How It Really Happened - Episode Guide

In a sensational televised trial, Erik and Lyle Menendez were found guilty of murdering their parents. Now, we learn the shocking motive that turned these brothers into convicted killers.

Lyle Menendez speaks from behind bars to Chris Cuomo, more than 25 years after he and his brother Erik were convicted of first degree murder.

New theories emerge in the O.J. Simpson case, including a serial killer's confession, a possible hit man who claims responsibility for the murders.

'How it Really Happened' uncovers Prince's secret struggles from his earlier years to the final days leading up to his shocking death.

Uncovering how Anna Nicole Smith's lavish lifestyle may have contributed to her mysterious death.

New theories emerge in the O.J. Simpson case, including a serial killer's confession, a possible hit man who claims responsibility for the murders.

Revelations of what Michael Jackson's children and staff witnessed prior to his death and an investigation into the claims that Jackson took his own life.

Revelations of what Michael Jackson's children and staff witnessed prior to his death and an investigation into the claims that Jackson took his own life.

Investigating a wide range of suspects and evidence in the killing of JonBenet, including the Ramsey's maid, and the man who portrayed Santa Claus at a holiday party, only days before JonBenet was found murdered.

The aftermath of the investigation into the murder of JonBenet Ramsey is the focus.

When the plane John F. Kennedy, Jr. was piloting crashed near Martha's Vineyard, it seemed as though the "Kennedy Curse" had claimed another victim. The country was stunned. How could this have happened? This episode examines what factors led to that fateful flight and features a never-before-seen interview with the person who may have been the last to speak with JFK Jr. just moments before the tragic accident.

This episode takes a closer look at the final days of Whitney Houston who was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The pop star was on the brink of a comeback and scheduled to perform at a Grammy Awards party that night. What were the circumstances that led to her misfortune? This episode uncovers details of Houston's last days and her tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown.

In the Spring of 1991, police had no idea a serial killer was on the loose. This gripping hour explores how Dahmer carefully selected his victims and how he evaded police scrutiny for years. The episode includes a chilling account by one of his victims who lived to tell his harrowing story.

This episode takes viewers inside the FBI's investigation of one of America's most notorious terrorists, "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski. The nation was on edge as a string of bombings killed and injured innocent Americans. How did the Unabomber choose his targets and elude capture for so long? Also featured is a new interview with his brother, the man who ultimately turned him in to authorities.

To many, Heath Ledger had it all --baby and burgeoning career, but this episode reveals things are not as they seem. Ledger finished filming his Oscar-worthy performance of his gritty portrayal of the Joker in the "The Dark Knight." Ledger's body was found in his apartment and investigators were led to discover bizarre drawings and puzzling clues, including a diary Ledger created detailing his immersion of the Joker persona. Did this dark role impact his real life and what was his connection to Mary-Kate Olsen?

"DC Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey ran a high-end escort service that catered to DC's power players. She was charged with racketeering and threatened to expose names on her client list. Palfrey was found hanging on her mother's property. Investigators ruled it a suicide, but was her death something more sinister?

In 2008, two-year-old toddler, Caylee Anthony, vanishes. Her mother, Casey Anthony, tells investigators Caylee has been kidnapped by her nanny, a woman Anthony's family has never actually seen. Why was Anthony lying? And where was Caylee? This extraordinary two-part episode follows the twists and turns of this bizarre case, and unbelievable trial.

'How It Really Happened with Hill Harper,' hosted by critically-acclaimed actor Hill Harper, delves deeply into some of the most notorious crimes, mysteries, trials, and celebrity tragedies of our time.

In the mid-1970s, hundreds of people begin disappearing without a trace. This episode follows the story of Heaven's Gate.

In Washington, DC, May 2001, 24-year-old intern Chandra Levy vanishes into thin air. This episode reveals the new clues of a murder mystery that remains unsolved.

An eight-month-old baby is fatally injured while in the care of a family's au pair, Louise Woodward. Was it child abuse or a tragic accident?

George Michael's life as an international superstar comes to a mysterious and tragic end on Christmas Eve 2016. What happened the night he died?

It was the shocking affair that nearly toppled a presidency. This two-part episode features interviews with Clinton's advisers, White House journalists, and other key players.

A tale of murder, adultery, courtroom drama and ultimately the death penalty. The story of Scott and Laci Peterson as told by those who lived it.

A tale of murder, adultery, courtroom drama, and ultimately the death penalty. The story of Scott and Laci Peterson as told by those who lived it. Did Scott Peterson murder Laci?

A first look at the season premiere of HLN series "How It Really Happened". Ted Bundy- Part 1: In the winter of 1974, college-age women from the Pacific Northwest began to disappear seemingly without a trace.

While serving time for aggravated kidnapping in Utah and facing first degree murder charges in Colorado, Ted Bundy escaped not once but twice from authorities.

The murder trials and appeals. Ted Bundy helped prepare his own defense, but would his amateur lawyering help him beat the rap or send him to the electric chair?

Ted Bundy maintains his innocence. But as the clock wound down on his final death warrant, Ted Bundy made a last desperate attempt to save his own life. He began to talk. Were his confessions too little-too late, or a could this last-ditch effort save him from the electric chair?

Jodi Arias is a small town waitress and aspiring photographer. Travis Alexander is a handsome, devout Mormon and successful businessman. Almost two years after their romance began, Travis was found brutally murdered in his shower at home.

Four years after the vicious killing of Travis Alexander, his ex-girlfriend Jodi Arias stands trial for his murder. Millions of people are captivated by the lurid details of Jodi and Travis' erotic relationship told through photographs, recordings of their phone sex, and by Jodi from the witness stand.

Aaron Hernandez is a star player for the New England Patriots, and at the young age of 23, is set up for greatness. But less than a year later, a body is found riddled with bullets, only a short distance from Hernandez's home. Forensic evidence and surveillance footage from the night of the murder, examined in detail in this program, soon tie Hernandez to the crime scene.

Behind the scenes of Selena's red hot career, ambitions, and tragic demise. Rare interviews include her close friend and co-fashion designer, the back-up singer in her band, and for the first time ever, a nurse who spoke to Selena and her killer just before she died.

What were the real reasons for the government raid of a religious compound in Waco Texas in 1993? What was happening inside the Branch Davidian compound?

The siege at Waco ended in a fiery hell that killed David Koresh, his followers, his wives and children. TV news crews and demonstrators watched in horror as the ranch went up in flames.

During a terrifying three-day period in late August 1990, five college students were found brutally murdered in Gainesville, Fla.; panic filled the usually sunny city as investigators searched to find the serial killer before he struck again.

During a terrifying three-day period in late August 1990, five college students were found brutally murdered in Gainesville, Fla.; panic filled the usually sunny city as investigators searched to find the serial killer before he struck again.

Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake city home in 2002 and snatched from her bed at knifepoint by a mysterious man in the middle of the night; to the public it seemed as if she had vanished into thin air.

For nine months in 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was the most famous missing child in America; kidnapped by Brian David Mitchell, she was forced up into a hiding spot in the mountains behind her home, assaulted and forced to be his second wife.

On Oct. 25, 1994, Susan Smith reports that a carjacker has abducted her two young sons, Michael and Alexander; this report sets off a nationwide search for the boys; while the world waits for news about the boys, investigators deliver shocking news.

For nine days, the nation waits for news as to the whereabouts of missing 3-year-Michael and 14-month-old Alex Smith; then, there's a shocking break in the case; the boys' father, David, shares his heartbreaking story; a look at the investigation.

On Oct. 28, 2007, 23-year-old Stacy Peterson, the wife of veteran police sergeant Drew Peterson, goes missing. as police launch an intensive search to find Stacy, the case raises shocking new questions about her husband.

Actor-musician David Cassidy ("The Partridge Family") experiences the pressures of fame as a teen idol in the 1970s; in the end, his death is surrounded by mystery, leaving his family, friends and fans with more questions than answers.

On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh, a 26-year-old U.S. army veteran, detonates a truck bomb outside the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, claiming the lives of 168 innocent people.

An exclusive prison interview with Timothy McVeigh. He describes how events in his personal life, and in the ever-changing world around him, inspired him to take action against his fellow Americans. Also: survivors of the bombing.

From 1979 to 1981, more than two dozen of Atlanta's black children disappeared without a trace; a look at who was killing the city's most vulnerable and why.

Investigators believe Wayne Williams, a 23-year-old black man and part-time music producer murdered more than two dozen black children and young men in Atlanta. The 40 year-old evidence is reexamined using modern forensics in search of more answers.

When in 1999, young women mysteriously disappear from Yosemite National Park, investigators determine foul play and a prime suspect emerges, then escapes.

The key suspect in the murder of young women in Yosemite National Park is caught, but it's up to an exceptionally skilled FBI agent to dismantle his web of lies and denials to draw a confession.

In 2003, the wildly successful careers of master illusionists Siegfried & Roy comes to a shockingly abrupt end when one of the team's prized tigers bites Roy Horn on the neck and drags him offstage.

Roy tries to recover from severe wounds inflicted by his beloved tiger Mantacore, but the team's excuses for the animal's behavior lose credibility upon further investigation.

On April 15th, 2013, two bombs explode during the iconic Boston Marathon, killing three spectators and injuring hundreds of others. In a race against time, investigators, using state of the art technology, circulate images to the public of the two suspects dubbed "black hat" and "white hat."

With the Boston Bombing suspects identified as domestic terrorist brothers, the manhunt begins, a terrifying crime spree ensues, and new information sheds light on the heinous crime.

News of the sudden passing of celebrated rock musician Tom Petty shocked fans worldwide, but a deeper look into the music legend's life reveals physical and emotional afflictions that may have led to his death at age 66.

Who would want to murder the father of beloved superstar Michael Jordan? When in 1993, James Raymond Jordan Sr. goes missing and his luxury car is found stripped and abandoned in North Carolina, clues point to a tragic crime.

Susan Powell, a 28-year-old mother of two, goes missing in December of 2009. Her husband Josh claims to have taken their two young sons winter camping in the Utah desert and says he returned the next day to find her gone. Questioned by detectives, he doesn't behave like a concerned husband and his version of events doesn't match his son's. The mystery about where Susan's is deepens as more details about her marriage to Josh and their life behind closed doors emerge. Susan's family and friends do everything they can to find her while Josh insists that she ran out on him and their two little boys. The search for Susan Powell plays out on a national stage with everyone wondering: did she run off? Was she taken? Is Susan Powell dead or alive?

Authorities search for missing mother of two, Susan Powell, in every nook and cranny of the desert in Western Utah while her friends and family wait for a break in the case. Her husband Josh is named a person of interest as suspicion about his involvement in her disappearance grows. He and his father wage a counter-attack and a war between Susan and Josh's families erupts in the glare of the public spotlight. Shocking revelations about Josh and his family come to light--evidence of violence, obsession and sexual perversion. The family drama leads up to a shocking and unimaginable conclusion.

Two dangerous killers break out of one of New York State's toughest prisons. Convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat cut through steel walls, crawl through steam pipes, and snake their way through a maze of tunnels on their way to freedom. When authorities discover the details of their elaborate escape - there are more questions than answers. Who are these men? How did they mastermind their plan? And can they capture them before they kill again?

The manhunt for escaped prisoners--Richard Matt and David Sweat was growing, expanding from the Northeast United States to Canada and Mexico. Thousands of leads were being followed, but weeks into the search, there was still no sign of the missing men. Where are they? How much help did they have? And--would they ever be captured?

Bernie Madoff was a legend on Wall Street. He helped create Nasdaq, served as its chairman, and operated a highly successful brokerage firm. But at the same time, Bernie Madoff was also running a secret hedge fund, a fund known only by word of mouth. As news spread about Madoff's steady returns, some of the wealthiest people were begging Bernie Madoff to invest their money. Billions of dollars were pouring in from around the world. But in 2008, when the financial crisis hit and Madoff's investors began demanding their money back, Madoff knew he wouldn't have enough to pay them. He finally confessed to his sons that he had been living a lie--that his investment business was nothing more than a multi-billion-dollar fraud - the largest Ponzi scheme ever.

The news of Bernie Madoff's arrest sent shockwaves around the world. His staggering crime affected thousands of victims, including charities, universities, celebrities and even Madoff's own family and friends. How did he do it? Why did he do it? Did he have any help? Investigators were about to unravel a scheme that went back decades and involved several loyal employees.

Glenn Frey was a multi-talented musician and along with Don Henley co-founded the legendary band, the Eagles. During the 1970's the Eagles released a series of hit songs--from Peaceful Easy Feeling, to Already Gone, to the classic hit Hotel California. Glenn Frey played piano, guitar, sang and wrote songs that stood the test of time. On stage fans always saw a fun-loving Glenn Frey but behind the scenes he had been dealing with a number of health issues. And ultimately when he died in 2016 his fans were shocked because he was still playing the music they loved.

They were well-known and well-liked Dartmouth College professors. But on January 27th 2001, Half and Suzanne Zantop's incredible lives came to a shocking and unforeseeable end: found brutally murdered in their remote Hanover, New Hampshire home. The double killing quickly became national news. Who would commit such a heinous act, and more importantly, why? With few leads and few clues at the get-go, investigators were stumped. But some good old fashioned police work would lead detectives to a small town just across the border in Vermont--where they found an incredibly unexpected twist to this 'whodunit' mystery.

In the early 1990's daytime talk television was on the rise. In an effort to capture high ratings shows began to push the envelope with outrageous stunts and controversial guests. Viewers liked watching the dramatic scenes play out, but critics called it trash TV. Then in March of 1995, after three friends went on The Jenny Jones Show to reveal a secret crush, one of them ended up dead and another was charged with murder. What lead to the killing and why did one of the friends feel the spotlight was too hot?

Kate and Gerry McCann were at a beautiful holiday resort when the unthinkable occurred. As the British doctors dined across the swimming pool from their vacation apartment, their three-year-old daughter, Madeleine, vanished from her bed in the Portuguese beach town of Praia de Luz. Once the McCanns realized their daughter was abducted, they courted the media and enlisted celebrities to publicize the case. One investigator put forward a theory that the McCanns were somehow involved in their daughter's disappearance, and they were even named suspects at one point, but were eventually cleared. Fifteen years later, after unpeeling one dark layer after another, investigators have a new suspect in the unsolved case.

Kate and Gerry McCann were at a beautiful holiday resort when the unthinkable occurred. As the British doctors dined across the swimming pool from their vacation apartment, their three-year-old daughter, Madeleine, vanished from her bed in the Portuguese beach town of Praia de Luz. Once the McCanns realized their daughter was abducted, they courted the media and enlisted celebrities to publicize the case. One investigator put forward a theory that the McCanns were somehow involved in their daughter's disappearance, and they were even named suspects at one point, but were eventually cleared. Fifteen years later, after unpeeling one dark layer after another, investigators have a new suspect in the unsolved case.

On January 26th, 2020 basketball superstar Kobe Bryant's helicopter crashed killing all nine people on-board including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The shocking news left the world reeling and searching for answers. How could a simple flight, piloted by an industry pro, go so terribly wrong? Aviation experts revisit the accident and share what exactly happened. Through interviews with close friends, colleagues, and basketball insiders, viewers will hear details, and anecdotes about Bryant, many never before shared on television.

On January 26th, 2020 basketball superstar Kobe Bryant's helicopter crashed killing all nine people on-board including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The shocking news left the world reeling and searching for answers. How could a simple flight, piloted by an industry pro, go so terribly wrong? Aviation experts revisit the accident and share what exactly happened. Through interviews with close friends, colleagues, and basketball insiders, viewers will hear details, and anecdotes about Bryant, many never before shared on television.

Tom and Jackie Hawks dreamed of retiring early, buying a boat, and sailing the Pacific. The couple worked hard, saved their money, and were finally able to make their dream happen in 2002. They sold their home, bought a 55-foot yacht, and hit the high seas, traveling to exotic ports, and living the life most people only dream of. Then, in November 2004, when their first grandchild was born, the Hawks knew it was time to come back ashore. They put their beloved boat up for sale, and they vanished. No one could have predicted what came next.

On February 21, 2001, a beautiful young woman is viciously murdered inside her Hollywood home just before she was scheduled to go on a date with actor Ashton Kutcher. As detectives search for answers, her friends relay stories about a strange air conditioning repairman who would show up uninvited at her home. They only know him as "Mike," but as the investigation unfolds, police discover that his full name is Michael Thomas Gargiulo, and he may be linked to another murder almost eight years earlier in Illinois. While a suspect and not yet arrested, Gargiulo commits more brutal crimes, only to be stopped by one young woman who fights back and survives.

Forty-year-old Adrienne Shelly was an actress, writer, director, wife, and mother. She finished working on her film Waitress when she was found hanging from a shower curtain rod on November 1, 2006. Initially, authorities believed her death to be a suicide, but they soon learned that her death was not what it seemed.

In the dark hours of June 23, 1993, in Manassas, Virginia, a man lies fast asleep on his bed, while a woman looms over his prone body with a kitchen knife and proceeds to slice off his manhood. A stunning end to the broken marriage of Lorena and John Bobbitt. But what outrageous situation led two young people to a horrifying silent scream in the night?

Diving to Titanic is similar to preparing for space travel – it's a very hostile environment and less than 50 people have ever done it. Even more than 100 years later, the Titanic is still leading people to their death. Recent advances in science and technology have led to brilliant new discoveries and uncovered move of Titanic's hidden secrets, and this episode of How It Really Happened examines how the latest Titanic learnings upend our previous thinking about many of the ship's mysteries and myths. Weaving together the narratives of the shipwreck on April 14, 1912 and a recent underwater Oceangate voyage to the wreck that cost more human lives, this episode features interviews with Titanic historians, wreck analysts, descendants of Titanic passengers, and writer and producer Julian Fellowes (Titanic).

Diving to Titanic is similar to preparing for space travel – it's a very hostile environment and less than 50 people have ever done it. Even more than 100 years later, the Titanic is still leading people to their death. Recent advances in science and technology have led to brilliant new discoveries and uncovered move of Titanic's hidden secrets, and this episode of How It Really Happened examines how the latest Titanic learnings upend our previous thinking about many of the ship's mysteries and myths. Weaving together the narratives of the shipwreck on April 14, 1912 and a recent underwater Oceangate voyage to the wreck that cost more human lives, this episode features interviews with Titanic historians, wreck analysts, descendants of Titanic passengers, and writer and producer Julian Fellowes (Titanic).

Following the 2001 terror attacks on 9/11 which shook the country to its core came a second wave of threats, potentially even more deadly. Anthrax has been called "the poor man's nuclear bomb" – it is a spore-forming bacteria that is only a few microns in size and has the capability to kill millions. Both easy to make and easy to weaponize, these biological attacks gripped the nation with fear and launched one of the largest investigations in FBI history. This episode of How It Really Happened features interviews with former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, former Senate Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle, former CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, Dr. Jean Malecki who identified the case in the Anthrax attacks, and US postal workers and members of the media who survived exposure to Anthrax.

The shocking shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp at the hands of Olympic superstar and convicted murder Oscar Pistorius on Valentine's Day of 2013 pulled the curtain back on the storybook romance of a celebrated Hollywood couple. It started as a charming love affair between a world-famous athlete and a fashion model and ended with four hollow-point bullets through the bathroom door. This episode of How It Really Happened investigates whether this was a terrible accident, or a callous murder. Did Pistorius shoot Steenkamp mistaking her for a home invader, or did he intentionally shoot to kill? This episode features footage from the court in Pretoria, South Africa during Pistorius's 2013 murder trial and 2023 parole hearing and original interviews with Steenkamp's mother, modeling agent and family attorney.

Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is known for its vibrant art collection depicting renaissance scenes. But on the night of Saint Patrick's Day in 1990, robbers swept in, terrorizing the guards and taking 13 pieces of art which have never been recovered and are now worth half a billion dollars. This episode of How It Really Happened includes an interview with the museum security guard on duty who details the events of that night and his experience being held captive by the intruders, with never-before-seen museum security footage. FBI special agents, government officials and local journalists who covered the case provide expert insight into the international undercover operation attempting to recover the missing art and the key players in organized crime who have been suspected of the heist.