Netflix fans have hailed a shocking new true crime series ‘a definite must watch’ as they shared their concerns for US intelligence agencies.
The series unravels the gruesome true story of an investigative journalist, who was found dead in a bathtub at a motel in Martinsburg, West Virginia, in August 1991 after pursuing a conspiracy group.
Danny Casolaro died from a loss of blood after suffering multiple slash wounds to his wrists inflicted by ‘a very sharp bladed object’ – and local authorities quickly ruled it a suicide.
However, his family and friends have long insisted that he had been murdered for investigating a conspiracy he had called The Octopus, in which government officials had been involved in covert missions.
In the four-part docuseries journalist Christian Hansen works to unpack the mystery surrounding Danny’s death and the conspiracy theory he was investigating.
Netflix fans have hailed a shocking new true crime series ‘a definite must watch’ as they shared their concerns for US intelligence agencies
The series unravels the gruesome true story of an investigative journalist, who was found dead in a bathtub at a motel in West Virginia, in August 1991 after pursuing a conspiracy group
Sharing their thoughts on X, one viewer wrote: ‘I’m watching American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders. The last 15 mins were nuts. I was so surprised at what happened that I rolled it back to rewatch that couple of seconds. Guess what, I was surprised again.
Another added: ‘American Conspiracy, The Octopus Murders on Netflix was really good. Not sure I completely understand it, it’s 4hrs and probably could have been twice that. It definitely makes our intelligence agencies look very dirty.’
‘The Octopus Murders on Netflix is a definite must watch. I feel like we are all in trouble now,’ a third person shared.
Someone else posted: ‘American Conspiracy: The Octopus is an absolutely wild documentary on Netflix.’
‘Stop everything you’re doing and watch American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders on Netflix. Not being dramatic this is insane,’ one fan said.
The chilling case began when Danny started investigating a dispute between the Department of Justice and a technology company called INSLAW.
The clash appeared to be over intellectual property rights but it soon seemed that it had a much more sinister underbelly.
His family and friends have long insisted that he had been murdered for investigating a conspiracy he had called The Octopus
In the four-part docuseries journalist Christian Hansen (pictured) works to unpack the mystery surrounding Danny’s death and the conspiracy theory he was investigating
One fan shared: ‘The Octopus Murders on Netflix is a definite must watch. I feel like we are all in trouble now’
Following months of research, Danny is said to have stumbled into a web of ‘stolen government spy software, a string of unsolved murders, and some of the biggest political scandals of the 20th century,’ according to Netflix.
The writer believed he had uncovered a hidden organization, which he branded as The Octopus, made up of eight ex-government officials.
Excerpts purporting to be from Danny’s research, shared in the new trailer for the docuseries, asserted: ‘These eight men, they’re no longer government officials but their tentacles can reach into any part of government in almost any country.’
Danny Casolaro pictured
The journalist thought that the conspiracy had all started with Promis – a computer program which sources in the series claimed ‘allegedly allowed the CIA to spy on the intelligence agencies that bought it.’
And it seems the program was engulfed in shocking speculation including that ‘everyone who worked on it are dead.’
There were a string of suspicious deaths seemingly linked including three men who were fatally shot and another who had a ‘wire running from around his neck to his ankles.’
Danny became ‘obsessed’ with bringing the entirety of the story to light – but never got the chance to finish his investigation.
In the summer of 1991, he headed out to the motel expecting to interview a key source for the story but would never make it back.
His death was ruled a suicide but many believed that his wounds were far from self inflicted – a sentiment echoed by those who feature in Netflix’s upcoming series.
‘It just didn’t sit right. In my mind, I’m thinking “they killed him,”‘ one commentator urged.
The chilling case began when Danny started investigating a dispute between the Department of Justice (headquarters in D.C., pictured) and a technology company called INSLAW
The writer believed he had uncovered a hidden organization, which he branded as The Octopus, made up of eight ex-government officials
‘In the book that Danny was writing, he starts looking into these powerful people and realizes there’s something much bigger going on.’
‘Most of us were convinced he had been hurt for him covering this story,’ a woman added.
Another man explained: ‘I told him not to talk to certain people. Not to raise certain issues.’
The trailer dramatically concludes with a warning apparently issued to the documentary makers themselves, which states: ‘If you think for a minute that you’re gonna go expose somebody, you’re gonna get yourself killed.’
Netflix’s American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders was released on February 28
