Lifetime’s Sister Wife Murder (2024), directed by Manu Boyer and starring Dia Nash and Matthew Daddario, aired as part of the network’s “Ripped from the Headlines” series. The movie tells the chilling tale of Chloe, who falls for a charismatic pastor—only to discover he already has two wives and hides a dangerous secret. With its haunting depiction of polygamy, manipulation, and murder within a household, the film begs the question:
Is Sister Wife Murder based on a true story?
The answer is yes—loosely. While it doesn’t dramatize one specific real-life case, it draws inspiration from actual polygamist fraud schemes and manipulative pastors who have repeatedly exploited unsuspecting women.
Fictional Plot with Real-Life Parallels
In the film, Chloe unwittingly becomes the pastor’s third wife, quickly entangled in deception and control. Suspicion mounts when one of the other wives mysteriously disappears, and Chloe fears for her safety. Though the characters and events are fictional, the story is built on real-world dynamics:
Lifetime has officially labeled Sister Wife Murder as “inspired by true events”. Press materials and interviews emphasize that the film explores “obsession, control, and polygamy” entwined with domestic betrayal.
The Real Cases Behind the Fiction
One of the most direct parallels comes from the case of Orlando Coleman, a Houston pastor who posed as a Protestant bishop and secretly married ten women between 2001 and 2021. Coleman targeted churchgoers, manipulated them into polygamous unions, and took financial advantage—eventually pleading guilty to bigamy in 2023.
While Coleman didn’t commit murder, his pattern of deception closely mirrors the predatory dynamics depicted in the film: vulnerable women drawn in by a charming spiritual leader who preys on faith and trust.
Polygamy, Control, and Abuse
Though polygamy is illegal in the U.S., under-the-radar plural marriages continue to surface across fundamentalist sects and cult-like environments. Abuses in these setups range from emotional manipulation to financial entrapment—and, in extreme cases, violence.
Sister Wife Murder amplifies this danger by dramatizing the disappearance of one wife and the sense of entrapment experienced by Chloe. The film heightens tension by drawing on real fears around spiritual authority and the unchecked control a charismatic leader can wield.
Artistic License and Fiction
Despite these real inspirations, the film remains fictional in its specifics. The pastor, his wives, and the deadly twist are creations of writer Peter Sullivan—shaped to thrill audiences rather than recapitulate a documented crime.
Interviews with actor Dia Nash confirm that while the victims are fictional, the emotional resonance—especially Chloe’s grief, self-doubt, and awakening—is inspired by real-life dynamics in predatory relationships.
Final Verdict
So, is Sister Wife Murder based on a true story? Yes—but loosely. The film combines fictional drama with real-world echoes of polygamist fraud, manipulative pastors like Orlando Coleman, and the fears surrounding control in religious settings. While no single case maps perfectly onto its plot, the film reflects genuine patterns of abuse that remain relevant—and dangerous—in modern society.
