Episodes 1–4 of The Hillside Strangler are now available via MGM’s ROAR platform or upon request through MGM+, bringing renewed attention to one of the most notorious serial murder cases in American history.
Set against the backdrop of late-1970s Los Angeles—then widely regarded as the serial murder capital of the world—the series revisits a period marked by fear and brutality. While the city was already reeling from killers such as the Freeway Killers, the Toolbox Killers, the Dating Game Killer and the Skid Row Slasher, none cast a longer or darker shadow than the Hillside Strangler. Operating without warning, the perpetrator abducted, raped and murdered at least a dozen women and girls, leaving their bodies posed on the city’s hillsides, turning Los Angeles itself into a crime scene.
The crimes triggered the largest manhunt in the city’s history, led by veteran homicide detective Frank Salerno. His relentless investigation ultimately exposed a horrifying truth: the murders were not the work of a lone predator, but of two men—Kenneth Bianchi and his cousin Angelo Buono. Their capture brought an end to a reign of terror that had gripped Los Angeles for years.
The case culminated in what became the longest criminal trial in United States history. Both Bianchi and Buono were sentenced to life in prison, while Salerno’s work entered law enforcement legend. The investigation not only defined his career but also laid the groundwork for his later role in bringing down another infamous criminal, the Night Stalker.
The Hillside Strangler marks the first time in more than four decades that Salerno recounts the case in his own words, revisiting the investigation that left a permanent mark on his life. The series also breaks new ground by featuring on-camera testimony from Bianchi, who remains incarcerated and had never previously agreed to speak publicly about the crimes. Buono, who died in prison in 2002, is represented through archival material and case records, adding further context to the chilling narrative.
Directed and showrun by Peter LoGreco, the docuseries is produced with an emphasis on both investigative detail and psychological depth. Executive producers include Peter LoGreco, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman and Tim Walsh.
By combining firsthand accounts, archival evidence and contemporary reflection, The Hillside Strangler re-examines a case that reshaped modern homicide investigation and left an indelible scar on Los Angeles. The series not only chronicles the hunt for two killers, but also explores the enduring cost of confronting extreme violence—on victims, investigators and a city forever changed.
About Author
Leave a Reply