Plot Synopsis

Directed by Jody McVeigh-Schultz and executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, THE MURDERS AT STARVED ROCK is a three-part documentary series that explores the 1960 brutal murders of three women at Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle, Illinois and the decades of questions and doubts left in their wake. The convicted killer, Chester Weger, maintains his innocence after sixty years in prison and seeks exoneration. Haunted by the murders in his hometown, David Raccuglia has spent the last 15 years delving into the case files, convinced that the whole truth has yet to be uncovered. As a child growing up in LaSalle, David lived in fear of Weger, who was characterized as the local bogeyman. Further complicating David's search for answers is the role his own father played in the trial; Anthony Raccuglia was the determined, young prosecutor who put Weger behind bars, believing steadfastly in his guilt. With a complicated father/son relationship at its core, this three-parter traces a twisting path of inconsistencies, cover-ups and lies, unearthing new clues and potential suspects while questioning the very nature and reliability of memory. The horrific slaying of three middle-aged mothers found in a picturesque canyon of the park lingers in the fabric of LaSalle, a rural town where opinions are strong and rumors spread like wildfire, with townsfolk starkly divided as to the guilt of Chester Weger. THE MURDERS AT STARVED ROCK unfolds from David's shifting perspective over recent years as his quest for the truth puts him in direct conflict with his father's intractable belief in the justice system. David's curiosity leads him down a rabbit-hole of conflicting theories, alleged police misconduct, and legal grey areas. At the heart of THE MURDERS AT STARVED ROCK is David's tension-filled interview with his late father that speaks to the divisive feelings that the case still engenders. Hard-boiled investigators, local reporters, family members and eccentric townsfolk, each with their own theories, also lend their insight to the series and a wealth of archival materials transports us back to 1960. Several interviews with Weger himself reveal a sympathetic man steadfast in his claims of innocence, but is he an unreliable narrator of his own story? The three episodes are:

"The Boogeyman" (Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 8pm): In 1961, 22-year-old Chester Weger is charged with the brutal murder of three women in Starved Rock State Park. Decades later, David Raccuglia, the son of the prosecutor who put Chester away for life, decides to look back at the case, sending shockwaves through the small town of LaSalle, Illinois.

"Psychological Warfare" (Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 9pm): In 2005, David clashes with his father, Anthony, over the details of Chester Weger's conviction. Meanwhile, after concerned citizens band together to prove Weger's innocence, new theories emerge -- and old tensions rise to the surface.

"Memories" (Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 8pm): After over 60 years behind bars, Chester Weger finally gets a chance at freedom. But as new evidence comes to light, additional questions arise, and David grapples with lingering suspicions, the effects of generational trauma, and the fallout of his own father's legacy.