True crime enthusiasts can now binge-watch all episodes of True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here, as series one and two have dropped on Acorn TV. The gripping docuseries, hosted by One Tree Hill and The Walking Dead actress Hilarie Burton Morgan, explores complex murder cases in small towns across America.
Series Overview and Format
In each episode, Hilarie, who also serves as executive producer, sits down with family members and local insiders to examine whether justice has been fully served. The series first premiered in 2021, with 14 episodes in season one, followed by season two in 2024, which consists of six episodes. Both seasons are now available to stream in one sitting on Acorn TV.
According to the synopsis: "The powerful and captivating series puts a spotlight on murder cases from small towns across America where questions remain if justice has been fully served. Each episode sees Burton Morgan meet with family members and local insiders as she explores the twists and turns of the case and uncovers the unique challenges of small-town justice."
Upcoming Season Three
The release of the first two seasons comes ahead of season three, which will premiere on August 10. In the upcoming instalment, Hilarie travels to Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Kentucky to seek justice for cases involving missing daughters, unsolved murders, and suspicious deaths.
Impact and Wrongful Conviction Case
Since the show first aired, Hilarie has highlighted the real impact on some of the cases she has explored. One notable case involves prisoner Jason Lively, who was wrongfully convicted in 2006 for the 2004 murder and arson of Dr. Ebb Whitley Jr. After spending more than 14 years behind bars, he was exonerated in 2020 after the state's own experts determined the fire was not arson.
Hilarie stated that the show's national awareness of Jason's conviction helped him secure a $1.56 million payout from the state of West Virginia for his wrongful imprisonment. She told People Magazine: "The calls to action that we do for each episode are really important. For anybody who's unsure if their involvement in our show matters, I'm here to tell you, my inbox is insane right now with the traction that we are finding on our cases." She added: "We don't stop caring about the story just because it aired. We're still involved. Until the family feels like they have justice, our job isn't done."
Viewer Praise
Since its debut, the true crime documentary has received high praise from viewers, with many commending the 'forgotten stories' it tells. One viewer said: "True crime at its finest! These are stories that you don't hear about on every other podcast. They are the forgotten stories. They are the every day people in non-salacious stories that need to be remembered." Another wrote: "Great story telling. Keep these episodes coming. Hilarie does a great job at this. She may have producers but you can feel her genuine care when talking about these stories. She is refreshing. There are lots of crime documentaries out there to compete with. She really cares about getting the whole story out there."
True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here is now available to stream on Acorn TV.
