Over the years, Salinas has learned that there’s always more to the story. In The Real Story, Maria Elena digs for the truth behind headline-making crimes in search of new evidence, unheard perspectives, and the latest updates. Archival footage and recreations complement intimate, emotional one-on-one interviews bringing those impacted by the crime to the forefront.
In the season premiere, Jessie Bardwell had big dreams and a big heart, so when she found her perfect man in Jason Lowe, she packed up and moved to a suburb of Dallas to start a new life with him. Soon after, with dwindling communication from his daughter, Jessie’s father, Gary, sensed problems and drove from his home in Mississippi to confront her. In an emotional interview, Gary discusses how a father’s worst nightmare becomes his reality when his daughter’s missing person case turns into a homicide investigation. Additional cases explored this season include: a 3-year-old boy who was kidnapped for ransom and murdered in 1984, and whose killer was finally brought to justice after three decades; a Baruch College freshman who endured a bizarre hazing ritual that left him dead, exposing the dark world of fraternities; and more.