20/20 Tonight

“I’m Going to Get You”: 20/20 Reports on Debbie Dorian Homicide November 14 2025

by · November 12, 2025

ABC’s 20/20 airs a harrowing two-hour investigation titled I’m Going to Get You on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 9/8c, focusing on the brutal 1996 murder of 22-year-old Fresno State student Debbie Dorian and the long-unsolved case that haunted California’s Central Valley for decades. The episode follows the chilling trail of sexual assaults and murder left by Nickey Duane Stane, a serial predator whose crimes remained undetected until a DNA breakthrough in 2019 brought long-overdue justice to Dorian’s family and several other victims.

With exclusive interviews from law enforcement, prosecutors, family members, and survivors—including a key testimony from a woman identified as Jane Doe—20/20 reconstructs the investigation that exposed Stane’s violent history and culminated in his guilty plea and life sentence without parole.

The Murder of Debbie Dorian

In August 1996, Debbie Dorian, an aspiring psychologist and graduate student at Fresno State, failed to show up for a family trip. Concerned, her father went to her northeast Fresno apartment, where he discovered her body. Dorian had been bound with heavy-duty tape over her mouth, nose, wrists, and ankles. The cause of death was asphyxiation. Authorities described the crime scene as one of the most disturbing in Fresno’s history.

Despite intensive efforts by investigators and a devastated public campaign led by her parents, the case quickly went cold. For over two decades, there were no viable suspects, and the identity of Dorian’s killer remained a mystery. Her parents, Peter and Sara, continued advocating for answers, distributing flyers and maintaining pressure on law enforcement as years turned into decades.

A Serial Predator in the Central Valley

Between 1999 and 2002, a series of violent sexual assaults occurred in Visalia, about 45 miles south of Fresno. The assaults followed a consistent pattern: young women were approached at night by a masked man with a weapon, forced into secluded areas, and raped. The attacks bore similarities in their execution and brutality, but authorities at the time were unable to connect them to a known suspect.

In 2009, Tulare County prosecutors filed a “John Doe” complaint linked to a DNA profile from the unsolved assaults. Still, without a name, the case stalled until new forensic technologies advanced a decade later. Investigators matched the DNA from the Visalia assaults to evidence collected from Dorian’s 1996 murder, linking both to one individual: Nickey Duane Stane.

The DNA Breakthrough and Arrest

The turning point in the investigation came in 2019, when the DNA profile from a surviving Visalia victim—Jane Doe—matched biological evidence from Dorian’s apartment. Stane was arrested shortly afterward. He was charged with Dorian’s murder and several sexual assaults in both Fresno and Tulare Counties. The cases were later consolidated for trial in Fresno County.

Jane Doe, one of Stane’s Visalia victims, had been just 19 years old when she was assaulted while walking home from work. She bravely testified at the preliminary hearing, recounting the trauma that had haunted her for over 25 years. Her decision to step forward proved critical, both for the strength of the case and for connecting the pattern of attacks across counties.

Guilty Plea and Sentencing

As prosecutors prepared for trial in 2025, Stane’s legal team entered negotiations with the District Attorney’s Office. On May 15, 2025, Stane stunned the courtroom by pleading guilty to all charges—12 felonies in total—including the first-degree murder of Debbie Dorian and multiple sexual assaults. The plea deal removed the possibility of the death penalty, but guaranteed he would spend the rest of his life in prison without parole.

On June 13, 2025, Stane was formally sentenced in a Fresno County courtroom. During the hearing, victim impact statements were delivered, including one from Dorian’s mother, Sara Loven. She described the family’s nearly 29-year wait for justice and imagined what her daughter might say to ease their pain. Jane Doe also spoke, saying she had waited two decades to hear the words that he had finally been caught.

The judge noted a handwritten letter from Stane accepting responsibility and outlining rehabilitation programs he completed in custody. However, the court affirmed that his actions warranted the maximum punishment. Stane waived his right to appeal, ensuring that he would die behind bars.

Lasting Impact and Survivor Strength

The 20/20 episode highlights not only the investigative work that solved a decades-old case but also the extraordinary resilience of those affected. Debbie Dorian’s parents endured nearly three decades of unanswered questions before finally witnessing justice for their daughter. Jane Doe’s courage in revisiting her trauma in court gave investigators the final piece they needed to bring the case to a close.

Law enforcement and prosecutors from both Fresno and Tulare counties expressed satisfaction that justice was achieved. Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward praised the collaboration between jurisdictions and the commitment of all involved to securing justice for victims and their families.

I’m Going to Get You provides viewers with a complete, unflinching account of how one man’s violent spree spanned years and cities, and how persistence, forensic science, and survivor bravery finally brought the truth to light. The episode stands as both a chilling chronicle of evil and a powerful reminder of what justice looks like when it is finally delivered.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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