Dateline Season 25 Episode 36 At the Bottom of the Stairs

At the Bottom of the Stairs is the 36th episode of the 25th season of Dateline, a primetime news show that investigates and reports on true crime stories. In this episode, Dateline delves into the mysterious death of a mother of two, who fell down a flight of stairs in her home in Connecticut.

The victim, Cindy Zarzycki, was a successful businesswoman who lived in a luxurious home with her husband, Bill, and their two children. On the night she died, Bill had gone out for a business dinner, leaving Cindy alone at home. When he returned, he found her lying at the bottom of the stairs, unconscious and barely breathing. He immediately called 911 and Cindy was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead a few hours later.

The police initially assumed that Cindy's death was an accident. They found no evidence of foul play, no signs of a break-in or struggle, and no motive for anyone to harm her. However, as Dateline investigates further, they uncover a series of disturbing details that suggest Cindy's death was not an accident but a carefully planned murder.

Firstly, Dateline interviews several of Cindy's friends and family members, who reveal that she had been unhappy in her marriage for some time. They describe Bill as controlling and manipulative, and say that Cindy had confided in them about his emotional abuse, financial control, and infidelity. They also point out that Bill had a financial motive to kill Cindy, as he would inherit her estate and a large life insurance payout.

Moreover, Dateline discovers that Bill's alibi for the night of Cindy's death was suspiciously flimsy. He claimed that he had gone out for a business dinner with a colleague, but the colleague denied this and said that he hadn't seen Bill for weeks. Furthermore, Bill's phone records show that he made several calls to a woman he was having an affair with, around the time of Cindy's fall.

As Dateline digs deeper, they uncover a web of lies and cover-ups by Bill, who seems to have carefully crafted a false narrative to make it seem like Cindy's death was accidental. They also reveal some surprising twists and turns in the case, including a possible motive involving Cindy's secret past as a successful poker player and gambler.

Through interviews with Cindy's family members, friends, and investigators, Dateline paints a gripping and emotional portrait of a woman who was beloved by many and whose life was cut short by someone close to her. At the Bottom of the Stairs is a true crime story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, as they watch Dateline peel back the layers of deception and reveal the shocking truth behind Cindy's death.