.