Article #12: The Pet Cemetery Murders Episode Guide: Release Dates, Runtime & Full Synopsis
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story is a three-part HBO documentary series about the 1985 killing of Dorothy Lou Thompson, who owned Louisiana’s Azalea Original Pet Cemetery. HBO’s October programming announcement confirms the series debuts October 11, 2026, with new episodes weekly on Sundays. The published episode listings give the three installments runtimes of approximately 46, 43 and 53 minutes. HBO/Warner Bros. Discovery’s official October announcement and BroadwayWorld’s episode listing are the primary references for this guide.
Episode schedule at a glance
| Episode | Release date | Listed runtime | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 46 minutes | The cold case gains new momentum after a startling account sends investigators down new leads. |
| Episode 2 | Sunday, October 18, 2026 | 43 minutes | Detectives make progress, and an unexpected witness comes forward with a troubling admission. |
| Episode 3 (finale) | Sunday, October 25, 2026 | 53 minutes | The murder case reaches a resolution while the investigation uncovers a wider history of violence and buried secrets. |
HBO’s official release confirms three episodes with a weekly Sunday rollout. The episode descriptions and runtimes above are drawn from the published schedule; streaming runtimes can occasionally vary by platform or listing.
Episode 1 — Sunday, October 11, 2026
Listed runtime: 46 minutes. The opening installment introduces Dorothy Lou Thompson, the owner of a Louisiana pet cemetery whose 1985 murder remained unsolved for decades. A new account gives investigators a reason to revisit the case and follow leads that mix ordinary detective work with witness reports of an unsettling, possibly supernatural experience.
The episode sets up the central question: what can investigators establish about Dorothy’s death, and how much of the story rests on memories, allegations or later retellings? The ghost accounts are presented as claims made by witnesses, not as independently verified proof of paranormal activity.
Episode 2 — Sunday, October 18, 2026
Listed runtime: 43 minutes. The second installment follows detectives as they make further progress and an unlikely witness emerges with a troubling admission. Published episode descriptions indicate the investigation gains a new perspective as witnesses and the case timeline are examined.
In the historical case, investigators revisited the murder after a 2009 tip and later received information from James J. Tregler, a former assistant groundskeeper who came forward in 2012. Those accounts helped move the investigation forward; each remains a witness statement to be understood in context rather than treated as automatic proof of every detail.
Episode 3 — Sunday, October 25, 2026
Listed runtime: 53 minutes. The finale is described as bringing Dorothy’s murder case to a resolution while exposing a broader history involving violence, mobsters and long-buried community secrets. That synopsis signals a wider look at the setting and people around the case, not just a single crime.
For the real-world outcome, Brandon Nodier pleaded guilty to manslaughter in July 2014 and received a 10-year sentence. He had previously been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in 2012. This distinction matters when summarizing the ending: the documented legal resolution was a manslaughter plea, not a jury verdict convicting him of second-degree murder.
Who made the documentary?
HBO Documentary Films presents the series as a Lightbox production. The official credits list Philip Cairney as writer and director, with Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Suzanne Lavery, James Marsh and Silvia Sacco as executive producers. HBO’s executive producers are listed as Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Tina Nguyen.
Where to watch and what time does it air?
In the United States, HBO lists the premiere for Sunday, October 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with episodes rolling out weekly. HBO Max is the streaming destination named in Warner Bros. Discovery’s programming announcement. Availability and exact playback times can differ by territory, subscription and local schedule, so viewers outside the United States should check their local service listing.
Check HBO’s official schedule and the HBO Max October press release for official updates.
Social-post verification: I could verify the official HBO/WBD press release and the published episode listing, but I could not confirm a specific original X/Twitter or Instagram post that contains the full schedule. Rather than embed an unverified or fabricated post, this guide embeds the series trailer and links to official programme information.
Frequently asked questions
How many episodes are in The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story?
HBO’s October announcement describes it as a three-part documentary series.
When does Episode 1 premiere?
Sunday, October 11, 2026. HBO lists the premiere for 9 p.m. ET/PT.
When do Episodes 2 and 3 arrive?
The published schedule lists Episode 2 for October 18 and Episode 3 for October 25, 2026, with new episodes weekly on Sundays.
How long is each episode?
The published listings give runtimes of 46 minutes for Episode 1, 43 minutes for Episode 2 and 53 minutes for Episode 3. Check the streaming listing in case a platform displays a slightly different runtime.
Is the series a scripted horror drama?
No. HBO describes it as a documentary series about a Louisiana cold-case murder and the history uncovered by the investigation. Witnesses’ ghost stories are reported claims, not verified paranormal findings.
Who directed the series?
HBO’s published credits list Philip Cairney as writer and director.
Sources and credits
- Warner Bros. Discovery / HBO Max — What’s New on HBO Max This October
- BroadwayWorld — Officially announced episode descriptions and credits
- TVmaze — Episode 1 listing
- TheTVDB — Season episode listing
- Biography.com — Dorothy Lou Thompson case timeline
- FOX 8 — 2014 sentence report
By Shivam Das. Updated October 10, 2026. Episode runtimes and descriptions reflect the published listings available at the time of writing; streaming schedules may change.
