People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer, ID Premiere May 5

Investigation Discovery, and People Magazine, are collaborating once more. Their new six-part series, People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer, premieres on Sunday, May 5, at 9 pm ET/PT on ID. The show focuses on survivors of serial killer attacks, giving them a platform to recount their disturbing yet empowering escape stories.

The Dating Game Killer: Rodney Alcala

The first episode of the series shines a spotlight on Rodney Alcala, also known as “The Dating Game Killer.” Alcala, an American serial killer with a high IQ, appeared on the television show *The Dating Game* in 1978, amidst his murder spree. He is believed to have killed eight people, but authorities suspect the true number could be as high as 130. The episode features the story of Morgan Rowan, a teenage survivor who was attacked by Alcala in 1965 and raped by him three years later.

Surviving the Railroad Killer: Angel Reséndiz

The second episode centres on Angel Reséndiz, aka “The Railroad Killer.” A Mexican serial killer, Reséndiz is suspected of murdering at least 15 people, with some sources placing the number as high as 23 or even 24. He often targeted victims near railroads, a tactic that earned him a spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The episode will feature the story of Holly K. Dunn, Reséndiz’s sole survivor, who played a critical role in his sentencing.

Surviving the Casanova Killer: Paul John Knowles

The third instalment of the series delves into the crimes of Paul John Knowles, also known as “The Casanova Killer.” Knowles, an American spree killer, is tied to the deaths of 18 people in 1974, though he claimed to have murdered 35. The episode will tell the story of Barbara Maybe Abel, a single mother who was kidnapped by Knowles. To survive, she had to make him fall in love with her.

Surviving the Bishop’s Basement: Gary Heidnik

The fourth episode focuses on Gary Heidnik, a serial killer and rapist who kidnapped, tortured, and murdered six women, holding them captive in his basement in Philadelphia. Heidnik was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to death, ultimately being executed by lethal injection in 1999. The episode will feature the story of Josefina Rivera, one of the survivors who managed to escape and alert the police.

Surviving the Handsome Devil: Bruce Lindahl

The fifth episode shifts the focus to Bruce Lindahl, an American serial killer and rapist active in the Chicago suburbs during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Lindahl is suspected of at least 12 murders and 9 rapes, with over 70 victims during the period. The episode will feature the stories of Sherry Hopson and Annette Lazar, two survivors who came face-to-face with Lindahl.

Surviving the Cook Brothers: Anthony and Nathaniel Cook

The sixth and final episode of the series concludes with the story of the Cook brothers, Anthony and Nathaniel, serial killer brothers who committed a series of at least 9 rapes and murders. Their crimes began in 1980, and they were eventually convicted and sentenced to long prison terms in the late 1990s thanks to DNA profiling. The episode will feature the story of Cheryl Bartlett Fann, a young mother who survived an attack by the brothers in 1981.

Surviving a Serial Killer Premieres on Sunday May 5, 2024 at 9.00pm on Investigation Discovery.