or


[07/02/13 - 09:37 AM]
"The Cheshire Murders" Explores the Triple Homicide That Rocked Small-Town America When the Documentary Debuts July 22, Exclusively on HBO
The film is a universal human tale of the search for justice in the face of a crime that seemed to have permanently upended small-town life.

[via press release from HBO]

"THE CHESHIRE MURDERS" EXPLORES THE TRIPLE HOMICIDE THAT ROCKED SMALL-TOWN AMERICA WHEN THE DOCUMENTARY DEBUTS JULY 22, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

In the early-morning hours of July 23, 2007, in Cheshire, Conn., ex-convicts Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky broke into the family home of Dr. William Petit, his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and their daughters, Michaela, 11, and Hayley, 17. Dr. Petit was beaten and tied to a pole in the basement. The three women were bound in their bedrooms while the men ransacked the house. The brutal ordeal continued throughout the morning, ending with rape, arson and a horrific triple homicide.

The intruders were caught minutes after fleeing the Petit home and overnight, news of their crime sent shock waves across the nation, while Cheshire residents retreated behind newly locked doors. Debuting MONDAY, JULY 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, in conjunction with the sixth anniversary of the murders, THE CHESHIRE MURDERS takes viewers behind the scenes of the case, from the morning of the crime through two death-penalty trials five years later.

Other HBO playdates: July 22 (2:30 a.m.), 25 (12:30 p.m.), 28 (11:30 a.m.) and 30 (9:00 a.m.), and Aug. 3 (2:00 p.m.) and 6 (4:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: July 24 (8:00 p.m.) and 29 (12:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.), and Aug. 18 (9:55 a.m.) and 27 (11:45 a.m.)

HBO Documentary Films presents another weekly series this summer, debuting provocative new specials every Monday through Aug. 12. Other upcoming films include: "Gasland Part II" (July 8); "The Crash Reel" (July 15); "First Comes Love" (July 29); "Casting By" (Aug. 5); and "Americans in Bed" (Aug. 12).

Directed and produced by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner (HBO's Emmy(R)-winning "Jockey"), THE CHESHIRE MURDERS is a universal human tale of the search for justice in the face of a crime that seemed to have permanently upended small-town life. This multi-layered documentary features exclusive interviews with victims' and perpetrators' friends and families, as well as attorneys, journalists and mental-health professionals involved in the case. Revealing the untold life stories of the perpetrators, as well as detailing failures of police and the parole system to prevent this tragedy, the film probes the deep impact of the crime and explores what it means to deliver justice in the wake of such loss.

After the initial break-in, Hayes took Jennifer Hawke-Petit to the bank, where she withdrew $15,000 and alerted the teller that her family was being held hostage. Hayes took the money and drove her home. By 10:00 a.m., when the men fled the Petit residence, Jennifer and her younger daughter had been sexually assaulted and the home had been doused with gasoline and set ablaze. Only Dr. Petit survived, escaping through a bulkhead door, bloodied and dazed. Hayes and Komisarjevsky were apprehended within moments.

Later, facing calls for their execution, the perpetrators offered to plead guilty and accept sentences of life without release. But the prosecution demanded death, sparking a public debate in a state that had been poised to abolish capital punishment.

THE CHESHIRE MURDERS looks at the death penalty in a case where guilt is a foregone conclusion. To Dr. Petit and others, the Petit home invasion became a rallying cry for executions. Some argued, however, that the process costs millions, that the case will be tied up in appeals for years, making it unlikely the two will ever be put to death, and that the surviving victims will be re-traumatized by ongoing court battles.

In addition to the 2004 documentary "Jockey," Kate Davis and David Heilbroner's HBO credits include "Plastic Disasters," "The Adolescent Addict" (part of the "Addiction" series) and "Diagnosis Bipolar: Five Families Search for Answers." Davis also directed, produced and edited the Emmy(R)-nominated 2002 HBO documentary "Southern Comfort," which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

For more information on the documentary, visit: Facebook: facebook.com/hbodocs; and Twitter: @HBODocs #CheshireMurders.

THE CHESHIRE MURDERS was directed, produced and edited by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner. For HBO: senior producer, Lisa Heller; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [july 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.