Law and Order In The Lowcountry

It’s no secret that “true crime” has grown increasingly popular in the United States, and across the globe over the past several years. From podcasts to docuseries, true crime content is tapping into the natural curiosity of humans, an interest in criminal behavior, and the quest for justice.

The Lowcountry is no exception to this trend. As national interest in the Murdaugh murder trials was growing, so was the following Kathy Schnelle had gained in her member-only Facebook group “Murdaugh Murders in the Lowcountry.” The group, now renamed “Law & Order in the Lowcountry,” is home to over 33,000 members with representation from across the globe, including South Africa, Ireland, Canada, India, and more.

Kathy, a paralegal at Montgomery Law Firm first created the group in September 2021, after becoming more and more interested in law, and following her natural inclination towards justice. She was surprised by how quickly the following grew, and the management of the online community became a large part of her life.

“I had no idea it would blow up like it

Please see LAW AND ORDER on page 40A

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LAW AND ORDER from page 38A did,” Kathy told the Bluffton Sun. “It was important to me that every one of my members had a voice. I learned so much, met so many different people - both good and bad. I would love to have some of the members become lawyers, they knew the ins and outs, every detail of the case being discussed.”

It is a common stereotype that women are more drawn to true crime content, and that is definitely exhibited in this group. Over 84% of the members in Kathy’s group are women, with the most common age range falling between 55 and 64.

True crime podcasts and online communities allow listeners to play the role of armchair detective and lawyer. Whether it’s analyzing evidence, speculating about suspects, and forming their own theories about unsolved cases, online spaces create a place for those who have a real interest in this subject matter to gather with like-minded individuals. The participatory aspect of the genre is not only enter- taining but can lead to new friendships. Psychologists believe that individuals feel compelled to understand the minds and motives of killers because we’re wired to try to make sense of possible threats in our environments. It’s human nature to want to figure out what would make people do things that are considered unthinkable.

It was important to Kathy that the Facebook group not only give each member a voice, but that the community was kind. “There were times when I would write posts to everybody reminding them of the rules: be kind, be nice,” Kathy shared. “I wanted a place where everybody could be free to voice their opinion without getting attacked.”

What keeps Kathy going when the management of the group seems all-too time consuming? For her, “it’s about the research and trying to find the truth behind the lies. Deep down people want justice, whether they know the person or not, they want justice.”