The Player

Dateline NBC

  • Jun 30, 2021
  • 41:48
  • Full Episode
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It was a double murder that was both shocking and puzzling. There were no witnesses, and few clues. The victims were a respected couple. Their son, it turned out, played poker for a living. Could that lifestyle have had something to do with it? Keith Morrison reports in this Dateline classic. Originally aired on NBC on December 28, 2011.

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Brief Summary

A poker player's double life leads to the shocking murder of his parents and a complicated investigation.

Key points

  • The Mystery of Ernie Shearer. Ernie Shearer, a professional poker player, has a complicated past that raises suspicions.
  • A Shocking Double Murder. A respected couple is found brutally murdered in their home, shocking the community.
  • Adrienne's Heartbreak. Adrienne Solomon learns the truth about her ex-boyfriend Ernie's double life.
  • Ernie Shearer Charged with Murder. Ernie Shearer III was charged with two counts of murder after a lengthy investigation.
  • Trial and Evidence. The trial revealed circumstantial evidence against Ernie, including a suspicious cash purchase.
  • Guilty Verdict. Ernie Shearer III was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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