Top True Crime Documentaries Ever

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Dear Zachary is undoubtedly one of the most heart-wrenching documentaries ever. The 2008 documentary was written, produced, edited, and directed by Kurt Kuenne and it covers the murder of his close friend Andrew Bagby. Bagby ended a relationship with a woman, Shirley Jane Turner.

She would later be charged in the murder before announcing she was pregnant with Bagby’s son who would be named Zachary. The documentary includes interviews with many friends, family members, and associates of Andrew Bagby.

It covers the events leading up to Andrew’s murder as well as the aftermath. Be sure to have some tissues nearby because Dead Zachary is an emotional roller coaster.

The Imposter

The Imposter isn’t as emotional but it far more insane. This 2012 British-American documentary covers the 1997 case of a French poster by the name of Frederic Bourdin. Frederic decides to come to the United States with devious intentions.

He pretends to be Nicholas Barclay who disappeared at the age of 13 in 1994. The film contains interviews with Bourdin as well as family members of Nicholas Barclay. Along the way, viewers will learn more about Bourdin’s motives and everything he uncovered while living alongside the Barclay family and pretending to be their missing son.

Despite doing something so outlandish and cruel, it is hard not to sympathize with Bourdin because of his childish demeanor. There is really nothing else like The Imposter.

Abducted In Plain Sight

Abducted In Plain Sight is truly one of the most frustrating true crime documentaries. It follows the exploits of Robert Berchtold who kidnapped his Idaho teenage neighbor Jan Broberg Felt not once but twice.

Robert makes himself a frequent visitor in Jan’s home and becomes a friend of the family. The religious Idaho family becomes so entranced by Robert Berchtold that they turn a blind eye to his actions.

Even after he kidnaps their daughter once, they let it happen again. This is only the tip of the iceberg considering both of Jan’s parents have sexual relations with the master manipulator. Prepared to be stunned and angered by this truly frightening documentary.

Into The Abyss

With Werner Herzog pulling the levers, it is hard to go wrong with Into the Abyss. This film focuses on death row inmate Michael Perry and the people who were impacted by his crime. Perry and Jason Burkett carried out a triple murder in the small city of Conroe in Texas.

Herzog interviews both men and those impacted in an attempt to find out why people and the state kill. It is hard to argue that Werner Herzog conducts fascinating interviews and this is what makes Into The Abyss so special.

Anyone interested in the death penalty system in the United States will appreciate this one.

Trial By Media

While not all episodes are equal, Trial by Media has several excellent episodes that are worthy of your time. The most fascinating are definitely the first two, Talk Show Murder and Subway Vigilante. The latter covers the controversial shooting of four black teenagers on a New York subway in 1984.

The episode shows how vastly different opinions were during those times. It is interesting to see how much has changed and how public opinion can easily impact the outcome of any trial. The opening episode, Talk Show Murder, is equally fascinating.

The episode focuses on a murder that is directly connected to The Jenny Jones Show. A man is invited onto the show so his homosexual friend can confess his love for him. Sadly, that goes terribly wrong and the heterosexual man is led to murder.

Both episodes are worth your time.

Have you watched any excellent true crime documentaries recently? If so, we want to know about them. Thanks for checking in.