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. We now know they have that information, which led them to ask additional questions of us of information that we had not shared with the general public, Drumm told commissioners, adding that the department needed to retain the information to complete its investigation. What were the reactions of Ali and Conway like? 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. While Beach's husband (and Madison's father) Jeffrey was questioned early on about his ex-wife's murder, there . 7: Caught in a Bad Romance, Brandon Sklenar is the Baddest Dutton of Them All, The 'Outer Banks' S3 Finale Is Intense as Hell. But they're in a really good spot now. According to the HBO docuseries, Beach Hamburg's body was covered with outdoor furniture cushions when it was found. HBO's new true-crime docuseries "Murder on Middle Beach" premieres Sunday, November 15. Barbara Beach Hamburg was found dead outside her home in 2010, but her case remains unsolved. 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. Her body was discovered by Madison's aunt Conway and his sister, Ali. But even if the. 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 . What details, if any, does Conway remember about the person she planned to hire to kill Barbara? Then there's Conway Beach, Barbara's sister. 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. It would compromise the case investigation. he said. Beach Hamburg had been expected in court, along with Hamburg, on the morning of her death, but never made it to her 9:30 a.m. appearance. 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. I didn't necessarily fit the mold, but SCAD agreed to a really unique deal with me where they funded 10 weeks of production and we shot all of our master interviews. 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. As long as an investigation is active without any impediments to prosecution, Dugas argued, the exemption should apply. The four-part HBO Max series, now available on Sky Crime and NOW TV in the UK, follows director Madison Hamburg as he investigates the unsolved murder of his own mother, Barbara Beach Hamburg, on . Barbara Beach Hamburg, Madison's mother, was killed in 2010 in Madison, Connecticut. So he made a deal with us that he would give us an A if I never stopped working on it. A spokesperson for the Connecticut State Police Public Information Office said the State Police had not released any evidence regarding the murder of Barbara Hamburg. That was in 2016. Especially my sister, she's the person closest to me, who can empathize the most. You can watch the trailer below. In 2016, he began to film a project reviewing the circumstances around his mothers death, interviewing family members and pursuing information from the Madison Police Department about its investigation. On March 3, 2010, Barbara Beach Hamburg, 48, was found murdered in the backyard of her Madison, Connecticut, home. In past cases in which the exemption was upheld, police showed the commission they were interviewing witnesses, in the final stages of an investigation or working on it weekly, according to Harmon. I wonder how far Ali's school was and how far Barbara's house was from the courthouse. While Tyler appreciated it, it made Conway furious. 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. Since 2016 there have been multiple cold case reviews and none of those reviews have turned up a new avenue of investigation, a new lead to follow or new steps to take, she said. The four-part docuseries explores the 2010 murder of 48-year-old mother of two, Barbara Hamburg, who was discovered blugeoned and stabbed to death at her own home in Madison, Connecticut in. Precisely how much time should pass between a case going cold and when the files should be accessible to the public is up for debate, Klau conceded, but he kicked that decision to the legislature, arguing state lawmakers are in the best position to set out in writing a clear timeframe for when and how such records should be made available. 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. Evidence of a struggle was strewn across the lawn. They've seen the documentary, we had family screenings before we even sent it out to press. Barbara was killed very violently, likely with a hammer, and detectives have called it a crime of passion and theorize that the killer knew Barbara and had a personal stake in the murder. Its not a normal father-son catch-up scene. But one thing that surprised meI remember the first message I got after the release of episode one. It is more than a reasonable possibility, pun intended, that the Connecticut Appellate or Supreme Court will review this decision. And, as Jeffrey alleged via a phone call to Madison, is there any evidence that the documents detailing his financial decisions had been fabricated? Murder on Middle Beach centers on the mysterious death of 48-year old Barbara Hamburg. The first theory the documentary presents is that Barbara Hamburg was killed by her ex-husband, Jeffrey Hamburg. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider We also have to honor the victims and their families. That said, in the final episode Ali's alibi is confirmed: her mother dropped her off at school the morning that she was killed. The pace picks up in the fourth episode in such a way through the confirmation of Ali's alibi and the discovery of Jeffrey's financial records that it felt like we were rocketing towards a last-minute reveal that would position "Murder on Middle Beach" as the next "The Jinx," the shocking 2015 HBO docuseries, which shows Robert Durst in the final moments of the series mumbling what sounds like a confession on a still-hot lapel microphone: "What the hell did I do? Barbara was said to be involved in "gifting. I think the conflicts that I deal with in the fourth episode are pretty unique to the perspective. 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. As for where she is now, Conway appears to be residing in Connecticut, where she spends most of her free time with her family, especially her mother, son, and toddler grandson. How Did Barbara Hamburg Die? 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.. My whole family wasn't speaking to me.". HBO's new docuseries "Murder on Middle Beach," directed by Madison Hamburg, focuses on the death of Hamburg's mother, Barbara. And I was just desperately trying to understand how to take the next step with something so personal and not sacrifice anything. But as she admitted, Conway unsuccessfully tried to get revenge and hire a hitman to kill the Hamburgs. At the time of her death, Beach Hamburg had primary custody of Madison and Ali, while their father received visitation rights. I'm in awe of my sister. HBO. Schulz said that the plaintiffs would be thrilled if the police were able to solve the crime, but he said that this wasnt a reason to keep a case open forever. Madison police have not yet filed a brief outlining the grounds of their appeal with the Appellate Court, and attempts to reach the department this past week were unsuccessful. Theyve done multiple cold case reviews. Beach also alleges that Ali killed Barbara, Jeffrey Hamburg hired someone to kill his ex-wife. During the last four minutes of of HBO's docuseries "Murder on Middle Beach," a black screen pops up with a single, heartwrenching sentence: My family still lives without answers about my mother's death. June 3, 2021 8:00AM. accessed ), memorial page for Barbara Beach Hamburg (29 Apr 1961-3 Mar 2010), Find a Grave Memorial ID . 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. I got my crew together, but before at that point I was very much a family member asking these questions with a camera in the room. The two had gone through a rough divorce and were not on good terms at the time of Barbara's death. On the other hand, Dugas, the attorney for the Madison Police Department, argued the case was very much active. 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. 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. But the Freedom of Information Commission has argued that police failed to prove the case was active enough to warrant withholding the file or that the investigation was heading toward an arrest. This issue warrants appellate scrutiny.. The case raises questions about exactly when a cold case is considered cold enough to release the investigative files publicly and likely is destined for much further debate by both the judiciary and general assembly, Klau reasoned. But the uncomfortable history between the two made Conway come under scrutiny for her murder. It was then Beach and Ali who discovered Barbara's body. When her body was found by her sister and daughter it was covered with outdoor furniture cushions. Yeah, I can't get into details but I will say that after spending eight years just putting together fragments of memories about my mom or about the case or about a specific time period, the transparency and the accuracy of these facts that have been kept from me for so long has been extremely relieving. I can't get into details, but it's been extremely illuminating. Hamburg, for his part, said Beach Hamburg was behind on mortgage payments for their property . Just doing that over and over. The HBO true crime documentary series Murder on Middle Beach has reached its conclusion, without any grand reveal regarding who killed Barbara Hamburg. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this incorrectly statedAli Hamburg was diagnosed with bipolar disorder; she had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Beach Hamburg's sister, Conway, and her great-aunt, Jill Platt, are featured prominently in "Murder on Middle Beach," as is her mother. Emmys. The people in the States Attorneys office who oversee the cold case reviews agreed with them that there were no new leads to follow. In the series, she denies killing Barbara while showing little to no remorse for her past crimes. The day Barbara was found killed, she and Jeffrey were actually due in court to discuss Jeffrey's claim that he could not afford his child support and alimony payments. And the series has certainly accomplished that. We made a pitch deck and we pitched the networks. She cites the fact that the teenager had a rocky relationship with her mother, which was only intensified by Ali's struggles with borderline personality disorder. 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 dispute over the records goes back to 2019, when Anike Niemeyer, a filmmaker working with Madison Hamburg, requested all the departments investigatory records from the his mothers case. 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 . Unfortunately, because of that, when her parents divorced in 2002, she suffered the most. And if they can keep it closed forever, youll never be able to hold them accountable or give them an incentive not to cover something up.. According to the doc, Jeffrey allegedly owed Barbara and their two children hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the two were due to appear in court together on the day Barbara was murdered to sort it out. Moreover, allowing the public to access 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 is to prejudice that outcome.. However, Jeffrey did have a very solid alibi of being in court at the time of Barbara's murder, which seems to make it physically impossible for him to have committed the crime personally. 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. It's really interesting. Valicia Harmon, a staff attorney who represented the Freedom of Information Commission before the court, said the statutory provision making certain law enforcement records exempt from release balances two consideration: the right of law enforcement to conduct their investigations in private, and the right of the public to have insight into these long, cold investigations.. The matter now is in the hands of the Connecticut Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments Wednesday. So when she eventually got evicted, she moved to Florida, where she spent her days sleeping on park benches and just awaiting her death. She's just such an amazing, beautiful human being and I think that really comes through. 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. He said the Board of Selectmen would have to determine how much the town was willing to spend on the lawsuit.Downing expressed hope that state agencies would take up the case and relieve the town of a potentially significant financial burden appealing the case. How did she contact them? Beach Hamburg is survived by her children, Madison and Ali, 27, as well as her mother, also named Barbara, and numerous siblings. Due to Conway's addiction, she lost custody of her son to Barbara, after which Conway attempted to hire a hitman to kill Barbara because she "snapped. ", "My ulterior plan was to get all my money out of my 401(k) plan and get revenge against my baby sister, your mother, your father, and both of you, even Ali," she told Madison. The department claims the case remains active and releasing the file could hinder a prospective prosecution or even result in witness intimidation. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Through interviews with and secret recordings of his immediate family and the police, Madison and his crew tell the story of Barbara Beach Hamburgs full life and tragic death. To this day, the case that shocked a wealthy, idyllic seaside town has remained unsolved. 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. In a meeting of the towns Board of Police Commissioners on Thursday evening, Police Chief John Drumm said that if the courts ultimately ruled in favor of releasing the records, it could create a precedent that would affect police investigations across the state. However, later in the documentary, director Madison Hamburg Barbara's son and Ali's brother obtains school records that corroborate Ali's alibi of being at school at the time of the murder. [2] Directed by Barbara's son, Madison Hamburg, the docuseries is a chronicle of Madison's return to his home as he is determined to understand . Ever since then, Madison has been looking to uncover every clue and secret so as to solve her case. But Madisons is not a traditional true crime documentaryhe didnt want to fetishize or agonize over the gory details of the murder. "Murder on Middle Beach" adds to the genre as well. But after watching the entire series through again on Monday morning, I realized that's obviously the point one that I had lost sight of while tuning in week-to-week for the last month, eager to see how the case concluded. 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. Every Theory About Barbara Hamburg's Murder Murder on Middle Beach calls a handful of suspects into question. The documentary follows Madison as he investigates the shocking murder of his mother Barbara Beach Hamburg. 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. But just because the finale has aired, that doesn't mean the story is over. 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? Schulz said the department had provided two boxes of information about the case, but that they were still missing key documents, including witness statements, notes, computer records and telephone records. She remained in class until Conway picked her up. On March 3, 2010, Barbara was found brutally murdered in the yard of their Connecticut home. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. The Madison Police Department is appealing a state judges order that it must turn over its investigative files on Hamburgs 2010 murder to a pair of documentary filmmakers, including Hamburgs son, who examined the investigation in the hit HBO miniseries Murder on Middle Beach.. Like I really didn't want to create caricatures of my family members. If you say youre going to keep a file closed forever on the chance that something might develop, that means the public in most cases will never get to look at these files, Schulz said Friday. There are no corroborating witnesses for this alibi, according to the doc. In a statement ahead of the hearing, Hamburgs son, Madison Hamburg, who helped make an HBO documentary series about his mothers death called "Murder on Middle Beach," called for the records release. The medical examiner's office soon concluded that Hamburg died from "blunt and sharp force injuries." Madison Hamburg. It doesn't have a tidy ending, but grief rarely does. 5 Drumm also said that he hoped the Chief States Attorneys Office and that Attorney General William Tongs Office would file amicus briefs on their behalf. It was a really tough thing to balance with telling a compelling story, but I think it was knowing that the goal was to subvert the genre in a way, to lean in to those more kind of compelling conventions in order to eventually break them. Dugas acknowledged the court was dealing with competing interests, one of which was the publics right to know. 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. It's a shocking twist and, just when viewers need things to be put into context, the details become murky. Her body was discovered by Madison's aunt Conway and his sister, Ali; his father . 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