Why was To Catch a Predator canceled? Inside new documentary & Bill Conradt death

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This week, Paramount+ released “Predators,” a documentary exploring the controversial history of the reality show “To Catch a Predator.” It examines the show’s cultural influence and the ethical questions it raised, including the tragic story of Bill Conradt. Please be aware that the content may be upsetting to some viewers.

There are a lot of new true crime documentaries available this month, but “Predators” really stands out. This film by David Osit goes beyond just repeating the highlights from the Dateline series; it offers a fresh perspective.

The documentary explores the story behind To Catch a Predator by interviewing former participants, host Chris Hansen, and online creators inspired by the show. It aims to understand the motivations of those involved, much like Hansen himself always asked: “Help me understand.”

While it doesn’t offer easy answers, the show at least acknowledges the consequences of making crime a form of entertainment, especially considering the impact of programs like To Catch a Predator.

Why was To Catch a Predator canceled?

The show To Catch a Predator was eventually canceled because of growing legal and ethical concerns. A major factor was the tragic suicide of prosecutor Louis “Bill” Conradt Jr. during a 2006 operation.

These problems caused NBC to end its relationship with Perverted Justice, a group that worked to uncover, expose, and share information about adults seeking sexual contact with children online and attempting to meet them in person.

The final episode of To Catch a Predator aired on December 28, 2007, but the show wasn’t officially canceled until early 2008. Chris Hansen later explained to Time magazine in 2015 that the series simply reached a natural conclusion.

Although the show’s creators haven’t confirmed it, many believe the death of Conradt was a turning point, particularly because the show was already receiving criticism for increasingly mixing journalism with police work.

In 2006, Conradt, who was then a top prosecutor handling serious crimes in Rockwall County, Texas, became the target of an investigation involving Dateline NBC, the website Perverted-Justice, and local law enforcement.

Dan Schrack tricked over twenty men into coming to a house in Murphy, Texas, by pretending to be a 13-year-old boy. Schrack is also known for appearing in the movie Predators.

The Dateline team set up a sting operation and waited at a house after Conradt shared messages and photos with an undercover agent, as shown in the true crime documentary.

When he failed to appear, the show’s team deviated from their usual routine and went to his home with the police. While officers tried to arrest him, Conradt shot and killed himself.

After broadcasting footage of the raid, NBC faced increased criticism about the show. Shortly after the episode featuring Conradt, the network canceled the series.

The Bill Conradt lawsuit

After Conradt died, his sister, Patricia Conradt, sued NBC Universal for $105 million, claiming the network’s actions played a direct role in the events that led to his suicide.

The lawsuit claimed that Dateline staff pushed police to carry out a flashy, public raid, and that the TV cameras intentionally created a scene more focused on entertainment than on proper procedure.

The court stated that the defendant, after illegally entering Bill’s property and broadcasting an event to a large audience, offered him no more protection than what is typically given to someone in a dangerous performance, like a gladiator or bullfighter.

The lawsuit also stated that NBC showed a “reckless disregard” for Conradt’s rights. It further alleged that an officer at the scene commented, “That’ll make good TV,” after Conradt shot himself.

Okay, so NBC originally said all the accusations against them were totally false. Then, a judge threw out some of the lawsuit, but also said a jury could reasonably decide that NBC went way too far – like, they stopped reporting the news responsibly and just started recklessly interfering with the police investigation. It’s a messy situation, honestly, and it sounds like they really pushed things too far.

In 2008, NBC reached a settlement in the lawsuit, the terms of which were not made public, preventing the need for a court trial. According to NBC spokesperson Jenny Tartikoff, both sides were happy with the resolution.

What does Chris Hansen do now?

So, you might recognize Chris Hansen – he’s the guy who used to host Dateline‘s ‘To Catch a Predator.’ Well, he’s back in the true crime space! He co-founded TruBlu, which is a streaming service all about true crime, and now he’s hosting and producing a new show called Takedown with Chris Hansen. It’s cool to see him still involved in investigative work.

Even after To Catch a Predator ended, Chris Hansen remained interested in exposing online predators. In 2015, he used Kickstarter to try and bring the show back on his own, and fans donated over $89,000 to help make it happen.

He initially tried selling the show to various TV networks. Eventually, in 2016, he teamed up with Crime Watch Daily, and a new series called Hansen vs. Predator became a regular part of the program.

The show used the same investigative style as Dateline, featuring online traps, secret cameras, and direct confrontations. However, it also faced some issues, as some people who donated to fund the project claimed they never received the promised rewards.

Throughout the late 2010s, Chris Hansen kept creating videos focused on confronting people posing as predators, frequently working with other independent video makers on YouTube. His latest series, “Takedown with Chris Hansen,” began in 2022 and is now only available on TruBlu.

During an interview in the documentary Predators, David Osit challenged Hansen by saying, “Viewers might wonder if the kind of true crime TV you’ve been a part of actually stops criminals or solves cases, or if it simply entertains us with their stories.”

He clarifies that he isn’t singling him out, explaining that documentaries often explore subjects in a comparable manner, and then asks for his reaction.

Hansen acknowledges the other person’s perspective, saying it’s understandable. He then explains that many people have approached him in public – in stores, restaurants, or on the street – to express their gratitude. They often share that they were abused as children, and watching him confront abusers helps them heal and feel empowered.

Osit then shares that he’s a survivor and it took him considerable time to understand his goal with To Catch a Predator: to figure out the motivations behind predators’ actions. Despite the show never providing those answers, Hansen remains proud of the work he did.

He admits he didn’t foresee the scale of the impact this would have when he started. He emphasizes that it demonstrates a commitment to supporting survivors, which is central to their investigative work.

You can now watch Predators on Paramount+. If you’re interested in more true crime stories, check out updates on a potential second season of Sean Combs: The Reckoning, learn about the reasons behind Kendra Licari’s actions, and find out what happened to Susan Lorincz.

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2025-12-09 19:20