True Crime

True crime cases with a horror edge — investigations, disappearances and the documentaries that cover them.

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ID Announces Docuseries “The Curious Case Of Natalia Grace,” The Story That Inspired ‘Orphan’

Odds are you’ve seen the 2009 horror film, Orphan. What if I was to tell you that it was based on a true story? Investigation Discovery announced today the new docuseries “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” which offers extraordinary access and exclusive insight into a mystery ripped straight from the headlines. Who is Natalia Barnett? Initially assumed to be a 6-year-old Ukrainian orphan with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a rare bone growth disorder that can result in skeletal abnormalities as well as issues with hearing and vision, Natalia was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010. However, the happy family dynamic soured when allegations against Natalia were brought by the Barnetts, who alleged Natalia was an adult masquerading as a child with the intent to harm their family. In 2013, Natalia was discovered living on her own, which ignited an investigation that led to Michael and Kristine’s arrest and a firestorm of questions. This is an astonishing odyssey of deceit,

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Apr 25, 2023

DocumentariesMoviesNewsTrailersTrue Crime

Watch ‘Cocaine Bear’ And The True Story Documentary Now On Peacock

One of the most buzzed-about movies of the year, Cocaine Bear, is now rampaging on Peacock! Elizabeth Banks’ (“The Boys”) new insane film is out now on streaming services! The movie finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow … and blood. Keri Russell, Ray Liotta, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson star in this fun flick written by Jimmy Warden (The Babysitter: Killer Queen). Watch Cocaine Bear (review) now on Peacock, then watch their documentary, Cocaine Bear: The True Story, about the true story behind the movie.

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Apr 15, 2023

DocumentariesMoviesNewsPeacockStreaming TVTrailersTrue Crime

Documentary ‘Cocaine Bear: The True Story’ Debuts On Peacock

Odds are, by now, you’ve seen the viral, insane movie Cocaine Bear. If you haven’t, we urge you to do so immediately (review). The true story that is at the heart of the movie will be explored in the new documentary, titled Cocaine Bear: The True Story, coming to Peacock today ahead of Cocaine Bear‘s arrival on the streaming service on Saturday (April 15th) The hour-long documentary delves into the bizarre events and tells the story of Drew Thornton, the infamous drug runner that caused the event. The documentary also features interviews, including one with the former sheriff, who was one of the first on the scene as well as the special agent whose team discovered the bear. In Cocaine Bear, “the movie finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow … and

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Apr 14, 2023

AdaptationBooksMoviesTrue CrimeTrue Story

Scorsese’s True Story Inspired ‘Killer Of The Flower Moon’ Premieres This Fall

David Grann’s best-selling book Killer of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is about one of the most horrible crimes to ever happen on American soil. Now Martin Scorsese is bringing the story to the big screen. Titled Killers of the Flower Moon, the film is set to open in theaters this Fall. “In 1920s Oklahoma, the Osage Nation were the richest people per capita in the world after oil was discovered under their land. And then they were murdered, one by one. As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case and unraveled a chilling conspiracy and one of the most monstrous crimes in American history.” The all-star cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons (Antlers), Lily Gladstone (Certain Women, Billions), and Brendan Fraser (The Whale). Eric Roth penned the film. Scorsese is producing alongside Imperative Entertainment’s Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas, Sikelia Productions’ Emma Tillinger

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Mar 27, 2023

IDNewsStreaming TVTrailersTrue Crime

ID’s True Crime Series “Very Scary People” Returns For A New Season (Trailer)

“Very Scary People,” hosted and executive produced by Donnie Wahlberg, returns for a new season next month on its new home Investigation Discovery, the leading true crime network. Through in-depth interviews and incredible archival footage, each two-hour episode will offer unprecedented and comprehensive insight into not only the twisted crimes of these individuals but a glimpse into their background, possible motives, psyche, and the investigations that subsequently brought them all to justice. Featuring local authorities and journalists who investigated and covered the cases and interviews with those close to both the victims and the killers, each episode of “Very Scary People” will offer a comprehensive look into some of society’s most evil minds. The season premiere, “The Trailside Killer,” premieres on Sunday, April 16 at 9/8c on I.D. and focuses on serial killer David Carpenter. From 1979 to 1981, Carpenter terrorized Northern California’s typically tranquil hiking trails, shocking the quiet community surrounding them with his cold-blooded violence. He led local

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Mar 25, 2023

MoviesNewsTrue CrimeTrue Story

‘The Retaliators’ Actress Starring In True Crime Inspired Movie ‘Black Mass’

Sarah Nicklin, who starred in last year’s hit, the hard-rocking horror thriller The Retaliators, has now signed on to star in the 1970s crime thriller Black Mass, which marks the directorial debut of Devanny Pinn (Battle for Saipan). Nicklin joins the cast, which already includes Lew Temple (The Walking Dead), Jeremy London, Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 & 5), Andrew Sykes, Kathleen Kinmont (Halloween 4), and Michelle Romano (Escape From Ensenada). The film, currently in production in Los Angeles, is inspired by actual events in Florida during the winter of 1978 when a serial killer was stalking college girls. Black Mass, written by Eric Pereira and Brandon Slagle, is produced by Pinn’s Jaguar Motion Pictures and Roman Media for Cleopatra Entertainment. Executive producers include Brian Perera, Yvonne Perera, Brandon Slagle, Gigi Jankowski, and Miranda Mariposa. Tim Yasui is a co-producer, and Anjanette Miller and Susan Lanier are associate producers. Stein Entertainment Group represents Nicklin.

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Mar 24, 2023

DocumentariesNetflixNewsStreaming TVTrailersTrue CrimeTrue Story

Netflix’s New Docuseries “Waco: American Apocalypse” Is Out Now

Netflix’s latest true crime docuseries, “Waco: American Apocalypse,” explores the infamous 51-day standoff between federal agents and a heavily armed religious group in 1993. The docuseries includes never-before-seen material from the battle between Texas law enforcement, the US military, and the religious cult, the Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh, which began on February 28, 1993, and tragically left 76 men, women, and children dead, as well as 4 ATF agents. The siege began when the ATF tried to serve the cult a search warrant after authorities gathered intel that the group was stockpiling illegal weapons. When the Bearua of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms tried to serve the warrant, all hell broke loose, and a firefight began. The docuseries, premiering TODAY (March 22) on Netflix, will explore the cult, how the siege unfolded, and the aftermath. “Waco: American Apocalypse” will also feature interviews with those involved and never before seen footage.

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Mar 22, 2023

DocumentariesMoviesNewsTrailersTrue CrimeTrue Story

True Crime: Documentary ‘California’s Forgotten Children’ Examines Child Trafficking

There are many types of true crime, and many documentaries are released every year covering it. But undoubtedly, documentaries about crimes that involve children are the most disturbing. The new documentary California’s Forgotten Children explores the devastating present-day child sex trafficking that happens daily in an attempt to bring it to an end and rescue the victims. $32 billion, that’s how much sex trafficking is worth in the U.S. every year. 24.9 million, that’s how many victims are estimated to be out there worldwide. That’s more than the entire population of Taiwan! California’s Forgotten Children takes a hard look at sex trafficking that is currently happening in “The Golden State,” which currently has one of the highest numbers of those trafficked in the US every year. California’s Forgotten Children has some serious street cred. It’s been showcased at the United States Senate, United States of Women Summit, Facebook Headquarters (California, Texas, and Dublin, Ireland, to train an international staff in

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Mar 2, 2023

MoviesNewsTrue Crime

Fact VS. Fiction: The Real ‘Cocaine Bear’ Case VS. The Movie

Director Elizabeth Banks’ (“The Boys”) new insane film, Cocaine Bear, is now in theaters, and the GBI agents involved with the real case have spoken out about the true events. The movie finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow … and blood. What you might not know about the movie is that a true story inspired it. The event took place in Kentucky in 1985. A botched drug smuggling attempt left many one-pound packages of cocaine scattered about the Chattahoochee National Forest. A bear consumed some of those packages. The bear, named “Pablo Escobear” (named after the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar), died as a result. “It’s kind of surprising to me that they’re going to make a movie about it,” former agent Paul Loggins said in a 2021 interview with the Herald-Leader

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Mar 1, 2023

DocumentariesNewsStreaming TVTrailersTrue Crime

Watch These Four True Crime Documentaries About The Murdaugh Murders

The name on every true crime fans’ lips is Murdaugh. The Murdaugh murders are on every news outlet as Alex stands trial for gunning down his wife and youngest son, Paul. When it comes to the Murdaugh family, things go far beyond just the two deaths, there have been several deaths tied to the powerful Southern family, who have been a legal dynasty in the town of Islandton, South Carolina for nearly a century. People of the small sleepy town have said to several outlets that it’s known that if you cross the family, you just may go missing or have an “accident.” Now, with the family’s patriarch on trial, people and law officials are finally taking a second look at the deaths that are connected to the family, which includes a family friend killed in a boating accident with Paul driving and the brutal murder of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, a friend of the Murdaugh’s oldest son, who was found

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Kelli Marchman McNeely

Feb 28, 2023

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