As Ryan Murphy’s “American Crime Story: The People v O.J. Simpson” series and Ezra Edelman’s epic documentary “O.J.: Made in America” both continue to collect trophies on the fall awards circuit, veteran actor Martin Sheen is set to premiere his own true-crime series on the trial of O.J. Simpson, which he previously said would unfold in a similar manner as Netflix’s hit docu-series “Making a Murderer,” focusing on alleged evidence that he claims exonerates Simpson in the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Sheen’s series has now officially found a home as Investigation Discovery has picked up what will be a 6-part docu-series about the O.J. Simpson trial, which will be titled “Is O.J. Innocent? The Missing Evidence.”
Sheen teamed up with Dallas-based investigator William Dear, who says he has spent 21 years collecting what he calls “hard evidence” that he believes exonerates Simpson of the double murders.
“People are fascinated with true crime. I know the time is right for people to look at this O.J. thing,” Dear said in a statement earlier this year, adding that the project, like Netflix’s “Making a Murderer,” will “raise doubts” about Simpson’s perceived guilt (although, unlike Steven Avery in “Making a Murderer,” Simpson was acquitted of the murders in 1995, avoiding prison time, and would later be found liable in a civil suit in which he was ordered to pay $33.5 million to the victims’ families).
And about the series, he shared the following: “It’s not going to be talking heads. These are going to be facts, not hearsay, not soft evidence but hard evidence… We have diaries. We have pictures of [another suspect that they believe was overlooked] wearing a cap that was found at the crime scene. We have the vehicle the suspect was driving. We have a witness. We feel very confident in what we’ve been able to put together.”
William Dear is also the author of the 2012 book “OJ is Innocent and I Can Prove It.”
“Is O.J. Innocent? The Missing Evidence” follows LAPD forensic psychologist Dr. Kris Mohandie and Rhode Island police sergeant Derrick Levasseur as they join forces with Dear, to scrutinize the O.J. Simpson case from beginning to end, revealing new information and investigating new theories in the murders of Simpson and Goldman.
The team re-examines several integral pieces of content from the original investigation, including canvassing the infamous Bronco and recreating the blood spatter from the murder scene. The 6-part series features interviews with Dr. Henry Lee, a forensic scientist who reviewed evidence at the crime scene, as well as other key players who have devoted their lives to seeing that justice be served, including Kato Kaelin, a key witness in the trial. The series also features a never-before-seen interview with a potential eyewitness to the crime. And after taking viewers through the new theories, the team sits down for an intimate conversation with the victims’ families, including exclusive interviews with Fred Goldman and Tanya Brown, to hear their take on where things stand today.
“The prosecution of O.J. Simpson is interwoven into the fundamental cultural fabric that defines the 20th century, representing a watershed moment in our nation’s system of justice. Therefore, it may be hard for many of us to accept new theories that challenge common beliefs and perceptions held in this country,” said Henry Schleiff, Group President, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America. “Indeed, it is imperative to remember, however, that no one has ever been convicted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in a court of criminal law – and, accordingly, with unprecedented access and evidence never before investigated, we offer, today, a new take on the case everyone thought they knew.”
Investigation Discovery has set the world premiere three night event for “Is O.J. Innocent? The Missing Evidence,” for Sunday, January 15 with back-to-back premieres starting at 9/8c.
Full episode descriptions include:
— NEW EVIDENCE: Premieres Sunday, January 15 at 9/8c
The team of investigators re-examines the iconic O.J. Simpson trial to explore the highly debated jury verdict finding O.J. not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The team inspects a knife that could be the murder weapon, and sits down with family members Fred Goldman and Tanya Brown to get their personal insights into what they believe happened that fateful day.
— FOLLOW THE BLOOD: Premieres Sunday, January 15 at 10/9c
After examining evidence both old and new, the team questions O.J.’s role in the crimes. Was he involved in these murders… or was another person was responsible? Dr. Henry Lee, a forensics expert from the original investigation, discusses the confounding details and problems with the preliminary evidence collection from the crime scene, and what impact that may have had on the trial.
— PERSON OF INTEREST: Premieres Monday, January 16 at 9/8c
Dallas-based private investigator Bill Dear has collected evidence for the past 21 years suggesting a new possibility in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The team sits down with Dear to take a closer look at this ‘person of interest’ and his checkered past.
— ABOUT THE ALIBI: Premieres Monday, January 16 at 10/9c
LAPD forensic psychologist Dr. Kris Mohandie, and Rhode Island police sergeant Derrick Levasseur raise questions about the validity of the potential person of interest’s alibi from the night of the murders – was the truth being told? And if not, did this individual play a role in committing the crimes? The team examines bizarre behavior after the murders, and looks closely into his present-day life to gain a greater understanding.
— THE CHARLIE THEORY: Premieres Tuesday, January 17 at 9/8c
O.J. Simpson has claimed that “if” he committed the murders, he couldn’t have done it alone. The team asks famed witness Kato Kaelin and other key participants in the original trial for their opinions about whether anyone else could have been involved. Then, a new potential eyewitness comes forward to the team with a shocking revelation that could blow the investigation wide open.
— WHAT REALLY HAPPENED: Premieres Tuesday, January 17 at 10/9c
After coming forth with new information about the night of the murder, a possible eyewitness takes a polygraph test, and the DNA results from a potential murder weapon are in. The team of investigators sits down with Fred Goldman, Ron’s father, and Tanya Brown, Nicole’s sister, and gets a shocking update. Dr. Kris Mohandie and Sergeant Derrick Levasseur reveal their final conclusions about what they believe really happened to Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.
“Is O.J. Innocent? The Missing Evidence” docu-series and after show is produced for Investigation Discovery and IDGO by Objective Media Group America/All3Media America with Jimmy Fox, Greg Lipstone, Layla Smith and Star Price as executive producers. William C. Dear is also executive producer. For Investigation Discovery, Lorna Thomas is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America.
Watch a 4-minute preview of the series below:
