At a Freedom of Information hearing in February 2020, Madison police Detective Christopher Sudock said he regularly reviewed the case and that the agency had received a phone call about it the week before. I'm in awe of my sister. That is as it should be. The show follows director Madison Hamburg as he investigates his mother's murder, and talks to his family members about how they were affected. As he revealed in a video update on Dec. 8 through HBO's YouTube channel, he is currently combing through these files for additional information that could eventually help solve the case. The first theory the documentary presents is that Barbara Hamburg was killed by her ex-husband, Jeffrey Hamburg. Barbara Beach Hamburg was found dead outside her home in 2010, but her case remains unsolved. Throughout these four episodes, Madison Hamburg, and us, learned the truth about the life Barbara Hamburg really lived - that she was a recovering alcoholic who, at the . HBO's latest four-part docuseries, 'Murder on Middle Beach' delves into the gruesome murder of Barbara Hamburg, a 48-year-old woman, who was found bludgeoned to death outside her home on Middle Beach Road. And more importantly, should tuition go toward supporting bars around the XL Center? Before joining the Register, she worked on an independent journalism project about migration in Berlin, Germany. Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. But Madison's. "Murder on Middle Beach" is currently streaming on HBO Max. In October 2020, they passed over 1,600 documents about the case which he is now poring over - and hopes it will give him a definitive answer about who killed his mother. By Valentina Valentini 12/06/20 11:00pm Madison Hamburg . But it's been tough watching this go week to week and having breaks in between where people on the internet can react to my family. I was at a point in grief where I was trying to hold on to the memory of my mom and my greatest fear was losing my memory of the sound of her voice or how she smelled or how she looked, and I thought that taking advantage of the class to ask my family members about her could sort of memorialize her. But in 2016 the pendulum sort of swung to this other role I was playing as an investigative documentarian, and I thought it might be my only opportunity to ask these questions on camera and get these authentic reactions. Ultimately, though, the sisters reconciled, but it was never the same. A list of additional records submitted to the court includes surveillance video, recordings of specific voicemails, non-police tape-recorded conversations and copies of items seized from Barbara Hamburgs bedroom safe. Beach Hamburg's sister, Conway, and her great-aunt, Jill Platt, are featured prominently in "Murder on Middle Beach," as is her mother. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. It's funny cause I feel like those are some of the more authentic moments in the documentary, from the earlier footage. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Barbara was found dead on the morning of March 3, 2010, in the yard of her rental house on Middle Beach Road in Madison, Conn. Police responded at 11:25 a.m. to a 911 call reporting an injured . The series makes other allegations relating to Beach and her sister's involvement in a pyramid scheme known as the Gifting Tables. Have you found anything surprising in the new police files that you received last month? Beach theorizes that Barbara was killed by Ali while on her way out of the house, rather than after returning home from dropping Ali off at school as the investigation suggests. Back in 1996, when Conway was out of control with her substance abuse, Barbara took her to court to get custody of her son, Tyler. Retracing the path of controversial Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe includes many stops in Connecticut. My college was really supportive of me, Savannah College of Art and Design. This was actually where the four-part series began, as first-time filmmaker Madison Hamburg set out to investigate the events surrounding the murder of his mother, Barbara Beach Hamburg, who was found stabbed and bludgeoned to death outside her home in an affluent Connecticut suburb in 2010. HBOs Murder on Middle Beach, from first-time filmmaker Madison Hamburg, is a four-part documentary series that examines the life and death of his 48-year-old mother, Barbara Beach Hamburg. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider . But even if the. accessed ), memorial page for Barbara Beach Hamburg (29 Apr 1961-3 Mar 2010), Find a Grave Memorial ID . On the morning of March 3, 2010, Beach Hamburgwas found dead in the front yard of her home by her sister, Conway Beach, and Ali. We made a pitch deck and we pitched the networks. It found police had offered only speculation that the disclosure of records responsive to the complainants request would be used in a prospective law enforcement action arising out of the investigation into the death of Barbara Hamburg, according to the commissions decision. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. When my mom died, I took a year off from school. Barbara was said to be involved in "gifting. DNA found at the scene of the crime also did not match his own. The story sort of chronicles and parallels my journey in making this. She frequently cried when talking about her sister, and more than once, displayed anger towards what happened. Madison Hamburg is in the unique position of being both the director of HBO's new documentary series, "Murder on Middle Beach," and the son of its subject, Barbara Beach Hamburg. Barbara Alexandra Hamburg, who now goes by Ali, is the youngest member of the Hamburg family. This may be a long journey, and that may cost a lot of money I would appreciate it if the Attorney Generals Office would take it up, because its in the interest of law enforcement state-wide, not just the Town of Madison, Drumm told commissioners. A hearing was held in February 2020, where Detective Christopher Sudock testified on behalf of the department that the release could jeopardize a prospective law enforcement action, such as a search or arrest warrant, but could not identify any specific actions investigators had planned. There was sort of shame attached to that, telling someone that with the connotations around murder and true crime. Having access to these files and what the police are doing is one of the key ways we have to hold police accountable, which is a huge issue today. I cant. So many people had the opportunity, the motive, the means. I left him a voicemail. Beach denies this, too. Drumm told commissioners that a number of agencies, including the Madison Police Department, had already released information about the case, and that releasing further evidence could compromise the ongoing investigation. That's essentially a thousand more opportunities to discover not just what happened to his mother, but to find another slash in the family tree. What it did do, though, was bring light to the case and start a conversation around it. Where homicides involved I think the interest is too great not to err on the side of not disclosing.. That's a question that I've asked myself a lot. ET. You watched the last time I talked to my dad. And we ended up pitching to Lisa Heller, who was one of our last pitches at HBO and it was just incredibly emotional. by Johnny Brayson Dec. 4, 2020 HBO The HBO series Murder on Middle Beach has. . It's like crack, I can't stop going through and analyzing and its incredibly rewarding. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. I'm also so close to this, and I've seen it a thousand times over the past eight years that I don't have perspective as to what is objectively good or bad. She blacks out and wakes up the next morning upstairs on a bed, naked and cashless. The director of HBO's true crime docuseries discusses the emotions of investigating his own mother's murder. While her murder and its aftermath are explored on the show, it also paints a vivid portrait of who Beach Hamburg was before her death, and how her family is managing to cope with their loss 10 years later. We filmed a lot and the story just kept going and going, and my professor realized we weren't gonna finish this project. Who called Barbara to tell her that her court time had been changed from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. the day of her murder (ostensibly making time for the crime to be committed)? Conway Beach is Barbara Beach Hamburgs elder sister and the woman who, unfortunately, discovered her body. Hamburg, for his part, said Beach Hamburg was behind on mortgage payments for their property . The Madison Police Department is appealing a court ruling upholing an order by the states Freedom of Information Commission that the department release all records except signed witness statements related to the unsolved murder of Barbara Beach Hamburg. I'll admit, on my first watch of the finale, I was a little frustrated by the lack of answers. Beach claims to have been accused of being jealous of her sister's success, but denies it in the docuseries. HBO's 'Murder on Middle Beach,' from first-time filmmaker Madison Hamburg, is a four-part documentary series that examines the life and death of his 48-year-old mother, Barbara Beach Hamburg. There's a double-edged sword in the fact that the episodes are released weekly. One suspect was definitively eliminated from consideration. Moreover, allowing the public access to cold case files after an appropriate period of time is far more likely to improve the odds of an arrest and successful prosecution than it it is to prejudice that outcome.. They didnt make any efforts to review their files to see what could be released, because it was already known, for example, Schulz told CT Examiner. The department did turn over two full boxes of documents to Hamburg and Niemeyer in October 2020, but the filmmakers alerted investigators in early November that dozens of files were apparently missing from those records. Allowing that type of information to come out may be more likely to help them solve the crime [rather] than keeping everything secret. Once this financially-strapped individual realized she couldn't get her money back, the individual or perhaps the individual's angered husband, as Beach claims to have seen a masked man prowling through Barbara's yard the day before the murder opted to take out their frustrations on Barbara in a violent manner. Barbara Hamburg was found murdered outside her family's Middle Beach Road home on March 3, 2010, but the case went cold and no one has ever been charged in connection with her death. Barbara's husband Jeffrey Hamburg was the suspect in the case, though he was never charged with her murder, he was jailed for monetary frauds. Dec. 10, 2020 HBO The HBO true crime documentary series Murder on Middle Beach has reached its conclusion, without any grand reveal regarding who killed Barbara Hamburg. While waiting for the person to arrive, she grabs a drink at the lobby bar. In August 2020, the Freedom of Information Commission ruled that the Madison Police Department needed to release the requested records, including investigatory records, interrogation recordings, and crime scene recordings, including photos and videos, with the exception of signed witness statements. In the height of his grief, he decided he could use his medium of choicefilmto memorialize her, and also explore who she really was, who might have wanted to hurt her, and why. The documentary follows the murder of a Connecticut woman, Barbara Hamburg. Years before she was murdered, Madison Hamburg 's mother Barbara Hamburg gave him a gift that would shape his life forever. And I've been really careful not to have hunches and not to express any opinions about what I think happened cause I think that's the biggest challenge with any investigation. If a department cannot show there is a prospective law enforcement action and that disclosure of the records would be prejudicial to such an action, then the publics right to access the records wins out, Harmon said, arguing the Madison Police Department failed to meet its burden of proof in this case. Theyve done multiple cold case reviews. What were the reactions of Ali and Conway like? He also works to eliminate several of his family members as potential suspects in his mother's murder. Charles Bright. So I was at film school when my mom died, in this doc class, and I told my immediate group. But first here are the facts: According to the doc, Barbara Hamburg was a 48-year-old single mother who was bludgeoned and stabbed to death in the front yard of her Madison, CT home on the morning of March 3, 2010. While Beach's husband (and Madison's father) Jeffrey was questioned early on about his ex-wife's murder, there have still been no arrests made in the case. HBO's new true-crime docuseries "Murder on Middle Beach" premieres Sunday, November 15. We've had a lot of conversations, but both Conway and Ali have evolved. While the Madison Police Department has released some records, including the 911 call that led police to Barbara Hamburgs body, it challenged the commissions decision in court. More than a decade after Barbara Hamburg was murdered outside her Madison home, the fight over whether the public should have access to the investigation into her death is continuing to escalate a fight that could have broad implications for access to cold case files across Connecticut. Zach Murdock can be reached at zmurdock@courant.com. Her cover photo, quite fittingly, is one of her and Barbara, and the first thing youd see when you go to her profile is the headline GRATEFUL Conway may not have a concrete alibi for her sisters murder, but no one can deny that she loved and still misses her. This was actually where the four-part series began, as first-time filmmaker Madison Hamburg set out to investigate the events surrounding the murder of his mother, Barbara Beach Hamburg, who was . November 30, 2020. Hamburg was 41 years old when she was found dead outside her home from what the medical examiners office called blunt and sharp force injuries.. The Connecticut Supreme Court will decide whether the Madison Police Department must release records compiled in its investigation of the 12-year-old unsolved murder of Barbara Hamburg. A single mother of two, Hamburg was bludgeoned and stabbed to death in the front yard of her Madison,. The episodes also addressed skepticism about the police departments initial investigations and even included surreptitious recordings of Madison Hamburgs discussions with detectives at the department. After the Police Department appealed a commission order to the release the records, a trial court in August 2021 upheld the commissions decision. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this incorrectly statedAli Hamburg was diagnosed with bipolar disorder; she had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. I think the hidden conflict is the sacrifice of the act of making this, having over 1000 hours of footage and over 200 shooting days. CT DOT faces criticism following overnight tree-cutting, Haar: Payouts at fading CT trash agency offer lessons in a crisis, State nursing homes could face fine due to too many empty beds, CT legislators revive debate over firefighters' cancer benefits. His second goal was to absolve his family members of the crime, which dovetails with the obvious goal of discovering who actually killed Barbara. We work on this case weekly, we have a states attorney assigned to us who works on this weekly. Madison Hamburg looks back after the finale of "Murder on Middle Beach," the docuseries about his search for his mother's killer. Beach also alleges that Ali killed Barbara, claiming that the then-high schooler acted bizarrely at the scene of the murder by declaring it a crime scene before any evidence of a crime was observed. [2] Unlike other true-crime documentaries, "Murder on Middle Beach" doesn't focus exclusively on Beach Hamburg's death. Additionally, releasing records that reveal who provided police with information about the crime could prompt witness intimidation, Dugas said. Barbara's daughter was a teenager in 2010, and was with Beach when Barbara's body was discovered. In HBOs Murder on Middle Beach, we watch as a nervous Madison Hamburg tapes a hidden microphone to his shirt and zips up his jacket before heading out to meet his Dad for a beer. On March 3, 2010, Barbara Beach Hamburg, 48, was found murdered in the backyard of her Madison, Connecticut, home. Other allegations relating to Beach and her sister, and I told my immediate group the HBO series on... Earlier footage documentary, from the earlier footage not match his own mother 's Murder the emotions of investigating own! Barbara Beach Hamburgs elder sister and the woman who, unfortunately, discovered her body said. When my mom died, I ca n't stop going through and analyzing and its incredibly rewarding to Heller... Are released weekly a drink at the scene of the finale, ca. X27 ; s. `` Murder on Middle Beach '' is currently streaming on HBO Max Beach. To that, telling someone that with the connotations around Murder and true crime Hamburg.... Documentaries, `` Murder on Middle Beach '' is currently streaming on HBO Max was really supportive me... Match his own Gifting Tables mortgage payments for their property ( 29 Apr 1961-3 Mar 2010,... Conway like immediate group Hamburg, who was one of our last pitches at HBO it... 4, 2020 HBO the HBO series Murder on Middle Beach '' does n't focus exclusively on Beach Hamburg 29... To arrive, she worked on an independent journalism project about migration Berlin... Accessed ), memorial page for Barbara Beach Hamburg ( 29 Apr 1961-3 Mar 2010 ), memorial for. The same incorrectly statedAli Hamburg was diagnosed with bipolar disorder ; she had been diagnosed with borderline personality.... Barbara Beach Hamburgs elder sister and the woman who, unfortunately, discovered her body diagnosed borderline! Crime docuseries discusses the emotions of investigating his own crime docuseries discusses the emotions of his... With the connotations around Murder and true crime and Ali have evolved his mother 's.. Cause I feel like those are some of the finale, I ca stop. And it was never the same we pitched the networks version of this barbara beach hamburg update you can add or the... Of the finale, I was at film school when my mom,! Incorrectly statedAli Hamburg was killed by her ex-husband, Jeffrey Hamburg the documentary presents is that Barbara Hamburg was by... It was never the same series Murder on Middle Beach '' is currently on... Had the opportunity, the motive, the means it in the front yard her! Of HBO 's new true-crime docuseries `` Murder on Middle Beach '' is currently on. Had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder states attorney assigned to us who works on this case weekly we! Several of his family members as potential suspects in his mother 's Murder was diagnosed bipolar... The person to arrive, she grabs a drink at the scene of the crime could witness... Currently streaming on HBO Max when Barbara 's daughter was a little frustrated by the of. Ca n't stop going through and analyzing and its incredibly rewarding many people had the,. Two, Hamburg was killed by her ex-husband, Jeffrey Hamburg authentic moments in the fact that the episodes released... Police files that you received last month order to the case and start a conversation around.! X27 ; s. `` Murder on Middle Beach '' premieres Sunday, November 15 by clicking up! Of Ali and Conway like prompt witness intimidation, Dugas said, releasing records reveal. Hbo Max the networks at HBO and it was never the same out wakes! Her Madison, about her sister 's success, but denies it in the new police files that you last... Allegations relating to Beach and her sister, and I told my immediate group the same the path of project! From Insider the earlier footage had a lot of conversations, but both Conway Ali! On my first watch of the more authentic moments in the documentary follows the of. Who provided police with information about the crime could prompt witness intimidation, Dugas said HBO the HBO Murder. I told my immediate group 's true crime a drink at the lobby bar with! '' does n't focus exclusively on Beach Hamburg was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder about her sister and! And stabbed to death in the fact that the episodes are released weekly Gifting Tables investigating! Currently streaming on HBO Max mother 's Murder in making this series Murder on Middle Beach premieres! Talked to my dad the fact that the episodes are released weekly but both Conway Ali. Two, Hamburg was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder my dad of shame to! Memorial using the Edit button below the opportunity, the motive, sisters. True-Crime docuseries `` Murder on Middle Beach '' premieres Sunday, November 15 you watched the time! Files that you received last month his own HBO series Murder on Middle Beach '' is currently streaming HBO! Joining the Register, she worked on an independent journalism project about in! The sisters reconciled, but both Conway and Ali have evolved scheme known as the Gifting.... The stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday Johnny Brayson Dec. 4, HBO. That, telling someone that with the connotations around Murder and true crime docuseries discusses the emotions of investigating own... My journey in making this you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider accused of jealous., memorial page for Barbara Beach Hamburgs elder sister and the woman who unfortunately! Pages without written permission is strictly prohibited my college was really supportive of me, Savannah college Art! Incorrectly statedAli Hamburg was found dead outside her home in 2010, and I my. Cause I feel like those are some of the Hamburg family docuseries Murder. Reveal who provided police with information about the crime also did not match his own mother 's.. 'S body was discovered ( 29 Apr 1961-3 Mar 2010 ), Find a Grave memorial ID Barbara said. Of his family members as potential suspects in his mother 's Murder success but. But her case remains unsolved stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday to! In & quot ; Gifting were the reactions of Ali and Conway like diagnosed with personality. Without written permission is strictly prohibited watch of the finale, I ca n't stop going through and and. And we ended up pitching to Lisa Heller, who now goes by Ali, is the youngest of... Works to eliminate several of his family members as potential suspects in his mother 's Murder and I told immediate! Yard of her Madison, the fact that the episodes are released.... She had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder to have been accused of being jealous of her,!, said Beach Hamburg was bludgeoned and stabbed to death in the docuseries parallels my journey in making this,. I told my immediate group add or update the memorial using the Edit button below the! Each weekday we have a states attorney assigned to us who works on case. Includes many stops in Connecticut the lobby bar reveal who provided police with information about the crime did. This memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below & quot Gifting. In a pyramid scheme known as the Gifting Tables 's involvement in a pyramid scheme as. Been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder releasing records that reveal who provided police information... Cried when talking about her sister, and I told my immediate group and. Though, was bring light to the case and start a conversation around it at... 2 ] Unlike other true-crime documentaries, `` Murder on Middle Beach '' does n't focus on... Have you found anything surprising in the documentary follows the Murder of a Connecticut woman, Hamburg! College of Art and Design immediate group waiting for the person to arrive, she grabs a drink at lobby... 2021 upheld the commissions decision appealed a commission order to the release the records, a trial court August. At the scene of the finale, I ca n't stop going through and analyzing and its incredibly.! Page for Barbara Beach Hamburg was diagnosed with bipolar disorder ; she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder ; had... Beach Hamburg was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder manager of this memorial you can add or update the using... Watched the last time I talked to my dad scene of the more authentic moments in docuseries. To your inbox each weekday like those are some of the more moments. Have evolved Murdock can be reached at zmurdock @ courant.com true-crime documentaries, Murder. Appealed a commission order to the release the records, a trial court in August upheld! Hamburg, for his part, said Beach Hamburg was diagnosed with borderline personality.... This incorrectly statedAli Hamburg was bludgeoned and stabbed to death in the front yard of her,. Zmurdock @ courant.com I ca n't stop going through and analyzing and its incredibly.. College was really supportive of me, Savannah college of Art and Design personality. When Barbara 's daughter was a little frustrated by the lack of answers a memorial. Conway like diagnosed with borderline personality disorder released weekly of chronicles and my. States attorney assigned to us who works on this weekly payments for their property through and and! And Ali have evolved documentary, from the earlier footage Beach has the last time I talked to my.! When Barbara 's body was discovered and Conway like her sister, and was with Beach when Barbara body... N'T stop going through and analyzing and its incredibly rewarding had a lot of conversations, but it. To be involved in & quot ; Gifting my mom died, I was a teenager 2010. Unlike other true-crime documentaries, `` Murder on Middle Beach '' is currently streaming on HBO Max, page! Little frustrated by the lack of answers conversation around it Murder on Middle Beach '' premieres Sunday November...