COUPEVILLE — The 2003 Christmastime murder of a Langley man is drawing the interest of producers from two prime time television programs.

Island County officials have been in contact with representatives from “Dateline,” the weekly NBC newsmagazine that centers on investigative reports, crime stories and social issues, as well as “48 Hours Mystery,” the long-running, documentary-style true-crime series on CBS.

Both shows have expressed interest in covering the murder case of Russel Douglas, a Langley man who was found shot to death in his car at a property on Wahl Road after going to pick up a present for his estranged wife, Brenna Douglas.

Two people have been arrested for the murder: James “Jim” Huden, a former businessman and musician who spent nearly seven years on the run as a fugitive in Mexico once police connected him to the crime; and his mistress, Peggy Sue Thomas, a one-time Ms. Washington who worked for the victim’s wife in her Langley hair salon.

Authorities say Huden was the triggerman in the murder of Russel Douglas, while Thomas allegedly helped plot the killing and lured Douglas to his death with the promise of a Christmas gift.

Huden has been charged with first-degree murder. His jury trial is expected to start Nov. 29.

Thomas is also facing an allegation of first-degree murder for her role as an accomplice in the killing. Her arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 26 in Island County Superior Court.

National media interest in the case picked up after Huden was arrested in Veracruz, Mexico in early June, where he had been hiding out and working as a music teacher under the name of Maestro Jim.

Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks has been repeatedly contacted by producers from “Dateline” and “48 Hours” about the Douglas murder, and emails obtained by the Record show hints of a competitive scrum by the television shows for the story.

Tim Beacham, a producer for NBC’s “Dateline,” has been working since June to line up interviews with those involved in the case, including Banks and Detective Mark Plumberg.

Beacham told local officials that NBC wanted to “hold off” on airing its show until the case was resolved, but he has also expressed worries to the county prosecutor’s office about “48 Hours” beating his program to the punch.

“I would obviously hope you won’t put me at a disadvantage by giving them anything first,” Beacham said in a late-July email to Banks.

Banks, however, said in response that he wants to stay out of the middle of any media competition on the Douglas story.

Beacham was not able to comment on the network’s plans for the Douglas case, and the  producer from “48 Hours” who has also been following the story declined to talk.

Island County authorities have worked with national media in the past on the Douglas murder; the show “America’s Most Wanted” aired segments on the murder after Huden had been identified as a suspect. And “48 Hours” has also done programs devoted to Colton Harris-Moore, who gained widespread fame as the “Barefoot Bandit” after his series of break-ins and other crimes stretched from Island County to the Bahamas.

Police who have worked with “Dateline” have good things to say about the program and its producers.

“They did an excellent job with our West Mesa murders,” said Sgt. Trish Hoffman, spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Police Department.

“Dateline” aired a two-hour show on the murders — a gruesome case where the remains of 11 women and an unborn fetus were found buried in the desert near

New Mexico’s largest city — in December. The case is still unsolved.

“We got a ton of tips the first time it aired,” Hoffman said, adding that more than 300 tips came in from people across the country who had seen the show.

The crew of “Dateline” also took great care to be unobtrusive and not disrupt the work of authorities on the investigation.

“They were very accommodating. They were very easy to work with,” she said.