The obsession with those who kill continues. MGM+ has officially greenlit “The Hillside Strangler,” a gripping four-part true-crime docuseries set to dissect the infamous string of murders that paralyzed Los Angeles during the late 1970s and detail the monumental investigation that finally brought the killers to justice.
The Reign of Terror in Los Angeles
The late 1970s marked a dark era for Southern California. Los Angeles was tragically branded the serial murder capital of the world. While names like the Toolbox Killers haunt the city’s past, no perpetrator instilled more fear than the Hillside Strangler. This phantom figure abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered at least a dozen women and young girls. Afterwards, he left their bodies deliberately posed on the local hillsides as gruesome declarations.
This unprecedented crime spree ignited the largest manhunt in the city’s already extensive criminal history. It was spearheaded by the relentless homicide detective, Frank Salerno. His perseverance led to the capture of the strangler(s) and the shocking revelation that the atrocities were carried out by two men: Kenneth Bianchi (pictured) and his cousin, Angelo Buono.
Unprecedented Access and First-Time Revelations
After the longest criminal trial in U.S. history, both men received life sentences, cementing Salerno’s work as legendary. This case not only defined his career but also set the stage for his later pursuit of the notorious Night Stalker.
For the first time in over four decades, Frank Salerno is sharing his harrowing personal account. He is revisiting the case that fundamentally changed him. After decades of silence, Kenneth Bianchi, who remains incarcerated, has agreed to tell his side of the story on camera for the first time. Though Angelo Buono passed away in prison in 2002, Bianchi’s cooperation promises explosive new details.
Production Team and MGM+ Vision
The series is backed by an experienced production team known for delivering high-impact true crime content. The docuseries is directed by Peter LoGreco, who also serves as showrunner. Executive Producers are Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), a division of Sony Pictures Television. Also, Executive Producing is Tim Walsh, who worked on Netflix’s Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer.
“The Hillside Strangler is a compelling deep dive into an infamous serial killing that terrorized Southern California in the late 1970s,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “This docuseries delivers a riveting experience with unprecedented access to one of the most notorious cases in American criminal history, offering MGM+ viewers the premium, thought-provoking storytelling they’ve come to expect from our brand.”
In a joint statement, IPC’s Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman added, “We’re thrilled to be working with Michael Wright and his team again on The Hillside Strangler after our first collaboration on The Wonderland Murders, which was a great success on the platform. MGM+ continues to be an ideal home for gripping true crime sagas, and we’re proud to bring audiences the chilling and controversial tale of Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, crafted alongside our EP partners, Tim Walsh and EP/director Peter LoGreco.”
Get ready for a deep dive into these heinous crimes. The docuseries “The Hillside Strangler” is slated for a chilling premiere on January 18, 2026.
