10 must-watch true-crime documentaries that made headlines in 2023

Top 10 true-crime documentaries that kept viewers hooked in 2023

As 2023 is ending, let’s take a look at the true-crime documentaries that thrilled its fans in the past 12 months. Though the passing year was full of an ever-expanding catalog of thriller true-crime documentaries, we have made a curated list of the top ten for you to binge-watch. We've also mentioned where you can watch these shows.

'The Idaho Student Murders'

Four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in their sleep in November 2022. The case sent shockwaves around the world as investigators worked tirelessly to find the culprit. Eventually, Bryan Kohberger was arrested on suspicion of the murders. Though the case is on trial, ‘48 Hours on CBS’ released a documentary titled ‘The Idaho Student Murders’ in January, sharing the details of the case that led to the capture of the alleged killer.

'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace'

ID’s multiple-part series ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace’, which is available on Max and Discovery+ is truly a bizarre case, where her first adoptive parents accused her of being a grown-up woman, portraying herself as a child. However, the case was not as simple as it initially seemed as Grace has now come up with her side of the story as she remarked, “Do I look like a monster to you?”

'Love and Death'

‘Love and Death’ released on HBO Max tells the story of Candy Montgomery, who allegedly killed her friend Betty Gore by attacking her 41 times with an ax. It has been said that Montgomery allegedly took the fatal route after Gore confronted her for apparently being romantically involved with her husband. However, the alleged killer did not get convicted and now lives in Georgia with her family.

'Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal'

‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ is available on Netflix. It details the life of the prominent Murdaugh family, known for law and order. The family began to make headlines for everything wrong and the tip of the iceberg was the murders of Maggie Murdaugh and her son Paul. Alex was Maggie’s husband and Paul’s father. He has been convicted and is serving his sentence in connection to the murders.

'The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker'

Netflix’s ‘The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker’ is the story of a nomad named Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, who went from being a happy-go-lucky person and a savior to a murderer. Currently, he is imprisoned at Trenton's New Jersey State Prison.

'Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence'

‘Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence’ available on Hulu shares the story of some students of Sarah Lawrence College who were victimized by their friend's father. Director of the series, Zachary Heinzerling, reportedly said, “I think in cult situations, there can be a judgment of the victim—how could you fall for that? There’s no acknowledgment of the complicated nature of that experience. And how, over a slow, methodical progression, it metastasized into something horrible.”

'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal'

Netflix’s ‘In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal’ tells the story of four Korean leaders who victimized people by claiming to be prophets.

'Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets'

Available on Amazon Prime, ‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets’ provides a glimpse into the lives of the Duggar family members and the dark side they hid from their audience, which includes sex abuse, child abuse, and financial fraud.

'Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case'

Lucie Blackman was a British 21-year-old woman who vanished in Tokyo in July 2000. ‘Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case’ is available on Netflix, showing “the turbulent and complex investigation into the killing of” her, as per IMDb.

'Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster'

Available to watch on Amazon Prime, 'Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster' tells the story of Jared Fogle and how he went from being a spokesman for Subway restaurants to being convicted of child sex tourism and possessing child pornography.