For 23 years, Mildred Muhammad has felt “constantly erased from the story” of the 2002 DC Sniper attacks—a three-week terror spree that left 10 people dead and paralyzed the nation’s capital with fear. But a new documentary premiering on Investigation Discovery is finally centering her narrative, revealing a shocking truth: the seemingly random shootings were actually part of a calculated domestic violence plot to kill his ex-wife and disguise it as part of random attacks.
Hunted By My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper premiered on October 28, 2025, on Investigation Discovery and is now streaming on Max. This powerful documentary reframes one of America’s most terrifying crime sprees through the lens of intimate partner violence, showing how John Muhammad’s relentless desire to murder his ex-wife and gain custody of their three children drove him to sacrifice innocent lives.
Table of Contents
Mildred Muhammad: A Quick Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Mildred D. Muhammad |
| Marriage Duration | Married to John Allen Muhammad (divorced before 2002) |
| Children | Three (John, Salena, Taalibah) |
| Current Role | Global keynote speaker, certified domestic violence advocate |
| Podcast | “Rising Above It All with Mildred Muhammad” |
| Documentary Release | October 28, 2025 (Investigation Discovery/Max) |
The Woman Behind the Headlines
Mildred Muhammad is far more than “the DC Sniper’s ex-wife”—a label that has followed her for over two decades. Their marriage began with a wedding night promise of “99 years together,” but soon became a cycle of manipulation, emotional abuse, and fear. Today, she’s a powerful advocate transforming her trauma into a mission to help others recognize and escape invisible abuse.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Mildred met John Allen Muhammad in the military. What seemed like a promising relationship gradually deteriorated into a pattern of coercive control, financial manipulation, and psychological torment. Mildred recalled memories of her favorite items suddenly disappearing and learning to cope with an increasingly challenging environment.
For more insights into survivor stories and domestic violence awareness, explore our comprehensive coverage of true crime documentaries.
How Her Children Were Kidnapped
The most harrowing chapter of Mildred’s story involves John kidnapping their three children and fleeing to Antigua. Having not seen them in 18 months, the family had to relearn each other after Mildred hired a private investigator to locate and reunite with them.
It was in Antigua that John befriended Lee Boyd Malvo, a teenager whose mother frequently left for extended periods. John brought Malvo to the United States illegally and made him his accomplice in the shooting spree that would terrorize the Washington, DC area.
The Chilling Motive Revealed
Law enforcement eventually pieced together the horrifying truth behind the attacks. Investigators found that John had anger over Mildred having custody of his children, and he had been abusive before, making it plausible that she was the ultimate target. The theory: kill random people across the region, then murder Mildred and make it appear as just another victim in the spree, allowing John to return as the “grieving father” and claim custody.
This revelation transforms our understanding of the 2002 attacks from random terrorism into the ultimate act of domestic violence—one so extreme it claimed innocent lives as collateral damage.
Her Journey to Healing
Perhaps most remarkably, Mildred faced another challenge after the attacks ended: finding proper counseling. She couldn’t find a counselor because everyone wanted to be famous and talk about the DC Sniper’s children, so she went to the library, got a book on counseling, and learned to counsel herself and her children.
Her approach with her children was radical honesty. She told them they could ask any questions about their father, that she would tell them the good, bad, and ugly—even if it made her look bad. Most importantly, she insisted they wouldn’t use their father as an excuse for failure.
Today, her family is completely healed: her son John is 35 and married, daughter Salena is married, and Taalibah is a songstress performing as Tolivia. Taalibah even appears in the documentary, adding her voice to her mother’s story.
Discover more inspiring survivor stories and mental health resources in our wellness and advocacy section.
Why Her Message Matters Now
Mildred emphasizes that abuse happens before violence does, and many victims don’t even have physical scars. She challenges the common narrative around domestic violence with a powerful reframing:
“Stop asking the victim, ‘Why do you stay?’ And start asking the abuser, ‘Why do you abuse?’ When you ask the victim why they stay, you put the total responsibility of the relationship onto the victim. I left and he found me in the DC area.”
Her advocacy work focuses on helping people understand coercive control—the psychological manipulation and domination that leaves no visible marks but destroys lives nonetheless.
The Documentary’s Cultural Impact
Hunted By My Husband forms the centerpiece of Investigation Discovery’s fourth annual “No Excuse for Abuse” campaign, partnering with the National Domestic Violence Hotline and NO MORE to provide resources and education. The documentary features exclusive interviews, never-before-seen home videos of the Muhammad family, and expert analysis on domestic violence dynamics.
For official information and resources, visit the Investigation Discovery press release or stream the documentary on Max.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mildred Muhammad and how is she connected to the DC Sniper?
Mildred Muhammad is the ex-wife of John Allen Muhammad, the convicted DC Sniper who killed 10 people in 2002. She’s now a global keynote speaker and certified domestic violence advocate who revealed that the entire shooting spree was actually a calculated plot to murder her and make it look like a random attack. John wanted to kill Mildred so he could gain custody of their three children as the “grieving father.” Her story exposes how the terror that gripped Washington, DC was rooted in years of domestic abuse, manipulation, and coercive control.
Where can I watch Hunted By My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper?
The documentary premiered on Investigation Discovery on October 28, 2025, and is now streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max). The two-hour film features Mildred Muhammad sharing her survival story for the first time, including never-before-seen family videos and exclusive interviews. It’s part of Investigation Discovery’s “No Excuse for Abuse” campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The documentary is available through Max’s various subscription plans starting at $10.99/month.
