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Durham-based production company airs chilling docuseries on cold case disappearance.
“Your daughter’s with me. She’s fine. She’s having some problems and needs time away.” … So begins the unusual note found by 15-year-old Jenny Lynn Pandos’ parents on her pillow when she was first discovered missing in February 1987. Flash-forward 30+ years later, and Jenny’s mysterious disappearance continues to grow cold—with many still wondering what really happened.
Perhaps the answer can be found in Burden of Proof, a four-part docuseries created by Durham-based production company Markay Media airing on HBO June 6 and 7. With award-winning director Cynthia Hill (see also her work on What Happened, Brittany Murphy; Private Violence; A Chef’s Life; and Somewhere South) at the helm, this captivating series follows Jenny’s brother, Stephen, over the span of seven years as he unearths new evidence and attempts to confront his parents about what he believes to be true: His father snapped and murdered his sister.
“This film sheds light on a tragic and unsolved case that has deeply affected a family for more than three decades,” says Hill. “And unlike other true crime documentaries, this one unfolds in real time. … Stephen’s theory of what happened is challenged and the film chronicles every new twist and turn.” Ahead of the series’ release, we scooped some intel from Hill. Here, four things to know about the “burden of proof”:
How the series began: A LinkedIn message from Stephen in 2015. He was searching for ways to get more attention for his sister’s case.
What viewers can expect: A character study of a man desperate to honor his sister and overcome the traumas of his past.
This docuseries is unique because… at the start of filming, Stephen’s family was estranged. The showrunners developed relationships with each member separately—and viewers get to witness the dynamics change over the years.
State of Jenny’s case… remains open, and the James City County Police Department continues to investigate.
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