and so, dalia dippolito, the real housewife of boynton beach, who became a worldwide reality tv sensation, was now in may w4222222. yes, really. >> that is all for this edition of "dateline". i am natalie morales, thanks for watching. for watching i'm craig melvin. >> and i'm natalie morales. >> and this is "dateline". he already told you the guys were flying up from florida. the black ops. at that point, it got a little scary. we are here to do a job, and they are going to kill someone. this is crazy. >> in a marriage, three is a crowd. >> you are seeing another woman? >> right. >> who do you think it? was >> chemistry. and chemistry can be explosive. >> it's your girlfriend, in the bahamas! >> this is now from hell.

>> enter the hitman. >> he is a name, i will bring you pictures of the person who you want to have killed. >> you say that you now feared for your own life? >> yes. >> a hit that could not miss? >> or a surprise to die for? >> they actually noticed a camera inside the car? >> a big moment? >> huge moment. everything took off real fast. >> no fairytale ending for this love story. it would end either in murder or prison. >> he says, my guys don't back down from a plan. >> hello, welcome to dateline. when ira bernstein and susan met on the college campus, they could not know the future that they would become college sweethearts, mary, start a family and that as their family grew, so it's something else. jealousy. they certainly could never have imagined the life they would

build over the years would be torn apart by a murderous scheme. here is andrea canning, with "the target". >> in this quiet, wealthy neighborhood, behind the gates of his lavish estate, a fuse was lit. newfound money lead to explosive fights, toured affairs, deadly secrets. and a wicked plot that disturbed even seasoned detectives. >> someone approached him, to be hired as a hit man. >> a scheme, with a twist. >> this is where this whole story goes a little bit off? >> yes, literally. >> the starring characters? i'm unhappy housewife. >> don't you worry, you are done. >> a luxury car salesman. a former morticians, and an aspiring model. >> it was horrible. >> and a prominent doctor. >> we were both scared, we did not know what to do. >> our story begins in rockland

county, new york, nestled along the hudson river, about an hour's drive north of new york city. the home of dr. ira bernstein, a well respected podiatrist. >> i've always wondered why someone chooses feet as a doctor? >> feet are extremely important, yes. >> he took us back to where it all began, penn state university, where he first met his future wife, susan. here they are, smiling, from the pages of their college yearbook. it was the mid 90s, when the couple bumped into each other at a fraternity party. >> she was so caring, compassionate. she was supportive of me, was there when i had to study long hours. >> sounds like you had a great relationship? >> it was. >> after college, susan worked towards her masters, and eventually, her doctorate in education. ira went to podiatrist cool. >> some of my most fond memories of that school, was spending time with susan. it was great, we go out for dinner for $20 and, we were both grateful. >> not a lot of money?

>> we had no money. >> a few years after that, in 2002, they got married. >> and, when you both said your vows, did you feel like it was right? >> i did. >> the couple decided to move back to rockland county, near iraq's home town. it was not long before they were raising three children. i rest as you work day and night, and they quickly paid off. he opened multiple foot surgery centers, and also invested in real estate. the couple was grateful for the good fortune. >> my house was 13,000 square feet, on 14 acres of land. and we had tennis courts, pool, pool house, lake, a doc, boats. >> did you have other houses? >> i had 20 different buildings, houses i would rent out. >> but ira soon realized, all that money came with problems. even with his success, he says he struggled to keep up with the cost of their extravagant lifestyle. but, he says susan had developed quite the appetite

for the finer things. >> i overextended myself, and then her spending amplified, to the point where 40,000 a month on her credit car was standard operating procedure. >> what was she buying? >> everything from vacations she will plan, clothes, jewelry. >> the way that ira saw, he was the one doing all of the working, well susan, a stay at home mom with a live in nanny was doing most of the playing. >> her days were filled with lunch dates with friends, spa appointments, mani-pedis, he started book clubs, cooking clubs. she would be out, literally four nights a week. >> ira claims he was lonely and resentful. >> you end suzanne hit a major bump in your marriage, when she discovers that you are seeing another woman? >> right. >> he says susan discovered the affair from messages she found on his computer. but instead of filing for divorce, they planned to stay

together, with unorthodox rules. >> we decided on an open marriage, and she could start dating people. >> he says it was an attempt at saving a marriage in shambles, and thought the open marriage was working. but apparently, his wife did not. three months after the new arrangement, ira says he was shocked when police came knocking on his door. susan had filed a restraining order. >> the sheriff gives me 20 minutes to pack my stuff, whatever i could grab. i am escorted out of my house. i wind up in my parents house, living in my old high school bedroom. >> ira says susan claimed he was physically and verbally abusive to her and the children. ira says, not true. >> i am the least abusive person in the world, i don't even discipline my children, okay? they walk all over me like i am a teddy bear. >> in fact, several months later, ira says, susan withdrew the restraining order, and wanted to reconcile. he agreed to try, but soon enough he says, the fighting

flared up again. and that is when a beautiful former patient reached out to him. >> she was calling me out of the blue, to say she liked to meet with me, if we could do business together. >> her name was kelly gribeluk, a woman with an eclectic career. a former morticians, now in the business of selling orthotics for shoes. sense ira was a podiatrist, she asked him to be part of her company. he agreed, and their professional relationship quickly turned personal. >> she completely understood me. like, i found someone who actually got me. and she has a sexy kind of look to her. >> wreaths physically attracted to him as well? >> of course. >> what do you think it was? >>... chemistry. >> kelly was a mother of three young boys who had gone through a traumatic divorce that left her family in tatters, something ira could relate to. >> he started to open up to me about his separation. we had share some intimate things, what we were going through, it was very similar. >> but as much as she cared for

ira, she says she felt it was more important that he give his marriage another shot. >> i wanted him to do what was best for their family, i truly loved him and thought, whatever would make him happy is what i wanted for him. >> so she says she stopped seeing ira, and even met with susan to tell her she had bowed out of the relationship. >> at the end of the conversation, she says if it does not work out with ira, i want to see you end up with him, i think you are really good. >> just a few months later, ira run back to you kelly. the reconciliation with susan was not going. well no one was happy. >> you are off with your girlfriend in the bahamas, we can get in touch with you, as a call your dad, your office manager. >> ira started to records susan, saying her anger escalated into threats. >> you are going to -- -- >> it was taking a big toll on him. >> he was having panic attacks, could not sleep at night, nightmares. >> what was that doing to you, watching the man you love go through that? >> it was devastating. >> someone in this heated love

triangle was getting desperate. >> coming up. >> a crowded marriage may soon be a little less cramped. >> she brought me a picture and said -- >> it picture of the target? >> along with a phone number for the target. >> someone is planning a hit, and it is all caught on hidden camera. >> while we're asking you to do is. >> she was a two? >> 200,000? okay. >> when "dateline" continues. n "dateline" continues i know a thing or two about cars. and, sometimes, buying them can make you tight in the chest. but with carvana, i can finally breathe easy, buying my car 100% online without any tense negotiation. smells like the internet. shop now at carvana.com. when i'm not racing, i'm personalizing,

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love triangle between the podiatrist, his estranged wife, and his new girlfriend, reached a slow burn, a new character entered the scene. a luxury car salesman. he says he got an unexpected visit from a former customer. she came into his office and asked the unthinkable. she wanted someone murdered. did she look like the kind of woman who would be coming in to hire a hitman? >> nowhere. not in 1 million years i would think that. >> his name is marckensy.

originally from haiti. a father of four. who had been selling cars for more than 16 years. >> the only thing i could ask is why? >> marckensy thanks she came to him because of an earlier conversation they had when he offered to help her with her marital problems. >> if you need any help, any kind of situation, we know a few people that could help you out. meaning that i have a friend of mine in the police station nearby. i always call for any reason, whatsoever. >> do you think she took what you told her the wrong way? i >> think she did. she believed that i would harm the guy. >> but he says he's no hitman. the woman was just hearing what she wanted to hear. >> she sound like she was so desperate to get this done. i think any little affirmation she would've forced herself to believe. it >> he says he played along. trying to see if she was serious. >> i told her that that's not something that i do, i could potentially get her in touch

with the people that could possibly do. it >> and did you have any background in law enforcement? >> no. >> you just a regular guy. >> a regular guy who hangs out with the cops, they cup a few things here and there. >> his unofficial police training kicked in. to make his story more believable, he says he got specific about the men he would use to do that. >> these guys are like top black ops. >> was she interested? >> she was. >> after she left, marckensy immediately texted his friend on the force. but got no response. in the meantime, to keep her on the hook, he arranged a second meeting. you can see them together on this castration security footage. >> she brought me a picture in a ziploc bag. a >> picture of the target? >> along with the phone number for the target. so, now, i come to realize that i do have something that is potentially serious in my hands. and i don't know exactly which way to go. >> finally, his friend cop friend called him back and directed him to ramapo, new

york, police. detectives robert fitzgerald and peter louzan were assigned to the case. >> the thing we needed to do was get marckensy's corporation. >> since the woman trusted marckensy, detectives wanted him to keep playing the role of the bad guy. he didn't hesitate. that's got to be really daunting? >> it was kind of cool. you know? that's like 007 type thing. >> detectives then devised a plan. they rigged his car with cameras and audio recording devices. >> the microphone was hanging over here. and under my seat here, i had a phone. >> and they asked marckensy to set up another meeting with the woman. the location? this large walmart parking lot directly across the street from the police station. we can literally see the police department. >> yeah, you can throw a rock and hit a police station. >> marckensy, the newly minted informant, alerted police the meeting was set. a team of detectives raced to the parking lot to get in

position. >> it's an intense moment because we know the case is just starting. and she actually gets out the car and gets into that car, were like, this is fantastic. >> as she got into marckensy's car, detectives could watch and listen to every word in realtime. >> it can be a robbery, it can't be shooting. it can be anything like. that >> but it didn't take long before she started talking money. how much to have the target murdered? >> should we say to? >> 200,000? okay. >> when can we get the deposit? >> the next day, detectives were watching when the woman met with marckensy again. this time, she suggested how the target should be killed? >> what about like, either a hit and run, like when she's getting out of the car. or like, plane accident. somebody backed up into her and, the guy says, i didn't see her. you know? plane accident. so there's no investigation. >> over the course of two meetings, the woman also managed to negotiate the price down to $100,000. >> so, we'll do it for? hundred >> and agreed to pay a

2000 dollar deposit. and then, asked about his refund policy. >> should i say, by the way, the deposit is refundable? >> so, who was the woman? well, you have already met her. yes, it was ira's girlfriend, kelly gribeluk. at her target? >> susan, susan bernstein. >> ira's wife. apparently his girlfriend had cooked up a cold blooded plan to end his marriage problems for good. but detectives fitzgerald and louzan didn't think kelly was working alone. >> we're thinking of a scenario. >> so they asked marckensy to push kelly for a meeting with her partner. and she agreed it was a good idea. >> i thought you said you guys talked it over, you guys minority. >> yeah, we did. >> and then it happened. later that night, they both showed up. >> who was kelly's partner in crime? and how far will they go to get the deed done? coming up -- >> listen, the money is not the problem.

i'll tell you right now. >> and together they have a new job for the hitman. >> i think once this is done, he'll feel more comfortable. to move ahead with that right we. >> this is a huge moment in our case. >> this is where this whole story goes a little bit hollywood? >> yes, literally. >> when "dateline" continues. >> woman: what's my safelite story? i see inspiration right through my glass. so when my windshield cracked, i chose safelite. they replaced the glass and recalibrated my safety system. that's service i can trust. >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪ ugh, these balls are moist. or is that the damp weight of self-awareness you now hold in your hand? yeah-h-h. (laugh) keep your downstairs dry with gold bond body powder.

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plot to kill susan bernstein, they became convinced that kelly gribeluk was not acting alone, that someone else was the mastermind. >> even if it is a hit and run. >> investigators have their suspicions about who that was, but they needed proof. and less than a week later, they got it, in a parking lot across the street from the police station, detectives were in their unmarked cars, waiting. >> all of the sudden, they're pulling. ian >> wright. >> who is the other person? >> that would be ira bernstein. >> incredibly, this was a man all of the detectives knew well. >> he is your police foot surgeon? >> yes. >> is that blowing your mind? that it is him? >> one of the funny things is, we are both patients of him. now, our concern is, will he recognize us when we do these surveillance is? >> rockland county assistant da, was on the case from the beginning. >> he got in the car with the informant. >> hey, how are you? >> and then, he started to talk about how he wanted his wife.

>> the lesser, you to know, the better. >> right. i agree. >> it was a game changer. >> was that enough to arrest him right then and there? >> no money had been exchanged. in new york, you need an overt act. and we had some stuff, but did not want to jump the gun on. this >> how are you? >> so they arranged another meeting. where ira bernstein would show again. he did not, but something big happened. kelly finally handed over money for the hit. >> so how much are we talking right now? >> to. >> a 2000 dollar deposit. >> nothing until you give the go ahead. he said just to be on standby. >> as detectives waited for ira and kelly to give the go ahead, this melodrama took a new turn. kelly added to new targets. >> she shows up to one of the meetings and says, it has not been committed yet, but he wants you to take care of to

insurance investigations. >> kelly did not ask for them to be killed, but beaten up. detectives believed this new job was a way to test marckensy, to see if he was the real deal. >> when kelly asked him, are you a police officer? >> you are sure you are not involved with police, right? >> she believes they don't think someone working with the police would actually have to innocent people just doing their job, beat up. >> and they were willing to quickly pay to get it done. kelly handed marckensy a brown bag filled with cash, 20 $500, half of the 5000 dollar fee. >> he wants to make sure they are out of commission for a long time. any possibility it could be done this week, or no? >> detective louzan reached out to the insurance investigators, and quickly discovered why they were the selected targets. >> i called them and said listen, i want to speak to you in person, not on the phone. >> they said we are coming to rockland, because we have to do an investigation anyways into ira bernstein. >> loose ends, as they were

investigating ira for insurance fraud, suspecting he had been illegally padding his insurance claims. >> how did these insurance investigators feel when you told him that there is this plot out to have you beaten up? >> they could not believe it. they were shocked, and then very concerned. >> the detective asked the investigators for their help. >> this is where this whole story goes a little bit hollywood? >> yes, literally. >> with the investigators, would they be willing to be actors for the day? a theatrical plant was in the works. >> this might sound crazy, but maybe we need a makeup artist, to make it looked like they were actually beat up. >> how did they react to this idea? >> one said, i have to talk to my wife first. but they agreed. >> police set up in this parking lot, or they had a few other undercover guys pretend to throw some punches. >> we took a lot of pictures, of them beating them up. we had to tell the investigators, don't overdo, it fight back a little bit. this is a huge moment in our case, and if they relieve this

ruse about the beating up of the investigators, then we could probably get to that big thing, where he is trying to kill susan. >> i think once this is done, he will feel more comfortable to move ahead with this right away. >> the pressure was now on the car salesman. he tested kelly to meet them in the usual spot. he had three photos, tucked inside a newspaper, ready to show her. >> we coach them ahead of time, no matter what, happens she probably want to take these pictures to era. no, we don't need him to come out, we need to study, to commit. no matter what happens, make sure the pictures stay with you. >> everyone was in place. waiting. kelly was late. and then, finally, she showed up. >> i am so sorry. you don't understand, i've been all over this world today. >> with his heart pounding, marckensy showed her the photos. >> those are the two guys. >> so he wants to make sure they're not gonna come to work with a broken leg next week. >> no. >> they are done. what did they do to them? >> the last that you know, the

better. >> she seemed satisfied. just as the detectives predicted, kelly asked to take the photos to show ira. >> i thought you're gonna bring these pictures as well. >> come on, that's better for you. not to have, them better for him not to have. them >> so they got -- they got both guys? >> oh yes. >> the salesman followed the detectives instructions perfectly. by then, he came up with an idea, all on his own. he knew lot enforcement wanted ira, so he told kelly to call him. >> hello? >> hi, how are you? >> hey, doc, you, you were on spirit with. me i can show them to her, but i don't want to give it to her, obviously. so. >> right. >> so he suggested to ira, that he could swing by his office to show the doctor the photos in person. >> we will come to the office, to the parking lot. >> yeah? will that be a good idea, or? >> hey, listen. you, you are the boss at this point, you know. >> okay, well, all. right so, why don't you come here? i'll try to run outside for a

minute. >> okay. >> all right. >> it sounded like the perfect plan. but is there ever really such a thing? >> coming up. >> there are a few concerns. >> what? >> red flags. >> did the sting just get stung? >> what's that little thing between the seats? >> are you on the edge of your seats, when he's pointing to that camera? >> this is, it we are done. >> when "dateline" continues. continues here. new aspercreme arthritis. full prescription-strength? reduces inflammation? thank the gods. don't thank them too soon. kick pain in the aspercreme. the airport can be a real challenge for new homeowners who have become their parents... okay, everybody, let's do a ticket check. paper tickets. we're off to a horrible start. ...but we can overcome it. we're not gonna point out our houses, landmarks, or major highways during takeoff. don't buy anything. i packed so many delicious snacks. -they're -- -nope. would you say, ballpark, when group two is gonna get boarded?

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ira bernstein and kelly gribeluk we're in love. but ira was afraid they're promising future could be jeopardized by his estranged wife, susan, who he believed without to ruin him. a murder for hire plan was hatched, with a catch. the hitman was secretly working with police. but now it looked like the undercover sting operation might be blown. was ira on to them? here's andrea canning with "the target". >> the investigation had entered its third week. had ira agreed to make marckensy, the informant, outside his medical practice. here are ira and kelly walking towards his car. >> the doctor comes out of his office wearing his scrubs. goes into the car. >> hey, how is it going. >> how are?

you >> marckensy showed ira the photos of the insurance investigators looking like they were being roughed up. ira immediately seems suspicious. >> they just happen to be standing right next to them. >> yeah, so i guess they're on break or something. >> and he's like, why are they wearing baseball caps and regular jackets? i said, i don't know. >> it really having to think on your feet? >> yes. >> one thing -- >> so marckensy started talking about keeping the photos. >> i don't want to give you -- >> i don't need them. what do i need them for? as long as this down and done correctly, just don't want them showing up at work. >> yes, exactly. no, no. it's all foolproof. >> at this point, ira seem satisfied. >> he's like, okay, good, good. >> it like it's a big relief. >> remember, he thinks they're fake now he's really going to think something is up. here >> the detectives had coached marckensy on what to do after he showed ira the pictures. >> ask him what's going on with the wife, or give him a deadline? say, listen, it has to be by

this time or we are walking away. but it has to be his decision. don't force him to do anything. >> so now the big question is, when is the next job? >> give me a week to think about it. the exact, all right? and then i'll give you the go ahead. >> i don't want it to be too pushy. >> i know, i know. >> i give you buy this. weekend >> okay, we'll, i'm going to be away for the weekend, actually. but at the end of the. weekend >> okay. >> then the good doctor said what law enforcement was waiting to hear. >> so i'll tell her if she gives you the okay, and then it came from. me >> too detectives ears, was ira admitting he was the one pulling the strings. not kelly. it was a critical moment. but just as they were ready to high five each other, ira turned around and pointed to something in the backseat. what's the >> what's a little thing here? >> he was looking directly at the hidden camera. >> are the you on the edge of your seats when he's pointed that camera? >> oh, yeah. are you kidding me? it was like, this is a. he's looking right at the

camera. we're done. >> but marckensy does a great job and says it's something for the kids games where they plug in. something >> the receiver for the headsets. >> that's the receiver for the? headsets >> receiver for the headsets. >> all right. all right. [laughs] >> crisis averted. then, without skipping a beat. ira moved on to the details of how susan should be killed. they agreed she would be hit by a car. >> nice and cleans. no problems. very smooth. >> very smooth. yeah, no worries. nothing. nothing is going to get back to you. >> okay. >> all right? >> detectives waited five more days. finally, kelly contacted marckensy. >> she calls, hey, let's have another talk. this is going to be the answer. it's either going to be yes or no. she shows up again in the walmart parking lot. this time, she doesn't get in the. car >> detectives were worried since ira has much of their hidden camera, he might have warned kelly to stay out of the car. so, is that came over?

>> no, it's not game over. because we have audio on marckensy. so -- >> what's up? >> there are a few concerns. >> but? >> right. likes >> life? >> kelly said ira had been checking up on the insurance investigators to make sure they had actually been beaten up. >> he called the hospitals and there are not in any hospital up there. >> okay. so what do you want me to do? >> you have to understand. he's a little worried. >> so now he's paranoid about what, now? the guys didn't get the? tough >> know that, maybe this is, just like a setup or something? or? >> come on, now. >> then, despite all of her reservations, kelly finally gave an answer about that hit on susan bernstein. >> okay. so the answer is this, -- >> we don't hear any answer because she is holding up the phone. she had typed the word yes inside the phone, so she wasn't going to verbally say it. >> but it didn't matter. detectives now had confirmation

ira and kelly we're in. and the date was set. they believed susan would be run over four days later. on thursday, may 5th, cinco de mayo. the prosecutor was now satisfied they had enough to arrest. them >> once kelly says yes and agrees to give him money, the investigation is for the most part complete. >> the police made plans for kelly's arrest in the walmart parking lot. and how did this go down? was it like a swathe suited situation? a couple of officers? >> well, there were several officers in plain clothes surrounding the area. but in just two officers who approached her. >> she was shocked. >> yes, she was shocked. i went to the door and i said, i believe you know what this is going to be about. >> when they brought kelly into the police station, there was another staged hollywood moment. they had handcuffed marckensy and put him in a holding room. >> she saw him in there. i saw her eyes meet his ice. all right, now she knows it. suppose it hit her. >> they were hoping she would

point the finger at ira. but it didn't work out that. way >> the honest with us, was that your money or was it ira's money? kelly, i understand. >> please don't make me. answer >> i know you and love him. i understand that. kelly, do yourself. favor okay? just be honest. this is that bad. to be honest? >> i'll be honest. i love him. >> a few hours later, on his way home from dinner in the city, ira was pulled over near his house and arrested. >> he was so nervous. he was shaking. he was saying, my life is over. my life is over. i think he said i just killed myself at that point. >> little late later on that night. >> i'll never practice. again >> ira and kelly we're charged with conspiracy and salutes solicitation to commit murder. you've heard law enforcement side of the story. but the couple has a very different version. >> there would would be killers say the tale of the tape has a major gap. because they were victims, to. coming up --

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"dateline". they shared how this whole murder for hire plot got started. for ira, it was out of desperation. >> things reached a horrible point. >> ira had a secret. he had been stealing from an insurance company, overbilling for medical entrances. he says his wife, susan knew it. >> the if you like susan was trying to blackmail you in any way? >> she was trying to blackmail everyone. if you look at me and say listen, i have broken into your emails. i have printed out and recorded all of your business dealings. and i am telling you now, if you don't give me everything i want, i will go to the prosecutor and expose you for everything, and put you in jail. >> remember, ira recorded susan threatening him. >> don't bother coming back. you are going -- to jail and -- court. >> ira claimed susan was using that information to pressure him into signing a post nuptial agreement, that stated if they divorced, he would give her most of her assets, fearing susan would make good on her

threats, she signed it. >> only a moron would have signed this agreement, if they were not under severe distress. >> so you are the more on? >> i am the moron. >> remember, this is ira's version of what happened. susan and her lawyer never responded to our repeated request to hear her sign. ira says it was during this volatile time, that kelly came up with the idea of hiring a hitmen. >> so kelly came up with this on her own? >> yes. i had a conversation with her about it, it was more fantasy, nothing legitimate to. it >> what is hard is that a respected doctor is capable of even going down this road. >> i don't understand it either. that was not me, that was a different person. >> you both actually crossed over from just thinking about it, to doing something about it? >> unfortunately, we did. and i was the one who put into motion. >> did you worry about those kids not having their mom? >> i did, i did.

>> but it did not stop? you >> know. >> why was this more important than those kids having their mom? >> because i saw someone, who i loved, being hurt. and it would not come to an end, she was never going to stop. >> did you both imagine life without susan? >> of course. >> and what was that life without her around? >> peaceful. >> despite her fantasy of a peaceful life, with susan out of the picture, ira and kelly claimed they had second thoughts. but, there was a problem. >> did you say to marckensy, we don't want to do this? >> yes, i told him. >> and what did he say? >> he said there is no backing out. >> in an impromptu meeting, where there were no police recordings, kelly claims that marckensy told her a terrifying story about another client of his who wanted out. >> he explained to me that he has to pick up a girl and bring her to the men, and they would feed them to alligators.

>> did you take that as, they could feed us to the alligators? >> absolutely. >> he made it very clear, that we were going to be fed to the alligators if we did not get through with this. >> you did have another option, you could've just paid them the money and walked away. >> we thought about, that it was $100,000 he wanted at that point. i don't think they would have went away, and we both came to this conclusion. >> wouldn't it be easier, then not killing someone, to walk away and take the money? >> yes, but at the time, we didn't feel like that was an option, that they would stop. >> despite their fears, kelly says she and ira decided to back out anyways. >> we both came to our census and thought, this is crazy. we are not doing this. >> i think people will have a hard time believing that you really did not want to go through, after everything you had done to set this plan in motion. >> if we really wanted to do this, he would have been paid. >> coming up with $100, 000, for me, would have been a piece

of cake. if i wanted it done, it would have been done. >> ira did admit to paying to have those insurance investigators beat up. >> that was the worst decision of my life, which was to put the welfare of myself, above the welfare of those investigators, and to allow them to be subjected to getting hurt. >> what would you say to them? >>... i don't even know what i could say to them. what i did was disgusting. thank god, this was all a sham and nothing happened. >> did you ever think that you could've been part of a sting operation? >> you know? the weird thing was i almost was hoping it was a sting operation at that point, because i wanted out of this so badly. >> why should people believe you? people could think yes, he is just trying to change his story now, because he got caught. >> anybody who knows me knows i am not a violent person. and i really believe that susan, who knew me for 23 years, even she knows, there is no way i

would've ever let this happen. >> the prosecutor thought that ira was lying. to prove, that he wanted kelly's help, but at first, she refused to cooperate. but then, a potential crash in their relationship was spotted by moran. ira got jail times, and kelly, still behind bars. >> why did ira not bail her out? >> you might have to ask him, she might have the same question. >> this was moran a's chance to parents. he knew kelly was angry, and hoped he would finally agreed to roll on ira, so he offered her a plea deal. in exchange for testifying against ira, he would get 12 years in prison with a chance for parole in for. her attorney, jonathan ripps explains why she took video. >> if she were committed after trial, i'm fairly confident the judge will give closer to max, which we 30, 25 years. and that is an awfully long time. >> a plea deal felt safe?

>> anything involving state prison, that is years in length would be an ugly number. the alternative, would've been much more drastic. >> with the plea in place, kelly was all set to be the prosecution's star witness against ira. but in this twisted tale of greed and lies, could anyone be trusted? >> coming up. answering for the past. >> did i know it was wrong? >> and thinking about the future. >> some people call this a twisted love story. >> i think it is true love. >> when dateline continues. hen dateline continues brilliant. crest 3d white brilliance. 100% stain removal, 24 hour stain resistance to lock in your whitest smile. crest. the #1 toothpaste brand in america. trelegy for copd. ♪ birds flyin' high, you know how i feel. ♪ ♪ breeze drifting on by you know how i feel. ♪

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ira bernstein and his girlfriend kelly gribeluk, were caught on tape putting the contract killing of iran's wife, susan. kelly had agreed to a plea deal requiring her to testify against ira. but now prosecutors started to wonder where the bonds of love stronger than their agreement. here with the conclusion of "the target" is andrea canning. >> as the case headed towards trial, it looked like the estranged lovers would point fingers at each other. kelly was now cooperating with the prosecution. and ira's defense? to throw his girlfriend under the bus. he claimed he never gave the go ahead to have his wife murdered. and says that was all kelly. >> she came home on that

evening and she told me, she had to tell him. yes >> so, she went rogue on you, you're saying? >> pretty much. >> rockland county prosecutor richard moran wasn't buying it. he said the evidence told the real story. >> when you look at the meetings and you listen to them, kelly couldn't make one decision. was ira the one calling the shots. was she the person who was the conduit, sure? but in the end, had ira a goal. >> this was all about money in your ice? >> yes. >> he believes ira had no intention of honoring that post-nuptial agreement where he consented to give susan most of their assets if they divorce. >> ira bernstein was a man who wanted to keep everything that in his eyes he worked so hard for. and he was going to do what he had to do. whether it be have the insurance investigators beat up, or having his wife killed. >> the cornerstone really of the defenses cased was that try

ira to call it off at the end. but that they were threats, if you don't go through with this, harm will come to you. >> that simply not the case. in fact, after they claimed but they arrest they actually hired him to do the other job to beat up the two men. >> and he says nowhere on the tapes or in text messages did ira and kelly say they changed their minds about killing susan. >> even if they did change their mind, they never call the police to tell the police, hey there is a hit man out there hire to kill susan. they never called susan to, say watch out. they did nothing. >> and but moran says there was another indicator ira and kelly intended to go through with the murder. >> on the day that kelly told marckensy yes, she made reservations on may 5th. and that was the day susan was going to be run over. >> may i help? you >> hi, i need i made reservations last night for cinco de mayo and i wasn't sure

if i told you 7:30 or 8:00. >> it's an alibi. kellyanne ira wanted everybody from work to see that they were with them, acting normal. when susan got killed. >> as a trial date drew closer, moran was feeling pretty good about his case and his star witness. but there was a hitch. after kelly got out of jail, instead of rolling on ira, she moved in with him. kelly seems like she has this fierce lawyer loyalty to ira. >> she certainly does. >> kelly was now too much of a wild car card. so instead of going to trial, the prosecutor offered ira a deal. 15 years in prison, eligible for parole in five. >> it was a real defense hearing. >> ira attorney's jeff millman, says even though he believed ira had a strong defense, he knew going before a jury could be a gamble. >> here you have to people who've been talking about planning a murder and then you're supposed to take their word for that they were trying to call it off. >> it's one of the obstacle of trial. absolutely.

>> and there were ira's other charges. insurance fraud and ordering the assault on those investigators. so he accepted the deal and pleaded guilty to grand larceny and conspiracy involving the plot to kill his wife. >> we resolved everything with the plea. the financial investigations, all crimes alleged to have been committed. >> as for his estranged wife, susan? the intended target? she didn't find out about a plot until after liz ira arrested. >> she was not surprised. >> susan had the opportunity to see her piece at ira's sentencing. she requested not to be on camera. >> ira is evil and cold hearted and a narcissist. the only remorse ira has is that the murder did not occur. he is the scariest type of criminal. smart, with no remorse. >> but ira says he is remorseful for, all the pain he has caused his family. especially his children. >> i love my children very

much. well i did was wrong. i will spend every day for the rest of my life making it up. to them. >> ira and kelly are now living 300 miles apart in his and her presence. so, how will this saga and for them? it depends on who you ask. >> i don't know where this is going to go. i know i still care about her lock. hopefully we can get through this. >> the only good thing that came out of this was that we've both come to the realization that we really love each other. >> some people call this a twisted love story. >> i think it's true love. >> and marckensy, the car salesman who played the role of a lifetime says he's happy for the hollywood ending. the good guys one. the detectives and the prosecutor said that you are the hero in this. do you feel that? >> no. not at all. i felt like, you know what? that was the right thing to do.

being a hero, they are the heroes. they go out there every day. not me. >> that's all for this edition of "dateline". i'm natalie morales. thanks for watching. >> first up on msnbc, all across the country, covid cases are rising as the delta variant takes hold of the nation. the biggest effect is being felt in the sunshine state, breaking a new record. after the governor downplayed the spread. >> positive, as someone who's vaccinated, and then you have a very mild situation? that is not something you would shut down society for. it is not something you should shut schools down. for what we tried to do in florida,