BuzzFeed and Wilshire Studios to Produce Series Based Upon the Case of Murdered Teen

BuzzFeed and Wilshire Studios will produce a docuseries on the death of teenager Jessica Chambers who was burned alive in December 2014 (Twitter photo).

LOS ANGELES – Wilshire Studios, the unscripted production arm of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, and BuzzFeed News today announced plans to develop an active crime investigation docu-series based on the mysterious death of Jessica Chambers, the Mississippi teen who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in December of 2014. The series is inspired by the investigative reporting of BuzzFeed News’ Senior National Reporter Katie J.M. Baker, who reported Chambers’ story, uncovering developments and helping raise awareness about the case, which remains unsolved. Academy Award® nominated, two-time Emmy® and Peabody winner Joe Berlinger (“Brother’s Keeper” and the “Paradise Lost Trilogy”) is set to executive produce.

"Tragic in its own right, the story of Jessica Chambers speaks to all of us, from erupting racial tensions to the growing entanglements of rural poverty and drug use to the weakening of authorities in the face of a media-consuming culture,” said Joe Berlinger.  "The opportunity to partner with Wilshire Studios and Buzzfeed with the goal of digging into the case and hopefully providing some answers for the family and community still struggling in its aftermath is the reason I got into this business.”      

“Jessica’s heartbreaking story continues to spark tremendous public interest largely due to the groundbreaking reporting by Buzzfeed News,” said Dawn Olmstead, Executive Vice President, Development, Wilshire Studios. “We look forward to re-examining this very gruesome and controversial murder through Joe Berlinger’s creative lens, and bring to life his unparalleled vision in the true crime documentary genre.”

“This is the perfect example of how BuzzFeed can extend the life of its content - be it serious journalism or entertaining videos - beyond the original social platforms where it was created,” said Matthew Henick, Head of Development for BuzzFeed. “We’re excited to partner with Wilshire Studios and Joe Berlinger to bring Katie Baker’s impactful reporting to a new audience through this docu-series.”

Due in part to Baker’s reporting, the mystery and unanswered questions surrounding Chambers’ death has made it one of the most-talked about stories on the Internet, with amateur online sleuths still trying to help solve it.  Buzzfeed News Editor-In-Chief Ben Smith said, "Katie's reporting is representative of what we do at BuzzFeed News -- telling complex stories with an open mind, and deeply understanding the intersection of -- in this case -- social media and a dark and unsolved mystery."

In 2016, a grand jury indicted Quinton Tellis, 27, charging him with capital murder. Tellis has pled not guilty to the charge.  A trial date has been set for July of 2017, which Wilshire Studios plans to cover as part of its development.