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Since its February 8 premiere, Andrew Jarecki‘s HBO docu-series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst has been causing quite the stir about the broken American justice system, but no one expected an outcome quite like this. Durst, the estranged son of famed New York real estate mogul Seymour Durst, has allegedly been involved in the disappearance of his first wife, the murder of one of his closest friends, and the killing of a Texas man.
Though Durst was let go on all three accounts, law enforcement in three states have been patiently waiting since 2001 for Durst to slip up, getting their wish on Saturday in New Orleans when the alleged killer checked into a hotel under a false name. Durst was arrested for the unsolved murder of his friend Susan Berman, who was found dead in her Los Angeles home back in 2000. After admitting to “killing them all” in last night’s HBO finale, conversation around Durst’s case is reminiscent of Jarecki’s previous history as a documentarian who has been able to help solve crimes. Here’s a look at Jarecki’s former endeavors and four more films that helped solve crimes.
'Capturing the Friedmans' (2003)
Documenting the life of Robert Durst isn’t Andrew Jarecki’s first venture into cold cases. Back in 2003, the filmmaker accidentally reopened the 1980s investigation of Arnold and Jesse Friedman, a father and son who both pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse. Arnold, who admitted to several counts of molestation and abuse, took on extra blame in order to help lessen his son’s sentence. After serving thirteen years in prison (he was released two years before the film hit theaters), Jesse Friedman has continued to fight for his innocence, and the popularity of the film has raised an awareness of his appeals. [Where to stream Capturing the Friedmans]
'Gimme Shelter' (1970)
When brotherly filmmaking duo Albert and David Maysles followed the Rolling Stones on their 1969 tour, no one expected their cameras to capture a murder that would rock the country. In closing their tour, the Stones hosted a free concert at Altamont Speedway, which turned deadly after the Hells Angels stabbed black concertgoer Meredith Hunter to death. The film revealed that Hunter did, in fact, pull a gun amidst the fight, but the film did more than help solve a crime: it sparked conversation about ’70s paranoia, race, and violence despite the anti-war movement pulsing through America. [Where to stream Gimme Shelter]
'Inside Job' (2010)
Among the dozens of issues Inside Job spotlighted, one helped change a policy at Columbia Business School that directly affected the U.S. economy and those overseas. The school was exempt from disclosing consulting deals, even those that were toxic — ultimately resulting in false information that lead to the bubbling of not only the American market, but that of Iceland as well, which spent more in one year than their entire gross domestic product causing inevitable bankruptcy. Now, Columbia is forced to disclose all deals, no matter how bad they are for business. [Where to stream Inside Job]
'Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills' (1996)
Filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky documented the trials of the West Memphis Three: three teenage boys accused of the brutal murders of three young boys as part of a satanic ritual. After the film (and its two sequels documenting the case) brought awareness to their overwhelming innocence, the West Memphis three were eventually acquitted after newfound evidence was discovered, which cleared them of any involvement. [Where to stream Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills]
'The Thin Blue Line' (1988)
Acclaimed documentarian Errol Morris shed light on a broken and corrupt justice system with his powerful and fascinating account of Randall Dale Adams, a man wrongly convicted of murdering a police officer and sentenced to life in prison. A year after the film was released, Adams’ case was reopened after it became apparent that five witnesses committed perjury during trial, ultimately resulting in Adams’ freedom. [Where to stream the Thin Blue Line]
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