Netflix has picked up the six-part docuseries Murder Mountain, which previously aired on Fusion TV. It will be launched on December 28 and feature much of California and parts of Oregon. The show is produced by Lightbox Entertainment, which has produced LA92, Man on Wire and Captive, and directed by Joshua Zeman.
It is set in Humboldt County, California, following a chain of missing people but especially Garret Rodriguez, surfer from San Diego who disappeared in 2013. Another aspect of the show will focus on the marijuana farms that pervade the area, and how legalization of marijuana has threatened their way of life. Concerning Rodriguez, Fusion TV stated that “His disappearance and the events surrounding the investigation into his whereabouts threaten to expose a wild, lawless place, and will forever change the local community.” Those living in the area have been concerned that shedding light on the situation could ruin their reputation.
However, the goal of the series seems to be to show viewers a life that exists outside of rules like in the old days, when justice was taken into the hands of the people. Jonathan and Simon Chinn, executive producers and co-founders of Lightbox, provided insight into the show in a statement: “Murder Mountain is a riveting tale about vigilante justice and outlaw culture in a lawless community that resembles America’s Wild West past. The series pulls back the curtain on a secret world few of us know anything about, with a cast of real-life isolationists, outlaws, vigilantes and other unforgettable characters.”
As one might expect, with a name like ‘Murder Mountain,’ the area isn’t famous for skiing. Bonnie Taylor, the aunt of Garret Rodriguez, explained that Rodriguez went to Humboldt for the money, specifically to work at a marijuana farm. His disappearance sparked investigations into these cases. However, these matters were not taken up by the police department, but by a group known as the “Alderpoint 8,” according to the sheriff’s department in the area. These men confronted the suspect and shot him, demanding they be taken to Garret’s body. Garret, shot to death, was found in a shallow grave. Within this lawless context, viewers can catch a glimpse of what life is like on the other side of the fence.