Too old to enjoy their riches, too old to keep dry britches, but not too old to snuff out some witches! Prepare to hide under your lap blanket, because Investigation Discovery's new series, ELDER SKELTER, premiering Wednesday, November 6 at 10/9c, tells shocking stories of senior citizens who committed cold, calculated crimes.
Did they suffer from dementia, or had they spent a lifetime suppressing their sick fantasies before it all came to a head? After building reputations as model citizens, loving family members, and contributors to society, these oldies but no-longer-goodies Cracked in their final years only to spend the rest of their retirement in prison. Celebrated fashionistas often featured in the popular blog, Advanced Style, Lynn Dell Cohen, Joyce Carpati, and Rita Ellis Hammer, host the series guiding viewers through each story, often imparting their own age-old wisdom and advice.
"ELDER SKELTER is like watching the Golden Girls with age rage," said Henry Schleiff, Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America and Military Channel. "We're blessed to find this trio of hosts, extraordinarily talented women, who did not commit any murders, but do embody the tongue-in-cheek spirit and feistiness that is often illustrated in our programming."
Each episode of ELDER SKELTER tells real-life tales of when a person's twilight years turn murderously dark - from a social security-loving, granny two-some who kill for money to a couple who decide the best way to celebrate a golden anniversary is ending the marriage...forever. Episodes contain two stories, each interlaced with recreations, expert commentary from local authorities and true-crime experts, as well as first-person accounts from friends and family of the victims.
ELDER SKELTER hosts Dell Cohen and Carpati are proud to be octogenarians while Ellis Hammer plays coy with her age...although it's rumored that she's the youngster of the group. Dell Cohen, a fashion designer, has owned a women's shop on the Upper West Side of New York City called Off Broadway Boutique for more than 40 years. Carpati is a trained opera singer and went on to join Cosmopolitan magazine at age 40, where she stayed 27 years, mostly as a marketing manager for beauty advertising, working closely with the illustrious Helen Gurley Brown. Ellis Hammer is a longtime singer, performer, and model who began singing professionally on radio at the age of five, moved to television at 13, and was a regular on ABC's "Galen Drake Show." Her work has been reviewed by everyone from Walter Winchell to Time Out New York.
The line-up of premieres for ELDER SKELTER is as follows:
Unlucky Stiffs Premieres Wednesday, November 6 at 10/9c Location: Jackson, OH Married and divorced three times, Dave and Carol Evans can't live without each other, and can't live with each other. But at the age of 70-something, there are some things Dave can't give up - money and women. And it looks like they're heading for a permanent divorce number four. Location: Atlanta, GA 80-year-old Lena Sims Driskell has met a tall, handsome Viagra swilling widower at the senior assisted living center in Atlanta. She's instantly hooked on his irresistible charm, but this 85-year old playboy turns out to be the Don Juan of the nursing home. Could the man of her dreams turn into a deadly nightmare?
Death, Lies and Security Tape Premieres Wednesday, November 13 at 10/9c Location: Polk County / Lakeland, Florida What happens when a child has to move back in with his parents? When the "child" is 59 year-old Robert Farley and the father is sprightly 85 year-old WWII Naval veteran, Walter -- one of them will resort to murder. Location: Los Angeles, California Ken McDavid came to Hollywood filled with hopes of making it in show business. He soon finds success landing a made-for-tv-movie, "The Jane Mansfield Story" starring Loni Anderson and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But over the years, this rising star eventually hit hard times, until two little old ladies offer to help him get back on his feet. Unfortunately, the help comes at a cost...
Bitter Bitties Premieres Wednesday, November 20 at 10/9c Location: Venice, Florida At the age of 66, David Myers finally has it all - the perfect home and a loving woman, Susie Modlin, by his side. However, when financial troubles cause the marriage to unravel, they're forced to stubbornly live under the same roof, and a double homicide is on the horizon. Location: Chandlerville, IL All Steven Watkins ever wanted was to be a family man...and he quickly jumps into a marriage with beautiful Jennifer Webster who comes from a well-to-do Seventh Day Adventist family. When their relationship sours, Jennifer's grandma, Shirley Skinner offers an age-old solution to the problem.
ELDER SKELTER is produced for Investigation Discovery by Hot Snakes Media with Eric Evangelista, Shannon Evangelista and Mark Marabella serving as executive producers. For Investigation Discovery, Pamela Deutsch is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior Vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President.
About Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading mystery-and-suspense network on television and America's favorite "guilty pleasure." From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries that result, ID challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. ID delivers the highest-quality programming to nearly 86 million U.S. households with viewer favorites that include On the Case with Paula Zahn; Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda; Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?; Disappeared; Stalked: Someone's Watching; and Redrum. For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 218 countries and territories.
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