‘My Brother’s Killer’ documentary delivers long-awaited justice
Investigation Discovery, the leading true crime network, announced the December premiere of My Brother’s Killer, the acclaimed documentary from filmmaker Rachel Mason known for her film Circus of Books. The network debuted the film’s first-look trailer as part of the announcement. Acquired by ID, the documentary will make its television premiere on Thursday, December 3 from 9-11PM ET/PT on ID and will be available to stream on HBO Max. The film is produced for the network by FutureClown Productions.
The documentary had a celebrated festival run that began with its official selection at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival. It earned the Best Documentary Jury Award at the Outshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. The film continues its festival premieres this month as part of the prestigious AFI Fest lineup, screening on Saturday, October 24.
After Billy Newton was found murdered on October 29, 1990, his case was forgotten by most but haunted many, including the LAPD detectives first at the scene, his family in Wisconsin, fellow adult performers and LGBQT+ community members in West Hollywood. They were left wondering who would want to harm someone as beloved as Billy. My Brother’s Killer follows filmmaker Rachel Mason as she investigates his case. She partners with the LAPD, London’s family and friends, as well as authors and podcasters Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn. The film shows how original assumptions, overlooked evidence, and new theories help find the missing puzzle pieces in order to get to the truth.
From the moment we saw Rachel Mason’s powerful film and finished processing the stunning revelations of its final moments, we knew we wanted to use our platform to bring this story to the widest possible audience. My Brother’s Killer chronicles how one man’s tragic passing inspired a decades long pursuit of the truth and in doing so delivers a deeply moving portrait of Billy Newton and the underserved community that refused to let him be forgotten, said Jason Sarlanis, President of ID.
Over the course of two hours, My Brother’s Killer documents these efforts while examining the vibrant but dangerous landscape of the gay adult film industry in the 1990’s within West Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ community. The film ultimately leads to the shocking revelation of Newton’s actual killer. Featuring poignant personal archival footage of Newton from his loved ones and friends, exclusive and intimate interviews with those closest to him, and a never-before-seen interview with his killer, the documentary highlights how collective action and the strong bonds of community helped bring long delayed justice to one young man’s heartbreaking case.
Investigation Discovery is the leading true crime network on television, delivering the highest-quality programming to nearly 60 million U.S. households. For exclusive digital content and bonus material, fans can follow ID on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube. The network serves its viewers with compelling true crime stories that often highlight issues of justice and community.
