Article #19: HBO’s The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story is a three-part documentary from HBO Documentary Films and production company Lightbox. Directed and written by Philip Cairney, the series examines the 1985 murder of Dorothy Lou Thompson, the owner of Azalea Original Pet Cemetery in Louisiana, and the later investigation that revived the cold case. Its production team includes documentary producers Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn, alongside executive producers for Lightbox and HBO. This guide separates confirmed production credits from on-screen participants: the project is a documentary, not a scripted drama with a conventional actor cast. Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO Max announcement and BroadwayWorld’s series announcement list the credits.
Director and writer: Philip Cairney
Philip Cairney is credited as both director and writer. His previous documentary work includes Being Beethoven, and the HBO series uses a documentary approach to combine the murder investigation with interviews and the wider history of the Louisiana bayou community. Cairney’s role is to shape the story from interviews, archival material, investigative history and local context rather than to direct actors in a fictionalized crime drama.
The series’ premise begins with Dorothy Thompson’s disappearance in 1985 and the discovery of her body in the Mississippi River. The case remained unresolved for years before new witness information prompted investigators to revisit it. The production also explores the haunting claims that became associated with the investigation; those remain witness accounts, not independently verified proof of paranormal activity.
Executive producers: Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn
Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn are the executive producers associated with Lightbox, the production company behind the series. Their documentary work spans investigative and character-led nonfiction. The production announcement also credits Suzanne Lavery, James Marsh and Silvia Sacco as executive producers. For HBO, the listed executive producers are Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Tina Nguyen.
Production company: Lightbox and HBO Documentary Films
HBO Documentary Films presents the series as a Lightbox production. Lightbox is known for nonfiction storytelling, while HBO provides the network and streaming release. The announced premiere is Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max, with new episodes on the following Sundays, October 18 and October 25.
The series has three episodes. The first follows the decades-old murder case and the account that brings new leads to investigators. The second focuses on progress in the investigation and an unexpected witness. The finale widens the lens to the violence, family secrets and local history uncovered during the inquiry. Exact episode descriptions and credits are available in the published series announcement.
Real people featured in the documentary
Because this is a true-crime documentary, it does not have a scripted cast in the usual sense. HBO says the featured participants include Dorothy’s friends, family and neighbors; law-enforcement officers; local journalists and historians; artists; and attorneys. Detective John Doran is among the investigators associated with the reopened case. These contributors provide testimony and context; the final on-screen participant list may be more specific than the general credits available in advance of the premiere.
Brandon Nodier is central to the case’s legal history. He was indicted in 2012 and pleaded guilty to manslaughter in July 2014, receiving a 10-year sentence. For accuracy, the plea should not be described as a conviction at trial for second-degree murder. The case also includes claims by witnesses who said Dorothy’s ghost prompted them to speak; the documentary reports those claims as part of the story, but they are not independently established supernatural facts.
Location and visual atmosphere
The documentary is set around Toca and St. Bernard Parish, outside New Orleans, where Azalea Original Pet Cemetery became central to the investigation. The Louisiana bayou landscape is more than a backdrop: it helps explain the local setting, the difficulty of the original case and the community stories that grew around the cemetery. The series combines that location with interviews and archival materials to explore how a decades-old case was reopened.
Official trailer and social media
Watch the official trailer below for the documentary’s tone and production style.
Social media embed note: I could verify the official trailer, but did not verify a specific original X/Twitter or Instagram post from the director or producers about this series that was suitable to embed. To avoid inventing a post or embedding the wrong account, this article uses the official YouTube trailer and links to the production announcements instead.
Frequently asked questions
Who directed The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story?
Philip Cairney directed and wrote the three-part HBO documentary.
Who produced the series?
It is an HBO Documentary Films presentation and a Lightbox production. Executive producers include Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Suzanne Lavery, James Marsh and Silvia Sacco; HBO executive producers are Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Tina Nguyen.
Does the documentary have actors or a cast?
It is a nonfiction documentary, not a scripted drama. HBO says participants include friends, family and neighbors, law-enforcement officers, local journalists, historians, artists and attorneys.
When does the series premiere?
The series premieres October 11, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max, with episodes scheduled weekly on October 18 and October 25.
What company made the documentary?
Lightbox produced the series for HBO Documentary Films.
Sources and image credits
- Warner Bros. Discovery / HBO Max — official October programming and production credits
- BroadwayWorld — premiere, episode details and credits
- TV Insider — series and crew listing
- Screen Daily — photograph and background on Simon and Jonathan Chinn
- St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office — Detective John Doran and the documentary
- Autopsy of Architecture — cemetery history and archival photographs
By Shivam Das. Updated October 10, 2026. Credits are based on published production announcements available before the series premiere.
