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True Crime

The Confession Killer

2019 45m ⭐ 7.2/10 Documentary · Crime

Henry Lee Lucas confessed to hundreds of murders across the country in the 1980s, and law enforcement agencies eagerly closed cold cases using his confessions — most of which turned out to be fabricated.

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Details

Year
2019
Runtime
45m
Rating
7.2 / 10
Format
TV Series
Seasons
1
Country
United States of America
Platform
Netflix

Why Watch This

This is less about Lucas himself than about a broken incentive system: police departments were motivated to clear unsolved murders off their books, and Lucas was motivated by the attention and privileges confessing brought him, a combination the series argues let hundreds of false confessions go unchallenged.

If The Confession Killer's focus on unreliable confessions interested you, The Confession Tapes and Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom examine other cases built on questionable admissions.

Where to Watch

RegionAvailablePlatform
New Zealand✅Netflix
Australia✅Netflix
United States✅Netflix
United Kingdom✅Netflix
Canada✅Netflix
Ireland✅Netflix

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a true story?
Yes, it documents the real case of Henry Lee Lucas, who falsely confessed to hundreds of murders in the 1980s.
How many of his confessions were real?
Investigators later determined the vast majority were fabricated, though Lucas was convicted of at least a few genuine murders.
How many episodes are there?
Five episodes.
Where can I watch it?
The Confession Killer is streaming on Netflix.

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