Friday’s All-New Special Features Exclusive TV Interviews with Insiders Close to Former Cop Valerie Cincinelli
‘Hit List‘ Airs Friday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT
March 30, 2022 – Friday’s all-new Dateline NBC at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT will reveal new details in the case of former NYC police officer Valerie Cincinelli, who was accused of an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting her husband, Isaiah Carvalho. The two-hour special features exclusive TV interviews with those close to the case and Cincinelli, including her ex-boyfriend John DiRubba.
In his first TV interview, DiRubba speaks out about going undercover in an FBI sting operation and recording conversations with Cincinelli to expose her alleged plan, which also included killing his own 14-year-old daughter. He denied that he did so out of revenge, telling Dateline correspondent Andrea Canning, “It was Valerie’s own words that put her in jail. It’s her own voice, what she wanted to do. She could have stopped this at any time.” He added, “If you’re a police officer that upholds the law, you should say, ‘John, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?’ That should have been the only thing that should have been on that tape. What would I gain out of killing my own daughter?” Last year, murder-for-hire charges against Cincinelli were dropped and she pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
Click here to watch the exchange. The transcript is below.
During the two-hour special, Cincinelli’s attorney James Kousouros defends his client, telling Canning in an exclusive TV interview, “People don’t live a 34-year life as a decorated police officer, a college graduate, a good daughter, in every way shape or form, and then just all of a sudden wake up in the morning and flip a switch and become unhinged.” He added that Cincinelli was “clearly playing out this fantasy” during the taped conversations and that she “never believed” it would “come to fruition.”
Click here to watch the exchange. The transcript is below.
Additionally, Hit List features an exclusive TV sit-down with Isaiah’s parents Mary Ann and Patrick Roach.
INTERVIEW EXCERPTS
Andrea Canning: What would you say to anyone who thinks that, you know, you wanted revenge on her? That this was your way of getting back?
John DiRubba: It was Valerie’s own words that put her in jail. It’s her own voice, what she wanted to do. She could have stopped this at any time. If you’re a police officer that upholds the law, you should say, ‘John, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?’ That should have been the only thing that should have been on that tape. What would I gain out of killing my own daughter?
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James Kousouros: People don’t live a 34-year life as a decorated police officer, a college graduate, a good daughter, in every way shape or form, and then just all of a sudden wake up in the morning and flip a switch and become unhinged.
ANDREA CANNING VOICE-OVER: AND HE SAYS DESPITE WHAT IS ON THOSE RECORDINGS, VALERIE NEVER WANTED HER HUSBAND ISAIAH OR JOHN’S DAUGHTER KILLED.
James Kousouros: I have consistently said that she is clearly playing out this fantasy during these conversations, that she never believed would come to fruition.
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Now in its 30th season, Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. With new episodes on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, Dateline also airs across NBC, cable and in broadcast syndication, with hundreds of hours available to stream on Peacock’s Dateline 24/7 channel. The newsmagazine also reaches millions through its #1 podcasts, including The Thing About Pam and its showcast. David Corvo is the senior executive producer and Liz Cole is the executive producer.
For more information contact:
Dominique Donahue
NBC News
Dominique.Donahue@nbcuni.com
