Hot Snakes Media Joins Forces with Online Sleuths for New True-Crime Series
EXCLUSIVE: Hot Snakes Media, the production company behind Investigation Discovery’s acclaimed series The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, is embarking on a new approach to developing true-crime programming by leveraging insights from online communities.
In a strategic move, the company—led by Shannon and Eric Evangelista—has partnered with Websleuths, an established online community featuring amateur detectives and true-crime enthusiasts.
This collaboration will provide Hot Snakes with first-look access to compelling stories, real-time discussions, and community-driven insights, enhancing the development of their unscripted projects. Hot Snakes Media is also known for other successful series, including Netflix’s DeafU and TLC’s Breaking Amish.
Founded in 1999, Websleuths has played a vital role in solving various criminal cases over the years, including the 2009 murder of a Florida man who won $32 million in the lottery. The platform was also central to discussions surrounding high-profile cases such as those involving Casey Anthony and Tammy Alexander.
Hot Snakes aims to tap into Websleuths’ extensive archive of user-generated leads and amateur investigative efforts to create a new slate of unscripted content.
This initiative coincides with Shannon Evangelista’s transition to an on-screen role, featured in an upcoming Investigation Discovery series focused on Benjaman Kyle. Kyle was diagnosed with amnesia after being discovered injured and unclothed near a dumpster behind a Burger King in Georgia, with elements of his story pointing to allegations of involvement in a crime syndicate.
“Our shows have always been driven by curiosity and hard questions, and Websleuths brings an entire community that thinks the same way,” Shannon Evangelista stated. “This partnership gives us a front-row seat to cases that haven’t hit the mainstream yet. Websleuths members dig deep, collaborate and chase the truth with real heart. It’s the perfect catalyst for the next wave of projects I’ll be stepping in front of the camera to explore.”
