In the blistering depths of California’s desert, where the sun burns skin and secrets rot beneath the sand, something unspeakable took root. The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood
is no scripted drama—it is a haunting truth carved from blood, betrayal, and grief. Friends vanished. Lies multiplied. Mothers stepped into the shadows to find answers. But in Bakersfield, answers do not come easily. The nightmare did not end when the crimes stopped—it began when the bodies surfaced.
Before witnessing a mother’s desperate fight for justice, here is everything you need to know about the chilling true crime documentary.
From shadows to truth: The Bakersfield 3 crime unfolds for the world to see
The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood
premiered on May 11, 2025,
sending shockwaves through viewers. Airing on Investigation Discovery (ID), the gripping docuseries unraveled a web of cruelty, mystery, and heartache.
One phone call that sparked a theory and a bond they never expected.
Watch #TheBakersfield3 tomorrow on ID. pic.twitter.com/a6pL0QcahC
— Investigation Discovery (@DiscoveryID) May 10, 2025
All three episodes aired back-to-back, with the entire series now available for streaming on Max. This haunting documentary uncovers the dark secrets behind a series of tragic deaths and follows the fierce determination of mothers fighting for justice amid unspeakable loss. While The Bakersfield 3
is streaming on Max, you can also find a similar true crime story on Netflix, Angi: Fake Life, True Crime
, which delves into the chilling betrayal of a friend
.
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True crime fans are drawn in, eager to uncover the faces behind the darkness—those bringing The Bakersfield 3’s
chilling story to life on screen.
Stepping into the nightmare: Cast members who carry the story
Unlike typical true crime documentaries, The Bakersfield 3
delivers a chilling dive into a tangled mystery from 2018. This haunting series centers on three mothers—Diane Di Byrne, Cheryl Holsonbake, and Jane Parrent
narrating the horrific crime.
A brand new episode of The Bakersfield Three is out today.
In this special edition, the Jane Doe, named “Lil'” (short for “Lady in the Lake”) by the Bakersfield Three mothers, is identified as a missing woman from Orange County. However, discovering her identity has only added… pic.twitter.com/pHVGPnj5FE
— Casefile: True Crime Podcast (@case_file) October 22, 2024
Bound by Catastrophe after their children, James Kulstad, Micah Holsonbake, and Baylee Despot vanished or died under eerie, cruel circumstances in Bakersfield, California. As the truth unravels, the series reveals a terrifying web of crime, betrayal, and secrets no one saw coming.
A chilling true crime saga unraveling in real time, The Bakersfield 3
grips the world as each episode ends with more twists, dark secrets, and unanswered cries for justice.
The Bakersfield 3: How three mothers fight for justice amidst a web of deceit and heartbreak
In the chilling new docuseries The Bakersfield 3
, the haunting story of three friends, James Kulstad, Micah Holsonbake, and Baylee Despot, unfolds. Within just 34 days in 2018, Catastrophe strikes as James Kulstad is dead, Micah Holsonbake vanishes, and Baylee Despot goes missing.
Three friends gone in one month. Three mothers refusing to stay silent.
This isn’t just a case—it’s personal.
Watch #TheBakersfield3 Sunday at 8/7c on ID. pic.twitter.com/olSGlRA6rl
— Investigation Discovery (@DiscoveryID) May 9, 2025
Initially believed to be separate incidents, the mothers’ relentless pursuit uncovers disturbing connections between the cases. As they dig deeper, secrets are revealed, gun-building, and paranoia surface, revealing a sinister web of events that led to their children’s disappearances and death.
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Are you excited to watch The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood?
Let us know in the comments below!