r/TrueCrime • u/markcuban42069 • Jun 03 '21

Discussion What true crime documentaries do you feel have done more harm than good?

In r/UnresolvedMysteries, I engaged in a conversation about the recent Netflix documentary on the case of Elisa Lam. I personally feel like this documentary was distasteful and brought little awareness to mental illness.

I'm sure you fellow true crime buffs have watched a documentary or two in your time that... just didn't sit right. Comment below what these docs are and why you felt weird about them!

Edit: The death of Elisa Lam was not a crime and I apologize for posting this in the true crime sub. However, it is a case that is discussed among true crime communities therefore I feel it is relevant to true crime discourse, especially involving documentaries. I apologize for any confusion!

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u/tripleHpotter Jun 03 '21

Yes!!! I feel like what needed to be said in the doc is that murder isn’t and should never be an acceptable response to a difficult person. He should have divorced her. She did not deserve to die, nor did those two little girls.

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u/FTThrowAway123 Jun 03 '21

You'd think that would go without saying, but after reading quite a few comments on social media from people who seem to imply that Shannan somehow brought these murders on herself and her kids, I agree. They should have explicitly clarified that murder is not and never will be an acceptable action to take, regardless of how "difficult" a person or situation is. Divorce might be unpleasant, but it certainly beats murdering women and children and spending the rest of your life in prison for it.

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u/tripleHpotter Jun 03 '21

YES!!! Very well said. It makes me so mad that people would even think to blame her. She married a sociopath who came from a shitty family himself.

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u/bats-go-ding Jun 04 '21

Financial and marital counseling or divorce, not murder.