The true crime genre has transformed from a niche interest into a global phenomenon, captivating audiences with stories that test the limits of human empathy. Amidst the endless library of chilling mysteries on popular streaming apps, one devastating family portrait, The Family I Had, remains a rare and haunting find for many viewers.

Viewers can find this intense documentary on various platforms, but the emotional cost of watching it is far higher than the rental fee.

The documentary The Family I Had is currently available for viewers on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play but not on Netflix as of 2026. Originally making its mark at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2017, the film offers a harrowing look at Charity Lee’s attempt to survive a familial collapse.

At the heart of the story is the 2007 m----- of four-year-old Ella Bennett, a crime committed by her own thirteen-year-old brother, Paris. The film meticulously peels back layers of the family’s history, exposing a cycle of mental illness.

It forces the audience to confront the complex reality of a mother who must mourn a daughter while still being the parent of her k-----. Since its release, the film has moved through various distributors like FilmRise and has aired on networks such as Investigation Discovery.

While the true crime is no longer a staple on some of the largest subscription services, it remains accessible through digital marketplaces for those seeking a deeper psychological study.

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The current lives of those involved show that the end of the film was only the beginning of their journey.

Paris Bennett remains incarcerated at the Huntsville maximum-security prison in Texas, where he is serving a forty-year sentence. He will first become eligible for a parole hearing in February 2027, marking two decades since the fatal incident.

Charity Lee (mother) has undergone a radical transformation, evolving into a dedicated advocate for both victims and offenders through her non-profit organization. However, her relationship with her son took a definitive turn in 2021 when she decided to terminate all contact with him.

The family now resides in Georgia, where Charity continues to focus on healing and the safety of her remaining child. Her mother, Kyla (grandmother), remains a controversial figure in the family narrative due to her own brushes with the law and history of violence. The Bennett family serves as a somber reminder of the real human cost behind the headlines of televised tragedies.

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What do you think about watching The Family I Had? Let us know in the comment.