The Weekly Drop: New True Crime Shows & Documentaries April 20-26, 2026
- The Emerald Sleuth
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
Welcome back, couch detectives.
April is winding down, but the cases aren't. The Weekly Drop is your guide to every new true crime show and documentary airing April 20-26, 2026. Ongoing series, one-offs, and everything in between. Investigation Discovery, Prime, and Netflix are in the mix this week, and the full breakdown is waiting below.
Someone has to track all of this. If you're glad it isn't you, Buy the Sleuth a Coffee. Here's what's on your screen this week.
Note: Schedules shift and networks update listings without warning. If something has changed or something slipped past the radar, drop it in the comments so it can be added to the record.
Monday
April 20th, 2026
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction S16E37 (“Left No Trace”) airs Monday at 9 p.m. ET on TV One. Episodes are also available to stream on Philo.
Fatal Attraction continues its long-running focus on real-life crimes driven by obsessive relationships, jealousy, infidelity, and possessiveness. Each standalone episode follows investigators as they piece together evidence and uncover hidden dynamics in victims’ personal lives, examining how relationships rooted in control or fixation escalate into violence. Season sixteen features cases involving affairs, custody disputes, and power imbalances, highlighting how emotional intensity can turn deadly.
Fatal Attraction: I’d Kill to Be You
Fatal Attraction: I’d Kill to Be You S1E13 ("Friends Turned Foes”) airs Monday at 10 p.m. ET on TV One.
This new entry in the Fatal Attraction franchise shifts the focus to cases driven by jealousy, envy, and obsession with another person’s life. Through dramatized reenactments, expert commentary, and real-life interviews, the series examines how admiration can harden into resentment, leading individuals to target someone’s identity, relationships, or perceived happiness. Episodes explore how fixation and social comparison escalate into criminal behavior, with cases involving betrayal, identity theft, and violence.
Hollywood Demons
Hollywood Demons S2E1 ("Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!") airs Monday at 9:00 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery, also streaming on Max.
Hollywood Demons returns for a second season, continuing its investigation into crime, misconduct, and systemic failures inside the entertainment industry. Season 2 examines allegations of abuse, exploitation, and institutional neglect tied to child performers, celebrity-associated scandals, and high-profile tragedies, including cases connected to Matthew Perry and Prince. Each episode builds a case-focused narrative through interviews, archival material, and investigative framing, documenting where fame and industry pressure created the conditions for harm.
Tuesday
April 21st, 2026
UNTOLD: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill
UNTOLD: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill is a feature-length documentary premiering Tuesday, April 21, on Netflix. The film examines the 2019 shooting at a New Jersey equestrian training facility, in which trainer Michael Barisone shot his student Lauren Kanarek following an escalating conflict involving harassment allegations and disputes within the competitive dressage community. The documentary reconstructs the events leading up to the shooting and follows the case through the legal proceedings, including Barisone's defense and the trial's outcome.
Both Barisone and Kanarek appear in the film, offering differing accounts of events. Interviews and investigative framing document the personal fallout and the broader impact on the competitive dressage world.
A trailer is available in the April Surveillance Report.
Evil Lives Here: My Child the Killer
Evil Lives Here: My Child the Killer episode S1E3 (“I'm the Monster's Mother”) airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery, with streaming availability on Max.
This spinoff of Evil Lives Here centers on parents confronting the reality that their child committed violent crimes. Through first-person interviews, the series focuses on the emotional aftermath, including shock, guilt, and grief, as families process how their understanding of their child changed. Each episode presents a parent’s account, examining the personal and lasting impact of these crimes on both families and their communities.
Wednesday
April 22nd, 2026
Homicide Hunter: American Detective
Homicide Hunter: American Detective S6E2 (“The Desert City Murders”) airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery. Episodes are also available to stream on Max.
Hosted by Joe Kenda, the series examines homicide investigations from across the United States, shifting the focus away from Kenda’s own cases to those handled by other law enforcement agencies. Each episode breaks down how investigators approached complex cases, highlighting the decisions and strategies that led to arrests. Season six continues to combine dramatized reenactments with interviews and case evidence, emphasizing the reasoning process behind solving violent crimes while documenting the impact on victims and their families.
On the Case with Paula Zahn
On the Case with Paula Zahn S29E2 (“Layers of Betrayal”) airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery. Episodes are also available to stream on Max.
This long-running series continues its narrative-driven approach to homicide cases, centering on firsthand accounts from victims’ families, investigators, and legal professionals. Each episode reconstructs the events surrounding a case while tracing the path to resolution through interviews and supporting evidence. Season twenty-nine highlights cases that required sustained investigative effort, including delayed breakthroughs and critical pieces of evidence that ultimately shifted the direction of the investigation.
Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders
Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders is a four-part documentary series arriving on Prime Video on Wednesday.
The series centers on the Long Island Serial Killer case, tracing the discovery of multiple victims found along Gilgo Beach between the mid-1990s and early 2010s and the decades-long investigation that followed before the 2023 arrest of Rex Heuermann. The series keeps its focus on the victims and the human cost of the case rather than the perpetrator alone.
Family members and individuals connected to the investigation speak on camera, providing firsthand accounts of the personal toll and the institutional failures that slowed the case. The series also addresses investigative missteps and systemic breakdowns, while accounting for recent developments as the legal proceedings continue.
A trailer can be found in the April Surveillance Report.
The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets
Added: 4-20-26
The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets S1E4 ("The Confession") premieres Wednesday on Peacock. Episodes 1-3, originally released together on June 10, 2025, are available to stream on Peacock.
The documentary examines the case of serial killer Rex Heuermann through the eyes of his own family. Centered on his now ex-wife Asa Ellerup and their children, the series documents life inside the Massapequa Park, New York home where Heuermann concealed a double life for decades, exploring how an unassuming architect evaded detection while the victims of the Gilgo Beach murders went unsolved. The fourth and final episode, arriving ahead of Heuermann's sentencing hearing, focuses on his confessions and the family's confrontation with the full scope of what was hidden under their roof.
Thursday
April 23rd, 2026
The First 48
The First 48 S29E17 (“Blind FIre”) will air Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on A&E with next day streaming on the A&E app.
The First 48 is a long-running documentary series that follows homicide detectives during the critical first two days after a murder, when time-sensitive evidence, witness cooperation, and investigative momentum matter most. Through real-time casework, forensic analysis, and interrogations, the series documents how quickly leads can emerge or disappear as investigators work to prevent cases from going cold.
Predator Hunters
Predator Hunters S1E8 ("A Dark Hidden Secret") airs Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on A&E, with next-day streaming availability on the A&E app and website.
This investigative series follows Detective Tony Godwin and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force as they pursue online child exploitation cases. The season documents real operations from the review of digital evidence through undercover exchanges and coordinated arrests, incorporating access to case files, body camera footage, and police interviews as investigators work to identify and apprehend individuals accused of targeting minors online.
Original Gangsters with Sean Bean
Original Gangsters with Sean Bean S1E3 (“Stephanie St Clair”) begins streaming Thursday on Sundance Now, with episodes also available to stream on AMC+. New episodes will release weekly.
This four episode documentary series examines notorious criminal figures through a combination of dramatized reenactments, expert commentary, and archival material. Across the season, the series explores the rise and decline of figures including Al Capone and the Kray twins, outlining how power, reputation, and internal conflict shaped these criminal networks and contributed to their eventual downfall.
View the trailer in the April Surveillance Report.
IMPACT x Nightline
Edited: 4-23-26 Note: This week's episode has been confirmed as non-true crime content.
IMPACT x Nightline is scheduled to stream Thursday on Hulu and Disney+.
Details are limited, and true crime relevance is unconfirmed. Entry will be updated as information becomes available.
Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time
Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time is a feature-length Spanish-language documentary premiering Wednesday on Netflix. The film examines the case of Yiya Murano, known as the "Poisoner of Montserrat," who was convicted of poisoning three women with cyanide-laced food during tea gatherings in Buenos Aires in 1979. Archival footage and interviews, including accounts from family members, reconstruct the events surrounding the deaths and the investigation and legal proceedings that followed.
The documentary also tracks Murano's reemergence in the public eye following her release from prison, exploring the lasting cultural attention the case has drawn and the ongoing impact on those connected to the victims.
The trailer is available in the April Surveillance Report.
Friday
April 24th, 2026
ABC 20/20
20/20 will not air this week. ABC has preempted the broadcast for the 2026 NFL Draft.
20/20 is ABC’s long-running investigative newsmagazine series, known for its in-depth reporting on high-profile crimes, criminal investigations, and complex legal cases. Through interviews, courtroom records, and investigative journalism, the program provides detailed examinations of how crimes unfold and how the justice system responds.
Dateline NBC
A new episode of Dateline NBC S34E22 ("Book of Lies"), airs Friday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.
Dateline NBC is a long-running newsmagazine that investigates crime, mystery, and other real-life stories through in-depth reporting and interviews. The series examines a single case or topic each episode, using detailed storytelling and investigative journalism to provide full context behind the events.
Saturday
April 25th, 2026
48 Hours
48 Hours S39E26 ("The Killing of Theresa Fusco") airs Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
48 Hours is a long-running CBS true crime series that investigates murder cases, cold cases, and potential wrongful convictions through in-depth reporting and interviews with key figures. Each episode focuses on a single case, combining firsthand accounts, forensic analysis, and legal insight to examine how crimes unfold and how investigations develop. Known for its detailed storytelling, the series explores the people, evidence, and decisions that shape real-life criminal cases.
Philly Homicide
Philly Homicide S2E3 (“Nightmare in North Wales”) will air Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on Oxygen, with episodes releasing weekly.
This documentary series follows Chris McMullin as he guides viewers through homicide investigations connected to the Philadelphia region, drawing on his background in local law enforcement to provide context and analysis for each case while focusing on the investigative process and the individuals involved.
Through archival footage, dramatized recreations, and interviews with current and former detectives, the series documents how cases were handled and ultimately resolved, offering insight into the challenges faced by investigators working within a region shaped by a dense history and complex urban landscape.
Sunday
April 26th, 2026
Snapped
Snapped S36E13 (episode details for April 26 remain unconfirmed and listings are all over the map, but after a little schedule sleuthing, the most likely case points to “Natalie Cochran”) airs Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on Oxygen, with streaming available on the Oxygen App.
Snapped is a long-running true crime series that examines cases involving women accused of murder, focusing on personal histories, relationships, and the circumstances that led to the crime. Through interviews, recreations, and firsthand accounts, the series traces how investigations unfolded and how motives emerged as each case came to light.
No trailer available at this time.
A Plan to Kill
A Plan to Kill S2E8 ("Silenced to Death") airs Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on Oxygen, with streaming availability on Peacock.
Season 2 returns with new episodes examining premeditated murder cases in which perpetrators carefully planned their crimes over extended periods. The series focuses on investigations involving staged home invasions, calculated revenge plots, and other deliberate schemes designed to mislead authorities, tracing how investigators uncovered inconsistencies, exposed deception, and reconstructed the planning behind the crimes.
Betrayal: Secrets & Lies
Betrayal: Secrets & Lies S1E5 ("The Kentucky Conman") premieres Sunday at 10:02 p.m. ET on ABC, with new episodes streaming next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Based on the true crime podcast of the same name, the series features a new story each week centered on lives upended by betrayal. Season 1 examines cases involving scandalous confessions, secret lives, acts of violence, financial ruin, and more, tracing what happens when the people closest to you become the greatest threat.
A trailer for the series can be found in the March Surveillance Report.
Court TV This Week
Family Trap Murder Trial UT v. Tracey Grist
Court TV is scheduled to show coverage of the UT v. Tracey Grist ("Family Trap Murder Trial") trial this week.
Tracey Grist faces charges of murder, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice in the July 2024 shooting death of her son-in-law, Matthew Restelli, 42, at her American Fork, Utah home. Prosecutors allege Grist conspired with her daughter, Kathryn Restelli, and her son, Kevin Ellis, to lure Restelli to the home under the pretense of picking up his wife and children, where he was shot seven times upon entering. A knife was allegedly placed in Restelli's hand after his death in an apparent attempt to support a self-defense claim. Kathryn Restelli has since pleaded guilty to murder and conspiracy and testified against her mother, while Ellis was previously convicted of the shooting and sentenced to a minimum of 20 years. Grist has pleaded not guilty.
Court TV's written day-by-day coverage can be found here.
Murder of Athena Strand
TX v. Tanner Lynn Horner
Court TV is scheduled to continue coverage of the TX v. Tanner Lynn Horner (“Murder of Athena Strand”) trial this week, entering the penalty phase following a guilty plea. Court resumes April 22 when the jury returns; until then, Daubert hearings will be held outside of their presence and cameras will not be permitted in the courtroom.
Tanner Lynn Horner, 35, pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping and capital murder in the death of 7-year-old Athena Strand, who disappeared from her home on November 30, 2022. Investigators determined that Horner, a delivery driver working through a FedEx contractor, was at the home during the time of her disappearance, and vehicle footage later showed a young girl entering his van. According to an arrest affidavit, Horner told police he struck Athena with the vehicle and, fearing she would report him, killed her by strangulation. He then led authorities to her body, which was found about 15 miles away. With the guilty plea entered, the jury will now decide whether Horner will receive the death penalty.
For a day-by-day breakdown of the trial, Court TV provides a running coverage guide here.
New True Crime April 2026: Closing Notes
That closes the file on the week of April 20-26. TV schedules shift and listings get updated without notice, so if something looks off or got missed, leave it in the comments or send it over and it'll get corrected.
The bigger picture lives in the Surveillance Report. The March Surveillance Report is there if you need to look back. The April Surveillance Report is open and actively tracking everything still to come. Catch TCSS between drops on social media (links below).
Until next week, Society.
