What first seemed like a safe, empowering space became something far more troubling for many who entered it.
"Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise" premieres June 10 on ID and @hbomax#EscapingPearadiseonID
Austin’s mother was devastated when detectives confirmed the victim in the news was her son. Then she shared a detail investigators would never forget: someone had left a bullet with Austin’s name on it.
Watch “Bodies in the Water” Tuesdays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BodiesInTheWater
Matima and Quinton Dorsey were building something bigger than social media fame. Together, they were growing brands, gaining followers, and creating opportunities they hoped would change their lives forever.
Watch “Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders” Mondays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
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An evening with friends watching Gotham takes a dangerous turn when Snowthesaltqueen brings out a gun that looks like the one on screen.
Watch “Lethally Blonde” Mondays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
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A court filing introduces a new witness account.
For some former members, the statement becomes a pivotal moment in their efforts to speak out about their experiences with Pearadise.
Watch “Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise” on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BigGirlsWanted
A 911 call about a suspicious suitcase leads detectives to a gruesome discovery on a Seattle beach. As officers search the area, they discover additional bags nearby and quickly realize they’re dealing with something far more disturbing than anyone imagined.
Watch “Bodies in the Water” Tuesdays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BodiesInTheWater
What started as a social media post quickly turned into something bigger. A Facebook group dedicated to exposing Ashley led one woman to believe she wasn’t alone.
Watch “Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders” Mondays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#DeadlyInfluence
Matima’s dance moves and Quinton’s fashion game are taking social media by storm. What they don’t see is the jealous eye tracking their every move.
Watch “Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders” Mondays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
Derricka Harwell thought the knock at the door was strange. Then an FBI agent told her someone was trying to kill her.
Watch “Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders” Mondays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#DeadlyInfluence
Investigators spent years trying to solve Lisa Ziegert’s murder.
With nearly 400 people of interest and decades of dead ends, detectives turned to DNA testing hoping one forgotten tip would finally expose the killer.
Steam “Homicide Hunter: American Detective” on @HBOMax.
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What is feederism? Former members and experts discuss a subculture centered on feeding, weight gain, and control, and why some women believe it played a role in their experiences with Pearadise.
Watch “Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise” on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BigGirlsWanted
A text message changed everything. When friends received a message from Kass saying, “I love you and I’m sorry,” they immediately feared the worst and rushed to check on her.
Watch “Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise” on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BigGirlsWanted
As allegations against Pearadise spread online, founder Stefan Wilhelmy says he felt unable to share his side of the story.
In this clip, founder Stefan Wilhelmy responds to some of those allegations.
Watch “Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise” June 10 on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BigGirlsWanted
Stefan Wilhelmy says Pearadise was built to celebrate plus-size women and create a community rooted in acceptance.
But as the movement grew, some members began questioning the motivations behind the man who started it.
Watch “Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise” June 10 on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BigGirlsWanted
Former members say the pressure didn’t happen all at once.
They describe a culture where expectations gradually became normalized, until some began questioning what they had accepted as ordinary.
Watch “Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise” June 10 on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BigGirlsWanted
Ashley wanted the life Derricka Harwell had built.
When she discovered the self-made entrepreneur on social media, she saw someone who seemed to have everything she hoped to achieve.
Watch “Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders” Mondays on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#DeadlyInfluence
Pearadise promised acceptance, belonging, and a place where plus-size women could feel loved. But as the viral community grew, some former members began questioning what was really happening behind the fantasy.
Watch “Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise” June 10 on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BigGirlsWanted
Lisa Eatmon’s death leads detectives to another missing woman. Years earlier, Roscoe Clinton’s first wife, Debra, disappeared under circumstances investigators found impossible to ignore.
Watch “Bodies in the Water” Tuesday on ID and stream on @HBOMax.
#BodiesInTheWater