Episode
As Darkness Fell
41:59
Published: Tue Aug 03 2021
Description
Mark and Mary Beth Harshbarger had a passion for hunting. They were both excellent shots and rarely missed, until one tragic outing changed everything. Keith Morrison reports in this Dateline classic. Originally aired on NBC on April 22, 2011.
Chapters
A husband and wife, both excellent hunters, go on a hunting trip but things go wrong when the husband shoots what he thought was a bear causing a tragic event that leads to speculation about their marriage.
00:00 - 01:11 (01:11)
Summary
A husband and wife, both excellent hunters, go on a hunting trip but things go wrong when the husband shoots what he thought was a bear causing a tragic event that leads to speculation about their marriage.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Mark Harshbarger met Mary Beth while shooting competitively in rural eastern Pennsylvania.
01:11 - 04:44 (03:32)
Summary
Mark Harshbarger met Mary Beth while shooting competitively in rural eastern Pennsylvania. Their love story takes a dark turn in the end.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Mark Harshberger and his family have a close encounter with a black bear while on a hunting trip in Newfoundland.
04:44 - 11:14 (06:30)
Summary
Mark Harshberger and his family have a close encounter with a black bear while on a hunting trip in Newfoundland.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Marybeth Harschbacher mistakenly shot her husband thinking he was a bear, and left Newfoundland for Pennsylvania after the incident.
11:14 - 17:12 (05:57)
Summary
Marybeth Harschbacher mistakenly shot her husband thinking he was a bear, and left Newfoundland for Pennsylvania after the incident. The community in Newfoundland was impacted by what happened.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Mark Twitchell's family speaks up about his deteriorating mental state that ultimately led to the murder of Johnny Altinger.
17:12 - 21:49 (04:37)
Summary
Mark Twitchell's family speaks up about his deteriorating mental state that ultimately led to the murder of Johnny Altinger. His family shares how Mark's behavior had greatly changed, and his obsession with the television show "Dexter" added to his delusions.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Dean Harshbarger accused his sister-in-law, Mary Beth, of fatally shooting his brother Mark for revenge or insurance money, leading to a reenactment of the shooting by investigators and the discovery of Mary Beth's troubled past.
21:49 - 28:57 (07:07)
Summary
Dean Harshbarger accused his sister-in-law, Mary Beth, of fatally shooting his brother Mark for revenge or insurance money, leading to a reenactment of the shooting by investigators and the discovery of Mary Beth's troubled past.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Mary Beth Harshbarger's case was being reported as a murder/manslaughter charge, even though the charge being tried in court was different.
28:57 - 34:16 (05:18)
Summary
Mary Beth Harshbarger's case was being reported as a murder/manslaughter charge, even though the charge being tried in court was different. Due to public fascination, her attorney advised her to elect to be tried by a judge alone.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Mary Beth's charge of criminal negligence causing death could result in a long sentence, but the allegations of her being a dangerous and loose cannon did not make it to the trial.
34:16 - 39:07 (04:51)
Summary
Mary Beth's charge of criminal negligence causing death could result in a long sentence, but the allegations of her being a dangerous and loose cannon did not make it to the trial.
EpisodeAs Darkness Fell
PodcastDateline NBC
Mary Beth copes with rebuilding her life and raising her late husband's children after being in jail for months awaiting trial for his murder.
39:07 - 41:49 (02:42)
Summary
Mary Beth copes with rebuilding her life and raising her late husband's children after being in jail for months awaiting trial for his murder.