connie jones: he did.h mankiewicz: and sometimes it did leave a mark, like the time she says dwight broke her sternum. connie jones: he hit me with his-- ball of his hand in my chest. josh mankiewicz: and you didnt call the police? connie jones: i didnt. josh mankiewicz: because? connie jones: at that time i did not have a plan of exit. i was sleeping with a knife under my pillow because i thought he was so out of control. josh mankiewicz: by early 2009, connie said dwight was directing his anger, and threats, at their child. connie jones: particularly murder-suicide of himself and the child so that i would suffer the rest of my life knowing that my child is dead because i didnt do what he said. josh mankiewicz: connie knew she needed to get out. but she also knew a woman whod been killed while trying to leave her abusive boyfriend. so connie made plans to escape, in secret. connie jones: i start preparing to get some of my important paperwork to another location, some clothes and things that we might need

connie hoagland: yes. josh mankiewicz: that has to be heartbreaking. connie hoagland: yeah. it was.r think about leaving larry? connie hoagland: it never crossed my mind. in the church divorce is really frowned upon. if you can work it out, work it out. josh mankiewicz: how was larry at the hospital? connie hoagland: pretty standoffish. which was normal for us at that time. josh mankiewicz: the truth is there are a lot of bored husbands out there in suburbia. but few ever go on to try to assassinate their wives... and connie certainly didn't believe that was the case here. neither did detectives. josh mankiewicz: when you first meet larry, was he a suspect? robert luke: no. he was not. he was the victim's husband. we didn't really focus on larry that much. josh mankiewicz: and so ... eric stalnaker... the former bomb squad commander... remained on everyone's radar screen... he was constantly by larry's side at the hospital... and still wanting to pitch in on the investigation. stalnaker: i called some... an investigator friend of mine and said, hey, you know, can i come in and talk

on her side in the street. >> reporter: connie hoagland was >> connie was lying on her side curled up in a ball. i rolled her over, there was glass, there was shrapnel, there was shards of metal everywhere, everywhere. >> reporter: te derks -- teddi knew all the hoagland family cell phone numbers, and she was the one who broke the news. >> i was driving and there was an explosion and my mom's truck blew up. so i immediately pulled over, stopped and called my dad, asked him what's going on. what do we do? >> reporter: what did he say? >> he said, i just heard, too. i don't know all the details. >> reporter: the hoagland family gathered at uc san diego county medical center, where connie had been taken for emergency surgery. >> we got to see her rushed from the hallway into surgery. it was probably ten seconds. and i just remember telling her, i love you, and her being awake but kind of being out of it. and then that was it. the wires coming out of her and the bags hanging and the blood and all that, it was very, very shocking, taken aback. i almost felt sick. >> reporter: what did you

asian american women named connie by their parents at birth because of connie chung.is was the time -- this the topic of a fascinating op-ed in the new york times this week. it was written by a connie, the journalist and author of all my mother. joining us now is connie, hello. >> you for having me. >> welcome to the show, you said that your show you thought your name was unique, but then you recognize there were asian american women about my age, that were all named connie. >> i was one of the few asian-americans in my hometown, so the connie's i knew were mostly white women, and it wasn't until i was in california for the first time in my life and i was surrounded by asian americans my age, a lot of us were name connie. i realized i couldn't have my own email address with my name on it. and then i realized i wasn't alone. >> and then he started sluicing. -- sl did you start pursuing why there was an origin story and look into your own, perhaps? >> i started looking into and i thought, i was named after connie chung, and every woman i spoke to said so was i. i was le

>> connie: with whom? >> stephen: michael white. >> connie: mike white. i'll tell why i ask. there's a fan theory because in season 2, laura dern's voice appears in season 2 and there's a fan theory and check my math, fan theory that she's your character's sister. care to comment? >> connie: hmm. mmm. >> stephen: you're not going to start foaming at the mouth, are you? >> connie: did you know our birthdays are a week apart? >> stephen: you and me? >> connie: no, laura dern. same year. a week apart. >> stephen: so that's a yes? that's a yes. that is code for yes. here is something, you may not know. but you and i, it turns out, worked together. here is a cast shot from the old hit show "spin city." this is from 1996. i don't know if you remember this. but in 1996, i as a young actor i was a guest performer. that's me. that is rich kind. that's me about 50 pounds less than i weigh right now. it was the same week jennifer garner was on that episode. >> connie: oh, i totally remember jennifer garner being on the show. that was the same episode? >> stephen: sa

in this case, connie. >> the hoagland family holding a vigil by connie's bed type. luke pay them a visit. >> they asked if she had any enemies, if anyone would want to hurt her, or if we could think of anybody, and i couldn't think of anybody. there wasn't anybody. >> i'm guessing the only thing stranger that hearing that your mom is in a bit of mechanics lotion is hearing that it was not an accident, and that it was directed at her specifically. >> i said, what? i couldn't -- i didn't believe it. i couldn't understand it, and i just started crying, as i didn't know who could do that, would want to do that. >> but it made a strange case all the more baffling. at a san diego area high school addressed to one of their students. his name -- jonathan hoagland. back on san diego's bomb squad scrambling, and i got the towns attention. >> coming up. connie hoagland -- wife, mother, survivor. >> i remember coming out of the truck and putting in the key, and then kaboom. the police told me, this bomb was meant for you. >> but who is trying to kill her? when dateline continue

so connie? >> connie: yeah?pper punch? >> yes. >> seth: cheers you guys. >> connie: dapper punch? cheers, dapper men. >> that's going to fry. you know what? >> seth: that wasn't bad. you know what? >> connie: that is so good. >> i'm going to finish. i'm going to finish. >> seth: standing right here. >> connie: wait, look what i did while i was over here. >> the magic of tv. [ applause ] connie you did a -- >> seth: connie. >> it's a party. >> seth: what are you doing there? oh, no, no, no. you're not supposed to do that. [ screaming ] >> what the hell? what? >> seth: oh, my god, that is the final indignity for that chicken. >> how the bird comes down. >> seth: and now you're opening a new restaurant, too, yes? >> yes, street bird rotisseries in harlem, tons of fried chicken. but this weekend come to the party. it's going to be wonderful. i'm going to cook. can you hold that, connie? >> connie: no! >> i'm just going to carve up. i'm just going to carve this up. >> seth: all right, carve it. >> all right. >> conni

connie. story began at georgetown hospital in the summer of 1946, a year after her parents arrived in the u.s. from, china. she was her parent's 10th child. and the to be born in the u.s. connie lived on decatur street in the 16th street heights neighborhood. then her family moved to a home on warren street in tennessee town. she attended phoebe hurst elementary school, takoma park junior high and montgomery blair high school. every night, connie and her family watched the evening news anchored by walter cronkite. connie's father wanted her carry on, carry on and, carry forth. the family name and in history. those evenings gathered around the television, planted seeds for achieving that dream. shortly before graduating the university of maryland, connie got a at tv channel as a, quote, newsroom copy. it was there that she developed the foundational skills she'd carry through the rest of her career as a trailblazing journalist trailed blazing journalist for nbc cbs and abc. it was also there t

connie. story began at georgetown hospital in the summer of 1946, a year after her parents arrived in the u.s. from, china. she was her parent's 10th child. and the to be born in the u.s. connie lived on decatur street in the 16th street heights neighborhood. then her family moved to a home on warren street in tennessee town. she attended phoebe hurst elementary school, takoma park junior high and montgomery blair high school. every night, connie and her family watched the evening news anchored by walter cronkite. connie's father wanted her carry on, carry on and, carry forth. the family name and in history. those evenings gathered around the television, planted seeds for achieving that dream. shortly before graduating the university of maryland, connie got a at tv channel as a, quote, newsroom copy. it was there that she developed the foundational skills she'd carry through the rest of her career as a trailblazing journalist trailed blazing journalist for nbc cbs and abc. it was also there t

that's the mom, connie. just after she gave birth to son jonathan. >> look over here, guy, one, two, three. >> here he is six years later after losing a tooth. >> hey, jonathan, that's a great smile you have there. >> reporter: this is oldest daughter jill learning to play golf. >> that's a nice one, jill. >> reporter: and this is her little sister jaclyn. today the kids are grown. jill has a child of her own. jaclyn is married and jonathan has graduated high school. and looking back, the childhood they describe is one of stability and routine. >> just normal happy family, i say it would be. >> mm-hmm. we go to church on sundays. we'd have movie nights or family vacation that we had taken, usually disneyland, which is our favorite. everything was just as a family. everything was perfect. >> they loved each other and they had a good marriage. >> exactly. >> the patriarch of the hoegland family, larry, was a leader in the church and a professional photographer who can be heard offcamera gently directing his ch

>> connie did call 911, and a s.w.a.t.ounded the house, but dwight held his son hostage and wouldn't leave. >> my wife started this [ bleep] >> after an hour-long standoff, dwight finally surrendered. >> so as he walked out, the child was physically in front of him. >> like a shield. >> like a shield. he was inconsolable. i mean, as a mother to see your child in that distress, it's pretty devastating. >> dwight was arrested. and connie filed for divorce. often, that means the end of something. instead, it was just the beginning of the worst chapter in connie's relationship with dwight jones. >>> coming up -- connie reaches out for help. >> i had people full-time on the school where the son goes. if connie went to work, there was somebody with her while she was working. but would even that be enough to protect her from dwight? >> he told me that he would wait until my defenses were down and then he would get me. >> when "dateline" continues. sng at it's best taking metamucil everyday can help. metamucil psyllium fiber, gels

on her side in the street. >> reporter: connie hoagland was her best friend. >> connie was laying on her side curled up in a ball. i rolled her over, there was glass, there was shrapnel, there was shards of metal everywhere, everywhere. >> reporter: teddy knew all the hoagland family cell phone numbers, and she was the one who broke the news. >> i was driving and she said there was an explosion and my mom's truck blew up. so i immediately pulled over, stopped and called my dad, asked him what's going on. what do we do? >> reporter: what did he say? >> he said, i just heard, too. i don't really know all the details. >> reporter: the hoagland family gathered at uc san diego county medical surgery. >> we got to see her rushed from the hallway into surgery. it was probably ten seconds. and i just remember telling her, i love you, and her being awake but kind of being out of it. and then that was it. >> seeing her like that and all the wires coming out of her and the bags hanging and the blood and all that, it was very, very shocking, taken aback. i almost felt sick. >> reporter: what did

connie built a successful career as a radiologist.ing. by 2016, dwight spousal support had ended. so had the visits with his son. probably no longer had to see her ex husband in court, but she and rick remained hypervigilant. especially about her son. >> you don't get to say let's go to the movies, you have to scan the parking lot. >> in early june, 2018, when rick saw the news about the shootings of steep it and the two paralegals at will elizabeth feldman's offer him, he came to a conclusion. >> i was certain who it was. it's dwight jones. >> this first thought was, he had to find connie. >> i immediately started to texture to call me, start calling her phone, i'm getting no response. >> record about the murder and therapist karen kolbe's office and he became more concerned. after a tense hour, connie called back. she was okay. rex next call was to phoenix police. >> i explained who i thought was responsible, what his vehicle description was, where it was at, and had the three crimes teams were linked. >> it was just the tip the cos

>> connie did call 911 and a s.w.a.t.m surrounded the house, but dwight held his son hostage and wouldn't leave. >> my wife started this -- >> after an hour long standoff, dwight finally surrendered. >> so as he walked out, the child was physically in front of him. >> like a shield? >> like a shield. he was inconsolable. i mean, as a mother to see your child in that distress, it's -- it's pretty devastating. >> dwight was arrested and connie filed for divorce. often that means the end of something. instead it was just the beginning of the worst chapter in connie's relationship with dwight jones. >> coming up, connie reaches out for help. >> i had people full-time on the school where the son goes. if connie went to work, there was somebody with her while she was working. >> but would even that be enough to protect her from dwight? >> he told me that he would wait until my defenses were down ask th then he would get me. >> when "dateline" continues. it has it has you know if your plan is then he would get me. >> when "datel

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that's the mom, connie. just after she gave birth to son, jonathan. >> look over here, guys, one, two, three. good one. >> here he is, six years later, after losing a tooth. >> hey, jonathan, that's a great smile you have there. >> this is oldest daughter, jill, learning to play golf. >> that's a nice one, jill. >> and this is her little sister, jaclyn. today, the kids are grown. when we met them, jill has a child of her own. jaclyn is married and jonathan has graduated high school. looking back, the childhood they described was one of stability and routine. >> just a normal, happy family, i'd say it would be. >> mm-hmm. we go to church on sundays, we'd have movie nights or family vacations that we had taken, usually disneyland, which is our favorite. everything was just as a family. everything was perfect. >> they loved each other and they had a great marriage. >> exactly. >> the patriarch of the hoagland family, larry, was a leader in their church and a professional photographer who can be heard off camera

connie found out about the debt. she went to pavelka, told him that eric and she weren't gonna be able to pay the debt. i'm standing right here. she begged pavelka to forgive the debt. he told her it wasn't up to him, so she has to talk to the guy who gave pavelka the money for you...eric. his name is mike zancanelli. foster and reynolds are on their way over to talk to him right now. you know who this is? i've never heard of him. uh... did he say how connie found out about the loan? i don't know. he did tell foster that he wasn't surprised she came, 'cause she was always having to clean up your messes, apparently. that will do, torres. [beeping] why the guilt, eric? foster: that guy right there. well, it looks like him. the one in the black hat, right? yeah. [indistinct chattering] there's no way he's gonna say squat in front of his boys. well, then we'll have to take him back to the lightman group to talk to him. what? heh. how? look, look. this isn't even about saving my job anymore. most likely, that's gone. i've

connie: we were e-mailing. tom: from that moment on, connie ones one of us. connie: we were e-mailing back and forth and he said he had a story. nice and i have no memory anymore. i forgot it. i had to develop a little repertoire because there were so many of these things coming out every day read one time, i have to tell you roger mudd reminded me, he called me and he said, new york times, let's see, another one. at the time was working for la times. before he came to the post. i was i think at the biltmore hotel in philadelphia on the phone, on a phone. the old-fashioned payphone with the accordion glass door. in a big black payphone estate. so i was sitting there. i was actually talking to somebody who had been dating. they came up and pressed their noses against the glass and they were harassing me, that they were harassing me. they pushed their way in. i was sitting here, i could see the belt buckles. they were at that height. so to get rid of them, i pulled the flies down. [laughter]. roger said to me, did you do that. and i went, i think so. edwin: on

: connie was her best friend. >> connie was laying on her side curled up in a ball. i rolled her over. there was glass. there was shrapnel and metal everywhere. >> reporter: she knew all the family cell phone numbers and she was the one that broke the news. >> i was driving and she said there was an explosion and my mom's truck blew up. so i immediately pulled over, stopped, and called my dad to ask him what's going on. what do we do. >> what did he say? >> he said i just heard too. i don't really know all the details. >> reporter: the family gathered at uc san diego medical center where connie had been taken for emergency surgery. >> we got to quickly see her rush from the hallway into surgery. it was probably ten seconds and i just remember telling her i love you and her being awake but kind of being out of it. and that was it. >> seeing her like that and all the wires coming out of her and the bags hanging and the blood and all of that, it was very shocking and taken back. i almost felt sick. >> what did you think had happened? >> i thought her truck malfunctioned