Spirit Studios, Hearst Networks, and BossaNova Media have announced two new true crime documentaries, ‘Lizzie Borden: 40 Whacks’ and ‘Aileen Wuornos: Damsel of Death’, extending the partnership behind docudrama ‘Ed Gein: Original Psycho’.
‘Ed Gein: Original Psycho’ became Crime+Investigation’s number one title in October 2025 and the channel’s third biggest release of the year.
‘Lizzie Borden: 40 Whacks’ (1 x 90′) revisits the infamous 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Drawing on rediscovered police interrogation files, the show re-examines the evidence, the conflicting accounts and the family tensions surrounding the case, and the enduring mystery of the woman accused of the murders.
‘Aileen Wuornos: Damsel of Death’ (2 x 60′) re-examines the life, crimes and investigation of one of America’s most notorious female serial killers. Drawing on FBI case files and first-hand testimony from Brian Jarvis, the lead detective who investigated Wuornos and questioned her following her arrest, the show looks beyond the sensational headlines that have surrounded the case for decades.
Both shows will premiere on Hearst Networks UK’s Crime+Investigation, with international distribution handled by BossaNova Media. ‘Lizzie Borden: 40 Whacks’ premieres on Sunday 27th September at 9pm, followed by ‘Aileen Wuornos: Damsel of Death’ on Sunday 4th October at 9pm.
“We’re really excited to be building on the success of Ed Gein: Original Psycho and bringing back the interrogation-room device that became such a distinctive part of those films. It gives us a way to combine intense, immersive scripted drama with premium factual storytelling and original case material. Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos are such infamous names that people think they know their stories, but there’s still so much to uncover.” said Matt Campion, Creative Director and co-founder of Spirit Studios.
“With renewed audience interest in these cases, following the ongoing Netflix drama series Monster, these next instalments of both Lizzie Borden: 40 Whacks and Aileen Wuornos: Damsel of Death offer fresh, compelling perspectives on two of the world’s most notorious female killers. We’re excited to bring these distinctive specials to Crime+Investigation audiences in the UK and internationally” said Hannah Gray, Acquisitions Manager, at Hearst Networks.
“We’re thrilled to be continuing our successful partnership with Spirit Studios with two gripping new shows, Lizzie Borden: 40 Whacks and Aileen Wuornos: Damsel of Death. Spirit Studios are experts at compelling and immersive true crime storytelling, and we are delighted to be partnering again and building on the international success of Ed Gein: Original Psycho” said Iona Hopper, Acquisitions Manager at BossaNova Media.
Images courtesy Crime+Investigation
Jon Creamer
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