close
close

Is this true crime YouTube page with millions of views real? AI controversy explained

The year is 2024, and with it comes the next AI controversy. This time, it involves a viral true-crime YouTube page with millions of views.

In the world of television and cinema, artificial intelligence has become a hot topic. It was one of the reasons for the strikes in Hollywood last year. The actors' union SAG-AFTRA called for regulations on the use of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry.

The big issue was studios' plans to hire extras for a day, scan them, and use their digital replicas in future projects – without pay or consent. Although the strike has now been resolved, it is far from over, with voice actors in the video game industry now taking action.

But what about true crime? In a field that is so concerned with hard facts, surely we don't have to worry about AI, right? Apparently that's wrong.

Viral True Crime YouTube Page Is Completely Fake

The YouTube channel True Crime Case Files launched eight months ago and has garnered millions of views with its deep dive into “unsolved mysteries, heinous crimes and terrifying investigations.” The only problem? It seems to be completely fake.

The channel features dozens of true crime videos, all imitating well-known creators in the field, such as JCS and Explore With Us.

But rather than shedding light on actual events, each of the True Crime Case Files videos appears to be generated using artificial intelligence, including the images of victims, perpetrators and locations, as well as the scripts and narratives.

The True Crime Case Files homepageYouTube/True Crime Case Files

The channel has recorded millions of views

No footage is used, but still images are presented to tell the story. Yet nowhere on the site is it indicated that these cases are not real.

The bio states: “Our channel is your go-to source for gripping true crime content. Join us on a journey through the darkest corners of criminal history as we analyze unsolved cases, dissect crime scenes, and uncover the truth behind puzzling mysteries.

“From gripping detective work to shocking revelations, our videos combine exciting storytelling with expert insight. True Crime Case Files promises to be your portal into the exciting world of real crime investigations.”

To date, the site has garnered more than 83,000 subscribers, and its most popular video—titled “Husband’s Secret Gay Love Affair With Stepson Ends in Gruesome Murder (True Crime Documentary)”—has been viewed a whopping 1.8 million times.

The story centers on Richard Engelbert, a supposedly “successful real estate agent from Littleton, Colorado, whose secret gay affair with his stepson Harrison led to a brutal murder in 2014.”

However, there is no evidence that any of this actually happened. And it was this video that led to the network's exposure, as the Denver Post was reportedly asked why it wasn't covering the case – and then dug in deep itself.

As reporter Elizabeth Hernandez explains, the video's “narrative states that the case has received local and national media attention,” but no evidence of this case can be found on Google or in law enforcement records.

Eric Ross, director of media relations for the 18th District Attorney's Office, told the news agency that the story appeared to be fabricated because “none of the names appeared in a search of Colorado court records.”

Meanwhile, Sergeant Krista Schmit of the Littleton Police Department said the crime described had not been investigated.

There are also problems in terms of production: The narrator changed the alleged murder scene from the fictional Bleak Street to Oak Street and also changed the pronunciation of “Engelbert”.

Are some of these cases real?

As of August 2024, True Crime Case Files will have 104 long-form videos and none of them seem to be based on true events.

Although this has not yet been officially confirmed, similar to the Richard Engelbert case, there is no evidence on the Internet to suggest that any of these crimes took place.

The video titles are undoubtedly captivating – the latest, for example, is “Teenage groom murdered after marrying 65-year-old bridezilla (True Crime Documentary).”

According to the description, it centers on 19-year-old Noah Beasley from Sedona, Arizona, whose “life took a tragic turn” after he married 65-year-old Gertrude Hartford-Beasley.

But a quick online search turns up no solid sources, such as court documents or official news outlets, covering the trial, which the YouTube channel describes as a “sensational trial.”

Another problem is that True Crime Case Files has no contact information or clues as to who is behind it, so the only way to interact with the creator is through the comments section.

AI in true crime is a worrying trend

Although this site was not created using artificial intelligence, it would not be the first time that the use of this technology in true crime has been questioned.

Earlier this year, the Netflix documentary series “What Jennifer Did” was accused of using artificial intelligence to manipulate images of Jennifer Pan to portray her life before her parents were murdered.

The streaming service's recent show, “Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam,” used digitally altered footage to have Lou Pearlman read excerpts from his book from beyond the grave.

Lou Pearlman in Dirty PopNetflix

Lou Pearlman was brought back from the dead with the help of technology

But when it comes to imagining completely fictitious crimes, this indicates a disturbing trend, as the videos are accompanied by hundreds of comments from viewers who believe the cases to be real.

In response to Richard Engelbert's in-depth investigation, someone wrote: “The fact that a mother would allow her child to be abused is unbelievable, but the fact that she is also a school principal is appalling.”

“This wasn't an affair, this was abuse,” said another, with a third adding: “Imagine your son's life falling apart and all you care about is your career. What a mess.”

Casey Fiesler, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and a specialist in technology ethics, elaborated on this worrying trend, telling the Denver Post that she has already observed similar AI-generated content spreading false conspiracies.

“I'm not surprised to see something like this,” she said. “True crime makes as much sense as a genre as conspiracy theories because people watch that kind of content. The motivation is money.”

Fiesler estimated that the channel could have earned tens of thousands of dollars from the Engelbert video alone.

“The fact that people believe something just because they see it on the Internet is becoming a growing problem,” she continued.

“Generative AI has, in a way, democratized these kinds of bad actors. The more people are able to create this kind of content, the more of it we'll see.”

For more AI scandals, check out the trailer drama for Lionsgate's Megalopolis, the reactions to Late Night with the Devil, and the creepy details of True Detective's fourth season.

If you're looking for (real) true crime, check out what happened to Justine Siemens from Worst Ex Ever, where Mei Li and Rosa Hill are now, and disturbing details about American Murder: Laci Peterson.

You may also like...