11 Gripping True-Crime Documentaries to Watch!
Author: Jessica Cuevas
Interest in true-crime documentaries has exploded over the years, with details of real-life cases fascinating and gripping viewers. With no shortage of true-crime documentaries waiting for you to watch, we have narrowed the vast array of options to these addictive documentaries. Also included in the documentary excerpts are links to other articles about real-life cases. Happy viewing!
I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth vs. Michelle Carter (HBO Max)
I Love You, Now Die is a documentary that follows the events that led to Conrad Roy’s death in 2014. Michelle Carter, Conrad’s long-distance girlfriend, was accused of encouraging him to follow through with his plan to commit suicide. The documentary dives into their relationship and shows some text messages between Michelle and Conrad just minutes before his death. Additionally, it covered the trial, where Michelle Carter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The documentary brings perspective from both sides and examines the mental health challenges Michelle and Conrad endured.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (Netflix)
A drama based on the true story of Ted Bundy follows Liz Kendall’s relationship with Bundy. Kendall was a single mother when she met Bundy and established a romantic relationship. After believing she is in the perfect relationship, Bundy is arrested for suspected kidnappings linked to multiple murders. The film also portrays the first nationally televised trial where Bundy chose to defend himself. Confessions with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (Netflix) series contains recorded interviews with Ted Bundy.
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (Netflix)
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is a docu-series about the extreme abuse and torture of Gabriel Fernandez, age 8, by his mother and her boyfriend, resulting in his death in 2013. In addition to the abuse Gabriel endured, the series follows his guardians’ trial and the social workers responsible for his well-being. This series makes you question what the system is doing to protect vulnerable children. *WARNING* This series is challenging to watch due to the severity of Gabriel's abuse.
Abducted in Plain Sight (Netflix)
In this documentary, a family man abducts his neighbor’s adolescent daughter, Jan, twice. This documentary accounts for the perspectives of the whole Broberg family and how the friendly neighbor manipulated his way into their home. Jan describes the abductor’s grooming process and how he gained the family’s trust.
This series is based on the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard by her daughter Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Gypsy’s boyfriend. The Act gives a glimpse of Gypsy Rose’s life with a mother who suffers from Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Munchausen is a mental illness in which a caregiver makes up or causes an illness or injury to a person under his/her care. Gypsy Rose’s life starts to untangle when she learns her mother has been lying about her illnesses and does anything to keep Gypsy Rose “disabled.” Mommy Dead and Dearest (HBO Max) is a documentary showing the story of Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee Blanchard.
Beware the Slenderman (HBO Max)
This documentary examines the delusional belief in a fictional internet character that led two 12-year-old girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, to lure their friend, Payton Leutner, into the woods and stab her 19 times with the intent to murder. The documentary shows Morgan and Anissa’s interviews with police and their families' thoughts about their fixation on Slenderman.
American Murderer: The Family Next Door - Chris Watts (Netflix)
This documentary follows the disappearance and murders of Shannan Watts and her two daughters, Celeste and Bella. More disturbing information unfolds following law enforcement’s interview with Chris Watts, the deceased’s husband, and father.
Unbelievable is a series about 18-year-old Marie, who was raped in her home by a stranger. When questioned by the police, her memory about that night seemed so outrageous that it couldn’t be true. Marie has trouble remembering some details and is ultimately bullied into recanting. Unbelievable shows how trauma can be experienced differently, and law enforcement needs to be trauma-informed to ask the right questions and know how to work with victims.
*WARNING* This series follows multiple rape cases and can be challenging to watch. Some explicit content is included.
The Girl Next Door (Amazon Prime)
The Girl Next Door is a film based on the murder of Sylvia Likens in 1965. Some of the film’s plot has been changed from the actual events, but the basic context is true. The protagonist, Meg, 14, and her younger sister are brought to the care of their Aunt Ruth after their parents tragically died in an accident. During their time there, Aunt Ruth sadistically abuses Meg and encourages the other kids in the neighborhood, and her children, to participate in or observe the abuse. Meg is savagely beaten, raped, cut, burned, and starved until she dies from the ongoing abuse.
*WARNING* This film is extremely graphic and rated R for explicit content.
In 1993, the bodies of three 8-year-old boys, Chris Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch, were found in a wooded area near West Memphis, Arkansas. A month later, three teenagers, Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols, and Jason Baldwin, were arrested for the crimes. Their trials—with accounts of devil worship and human sacrifice, coerced confessions, and rushes to judgment—tore the town apart and changed it forever. This Emmy®-winning true-crime documentary chronicles the case.
*WARNING* Video footage and pictures from the crime scene are shown, including images of the young boys’ bodies.
I Am Elizabeth Smart - (Amazon Prime)
This film, narrated by Elizabeth Smart, documents her experience in the captivity of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. When Elizabeth was 14, she was abducted from her bedroom by Mitchell and forced to participate in a bizarre ceremony to become his second wife. Elizabeth recounts the rape, forced consumption of alcohol, and her strategy to survive.
Ashleigh Diserio Consulting is a behavioral consulting firm that works with individuals and organizations, assisting them in gleaning insight into a person's life, motivation, and past and future behavior. We provide services in the areas of criminal and intelligence investigations, management support, threat assessment, insider threat support, and training.