The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story

3 stories Updated for U.S. readers

Dorothy Lou Thompson, whose 1985 cold case was reopened by investigators led by Colonel John Doran
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story · Detective John Doran

Detective John Doran’s Biggest Breakthrough in the Dorothy Lou Thompson Case

How did Colonel John Doran help move Dorothy Lou Thompson’s 1985 Louisiana cold case toward prosecution? Explore the 2009 reopening, an a...

Oct 11, 2026 3 min read
HBO promotional artwork for The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story, a documentary about the Dorothy Lou Thompson cold case
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story · Detective John Doran

True Crime Meets Ghost Story: Why HBO’s Pet Cemetery Murders Is Different From Every Other Doc

Why HBO’s The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story stands out: a real 1985 Louisiana cold case, witnesses’ ghost claims, Detective John Do...

Oct 10, 2026 3 min read
Weathered pet grave marker at Azalea Original Pet Cemetery in Toca, Louisiana, the site connected to Dorothy Thompson's cold case
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story · Detective John Doran

Detective John Doran: The Cop Who Reopened Dorothy Lou Thompson’s Cold Case in 2009

How Detective John Doran reopened Dorothy Lou Thompson’s 1985 murder case in 2009, followed witness leads, and helped move the investigat...

Oct 10, 2026 3 min read