The brutal murder of 23-year-old Molly McLaren will be revisited tonight in a documentary made exclusively for ITV.
Social Media Murders is a new true-crime series for ITV2 and ITV Hub, bringing together three films airing over consecutive nights, each focusing on a shocking real crime.
Linking each of the films is the unsettling role social media played in bringing together the culprit and the victim.
READ MORE: Thug killed man in gang robbery gone wrong
The three films will put the victim at the centre of the narrative alongside material obtained from social media accounts and mobile phones which will immerse viewers in the events as they unfolded.
Tonight's episode is the third and final instalment of the series, and it focuses on how killer Joshua Stimpson harassed and eventually murdered his ex-girlfriend in 2017.
The programme provides insight into a relationship, which began after meeting on Tinder, was ended by Molly following a few months of dating as Joshua grew more controlling.
An avid social media user, Molly documented their relationship on her own platforms but social media not only played a role in bringing these two individuals together but also served as a tool for the culprit to track her movements.
But soon after Molly broke up with the killer, he started to harass her online by posting derogatory messages and photos.
Molly informed both the police and the social media platform in question, however in a horrific final development, Molly’s ex-boyfriend followed her and murdered her in a car park outside her gym.
The documentary shows Molly's friends and family speak fondly of her as they remember her. They speak powerfully to build up a compelling and intimate timeline of what went wrong and when.
Wherever possible, Molly’s story is also told using her own voice - via her social media posts and text messages.
In the wake of Molly’s murder, no laws or policies have changed. Today, Molly’s family would like her story to highlight the potential dangers of social media as questions are raised on what platforms can do to protect users and ultimately prevent further tragedy.
Joshua Stimpson was sentenced to a serve a minimum of 26 years in prison.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.
