December and the holidays have just rolled around: holiday lights, incessant Christmas carols, and the season of giving are upon us. When I was getting into the holiday spirit, the last thing I considered were true crime shows but, apparently, even these channels are doing what they can to end up on the ‘Nice List’ this year.
While no new full series are being brought out to end the year, that doesn’t mean Investigation Discovery will leave its viewers high and dry until New Years. Throughout the month, viewers can catch new episodes of old and new series alike, ensuring that there’s something for them to watch other than holiday-centered specials and movies.
The Murder Tapes
Starting its 10th season in mid-November, ID’s The Murder Tapes returns on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 10/9c after taking a Thanksgiving hiatus. The show uses real footage from body cams, surveillance cameras, and interrogation rooms to bring viewers up close and personal into homicide investigations and the process of how law enforcement officers ultimately solve the cases placed in front of them and bring the victims and their families justice. Interviews with family, friends, and law enforcement officers involved with the investigation are also utilized.
Like our next entry, this show is much more raw than most of the shows Investigation Discovery has to offer. The use of real evidence, rather than made-for-TV levels of acting, reminds viewers that what they are watching actually happened to real people, making it more impactful and emotional. Interviews with investigators and law enforcement Episodes are confirmed to be airing on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 10, and 17.
American Monster
This home-video-based series continues its 13th season throughout the month of December, airing episodes at its usual slot on Tuesdays at 8/7c. New episodes will air on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 16, 23, and 30. The last date, sadly, is the season finale.
One of ID’s longest-running series, American Monster follows a similar format as the previous listing, and the final product achieves the same results: a raw, impactful retelling of tragic events. Albeit American Monster does place more focus on family and friends, rather than investigations as The Murder Tapes does, but, then again, maybe that’s a good thing: one show focuses more on the path to solving the case, and the other takes a more emotional approach.
Mother, May I Murder?
The ID show featuring toxic mother-child relationships closes out its second season on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The episode will air at 9/8c.
The show started its second season run this past October and focuses on greed, revenge, cruelty, along with how the three can easily take the mother-child bond and manipulate it into something dark and twisted.
Who Hired the Hitman?
A new mini-series for 2025, Who Hired the Hitman, airing immediately after Mother May I Murder? is also closing out its six-episode run on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Acting sort of like a real life whodunit, the show is exactly what the title says: someone close to the victim hired a hit on them and the investigators have to determine who.
The show is truly interesting because, while there is the killer to blame, investigators also have to determine who is pulling the strings, because, if they don’t, someone dangerous managed to slip away undetected.
Body Cam
Taking you up close and personal with what police officers see every day, Body Cam is just what it says. Relying solely on body camera footage and interviews with police officers, the show takes viewers through the job of police officers and puts into perspective how brave and challenging their day-to-day job truly is. Episodes will air on Wednesdays after The Murder Tapes.
Not only does Body Cam capture the action, but it also emphasizes how calm yet determined officers must be in. There are no second chances, and time to wait is not infinite. Body Cam shows this in a tense, heart pounding way that truly makes viewers appreciated the courage of our law enforcement.
Special Documentary: The Secrets We Bury
A special airing on Tuesday, Dec. 16th at 9/8c, The Secrets We Bury focuses on a missing persons case dating back to the early 1960s. One day, George Carroll walked out on his family, a wife and four children, to never be seen again. Now, his family wants answers.
Featuring George’s son Mike, The Secrets We Bury sees the man uncover his father’s disappearance. However, as he delves deeper, what happened can only be described as horrifying.
With multiple season finales and a new special, Investigation Discovery is certainly closing out 2025 on a high note. So mark your calendar and check it twice, you definitely don’t want to miss what this month has to offer.