From Vanity Fair · Savannah Walsh · · 1m 20s
Pet Cemetery Murders: American Trauma Unfolds
HBO's documentary reveals how a Louisiana pet cemetery holds layers of racial violence, murder, and generational trauma.
In brief
HBO's documentary reveals how a Louisiana pet cemetery holds layers of racial violence, murder, and generational trauma. HBO's The Pet Cemetery Murders shows how a Louisiana pet cemetery ties together racial violence, murder, and generational trauma. Originally reported by Vanity Fair.
Dorothy Thompson's Murder
Dorothy Thompson was murdered in 1985 after being strangled, suffocated, wrapped in chains, and thrown into the mississippi river.
“Strangled, suffocated, wrapped in chains, and thrown in the mississippi river”
HBO Documentary Focus
HBO's The Pet Cemetery Murders explores decades of death and dysfunction on a rural louisiana property.
“It became a litany of tragedy”
Land History
The land in st. bernard parish was tied to racial violence including the 1868 st. bernard parish massacre.
“These are america's original sins enslavement native american genocide women's role in society”
Hurricane Katrina Impact
Hurricane katrina destroyed key evidence in 2005 and decimated the pet cemetery.
“Twenty years after the investigation went cold, in 2005, hurricane katrina wiped out key evidence”
Dorothy's Death
Dorothy died in 1985 after being strangled suffocated wrapped in chains and thrown into the mississippi river.
“Dorothy Thompson was murdered in 1985 after being strangled suffocated wrapped in chains and thrown into the mississippi river”
Dorothy's Daughter
Dorothy's estranged daughter kristine wood deals with intergenerational trauma from her mother's substance abuse.
“We're conditioned to want especially female victims to be pure this is a woman who had a really difficult life”
Dorothy's Mother
Dorothy's mother grace opened the pet cemetery in 1946 with mafia connections.
“When we meet grace she looks like this kindly old lady sitting on a rocking chair”
Local Intrigue
Locals use metal detectors to find hidden treasure on the land.
“It's one of those places locals go with a metal detector trying to find a hidden treasure”
The Story Continues
The documentary shows how the land's trauma affects generations and remains with the filmmaker.
“I'm never going to escape the tentacular grip of this place and this land”
At a glance
HBO's The Pet Cemetery Murders shows how a Louisiana pet cemetery ties together racial violence, murder, and generational trauma.
