Netflix released the series 'Someone Must Know' this Wednesday, April 15, a production inspired by the disappearance and murder of Jorge Matute Johns in Concepción. The series aims to recreate the atmosphere of 1999, utilizing period-accurate details such as the absence of cell phones and era-specific archives to portray what is considered the most high-profile criminal case in recent Chilean history, according to latercera.com.
Despite being based on true events, the production altered the identities of those involved following an agreement with the young man's family. The protagonists now bear the surname Montoya Font, and the names of other friends and family members have also been modified, as reported by La Tercera.
Focus on the police investigation
The plot focuses primarily on the perspective of Prefect Montero, a character based on Detective Héctor Arenas of the Pincen, who led the investigation between 1999 and 2004. Montero also serves as the narrator, describing the young man's mother as "a force of nature" and recounting the intense media and judicial pressure his team faced.
The cast features performances by Alfredo Castro, Paulina García, and Gabriel Cañas. The latter portrays a priest inspired by Andrés San Martín, who publicly revealed in 2003 that the young man had been killed, according to the report.
However, the premiere comes amid opposition from the actual family involved. María Teresa Johns and Álex Matute Johns have expressed their rejection of the project since 2024. "It is a lack of respect (...) I want them to let my son rest in peace and not profit from my pain," the mother told Radio 13c, as cited by the outlet.
The series includes a specific disclaimer at the start of each episode: the legal case has not reached a conviction at the time of its release. This is because the most recent judicial milestone in December 2018 ordered a temporary dismissal of the case, failing to establish definitive responsibility for the young man's death.
