The Weekly Drop: New True Crime Shows & Documentaries - February 16-22, 2026
- The Emerald Sleuth
- 22 hours ago
- 12 min read
Welcome back, couch detectives. The Weekly Drop gathers all the new true crime shows & documentaries – February 16–22, 2026, with premiere dates, airtimes, and platforms organized in one clear place. Think of it as a steady compass for the week ahead, built so you can scan what’s arriving, plan your viewing, and avoid that familiar moment of discovering a release after everyone else is already discussing it.
Keeping this schedule accurate takes quiet, ongoing work behind the scenes: tracking announcements, verifying details, and shaping the information into something genuinely useful. If these drops help you stay informed or save you time, Buying the Sleuth a Coffee is a simple way to support the research, equipment, time, and upkeep that keep TCSS running. No obligation, just an open door for anyone who wants to help keep the investigation funded and consistent.
Note: While I track every release as carefully as possible, schedules can shift and networks occasionally update listings without notice. If something is missing or changes, feel free to let me know in the comments section at the bottom of this page.
Monday
February 16th, 2026
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction S16E28 (“The Last Signal”) airs Monday at 9 p.m. ET on TV One. Episodes are also available to stream on Philo.
Fatal Attraction continues its long-running focus on real-life crimes driven by obsessive relationships, jealousy, infidelity, and possessiveness. Each standalone episode follows investigators as they piece together evidence and uncover hidden dynamics in victims’ personal lives, examining how relationships rooted in control or fixation escalate into violence. Season sixteen features cases involving affairs, custody disputes, and power imbalances, highlighting how emotional intensity can turn deadly.
Fatal Attraction: I’d Kill to Be You
Fatal Attraction: I’d Kill to Be You S1E4 ("Chaos in the Classroom”) airs Monday at 10 p.m. ET on TV One.
This new entry in the Fatal Attraction franchise shifts the focus to cases driven by jealousy, envy, and obsession with another person’s life. Through dramatized reenactments, expert commentary, and real-life interviews, the series examines how admiration can harden into resentment, leading individuals to target someone’s identity, relationships, or perceived happiness. Episodes explore how fixation and social comparison escalate into criminal behavior, with cases involving betrayal, identity theft, and violence.
Trailer available in the January Surveillance Report here.
Live PD: Greatest Shifts
Live PD: Greatest Shifts airs Monday with two back-to-back new episodes, S1E42 and S1E43, on A&E starting at 9 p.m. ET, followed by the second episode at 10 p.m. ET. A&E lists next-day streaming availability on its site and app for on-demand viewing.
The series compiles high-intensity moments from law enforcement agencies across the United States. The series highlights a mix of traffic stops, foot chases, K9 deployments, drug-related arrests, and calls that escalate quickly, alongside unexpected and sometimes bizarre encounters officers face on duty. Episodes often include contextual commentary that breaks down officer decision-making during volatile situations, offering viewers an on-the-ground look at the unpredictability and routine pressures of modern police work without scripted narration or reenactments.
People Magazine Investigates
People Magazine Investigates S9E5 (“The Serial Killer Who Killed Only Once”) airs Monday at 9 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery.
People Magazine Investigates returns for its ninth season, continuing its focus on headline-making crimes from across the United States. Drawing on reporting from PEOPLE’s true crime team, the series revisits both recent cases and long-running cold cases, examining how investigations unfolded and how lives were permanently altered. The new season explores high-profile murders and complex cases involving hidden relationships, long-buried evidence, and unexpected developments.
The trailer for the new season can be found in the January Surveillance Report.
The Curious Case Of…
The Curious Case Of… S2E5 (“The Principal Who Hypnotized His School”) airs Monday at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery.
The Curious Case Of… returns for its second season, continuing its focus on real-life scandals involving deception, manipulation, and abuse of trust. Hosted by legal analyst Beth Karas, the series examines cases where public personas and private actions sharply diverged, leading to financial harm, physical danger, or loss of life. Using investigative reporting, interviews, and archival material, each episode traces how unchecked influence and manufactured credibility resulted in devastating consequences.
A preview for the season 2 premiere is included in January’s Surveillance Report.
Tuesday
February 17th, 2026
Court Cam
Court Cam airs Tuesday with two back-to-back new episodes: S9E22 and a special episode (“Top Five: Courtroom Attacks”) on A&E at 9 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET. A&E lists next-day streaming availability on its site and app for on-demand viewing.
Court Cam continues documenting courtroom proceedings from across the United States, using in-court footage to show how hearings, sentencings, and unexpected confrontations unfold in real time. Season nine features cases that drew public attention for their intensity or unusual circumstances, with context provided through interviews with judges, attorneys, witnesses, and others directly involved. Hosted by Dan Abrams, the series focuses on the mechanics and consequences of courtroom moments rather than narrative dramatization.
Booked: First Day In
Booked: First Day In S4E6 (“Fight Night”) airs Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on A&E, with next-day streaming availability.
Booked: First Day In returns for its fourth season, following individuals as they move through the jail booking process after arrest. The series documents the initial hours of detention, focusing on interactions between arrestees and law enforcement while outlining the administrative, legal, and emotional realities of being booked into custody. Season four features facilities in Virginia Beach, Flagler County, Stanislaus County, Mesa County, Hancock County, and Clay County, presenting the process from both officer and detainee perspectives.
Evil Lives Here
Evil Lives Here S19E5 (“They All Saw His Evil”) airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery with episodes available to stream on Max following broadcast.
Evil Lives Here returns for its nineteenth season, continuing its focus on firsthand accounts from people who lived alongside individuals who later committed serious crimes. The series centers on personal testimony, examining how warning signs were overlooked or misunderstood and how relationships shifted once criminal behavior came to light. Through interviews with family members and close associates, the show explores the long-term emotional impact of discovering that someone trusted was capable of extreme violence.
The trailer for the new season appears in January’s Surveillance Report.
Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger
Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger S1E5 (“Obstacles to Justice”) airs Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery with episodes available to stream on Max following broadcast.
Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger centers on interviews and interrogations conducted by Texas Ranger James Holland. The series revisits cases that were once stalled or unresolved, examining how direct questioning, psychological pressure, and sustained interrogation led to confessions or new insights into violent crimes. Through interviews and case reconstruction, the show focuses on offender behavior and the investigative methods used to elicit admissions in complex cases.
A preview for the series premiere is included in January’s Surveillance Report.
Wednesday
February 18th, 2026
Alaska State Troopers
Alaska State Troopers S9E7 ("Cold Truth and Consequences") airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on A&E, with next-day streaming availability.
Alaska State Troopers follows law enforcement officers responsible for policing one of the largest and most remote jurisdictions in the United States. Using ride-alongs and field footage, each episode captures criminal investigations, search and rescue operations, and emergency responses shaped by extreme weather, vast distances, and limited resources.
View the season premiere trailer in January’s Surveillance Report.
Ozark Law
Ozark Law S2E7 ("Crackdown on the Strip") airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on A&E, with next-day streaming availability on the app.
Ozark Law returns for its second season, continuing to follow the Lake Ozark and Osage Beach Police Departments as they police one of Missouri’s busiest tourist destinations. Set during peak tourist season, the series documents responses to boating incidents, alcohol-related offenses, large-scale holiday crowds, and routine patrols intensified by a surge of visitors. The season also examines pressures facing local agencies, including the challenges of onboarding new officers and navigating legal disputes that affect policing tools and authority.
Watch the season premiere trailer via January’s Surveillance Report.
Desert Law
Desert Law S1E7 (“Weapons Found”) airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on A&E, with next-day streaming availability.
Desert Law is a new true crime series following the Pima County Sheriff’s Department as deputies patrol more than 9,000 square miles of desert terrain in southern Arizona. Filmed primarily during overnight hours, the series documents patrol operations, DUI enforcement, and investigative work in and around Tucson, highlighting the logistical and environmental challenges of policing a vast and rugged region. Episodes track responses ranging from routine traffic enforcement to serious criminal incidents in remote areas.
The trailer for the series premiere is available in January’s Surveillance Report.
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered S16E14 (“Hit List”) airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Oxygen, with next-day streaming availability.
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered revisits cases previously featured on Dateline, returning to the evidence with updated context and additional perspective. Episodes re-examine investigations that unfolded over long periods of time, incorporating archival reporting alongside new interviews with those closest to the cases. The series focuses on how overlooked details, evolving forensic methods, and delayed revelations reshaped outcomes that once seemed unresolved or misunderstood.
Wild Boys: Strangers in Town
Wild Boys: Strangers in Town is a two-part true crime docuseries premiering February 18, 2026 on Paramount+. The series examines the case of brothers Will Green and Tom Green, who appeared in a small town in British Columbia in 2003 claiming they had been raised entirely off the grid in the surrounding wilderness, despite having no records of schooling, medical care, or official documentation.
As a local mother takes the brothers in, the docuseries follows the growing scrutiny surrounding their story, tracing how belief, doubt, and public fascination converge as investigators begin identifying inconsistencies and questioning how readily extraordinary claims can be accepted without verification.
The trailer is available in February’s Surveillance Report.
Thursday
February 19th, 2026
The First 48
The First 48 S29E8 (“Circle of Friends & Review Murder”) will air Thursday at 8 p.m ET on A&E with next day streaming on the A&E app.
The First 48 is a long-running documentary series that follows homicide detectives during the critical first two days after a murder, when time-sensitive evidence, witness cooperation, and investigative momentum matter most. Through real-time casework, forensic analysis, and interrogations, the series documents how quickly leads can emerge or disappear as investigators work to prevent cases from going cold.
Homicide Squad New Orleans
Homicide Squad New Orleans S3E6 (“Good Night Gone Bad”) airs Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on A&E. Episodes will also be available to stream on the A&E app and website following broadcast.
Homicide Squad New Orleans returns for its third season, following homicide detectives in New Orleans as they investigate some of the city’s most violent and complex cases. Each episode centers on a single case, including fatal home invasions, drive-by shootings, and deadly altercations. Produced by Dick Wolf, the series documents how evidence collection, witness interviews, and investigative judgment come together as detectives work toward resolution.
Crime in Progress
Crime in Progress S1E8 (“A Deadly Argument”) airs at 10 p.m. ET on A&E streams next day on the A&E app.
Crime in Progress is a documentary series that follows criminal investigations in real time using only body cam, dash cam, and surveillance footage. With no narration or reenactments, each episode tracks a case from the initial 911 call through investigative decisions and courtroom outcomes, presenting an unfiltered view of how cases unfold as events happen and choices are made under pressure.
View the series trailer in January's Surveillance Report.
True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here
The season premiere of True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here S3E1 airs Thursday at 10:00 p.m. ET on Sundance TV, with streaming available via AMC+ following broadcast.
Season three continues the series’ focus on murder cases and wrongful convictions in small American towns, examining investigations shaped by local bias, limited resources, or institutional failures that in some instances contributed to miscarriages of justice. Season 3 episodes include disputes that escalated to fatal violence, missing persons investigations, and convictions later called into question, while interviews with victims’ families and community insiders highlight how rural justice systems operate under scrutiny and how investigative failures can affect entire communities.
The trailer for season 3 is available in February’s Surveillance Report.
Murder in Glitterball City
Murder in Glitterball City is a two-part true crime documentary debuting February 19, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Max. The film examines the 2010 murder of Jamie Carroll, a drag performer whose body was discovered inside a plastic storage bin in the basement wine cellar of a Victorian mansion in Louisville, Kentucky.
Based on A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City by David Dominé, the documentary centers on the volatile relationship between suspects Jeffrey Mundt and Joseph Banis, who accused one another of the crime. Often referred to as the “Pink Triangle Murder,” the case unfolds through shifting accounts, courtroom testimony, and competing narratives, exploring how manipulation, addiction, and secrecy intersected within a tightly connected community.
The trailer is available in February’s Surveillance Report.
Girl on the Run: The Hunt for America’s Most Wanted Woman
Girl on the Run: The Hunt for America’s Most Wanted Woman is a three-episode docuseries premiering on Hulu/Disney+. The series follows the nationwide search for Sarah Pender after the convicted double murderer escaped from a maximum-security prison in Indiana, tracing the multi-state manhunt led by U.S. Marshals and the network of associates who helped her evade capture.
Through interviews with Pender, who maintains her innocence, along with the law enforcement officer who led the pursuit, former inmates, family members, and individuals connected to the case, the docuseries examines the investigative strategy, personal loyalties, and competing narratives surrounding one of the most widely publicized prison escapes in recent U.S. history.
The trailer can be viewed in February’s Surveillance Report.
Friday
February 20th, 2026
ABC 20/20
20/20 returns with an all-new episode this week S48E17, ("The Au Pair, the Affair, and Murder") that airs on Friday, at 9 E.T. on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu following its ABC broadcast.
20/20 is ABC’s long-running investigative newsmagazine series, known for its in-depth reporting on high-profile crimes, criminal investigations, and complex legal cases. Through interviews, courtroom records, and investigative journalism, the program provides detailed examinations of how crimes unfold and how the justice system responds.
Portobello
Portobello begins February 20, 2026 on HBO Max with episode 1 of a six-episode limited series, with new episodes releasing weekly. The Italian-language docudrama recounts the true story of television host Enzo Tortora, whose career collapsed after a 1983 arrest based on false accusations of mob-linked drug trafficking, tracing his wrongful imprisonment and the legal battle that ultimately overturned his conviction.
Through courtroom proceedings, media scrutiny, and the cultural climate of 1980s Italy, the series examines the impact of informant testimony, systemic corruption, and sensationalized coverage within the justice system, presenting a dramatized account of one of Italy’s most significant miscarriages of justice.
The trailer is available in February’s Surveillance Report.
Saturday
February 21st, 2026
48 Hours
48 Hours S38E18 (subject/title TBA) airs Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. on CBS. Streaming will be available on Paramount+.
The long-running investigative series presents in-depth reporting on real cases, using interviews, archival material, and field investigation to trace each story from the first questions to the final outcome.
Buried in the Backyard
Buried in the Backyard S6E10 ("Nobody Talks") airs on Oxygen at 8:00 p.m. ET, with next-day streaming availability.
Buried in the Backyard is a true crime documentary series that examines murder cases where victims were deliberately concealed in residential spaces. Each episode follows the investigation from the discovery of remains through forensic identification and case resolution, detailing how perpetrators attempted to hide crimes in plain sight. Using reenactments alongside firsthand accounts from law enforcement and those connected to the victims, the series focuses on long-hidden evidence, delayed justice, and the investigative work required to uncover the truth.
Deadly Women: Fatal Instincts
Deadly Women: Fatal Instincts S2E2 ("Fatal Attraction") airs at 9 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery with episodes available to stream on Max following broadcast.
Season two continues the series’ focus on examining cases involving female-perpetrated homicide and the psychological motives that shaped them. Episodes explore crimes driven by jealousy, financial gain, obsession, and revenge, combining case reconstruction with expert analysis to examine behavioral patterns, planning, and long-term intent. Through commentary from crime specialists and detailed storytelling, the series contrasts impulsive violence with the calculated dynamics often present in these investigations.
Sunday
February 22nd, 2026
Chasing A Killer: Gary Allen
Chasing A Killer: Gary Allen is a true crime docuseries premiering on Prime Video in the United Kingdom. The series examines the case of Gary Allen, who was acquitted of the 2000 murder of Samantha Class before later confessing during an undercover police operation, leaving prosecutors unable to bring new charges and drawing attention to the legal constraints of double jeopardy.
Tracing a two-decade investigation that intensified after a second woman was found murdered in 2019, the docuseries explores the legal developments and investigative persistence that ultimately led to Allen’s prosecution. Through law enforcement perspective and detailed case reconstruction, the program documents how criminal procedure, legislative change, and sustained police work intersected in the pursuit of justice.
No trailer is currently available. Any updates will be reflected in February’s Surveillance Report.
Closing Notes: New True Crime Shows & Documentaries - February 16-22, 2026
This week’s releases are now fully logged, with premieres and returning episodes organized in one place for quick reference. The goal is simple: make it easy to see what’s airing, when it’s available, and where to watch without digging through scattered listings.
February’s Surveillance Report remains available for a full-month view of upcoming true crime releases, with confirmed air dates and platforms gathered into a single reference point. January’s report is still open for anyone catching up or revisiting earlier premieres that may have slipped past the radar.
If a listing shifts or something new surfaces, leave a comment and the schedule will be updated as verified information comes in. Accuracy matters here, and every extra set of eyes helps keep the record straight.
Links to follow along, join the conversation, and stay current as new cases and releases emerge via social media are included below.
See you next week,
