# HBO documentary on Dana Chandler murder case

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/hbo-documentary-on-dana-chandler-murder-case
> Updated: 2026-09-11T15:30:00.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 3.

HBO has released ‘A Killer Story’, a three-part true crime documentary series directed by Matthew Galkin. The series, which premiered on September 10, 2026, examines a 2002 double-murder case in Topeka, Kansas, involving Dana Chandler, who was accused of killing her former husband, Mike Sisco, and his girlfriend, Karen Harkness.

The victims were found shot multiple times in their home, though no weapon, DNA, or fingerprints were ever recovered, and valuables remained untouched. The documentary follows Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joe Sexton’s investigation into the case, which was prompted by extensive correspondence from Eileen and Keen Umbehr, who advocated for Chandler’s innocence. The Umbehrs, described as amateur sleuths with no direct connection to the victims or Chandler, have spent years pursuing what they claim is a ‘grave injustice’ based on skepticism regarding the circumstantial evidence used by prosecutors.

The narrative explores the legal complexities of the case, including Chandler’s arrest in 2011 and her 2012 conviction for premeditated first-degree murder. Her legal battles have continued through an overturned conviction in 2018 due to prosecutorial misconduct, a hung jury in 2022, and a subsequent 2025 trial where Chandler was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. The series notes that in this final trial, Chandler chose to represent herself.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-11: HBO docuseries examines Kansas murder conviction case

HBO’s new docuseries ‘A Killer Story’ follows journalist Joe Sexton and citizen sleuths investigating the controversial murder conviction of Dana Chandler in Topeka, Kansas.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hbo-docuseries-examines-kansas-murder-conviction-case

### 2026-09-09: Dana Chandler murder case revisited in new HBO documentary

HBO’s new documentary ‘A Killer Story’ examines the 2002 Topeka double murder of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness and the controversial life sentence of Dana Chandler.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hbo-documentary-revisits-dana-chandler-double-murder-case

### 2026-08-31: HBO to premiere ‘A Killer Story’ true crime documentary

HBO will premiere ‘A Killer Story’ on September 10, 2026, a three-part documentary series investigating a 2002 double-murder case in Topeka, Kansas, involving Dana Chandler.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hbo-to-premiere-a-killer-story-true-crime-documentary

---
Cite as: HBO documentary on Dana Chandler murder case. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/hbo-documentary-on-dana-chandler-murder-case