Appearances can be deceiving.
For proof, look no further than Oxygen's true crime series An Unexpected Killer. Returning Friday, Sept. 16, the show follows experienced homicide investigators who believe they're just about to solve a case, only to come across something unanticipated. Whether it's a new witness, an overlooked piece of evidence or even an innovation in forensic science, detectives in every episode will make a startling discovery that sends their investigation in a completely new direction.
The new season kicks off with a particularly riveting episode titled "A Date With Death," and E! News has an exclusive sneak peek. At the center of the below clip is Samantha Lezark, described by Oxygen as "a cat-loving and recently divorced young woman" who was eager to dip her toes back in the dating game, only to be "beaten and strangled in a brutal and unusual way."
Did the murky world of online dating lead to Samantha's tragic death, or is the killer much more close to home? That's what police are trying to figure out in the sneak peek—and they're starting with Laurie and Donny, the pair who discovered Samantha's body.
As one investigator explains in the preview, "With Laurie and Donny, as they were the last ones in the home before the police arrived, we certainly needed to make sure there was no information that could tie either one of them to the actual murder."
Laurie, it turns out, was Samantha's co-worker. "She said Samantha didn't come to work, which was very unusual," the investigator adds, explaining that this prompted Laurie to go check on her and subsequently discover her body. Donny ultimately confirmed Laurie's story, but there was something else she said that peaked investigators' interest.
Find out what by watching the above clip.
An Unexpected Killer premieres Friday, September 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Oxygen.
(E! and Oxygen are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)