Unbelievable is a riveting Netflix series that follows the experiences of several young women, with Marie Adler at the center of the story. She reports being sexually assaulted by a masked man but the law enforcement dismisses her, assuming that she’s throwing a tantrum or doing it for attention. Soon, similar cases appear elsewhere, and the investigation takes a turn. So, is Unbelievable based on a true story, and does the show feature any real events and facts?
Is Unbelievable based on a true story?
Yes, Unbelievable is a true story that has been adapted from a Pulitzer prize-winning article, titled “An Unbelievable Story of Rape,” written by T Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong. The series not only shows the traumatic aftermath of victims who are sexually assaulted but also showcases the flaws in the criminal justice system. After the initial case reported by a young teenage girl, there’s an increasing number of similar cases in different locations. Two female detectives take it upon themselves to unsolve the mystery and ultimately identify the perpetrator.
Unbelievable’s real events and facts explained
Since the events in the show are based on a series of real-life cases that occurred between 2008 to 2011, it covers many pivotal twists that eventually solved the case. The young girl was charged with false reporting charges due to the doubts surrounding her case, and the police being skeptical about her assault. A collaborative investigation was carried out by detectives Stacy Galbraith and Edna Hendershot in Colorado, which helped them narrow down the suspect. The real-life investigation reportedly led to the conviction of serial rapist Marc O’Leary, who was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault.
The real people behind Unbelievable’s characters
Stacy and Edna are detectives from the Westminster Police Department in Colorado, and they worked together to investigate a string of sexual assaults that occurred under their jurisdiction. They were dedicated, persistent, and connected with detectives from other jurisdictions to actively research multiple cases to identify a serial rapist. Their inter-agency cooperation was instrumental in penalizing the serial rapist.
Is Marie Adler a real person?
Yes, Marie is a real person who has chosen to stay anonymous, and Adler is not her real last name, it’s only a pseudonym for the show. After reporting her sexual assault, Marie was accused of lying about the incident. She was purportedly charged with a $500 fine and asked to seek therapy for being dishonest. From the investigators to her friends, and even her foster parents, everyone labeled her as a liar and she was bullied until the truth came to light. She pressed charges for the misconduct against her and received a settlement, which helped her start a new and hopeful life.
Is Grace Rasmussen a real person?
Grace Rasmussen is based on the real-life detective Edna Hendershot. She’s portrayed to be assertive and thorough with her investigation. Moreover, by the time these cases were on her hand, she was a well-respected senior detective and her experience truly helped in putting the culprit behind bars.
Is Karen Duvall a real person?
In the show, Karen Duvall’s character is inspired by Stacy Galbraith, a detective who looked up to Grace and admired her work ethic. She noticed the patterns first and worked tirelessly on the case. Karen did not let any details slide and used the smallest descriptions of the rapist to track him down with her partner.
