Netflix’s acclaimed 2019 true crime series, Unbelievable, recounts the tragic real-life story of 18-year-old Marie Adler. In 2008, Marie (played by Kaitlyn Dever from Booksmart) was assaulted in her apartment, where she was threatened with a knife, bound, blindfolded, and raped. Despite reporting the incident to the police, her claims were not believed, causing her to doubt her own experience and ultimately retract her accusation. As a result, she was fined $500 for what authorities deemed false reporting, even though her story was true.
Kaitlyn Dever’s poignant depiction of Marie’s harrowing ordeal earned her nominations for both a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Television Award.
The limited series is based on comprehensive reports about Marie, specifically The Marshall Project and ProPublica’s Pulitzer-winning article, “An Unbelievable Story of Rape,” by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, as well as an episode of This American Life titled “Anatomy of Doubt.”
Armstrong maintained contact with the real Marie and shared on Twitter that she had watched the Netflix series, admitting, “I did cry quite a bit” but also described it as “excellent.” She particularly appreciated the scene where Marie recants her confession to the police, calling it “perfect.”
Marie Adler is Not Her Real Name
While both Unbelievable and the associated reports refer to her as Marie, the name comes from her middle name; her actual full name remains undisclosed. The Denver Post reported that court documents identified her as D.M.
Her Desire to Use the Same Sheets
In both the series and reality, Marie’s sheets were taken as evidence. Her insistence on wanting to sleep on those same sheets raised doubts from her foster mother. A report highlighted Marie’s anger when she couldn’t find the same set while shopping for new bedding, leading to her foster mom questioning her reasoning.
No Evidence of a Suicide Attempt
The first episode ends with a cliffhanger where Marie tries to jump off a bridge. However, there is no solid evidence that this event occurred in reality. Although Marie had been on various antidepressants since childhood, no suicide attempt is documented in the reports.
Exoneration Happened Two Years Later
In the series, the investigations of Marie’s case and others appear concurrent, but in reality, her assault occurred in March 2009. It wasn’t until 2011 that Detective Stacy Galbraith made crucial connections leading to Marie’s exoneration, after looking into a similar case.
Marie Forgave Her Foster Mothers
Armstrong revealed that Marie’s former foster mothers, who initially doubted her, later apologized, and she forgave them, maintaining connections. After watching the series, Marie reassured them that the portrayal was not meant to vilify them.
Current Life of the Real Marie
While the series leaves Marie’s future uncertain, it’s known from Armstrong that she is currently working as a long-haul truck driver, navigating across the country. Armstrong describes her as strong and resilient, frequently on the move from state to state.
