

2026–2026 · HBO · Ended
The re-opening of a mysterious 1985 cold case murder in Louisiana unearths a haunting history of bloodshed and long-buried trauma. What begins as an investigation into a 1985 murder turns into a haunting exploration of a community's dark history of violence and bloodshed. Set in the rural bayou outside New Orleans, Louisiana, a harsh landscape steeped in supernatural lore and traditions, the story starts with the disappearance of Dorothy Lou Thompson - the owner of a pet cemetery that had been built on land long rumored to be cursed. Dorothy's body eventually turns up wrapped in chains in the Mississippi River, raising questions about her past and the people around her. With no concrete evidence, the case goes cold until 2009 when Det. John Doran reopens the investigation, following up on old leads and digging into the case files. Unexpectedly, a witness comes forward with a terrifying tale of Dorothy's ghost which compels him to come forward with information. Three years later, a second witness claims to be haunted by the murdered woman seeking vengeance. The vexing accounts launch a police investigation into Dorothy's tragic past, revealing a trail of dead husbands, a domineering mother Grace, who founded the cemetery after outrunning her own criminal acts, and the long shadow of a community steeped in evil deeds that were buried but not forgotten. With insight from Dorothy's neighbors, law enforcement, local journalists, and scholars, the series unearths a labyrinthine tale involving multiple dead bodies, disturbing family secrets, and centuries-old massacres exposing the deep-seated horror and guilt that still haunt the community.
Sundays at 9:00 PM New York time
This series has ended.
Last aired
S01E03 · Episode 3
2026-10-26
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Episode 1
2026-10-11 · 60 min
Episode 2
2026-10-18 · 60 min
Episode 3
2026-10-25 · 60 min
Headlines can spoil the latest episode.
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Browse #thepetcemeterymurdersaghoststory on Instagram →‘A very, very strange case’: Inside ‘The Pet Cemetery Murders’ and the ghost that cracked Dorothy Thompson’s killing
Gold Derby · Oct 25, 2026
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story – Review | HBO
IMDb · Oct 20, 2026
Who Killed Dorothy Thompson? Pet Cemetery Murders Unearths the Truth in Chilling HBO Docuseries
E! News · Oct 18, 2026
‘The Pet Cemetery Murders’ Turns A Cold Case Into A Ghost Story
Forbes · Oct 12, 2026
Bayou crimes mostly go unpunished in the haunting HBO doc The Pet Cemetery Murders
A.V. Club · Oct 11, 2026
'The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story' HBO Review: Stream It Or Skip It?
Decider · Oct 11, 2026
The Pet Cemetery Murders: HBO has a haunting true crime doc for you
Roger Ebert · Oct 9, 2026
Lightbox Turns On Frightbox With Hulu’s ‘Clown Panic’ & ‘The Pet Cemetery Murders’ For HBO
Deadline · Oct 5, 2026