Dateline's most recent episode, Secrets in the Ashes, aired on NBC on January 23, 2026, and it presented an extremely disturbing case. The episode followed the death of a 31-year-old wife and mother, Patricia Leigh Mills, who died in a house fire in Goliad, Texas, on June 25, 2003. The initial investigation ruled her death an accident, and the case was closed. But when the case was reopened years later, evidence showed that it was actually a premeditated murder.Through interviews and case records, the Dateline episode shows viewers how Patricia died a gruesome death at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect her.5 harrowing details about Patricia Leigh Mills' murder as reported by DatelineHere are 5 harrowing details about Patricia Leigh Mills' murder that make the case one of the most disturbing ones explored on the show.1. A deadly fire that raised Quiet DoubtsThe home where Patricia Mills lived with her husband and young son caught on fire early in the morning on June 25, 2026. Neighbors immediately contacted authorities, who sent firefighters to extinguish the fire, and they found Patricia's deceased body inside the house. Her death was declared as an accident at the time, and the case was closed. Patricia's six-year-old son had escaped by jumping out of the house and was unharmed. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAs Dateline reports, the case was reopened almost ten years later on the insistence of Patricia's family, who wanted justice. The new investigations revealed that Patricia had died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, proving that she was alive when the fire had started. Patricia's husband, Delbert, was at work at the time of the fire, which gave him an alibi. However, since he was a registered s*x offender and had previously threatened Patricia multiple times, the investigators considered him a prime suspect.2. Signs of abuse in Patricia's marriageAs Dateline highlighted, there were issues in Patricia’s and Delbert's marriage long before the fire burned down their house. When investigators reopened the case years after the fire, family members and friends claimed that the couple argued frequently. Some of those claims even included Delbert being physically abusive to Patricia during heated arguments. Although these claims were ignored at first, they became critical information when detectives reopened the case.3. An Affair and an UltimatumOne of the most harrowing details of the case, as covered by Dateline, includes Delbert’s alleged affair. Patricia reportedly learned that he was seeing another woman named Allison just weeks before the fire. She had then asked him for a divorce. According to witnesses, Delbert responded by threatening Patricia. He allegedly told Patricia he would rather kill her than go through a divorce or pay child support. View this post on Instagram Instagram Post4. Financial Gain After TragedyDateline also followed the money trail that led to Patricia’s death. Delbert was listed as the only beneficiary on her $15,000 life insurance policy. Investigators found that much of that money was spent on a new truck soon after the fire. Within a short time, Delbert married Allison and handed over custody of his son to one of Patricia’s relatives. Prosecutors argued that this showed he was more than eager to move on, benefit from Patricia's life insurance, and begin a new life, which was extremely suspicious.5. Confession and ArrestAs revealed on Dateline, several witnesses later claimed that Delbert bragged about knowing how to start a fire that could not be traced. These statements led authorities to question him again in 2011. During the interrogation, Delbert confessed that he was the one who started the fire after he had a bad fight with Patricia. The police arrested Delbert in December 2011 on charges of murder.Delbert went on trial in January 2013. The prosecutors showed evidence of motive, abuse, and financial gain, while the defense argued that his statements were just jokes. The jury found Delbert guilty of capital murder on January 17, 2013. He is now spending a life sentence in a Texas prison and will be eligible for parole in 2041. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostNew episodes of Dateline premiere on NBC Fridays at 9 pm ET/PT.For more articles like this, follow SoapCentral.