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HBO’s “Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning” Premieres December 4
“Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning,” is a three-episode documentary series from HBO, directed by Jason Hehir, with production ties to The Boston Globe. The series is scheduled to premiere on Monday, December 4, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, with successive episodes airing weekly. Viewers can catch the series both on HBO and its streaming service, Max.
The series meticulously dissects a murder case from 1989 that stirred the city of Boston and resonated with deep-seated racial discord. On a late October evening, Charles “Chuck” Stuart places an urgent 911 call. He alleges that an assailant, an African American, attacked him and his pregnant wife, Carol, in the Mission Hill neighborhood. Carol’s passing later that night, followed by the death of their prematurely born infant, draws the gaze of the entire city, from local authorities to the general public.
Boston’s then-mayor, Raymond Flynn, mobilizes an extensive search for the perpetrator, inadvertently unraveling the delicate threads of trust between Boston Police and the residents of Mission Hill. As law enforcement doubles down on their search with aggressive measures that predominantly affect people of color within the community, the mutual distrust between the public and the police intensifies. The case, fueled by media fervor and existing racial tensions, reaches a pivotal turning point, leaving Boston on edge.
With a blend of historical footage and contemporary interviews—including perspectives from locals, journalists, relatives of the Stuart family, city officials, and a retired police officer—the series navigates through the intricate fabric of race relations in Boston dating back to the contentious 1974 school desegregation and busing crisis. “Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning” offers a deep dive into the lasting impact the Stuart case has on those directly affected, the broader societal implications on race connections, and the bitter reality of a community grappling with the consequences of a fervent pursuit for resolution.