Search Film, Company, People...

MANUEL PARDO'S CODE: POLICE OFFICER - SERIAL KILLER

By Michael CONNOLLY

DARK FLAMINGO STUDIOS - as SALES All rights, World / PROD

Crime - Completed 2023

Police officer - serial killer: Manuel Pardo’s Code is a gripping documentary that delves deep into the life, crimes, and psyche of Manuel Pardo, a former police officer who turned into a notorious serial killer in Miami during the 1980’s.

- Year of production
- 2023
- Genres
- Crime, Documentary
- Countries
- USA
- Director(s)
- Michael CONNOLLY
- Writer(s)
- Patricia BORDONABA
- Producer(s)
- Alicia BORDONABA (Dark FLamingo Studios )
- Synopsis
- Through a combination of archival footage, interviews with the lead detective John Rodriguez, psychologists and experts on criminal behavior, the documentary unravels the chilling story of Manuel Pardo's transformation from a police officer to a serial killer.
  Manny was born in New York in 1958 and was raised in the tumultuous Bronx. At 18 years old he joined the marines and served in the Vietnam War for 4 years. However, this would not be the last time he ended up in a dangerous place, Manny went to another war zone, this time he ended up in the Drug war zone of Miami.
  Miami in the 1970s and 1980s was marked by the drug war between the United States government and drug cartels. There were a series of armed conflicts fueled by the illegal cocaine trade.
  Police corruption was also a big problem in Miami during this period. It was fueled by a "virtual hiring frenzy" in the Miami Police Department in 1981 and 1982, 714 officers were hired, including Manuel Pardo. They more than doubled the size of the force by relaxing screening standards. By the end of 1982 more than 100 of the newly hired officers were facing criminal charges, including Manuel Pardo.
  In addition to examining Pardo's crimes in detail, the documentary also delves into his trial,
  where Pardo took the stand against his lawyers advice, leaving us with amazing and
  incriminating footage. And in his multiple appeals Pardo, contradicted his lawyers on the insanity Defense claiming he was not crazy and ultimately trying to blame the murders on his thyroid issues.
  Manuel Pardo had a partner in crime Ronaldo Garcia who he met through his wife and who committed several of the murders with Manny. Like all of the people involved in Pardo’s life, Garcia was another interesting character ultimately being released from death row due to one of the lead detectives Theodore Macarthur being caught being a liar and even going so far as forging evidence in multiple cases, Macarthur killed his own wife in order to avoid a costly divorce. Macarthur is currently serving a life sentence. Garcia did not have a driver's license as when he was a teenager he crashed a car into a plane at Miami international. He told detectives “I am not a very good driver”. This fact becomes important in the story.
  Manuel Pardo’s Code is sure to engage viewers. From being a possible CIA agent to shooting a man off a horse and setting his supervisor's police car on fire (all in Pardo’s first week as FHP), his escapades didn't stop there. Even on death row, Pardo was creating headlines as he was known as Death row Romeo. He was living as a king thanks to his literary skills by sending letters to women and manipulating them into sending him money. He ultimately messed up the relationships by confusing several women's names.
  The untold story of Manuel Pardo is sure to intrigue audiences worldwide and will be the talk of the true crime community for years to come.