5 chilling details about Leslie Neulander's murder

Leslie Neulander's murder shook the close-knit community of Dewitt, New York in 2012. A well-reputed doctor brutally murdered his philanthropist wife and nearly got away with it on the power of their shared reputation in the community. It took nearly a decade to deliver justice in this case.

With no new episode of Dateline airing this week, the famed NBC show will return with one of its classic episodes covering the case of Leslie Neulander's murder on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 9 pm EST. The synopsis for the case reads:

"When Leslie Neulander dies after what appears to be an accidental fall in the shower in her New York home, two friends join forces to seek justice on her behalf; insiders speak out on the latest twists and the final chapter in the case."

This case is filled with chilling details that will appeal to the majority of true crime fans. Ahead of the episode, let us delve into five such intriguing details.

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Five intriguing details about the murder of Leslie Neulander

1) Leslie Neulander's murder was confirmed to be an accident first

Not only did the authorities initially believe Robert Neulander's version of what happened with his wife, but the medical examiner, too, deemed the death accidental. It was alleged that she slipped and fell in the bathroom.

All this while, there was an alarming amount of blood in the house. But it was not noticed till someone else intervened.

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2) Robert Neulander could have gotten away with the murder without the involvement of Dr. Mary Jumbelic

Dr. Mary Jumbelic was key in cracking the case (Image via Pexels)

Dr. Mary Jumbelic, a retired chief medical examiner and a friend of Leslie, was crucial in cracking the case as she first got suspicious when Robert was planning to leave for Israel following Leslie's death.

She came out of retirement and examined the crime scene herself, only to be sure that this was clearly not a case of someone falling and dying. She provided multiple inconsistencies in the original examination.

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3) Soon, authorities found multiple cracks behind the reputed doctor's perfect image

One of the reasons Robert Neulander seemed to not be a person of interest was due to his seemingly perfect life. However, authorities soon found evidence of a troubled marriage. They also discovered that Robert was embroiled in litigation with an insurance company over billing practices that had cost him millions.

Their marriage was also on the verge of breaking and Leslie also reportedly exchanged flirtatious texts with a younger man.

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4) A small but significant testimony from the housekeeper further titled the balance against Neulander

Leslie's murder was originally deemed accidental (Image via Pexels)

While everything was going against Neulander at this point, two significant developments took place.

The couple's longtime housekeeper claimed that the bedsheets they found when Leslie was found murdered weren't the same that she had put on that day. She also claimed a pillow was missing. This firmly established evidence tampering.

Authorities went on to check the bedroom again and discovered blood pooled on the subflooring. This was enough to suspect Robert Neulander of murdering his wife.

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5) Robert Neulander was found guilty in two different trials for the murder of Leslie Neulander

Robert's first trial was judged a mistrial even though he was found guilty by unanimous votes. He went on to stand trial again in 2022, where he was found guilty again and sentenced to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder.

He remains incarcerated at the Elmira Correctional Facility in Chemung County, New York, as of today.

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The upcoming episode of Dateline on NBC will cover this case in more detail.