I'm Rebecca Levoy, and this is You Can't Make This Up.

You Can't Make This Up is the podcast where we uncover the true stories behind your favorite Netflix documentaries and films.

On today's episode, we take a closer look at the Netflix documentary film, The Truth and Tragedy of Mariah Wilson.

And then within days of her being born, I was sitting on the couch listening to a Sean Colbyn song.

And the song made me think that she's going to leave me someday.

Today, we're talking to director Marina Zenevich and producer Evan Hayes.

Mariah Wilson was chasing her dream of becoming a champion cyclist,

winning contests across the country and making lasting connections with people along the way.

In 2022, after dinner with a fellow cyclist, Mariah was shot by the man's jealous girlfriend,

who then tried to escape by fleeing the country, getting plastic surgery, and living under her

sister's name. But for those who knew her, the story always remained focused on Mariah's

extraordinary life and not her violent death. The Netflix documentary film, The Truth and Tragedy of Mariah Wilson, goes beyond the headlines

and zooms in on the life of the woman lost in a sensational murder case.

We hear Mariah's family and friends discuss who shaped her life, what motivated her passion

for cycling, and how her loss has affected them.

It recounts how authorities caught and convicted Caitlin Armstrong for the murder, but the

film always keeps Mariah at its center, portraying her as an inspiration, not a victim.

Whenever we make choices and they have negative consequences, we can't just walk away. It's about what's right and wrong

and being held accountable. It was just such a senseless crime. And I'm joined now by director Marina Zenevich and producer Evan Hayes.

Both of you, welcome to You Can't Make This Up.

Thank you.

So, Marina, many true crime documentaries focus on victims' lives as merely a prologue to talk about their deaths.

...