MGM+, the premium streaming service, has officially greenlit “The Hillside Strangler,” a chilling new four-part true-crime docuseries. The series will explore the infamous spree of murders that paralyzed Los Angeles in the late 1970s. IT also delves into the tense investigation that ultimately brought the killers to justice. What makes this series so special is that the killer speaks for the first time.
The Case That Defined a City’s Terror
In the late 1970s, numerous serial killers besieged Los Angeles, but none generated more widespread terror than the Hillside Strangler. This phantom predator struck without warning. Abducting, raping, and murdering a dozen women and girls, leaving their bodies notoriously displayed across the hillsides of the city. These horrific crimes triggered the most extensive search in LA’s history, led by relentless homicide detective Frank Salerno.
Salerno’s dogged pursuit eventually led to the capture of the strangler and the shocking revelation that these vicious acts were perpetrated not by one man, but by two cousins: Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono.
The Untold Story: Interviews with the Detective and the Killer
After the longest criminal trial in U.S. history, both Buono and Bianchi received life sentences. Buono died behind bars in 2002. Kenneth Bianchi, however, remains alive in prison and has historically refused to share his story on camera—until now.
For the first time in over 40 years, the docuseries offers unprecedented access to the case’s central figures. Detective Frank Salerno will tell his story, revisiting the investigation that not only defined his career but also set the stage for him to capture the “Night Stalker later.” With Bianchi finally speaking on camera and Salerno providing his firsthand account, the series promises a comprehensive and definitive look at the terrifying events and their aftermath.
Production and Leadership
The Hillside Strangler is helmed by a team experienced in high-profile true crime. Peter LoGreco both directs and serves as showrunner. Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman produce for The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), a division of Sony Pictures Television, and Tim Walsh (Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, On Call).
Michael Wright, head of MGM+, expressed confidence in the project: “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.”
IPC’s Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman added that they are proud to bring audiences the “chilling and controversial tale of Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono,” praising MGM+ as “an ideal home for gripping true crime sagas.”
Get ready for a deep dive in this chilling true crime story when “The Hillside Stranger” slashes its way onto MGM+ on January 18, 2026.
