HBO Max released the premiere date and official trailer for their upcoming docuseries The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story in a press release on Monday. The three-part series premieres Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with new episodes released weekly at the same time.
Watch the chilling Pet Cemetery Murders trailer here:
Additionally, HBO released the official show synopsis, which reads:
“What begins as an investigation into a 1985 murder turns into a haunting exploration of a community’s dark history of violence and bloodshed. Set in the rural bayou outside New Orleans, Louisiana, a harsh landscape steeped in supernatural lore and traditions, the story starts with the disappearance of Dorothy Lou Thompson – the owner of a pet cemetery that had been built on land long rumored to be cursed. Dorothy’s body eventually turns up wrapped in chains in the Mississippi River, raising questions about her past and the people around her. With no concrete evidence, the case goes cold until 2009 when Det. John Doran reopens the investigation, following up on old leads and digging into the case files. Unexpectedly, a witness comes forward with a terrifying tale of Dorothy’s ghost which compels him to come forward with information. Three years later, a second witness claims to be haunted by the murdered woman seeking vengeance. The vexing accounts launch a police investigation into Dorothy’s tragic past, revealing a trail of dead husbands, a domineering mother Grace, who founded the cemetery after outrunning her own criminal acts, and the long shadow of a community steeped in evil deeds that were buried but not forgotten.”
The series will offer perspectives from numerous sources, including Dorothy’s neighbors, law enforcement officials, local reporters, and academics as it investigates a complicated story involving mysterious deaths, unsettling family secrets, and massacres dating back centuries. All of these revelations uncover a history of violence and guilt that continues to affect the community.
HBO Max broke down the specific dates, times, and Episode descriptions of the three total episodes.
Episode one will premiere Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The episode introduces the old, unresolved case of the graphic death of Dorothy Lou Thompson. Suddenly, the case reopens in full force when a surprise new witness comes forward.
Episode two will premiere Oct. 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The episodes continue with Dorothy’s murder case, introducing another unexpected witness who provides invaluable evidence for the investigators.
Episode three, the final episode, will premiere Oct. 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. In the episode, investigators solve Dorothy’s murder case. However, they realize the story does not end there, as in the process of their investigation, they uncover a multitude of other haunting discoveries about the murder and mob-ridden history of the town that continue to plague the area.
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story is a Lightbox production. The series is written and directed by Philip Cairney (The Victorians, Being Beethoven). Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man), Jonathan Chinn (Twisted Yoga, Murder at the Post Office), Suzanne Lavery (Murder at the Post Office, Til Death Do Us Part), James Marsh (Secret Service, Dance First), and Silvia Sacco (Rome Unpacked, Art of France) executive produce the series. Nancy Abraham (A Killer Story, Musk), Lisa Heller (The James, A Killer Story), and Tina Nguyen (No Code of Conduct, B Movie) are executive producers for the series via HBO.