5 of the best true-crime documentaries

Written by: Poppy Skinner Created: 21 July 2020

Because we can never get enough of some good old fashioned murder mysteries

It seems that various forms of lockdowns have brought out the inner ghoul in all of us with true-crime documentaries being more popular than ever. From the new kids on the block to real thriller classics, if you like a dose of reality with your crime watching, then you can’t do better than these.

Ted Bundy: Falling For A Killer

Do we really need another Ted Bundt documentary? Well, yes because this one isn’t the same tried and tested story about the handsome serial killer that we have seen dozens of times before. Released at the start of this year, this documentary focuses on Bundy’s ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall and her daughter Molly. It tells the story from the view of women whose lives he directly impacted and is gripping stuff.

Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Book Haram

It was a case that even reached the White House as Boko Haram extremists kidnapped 276 Nigerian school girls in Chibok. This fascinating documentary interviews some of the survivors of this 2014 horror and follows the girls re-entry into society. One not to miss.

The Confession Killer

Can you imagine anything worse than being put in prison for a crime you didn’t commit? The mere thought sends shudders down anyone’s spine and makes the phenomenon of admitting to crimes you didn’t even commit, or computer crash paradigm as it’s called in psychology, even more disturbing. This compelling documentary follows Henry Lee Lucas, also known as America’s most prolific serial killer, as inconsistencies start appearing in his stories and conflicting DNA starts to question whether he is actually a psychopath or just a pathological liar.

Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story

Thanks to the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Rihanna and Cara Delevigne, this case most certainly got a lot of coverage but look behind the celebrity facade and it is truly a case that poses an important and difficult question. That question is what happens when the oppressed kills the oppressor? In this case it was Cyntoia Brown who was sex trafficked from the age of 16 and who killed one of her clients she claims, in self defence. The show looks at the controversial decision to try her as an adult despite the fact she was just 16 at the time and her subsequent release from prison, 15 years later.

I love You, Now Die

Having watched this case play out in the news, I can truly say this has got to be one of the most bizarre, complicated and sad cases in recent history. To give you some background, in 2017 Michelle Carter, then 17, was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of her 18-year old boyfriend, Conrad Roy III. She has been accused of causing his death by sending her already depressed and suicidal texts, urging him to kill himself. She was sentenced to 15 months behind bars and released in 2020 and this fascinating documentary follows the prosecution as they attempt to find the fine line between helping and hindering.

Written by: Poppy Skinner

Poppy covers a wide range of topics at Billionaire, having spent the past 13 years at companies including Singapore Tatler, Her World Plus and Harpers Bazaar UK. She has a passion for fashion, jewellery and travel as well as an avaricious fascination with crime novels. Follow her at poppypskinner on Instagram.