Oof, it's been a while so I don't remember the details but I know that this team is known to start kickstarter projects, getting the money and abandoning said projects. Ik they've already done it once before this game. And they've done it again with 1st degree murder: they release a short amazing demo so you get your hopes up and donate tons of $$, then they stop working on it to release a short "side game" in the meantime (while the main game should still be in development, mind you. Already suspicious) just so they can make one last bonus paycheck before fleeing for good.
Basically, they never planned to finish 1st degree murder. They only wanted to sell their short side game. To make sure it sold well, they had to lie to people by creating immense hype around a game that will never exist, just so players get hooked by it and buy the short $10 side game as they patiently wait for the game they ACTUALLY want. It's like promising someone that you'll give them a nice burger, and they pay you $8 for it. You say it'll take time so you tell them they can buy $4 chicken nuggets in the meantime. The person is so excited for the burger that they nod and give you the money without much thought. And in the end you ghost them and leave, knowing full well you never planned on making a burger for them. Lucky you, you got $12 in your pocket instead of $4.
So yeah, people did get something... but it's still a scam. The Kickstarter money is gone, and the players who paid $10 for the side game are stuck with just that.