I don’t know where my interest took a turn from watching shows like Gossip Girls, One Tree Hill, and Pretty Little Liars to all of the sudden being obsessed with true crime… but it happened. In the past year or so, I have found myself becoming obsessed with watching documentaries, binging shows, reading books, and even overwhelming Googling with my constant searches on serials. Maybe it has to do with being a Psychology and Justice major… or maybe this is just due to Netflix’s constant flow of true crime shows.
Speaking of Netflix, here are some of my favorite true crime documentaries and shows that can be found on there. I’d advise not watching them at night, by yourself, or even with the lights off… that is if you don’t want to get the heebie-jeebies. Here’s a list in no particular order.
1. Abducted in Plain Sight
This is a documentary about Jan Broberg, a young girl who is kidnapped by her manipulative neighbor, Robert Berchtold. Though she lives to tell her story, the abduction is unsettling and unusual. Berchtold spews fiction to Jan, allowing her to believe that he never actually kidnapped her… aliens did.
2. The Confession Killer
Henry Lee Lucas, an infamous serial killer, was a confirmed killer of three people and convicted of killing eleven. However during his trial he confessed that he actually killed hundreds of women. The Lucas Task Force, conducted by the Texas rangers, was able to get Lucas to confess to murdering over six hundred people all over the United States. But… did he really?
3. Dirty John
Dirty John is a series that can be found on Netflix about conman Dr. John Meehan. Meehan used his charm to ‘work his way’ into wealthy Debra Newell’s life. However, Debra’s family senses something is “off” with Meehan. He seems just too good to be true. Debra is too wrapped up in the love-fantasy to realize the master manipulator that Meehan truly is.
4. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
Charming, attractive, smooth-talking Ted Bundy is one of the most infamous serial killers, yet convinced so many people that he was innocent during his trial. However, interviews and tape recordings done by journalists shed light into Bundy’s secrets. He’s not quite the charming man he claims to be.
5. I Am a Killer
This documentary series on Netflix has ten episodes, each featuring a different murderer on death row. Each inmate gets the chance to share their own perspective of the crimes they committed. Some admit to being guilty, yet others plead innocent.