Sure, a lot of people mimic the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, but not many have stories like that of Kevin Curtis.
Released this month, the three-part Netflix documentary details how Curtis worked as a janitor as well as an Elvis impersonator – and it was during this day-job that he came across a horrifying discovery in a morgue.
Determined to expose the ‘dark underbelly of Tupelo’ in Mississippi, US where Elvis was born, Curtis’ venture ended up sparking a rivalry that extended all the way to Washington D.C.
In April 2013, Curtis found his quiet Tupelo home being raided by dozens of police and federal investigators as he was accused of sending letters to government officials, including then-President Barack Obama, which had been laced with a lethal poison called ricin.
Each of the letters was signed: “I am KC and I approve this message.”
The documentary features interviews with Kevin’s friends and foes (Netflix)
Curtis was hauled into police custody, and left with no choice but to fight to clear his name.
The Elvis fan was questioned by authorities about his knowledge of ricin – only Curtis responded to insist that he could hardly stand rice and hadn’t eaten it in years.
As authorities continued to investigate, the possibility that Curtis had been framed began to become more likely.
Created by Emmy-winning directors Maclain Way and Chapman Way, The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga features interviews with Curtis’ friends and family – as well as a few people who are presented as his enemies – and the twists and turns have left viewers at the edge of their seats.
Viewers have praised the series (X)
“Kings of Tupelo: A southern crime saga on #Neflix is absolutely the BEST documentary to have come out in a very long time!,” one fan wrote on Twitter after coming across the series.
“Watching the “The Kings of Tupelo : A southern crime saga” on Netflix! Its wild !!!,” another commented, adding: “What a story !!!! Wow. Highly recommend it.”
The series has received a high score of 82 percent from audience members on Rotten Tomatoes and is available to stream now.
