UPDATE: Nine days after this series finished airing, The Golden State Killer was captured. We’re thrilled for the families, survivors, and law enforcement officials we met while making this documentary series. To see their joy and relief is indescribable.
In the official press conference announcing the arrest, Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert actually quoted from our documentary series Unmasking a Killer, and mentioned a survivor called it “beautifully edited.”
Joke Productions is thrilled to be working with CNN and HLN on our upcoming true crime series Unmasking a Killer.
Unmasking a Killer Premiere Date Announced
Unmasking a Killer premieres Sunday, March 18 at 9pm ET/PT, on HLN. From CNN’s latest:
Through five one-hour episodes, Unmasking A Killer takes an in-depth look at the manhunt, patterns, escape methods and mind games of the Golden State Killer, raising a key to catching the criminal – potentially linking him to another series of unsolved crimes. Interviews with investigators, law enforcement and victims, who have never spoken out publicly, offer information to help solve the mystery of a man who has managed to fly successfully under the radar for decades.
From executive producers Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina of Joke Productions, Unmasking A Killer is their first HLN production. “This series is unique in that it presents a call to action. The goal has always been for this series to shake loose new tips that will bring the Golden State Killer to justice. HLN offers us the best platform to do so,” said Joke Fincioen.
Original Announcement
Previously, CNN announced the new series in their pressroom. The story has been picked up by several outlets including Variety.
Unmasking a Killer – An Emotional Project
We’re not at liberty to say much more than CNN/HLN has put out in the press release at this time. However, we’d like to share our immense gratitude to every person, family, and law enforcement official who trusted us to tell this story. As CNN states in their pressroom:
Unmasking A Killer, a new five-part series 10 years in the making, takes viewers inside the investigation, the case files and the mind of The Golden State Killer – a man believed to be the most prolific uncaught rapist and serial killer in the nation. With exclusive cooperation from law enforcement and survivors, the docuseries will examine the historical and social ramifications of The Golden State Killer’s reign of terror, explore the advances in forensic technology, and highlight the legal changes to our justice system that his crime spree spurred. Unmasking A Killer is executive produced by Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina of Joke Productions with supervising producer Todd Lindsey and will debut in the first quarter of 2018.
It would have been impossible to take on a story of such epic proportions without amazing people helping us do so. To all of you who sat down with us, we are humbled. All we can say is, “Thank you.”
Our Amazing Crew
We’d like to thank every member of our Unmasking a Killer crew. Your dedication to getting this story right was an inspiration. Time and again we’ve heard about you from the documentary subjects themselves. Your respect, professionalism, and hard work are evident in all you do.
Supervising Producer Todd Lindsey spent over ten years tracking this case, staying in touch with the families and law enforcement officials seeking justice. This lead to amazingly honest interview subjects and rich archival. Additionally, never before seen news clips, photos, and video footage gathered by Todd paint an intense portrait.
An Incredible Network
Lead by Amy Entelis, Lizzie Fox, and Chanel Carmona, the CNN/HLN Originals team was incredibly supportive. They offered creative freedom yet wonderful advice all through the production. It was Joke Productions first time working with the network, and we couldn’t feel luckier about the whole experience.
Unmasking a Killer – The Podcast
Announced it in the CNN pressroom, CNN asked Joke Productions company owners Joke and Biagio to host a companion Unmasking a Killer podcast for CNN / HLN.
Have a listen to the preview episode, and please consider subscribing and leaving us a five star rating:
From the release:
Unmasking A Killer the podcast is hosted by Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina of Joke Productions and features never-before-heard analysis from Detective Sgt. Ken Clarke of Sacramento Sheriff’s Department plus bonus content that didn’t make it into the television series and in-depth commentary by Paul Holes, Contra Costa DA investigator, Carol Daly, retired Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department investigator, Jane Carson, a Golden State Killer victim, who appear in HLN’s on-screen program.
Weekly episodes of the podcast will become available at midnight the day of HLN’s linear premieres on CNN.com/podcast, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio and iHeartRadio. The first episode debuts Sunday, March 18.
Check out the trailer for the podcast and subscribe on iTunes today.
Tune In
Unmasking a Killer is coming Sunday, March 18 at 9pm ET/PT, on HLN.