“Secrets of the Sliding Door”: Dateline Reports on Simeonette Mapes-Crupi Homicide May 4 2025

This Sunday, May 4, 2025, Dateline NBC will air “Secrets of the Sliding Door,” an in-depth investigation into the tragic murder of 29-year-old Simeonette Mapes-Crupi in Staten Island, New York. Veteran correspondent Keith Morrison reports on the case, which began with a chilling 911 call and unraveled into a story of deception, betrayal, and premeditated murder. The episode traces the investigation from its earliest stages to the final conviction of Simeonette’s husband, Jonathan Crupi.

The murder took place on July 5, 2012, when Jonathan Crupi called police claiming he had returned home to find his wife dead after what appeared to be a home invasion. What followed was a thorough and relentless investigation that exposed a staged crime scene and a shocking motive. Dateline interviews law enforcement, family members, and prosecutors who reveal the disturbing details behind this fatal crime.

The Crime Scene: A Staged Burglary and a Violent Death

When officers arrived at the couple’s home in Staten Island’s New Springville neighborhood, they found Simeonette’s body at the bottom of a staircase. She had been pushed down the stairs and stabbed 15 times. The house appeared ransacked, but key valuables, including credit cards and an engagement ring, were left untouched. Detective Michael Cosenza, who worked on the case, immediately noticed inconsistencies. “To me, it looked staged,” Cosenza said of the scene.

Investigators found no signs of forced entry, but the home’s sliding glass door had been left open. DNA swabs were collected from the door handle, and forensic analysis began. Meanwhile, an autopsy confirmed the brutality of the attack, establishing that Simeonette had been killed early that morning. The violent nature of the crime and the discrepancies at the scene raised immediate suspicion about Jonathan Crupi’s account.

A Closer Look at Jonathan Crupi’s Alibi

From the outset, detectives examined Jonathan Crupi’s timeline. According to his statement, he left the house at 7:30 a.m., had his car inspected, visited his workplace to pick up supplies, went shopping for sneakers, and then stopped at Home Depot. Surveillance footage confirmed some of his movements, but investigators discovered that Crupi never arrived at the Home Depot location where he claimed to have gone.

These inconsistencies undermined his alibi. “His story wasn’t adding up,” said Detective Michael Burdick, who retraced Crupi’s steps. Moreover, Crupi’s claim that the house had been burglarized was questioned when police noted that high-value items remained in plain sight. The lack of theft, combined with the staged disarray, suggested the burglary had been fabricated to cover up a more sinister crime.

Discovering a Double Life and a Key Witness

As detectives probed deeper into Jonathan’s background, they uncovered troubling aspects of his personal life. Through Simeonette’s phone records and laptop, investigators identified a contact listed as “Woman,” linked to a phone number that belonged to a sex worker known as “Miss Pumpkin.” The woman disclosed that she had been meeting Jonathan, who used the alias “Mike,” for sexual encounters over a two-year period.

“Miss Pumpkin” told police that Jonathan contacted her for a meeting on the day of the murder at 12:45 p.m.—the same time he told investigators he was at Home Depot. A DNA swab from the sex worker matched the unknown female DNA collected from the sliding door. This discovery confirmed that Jonathan had been with her shortly after the murder and had transferred her DNA to the crime scene through touch.

A Web of Lies and Digital Evidence

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Jonathan’s laptop, which revealed disturbing searches including topics like “how to clean up a crime scene,” “how to suffocate someone,” and “how to cut a throat.” These searches dated back several months, pointing to a level of premeditation. Detectives also discovered a disposable phone hidden in Jonathan’s coat, which linked him to his calls with Miss Pumpkin on the day of the crime.

Further investigation into the couple’s relationship painted a clearer motive. Simeonette had recently discovered that Jonathan never completed his master’s degree, despite her financial support for his education. According to family members, she had confronted him about this deception in the days leading up to her death. Prosecutors theorized that Simeonette’s discovery, combined with suspicions about Jonathan’s infidelity, led to a confrontation that escalated into violence.

Trial and Conviction: Justice for Simeonette

In November 2012, Jonathan Crupi was arrested at his parents’ home in Brooklyn. Prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder. At trial in June 2015, the prosecution presented extensive evidence, including Jonathan’s internet searches, the staged crime scene, DNA evidence, and testimony from Miss Pumpkin. The case portrayed Jonathan as a man leading a double life, caught between mounting personal failures and a desperate attempt to conceal them.

After a five-week trial, a jury found Jonathan Crupi guilty of second-degree murder in July 2015. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Simeonette’s family expressed relief that justice had been served but mourned the loss of a woman described as compassionate, dedicated, and selfless. Her father shared that Simeonette had created a prom program for underprivileged students, reflecting her commitment to helping others.

Remembering Simeonette Mapes-Crupi

The murder of Simeonette Mapes-Crupi devastated her family, friends, and students. She had been a beloved teacher at the School for Classics in Brooklyn, known for her vibrant personality and dedication to education. Her brother described her as someone who never sought recognition for her good deeds but lived her life trying to uplift others.

Dateline NBC’s “Secrets of the Sliding Door” offers a detailed examination of this heartbreaking case, tracing the investigation that uncovered Jonathan Crupi’s lies and secured a conviction. Through interviews with detectives, prosecutors, and family members, the episode provides insight into how a seemingly ordinary marriage concealed betrayal, culminating in a brutal crime that shocked the Staten Island community.