Horses & Hangmen: HBO Max's Danish Murder Mystery

A new Danish docuseries arriving on HBO Max this summer is peeling back the layers of a shocking murder case that shattered a quiet community. Horses & Hangmen, a four-part true crime investigation produced by BBC Nordic, premiered on August 29, 2025, and is now available across HBO Max, Hulu, and Apple TV.

The series centers on Frank Dan Nørgaard Jørgensen, a 40-year-old Danish father and family man whose life came to a violent end in summer 2022. His story begins with a missed date—when he failed to show up for an appointment with his girlfriend Rikke and stopped answering her calls, it marked the beginning of an investigation that would expose a deeply twisted plot involving multiple perpetrators and premeditated murder.

Hosted by Kristoffer Eriksen and originally produced in Danish, the docuseries walks viewers through the case methodically, episode by episode. The investigation reveals a conspiracy that cuts close to home, with those who appeared to be respectable members of Jørgensen's inner circle implicated in his brutal death. A complicating factor emerged when an ex-girlfriend resurfaced, claiming she was pregnant with his child—a revelation that became central to understanding the motive behind the crime.

The four episodes, which roll out weekly through September 19, are structured to gradually reveal the case's complexity. "Say Something, Frank" kicked off the series on August 29, introducing viewers to the victim and the circumstances of his disappearance. "The Mysterious Caravan" aired on September 5, expanding the investigation into unexpected territory. Episode three, "Chilling Plans" (September 12), dives deeper into the premeditated nature of the crime and the coordination between the perpetrators. The finale, "Deadly Baby Wish," concludes the series on September 19.

What makes Horses & Hangmen particularly compelling is its willingness to explore how an ordinary life can be upended by those closest to you. The series doesn't shy away from the psychological dimensions of the case—examining manipulation, desperation, and the lengths people will go to achieve their aims. The involvement of multiple perpetrators and the elaborate planning behind the murder suggest a case far more complex than a crime of passion.