Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Documentary ‘Conviction’ brings powerful new perspective on true crime to Amazon

Conviction documentary logo for new Amazon doc by Jia Wertz.

This article is sponsored by Conviction: A Jia Wertz Film

Wrongful convictions happen, and they happen more than anyone would like to admit. Can you imagine being caught up in a brutal series of events, that you have nothing to do with it? That’s exactly what happened to Jeffrey Deskovic. He was convicted of the rape and murder of a high school classmate at the age of 17 until DNA evidence helped exonerate him years later at age 33. Deskovic was never responsible for the attack, and worse yet, when they discovered who actually committed the crime — Steven Cunningham — the murderer had also taken the life of a school teacher.

That story is explored in detail in a new short documentary called Conviction. Created by Jia Wertz, the documentary premiered at the Greenwich International Film Festival and saw success on the festival circuit. The short was selected at over a dozen festivals including NewFilmmakers NY, Cannes International Independent Film Festival, Georgia Documentary Film Festival, Beeston Film Festival, Best Shorts Fest, and was the recipient of numerous awards. It is now being featured on Amazon, where it’s available to watch.

Currently, Wertz is working on the final stages of post-production for a feature-length documentary of the same story.

Jia Wertz Films, helmed by the director and filmmaker of the same name, will explore the same topics, weaving through the vagaries and inconsistencies of the American criminal justice system, as told through the experiences of Jeffrey Deskovic and other exonerees that have had their freedom restored at the cost of irreparable damage to their minds, relationships, and families.

Jia Wertz is also a featured writer for Forbes and has also contributed to many publications, in the field of filmmaking, fashion and business, and she’s also a fashion designer for Studio 15.

Conviction: A judicial investigation into the story

Conviction Official Trailer

Since his exoneration, Jeffrey Deskovic has become a renowned speaker and activist on wrongful convictions and the death penalty. He’s spoken at numerous events and venues, with appearances on CNN, in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and beyond. But the story of Conviction, the short documentary (and soon to be a full-length film) by Wertz, is not about his immense success since his release, but instead about how everything played out when he was much younger and the difficulties of reintegrating into society after a wrongful conviction.

On November 15, 1989, a 15-year-old high school student named Angela Correa went outside to capture photos for a class project she was involved in. Two days later, her body was discovered near the local elementary school. Her killer had beaten, raped, and strangled her.

Through a series of events, Jeffrey Deskovic became the prime suspect, just 16 at the time it all started, and eventually convicted for the rape and murder of Angela Correa — at 17 years old. The documentary reveals what happened, how Deskovic came to be arrested and later convicted, and also digs into the evidence, or lack thereof, at the time.

Documentary 'Conviction' by Jia Wertz movie poster.

What happened to Deskovic is terrifying, but Correa’s fate is even more horrific, as is the fate of the teacher the true killer would eventually harm. How could the American justice system allow this to happen? How could it convict an innocent high school student, and how has it affected his life through the years? Why did Steven Cunningham, the true killer, roam free for so long? These questions are answered in the short documentary, available to watch now on Amazon, and will also be explored in greater detail in the full-length documentary that’s soon to come.

Speaking of Crime: A podcast for true crime enthusiasts

Speaking of Crime logo for podcast streaming now.

Featuring hosts John Gully and Jia Wertz, the Speaking of Crime podcast, available on a bevy of platforms, covers a collection of true crime stories, including missing person cases, the wrongfully convicted, and murder. One of the most recent cases covered on the podcast includes the Gabby Petito murder case and the [eventually tragic] search for Brian Laundrie. Both hosts are very respectful of the victims and cases, covering everything you need to know about the related events and the involved contacts.

It’s an excellent source of stories, mysteries, and recaps for lovers of true crime told from the perspective of hosts that understand the investigative world.

If you’re on the hunt for a great podcast to listen to during your morning runs, commute, or in your downtime, you can find Speaking of Crime on Audible, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. There are over 20 episodes available, spanning as far back as September 2021, with new episodes arriving weekly. So, there’s plenty of true crime content for anyone that’s interested!

Between Conviction, now streaming on Amazon Video, the Speaking of Crime podcast, and her other engagements, Jia Wertz is certainly busy! Moreover, there’s plenty of content to digest if you’re a true crime aficionado.

This is a​ special advertising section​. The content herein contains the views and opinions expressed by the advertiser.

Editors' Recommendations

Scotland vs Spain live stream: How to watch for free from anywhere
Massive open air soccer stadium with a game in play.

Soccer fans will be pleased to see there are ways to watch the Scotland vs Spain live stream online. It's a bit of a confusing world for anyone looking to watch Euro 2024 qualifying matches with different games streamed in different places. This game is a pretty simple one with only one streaming service offering the game -- FuboTV. That has pros and cons but it does mean that there's an easy way to watch the Scotland vs Spain live stream for free, legally.
Watch the Scotland vs Spain live stream on FuboTV

The exclusive home of many Euro 2024 qualifying matches including Scotland vs Spain, FuboTV is a great sports-focused streaming service overall. It costs $75 per month for the base plan but if you're solely interested in watching Scotland vs Spain, you can check out a FuboTV free trial. By signing up to it, you get to check out the service entirely for free for seven days and that includes being able to watch Scotland vs Spain. If you're a sports fan, you may want to stick around for longer. The service also includes Fox Sports 1, NBC and USA Network -- all of which cover Euro 2024 qualifying games or the Premier League. There are also other sports catered for too such as NFL Network, MLB Network and a bunch more too. Any time you want to relax, there are entertainment options such as Bravo, the Disney Channel and Paramount.

Read more
The Night Agent season 1’s ending, explained
Peter shows his badge in The Night Agent.

The Night Agent, one of the newest shows on Netflix, is admittedly centered around a played-out spy trope. But the twists, turns, and movie-like action sequences throughout the 10-episode first season of the action thriller make it a worthy watch.

Curious about how the show's first season ends? Digital Trends has all the spoilers about what happened in the season finale and what that means for a possible second season.
What The Night Agent is about

Read more
The best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video right now
A man runs from a UFO in Nope.

A good thriller film will stay in your head for weeks. And whether it’s a quiet bit of mystery or an action-heavy spectacle, it’s not hard to understand why these flicks cling to our brains. These are the types of movies that drop audiences in headfirst, give us as little or as much information as the filmmakers want us to have, then send us off on a harrowing journey of trope-laden puzzle-solving. At least that's generally the formula.

Are you looking for a great place to catch all the latest thrillers? Look no further than Amazon Prime Video. From A-list epics to shoestring slow-burns, the streamer has it all, and it’s our job to keep up with all the latest and greatest titles. Here are all the best thrillers on Prime Video this month.
Amazon Prime may have a robust catalog, but it doesn't have everything. Luckily, we've also curated roundups of the best thrillers on Netflix and the best thrillers on Hulu.

Read more