Watch with free trial
Sign in
The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade

The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade

In many ways, the 1980s are considered the deadliest decade in recent history. Who wants to travel back in time knowing the 10 years consisted of infamous cases like the serial-killing crime spree of Night Stalker Richard Ramirez, the Menendez brothers' murder of their parents, and Mark David Chapman's cold-blooded shooting of music legend John Lennon? Investigation Discovery explores the dark side of nostalgia to recount other notable murder investigations from the '80s, an era of ego where excess and greed dangerously collide.
2 seasonsDocumentary, CrimeTV-14
Essential planBundle+ plan
Watch with free trial
Compare plans
Investigation Discovery channel logo
7-day free trial (new users only), then $25 + tax per month.
Cancel anytime. See terms.

Watch Now

Season 16 of 6 Episodes

  • In Boston, Carol Stuart and her unborn child are shot dead, while her husband, Charles, survives the shooting to describe their black assailant and inflame racial tensions, then a witness comes forward with a story that blows open the case.

  • Teenager Jennifer Levin is found strangled to death in Central Park, and a prep school heartthrob, Robert Chambers, is arrested for the crime; the press seizes on Chambers' claim that Levin's death happened during rough sex.

  • Fifteen-year-old cheerleader Kirsten Costas is stabbed to death in a California suburb, and a teenage girl is seen fleeing the scene; as months pass without an arrest, the police are stumped.

  • An entire family is wiped out in a mass murder, stunning a small town in Missouri; at first, the unlikely suspect is a 14-year-old boy, but the truth turns out to be even more shocking.

  • Stockbroker Joe Pikul and his wife, Diane, are living the high life, then Diane discovers Joe's been leading a double life, and within days of the stock market crash on Black Monday in 1987, their marriage comes to a violent end.

  • Single mother Linda Culbertson lands a dream job as a legal secretary in a Kansas City, Mo., law firm, and falls hard for her married boss, Donald Pierce; the fallout is deadly as Culbertson draws bystanders into a shocking and vicious crime.

Record to Watch Later

10 episodes will be broadcast over the next two weeks

    The Newlywed Murder
    The Libertyville Horror
    Friday the 13th
    The Copycat Killer
    Phantom Killer of the Opera
    The Dixieland Murders
    The Death of Disco
    The Cotton Club Murder
    The Milk Carton Murder
    The Krishna Killers
  • The Newlywed Murder

    When Long Island newlywed Lisa Solomon disappears on Christmas Eve, family and friends search for her tirelessly; investigators wonder whether she left her husband of two months in the middle of the night or was the victim of foul play.
    Upcoming
  • The Libertyville Horror

    In Libertyville, Ill., a wealthy couple is shot dead while in bed; shocked townspeople ask whether they fell victim to a robbery or to dark secrets harbored by a family member.
    Upcoming
  • Friday the 13th

    In Wylie, Texas, young teacher Betty Gore is hacked to death on Friday the 13th, causing investigators to wonder whether a copycat killer is trying to create his own real-life "slasher" film.
    Upcoming
  • The Copycat Killer

    Young actress Rebecca Schaeffer is gunned down in her doorway in Hollywood, Calif.; detectives investigate, wondering if there's a copycat killer in their midst.
    Upcoming
  • Phantom Killer of the Opera

    Thirty-one-year-old violinist Helen Mintiks goes missing during a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, then her naked corpse is discovered in an air shaft at the opera house.
    Upcoming
  • The Dixieland Murders

    In Biloxi, Miss., Judge Vincent Sherry and his wife, Margaret, a city councilwoman, are shot to death in their home; the murdered couple's oldest daughter sets out on a 10-year quest to find her parents' killer.
    Upcoming
The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade

More about The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade

In many ways, the 1980s are considered the deadliest decade in recent history. Who wants to travel back in time knowing the 10 years consisted of infamous cases like the serial-killing crime spree of Night Stalker Richard Ramirez, the Menendez brothers' murder of their parents, and Mark David Chapman's cold-blooded shooting of music legend John Lennon? Investigation Discovery explores the dark side of nostalgia to recount other notable murder investigations from the '80s, an era of ego where excess and greed dangerously collide.

Starring

Patrick Gallagher, Bill Hoffman, Lance Coughlin, Liam Higgins, Benjamin Oduro, Loydeen, Avery Mull, Anna Andersen, Bradley Bemboom

Subscribe to Enjoy 70+ Channels

Watch and record live TV with a Philo subscription

One Subscription.
Endless Entertainment.
Unlock live TV, binge-worthy shows, hit movies, and more. Starting at $25/month.
View plans
  • A Crime to Remember
  • The 1990s: The Deadliest Decade
  • The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood
  • The Atlanta Child Murders
  • Who Killed Biggie and Tupac?
  • People Magazine Investigates
  • Death by Fame
  • The Case That Haunts Me
  • Lost Women of Highway 20
  • The Hillside Strangler: Mind of a Monster
  • SpongeBob SquarePants
  • Love After Lockup
  • The First 48
  • Fatal Attraction
  • The Golden Girls
  • Tyler Perry's House of Payne
  • For My Man
  • 90 Day Fiancé
  • Tyler Perry's The Oval
  • Everybody Loves Raymond

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Philo is a live TV streaming service that offers two plans to fit your entertainment needs:

    Essential ($25/month): 70+ live channels and over 75,000 movies and shows on-demand. New users get a 7-day free trial!

    Bundle+ ($33/month): Includes all the channels and entire streaming library available in the Essential plan, the entire AMC+ library, and access to HBO Max Basic with Ads plan and discovery+ included.

    Both plans: offer 1-year unlimited cloud DVR, let you stream on up to 3 devices at once, create up to 10 profiles, and cancel anytime with no contract.

    Free Channels: Not ready to subscribe? You can also enjoy Free Channels with no credit card required—simply create your account and start watching.

  • Yes! New users that sign up for the Essential plan can try it free for 7 days. You can explore our channels, features, and content before your subscription begins. No contract required—cancel anytime before your trial ends with no charges.

    • An email address
    • A future payment method
    • A broadband internet connection
    • A supported device
    Philo devices
    Web, iPhone & iPad, Android phones & tablets, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung TV, VIZIO TV, LG TV, Apple TV, Android TV, and Chromecast via Android
  • Yes! You can record an unlimited amount of live or upcoming content to your cloud DVR and save them for up to a year. No equipment needed!
    Save
  • Nope! No hardware is required, ever. Philo's DVR is already built into the app, so there's nothing to plug in, set up, or pay extra for.

    With an Essential or Bundle+ subscription, you get unlimited DVR storage included, and your recordings are saved for a full year. If you're watching with the Free Channels, recordings are saved for 30 days.

  • Yes! You can enjoy tons of premium television and movies by upgrading your Philo subscription plan with add-ons.

    Here is a list of our available add-ons:

    • HBO Max Standard (ad-free): Watch HBO Originals and hit movies ad-free for $13 more per month. Live sports included (in HBO Max app).
    • Movies & More: Watch award-winning films, cult classics, celebrity stories, documentaries, and more - for $3 more per month.
    • AMC+ (ad-free): Enjoy ad-free access to the entire AMC+ library for $4 more per month.
    • MGM+ (ad-free): Stream thousands of the latest hits, fan favorites, original series, documentaries, and comedy specials for an additional $8/month.
    • ALLBLK (ad-free): Stream original series, independent films, nostalgic Black cinema, reality, and lively stage plays for $7 more per month.
    • Hallmark+ (ad-free): Watch exclusive originals, reality shows, rom-coms, cozy mysteries, heartfelt dramas, and beloved holiday movies for an additional $8/month.
    • STARZ (ad-free): Enjoy today’s hits, classic movies, and bold original series for an additional $12/month.
  • HBO Max:
    • Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.
    • Go to your Philo account page and follow the steps to activate your HBO Max Basic with Ads plan account.

    discovery+:
    • Sign up for the Bundle+ ($33/month) plan.
    • Go to your Philo account page and follow the steps to activate your discovery+ account.