True crime shows cover all the details about murder. However, these widely known series have also helped solve real cases that law enforcement found challenging to crack.
Missing children being found years later, murderers in hiding being jailed, and long-time suspects confessing to their crimes during interviews are intriguing examples of these events. This is often due to the detailed presentation of these true crime shows and the persistence of vigilant citizens.
So if you’re a fan of true crime series that played a significant role in solving real cases, here are some you might want to check out!
Kayla Unbehaun's Disappearance - Unsolved Mysteries (1988- )
Unsolved Mysteries is an American documentary series that revisits cold cases, often shining a light on missing child investigations like that of Kayla Unbehaun.
Kayla Unbehaun was featured in Season 16 of Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries. She was abducted at age 9 on July 5, 2017, after her father, Ryan Iserka, was granted full custody.
Six years later, her case resurfaced, and photos of her as a child were released to the public along with age-progression images. Not long after, Kayla was found, bringing clarity to what had happened to her.
It was revealed that her mother, Heather Unbehaun, had abducted her. A store owner in Asheville, North Carolina recognized the then 15-year-old Kayla, leading to Heather’s capture by authorities in May 2023. Kayla was reunited with her father shortly after.
Heyzel Obando’s Death - Cold Justice (2013- )
Oxygen’s Cold Justice takes on cases that law enforcement struggles to solve, and one of the cases they successfully helped close was the murder of Heyzel Obando.
On Valentine’s Day 2016, Heyzel Obando was found shot to death in the home she shared with her boyfriend and two young children. Earl Joiner reported the incident, claiming he discovered her murdered by an unknown killer.
With the help of Cold Justice’s investigative team, it was revealed that Heyzel had been in an abusive relationship with Earl, marked by years of domestic violence. Earl Joiner was arrested in 2023 and sentenced to 25 years in prison after living freely for three years.
Father Maskell Accusations - The Keepers (2017)
The Keepers, one of Netflix’s most popular true crime shows, reopens the case of Sister Catherine Cesnik and uncovers the dark and disturbing truths surrounding Archbishop Keough High School, where she worked as a teacher before being killed in 1969.
For decades, Catherine Cesnik’s death remained unsolved, with only unproven accusations suggesting that Father Maskell was responsible.
In addition to her murder, several accusations claimed that Father Maskell sexually abused students, which some believed might have led to Catherine's death, as students often turned to her for support.
In 2017, The Keepers brought Father Maskell's crimes back into the spotlight. After the series aired, local Baltimore police created an online form allowing victims of Maskell to come forward and report their abuse, and many did.
The Death of Kathleen Peterson - The Staircase (2004)
The mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson and the guilty conviction of her husband, Michael Peterson was featured in the French miniseries by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, The Staircase in 2004.
In December 2001, Crime Novelist Michael Peterson was charged with killing Kathleen Peterson after finding her bleeding to death at the bottom of their home’s staircase. The series documented the long-winded 16-year court battle Peterson had gone through, with the introduction of the “owl theory” -- a theory that states Kathleen was found dead with owl feathers on her body, which points to a bird attack that caused her accident on the staircase.
After it was proved that blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver lied about crucial evidence, Peterson was granted a retrial by the judge. With his sentence reduced, Peterson was discharged in 2017, and the docuseries that publicized his trial might be one of the causes of that.
The Exoneration of Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam - Who Killed Malcolm X?
Netflix’s documentary series Who Killed Malcolm X? re-examines the assassination of Malcolm X and the wrongful convictions of two men, prompting judges to reopen the case.
In February 1965, influential civil rights leader Malcolm X was shot by three gunmen while giving a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, New York. Shortly after, Mujahid Abdul Halim, Muhammad Aziz, and Khalil Islam were arrested.
Although Halim confessed to the crime and repeatedly insisted that Aziz and Islam were innocent, both men were swiftly convicted. Who Killed Malcolm X? uncovered substantial evidence and witness testimonies that had been withheld, leading to the exoneration of Islam and Aziz in 2021.
Aziz and Islam were sentenced to life in 1966, but Aziz was paroled in 1985, while Islam died in prison in 2009. Following their exoneration, a $36 million settlement was awarded for the wrongful convictions.
Robert Durst’s Confession - The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2018)
Robert Durst became a prime suspect due to his involvement in three high-stakes cases. Yet, he willingly participated in the HBO docuseries The Jinx in an attempt to clear his name.
The six-part documentary focuses on real estate heir Robert Durst’s life and his connection to the disappearance of his wife, Kathleen McCormack, in 1982, as well as the deaths of his friend Susan Berman and his neighbor Morris Black in 2000 and 2001.
Durst spent the remainder of his life with a tarnished public image and was disowned by his family. After watching a film by Andrew Jarecki based on his life, he reached out to the director and agreed to be interviewed.
However, in the final episode of the series, Robert Durst inadvertently revealed the truth he had hidden for decades. During a bathroom break after the interview, Durst was recorded saying, "What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course." This accidental admission led to his arrest.
What are your thoughts on these true crime shows that helped solve cases? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Be sure to follow our official Facebook page for the latest updates and insightful articles on your favorite true crime shows and movies!