‘Murder 101’: Get to Know Alex Campbell, the Teacher Trying to Solve Serial Killer Case
Mr. Alex Campbell is the epitome of what it means to be a “cool teacher.” The Elizabethton High School educator leads the new Prime Video docuseries Murder 101, which chronicles Campbell’s 2024-2025 sociology class as they investigate the unsolved Redhead Murders, a string of killings that took place between 1978 and 1992.
Campbell began diving into the unsolved killings in 2018 with another class of students, who became the subject of the Murder 101 podcast. In Episode 2 of the Prime Video series, Campbell and his students interview Linda Schacke, the surviving victim of Jerry Lee Johns, who they believe was the perpetrator of the Redhead Murders. In 2019, DNA evidence confirmed Johns was the man who killed Tina Farmer, one of the identified victims. (Johns died in prison in 2015.)
“This is a true crime show, and people are going to tune in for some true crime,” Campbell told WJHL.com. “But I also want people to consider it’s a show about education. It’s a show about what young people can do when you trust them to do real work. And you let them see that there’s real problems and real people they can help with.”
Given all the buzz around Murder 101, is Mr. Campbell still teaching? TV Insider has the latest facts on the Tennessee teacher and his family.
Does Alex Campbell still teach high school?
Yes, Campbell is still a teacher at Elizabethton High School, which is located in Elizabethton, Tennessee. He has taught the sociology class for 18 years. Campbell has been teaching for over 20 years.
Prime Video
Is Alex Campbell married?
Yes, Campbell is married to his wife, Brittney. They have two sons.
Brittney is featured in the first and last episodes of Murder 101. She shared some insight into her husband’s life outside the classroom. Brittney revealed that he loves weightlifting in his spare time, has gotten into reenacting, and taught himself how to weave on a loom. He “started hand-making primitive things” and even built a cabin.
Campbell and his wife faced severe health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. After contracting the Delta variant, Campbell had two collapsed lungs and pneumonia, per the Elizabethton Star. His wife got double pneumonia and a respiratory infection. Campbell was briefly hospitalized and had to miss the start of the school year.
Will there be a Murder 101 Season 2?
As of now, it’s unclear whether there will be a Season 2 of Murder 101. The Redhead Murders haven’t been officially solved, and there’s another school year coming up. There’s plenty of opportunity for a second season.
“Justice in this class is seeing that other people have needs and problems and that you have the power to help them. So they [have] done good work, and I’m pretty proud of them. But I’ll be more proud of them if they get a tip and find out who killed her,” Campbell said in Episode 3, referring to Tracy Sue Walker. Walker was a victim at the center of a cold case Campbell and his class investigated as part of their school project.
Murder 101, Streaming Now, Prime Video
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K
Oh, how lucky we all would be but especially our school age children, if all teachers were as dedicated to teaching as Mr. Campbell. I suspect more than one of his students grew up to go into law enforcement. I admire him and his students. These students have gained real-world information and may they stay safe in the years to come. Mr. Campbell is awesome.
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J
This class is amazing!! I have my degree in Sociology/Criminology and sure wish we had a class like this when I was in high school. Watching I turned to my husband and asked if he thought I could move to Elizabethton for a year to take this class.
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S
We need season 2!
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R
The teacher and students are amazing. The schools around the country should adopt the course in their schools and open up the field to future recruits in law enforcement investigations, forensic science and crime solving. High school students ate very smart and have a lot to offer. The more schools that take on this program, the more crimes can be solved!
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S
I was blown away by this series and the passion shown by this teacher. Kids need “real world” classes in schools. This series has the potential to impact and influence thousands of high school students in their present and future endeavors. Don’t just put a book in front of them - give them something that requires emotion, thought processes, and applying real world events to become better students. I have no doubt many will pursue careers in law enforcement, forensic sciences and related areas. I attended a vocational school in my junior and senior year and the experience was invaluable. We need more schools devoting time and resources to classes such as Mr. Campbell’s. It’s time to get back to the basics so children will survive the real world. Thank you for doing this!
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G
I love the show, the teacher, and the kids. The young woman with the braces, glasses, and brown hair. If she’s reading this, you are growing up into an amazing, beautiful woman. They all are beautiful, inside and out. I hope to see them again to hear how they are. Mr. Campbell, you rock!
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S
Just watched this mini series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m from the UK and I wish we had classes and teachers like this. Amazing Teacher and even more Amazing Students. You all had Passion for this case and saw it through to the end. Hopefully with all your hard work that Big Tip will soon come In.
We definitely need a season 2. Waiting In anticipation from the UK.
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D
I freaking loved this show and what Mr. Campbell and these kids are doing! I will say that I cried more than once! I wish I had an opportunity like this in high school because my life may have gone in a different direction. Thank you Mr. Campbell and keep up the good work. It was humbling. Thank you.
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D
I’m amazed at such a great teacher!
I wish I could have had a teacher like that
God bless Mr Campbell
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S
A great show. Mr. Campbell really makes his subject interesting, and sparks intellectual curiosity in his students. I wish every teacher could make education se relatable to his students like this one did.
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C
Crimson! I love her!
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G
Bring on No. 3 please!
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G
I mean 2 & 3
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S
Great story. Thank you Mr. Campbell
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G
Back in aught two when I used to ride my mule to school, we had one cool teacher, a second career new grad in maybe her late 30s. The class was sociology in a time when our headlines were Kent State killings and agent orange in Southeast Asia. (I include Laos and Cambodia, even if Tricky Dick lied about it at the time. ) SHe was so innovative and actually HEARD us instead of telling what to learn. I'm older than Lindsey Graham, so Mrs. Bowen is probably looking down at today's education situation and offering brilliant suggestions that ignorant fascists would deem, mmm let's see, yeah. Communism. He sure as h has a five page, single spaced paper due by Friday, no excuses. It has to be titled "Communism as the solution to income inequality. " cite 8 sources, internet pasting = immediate F. Defiance til Death. Covfefe.
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K
Great show! Hopefully you will have season 2!
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