This fall, one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders will be back on our televisions in more ways than one.
The case of JonBenét Ramsey ― a 6-year-old beauty queen who was found beaten and strangled in her own home in 1996 ― is set to be the subject of various TV series and a Lifetime movie.
On Wednesday, CBS announced that they will reopen the headline-making case with a six-hour docuseries, “The Case Of: JonBenét Ramsey.” The limited series will air over six days starting Sept. 18, 2016, and concluding Sept. 25.
The series will take a closer look at the murder of Ramsey, which took place on Dec. 26, 1996. Ramsey was found in the basement of her family’s Boulder, Colorado, home and investigators later determined she had been hit on the head and strangled. The girl’s parents and brother were initially suspected, but later exonerated. In 2009, the case was reopened but, to this day, remains unsolved.
“The Case Of” will also include interviews from individuals who were involved with the case, including former New York City prosecutor Jim Clemente, forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee, former chief investigator for the District Attorney in Boulder James Kolar and leading forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz, among others.
Just after CBS made their announcement, Lifetime revealed its own project based on the murder. “Who Killed JonBenét?,” an original movie about the case, is set to air later this fall.
According to E!, the TV movie will begin with the 911 call and investigation, which was led by Detective Steve Thomas (played by Eion Bailey). The film will also examine what happened the day Ramsey’s body was found, but will try to take a fresh look at the case with the use of recently surfaced information and theories surrounding the murder. (Will they discover that Katy Perry really is the former pageant girl?)
The movie will star Michael Gill and Julia Campbell as Ramsey’s parents and Payton Lepinski as JonBenét.
And if that’s not enough, Investigation Discovery is also releasing its own three-night special series based on the murder called, “JonBenét: An American Murder Mystery.” The series will present new evidence and include some exclusive interviews, and is set to premiere on Sept. 12. That same day, Ramsey’s brother, now 29, will appear on “Dr. Phil” for the first of three interviews during which he’ll speak about the case.
A feature film called “Casting JonBenét” is also in production with Kitty Green directing. The film ― part documentary, part story ― has mostly been kept under wraps, Variety reports, but we know that it is being financed by Meridian Entertainment and produced by James Schamus’ Symbolic Exchange.
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