Octavia Spencer narrates and executive produces Investigation Discovery’s three-part documentary series Lost Women of Alaska, a project that examines the murders of two Alaskan Native women and the broader crisis of missing Indigenous people in the state, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Why the series matters
The series places the killings of Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk — both murdered by convicted serial killer Brian Steven Smith, who is serving a 226-year sentence — at the centre of a wider discussion about vulnerability, bias and investigative gaps that leave many cases unresolved. According to the reporting, Alaska has roughly 1,300 missing-persons cases, with only about 100 actively worked on.
Spencer, who is Emmy-nominated for best narrator for her work on the series, told a taping of THR Presents powered by Investigation Discovery that amplifying these stories is a responsibility. She framed the project as restorative rather than sensational, arguing that the lives and loved ones of the missing deserve attention and humanity.
“Amplifying these stories is our duty… These women had lives, they have loved ones, and they are human. We are human.”
Focus on systemic failings
The documentary explores how a combination of remoteness, racial bias and prejudices against sex workers created conditions in which men like Smith could operate. The Hollywood Reporter coverage quotes Spencer saying that, as a Black woman, she was not surprised that Indigenous women’s disappearances were not prioritised. She suggested the same systemic failures that de-prioritised cases in Alaska could be present in other countries tied to the accused.
Reporting notes that investigators are still exploring whether Smith may have additional victims in Alaska and in his native South Africa — a point Spencer addressed cautiously, saying there is no concrete evidence presented in the series but warning that Smith’s modus operandi makes it likely he had more victims.
How the series positions true crime
True crime as a genre often faces criticism for sensationalising suffering. Spencer told the panel that she does not regard the series as entertainment and prefers true crime that informs and prompts responsible action, such as reporting observed information to authorities.
- Series format: Three-part documentary on Investigation Discovery.
- Central cases: Murders of Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk by Brian Steven Smith.
- Broader concern: Systemic neglect of Indigenous and marginalised victims, and a large number of unresolved missing-persons cases in Alaska.
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Missing-persons cases in Alaska | ~1,300 |
| Cases actively worked on | ~100 |
| Sentence for Brian Steven Smith | 226 years |
The series aims to draw attention to both individual stories and systemic patterns. The Hollywood Reporter coverage quotes Spencer’s emphasis on restoration: the documentary intends to re-centre victims’ lives and families rather than treating their suffering as fodder for thrills.
For South African and international viewers, the series also raises questions about cross-border implications, given the mention of possible victims in South Africa — the native country of the convicted killer — though the reporting stresses there is no public, concrete evidence linking him to additional crimes there.
Investigation Discovery’s approach with Lost Women of Alaska follows a growing trend in true-crime storytelling that foregrounds victims, contextualises criminal behaviour, and interrogates institutional failures. Spencer’s involvement as narrator and executive producer gives the series a high-profile advocate intent on shifting the genre’s focus toward accountability and remembrance.
The Hollywood Reporter provided the reporting on the series and Spencer’s remarks at the THR Presents event.
