Ep 69. The Devil and Bobbi Parker

In Dateline season 20 episode 69, titled "The Devil and Bobbi Parker," the show takes a deep dive into the case of a woman who disappeared from a western Virginia campground in 2002. Bobbi Parker, the wife of a prison warden, was the key to a high-profile escape that year, when two convicted killers slipped out of the prison and fled across state lines. The men were eventually caught, but Parker was also missing, and many believed she had been kidnapped or coerced into aiding in the escape.

For years, Parker's family and friends searched for answers, and the case attracted national attention. But it wasn't until nearly a decade later that the truth started to come to light. A man named Randolph Dial, who had been serving a life sentence in Oklahoma for kidnapping and other crimes, made a shocking confession. He claimed that he had abducted Parker and taken her to a remote cabin where they lived together for ten years.

In this episode of Dateline, viewers will hear from Parker's husband, Randy Parker, who describes the emotional rollercoaster of learning that his wife was alive but had been kept captive for so long. He also speaks about the strange and disturbing behavior of Dial, who ultimately died in prison before he could be tried for Parker's abduction.

In addition to interviews with Randy Parker and other key figures in the case, "The Devil and Bobbi Parker" features never-before-seen footage of the cabin where Dial allegedly kept Parker, as well as police video of her reunion with her family after she was freed. The show also tackles some of the broader questions raised by the case, such as how someone could manipulate and control another person for such an extended period of time, and what kind of trauma and recovery Parker and her loved ones may have experienced in the aftermath.

Throughout the episode, Dateline's signature investigative style and attention to detail will keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they follow the twists and turns of this real-life mystery. From the murky circumstances of Parker's disappearance to the shocking revelations about her captivity, this is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that sheds new light on a case that has captivated the nation for nearly two decades.