In honor of Netflix’s recent release Inventing Anna, let’s take a look at 5 other true crime stories that should become TV series.
From Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer to now Anna Delvy, some of the most popular true crime stories have been portrayed into thrilling television. While true crime should not be glamorized, there is a large audience of people who are fascinated by suspense, psychological thinking, and horror in a fictional sense. Therefore, this same audience would appeal to stories that have happened in real life. Let’s take a look at stories that should be adapted into a non-documentary type series.
Slender Man Stabbing Case
Taken place in Waukesha, Wisconsin two 12- year old girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser lured their friend into the woods for a game of hide-and-seek. The two stabbed her 19 times in order to become acquainted with the fictional character slender man. The victim, Peyton Leutner, has since survived while Weier and Geyser were sentenced to 25 and 40 years respectively, not being found guilty due to insanity. This case could make for interesting television, diving into the effects of the internet on children, Slender man and its influence, and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Turpin Family Case
David and Louise Turpin lived an outwardly normal life with their 13 children ranging from 2 to 29 years old in Perris, California. It was not until January of 2018 when one child called the police that the maltreatment of the children was discovered. The parents severely starved, tortured, and abused their children, to say the least. They were severely malnourished, to the point the 29-year-old weighed 82 pounds. They were chained to their beds, found with bruises and having not showered for months at a time. This shocking case would appeal to true crime audiences, discussing extreme child abuse, the effects of Pentecostal Christianity on individuals, and unstable family dynamics.
Andrea Yates Case
One of the most infamous cases is of Andrea Yates. Her and her husband Russell Yates had five children in Houston, Texas. She had a background of mental illness such as depression, eating disorders, and suicide attempts in addition to being constantly medicated. Postpartum depression was something Yates specifically struggled with, prompting her therapist to instruct her husband to not have any more children. After the birth of her fifth child and the death of her father, Andrea cracked. She drowned all five of her children ages 7 and under. She was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity. Her case would make for great television due to the many layers it presents. We would see her battle with mental illness, postpartum depression, societal pressure to have children, and much more.
Uber Driver Murder Case
Jason Dalton was an insurance adjuster with a wife and children. Unfortunately, he had a dark, double life as a murderous Uber driver. In 2016, he killed 6 random individuals by gunshot. The first incident was a father and son in the parking lot of a Kia dealership. Dalton had no relation or motive to shoot the two. Immediately after, he drove to the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel, killing four more. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. It was said that the motive for Dalton’s killings was that he say the “devil” when he opened the Uber app and had extreme visions that forced him to commit these crimes. Dalton’s case on the TV screen could not only dive into the case itself but the effects of schizophrenia and the drastic differences in his personality and demeanor.
Killing of Gabby Petito
The most recent murder case of Gabby Petito shocked the entire world. In late July, she and her then-fiancé Brian Laundrie departed for a cross-country journey in her van, visiting many National Parks. It was not until September 2021 Petito was reported missing by her mother after not hearing from her for weeks. Many events occurred in between that time including Laundrie and Petito being pulled over by the police due to a domestic incident, resulting in the two splitting up for the night and staying in separate hotels. On September 1, 2021, Laundrie returned home alone with Petito’s van. He and his parents refused to speak and cooperate with police on Petito’s whereabouts. Laundrie admitted to murdering Petito in writing before he committed suicide. While the case is still fresh and new, a series could be appealing to many. In addition to the story itself, a large focus could be on the impact of social media in solving the case, and domestic violence in relationships.
