Let the Devil In on MGM+: The Story Behind the Jefferson Township Murders
Documentary series about the brutal double murder in New Jersey in 1988 and the rumors of demonic possession
What is the series about?
Let the Devil In (MGM+, 2025) is a true crime documentary series that is based on one of the most notorious and mysterious criminal cases from New Jersey in the late 1980s. The series, produced with Eli Roth as host and narrator, delves into the psychological and cultural mechanisms that arise when a brutal murder collides with religious fanaticism and local paranoia. The first episode, titled Jefferson Township Murder, specifically focuses on the events that took place in 1988 and how the community reacted to the extreme violence.
The real case
The real case behind Let the Devil In took place in Jefferson Township, New Jersey, in 1988. The victims were a deeply religious Catholic mother and her son, who were found brutally murdered in their own home. The nature of the crime scene was so violent that investigators and neighbors quickly began to speculate on motives that extended beyond ordinary crime. During a time marked by the American 'Satanic Panic' wave, the case was soon infiltrated by rumors of demonic possession and occult rituals. The Devil Within The case, often referred to as - pointed in several directions, including towards family members, but the legal evidence often conflicted with the psychological testimonies.
Directors Trey Nelson and Danielle Franco use archival footage and new interviews to reconstruct the critical hours surrounding the murder. A central figure in the narrative is a person referred to as 'Tom', whose role in the sequence of events has been debated for decades. The series manages to separate fact from the many myths that arose in the wake of the tragedy and examines how the fear of the supernatural can derail a rational police investigation.
Timeline of the case
- 1988: The double murder takes place in Jefferson Township, shaking the close-knit Catholic community.
- 1989-1990: Trials and hearings take place, but the public is divided between belief in a psychological breakdown and theories about demons.