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“A Perfect Spring Morning”: Dateline Reports on Leslie Preer Homicide October 17 2025

Ryan Gill

NBC’s Dateline returns with a harrowing case that remained unsolved for more than two decades. Airing Friday, October 17, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET, A Perfect Spring Morning revisits the brutal murder of Leslie Preer, a devoted mother and respected member of the Chevy Chase, Maryland community. The two-hour episode, reported by Blayne Alexander, explores the long journey from tragedy to justice and the forensic tools that ultimately brought closure to a grieving family.

The Murder of Leslie Preer

On a spring morning in May 2001, Leslie Preer was found dead inside the shower of her Chevy Chase home. The 49-year-old mother and legal assistant failed to show up for work, prompting concern that quickly escalated when police arrived and discovered a violent crime scene. Leslie had been beaten and strangled. Her head showed evidence of blunt force trauma. Blood pooled on the floor, and the home showed signs of a struggle.

From the outset, detectives suspected foul play and interviewed several potential suspects, including Leslie’s husband, Carl “Sandy” Preer. Despite thorough questioning and a polygraph examination, no arrest was made. The crime scene yielded a partial DNA sample under Leslie’s fingernails, but the DNA didn’t match anyone in law enforcement databases. With no clear motive or suspect, the case soon went cold.

A Family Torn by Tragedy and Suspicion

The murder devastated Leslie’s daughter, Lauren Preer, who was just 15 at the time. Not only had she lost her mother in a brutal fashion, but suspicion quickly turned to her father. Sandy Preer admitted that the marriage had been strained and that Leslie struggled with alcohol. He also failed a polygraph, which only deepened the doubts.

Despite the lack of charges, Sandy’s behavior raised eyebrows. On the day of Leslie’s murder, he said he had run errands at multiple locations, which detectives later described as appearing to establish an alibi. Neighbors reported unusual activity at the house the night before—lights were on in every room with the drapes drawn. The community, already shocked by the crime, watched as the family silently bore the weight of public suspicion for years.

A Cold Case Revived by Genetic Genealogy

In 2022, Detective Tara Augustin joined Montgomery County’s cold case unit and, alongside Detective Alyson Dupouy, began reviewing the Preer file. Their fresh examination focused on the unidentified male DNA found at the scene. At the time of the original investigation, no match had been found in CODIS, but new advances in forensic genetic genealogy offered a new path forward.

With help from Othram, a company specializing in forensic genealogy, the team developed an enhanced DNA profile. The sample was uploaded to public genealogy databases, and a familial match surfaced in Romania. From that match, investigators built an extensive family tree, eventually identifying Eugene Teodor Gligor as a first cousin twice removed of the DNA contributor.

Gligor, it turned out, had dated Lauren Preer as a teenager. He was also a familiar presence in the family home during that time. His DNA had never been collected, which meant he remained off law enforcement’s radar for over 20 years. Investigators obtained a DNA sample from a discarded water bottle Gligor used at Dulles Airport. Tests confirmed the match.

The Arrest and Guilty Plea

Gligor was arrested in Washington, D.C., and extradited to Montgomery County. Under interrogation, he initially denied any role in the crime. However, facing overwhelming forensic evidence—including DNA under Leslie’s fingernails, indicating a struggle—he later agreed to a plea deal.

In May 2025, Eugene Gligor pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence of premeditation to pursue a first-degree murder charge, but they asked for a sentence above Maryland’s guidelines. During sentencing in August 2025, seven of Leslie’s family members, including Lauren, delivered powerful victim impact statements. Gligor apologized in court, stating he had been using alcohol and cocaine at the time and had no memory of the crime beyond waking up at the house.

Judge David Lease sentenced Gligor to 30 years in prison, with all but 22 suspended, followed by five years of supervised release. He has since filed a motion for reconsideration of his sentence.

Clearing the Clouds of Doubt

One of the most significant impacts of the arrest and conviction was the full exoneration of Leslie’s husband, Sandy, who had died in 2017. For years, Sandy lived under a cloud of suspicion, despite no physical evidence linking him to the crime. Detectives Augustin and Dupouy made it a point to connect with Leslie’s family, particularly Lauren, to ensure they understood that Sandy was not responsible.

The case’s resolution brought emotional closure to a family that had endured more than two decades of grief, uncertainty, and social suspicion. Lauren Preer, who once described the arrest of Gligor as “unreal,” now finds herself able to move forward knowing that justice was served.

A Milestone in Maryland Forensics

The Preer case marked the first time in Maryland history that familial DNA and forensic genealogy were used to solve a murder. The case is now being held up as a model for how science and persistence can converge to deliver long-awaited answers in cold cases. It also highlighted the importance of never giving up on unsolved crimes, no matter how much time has passed.

Dateline’s A Perfect Spring Morning documents this journey with extensive interviews and access to investigators, family members, and court proceedings. It is a story of sorrow and suspicion, but also one of persistence and justice. After nearly 25 years, the truth finally came to light.

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