Octavia Spencer’s “Lost Women of Alaska” Sheds Light on Murders of Veronica Abouchuk and Kathleen Jo Henry

Octavia Spencer returns as executive producer for the Investigation Discovery (ID) docu-series “Lost Women of Alaska,” which focuses on the murders of Veronica Abouchuk and Kathleen Jo Henry, two Alaska Native women. The series aims to amplify the stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Alaska and bring attention to the need for increased resources to solve these cases.

The Cases of Veronica Abouchuk and Kathleen Jo Henry

The three-episode special centers on the investigations into the deaths of Abouchuk and Henry, ultimately leading to the conviction of Brian Steven Smith.

Kathleen Jo Henry, born December 22, 1988, in Bethel, Alaska, grew up in the Yup’ik Eskimo village of Eek. By early September 2019, she was last seen alive in Anchorage, Alaska, at the TownePlace Suites hotel. Her remains were discovered along the Seward Highway on October 2, 2019. An autopsy determined she was strangled to death in a room at the hotel on September 4, 2019.

Veronica Rosaline Abouchuk, born in 1966 in Saint Michael, Alaska, was found deceased along an Anchorage highway in April 2019. Authorities later connected her death to Smith.

Brian Steven Smith and the Investigation

Brian Steven Smith was found guilty in 2024 of murdering both Kathleen J. Henry and Veronica R. Abouchuk. During his trial, the jury was shown disturbing videos filmed by Smith himself, depicting the torture and murder of Kathleen Jo Henry. In the videos, Smith narrated the violence with “glee and annoyance,” even prompting a perceived audience to “Hit the ‘like’ button” and stating, “I’m trying to create a movie.” He also made statements like, “In my movies, everyone dies,” and “What must my followers feel about you?”

Investigators discovered an SD card that proved crucial in linking Smith to the crimes, suggesting he may be a serial killer.

Octavia Spencer’s Involvement and Advocacy

Spencer, an Academy Award-winning actress, emphasizes the importance of amplifying the stories of missing women and bringing closure to their families. She believes that increased resources and attention to these cases are crucial to preventing future violence. “These indigenous women, their stories deserve to be told, seen and resolved,” Spencer told Spectrum News. “The strength within the community deserves to be heralded.”

Spencer stated that more “man-hours” are needed to solve these cases, suggesting a need for greater law enforcement commitment.

Where to Watch

“Lost Women of Alaska” premiered on Investigation Discovery (ID) on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 8-11 p.m. ET. The series is also available to stream on HBO Max. Spencer’s other project, “Feds,” will air weekly starting March 4 on ID and will also be available on HBO Max.