By Austin Price, Staff Writer
With an endless supply of true crime content, I personally believe it is both moral and necessary to understand where you are getting your true crime content from, and how that content is affecting the real-life people involved.
Choose your true crime content wisely. There are certain programs and producers of true crime content looking to benefit from horrific stories without proper consent from the victims, causing additional grief and inappropriate attention towards the victim’s families. Fans of true crime often forget they are listening to stories that happened to real people in this real world and in turn, lack sympathy and respect for all involved in a case.
Because the plethora of true crime content can become overwhelming and confusing regarding victim exploitation instead of victim advocacy, I have put together a list of true crime content to follow, and a list of true crime content to avoid.
Often, the true crime content creators that fight for victim advocacy and basic human decency are smaller entertainers with a smaller audience base. Here are some of my personal favorites to check out:
Podcasts
RedHanded – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala
https://redhandedpodcast.com/home-1
Murder With My Husband – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Payton and Garrett Moreland
https://murderwithmyhusband.com/
True Crime Couple – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Kay and John
https://audioboom.com/channels/4914727
Killer Queens – A True Crime Podcast hosted by Tyrella Slemp and Tori Tobi
https://www.killerqueenspodcast.com/
Documentaries
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) - A documentary focusing on the wrongfully convicted individuals in the triple homicide of three eight-year-old boys
Where to watch: Spectrum TV, Prime Video or Apple TV
At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal (2019) - A documentary exploiting the sexual abuse of female gymnasts by Dr. Larry Nassar.
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max, Sky NOW
Children of God: Lost and Found (2007) - A documentary covering the cult “Children of God” and its crimes.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Prime Video
For Heaven’s Sake (2021) - A compelling documentary featuring the members of the victim’s family.
Where to watch: Paramount Plus, CBC Gem
Books
Playing Dead – A memoir of terror and survival by the victim herself, Monique Faison Ross.
Where to purchase: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble
Dead in the Water – A forty-year long search for my brother’s killer by Penny Farmer
Where to purchase: Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble
AVOID
Now on the other hand, here are some true crime sources to avoid due to their exploitation and disrespect of victims and their families:
Stephanie Soo – True Crime Youtuber and Mukbang Fanatic
Stephanie combines her two loves, gruesome murder and the overconsumption of food together in this warped YouTube channel, based on disrespect and ignorance.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – A Netflix series nominated for four Golden Globes and winner of one.
This series shows the murders of Dahmer's victims graphically with no remorse or sensitivity for those affected by these deaths. The families of the victims have spoken out since the show's release, after many of the family members have been portrayed on screen without their consent.
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness – A Netflix docuseries that rose to fame amidst the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
While advertised as a docuseries with murder plots, arch nemeses, exotic animals, and larger than life characters, whereas the series is actually a story of labor trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Crime Junkie – A True Crime podcast designed to be a money maker without following basic human rights.
A true crime podcast that has become a central place for victim shaming and produces a revenue-generating podcast that has been downloaded millions of times without the consent of victim’s families leading to skewed stories and countless misconceptions.
Making A Murderer – A Netflix docuseries centered around the gruesome murder of Teresa Halbach.
The docuseries focuses on the killer and their history, rather than honoring the victim herself, Teresa Halbach.
In conclusion, if you’re like me and true crime is your thing, go for it. Enjoy the content through respectful platforms giving honor and dignity to the victims while recognizing the impact this content is having on your personal health. Real true crime enthusiasts listen/read/watch to better understand the human mind, and the impact of death and murder on the lives of so many. They do not enjoy shaming or blaming victims or survivors and they do not target hatred or inappropriate exposure towards the prey in the case, but rather they shine a light on the predators and hold them accountable for their sins. Approach true crime the same way you approach academic research, keep your options open, choose sources you both agree and disagree with, allow variety in your search, and most importantly, show some respect.