Veteran Georgia journalists Neil Gordon and Mike Petchenik’s new true crime docuseries is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
The duo published the book “Trial Watchers,” last year and produced the documentary under the same title. They focus on murder trial enthusiasts who travel to the U.S. to attend courtroom proceedings on some of the most violent cases.
The five-part docuseries is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime and will be aired on local TV stations this month and in May, a statement said.
The series opens with the story of two sisters who began attending trials after their father was murdered. The second episode is centered on the Alex Murdaugh murder trial in South Carolina, former clerk of court Becky Hill, and jury tampering allegations tied to her.
Hill has admitted to plagiarizing work in a book on the trial that she co-authored with Gordon titled, “Behind the Doors of Justice,” which has since been pulled from sale.
During interviews for the “Trial Watchers” project, including the book, Gordon said that he was unaware that Hill was plagiarizing the work of a BBC reporter. Hill has confirmed in court and through public statements that Gordon was unaware.
Gordon and Petchenik say the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson in the 1990s sparked a passionate interest in true crime for millions of people.
Through their research, they found that many trial watchers have been personally affected by murder crimes that took place in their families, and they connect and form bonds at events like CrimeCon.
“To learn ‘the why’ [for people], it gives you a real appreciation for humanity and how precious life is,” Gordon said in 2024 while promoting the “Trial Watchers” book.
Gordon and Petchenik met more than 25 years ago when Gordon hired Petchnik at an NBC News affiliate in Augusta. Gordon was the news director at the organization.
Today, Gordon is the publisher and editor of Augusta Business Daily. Petchenik is a media consultant and a former longtime reporter for Atlanta’s Channel 2 Action News.
@Drift Boss, Georgian journalists create a film that explores the phenomenon of “fanaticism” obsessed with murder trials, and highlights how the film debuted on Amazon Prime. Reflecting both the culture of crime fandom and the role of journalists in telling these intense, real-life stories.