Inside true story of 'American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders' and gruesome death of investigative journalist Danny Casolaro
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The hottest addition to Netflix's viewing library, 'American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murder,' is based on the true story of journalist Danny Casolaro's tragic demise.
The four-part docuseries, which is directed by Zachary Treitz, is slated for release on February 28 and explores a deceased journalist's work associated with a conspiracy known as 'The Octopus.'
The Netflix series will follow researcher Christian Hansen as he investigates the suspicious murder of Casolaro.
What happened to Danny Casolaro?
Casolaro, a freelance writer, was discovered dead in a bathtub with his wrist sliced multiple times, suggesting that he had taken his own life.
The journalist's death became contentious due to his notes, which indicated he was investigating complicated cases such as Ronald Rogan's dubious 1980 presidential triumph and the collapse of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
What was the conspiracy, 'The Octoups?'
The word octopus is peculiar on the surface, but it holds deeper significance in Casolaro's research, as he believed the organization comprised eight men, analogous to an octopus's eight legs, hence the name 'The Octopus.'
The conspiracy involved various criminal activities, including money laundering, malware, and its connection to Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra crisis.
The curious case of speculations behind Danny Casolaro's death
Despite several autopsies indicating the journalist's suicide, others speculated on an elaborate conspiracy scenario.
Following the reporter's death, police found out that the adjacent rooms were booked by Mike Looney and an unname family.
However, there were no indicators of unusual activity at night, but considering the problematic cases Casolaro was working on, there were speculations that he had been slain, but nothing definite was ever proved due to a lack of proof.
Additionally, an FBI task force investigating the case questioned the suicide perspective and emphasised the need for further inquiry.
Ron Rosenbaum, a friend and colleague of Casolaro, said that the reporter may have murdered himself to pique people's interest in his investigation.
'American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders' will start streaming on Netflix on February 28.