What's The Real Story Behind Netflix's ‘Should I Marry A Murderer’?
In today’s era of online dating, there is no end to the Tinder horror stories. Countless women have come forward online and to the media with stories of being matched with anyone from pathological liars to swindlers.
However, one woman might take the cake for worst Tinder match ever after she was matched with and became engaged to a murderer. As wild as its title and premise sound, Netflix’s latest hit miniseries, Should I Marry a Murderer?, is, indeed, a true crime docuseries. Read on to find out the real story behind the new docuseries.
The Crime Behind ‘Should I Marry a Murderer?’ Explained
Should I Marry A Murderer? examines the case of the McKellar brothers from the perspective of Caroline Muirhead. In 2020, Muirhead was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as a 32-year-old forensic pathologist. She had recently escaped an abusive relationship and felt ready to start wading into the dating pool again. So, Muirhead did what most modern minglers do, and began swiping on Tinder. While swiping, she came across 31-year-old deer stalker Alexander “Sandy” McKellar.
McKellar appeared to be a handsome outdoorsman, and Muirhead was vulnerable given her experience with domestic abuse. So when she found someone she felt accepted by, it quickly led to a whirlwind relationship. Within just two months, the pair were engaged. Things took a dark turn when, while preparing for a trip to Muirhead’s parents’ home for the holidays, she asked McKellar if there was anything in his past that may affect their future together.
Horrifyingly, McKellar confessed to murder. Three years earlier, he and his twin brother, Robert McKellar, were driving around the Scottish Highlands near Bridge of Orchy. Sandy McKellar was driving intoxicated after having dinner with his hunting peers and struck 63-year-old charity cyclist Tony Parsons. Instead of calling for help, the McKellar brothers left a critically injured Parsons on the side of the road and drove off. They returned later in a different vehicle and took the now deceased cyclist to their private property, where they buried him and disposed of his belongings. For three years, the pair resumed their lives, believing they got away with murder, until Sandy McKellar pulled Muirhead into the story.
How Caroline Muirhead Brought the McKellars to Justice
The title of Netflix’s Should I Marry a Murderer? may sound redundant to you. Naturally, Muirhead never seriously considered marrying McKellar after learning about the murder, but she had to make it seem like she did. Muirhead went to the police after her fiancé’s confession. However, the authorities needed more evidence, leading Muirhead to go undercover for months, secretly recording the McKellars and gathering evidence while posing as someone who wanted to help them. She even had McKellar bring her to the burial site, upon which she discreetly left a crushed Red Bull can to mark the site and lead authorities there.
While it was a brave decision, it wasn’t a situation Muirhead wanted to be in. The McKellar brothers were dangerous, and she feared for her life if they found out she was cooperating with the authorities. However, she told the Daily Record that police pressured her into the role, and even warned that she could get into trouble for not cooperating. She felt unprotected, and the undercover work took a toll on her, leading her to begin using drugs and alcohol to cope. When the prosecution tapped her as a key witness in the McKellars’ trial, she panicked and fled the courtroom, leading to her arrest for contempt of court.
Muirhead was released when the McKellars accepted a plea deal, under which Sandy McKellar received a 12-year prison sentence, and Robert McKellar received a 5-year sentence. Muirhead was able to move on with her life and is now sober and in a healthy relationship. Still, the ending of Should I Marry A Murderer? isn’t quite a happy one. You’ll be left feeling like the authorities failed both Muirhead and the family of Parsons, with lingering questions about how authorities treat key witnesses and undercover figures, as well as why it took them years to solve the case of the beloved cyclist’s murder.
Should You Watch ‘Should I Marry a Murderer?’
Should I Marry a Murderer? is definitely your next binge-watch if you love wild Netflix true-crime series such as The Tinder Swindler (2022) or Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (2025). It’s unpredictable, dark, and stranger than fiction, but it also serves a good purpose by allowing Muirhead to tell her story and, hopefully, get some closure from her ordeal. At the same time, there’s a more sobering element to Should I Marry a Murderer? than the typical dating horror story, given the gravity of the crime. Also, although it’s Muirhead’s story, I would have liked it if the docuseries had gotten into Parsons's story more.
On the day he died, Parsons, a 63-year-old Navy vet and cancer survivor, was completing the grueling feat of cycling over 100 miles to raise money for the disease he survived. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and according to his son, Mike Parsons, his 100-mile cycling feat wasn’t shocking but simply reflected the type of person he was.
Ultimately, Should I Marry a Murderer? is a gripping, shocking, and well-crafted true crime series that shines a light on Muirhead’s story. There’s an underlying sadness about the story and a few missing pieces, but it’s a docuseries certain to stay with you long after it’s finished.
