American Monster

A typical American family isn't exactly what it seems. In public Max & Janeene Jones appear to have the perfect marriage, but behind this happy image lies hidden truths. 20 years later, an undercover police investigation reveals an unexpected killer.

The story of Brian and Randi Trimble, whose marriage takes the ultimate hit after he and a coworker, Blaine Norris, partner on a low-budget horror movie.

An interview with the daughter of a notorious killer provides an unblinking look at a monster, who led a double life while committing cold-blooded crimes.

In Hartford, Wis., community members are shaken to its core when a teenager is found murdered in the summer of 2014.

Never-before-seen footage provides a glimpse into the life of a killer who stalked the summer streets of Phoenix in 2005.

The union of a successful businessman and an aspiring actress doesn't last long when, on the honeymoon, the relationship takes a deadly turn.

In Ohio, Jack and Linda Myers are shot to death in their sleep, and the only eye witness is their sleepy 4-year-old grandson; now, family members speak about what happened that night and share home movies revealing a monster living in their midst.

The Yates family moves to Spokane, Wash., only to find it besieged by a serial killer who's targeting young women and confounding the police; now, the family's home videos provide a look at one of the most notorious killers in the United States.

In Anniston, Ala., the townspeople grieve after Frank Hilley is struck down by a mysterious sickness, then his daughter falls ill, and the family becomes suspicious; home movies tell a shocking tale of murder and reveal the identity of a monster.

As seen in home videos, the Snyders are thrilled when their 34-year-old son, Mike, finally starts a family with his sweetheart, then Mike vanishes after being diagnosed with a terrible illness, and his horrific fate comes to light only years later.

After a taping of their local-access TV show, Chrissy and Charlie Billis have a terrible accident, smashing their car into a tree; only one of them survives, but tapes from the couple's TV show suggest a sinister tale behind what really happened.

In Colorado, second-time spouses Harold and Toni Henthorn seem to dote on their young daughter and each other, then their idyllic life is shattered by a hiking accident; the couple's home videos conceal a deadly predator who nearly escapes justice.

While Ron and Cynthia Phillips and their four children try to adjust to life in a remote Colorado town, home videos mask dark impulses within the Phillips family, ones that will lead to deceit, infidelity and murder.

Manling Williams returns home to find her young sons murdered and her sword collector husband, Neal, stabbed to death.

After Ohioan Richard Beasley vanishes, police discover that an online monster has been luring local men to their deaths.

Kevin and Joanne Dowling like to capture their children's milestones on videotape, then Kevin is accused of gunning down a woman in a nearby town, and his fate hangs on his video camera.

In suburban California, an intruder attacks and kills 55-year-old Joan Dawley; as the Dawley family grieves, it falls to LAPD Detective Paul Tippin to crack the case; home movies reveal a shocking tale of deceit.

When Sherri Dally mysteriously vanishes from her Ventura home, her husband Michael & bestfriend Debbie head up a massive search. But someone knows more than they're saying. Never-before-aired home videos trace a tale of sordid secrets & double lives.

In Ogden, Utah, Stephen and Becky Vargas appear to have it all; however, jealousy and control issues abound behind the picture-perfect life seen in their home videos, but no one suspects their marriage will end in murder.

Home movies reveal the fabulous lifestyle of Lanny and Donna Horwitz who are raising their son, Radley, in their Florida mansion; when their lives are upended by a ghastly shooting, everyone in this eccentric family becomes a suspect.

The Laffertys are pillars of the Mormon community, and they are known as an example of wholesome family values, as seen in home videos; however, an evil is lurking that will one day explode into an unholy double homicide.

Home videos show U.S. Air Force Sgt. Nathan Paet and his family living a blissfully normal life, then blind greed brings about the destruction of this loving family.

In Oklahoma, Dr. John Hamilton and his wife Susan are the envy of all: successful, respected and in love - until a vicious Valentine's Day murder destroys their lives. Never-before-seen home videos shed light on a brutal murder no one saw coming

At a family-run construction company, brothers and cousins work hard and play even harder; then, one of them goes missing, but no one steps forward with answers; the man's disappearance remains a mystery for 20 years.

A father-of-two disappears right before starting a new job; his wife has no idea where he went, while his friends hint that he led a secret, sordid life; the man's disappearance remains a mystery for years until a tip reveals the jaw-dropping truth.

An obsessive video blogger shares every detail of her roller-coaster life with her husband and their children online; one night, intruders tie her up, kidnap her husband and execute him; it seems someone has been keeping secrets.

Coming home from church, a preacher finds his wife stabbed and beaten, the apparent victim of a home invasion; the preacher's alibi is rock solid, and his son's alibis are sound as well; however, several details don't add up, leading to the truth.

A fun-loving couple cultivates close relationships with their grown daughters, then the mother is bludgeoned to death in her home; no one suspects that the unthinkable could be true, but video doesn't lie, unlike guilty people.

Alene and George Jenkins are a couple living a perfect life. When their desire for children leads them to adopt a son and a daughter it seems their family is complete. But instead it triggers a dark spiral ending in an unspeakably awful crime.

Unraveling the mystery behind the confusing evidence at the scene of April Holton's tragic murder.

Carol-Ann and James Sharp seem like a match made in heaven, but behind the veneer hides a monster in plain sight; loved ones close to the couple sit down for the first time on camera to make sense of a murder that none of them saw coming.

Doug and Rose fall in love and get married; however, lies and deceit surface behind their seemingly perfect facade as seen on home videos; then, a no-show at Thanksgiving and a box on the side of the road lead to a shocking discovery.

After locking eyes at the gym, Rebecca Thudin and Larry Fenton get married; then, Larry is shot dead in an apparent home invasion; home videos and interviews with family members help to unravel what really happened.

When outgoing Beth Spaulding and shy Jason Risenburg meet, it looks like a match made in heaven; however, a series of disasters strike the once-devoted couple, causing tensions to simmer in their marriage.

When a devastating fire at the Kohnle family home leaves a family member dead, it appears to be an accident. But as the evidence mounts up it's the testimony of two young kids who lead the police to decipher if it was an accident, suicide or murder.

Cassie Golonin disappears just before New Year's Eve from Fort Smith, Ark.; when family and friends conduct a search, the discovery of a shallow grave soon leads to the truth.

Todd and Rachel Winkler's life looks exquisite from the outside, but inside things are falling apart; video footage shows the truth behind their seemingly happy marriage, revealing terrible secrets and mind games that culminate in murder.

Four best friends, two married couples, multiple sordid secrets, and one betrayal that leads to murder; with exclusive interviews and never-before-aired home movie footage.

Great-grandfather Arthur Burney knows he's lucky to have such a large, loving family; but when Arthur is found murdered, the entire Burney family is divided - until a tip-off exposes a masterful plot.

When Amanda Schmitt marries John Grazioli, the happy day is captured on home video; six months later, police respond to a 911 call and make a shocking discovery.

The close bond between cousins Mark Corona and Paul Stoeppler is quickly severed when one of them is murdered in cold blood; never-before-seen home movie video and shocking CCTV reveals what happened.

Young parents Adrienne and James Magee work hard to provide a stable life for their three small children in rural Louisiana. But beneath the idyllic scenes lurks a dark secret, culminating in a heinous double-murder at the hands of a loved-one.

Hyrah Frasch is no ordinary baby. The photogenic one-year-old already has her own website and looks set to become an internet sensation. But when a tragic accident occurs in the family swimming pool, police discover a killer hiding in her midst.

Jason and Lindsey Lee are destined for each other. However, marriage can have its highs and lows. When the young couple decide to change their lifestyle to reignite the spark in the relationship, it comes with deadly consequences.

When popular teacher Simeonette Mapes-Crupi is found dead in her Staten Island condo, all evidence points to a brutal robbery gone wrong; as detectives dig deeper, they uncover a wealth of secrets.

Sandy Miles and her daughter Tracie are as close as can be. But when Tracie vanishes and Sandy is found brutally murdered, the truth behind the killing is more horrific than investigators can possibly imagine.

Rebecca and Ken Pierce film themselves raising their four kids in idyllic rural Oklahoma. But the family is haunted by a spectre of addiction and violence across generations that will leave two of them brutally murdered, and the family destroyed.

When Dianne Hart and Donnie Rudd begin an affair in a small Chicago suburb, Dianne's kids hope that their mum has found love. But instead it triggers a series of bizarre lies and deceptions that reveal a cold-hearted killer in their midst.

When single mom Michelle Chaffin finds love, it seems like the perfect case of opposites attract. But when Michelle vanishes without a trace, police uncover a terrible jealousy revealed through a shocking confession that leaves her family reeling.

Diana Lovejoy and husband Greg Mulvihill live happily in southern California. But when accusations rock the marriage and a mysterious phone call ends with an attempted murder, police uncover the shocking truth behind this once dream couple.

When wealthy bachelor Steve Clayton meets homely VA nurse Lana Walsh, it's love at first sight. But the devoted couple aren't immune to life's tragedies, and when an untimely death raises questions, an unsettling and devastating secret is revealed.

Joy and Fred are typical high-school sweethearts until a tragic work accident changes the course of their lives forever. As Joy tries to find a second shot at love, her past will refuse to let her go... and sets in motion a heart-breaking tragedy.

Doting parents Brett and Mona Wehde live a quiet life in sleepy rural Iowa raising their three children. When a new family arrives, relationships flourish, but behind closed doors a wicked plot is hatched that soon destroys life as they know it forever.

In Michigan a mother is murdered by her jealous ex-boyfriend. Friends and family examine home video footage and question if there were any warning signs.

The Futos are a close-knit family of five who film their lives over many decades. But when four of them are found brutally murdered, the investigation into the slayings will uncover a terrible truth and a family secret that has laid buried for decades.

High achieving Keonte Chavis has always relied on her big, loving family to support her dreams. But when a sudden disappearance leads to a disturbing murder, they all face a dark and terrifying reality - the predator is one of their own.

Rob and Lisa Whedbee are a beautiful couple who turn heads wherever they go; then a medical trauma upends their happy family, setting them on a path of destruction that will end in lies, accusations and a brutal home invasion.

In 1997, 78-year-old Jean Schwarzkopf was murdered in Florida. The retiree's husband owned a jewellery business, was she murdered for her diamonds?

Tattoo artist Amber Andrews and snowboarder Brandon Duran have a tumultuous marriage. When love turns to venomous hate, a shocking secret breaks the surface and reveals a betrayal that leads to murder.

In 2017, an unimaginable betrayal leads to the death of a woman in the state of Louisiana. Police discover she has been murdered by her estranged husband.

Tabatha Spake grows up in an adoring home, but by the time she's a teenager, she longs for a different kind of love; just when she finally finds happiness, a monster turns her dreams into a nightmare.

In Hudson, Wisconsin, Charlene, and Darrell Wold seem to be living a blissful existence with their blended family. They do all they can to keep their household safe and secure, but they never imagined the real danger would come from within.

Book smart Avis Banks always puts her career ahead of her love life, until she meets handsome teacher Keyon Pittman. But just when she's on the brink of having it all, a dirty secret tears them apart in the most brutal way possible.

Growing up outside Chicago, the Simonian sisters are thick as thieves, even after they leave the nest to start new lives of their own. Then, when the youngest sets off to pursue her master's degree, a horrific crime tears the whole family apart.

Raised in a big Mormon family, Ashlee Harmon grows up wanting that same kind of lifestyle. She marries her college boyfriend, Emmett Corrigan, and raises five kids while he opens his own law firm. But dirty secrets will soon trigger a deadly showdown.

In the suburbs of Houston, Texas, Stephanie Kirkpatrick is a gifted stage performer and much-loved special needs teacher with the world at her feet. However, behind closed doors, resentment and envy fester in her marriage, leading to a shocking 911 call.

Joseph Green Brown was on death row for 13 years before his convictions were overturned. Decades later, he would be charged for the murder of his wife.

When LaTonya Taylor gets pregnant at 15, her mom, preacher Angelia Taylor, vows to support her no matter what. Years later, it looks like love has conquered all, but someone's hiding a deep-seated resentment that will destroy the whole family.

From her early days as a pageant girl, Michelle Lira always had a magnetic personality. She's whip-smart too and dreams of being a doctor one day -- until a rollercoaster romance steers her life in a different direction, straight into a deadly ambush.

When newly divorced Wendi Davidson meets charming Brian Chevalier, it seems to be the perfect remedy for heartbreak, but all is not as blissful as it seems.

Ashley Pittman thinks she hit the lottery marrying Jeffrey Scott, and he gives her a cushier life than the one she left behind in small-town Louisiana; however, behind closed doors, a secret soon turns deadly.

Gil Dossett and his family live an idyllic existence until an accident changes everything. It takes years to chart a new course through life, but just when it seems Gil has finally righted the ship, he finds himself in the darkest place of all.

Ramon Sosa is a father of three who runs a successful boxing gym in Texas; he feels like the luckiest man alive until someone marks him for murder.

Property developer, Robert Pann and trainee nurse, Bernice Gray seem like the ideal match. However, buried secrets surface and are about to end this seemingly picture-perfect romance.

Divorced mom of four Krystal Humphus marries single dad Nathan Maddox; she is over the moon that she's found a man who loves kids as much as she does; little does she know, her dream of a big, blended family will soon turn into a nightmare.

Twenty-one-year-old mum, Lauren Kidd, takes an unconventional route through life, but she always follows her heart; the future should be bright, but there's a darkness lurking that no one can stop.

After years of searching for love, Doris thinks she's finally hit the jackpot with an old friend named Mark. However, there seems to be something dark taking hold of their marriage.

As gentle giant Randy Ferguson approaches his 40th birthday, his sisters worry that he'll never have a family of his own. That all changes when Randy meets single mom Angela Phillips. But the beautiful life they build together hides an ugly secret.

Joann Albanese finds love again with a personal trainer named John Edwards, then John moves in but Joann discovers too late her new boyfriend isn't who he claims to be.

In Snellville, Georgia, Heather Strube has a satisfying life working in the family floral shop, raising her toddler son, and looking forward to a bright future with her new boyfriend. However, a Sunday trip to the shopping centre shatters everything.

John Eichner, his wife and kids look like a happy family in Genoa, Ohio, but behind closed doors a disturbing pattern of torment and gaslighting plays out for years, and well-crafted lies drown out a victim's pleas for help.

For years, Bill, Stephanie, and their three kids hide their torment while struggling to keep up appearances; the façade shatters for good when someone starts swinging a pickaxe.

Rowena Irani, a Pakistani immigrant, aspires to be a teen psychologist until a pathological love connection shatters everything.

Cindy Monkman turns heads wherever she goes, but by age 30, she's looking for something serious; Michael Apelt, a handsome German businessman, seems to be the answer to her prayers, until their first Christmas together turns into a horror story.

When 20-year-old Chloe Randolph gives birth to a baby boy, her family is over the moon, but what should be a blissful time for this loving mom is about to turn into a waking nightmare.

Air Force veteran Roger Harris and his wife Donna, a nurse, built their dream home in Florida, but just after the birth of their second son, a vile secret threatens their sweet, simple life; someone's hatching a plot that no one ever saw coming.

Ben Renick is building an empire as a world-renowned breeder of exotic snakes; he has fame, fortune and a young family to share it with, but little does he know, someone he loves is hatching a venomous plot.

Family comes first to grandparents Ron and Kay Wilkson, though they may not have much money, their growing brood always knows how to make their own fun. However, something evil is prowling close to home and not everyone will make it out alive.

Tammy Gardner loves being a mom and running a day care out of her suburban Delaware home; she also loves a night out on the town; what starts as innocent fun leads this 40-year-old down a dark path of jealousy and deadly rage.

Police officer Albert Pacheco and his wife Cathy live on Hawaii's Big Island, raising four kids in the bosom of their close-knit church community; what looks like a household steeped in traditional goodness is hiding something evil.

Young parents Gary and Tasha Bentley are living the good life. They've got high-paying jobs, a nice house, and regular vacations to the tropics -- but just five years into their marriage, someone's plotting an exit strategy that ends with a bullet.

Divorced dad-of-three Daniel finds himself drawn into a web of lies and a plot that ends with a deadly house fire.

Carla Lewis gives her husband John money to open a medical marijuana store that sells pain relief products; spiraling costs, rumours of illegal activities and a string of infidelities eclipse the good intentions and sow the seeds for murder.

Jeffrey and Jeannine Glanda appear to have it all, the house, the children and the lifestyle; when half of the partnership craves control more than love, it sets in motion a deadly plot ending with a suspicious car accident and a watery grave.

Mystery shrouds the Iraqi community in Michigan when a devoted father of two is found hacked to death in his home; as the search for his killer intensifies, investigators unravel a web of digital clues that reveal an evil conspiracy.

Two young women enter into a star-crossed romance that ends in deadly rage.

After three divorces between them, Roberta and Ken Samard seem to have finally found a lasting marriage; 15 years on, they appear to be living their dream life in Oregon, until an early morning call to 911 exposes the ugly truth.

A home invasion in California leaves a family shattered and detectives scrambling for answers; as investigators hunt down the perps over several years, they join the dots to outline an evil plot born from greed and a need for total control.

Heavily pregnant Colorado native Shanna Vandewege supports her husband Craig's plan to move to Texas for work. The birth of a baby makes up for Shanna's separation from family, but someone is about to exploit her isolation as an outlet for their rage.

Molly McAfee and her partner, Adam Buchanan, cherish weekends at their cabin in the woods with all the family, but someone has plans to burn everything down to take what they want.

David Sumney Sr. and his wife Margaret devote their lives to spoiling their only son, David, the baby of the family. However, everything comes at a price, and when his parents divorce, David Jr.'s anger escalates, resulting in the deadliest of sins.

Michelle Rogers and Matt Terry are together and share a son, Matt, but he has a dark side that comes out when he drinks; his rage explodes, leaving Michelle fighting for her life; Matt serves prison time, but tragedy strikes again when he gets out.

There's nothing Brian and Cheri Hartman won't do for their only child, Scott, including helping to raise his kids after a divorce; Cheri and Brian dote on their grandbabies, and the close-knit family thrives until a betrayal changes everything.

Cousins Joey Vincent and Terry Wedding grow up together in rural Kentucky; as Joey thrives, Terry struggles to find his own path; a 911 call reports a shocking event unfolding outside Joey's home that tears the two families apart.

Brittany Steier devotes her life to being a mum and having a happy family. But when the father of her children, Edward June Harris Jr, becomes increasingly violent and unpredictable, Brittany has to make a decision that will end up costing her life.

Tina Swor and partner John Dalton start a new life in Spirit Lake, Idaho; John's erratic behaviour and love of guns plague the couple's fresh start; when Tina's best friend doesn't see her for days, she decides to call the cops.

Shirley Merritt is devoted to her family, especially her youngest son, Richard, but he wants to have the good life by any means possible; when bad choices lead to a prison sentence, Richard makes a deadly decision, and his secret is exposed.

Barbara Pacheco spends years building both a family and a successful career; but when the father of her children, Aldo Pacheco, becomes increasingly violent and unpredictable, Barbara is forced to make a decision that will end up costing everything.

India Mackey live streams her life for all to see, but behind her smile on camera, her relationship with her boyfriend Kevin Dixon is painful; a day after her 20th birthday, India learns what her boyfriend Kevin can do.

When Alessia Mesquita reconnects with her childhood crush, Rashod Newton, the couple fall desperately in love; when the romance becomes overshadowed by Rashod's behavior, Alessia has to make a decision that will have deadly consequences.

The lives of a beautiful young family in Long Beach, New York, rip apart when five-year-old Audrey witnesses her mother, Diane, brutally stabbed to death; to Audrey's horror, her mother's murderer is somebody very close to home.

Mark-Eric and Sherri Ponsati have a picture-perfect life, and the arrival of two children completes their family. When Mark-Eric reports that Sherri has had a tragic accident, their world falls apart.

Tragedy strikes when a husband decides he wants his wife all to himself.

What appears to be a burglary gone wrong is actually the ultimate betrayal.

Laurie Bursey spent her life searching for happiness; after two marriages and three children, she thinks she finally found it in southern trucker Kurt Bird; but, a violent abuser lurks behind Kurt's bad-boy swagger, and happiness soon becomes fear.

A musician's sinister song lyrics foreshadow danger for a young mother.

Christy Blankenship is stolen from her family on what should be a joyous day, when police find her dead at home, with a gunshot wound to her head. Her husband insists it's a terrible accident. But only that morning he had vowed 'til death do us part.

Matt Hendershot is devastated when his marriage ends and his ex-wife moves on; but following the death of her lover, he allows her back into his home, along with a collection of the dead man's guns; it is a mistake which will prove to be fatal.

Rogelio Morales is a handsome Marine who sweeps Margarita Sanchez Lemus off her feet. Their whirlwind romance leads to marriage and the birth of a beautiful son. Behind Rogelio's winning smile lurks a monster who will soon show his true colors.

A controlling marriage ends in a grisly murder which is secretly recorded.

When two bodies turn up in a car crash, investigators uncover the grizzly truth about a seemingly perfect relationship.

Nurse and private investigator Nikki and Jimmy Cappello are a dynamic duo - until Jimmy suddenly goes missing.

Ashley's new confidence enrages estranged husband Terry, who stalks her to a secluded lot, ready to reclaim control in the deadliest way.

A Mississippi husband who uses a wheelchair turns violent when his loving wife tries to end their marriage. Was it self-defence - or murder.

An Ohio mother's devotion blinds her to danger. Despite deadly threats, she clings to her violent son, and her love seals the fate she fears most.

Andreen has always had her sights set on success. But the more successful Andreen gets, the more threatened her husband Andre becomes.

After years of suffering in silence, Francisca Quintero finally leaves her violent husband. But for him, there is no such thing as a divorce.

Tymeir shines as the loving son, but his brother Rodney's jealousy boils over, driving him to a hideous act of violence that tears their family apart.

Elena falls for bad boy Brandon, who poses as a loving father. But his jealousy and violent control soon spiral into devastating consequences.

Living in his CEO wife's shadow proves too much for failed football player Roy Harvison, and the price will be more than one life.