I've followed this story for years through Dateline and other news sources.
Sure, they could have done it as a straight up drama without the irony or farce but the true story is already hard to believe. It needed this take on it.
Pam is the devil incarnate. She lacks even the most basic compassion or empathy. And Renee brought that home in a brilliant performance that didn't peak until episode three or four when her house of cards began to collapse.
Watch it through to the end, even if you don't like how it was done.