Hilarie Burton Continues Search for Justice in Season 3 of True Crime Story

The actress talks about the impact of her SundanceTV show and the cases that have weighed on her most

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Hilarie Burton is back for a third season of her true crime docuseries "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here", which premieres on February 19 on SundanceTV. Burton speaks to PEOPLE about the cases the show has helped, the lessons it has taught her about prioritizing family, and the bittersweet feelings that come with the important work.

Why it matters

Burton's show aims to shed light on overlooked cases and systemic flaws in the criminal justice system, providing a platform for families and communities to seek accountability and justice. The series has already had a tangible impact, helping to free wrongfully convicted individuals and bring attention to unsolved crimes.

The details

In the new season, Burton travels across several states to investigate cases involving missing persons, unsolved murders, and suspicious deaths. One case that has particularly affected her is that of Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam, who was released from prison in October after serving 43 years for a murder he didn't commit, only to be immediately detained by ICE under threat of deportation. Burton says she is "torn up" about Vedam's situation and wants to continue advocating for him. The show has also had an impact on other past cases, such as helping to secure a $1.56 million payout for wrongfully imprisoned Jason Lively.

  • True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here premieres on February 19, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET.
  • Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam was released from prison in October 2025 after serving 43 years for a murder he didn't commit.

The players

Hilarie Burton

The actress and producer who hosts and executive produces "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" on SundanceTV.

Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam

A man who was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years for a murder he did not commit, and was then immediately detained by ICE upon his release in October 2025.

Jason Lively

A man who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 15 years for a murder he didn't commit, and received a $1.56 million payout from the state of West Virginia after his case was featured on a previous season of "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here".

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Hilarie Burton's husband, who provides support and catches her tears after she covers the heavy cases on the show.

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What they’re saying

“It is such a grave injustice what's happening to him right now. We're in this really delicate phase where we want to be respectful of the people who have Subu's fate in their hands right now, but we also want to be very firm.”

— Hilarie Burton (PEOPLE)

“The calls to action that we do for each episode are really important. For anybody who's unsure if their involvement in our show matters, I'm here to tell you, my inbox is insane right now with the traction that we are finding on our cases.”

— Hilarie Burton (PEOPLE)

“We don't stop caring about the story just because it aired. We're still involved. Until the family feels like they have justice, our job isn't done.”

— Hilarie Burton (PEOPLE)

What’s next

The judge in Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him to remain in the United States or deport him to India, where he hasn't lived since he was 9 months old.

The takeaway

Hilarie Burton's true crime docuseries "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" is making a tangible difference in people's lives, helping to free the wrongfully convicted and bring attention to unsolved crimes. However, the emotional toll of covering these heavy cases has taught Burton to prioritize her family and create more joy in her personal life, while also encouraging others to get involved in similar advocacy work.