The Untold Story Season 1, Episode 1: Hunting JonBenét’s Killer

Sex for Sale

Elizabeth Vargas explores the inner workings of the new sex trade which relies on the internet to tap into a huge demand for sex, intimacy and companionship. This unfiltered look at the secrets, rules and specialties of the sex industry takes viewers on a revealing journey through immersive character-driven portraits of a male escort who promotes himself on social media as the “ultimate boyfriend experience” for women, a grad student-turned-millionaire who, in her live video streams, caters to the unusual fetishes of men she’ll never meet, a woman capitalizing on the benefits of new motherhood, a so-called “naughty lifestyle” mogul who helps couples explore their wildest desires and young women who have sugar daddies they’ve met online pay for their tuition, days at the spa, luxurious travel and more. These entrepreneurs give in-depth details on how they made a living by using the internet to sell sex.

I Was a Child Bride

In America, a shocking number of teenage girls are forced into marriages against their will because of legal loopholes in most states. Many believe this only happens in developing countries, but in the past 15 years, an estimated 200,000 girls have been forced into marriage in the US. In this in-depth two-hour documentary episode, Elizabeth Vargas reveals the heart-wrenching stories of child marriage victims, who against all odds, escaped the most dire of circumstances. These brave survivors tackle this taboo issue in their personal lives and help to shine a light on the national epidemic with the hope that no child will ever have to be a victim again.

60 min

Dating App Horrors

Dating apps have become an increasingly popular way for people to connect. In this one-hour episode, Elizabeth Vargas examines the largely unregulated dating app industry and explores the risks of dating online, which in some rare cases have led to assault, rape and even murder. Vargas explores this topic through interviews with lawyers, detectives and advocates, who all hope that discussing this development will prevent future experiences and protect users.

Vanished in Paradise

Elizabeth Vargas explores the mysterious disappearance of Hannah Upp, a 32-year-old teacher from Oregon, who vanished in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017 in the chaotic days between two category five hurricanes. While many questions remain about what might have happened to Hannah, her family and friends have reason to believe that she may be lost with no idea who she is, wandering in what doctors call a “Fugue State”- a rare form of temporary amnesia. Vargas will help retrace Hannah’s last known steps by sifting through clues from her past as well as speaking with Hannah’s mother, friends and law enforcement who are still actively searching for her.

Secret Life of a Gang Girl

Is gang violence being propelled by social media? In this episode, Vargas investigates how and why young gang members’ internet feuds are erupting into real-world shootings. Focusing on the notorious life and tragic death of one legendary teenage female gang assassin in Chicago with a strong social media presence, Vargas explores how there may be a hidden pattern in the social media footprints of gang members, which can be used to help to identify potential real-world conflicts and help to stem the violence.