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. Dowling said the Board of Police Commissioners and the Board of Selectmen were working on setting up a joint meeting, and that the lawsuit would be a topic of discussion for the meeting. Barbara Hamburg was found murdered outside her familys 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. Its something that really has to work its way through the court, he told CT Examiner. The medical examiner later ruled her death a homicide, noting that she died as a result of "multiple blunt and sharp force injury.". 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. I left him a voicemail. Police never made an arrest in the case, though Floyd Dugas, the attorney representing the department in the records dispute, told the court Wednesday the agency long has had a prime suspect. That all falls out of your test, doesnt it?. While Tyler appreciated it, it made Conway furious. What if theres concerns about corruption or incompetence and now its five years, now its 10 years a reporter wants to know or a family member wants to know. While their outing is filmed from a hotel window across the street from the bar, Madison prods his father on details about his marriage to Madisons late mother. 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 what we were selling was a personal approach that wasn't a whodunit but more a story about identity, the duality of humanity, and the layers of what we share with each other, how open we are, and just me kind of coming of age and understanding my mother and in turn understanding my identity. Platt also cut off her relationship with Barbara, and drew hard lines on what areas were Barbara's Gifting Tables "territory" for recruitment and which were Platt's. Madison Hamburg and producer Anike Niemeyer had requested the files while filming the series and were summarily denied by the department. She totally got it and they made us an offer. It's funny cause I feel like those are some of the more authentic moments in the documentary, from the earlier footage. It's terrifying, and I think that something that was really important for me was naming and identifying the adverse effects of doing something like this in the documentary itself, because I just think that's one of the unique aspects of the point of view. The television series, Murder on Middle Beach, documents the story of Madison Hamburgs search for the story behind his mothers murder. It was Beach who discovered Barbara's body on the morning of the murder, but claims she was cleaning out the basement of a 90-year-old neighbor at the time of the murder. Beach was also accused of threatening an anonymous member of the Gifting Tables by leaving dead animals in her yard. This issue warrants appellate scrutiny.. It's like crack, I can't stop going through and analyzing and its incredibly rewarding. Murder on Middle Beach centers on the mysterious death of 48-year old Barbara Hamburg. Allowing that type of information to come out may be more likely to help them solve the crime [rather] than keeping everything secret. 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. But as soon as I started asking questions I realized it was much bigger than that. Ali had always maintained her innocence, claiming that she had been dropped off at school by Barbara on the morning of the murder, and that she only returned home later that day with Beach, who picked her up from school after Ali's texts to her mother went unanswered. That is unbelievably gratifying, so I don't know, there's a lot of mixed things swirling around in how I feel right now. Barbara Beach Hamburg, Madison's mother, was killed in 2010 in Madison, Connecticut. Weeks of back-and-forth ensued as the show premiered on HBO. The department denied the request, citing a portion of the state Freedom of Information Act exempting certain law enforcement records from release if the disclosure of such records would not be in the public interest because it would result in the disclosure of information to be used in a prospective law enforcement action if prejudicial to such action.. By the end of the series, the only suspect who has a truly rock-solid alibi is Ali, anda number of questions about that, in my mind, remained unanswered: Who was the masked man who was allegedly seen lurking outside Barbara's window the day before she was murdered? 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Drumm told commissioners he believed plaintiffs were led to ask the Madison Police Department for additional records after obtaining copies of evidence collected by other state agencies who were assisting on the case, such as the Connecticut State Police, who Drumm said processed evidence at their crime lab. The latest true crime series Murder on Middle Beach just hit HBO. ', 6,000 checks go out to Yale workers in class-action settlement involving wellness program, Police: Stolen car found riddled with bullets after gunfire in New Haven near Yale, West Haven mayor under fire after city is left without a finance director at start of budget season, Convicted DiMassa codefendant requests acquittal, new trial in West Haven fraud scheme case, The Best Private High Schools near New Haven, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Private Preschools Near New Haven. In HBO's latest true crime docuseries, Murder on Middle Beach, director Madison Hamburg tries to uncover every clue in the unsolved murder of his mother, Barbara Hamburg . Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Attorney David Schulz, a Yale Law professor and member of the schools Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic that has worked with Hamburg and Niemeyer on the records fight, called Klaus decision thorough and thoughtful. He agreed the eventual conclusion of this case could help set new precedent for how the public access old police case files across the state, which is an important tool for holding investigators accountable, he said. I don't know. I wonder how far Ali's school was and how far Barbara's house was from the courthouse. It would compromise the case investigation. he said. ------------------------------------------, details presented in "Murder on Middle Beach", killed by someone she had crossed through her participation in "The Gifting Tables,", "The Jinx," the shocking 2015 HBO docuseries, "true criminal justice" documentaries and docuseries. He also works to eliminate several of his family members as potential suspects in his mother's murder. 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HBOs four-part documentary series is the compilation of eight years of work for Madison, who was 19 when his mother was found bludgeoned to death outside their Connecticut home in 2010. Throughout the mini-series, the main suspect seemed to be Barbara's ex-husband and Madison's father, Jeffrey Hamburg. I started the project in a documentary film class. We certainly dont want to give a heads-up or give away some information that only somebody who was at the scene or perpetrated the crime would know.. Have you spoken to him since the scene where he hangs up on you in the final episode? The four-part series was released at the end of 2020. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. [2] as well as other partner offers and accept our. 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.. He claimed to have been told time and time again that the case is cold and investigators are stuck, and argued releasing the records could only help solve the case. "And one of them was, if we don't solve my mom's case, then the documentary becomes a tool for me to get my mom's story out there and provide some momentum." [1] Contents 1 Production 2 Episodes 3 Reception 4 References Production [ edit] The documentary series began as a student film while Hamburg was in college. As long as an investigation is active without any impediments to prosecution, Dugas argued, the exemption should apply. 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. 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. His second goal was to absolve his family members of the crime, which dovetails with the obvious goal of discovering who actually killed Barbara. The following contains spoilers from the ending of HBO's "Murder of Middle Beach.". Drumm, however, told CT Examiner that his reasoning for appealing the decision was two-fold: the potential of damaging what he said were ongoing efforts by the department to solve the case, and the need to protect the interests of the family. Conways Facebook page includes recent photos with them all, implying that despite her rocky past, she currently has a good and healthy relationship with them. The fight over the records now heads to the Connecticut Appellate Court, while the long-cold investigation into the murder itself remains at a standstill even in the wake of the popular TV series. Although it seems like Conway is living a quiet life, she has mourned her sister publicly over the years, holding vigils and vowing to keep her memory alive. The old adage about a fresh pair of eyes is particularly apt. The case isnt closed. Dugas acknowledged the court was dealing with competing interests, one of which was the publics right to know. Madison Hamburg, who was a teenager when his mother died, went on to study documentary filmmaking. The horrific 2010 murder of 48-year-old single mom Barbara Hamburg in front of her Madison, Connecticut, home remains unsolved, but there have been plenty of theories as to who could have. Ashlie D. Stevens is Salon's deputy food editor. Here's everything you need to know about Beach Hamburg's death and "Murder on Middle Beach.". Madisons mother, Barbara Beach Hamburg, before her 2010 murder. Conway Beach is Barbara Beach Hamburgs elder sister and the woman who, unfortunately, discovered her body. 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. The department claims the case remains active and releasing the file could hinder a prospective prosecution or even result in witness intimidation. 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. Murder on Middle Beach Season 2 Release Date 'Murder on Middle Beach' season 1 premiered on November 15, 2020, on HBO, and concluded with its fourth and final episode - 'Reasonable Doubts' - on December 6, 2020. Did she ever try to contact them again? The decision also said police failed to prove that, even if there was a prospective law enforcement action, disclosure of the requested records would be prejudicial to such action.. 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. We made a pitch deck and we pitched the networks. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. The commission ruled in August 2020 that because the department could not identify any specific prospective law enforcement action, they had to turn the documents over to the filmmakers, court records show. Jeffrey, who was an exorbitantly wealthy former CEO of Southern Electric International, and Barbara had an incredibly acrimonious divorce. This allegation feelscircumstantial at best. I was a drug addict at the time, and really fell into my addiction and hit my rock bottom. What it did do, though, was bring light to the case and start a conversation around it. The Madison Department of Police filed an appeal on September 2. It would not be in the interest of our own investigation to release it any further, said Drumm. 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. And I was just desperately trying to understand how to take the next step with something so personal and not sacrifice anything. Unfortunately, because of that, when her parents divorced in 2002, she suffered the most. On the other hand, Dugas, the attorney for the Madison Police Department, argued the case was very much active. Madison. Instead, he draws just as much suspense and intrigue by looking hard at his family history and asking his loved ones tough questions, even when they dont necessarily want to answer them. According to David Schulz, a lawyer representing the plaintiff, the department was only withholding the information on the off chance that new information about the case should come to light, and that there really was not an ongoing investigation. In one example, Justice Steven Ecker asked Dugas about the competing interest of uncovering police corruption or incompetence. Klau reviewed the case and found in August that the police department cannot use the mere theoretical possibility of a future law enforcement action to keep the investigative files secret but conceded there is little precedent for how investigators or the FOIC should determine what constitutes such a future action. You can watch the trailer below. 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. Every Theory About Barbara Hamburg's Murder Murder on Middle Beach calls a handful of suspects into question. Drumm said in the meeting that, along with the request from Madison Hamburg and Neimeyer, the department had received three other requests from media outlets from the other coast for the full case files. The police could have an incentive to just not become the focus of second-guessing, Ecker said. Beach Hamburg and Hamburg married in 1989, but divorced in 2002. Alex Murdaugh Faces Life In Prison For Allegedly Killing His Wife & Son, Heres What Happened To Riley In 'The Last Of Us' Video Game, Twitter Is Losing It Over Succession Ending With Season 4, Everything To Know About 'And Just Like That' Season 2, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. I wanted to give their stories justice and unfortunately that involves exploring these conflicts. And one of them was, if we don't solve my mom's case, then the documentary becomes a tool for me to get my mom's story out there and provide some momentum. She suffered for years from alcoholism, addiction and physical and mental health issues as well as a palpable jealousy towards Barbara and Barbara's daughter, Ali. Charles Bright. The. Initial buy-in was about $5,000 and, under leaders like Barbara, women would liquidate savings accounts or refinance their homes for a chance at entering the more lucrative circles of the group. The series depicted how the investigation process caused rifts between the family and the secrets which suggested their involvement in the murder. But one thing that surprised meI remember the first message I got after the release of episode one. 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. How did you balance your craft and the desire to tell a captivating story from a film perspective with the personal elementworking with your own family members and telling your own painful story? Madison Hamburg looks back after the finale of "Murder on Middle Beach," the docuseries about his search for his mother's killer. All rights reserved. Many ancient pipes in CT aren't up to the task of draining storm water, yet officials just seem to shrug. "I was so messed up, I didn't know what to do. This theory does seem to make a lot of sense, except when you consider how Barbara was murdered. He also said that he had new evidence on the case that he did not want to share. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. June 3, 2021 8:00AM. So I pressed everyone pretty hard, and I ended up with 160 hours of footage. She blacks out and wakes up the next morning upstairs on a bed, naked and cashless. It was a. The series makes other allegations relating to Beach and her sister's involvement in a pyramid scheme known as the Gifting Tables. Hamburg was only 18 years old when his mother's body was found in 2010 outside of her Connecticut home when her sister, Conway Beach, arrived back at the home with . Would I even do this if I teleported back eight years and said, you started this documentary, here are the sacrifices that you and your family are gonna make but here's what you have to gain. Jeffrey appears in Murder on Middle Beach where he repeatedly refuses to talk about Barbara's murder and insists that his ex-wife had dark secrets that he can't discuss. 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. 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