Porn Archive Unlocks Decades-Old L.A. Murder Case

Filmmaker Rachel Mason revisits the world of her previous film, "Circus of Books," with "My Brother's Killer." The documentary, premiering at SXSW, investigates the 1990s murder of Billy London within Los Angeles's gay porn industry. Initially thought to be an unsolvable crime, the investigation gained momentum through a unique collaboration between Mason, her producer Dion Labriola, cold-case detectives, and amateur sleuths.

Central to the breakthrough was an extensive archive of gay pornographic material. This collection provided critical evidence, including archival footage that depicted the suspected killer walking on stage at an industry event. The film's research also shed light on the disturbing psychology of the perpetrator and linked the crime to extremist violence and skinhead culture prevalent in Los Angeles at the time.

The investigation eventually identified a suspect, who confessed on camera to the brutal murder of London, whose dismembered body was found in a West Hollywood alleyway. The film also successfully cleared decades of suspicion that had unfairly burdened London's former partner, Marc Rabins. For Mason, providing closure to London's family and humanizing him as a person, rather than just a crime victim, was a primary goal.