A+E Networks EMEA orders Woodcut Media's "Faces of Evil" crime series

A+E Networks EMEA has commissioned a brand-Woodcut Media's series "Faces of Evil" (6x45’) for Crime + Investigation. The title explores the twists-and-turns of the flawed investigations into some of the world’s most notorious killers in the US and UK, such as the so-called Death House Landlady Dorothea Puente, who managed to fool everyone into thinking she was a harmless old lady for over a decade, before she was arraigned on nine counts of murder in California. And the Kansas City Butcher, Robert Berdella Jr, who kidnapped, raped and murdered at least six young men in the 1980’s, before the law finally caught up with him. And in the UK, the cases of Billy Dunlop and Russell Bishop, both of whom managed to escape conviction for murders, respectively, of Julie Hogg and Nicola Fellows, and Karen Hadaway, despite compelling evidence against them, before finally being brought to book, decades later.

In each case, the series explores the missteps and flawed procedures, which resulted in these killers managing to evade capture and conviction for so long, and the courage and persistence of those who refused to accept defeat in their efforts to bring them to justice. Distributor Woodcut International is handling worldwide sales and presenting to international buyers for the first time at the upcoming MIPCOM market.

The series has been ordered for A+E Networks EMEA by Dan Korn, VP of Programming and Diana Carter, Commissioning Editor and Head of Talent. Korn said: “We’re delighted to be working again with Woodcut Media, exploring how, in the 1980’s in particular, killers on both sides of the Atlantic managed to slip through the net, despite the best efforts of law enforcement. It’s an important reminder of how far we’ve come but also of the valiant efforts of the families of the victims, who refused to let these heinous crimes go unpunished.”

“With true crime, one important aspect is to see that justice has been served, which is highlighted in each episode of this series. Thankfully forensics has come a long way, and the speed at which crimes are being resolved has drastically improved. It’s a pleasure to be producing this new series for the Crime + Investigation platform, and we look forward to presenting to our buyers at MIPCOM,” said Koulla Anastasi, Commercial Director Woodcut Media and MD Woodcut International.