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Dateline NBC aired an episode about Ira Bernstein called The Target. It’s Season 25, Episode 43, which aired on September 8, 2017. The story revolves around a love triangle: Ira, a podiatrist; his ex-wife Susan; and his new girlfriend, Kelly Gribeluk.
The official synopsis on IMDb reads:
“A love triangle between a podiatrist, Ira Bernstein, his estranged wife, Susan, and his new girlfriend, Kelly Gribeluk, takes shape.”
The episode explores the murder-for-hire scheme that unsettled people in Rockland County. If you're looking for a quick refresher, here’s everything you need to know.
5 harrowing details of the Ira Bernstein case as shown in Dateline
The wealthy doctor and his double life
On paper, Ira Bernstein had it made: a big house in Rockland County, fancy cars, a podiatry practice, three kids with Susan, and a good reputation. But scratch the surface, and his marriage was a disaster. Ira became involved with a patient, Kelly Gribeluk, which led to a series of events.
So, while everyone else probably thought Ira was living the good life, he was knee-deep in cheating, fighting, and a stack of real estate deals that made things even more complicated. Dateline included interviews and police footage that emphasized just how much Ira’s polished image was a cover for his unraveling life and love drama.
A calculated murder-for-hire plot exposed by a sting
Bernstein and Gribeluk’s plan to eliminate Susan failed. These two believed they could simply give $100,000 to some random person and have Susan hit by a car. The scheme started to fall apart when Gribeluk tried to involve a car salesman named Marckensy Louissant, who, as it turns out, wasn’t interested in murder.
Louissant quickly realized what was happening and went straight to the police. The officers set up a sting operation, and Louissant played the role of an undercover hitman. They were able to gather hours of secret audio and video recordings, including some chilling “go for it” messages.
Gribeluk flashed the word “Yes” on her phone screen during a meetup. That little move pretty much sealed the deal for both of them.
Greed and desperation: The true motive
Dateline highlighted the deeper motives behind the murder-for-hire scheme. Prosecutors and cops argued that he was just greedy. Ira had just signed a post-nup, handing over a big chunk of his money to Susan if they split. So instead of dealing with it normally, he supposedly cooked up this plan to kill his wife, according to prosecutors. All to keep his cash and silence her about some insurance scam he was tangled in.
But it gets even messier. Detectives said there was a secondary plot to attack two insurance investigators. So, he wasn’t just trying to get rid of his wife; Ira was determined to protect his money and reputation by any means necessary.
Repeat offender: A second murder plot
Dateline informed viewers about the shocking developments years after Ira’s initial conviction and release. Ira Bernstein, who had already served five years in prison for conspiracy, was released in 2021. Authorities say that by 2022, Ira was involved in new trouble, allegedly planning another murder against his wife. This time, he reportedly enlisted his sister, Jaclyn Goldberg, who is a lawyer.
Prosecutors say Ira tried to hire a landscaper to kill Susan, and when things went wrong, he and his sister reportedly hurried to destroy the evidence.
Now, Jaclyn, who’d never been involved in Ira’s shady business before, is facing felony charges for allegedly tampering with evidence.
The victim’s strength and legal activism
Trending After dodging multiple murder attempts and facing nonstop harassment, Dateline highlighted Susan Bernstein’s resilience. In New York, plotting a murder is categorized as a “nonviolent” crime. You can attempt to kill someone and still avoid immediate consequences. Susan was rallying lawmakers, victims’ advocates, and anyone who would listen, trying to close that loophole.
But she’s not stopping there. She has also sued Ira and his sister in civil court, aiming to recover damages.
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