Documentary-Style Profiles to Air Week of March 28 Leading Up to the Two-Hour Premiere AMC’s Original Drama, "The Killing"
New York, March 28, 2011 – AMC has tapped ABC legal analyst and author Dan Abrams to anchor a series of documentary-style profiles of real-life murder mysteries that garnered national attention. Beginning Monday, March 28 through Saturday, April 2, the series of 3-5 minute vignettes will air nightly, featuring a new unsolved mystery each night, leading up to the two-hour series premiere of AMC’s new original drama, "The Killing," on Sunday, April 3 at 9pm ET/PT. Based on the hugely successful Danish television series "Forbrydelsen," "The Killing" tells the story of the murder of a teenage girl and the subsequent police investigation.
Throughout the profile vignettes, Abrams will delve deep into the story of six unsolved crimes, focusing on the unfolding investigation and murder evidence, as well as the families involved and each crime’s impact on the public psyche – themes that will be heavily explored in "The Killing." Each vignette will also feature commentary from experts on the subject, including those who dealt specifically with each unsolved case.
The six unsolved crimes to be explored include:
Jon Benet Ramsey: Jon Benet Ramsey was found murdered in 1996 at the age of six in the basement of her parents’ home in Boulder, CO, eight hours after she was reported missing. Her family members were considered suspects, but have been legally exonerated as a result of DNA evident. In 2009, the Boulder Police Department reopened the investigation.
Natalee Holloway: Natalee Holloway disappeared at the age of 18 during a high school graduation trip to Aruba in 2005. Joran van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe were suspects, but were all released due to lack of evidence. Her body still has not been found.
Marilyn Sheppard: Dr. Samuel Sheppard was convicted of the brutal murder of his pregnant wife Marilyn Sheppard in 1954. However, a decade later, his conviction was overturned. While the public seemed to still believe he was guilty of the crime, their son Sam Reese Sheppard, who was seven at the time of the murder, maintains his father was innocent.
The Alphabet Murders: The Alphabet Murders took place in the 1970s in Rochester, New York. The bodies of three young girls whose first and last names began with the same letters were each found in a town that started with the same letter as their name. While hundreds were questioned, the killer was never caught.
The Zodiac Killer: The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer in Northern California who went on a murdering spree in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. He coined the name "Zodiac" in a series of taunting letters, which included cryptograms, which he sent to local press. There have been numerous suspects, but no conclusive evidence has been found.
The Black Dahlia: The Black Dahlia was the nickname given to Elizabeth Short, whose body was found in Los Angeles in 1947. The mystery surrounding her murder has been the subject of numerous books and films.
From writer, executive producer and showrunner Veena Sud ("Cold Case"), "The Killing" weaves together three distinct stories around a single murder, including the detectives assigned to the case and their suspects, the victim’s grieving family, and the local politicians connected to the case. Shot on location in Vancouver, "The Killing" stars Mireille Enos ("Big Love") as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective investigating the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell ("Once and Again") as Darren Richmond, Seattle’s City Council President running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie’s killer; Michelle Forbes ("True Blood") as Rosie’s mother, Mitch; and Brent Sexton (W., In the Valley of Elah) as Rosie’s father, Stan.
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AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Series – Drama for three consecutive years. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC’s original stories include Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and The Killing. AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with curated movie franchises like AMC Hollywood Icon and AMC Complete Collection. Available in more than 96 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is owned and operated by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv and Wedding Central. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Story Matters HereSM.