DC sniper’s ex-wife breaks silence in new documentary

WASHINGTON — A new true-crime documentary airing Tuesday night places the DC sniper’s ex-wife at the center of a story long overshadowed by headlines.

About DC Sniper ex-wife documentary

Hunted By My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper premieres at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery and streams on Max, revealing how Mildred Muhammad survived years of psychological abuse before her ex-husband terrorized the Washington region in 2002.

Random shootings in the DMV weren’t so “random”

For three weeks, John Allen Muhammad and his teenage accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, carried out a shooting spree that left ten people dead and three wounded across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The attacks, which began in Montgomery County, appeared random. But according to Mildred Muhammad, they were anything but.

“He wanted to kill me,” she says in the film. “He planned to make my death look like it was part of the shootings”.

Dr. Muhammad on Domestic violence

The documentary reframes the sniper case through the lens of domestic violence. It features exclusive interviews, archival footage, and expert analysis that trace the warning signs leading up to the attacks. Mildred recounts how John Muhammad used gaslighting, isolation, and threats to control her, long before he turned to murder.

“He said, ‘You have become my enemy, and as my enemy, I will kill you,’” she recalls.

Her testimony challenges the public’s understanding of the case. While law enforcement focused on motive and logistics, the documentary highlights a deeper obsession: revenge against a former spouse who escaped his control.

No Excuse for Abuse campaign

The film also aligns with ID’s No Excuse for Abuse campaign, launched in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. By spotlighting Mildred’s story, producers hope to raise awareness about emotional abuse and its potential to escalate.

“I am constantly erased from the story,” Mildred told WTOP. “This documentary gives me space to speak the truth.”

Through her courage, Mildred Muhammad transforms a national tragedy into a call for vigilance, empathy, and justice.