The Weekly Drop: New True Crime Shows & Documentaries - February 2-8, 2026
- The Emerald Sleuth
- 2 days ago
- 12 min read
Welcome back, couch detectives. This Weekly Drop rounds up all the new true crime shows and documentaries airing February 2–8, 2026, with dates, times, and platforms laid out in one place. It’s a practical snapshot of what’s new this week, built to help you plan your watchlist without scrolling, guessing, or realizing too late that you missed something worth your time.
The Weekly Drop reaches hundreds of readers each week and takes steady research and upkeep to maintain. If you rely on it to keep your watchlist straight, Buying the Sleuth a Coffee helps offset the real costs of running the site and producing these schedules consistently. No pressure, just an option for those who want to support the work that keeps showing up.
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 2nd, 2026
People Magazine Investigates
People Magazine Investigates Season 9, Episode 4 (“Playing With Fire”) 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 can be found in the January Surveillance Report.
The Curious Case Of…
The Curious Case Of… Season 2, Episode 4 (“The Skincare Queen and The Hitman - Part 2”) 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 premiere is included in January’s Surveillance Report.
Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction season 16, episode 26 (“Fatal Fortune”) 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 season 1, episode 2 (“Comparison is a Killer”) 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 (Episode 38 and Episode 39) airing on A&E starting at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the second episode at 9 p.m. ET. A&E lists “Stream Next Day” 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.
Tuesday
February 3rd, 2026
Court Cam
Court Cam Season 10 airs Tuesday with two back-to-back new episodes (Episode 19 and Episode 20) on A&E at 9 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET. A&E lists “Stream Next Day” 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 Season 4, episode 4 (“Jailhouse Smuggler”) 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 season 19, episode 4 (“He's One Hundred Percent a Monster”) 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 season 1, episode 4 (“A Mother's Manipulation”) 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.
Harlan Coben’s Final Twist
Harlan Coben’s Final Twist Season 1, Episode 5 (“Shot in the Dark”) airs Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, with live and on-demand streaming available via Paramount+.
Harlan Coben’s Final Twist is a true crime documentary series that examines real cases involving murder, deception, and unresolved questions. Hosted by novelist Harlan Coben, the series applies a narrative framework drawn from his fiction writing to factual investigations, focusing on how hidden motives, false assumptions, and overlooked details influenced case outcomes. Each episode revisits a single case using interviews and archival material to explore competing narratives and gaps in the public understanding of the crime.
The series trailer is available in January’s Surveillance Report.
The Turpins: A New House of Horror – A Diane Sawyer Special Event
The Turpins: A New House of Horror – A Diane Sawyer Special Event is a one-hour ABC News special airing Tuesday, February 3, at 10:00 p.m. ET on ABC, with streaming available the following day on Disney+ and Hu. The program revisits the Turpin family case, which came to public attention in 2018 after 17-year-old Jordan Turpin escaped years of captivity and abuse and contacted authorities, leading to the rescue of her 12 siblings. Diane Sawyer, who previously interviewed two of the Turpin daughters in 2021, returns to the case as three additional siblings speak publicly for the first time.
The special focuses on what happened after the children were removed from their parents’ custody, examining their experiences within the foster care system and the institutional failures that followed. For the first time, it documents allegations of further harm inside a foster home where several siblings were placed, detailing how some of them were forced to advocate for their own safety once again. The program centers on accountability, oversight gaps, and the long-term consequences faced by survivors after high-profile rescues fade from public view.
The trailer is available in February’s Surveillance Report.
Wednesday
February 4th, 2026
Alaska State Troopers
Alaska State Troopers Season 9, Episode 5 ("No Way Out") 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 Season 2, Episode 5 ("Full Moon Fever") 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 Season 1, Episode 5 (“Boiling Points”) 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.
Body Cam
Body Cam S10, episode 10 (" 'Til the Wheels Fall Off") airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery (streams next day on Max).
Body Cam uses real body-worn camera footage to document hazardous situations encountered by law enforcement. Each episode pairs the video with firsthand accounts from the officers involved, offering additional context about the split-second decisions made in the moment.
The Murder Tapes
The Murder Tapes season 10, episode 10 (“Murder in Disguise”) airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery (streams the next day on Max).
The Murder Tapes uses real investigative footage to follow homicide cases from the initial call to their resolution. Episodes combine bodycam video, surveillance recordings, and interrogation-room footage to show how investigators gathered and interpreted evidence throughout the case. The series presents a chronological view of each investigation and highlights both the process and the impact on the families involved.
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered Season 16, Episode 12 (“The Case of the Man with No Name”) 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.
The Investigation of Lucy Letby
The Investigation of Lucy Letby is a feature-length true crime documentary premiering February 4, 2026 on Netflix. The film examines the case of Lucy Letby, a British neonatal nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others while working in a neonatal unit, a case that became one of the most high-profile criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
The documentary traces the investigation and trial from Letby’s arrests through courtroom proceedings, featuring first-time interviews with the British police who led the case and never-before-seen footage from her police questioning. It also includes perspectives from legal and medical experts on both sides, along with an anonymized interview with the mother of one of the victims, focusing on the evidence, institutional response, and the impact on those directly involved.
The trailer is available in February’s Surveillance Report.
Thursday
February 5th, 2026
The First 48
The First 48 Season 29, Episode 6 (“R Is for Random”) 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 Season 3, Episode 4 (“Hidden in the Shadows”) 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 Season 1, Episode 6 (“Kidnapper's House/Mother's Nightmare”) 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 trailer in January's Surveillance Report.
Dateline: Unforgettable
Dateline: Unforgettable Season 7, Episode 12 (“Losing Faith”) airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Oxygen, with next-day streaming availability.
Dateline: Unforgettable revisits select cases from the Dateline archive through the perspective of the correspondents who originally reported them. Rather than re-presenting the investigations in full, the series reflects on why certain cases endured — whether due to unexpected turns, unresolved questions, or the lasting impact on victims’ families and those who worked the cases. Episodes focus on the emotional, investigative, and human elements that continued to resonate long after the initial reporting ended.
Friday
February 6th, 2026
ABC 20/20
20/20 returns with an all-new episode this week (Season 48/Episode 17, subject/title TBA) which 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.
Dateline NBC
There is no new Dateline episode on the schedule this week due to broadcast coverage of the 2026 Olympics.
Saturday
February 7th, 2026
48 Hours
48 Hours season 38 episode 16 (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 season six- pt. 2, episode 8 ("Frozen Silent") 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.
Sunday
February 8th, 2026
The Hillside Strangler
The Hillside Strangler is a four-part documentary miniseries airing on MGM+. The series premiered Sunday, January 18, 2026, with new episodes airing weekly at 10 p.m. ET. Episode 4 airs this week.
The series revisits the Hillside Strangler murders that terrorized Los Angeles in the late 1970s, a period when multiple serial killers were active in the city. It examines the abduction, sexual assault, and murders of women and girls whose bodies were left in public locations, and follows the investigation that became the largest manhunt in Los Angeles history.
Using archival material and new interviews, the docuseries explores the work of lead homicide detective Frank Salerno and the investigation that revealed the crimes were committed by two perpetrators, Kenneth Bianchi and his cousin Angelo Buono. The series includes interviews with Salerno reflecting on the case decades later, as well as on-camera participation from Bianchi, who speaks publicly about the crimes for the first time.
A trailer for the series is included in January’s Surveillance Report.
Closing Notes: New True Crime Shows & Documentaries - February 2-8, 2026
That’s the confirmed slate new true crime shows & documentaries for this week, including premieres and returning episodes scheduled across platforms for this week. The Weekly Drop puts the week’s release information in one place so you can see what’s airing, when it’s on, and where to watch without digging through multiple listings.
The February Surveillance Report is live with a broader view of upcoming releases for the entire month, including platforms and air dates. January's report remains available for anyone catching up.
If something airs late or a listing is missed, leave a comment and the schedule will be updated as needed.
Links to follow along, join the conversation, or stay current as new cases surface are below.
See you next week,
