Betty Sandler survived the 2005 murder-for-hire plot linked to her estranged husband, Glenn Sandler. Here is what happened, why Dateline covered the case, and what is publicly known about Glenn and Betty today.
Betty Sandler is alive, according to the publicly documented record surrounding the case. She was not murdered. Instead, her estranged husband, Glenn Sandler, pleaded guilty in 2007 after investigators uncovered his plan to have her killed during their bitter divorce.
The case became widely known because the supposed hitman was actually working with law enforcement. The undercover operation helped protect Betty and led to Glenn’s arrest on charges connected to soliciting her murder and trafficking cocaine.
As of September 28, 2026, there is no reliable public information confirming Betty Sandler’s death. She has largely stayed out of the public eye since the court proceedings, and her current location and personal life have not been publicly verified.
Is Betty Sandler dead or alive?
Betty Sandler is not known to have been killed. The central fact of the case is that Glenn Sandler’s plan failed before anyone could harm her.
In 2005, Glenn was going through a contentious divorce from Betty. Investigators said he wanted to avoid a substantial financial settlement and began looking for someone who would kill her. Betty was warned about the threat while authorities worked to gather evidence against her husband.
The person Glenn believed was a professional killer was actually an undercover law-enforcement operative. The operation included recorded conversations, a staged drug transaction and a fake report suggesting that the murder had taken place.
When Glenn accepted the supposed proof that Betty was dead, officers moved in and arrested him. Betty’s survival was the result of the investigation and the undercover operation, not a later discovery that she had been found alive.
Did Glenn Sandler kill Betty?
No. Glenn Sandler did not kill Betty. He was accused of arranging and soliciting her murder, but the planned killing was never carried out.
According to reporting from the time and later Dateline coverage, Glenn first approached people in his circle about arranging a killing. One proposed plan involved making Betty’s death look like a traffic accident. That plan did not happen, and an associate later gave investigators information about Glenn’s intentions.
Authorities then introduced an undercover officer who used the name “Fred.” Glenn reportedly discussed Betty’s routine, appearance and home address with the supposed hitman. The conversations gave investigators evidence that he was not merely making an angry threat during a divorce dispute.
The undercover team also used a fake cocaine transaction to strengthen the officer’s cover. Glenn flew in his small airplane during part of the operation, believing he was helping arrange a drug deal. The investigation ultimately connected him to both the murder solicitation and cocaine trafficking allegations.
Why did Glenn Sandler want Betty Sandler killed?
The motive described in the case was largely financial and connected to the couple’s divorce. Betty filed for divorce after more than two decades of marriage, and the dispute involved the division of property, business interests and other assets.
Contemporary reports said the settlement being discussed was worth approximately $2.5 million. Prosecutors and investigators said Glenn did not want to make the payment and viewed the divorce as a major personal and financial loss.
Glenn had built a successful business profile as the owner of the Gourmet Deli House in the Lake Worth area of Florida. He was also known as a pilot and owned a Mooney aircraft. The divorce threatened the lifestyle and assets that had been associated with his marriage.
The case became especially disturbing because the alleged plan was not a single impulsive statement. Investigators said Glenn continued seeking help after an earlier attempt to find a killer failed.
What happened in the undercover murder-for-hire operation?
The investigation began after a drug dealer named Chris Robinson reportedly told authorities that Glenn was looking for someone to kill Betty. Robinson was already facing his own legal problems and provided information that allowed investigators to act quickly.
An undercover officer then presented himself as a potential contract killer with connections to Robinson. Glenn allegedly described Betty and explained how he wanted the killing handled. Investigators recorded meetings and communications while trying to make sure the operation did not place Betty in further danger.
At one stage, the undercover team staged a fake drug shipment. Glenn believed he was participating in a cocaine transaction and even helped transport the supposed drugs by plane. The operation created additional evidence while maintaining the undercover officer’s credibility.
Glenn was arrested in November 2005 after authorities staged evidence suggesting the murder had already occurred. The supposed hitman gave him items that were presented as proof Betty had been killed. Glenn accepted the story, according to the case coverage, before police took him into custody.
What was Glenn Sandler’s sentence?
Glenn Sandler pleaded guilty in June 2007 to cocaine trafficking and solicitation to commit murder. He received a 15-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.
As part of the plea agreement, Glenn forfeited his four-seat Mooney M20J airplane and a motorcycle. Prosecutors dismissed a separate attempted first-degree murder count under the agreement.
The sentence followed more than a year of pretrial detention. A Florida appellate court record from 2007 identified Glenn as being held in the Palm Beach County Jail while awaiting trial on the solicitation and trafficking charges.
The case was therefore resolved through a guilty plea rather than a full jury trial. That distinction is important: Glenn admitted guilt to solicitation and drug trafficking, while the actual murder never occurred.
Where is Glenn Sandler now?
Glenn Sandler has kept a low profile since completing his prison sentence. Publicly available case summaries have reported that he was released in 2018, but his current address and day-to-day activities have not been reliably established.
There is no verified public evidence that Glenn returned to his former public life as a Florida deli owner. There are also no confirmed recent interviews, official social-media accounts or public appearances that clearly document his current circumstances as of September 28, 2026.
Some online pages publish alleged addresses or personal details connected to people with the same name. Those records are not sufficient to confirm Glenn Sandler’s identity or current location and should not be treated as verified information.
The most accurate answer is that Glenn is believed to have completed his sentence and remained out of the public spotlight. His exact whereabouts are not publicly confirmed.
Where is Betty Sandler now?
Betty Sandler also withdrew from public attention after the case. Her location, employment and relationship status have not been reliably documented in recent public reporting.
Betty and Glenn were estranged during the investigation and were proceeding through divorce when the murder-for-hire plot was uncovered. They should not be described as a current married couple.
The couple had two sons. One of their sons, who was 22 years old, died in a motorcycle accident in January 2006 while Glenn was in custody awaiting trial. That tragedy added another painful loss to an already difficult period for the family.
Because Betty has not maintained a confirmed public profile, claims about her current partner, residence or social-media activity should be treated cautiously unless supported by a direct and reliable source.
What did Dateline say about the Betty Sandler case?
NBC’s Dateline covered the case in an episode titled Recipe for Murder. The original report examined the undercover operation, the divorce dispute and the investigation that prevented Betty from becoming a murder victim.
The episode featured the unusual combination of a supposed hitman, a staged killing and a fake cocaine shipment. Keith Morrison’s report focused on how investigators tried to keep Glenn convinced that the plan was proceeding while protecting Betty.
The case later received renewed attention through true-crime programming and streaming reruns. A 2024 Dateline: Secrets Uncovered feature also revisited the investigation and Glenn’s guilty plea, bringing the story to a newer audience.
Dateline coverage should not be confused with proof that Betty died. The program’s central subject was the failed plot to kill her and the law-enforcement operation that stopped it.
Betty Sandler and Glenn Sandler case timeline
- October 3, 1981: Glenn Sandler and Betty Schuessler were reported to have married.
- 2004: Betty filed for divorce after more than two decades of marriage.
- October 2005: Investigators said Glenn discussed plans to have Betty killed.
- November 2005: Glenn was arrested after an undercover operation involving a supposed hitman and fake drug transaction.
- January 2006: The Sandlers’ 22-year-old son died in a motorcycle accident.
- June 2007: Glenn pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking and solicitation to commit murder and received a 15-year sentence.
- March 2010: Dateline’s original Recipe for Murder report aired.
- 2018: Public case summaries reported that Glenn was released from prison.
- 2024: The story received renewed attention through a Dateline: Secrets Uncovered feature.
- September 28, 2026: Betty’s death has not been reliably reported, while Glenn’s current location remains unconfirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Betty Sandler still alive?
Yes. Betty Sandler survived the 2005 murder-for-hire plot. No reliable public record confirms that she has died.
Was Glenn Sandler convicted of killing Betty?
No. Betty was not killed. Glenn pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder and cocaine trafficking after the planned killing was stopped by an undercover investigation.
How long was Glenn Sandler in prison?
Glenn received a 15-year sentence in 2007. Publicly reported case summaries state that he was released in 2018, although his exact release documentation and current location are not widely available.
Were Betty and Glenn Sandler still married?
No. Betty had filed for divorce by 2004, and the couple were estranged when Glenn’s plot was investigated.
Did Dateline make an episode about the case?
Yes. Dateline covered the case in an episode titled Recipe for Murder, which examined the undercover operation and Glenn’s attempt to arrange Betty’s killing.
Does Betty Sandler have verified social-media accounts?
No widely verified public social-media account has been reliably connected to Betty Sandler. Online claims about her current life should not be treated as confirmed without direct evidence.
Betty Sandler case quick facts
- Subject: Betty Sandler, also identified in case coverage as Betty Schuessler.
- Former husband: Glenn Sandler.
- Location of case: Palm Beach County, Florida.
- Plot uncovered: 2005.
- Arrest: November 2005.
- Glenn’s plea: June 2007.
- Sentence: 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Dateline episode: Recipe for Murder.
- Current public status: Betty’s location is private; Glenn’s current location is unconfirmed.
