How It Really Happened

Actor Jesse L. Martin delves deeply into some of the most notorious crimes, mysteries, trials and celebrity tragedies of all time.
Titanic Part 1: A Clear and Starry Night
S8 E1

The Titanic disaster of 1912 intertwines with an underwater OceanGate voyage that costs more human lives; interviews with historians, wreck analysts and descendants of Titanic passengers shed light on both events.

Titanic Part 2: The Last Moments
S8 E2

Scientific advances have uncovered new secrets around the Titanic sinking, challenging previous notions about the ship's fate; analyzing the wreck and an underwater expedition that claimed more lives.

Anthrax: Terror by Mail
S8 E3

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the nation faced a new threat: anthrax.

Oscar Pistorius: The Bladerunner
S8 E4

The murder of Reeva Steenkamp by Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius on Valentine's Day in 2013 destroys the fantasy of a fairytale love story between a well-known celebrity pair.

Gardner Art Heist: Stealing Beauty
S8 E5

Valued at half a billion dollars, the whereabouts of 13 missing pieces stolen from the Boston's Gardner Museum on Saint Patrick's Day, 1990, remain a mystery.

The Atlanta Olympic Bombing Part 1: "You Have 30 Minutes"
S8 E6

In the summer of 1996, a bombing at the Atlanta Olympics killed two and injured over 100; an intense manhunt ensued, with the media and law enforcement falsely accusing security guard Richard Jewell as a suspect.

The Atlanta Olympic Bombing Part 2: The Bomber Is Watching
S8 E7

Interviews with former special agents, journalists, and Richard Jewell's associates provide insight into the case and its aftermath; subsequent bombings over the next eighteen months led investigators to suspect a serial bomber in Atlanta.

Tylenol Murders: Killer Capsules
S8 E8

In 1982, seven Chicago-area residents are suddenly stricken with a deadly illness; although initially at a loss, doctors soon discover a sinister link, sparking a decades-long investigation.

Sante and Kenneth Kimes: The Missing Socialite
S8 E9

In 1998, mother-son duo Sante and Kenny Kimes become suspects in the high-profile case of a missing New York City socialite; the investigation reveals a trail of violence and fraud that spans from the Bahamas to Los Angeles.

Madeline McCann: The Night She Disappeared
S7 E1

Kate and Gerry McCann vacation in 2007 at a Portuguese resort where their 3-year-old daughter, Madeleine, vanishes; heavy media reporting creates backlash, but there is now a new suspect.

Kobe Bryant Fateful Flight: Red Flags
S7 E3

Kobe Bryant's helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, kills all nine people on board, including his daughter Gigi, and leaves the world searching for answers.

Kobe Bryant Fateful Flight: What Went Wrong?
S7 E4

Kobe Bryant's helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, kills all nine people on board, including his daughter Gigi, and leaves the world searching for answers.

The Yacht Murder Mystery: Unspeakable Cruelty
S7 E5

The unpredictable outcome of Tom and Jackie Hawks' disappearance in November 2004 after two years of following their dreams and sailing the Pacific to exotic ports.

The Hollywood Ripper: He Was Watching Them
S7 E6

A woman is murdered inside her Hollywood home just before her date with actor Ashton Kutcher; as detectives search for answers, her friends relay stories about a strange air conditioning repairman who would show up uninvited at her home.

Adrienne Shelly: Nothing's As It Seems
S7 E7

41-year-old Adrienne Shelly was a filmmaker and mother who had just finished her film "Waitress" when she was found hanging from a shower curtain rod; initially, authorities believe her death to be a suicide, but soon learn nothing is what it seems.

Lorena Bobbitt: Tick Tick Boom
S7 E8

In the late hours of night, a man lies fast asleep in his bed while a woman looms over his prone body with a kitchen knife and slices off his manhood; this marks the end of the broken marriage between Lorena and John Bobbitt.

Finding Susan Powell: The Secret They Couldn't Talk About Part 1
S6 E1

Susan Powell, a twenty-eight-year-old mother of two, goes missing in December of 2009; more details about Susan's marriage to Josh and their life behind closed doors emerge.

Escape From Dannemora: Killers Part 1
S6 E3

Two dangerous killers break out of prison; convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat cut through steel walls and crawl through pipes to escape.

Escape From Dannemora: Getaway Car Part 2
S6 E4

The manhunt for escaped prisoners Richard Matt and David Sweat expands from the United States to Canada; thousands of leads, but still no sign of the missing men.

Bernie Madoff: Most Hated Man Part 1
S6 E5

Bernie Madoff was a legend on Wall Street but he would eventually confess to his sons that he had been living a lie, that this secret fund was nothing more than a multi-billion dollar fraud and the largest Ponzi scheme ever.

Bernie Madoff: Who Else Knew? Part 2
S6 E6

The news of Bernie Madoff's arrest sent shockwaves around the world; investigators unravel a scheme that went back decades and involved several loyal employees.

Last Days of Glenn Frey: Heartache Tonight
S6 E7

Glenn Frey was a multi-talented musician and along with Don Henley, co-founded the legendary band, the Eagles; when Glenn Frey died in 2016 his fans were shocked.

The Dartmouth Murders: Evil in a Small Town
S6 E8

Well known and liked Dartmouth College professors Half and Suzanne Zantop's incredible lives came to a shocking end when they brutally murdered in their home; with few leads and clues investigators are stumped.

The Jenny Jones Show: Fatal Attraction
S6 E9

In March of 1995, after three friends went on The Jenny Jones Show to reveal a secret crush, one of them ended up dead and another was charged with murder.

The Atlanta Serial Killer: Do You Know Where Your Children Are? Pt. 1
S5 E1

From 1979 to 1981, more than two dozen of Atlanta's black children disappeared without a trace; a look at who was killing the city's most vulnerable and why.

The Atlanta Serial Killer: The KKK Connection? Pt. 2
S5 E2

Investigators believe Wayne Williams, a 23-year-old black man murdered more than two dozen black children and young men in Atlanta; 40 year-old evidence is reexamined using modern forensics in search of more answers.

The Yosemite Murders: The Missing Women (Part 1)
S5 E3

A young women disappears from Yosemite National Park, a prime suspect emerges and then escapes.

The Yosemite Murders: The Evil Side (Part 2)
S5 E4

A suspect in the murder of young women in Yosemite National Park is caught, but it's up to an FBI agent to draw out a confession.

Siegfried & Roy: The Tiger Attack (Part 1)
S5 E5

In 2003, the wildly successful careers of master illusionists Siegfried and Roy comes to a shockingly abrupt end when one of the team's prized tigers bites Roy Horn on the neck and drags him off stage.

Siegfried & Roy: Dangerous Illusion (Part 2)
S5 E6

Roy tries to recover from severe wounds inflicted by his beloved tiger Mantacore; but excuses for the animal's behavior lose credibility.

Boston Marathon: The Manhunt (Part 2)
S5 E8

With the Boston Bombing suspects identified as domestic terrorist brothers, the manhunt begins, and a terrifying crime spree ensues.

Tom Petty: Mysterious Ending
S5 E9

A deeper look into Tom Petty's life reveals physical and emotional afflictions that may have led to his death at age 66.

James Jordan: Vanished
S5 E10

In 1993, James Raymond Jordan Sr. goes missing and his luxury car is found stripped and abandoned in North Carolina; clues point to a tragic crime.

The Mystery of the Gainesville Murders Pt. 1
S4 E1

During a terrifying three-day period in late August 1990, five college students were found brutally murdered in Gainesville, Fla.; panic filled the usually sunny city as investigators searched to find the serial killer before he struck again.

The Mystery of the Gainesville Murders Pt. 2
S4 E2

Five college students were found brutally murdered in Gainesville, Fla. but it would take investigators months, and the discovery of a campsite, a screwdriver and an audio tape, before they identified who the serial killer was.

The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart Pt. 1
S4 E3

Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her Salt Lake city home in 2002 and snatched from her bed at knifepoint by a mysterious man in the middle of the night; to the public it seemed as if she had vanished into thin air.

The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart: Hiding in Plain Sight Pt. 2
S4 E4

For nine months in 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was the most famous missing child in America; kidnapped by Brian David Mitchell, she was forced up into a hiding spot in the mountains behind her home, assaulted and forced to be his second wife.

Susan Smith: Someone Stole My Babies Pt. 1
S4 E5

On Oct. 25, 1994, Susan Smith reports that a carjacker has abducted her two young sons, Michael and Alexander; this report sets off a nationwide search for the boys; while the world waits for news about the boys, investigators deliver shocking news.

Susan Smith: The Shocking Truth Pt. 2
S4 E6

For nine days, the nation waits for news as to the whereabouts of missing 3-year-Michael and 14-month-old Alex Smith; then, there's a shocking break in the case; the boys' father, David, shares his heartbreaking story; a look at the investigation.

Drew Peterson: Killer Charm
S4 E7

On Oct. 28, 2007, 23-year-old Stacy Peterson, the wife of veteran police sergeant Drew Peterson, goes missing. as police launch an intensive search to find Stacy, the case raises shocking new questions about her husband.

David Cassidy: Fatal Secret
S4 E8

Actor-musician David Cassidy ("The Partridge Family") experiences the pressures of fame as a teen idol in the 1970s; in the end, his death is surrounded by mystery, leaving his family, friends and fans with more questions than answers.

Ted Bundy: The Girls Are Missing
S3 E1

In 1974, college-age women from the Pacific Northwest begin to disappear without a trace.

Ted Bundy: Ted Escapes
S3 E2

While serving time for aggravated kidnapping in Utah and facing first degree murder charges in Colorado, Ted Bundy escapes not once but twice from authorities.

Ted Bundy: The Murder Trials
S3 E3

Ted Bundy helps prepare his own defense, and his amateurishness may help him beat the rap or send him to the electric chair.

Ted Bundy: The Death Row Confessions
S3 E4

While the clock winds down, Bundy makes death row confessions in a desperate attempt to save his own life.

Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret
S3 E6

Four years after the vicious killing of Travis Alexander, ex-girlfriend Jodi Arias stands trial for his murder; millions of people are captivated by the emerging lurid details of Jodi and Travis' erotic relationship.

Aaron Hernandez: Secrets & Lies
S3 E7

At the young age of 23, New England Patriots star player Aaron Hernandez is set up for greatness; less than a year later, a body is found riddled with bullets only a short distance from Hernandez's home.

Selena: Fatal Encounter
S3 E8

Behind the scenes of singer Selena's red-hot career, ambitions and tragic demise; includes interviews with a close friend, a back-up singer and the nurse who spoke to Selena and her killer.

Waco: Gods, Guns, & Government
S3 E9

A look at what was going on inside the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, and why the government raided it in 1993.

Waco: End of Days
S3 E10

The siege at Waco ends in a fiery hell claiming the lives of David Koresh, his followers and his wives and children; TV news crews and demonstrators watch in horror as the ranch goes up in flames.

The Casey Anthony Story, Part 1
S2 E1

In 2008, two-year-old Florida toddler, Caylee Anthony, vanishes; her mother, Casey Anthony tells investigators Caylee has been kidnapped by her nanny, a woman Casey's family has never actually seen.

The Casey Anthony Story, Part 2
S2 E2

In 2008, two-year-old Florida toddler, Caylee Anthony, vanishes; her mother, Casey Anthony tells investigators Caylee has been kidnapped by her nanny, a woman Casey's family has never actually seen.

The Mystery of Heaven's Gate
S2 E3

In the 1970s, hundreds of people began disappearing without a trace, but in 1997, shocking news about a mysterious religious group made headlines around the world and some answers finally came to light.

Who Killed Chandra Levy?
S2 E4

In May 2001 in Washington DC, 24-year-old intern Chandra Levy vanishes into thin air; police find her keys and her cell phone in her apartment and no sign of a struggle.

George Michael's Final Days
S2 E6

George Michael's life as international super star comes to a mysterious and tragic end on Christmas Eve 2016; family and fans were shocked by his sudden death.

Did Scott Peterson Murder Laci?
S2 E8

A tale of murder, adultery, courtroom drama, and ultimately the death penalty; the story of Scott and Laci Peterson as told by those who lived it.

Did Scott Peterson Murder Laci? (Part 2)
S2 E11

A tale of murder, adultery, courtroom drama, and ultimately the death penalty. The story of Scott and Laci Peterson as told by those who lived it.

The Menendez Brothers: Murder in Beverly Hills Part 1
S1 E1

Experts shed light on the shocking motive that prompted the Menendez brothers to murder their own parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

The Menendez Brothers: Murder in Beverly Hills Part 2
S1 E2

In a sensational, televised trial, Erik and Lyle Menendez were found guilty of murdering their parents; a shocking motive was behind the brothers' actions.

The OJ Simpson Case: Other Killer Theories, Part 1
S1 E5

New theories emerge in the O.J. Simpson case, including a serial killer's confession, a possible hit man who claims responsibility for the murders.

Prince, The End
S1 E6

'How it Really Happened' uncovers Prince's secret struggles from his earlier years to the final days leading up to his shocking death.

The Death of Michael Jackson: Part 1
S1 E7

Revelations of what Michael Jackson's children and staff witnessed prior to his death and an investigation into the claims that Jackson took his own life.

The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith
S1 E8

Uncovering how Anna Nicole Smith's lavish lifestyle may have contributed to her mysterious death.

Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?
S1 E9

Investigating a wide range of suspects and evidence in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey.

Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?
S1 E10

Investigating a wide range of suspects and evidence in the killing of JonBenet Ramsey.

JFK Jr's Tragic Final Flight Part 2
S1 E12

Examining the factors that led to the crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr. and a never before seen interview with a person who may have been the last person to speak to JFK Jr, moments before the crash.

The Final Days of Whitney Houston
S1 E13

New details emerge surrounding singer Whitney Houston's last days and her tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown.

The Strange Case of Jeffrey Dahmer
S1 E14

The chilling account of a man who survived his encounter with the notorious serial killer, who managed to evade police scrutiny for years.

What Killed Heath Ledger
S1 E16

Bizarre drawings and puzzling clues found in Heath Ledger's apartment could possibly give clues as to whether or not his portrayal as The Joker impacted his life.