Where is Robert Neulander now? Details explored ahead of Dateline on NBC

While there may be no new episode of Dateline this week, the show is set to bring back one of its previous episodes involving Robert Neulander. The renowned doctor from DeWitt, New York, was convicted of his wife's murder in a highly publicized trial that went on for years.

This case is the subject of Dateline season 30 episode 27, which originally aired on May 20, 2024, and is set to re-air on Friday, December 27, 2024, on NBC. The synopsis for the episode, titled The House on Shalimar Way, 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."

Neulander almost escaped justice after the initial reports suggested that Leslie Neulander died from slipping and falling in the bathroom. However, insistence and work from Dr. Mary Jumbelic, a close friend of Leslie's, helped crack the case wide open.

Though Robert Neulander's first trial ended in a mistrial, the doctor was eventually convicted of Leslie Neulander's murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison, where he remains as of today.

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Who is Robert Neulander and what did he do?

Dr. Robert Neulander was a well-known and wealthy in DeWitt, New York, who had delivered the babies of many residents in the area. He was held in high regard around DeWitt and so was his wife, Leslie Neulander.

Robert and Leslie Neulander were married for over 30 years and lived in an 8,000-square-foot mansion in DeWitt with their two kids, a son and a daughter. The Neulanders would often contribute to charitable causes and it was potentially due to this that no one suspected Robert Neulander of killing his wife.

The local police received an alarming call on the morning of September 12, 2012, and upon arriving at the scene, they found blood in different areas of the couple’s master bedroom. Robert claimed he found his wife in the bathroom and called his daughter to summon the authorities. The police were initially satisfied with the explanation despite the excess of blood all around the house.

The medical examiner also ruled the death accidental and Robert seemingly got away with murder. However, the case was far from over.

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How was Robert Neulander arrested?

Various people, including Dr. Mary Jumbelic, a retired medical examiner and a close friend of Leslie, started asking questions about the murder. Soon, the authorities could see cracks in this perfectly built reputation of the veteran doctor.

Jumbelic took a detailed look at the injuries and soon alleged that this was not a mere fall and that other injuries that Leslie sustained were definitely not from slipping in the bathroom. The authorities also learned about the couple's troubled financial and marital conditions, which further pushed Robert to the periphery of suspicion.

Authorities also discovered a man named Nevin Robi, who was exchanging flirtatious texts with Leslie Neulander, giving a bigger motive to the veteran gynecologist. Apart from this, they also learned that Robert flew to Israel shortly after his wife's death.

Everything combined, the authorities took another look at the crime scene and another round of medical examination was performed. It all painted a picture that it was a homicide, after all.

Robert Neulander was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence and stood trial in 2015. Despite support from his family, he was found guilty.

His trial was declared a mistrial later but he was found guilty again in his second trial. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He remains incarcerated in the Elmira Correctional Facility in Chemung County, New York. He will be eligible for parole in 2038.

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The upcoming re-airing of Dateline will cover this case in detail.