'Burden of Guilt' the new Paramount+ Docuseries Sheds Light on the 1971 Death of Matthew Golder.
Paramount+’s new docuseries Burden of Guilt takes a deep dive into the haunting 1971 death of 4-month-old Matthew Golder in a gripping three-part series. Premiering on February 4, 2025, the series provides a closer look at the case through the eyes of Matthew’s older sister, Tracyraquel Burns. Tracyraquel reflects on her troubled childhood, the accusations that she was responsible for her brother’s death, and her relentless pursuit of the truth to uncover the identity of her sibling’s killer.
Fans of true crime may recognize the case, as it was previously explored in the podcast Burden of Guilt.
What Is Burden of Guilt About?
In 1971, Tracyraquel’s mother, Kathie Almon, discovered her infant son Matthew lying lifeless on the floor of his room after she and Tracyraquel had returned home from the grocery store. At the time, Tracyraquel’s father, Jan Barry Sandlin, was at home with Matthew while his wife and daughter were away. Initially, Matthew’s death was ruled an accident, but later, Tracyraquel learned that she was blamed for the tragedy after her parents alleged she had pushed Matthew out of his crib. Tracyraquel was just 2 years old when her brother died.
As an adult, Tracyraquel began to advocate for her late brother, pushing authorities to reopen the case. This led to Jan’s arrest in 1997, when he was charged with murder, aggravated assault, and child cruelty. Jan was found guilty of Matthew’s death and sentenced to life in prison.
In a twist of fate, Jan was already serving a life sentence for armed robbery at the time of his conviction for Matthew’s death. The network’s description of Burden of Guilt reads: “Though initially ruled an accident, the mystery of how Matthew died haunts Tracyraquel throughout her childhood. After years of lies and unanswered questions, she obtains Matthew’s medical records and uncovers a shocking detail; she learned she was blamed for his death.”
The series chronicles Tracyraquel’s emotional journey to uncover the dark truths hidden within her family. Her efforts led to the DeKalb County, Georgia authorities making the unprecedented decision to exhume Matthew’s body, 25 years after his death, which confirmed that his death was, in fact, a homicide.
Dark Family Secrets Revealed in Burden of Guilt
In the first episode of the series, Tracyraquel describes her parents as “monsters” and reflects on the tumultuous, unstable childhood she endured. She recounts how Jan and Kathie frequently left her alone at home with her younger brother (who was born after Matthew's death). Due to her strained relationship with her parents, Tracyraquel enlisted in the army once she turned 18.
As an adult, Tracyraquel no longer maintains any contact with her parents. Kathie, now living with her sister Sheila Salmon in Georgia, has distanced herself from Tracyraquel, while Jan remains incarcerated, serving his life sentences.
Burden of Guilt also includes powerful testimonials from family friends, former neighbors, and DeKalb County law enforcement, all of whom share their perspectives on the case and Matthew’s murder.
burden of guilt
Burden of Guilt Trailer and Promotion
In January 2025, Paramount+ and See It Now Docs released a chilling trailer for Burden of Guilt, giving viewers a glimpse of the harrowing story. Another version of the trailer was shared during the premiere on February 4, 2025.
The trailer’s caption reads, “The shocking truth behind a 2-year-old framed for her infant brother’s murder is finally unearthed. Experience Burden of Guilt, streaming now exclusively on #ParamountPlus.” It also encourages listeners to check out the podcast that inspired the docuseries, available on Apple, Spotify, the iHeart App, or wherever podcasts are available.
How to Watch Burden of Guilt
Subscribers to Paramount+ can now stream the complete three-part series Burden of Guilt exclusively on the platform.
