Murder interrupts the tranquility of small towns
About Heartland Homicide
Murder doesn’t happen here. But no one is safe from violent crime, and Heartland Homicide tells the stories of those small-town murders no one thought could happen.
It spotlights murders in the “heartland” of the US and Canada and shatters the small-town belief that residents cling to, that murder will never happen in their tranquil communities.
It’s a true crime show that details a bit on each town’s history and culture before relating some background on the victim’s and suspect’s lives, work, family, and relationship prior to the crime. Episodes use third-person narrative as they dive into the murder and its investigation through the end of the trial, sentencing, and any appeals.
Heartland Homicide only sometimes includes detectives and others who have worked on the case (and not much archival news footage), but instead relies heavily on narration and re-creations, along with a stock group of experts, who describe legal concepts, law enforcement techniques, and aspects of forensic pathology relevant to the case. The experts often explain basic concepts like what a dating app, blunt force trauma, or Luminol is, so newbies to true crime shows can jump right in.
Note: Very few episodes include police interviews or trial footage. One notable exception is the Kunz case, detailed in Season 1, Episode 2.
The Show Elements
Seasons: 1 (2022-)
Where to stream: True Crime Network
More shows like Heartland Homicide: City Confidential, Murder Comes to Town, Murder in the Heartland, Hometown Homicide
See also this list of true crime shows
✘ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✓ Experts
✓ Victims’ families and friends
True Crime Docket 