On December 16, 2015, Shawn Peterson pled guilty to manslaughter for the triple murder of his ex-girlfriend, Christine George, her son, Leonard and her daughter, Trisa in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Peterson's defense attorneys argued that producers from "The First 48" withheld video evidence that could have exonerated their client. A judge rejected the motion but conceded that the show did complicate the case. In 2016, the city of New Orleans announced that it would be ending its contract with A&E, ending any future productions of "The First 48" or "Nightwatch," another A&E show set in New Orleans. On November 6, 2020, it was announced that filming for "Nightwatch" would resume filming in New Orleans after a three year hiatus; no such announcement was made for "The First 48".