HBO is taking a fresh approach to the public’s fascination with true crime with its upcoming Original series. In a press release, the network announced the premiere date and shared details about its three-part documentary series, A KILLER STORY.
A Killer Story will debut on HBO Thursday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will also stream on HBO Max. Every other episode will release weekly at the same time. Along with the announcement, HBO shared an official trailer for the series:
A Killer Story is a production of Story Syndicate (I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Harry & Meghan). Liz Garbus (Lost Girls, What Happened, Miss Simone?), Dan Cogan (Icarus, Becoming Cousteau), and Jon Bardin (Sally, Titan: The OceanGate Disaster).
The series will follow the 2002 Dana Chandler murder case. The case divided the country as Chandler was suspected of murdering her ex-husband and his girlfriend.
The six-year investigation follows journalist Joe Sexton, whose reporting has appeared in The New York Times and ProPublica, as he takes a closer look at the double homicide. Sexton’s interest in the case begins after he receives thousands of emails from Eileen Umbehr, a nosy homemaker who independently investigated the case. Eileen and her husband, Keen, have long believed Chandler was not guilty and spent their lives defending her innocence.
With little forensic evidence tying Chandler to the crime, the case went through three difficult trials. Along the way, the investigation reveals a tangled story involving family tensions, betrayal, alleged prosecutorial misconduct, conflicting accounts, and confirmation bias. As Sexton digs deeper, every discovery muddles the truth even more.
More than a traditional murder mystery, A Killer Story takes a closer look at the public’s fascination with true crime and what happens when people become convinced they know the truth. The series ultimately explores a case where, despite years of investigation, the full story may never be completely clear.
HBO also released descriptions for each of the three episodes of the series.
The first episode, “Welcome to Topeka,” reads:
“True crime enthusiasts Eileen and Keen Umbehr enlist veteran journalist Joe Sexton to delve into the case of Dana Chandler, who was arrested and convicted for the 2002 murders of her ex-husband and his girlfriend. The case is defined by the clichéd narrative of the jealous and vengeful ex-wife. Chandler’s conviction is overturned on appeal with the help of the Umbehrs.”
The second episode, “Person of Interest,” reads:
“During the retrial, the Umbehrs continue to defend Chandler’s innocence by pointing to a person of interest who they believe to be the true killer. Meanwhile, the prosecution continues to argue a motive existed. Clarity remains elusive, but a surprise witness shifts the case in the prosecution’s favor.”
The Third Episode “A Dangerous Notion” reads:
“The retrial ends in a hung jury, leading the state to try Dana for a third time. In an unexpected move, Dana dismisses her legal team and chooses to represent herself. The legal verdict brings finality to the case, but not necessarily the truth.”
Watch the debut of A KILLER STORY Sept. 10 on HBO or stream on HBO Max.