Top 10 Crime Shows That Helped Solve Real Life Cases

“Unsolved Mysteries” (1987-)
In July 2017, a young girl named Kayla Unbehaun was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Heather, after a court-ordered house visitation. Unbehaun’s father, Ryan Iskerka, who won full custody of her earlier that year, had gone to pick her up from Heather’s house, only to find both mother and daughter had disappeared. Unbehaun remained missing for six years, until she was featured on an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries,” which included age-progression pictures of her. She was later spotted by a store owner in Asheville, North Carolina who recognized her from the show and called the police. Following her identification, Unbehaun was reunited with her father, while her mother was arrested by law enforcement.

“Up and Vanished” (2016-18)
The first season of the investigative podcast “Up and Vanished” focused on the mysterious disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a high school teacher in Ocilla, Georgia. Grinstead was reported missing in October 2005 after failing to show up for work and declared dead in absentia five years later. In 2016, “Up and Vanished” premiered and brought renewed attention to the cold case. Remarkably, six months after its launch, authorities received a tip that led to the arrest of Ryan Duke and Bo Dukes. Ryan Duke faced charges related to Grinstead’s murder but was acquitted, ultimately only receiving a 10-year prison sentence for concealing her death. Bo Dukes, however, was convicted of helping to cover up the murder, earning him a 25-year term.

“Cold Justice” (2013-)
25-year-old mother of two, Heyzel Obando, was found dead in the Fort Myers, Florida home she shared with her boyfriend, Earl Joiner. Joiner had discovered her body on Valentine’s Day 2016 and called the police, who noticed some suspicious elements in the case. For three years, the murder investigation went cold until the team from Oxygen’s true crime series “Cold Justice” stepped in to assist. This collaboration allowed detectives to focus entirely on the case. They delved deeper into Joiner’s relationship with Obando, uncovering domestic violence allegations and claims that he was unfaithful to her. In the end, Joiner was arrested, tried and sentenced to 25 years in prison for Obando’s death.

“Serial” (2014-)
In January 1999, Hae Min Lee, a high school student from Baltimore, Maryland went missing. Her body was discovered four weeks later, leading to the arrest and subsequent life imprisonment of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. The case drew international attention when it became the subject of the widely popular investigative podcast “Serial”. As a result of the podcast’s impact, fresh DNA testing was conducted, which appeared to exclude Syed. In 2022, Syed’s conviction was vacated and he was released from prison after Baltimore prosecutors admitted finding new evidence that implicated other individuals. However, Lee’s brother appealed this decision to a higher court, and Syed’s conviction was reinstated months later.

“The Last Defense” (2018)
The ABC docuseries “The Last Defense” explored the case of Julius Jones, a black man who was convicted in 2002 of killing insurance executive Paul Howell during a carjacking. Jones maintained his innocence ever since, even as he sat on death row in Oklahoma. The documentary highlighted various aspects of the case, including the absence of conclusive DNA evidence and the potential influence of racial bias in Jones’ conviction. While the show did not result in Jones’ freedom, it likely played a part in the parole board’s decision to recommend the commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment. In November 2021, mere hours before Jones’ scheduled execution, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt approved this recommendation.

“Your Own Backyard” (2019-)
Back in 1996, Kristin Smart, a freshman at the California Polytechnic State University, disappeared after attending an off-campus party. She was last seen by her classmate, Paul Flores, who had offered to take her home. Although Smart was declared legally dead in 2002, her body remained missing. In 2019, the true crime podcast “Your Own Backyard” began covering the case, drawing fresh attention to it and leading police to new witnesses they hadn’t questioned before. This eventually led to the discovery that Smart’s body had been buried underneath Flores’ father’s house, but was later moved. Authorities charged Flores with first-degree murder and were able to secure a conviction and a sentence of 25 years to life.

“Who Killed Malcolm X?” (2020)
Prominent civil rights activist Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21st 1965 while at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, New York. Following the arrest, three men - Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Khalil Islam, and Thomas Hagan - were arrested, tried and sentenced to life in prison. Hagan confessed to his involvement in the murder, but maintained that Aziz and Islam had nothing to do with it. The 2020 Netflix documentary “Who Killed Malcolm X?” reexamined the evidence and revealed crucial information that prompted the Manhattan DA to reopen the case. As a result, the convictions of Aziz and Islam were vacated, and both men received a combined settlement of $36 million from New York City and the state.

“The Teacher's Pet” (2018)
The true crime podcast “The Teacher’s Pet” centered around the 1982 disappearance of Australian nurse and mother of two, Lynette Dawson. At the time, Dawson was married to former rugby player and teacher Chris Dawson. Chris had engaged in an extramarital affair with his teenage student, whom he later married after his wife’s disappearance. The podcast became immensely popular, garnering nearly 30 million downloads and mounting pressure on the police to reexamine the case, which they ultimately did. Months later, Chris was arrested and charged with her murder, although the whereabouts of her remains are still unknown. In 2022, Chris Dawson was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to 24 years in prison.

“The Staircase” (2004-18)
The December 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson occurred under mysterious circumstances. She was found by her husband Michael Peterson at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home. Peterson was accused of her murder and subsequently convicted after a highly publicized trial in 2003. Directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, the docuseries “The Staircase” explored Peterson’s case and popularized the ‘owl theory’, which suggested that Kathleen had been attacked by an owl. Peterson was later granted a new trial after it was discovered that one of the prosecution’s expert witnesses had lied under oath. He decided to enter an Alford plea, which allowed him to maintain his innocence while acknowledging there was enough evidence to convict him.

“The Jinx” (2015-24)
The first season of the HBO docuseries “The Jinx” centered around real estate heir Robert Durst and the cloud of suspicion that surrounded him. Durst had been a suspect in three high-profile criminal cases: the disappearance of his wife Kathleen McCormack, as well as the murders of his friend, Susan Berman, and his neighbor, Morris Black. The show uncovered new evidence in Berman’s murder, prompting police investigation and leading to Durst’s arrest just one day before the finale aired. He was charged with first-degree murder, subsequently convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Durst faced additional charges related to the death of McCormack, but he passed away from cardiac arrest before his trial could commence.