called ghost kitchens, but how do you know where your food is really coming from here's nbc's valerie castro >> reporter: last month, ryan benson had a late night craving and picked up a delivery app to place an order >> i thought this was artisan grilled cheedz i was like, i'll try it >> reporter: he learned that his order from the meltdown was not the small restaurant he thought it was the meltdown turned out to be a virtual restaurant >> i feel like i've been catfished by denny's. they put out a fake profile where they were the meltdown. and it was really just a chef in a denny's. >> reporter: it's all owned by the corporate diner chain. that online menu only available through the apps a denny's spokesperson says the company prioritized transparent si, pointing out the connection is disclosed on the meltdown's website ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants became a way for small businesses like food trucks to expand their reach, but some say it's gotten out of control. >> i think a lot of it, with anything in business, i feel like it totally got oversaturated for a minute there >> reporte

and i have to care for them before i can care for others. >> reporter: valerie castro, "nbc news daily>> new details are emerging in the case against the suspected killer of those four idaho college students. the defense team for suspect bryan kohberger is requesting a surviing roommate testify at a preliminary hearing saying she may have information that could clear his name. nbc'sial la charles has more. >> reporter: a bumpy start to a lengthy court battle from the defense team of alleged idaho murder suspect bryan kohberger. his team attempting to force a surviving housemate of the four slain students to testify in his defense at a preliminary hearing in june. that roommate, bethany funk, is fighting against it filing her own motion to quash it. >> there's a good chance the judge will quash the subpoena because the net effect of the witness may be to terrify her, even if that's not the intent. >> reporter: it's unclear when the judge will make a decision. according to an affidavit she was in the first floor bedroom during the early morning of the murders on november 13th. a criminal

here's nbc news correspondent valerie castro. >> reporter: it's been just over six weeks since formerarolina attorney alex murdaugh became a convicted killer after a jury found him guilty on all charges. >> guilty. >> reporter: in the fatal shooting of his wife and son. now in an interview jim griffin is providing new details on how alec is handling life in a maximum security prison. >> he would rather take his chances on the yard than rot away in a cell. >> reporter: griffin revealing murdaugh has been living in protective custody but now wants to be in the general prison population, even after receiving threats from within the prison walls. >> you think he's got a little bit of a death wish? >> absolutely not. he has been a man who has been sober and he has been rational and he plans to continue. he looks forward to the day of getting out of prison. >> reporter: murdaugh who has always maintained his innocence is currently appealing his murder conviction and griffin says he's got support from some who watched the highly publicized trial. >> i have here 90 letters from people in over