20/20: I Have Killed For You on ABC: The Case of Bonnie and Heather Woodward
Documentary series about the mysterious disappearance of a mother and her stepdaughter in East Alton, Illinois
What is the series about?
The 20/20 episode 'I Have Killed For You' on ABC documents the complex and tragic case of Bonnie Woodward, a beloved mother from East Alton, Illinois, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The case took an even darker turn when it emerged that her stepdaughter, Heather Woodward , had been reported missing just a week before Bonnie's disappearance. The documentary follows ABC's investigative team as they interview detectives, family members, and colleagues to piece together the timeline and understand the dark forces at play within the family.
The real case
The real case behind the documentary centers around the events that unfolded in East Alton, Illinois in the summer of 2025. Bonnie Woodward was known as a caring woman, but behind the facade lay a complicated web of relationships and family secrets. When Heather Woodward went missing, suspicion quickly turned to those closest to her, but the case escalated dramatically when Bonnie herself disappeared shortly after. Investigators from the local police quickly discovered that the two cases were not isolated incidents. The documentary highlights how the investigation revealed signs of manipulation and potentially premeditated murder, with the question of who returned and who remained missing at its core.
Timeline of the case
The investigation into the Bonnie Woodward case has been marked by conflicting explanations and a lack of leads. It began with Heather's disappearance at the end of May, which left the family in shock. But it was Bonnie's disappearance from the parking lot of her workplace that truly set off a massive search. Police have worked from a theory that someone close to the family attempted to cover up a crime by eliminating witnesses or involved parties. The documentary reviews the technical evidence and witness testimonies that have led to the current charges in the case.