Citizen Sleuth
A gripping exploration of the ethics of true crime podcasts through the case of Emily Nestor and her famous ‘Mile Marker 181’ podcast. At what point does the search for truth enter the realm of conspiracy theories?
Emily Nestor from West Virginia is on a mission. She wants to prove that the death of Jaleyah Davis was not an accident, but murder. For this purpose she has started a podcast – Mile Marker 181 – in which she explores theories about the case, particularly those of the victim’s mother.
The podcast quickly becomes a success and makes Nestor a local celebrity. But what if she were to discover that Davis’ death was in fact an accident after all? Wouldn’t she lose both her audience and her newly acquired status?
Citizen Sleuth takes a critical look at the phenomenon of the true-crime podcast, in which amateur investigators take the place of experts and make money from the suffering of others. But the film is more than just a warning. Director Chris Kasick also places Emily Nestor in the spotlight because she is a fascinating figure: a smart young woman from a disadvantaged region who, thanks to her project, makes a seemingly unattainable dream come true.