Murder Among the Mormons
Netflix
*ing: A true-Crime
Rated: 5/10
Off late Netflix has been releasing true-crime sagas. Take for example The Night Stalker or The Cecil Hotel that recently found their way on the OTT platform. However bizarre or strange such docu-movies may be, one can’t shy away from the truth that they are absolutely riveting and unfold rather brilliantly. It could stem from the fact that if there is a murder and then another coupled with a Church in the middle of it all, facts and and how the investigation proceeds are bound to be filled with intrigue and throw up a few suspects.
Murder Among The Mormons relate to a true investigation into twin blasts that killed two people in Salt Lake City, Utah, US. These murders were unlike anything that came to light in the October of 1985. May be because it relates to religion, murder and deception — a lethal combination.
The three-part mini-series — each of approximately 46 minutes — is paced out well with part one giving the history of the town where the blasts occurred, the people who live here and the Mormon Church and the history of the Mormons — a religious group that embrace concepts of Christianity and revelations made by their founder, Joseph Smith. They primarily belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Of course, the intrigue is already there and the next two part are all about the build up up to the murders and who and why they were killed in the first place.
Though the entire mini-series manages to keep one’s interest — anything related to the Church is more so if it involves debunking the faith of the people and making them question the very basis on which the Church stands. It is the second half of part three that makes one sit up straight and watch as the master criminal emerges — a criminal who has perfected his craft since he was a only a teenager.
How he not only managed to dupe the Church but his friends and wife without remorse or guilt for his own gain; a power hungry Mark Hofmann — regarded as one of the most accomplished forger in history. He is infamous for forgering documents related to the history of the Latter Day Saint movement. What is more interesting to know is that one doesn’t know how many of his forged yet authenticated documents are still in circulation.
Hofmann was given life sentence with no parole since it was found that he felt no guilt or remorse for what he had done. He is now in Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Colorado, US.