Dead Man Running
Dead Man Running unravels the story about Kim Avis, an eccentric street performer from Inverness who became one of Scotland’s most wanted men. When Avis vanished off California’s infamous ‘Mortuary Beach’, he was presumed dead, sparking a transatlantic search and a media frenzy. But as investigators dug deeper, a far darker truth emerged: Avis had faked his own death to evade justice for some of the most shocking sexual abuse crimes in Scottish history.
Spanning continents and decades, Dead Man Running uncovers how his crimes were hidden in plain sight, and how one man’s disappearance unraveled a chilling case of deception, abuse, and betrayal.
This gripping BBC documentary follows the manhunt, trial, and survivors whose courage brought him to justice - with exclusive interviews and never-before-seen evidence.
Genres
True Crime, Documentary
Duration
60'
Language
English
Contributor
Kim Avis, his survivors, law enforcement, and journalists recount the story featuring Jade Skea, Emma, Myles Bonnar, Mike Harvey, Mike Darlington, and others across Scotland and the U.S
Director
Calum McKay
Production Company
BBC Scotland
Producer
Calum McKay, Myles Bonnar
Production Year
2024
Dead Man Running is a gripping true crime documentary from the BBC’s award-winning investigations team, built on years of exclusive reporting and survivor testimony. The film is written by investigative journalist Myles Bonnar, who followed the complex case of Kim Avis across three countries - from Inverness to California and Colorado - uncovering the disturbing truth behind his crimes. It is produced by Calum McKay, Assistant Editor for Long Form Journalism at BBC Scotland News and a respected journalist whose previous credits include Panorama and BBC Inside Out (South). The documentary is executive produced by Shelley Jofre, known for hard-hitting titles such as Trumped and Matched with a Predator.
Awards
Won
New York Festival Radio Awards
Silver
