CrimeCon 2019 Event Recap
- By Website Editor
- •
- 16 Jun, 2019
CrimeCon 2019 was one for the record books! We were thrilled to welcome over 3,600 people to the Hilton Riverside New Orleans for a weekend of learning from renowned experts, meeting other true crime fans, and cuddling with K9 search dogs. We heard from victims and their families; advocates and exonerees; and a guest lineup with a combined 900-plus years of experience (not a typo - 900 years).
For three CrimeCon years now it’s been a distinct honor to get to know you and interact with you through social media and email. I’ve seen many comments asking “How are you posting from every session at the same time?!” The answer lies in my pedometer. At some point during the weekend I actually heard it whimper “Why are you doing this to me?”
Here’s a look at CrimeCon 2019 through my eyes:
I’m not a morning person but I sprung out of bed at 7:00a (by which I mean I “only hit snooze once”) and checked my call sheet to see what the day held.
8:00 - In an earlier email I had promised the viewers at home silly pics of Carl Marino all weekend. While I was stationed at the business center to print my call sheet for the day I surreptitiously snapped a pic of Carl Marino waiting for the elevator. Mission underway.
8:15 - While you were all lining up at the entrance (yes, at EIGHT FIFTEEN AY EM), I was sneakily hiding hundreds of these cards around the meeting space. In fact, I did this every morning of the con and, from what I could tell, none of you noticed. CrimeCon 101: Situational Awareness. Sigh.
8:00 - In an earlier email I had promised the viewers at home silly pics of Carl Marino all weekend. While I was stationed at the business center to print my call sheet for the day I surreptitiously snapped a pic of Carl Marino waiting for the elevator. Mission underway.
8:15 - While you were all lining up at the entrance (yes, at EIGHT FIFTEEN AY EM), I was sneakily hiding hundreds of these cards around the meeting space. In fact, I did this every morning of the con and, from what I could tell, none of you noticed. CrimeCon 101: Situational Awareness. Sigh.
8:45
- Made a preliminary pass through the Exhibit Hall and Podcast Row as vendors and podcasters were gearing up for a busy day. I spent some time speaking to Damsel in Defense Nancy Abercrombie, who, if you didn’t meet her, is the nicest person on the planet who can still likely kick your butt. Her self-defense children’s books were hot items!
9:30 - My partner in crime brought me beignets from Cafe du Monde. Four of them. Who eats four beignets? (Answer: Me. I do. Over the course of the day. Still cleaning the powdered sugar out of my backpack.)
11:45 - Ah, the best part of my job: backstage access. After a few minutes convincing the production team that I legitimately work here, I ducked backstage to get a quick IG Stories interview with our heartthrob host, Mr. Paul Holes. Then, with the ballroom packed and ready to kick off CrimeCon 2019, Mr. Holes took the stage to a standing ovation. And with that, my day really began.
12:30 - Let the record reflect that almost a month before CC19, on May 9, 2019 at 1:29pm ET, in our CC staff group chat, I made this prediction:
9:30 - My partner in crime brought me beignets from Cafe du Monde. Four of them. Who eats four beignets? (Answer: Me. I do. Over the course of the day. Still cleaning the powdered sugar out of my backpack.)
11:45 - Ah, the best part of my job: backstage access. After a few minutes convincing the production team that I legitimately work here, I ducked backstage to get a quick IG Stories interview with our heartthrob host, Mr. Paul Holes. Then, with the ballroom packed and ready to kick off CrimeCon 2019, Mr. Holes took the stage to a standing ovation. And with that, my day really began.
12:30 - Let the record reflect that almost a month before CC19, on May 9, 2019 at 1:29pm ET, in our CC staff group chat, I made this prediction:
So I was not surprised when I arrived at Jeff’s session in Breakout 2 only for security to tell me the room was at capacity. Still, I had a job to do, so I managed to squeeze in the door at the front of the room. The room was not “at capacity.” It was shoulder-to-shoulder, hip-to-hip -- we were really
lovin’ each other in there. It was the Woodstock of CrimeCon 2019, and for good reason.
Rinek has made a name for himself as the nicest badass in the FBI. He famously obtained a confession from serial killer Cary Stayner in 1999 with his unique, empathy-based interrogation technique. Rinek discussed his experience working the Stayner case but began with an adorable caveat: “If you’re looking for “macho,” you won’t find it here.”
12:45 - After a few moments, I squeezed out the door, exhaled, and skipped down to check out the action on Podcast Row. I ran into one Mr. Billy Jensen and we talked about what he loves about CrimeCon in this video that I cut off too soon because I thought he was finished:
Rinek has made a name for himself as the nicest badass in the FBI. He famously obtained a confession from serial killer Cary Stayner in 1999 with his unique, empathy-based interrogation technique. Rinek discussed his experience working the Stayner case but began with an adorable caveat: “If you’re looking for “macho,” you won’t find it here.”
12:45 - After a few moments, I squeezed out the door, exhaled, and skipped down to check out the action on Podcast Row. I ran into one Mr. Billy Jensen and we talked about what he loves about CrimeCon in this video that I cut off too soon because I thought he was finished:
I snapped silly Carl Marino pic #2 and then headed to the Grand Ballroom to catch a few minutes of CeCe Moore’s session “DNA Detectives: One Thousand Years of Cold Cases Resolved.” She described how she felt as she watched the familial DNA techniques she developed to help adoptees find their birth parents become a powerful tool law enforcement could use to solve murders: “I never imagined in a million years that those techniques that I had developed for one purpose would end up being used to arrest violent criminals like the Golden State Killer. So, of course, my life changed dramatically.”
1:35 - In between sessions I took a lap through Podcast Row and caught this epic challenge between True Crime Garage’s Captain and Truth and Justice’s Bob Ruff. I do not know the outcome of this duel, but if you witnessed it, I would love to know more:
1:35 - In between sessions I took a lap through Podcast Row and caught this epic challenge between True Crime Garage’s Captain and Truth and Justice’s Bob Ruff. I do not know the outcome of this duel, but if you witnessed it, I would love to know more:
1:45
- Made it back to the ballroom in time to snag a decent seat for David Rudolf’s “Behind The Staircase.” He’s a compelling speaker and he captured the undivided attention of the audience. In my opinion, he captured the main point of his presentation in one quote: “Innocent people do get arrested, they do get convicted, and they do go to prison. And I can’t imagine anything worse in the entire world.” You could feel the chill wash across the audience.
2:00 - Desperately tried to elbow my way into the first K9 demonstration with Professional K9 Solutions. No luck. Fortunately, there were two more sessions scheduled.
2:05 - Snapped this pic of Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz in full Mank Mode with fans.
2:00 - Desperately tried to elbow my way into the first K9 demonstration with Professional K9 Solutions. No luck. Fortunately, there were two more sessions scheduled.
2:05 - Snapped this pic of Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz in full Mank Mode with fans.
2:10
- I found my way back to Breakout 1 for the marvelous Anne Redding’s session about the Black Dahlia. In one slide she described the murder of Elizabeth Smart as “evil” and defended the choice: “Don’t be put off by the word ‘evil.’ This is a word that’s misunderstood and overused. When you remove the supernatural and superstitious elements, a lot of people smarter than I am have recognized that this word is important in our language,” she explained. She went on to give the definition that scholars have attributed to the word in the context of criminal investigation: “‘Evils’ are unnecessary, grievous, and intolerable harms produced by culpable wrongdoing.”
3:00 - I made a beeline for the Grand Ballroom to catch the beginning of “The Case Against Adnan Syed: Still Not Free.” Rabia Chaudry, Susan Simpson, and Dr. Marcia Chatelin discussed life behind the scenes of the hit HBO series and touched on what’s next for Adnan: “It’s absolutely not over,” Chaudry said to an uproar of applause.
3:30 - Oxygen’s Murder for Hire has become a staple in my television viewing schedule so I was excited to slip into this session. Victim Meghan Verikas took center stage along with Javier Duran, the detective who busted Verikas’s baddie ex-husband when he tried to have her killed. Verikas described feeling sick as she saw the footage of her ex ordering the hit, but showed her enormous strength when she explained why she was the last witness to take the stand during his trial: “I wanted the final day. I wanted his last day in court to be about me.”
3:00 - I made a beeline for the Grand Ballroom to catch the beginning of “The Case Against Adnan Syed: Still Not Free.” Rabia Chaudry, Susan Simpson, and Dr. Marcia Chatelin discussed life behind the scenes of the hit HBO series and touched on what’s next for Adnan: “It’s absolutely not over,” Chaudry said to an uproar of applause.
3:30 - Oxygen’s Murder for Hire has become a staple in my television viewing schedule so I was excited to slip into this session. Victim Meghan Verikas took center stage along with Javier Duran, the detective who busted Verikas’s baddie ex-husband when he tried to have her killed. Verikas described feeling sick as she saw the footage of her ex ordering the hit, but showed her enormous strength when she explained why she was the last witness to take the stand during his trial: “I wanted the final day. I wanted his last day in court to be about me.”
3:45
- I’m SUPER excited about CrimeCon: Crowdsolve
in Seattle this October, so I caught the tail end of "What Happened to Nancy Moyer?" with James Baysinger, Art Roderick, Maurice Godwin, Det. Mickey Hamilton (who is the active detective on the case) and Sam (Nancy’s daughter) and Bill (Nancy’s ex-husband) Moyer. The disappearance of Nancy Moyer will be the focus of our fall Crowdsolve event where attendees will work with police and experts to help thaw out this cold case.
4:15 - Learned what factors make someone vulnerable to becoming a violent offender with Kelly Wellman’s intriguing session featuring Richard Kuklinski:
4:15 - Learned what factors make someone vulnerable to becoming a violent offender with Kelly Wellman’s intriguing session featuring Richard Kuklinski:
4:30
- The fashionable Larry Pollard made me question my assumptions about the controversial “Owl Theory” from the Michael Peterson case.
4:45 - I simply had to lay eyes on the legendary Matt Murphy in “20/20 Presents Murder in the OC: From Crime Scene to Conviction.” I was lucky enough to catch Murphy’s explanation of California killer Daniel Wozniak’s twisted scheme to murder and rob two people, intending to use the stolen money to pay for his wedding. Murphy prosecuted the case and Wozniak now sits in a cell on California’s death row.
5:00 - FINALLY got a spot in the K9 demonstration just in time to see search dog Kiki being a very good girl (and getting some belly scritches):
4:45 - I simply had to lay eyes on the legendary Matt Murphy in “20/20 Presents Murder in the OC: From Crime Scene to Conviction.” I was lucky enough to catch Murphy’s explanation of California killer Daniel Wozniak’s twisted scheme to murder and rob two people, intending to use the stolen money to pay for his wedding. Murphy prosecuted the case and Wozniak now sits in a cell on California’s death row.
5:00 - FINALLY got a spot in the K9 demonstration just in time to see search dog Kiki being a very good girl (and getting some belly scritches):
5:10
- Oxygen’s Martinis & Murder
podcast covered the Chris Watts case during their live recording. Unfortunately, I missed most of the Chris Watts discussion (blame the dogs), but I did catch a great moment during the Q&A when a fan asked about their motivations and goals for the podcast. Daryn replied “Knowing that the stories we tell are raising awareness of these cases is the reason we do this.” Rock on, Daryn, John, and Matt the Bartender!
5:30 - I took a break to plan my next move. I was just sitting on a bench on the second floor, minding my own business. Conspicuously alone. When an attendee approached me and quietly said “Excuse me, may I ask you a question?” I said “Certainly!” (because I’m all about customer experience) and I braced to tell this sweet lady the location of any room in the hotel. Instead she asked “Are you the CCI?”
I blanked. “What’s a CCI?”
“Are you the CrimeCon Informant?”
It only took three CrimeCons for one of you to find me out. I blushed from head to toe and revealed my identity, but the kind lady has pinky promised not to blow my cover.
RAPID ROUND:
5:40 - Stopped by the Jury Experience to catch a rousing live stage performance based on a real trial. Oxygen’s Loni Coombs was insanely good as the moderator and the juries that “deliberated” in our mock courtroom had some robust debates.
5:50 - Stopped to take a pic of some very happy ladies with Billy Jensen.
6:00 - Decided to detour through Podcast Row on my way to Sheryl McCollum’s session and boy am I glad I did. If I’d walked past I wouldn’t have caught this priceless moment with Generation Why’s Justin and the Nicest Guy in True Crime, Robin Warder:
5:30 - I took a break to plan my next move. I was just sitting on a bench on the second floor, minding my own business. Conspicuously alone. When an attendee approached me and quietly said “Excuse me, may I ask you a question?” I said “Certainly!” (because I’m all about customer experience) and I braced to tell this sweet lady the location of any room in the hotel. Instead she asked “Are you the CCI?”
I blanked. “What’s a CCI?”
“Are you the CrimeCon Informant?”
It only took three CrimeCons for one of you to find me out. I blushed from head to toe and revealed my identity, but the kind lady has pinky promised not to blow my cover.
RAPID ROUND:
5:40 - Stopped by the Jury Experience to catch a rousing live stage performance based on a real trial. Oxygen’s Loni Coombs was insanely good as the moderator and the juries that “deliberated” in our mock courtroom had some robust debates.
5:50 - Stopped to take a pic of some very happy ladies with Billy Jensen.
6:00 - Decided to detour through Podcast Row on my way to Sheryl McCollum’s session and boy am I glad I did. If I’d walked past I wouldn’t have caught this priceless moment with Generation Why’s Justin and the Nicest Guy in True Crime, Robin Warder:
6:15
- Squeezed into Sheryl McCollum’s “A Tribute to Ann Rule” to witness her fabulous footwear and experience pin-drop silence as Ted Bundy survivor Kathy Kleiner Rubin told the harrowing story of his attack on the Chi Omega sorority house.
6:30
- I did not bring tissues to “48 Hours: Guilty Until Proven Innocent,” and that was a mistake. Darryl Pinkins described his reaction to the news that new DNA techniques may free him from prison -- or could keep him there for life. “I said bring on the test,” he said with conviction. He and fellow presenter Roosevelt Glenn were both exonerated by DNA evidence and released from death row.
6:45
- I could listen to Tom Lange’s session every day and never get sick of it. As you’ll learn later, the O.J. Simpson investigation served as my introduction to true crime and I have an enormous amount of respect for Mr. Lange. He showed the audience the sheer volume of evidence that wasn’t admissible in the Simpson trial and defended the integrity of his fellow LAPD investigators (except Fuhrman, natch). Lange’s passion and energy really came through when he spoke of his late partner Phil Vanatter.
7:00 - Couldn’t miss “Injustice! with Nancy Grace.” Her signature Southern drawl and colloquialisms were in full effect, but a somber pall hung over the room as she described the lingering effects of the wrongful convictions and other injustices she’s witnessed in the criminal justice system.
7:30 - I felt sooo grown up as I walked to the Dateline NBC cocktail hour and mingle at an offsite restaurant. After convincing security (again) that “I work here! That’s my boss, over there, talking to Keith Morrison!” I made it into the bar. I then unlocked a lifetime achievement: I witnessed Keith Morrison go from vertical to lean IN THE WILD. I snapped a selfie with Keith, then John Mankiewicz and I launched an unofficial campaign to officially name him “Mayor of CrimeCon.” I made a new friend (I’m so sorry new friend, I’m terrible with names, but you were great!), ate two coconut shrimp, and accidentally left the restaurant holding my glass of red wine. But hey, it’s New Orleans.
7:00 - Couldn’t miss “Injustice! with Nancy Grace.” Her signature Southern drawl and colloquialisms were in full effect, but a somber pall hung over the room as she described the lingering effects of the wrongful convictions and other injustices she’s witnessed in the criminal justice system.
7:30 - I felt sooo grown up as I walked to the Dateline NBC cocktail hour and mingle at an offsite restaurant. After convincing security (again) that “I work here! That’s my boss, over there, talking to Keith Morrison!” I made it into the bar. I then unlocked a lifetime achievement: I witnessed Keith Morrison go from vertical to lean IN THE WILD. I snapped a selfie with Keith, then John Mankiewicz and I launched an unofficial campaign to officially name him “Mayor of CrimeCon.” I made a new friend (I’m so sorry new friend, I’m terrible with names, but you were great!), ate two coconut shrimp, and accidentally left the restaurant holding my glass of red wine. But hey, it’s New Orleans.
10:30pm
- CrimeCon team meeting. We discussed what went right, what went wrong, what we could do better on Saturday, and ate lots of cold tacos (they were delicious).
Not gonna lie: this was a looong day, guys. I laughed; I cried. It was better than Hamilton.
9:00 - No way I would miss Dr. Kimberlie Massnick’s presentation “Dialogue with a Deviant: the Final 29 Days.” I followed her journey as she spent the past year conversing with Florida death row inmate Bobby Joe Long and knew that her presentation would make the audience laugh, cry, and think. She shared the strange letters, riddled with doodles and odd requests, that she had received from Long, and spoke of her conflicting emotions when she learned that the governor had signed his death warrant with an execution date of May 23.
9:00 - No way I would miss Dr. Kimberlie Massnick’s presentation “Dialogue with a Deviant: the Final 29 Days.” I followed her journey as she spent the past year conversing with Florida death row inmate Bobby Joe Long and knew that her presentation would make the audience laugh, cry, and think. She shared the strange letters, riddled with doodles and odd requests, that she had received from Long, and spoke of her conflicting emotions when she learned that the governor had signed his death warrant with an execution date of May 23.
9:30
- HLN’s Death Row Stories
presented the emotional account of exonerated death row inmate Nathson Fields and illustrated the flawed and fallible nature of the justice system. Tears filled Nathson’s eyes as he said “Innocent people who get caught up in the system could lose their lives.” Pin drop silence.
9:45 - Full disclosure: being caught in an active shooting is one of my biggest fears. So I lurked outside the room until the Q&A portion began in retired U.S. Marshall Art Roderick and Columbine survivor Crystal Miller’s session “Active Shooter Situations: It Can Happen to You.” Because I’m a grown baby. I walked in just as Miller was recounting a conversation she had with a survivor of the Sandy Hook shooting: “He said that when the shooter shot the adults in the room, he knew it was normal: adults shoot adults. But when he turned the gun on the children he knew something was different and he had to hide.”
10:15 - Observed Nancy Grace in her natural habitat: grilling Joe Scott Morgan and her panel of experts as they discussed the Delphi murders:
9:45 - Full disclosure: being caught in an active shooting is one of my biggest fears. So I lurked outside the room until the Q&A portion began in retired U.S. Marshall Art Roderick and Columbine survivor Crystal Miller’s session “Active Shooter Situations: It Can Happen to You.” Because I’m a grown baby. I walked in just as Miller was recounting a conversation she had with a survivor of the Sandy Hook shooting: “He said that when the shooter shot the adults in the room, he knew it was normal: adults shoot adults. But when he turned the gun on the children he knew something was different and he had to hide.”
10:15 - Observed Nancy Grace in her natural habitat: grilling Joe Scott Morgan and her panel of experts as they discussed the Delphi murders:
10:30
- Stopped by “Profiling Dirty John” to find an absolutely packed house in the massive ballroom. On discussing her relationship with sleazy con man John Meehan, Debra Newell explained how she fell for Meehan: “I fall, and I fall hard. I don’t see red flags; I see a parade.”
10:35 -
Oh, my stars. I was not prepared for when I walked into “The Man Behind the Badge with Rodie Sanchez” to find Sanchez on stage beginning to remove his shirt while his lovely wife delivered his favorite beverage to the stage. The audience went wild, and while Sanchez ultimately left his uncharacteristically formal button-down shirt on, but untucked, he looked comfortable. The disheveled look did not diminish the power of the moment when he introduced us to the victim that still haunts him: Eugenie Boisfontaine.
10:45
- Coolest. Session. Ever. Former CSI Alina Burroughs was among the first investigators on the Caylee Anthony case. She discussed the limitations of current CSI technology when it comes to making a jury understand the details of the scene. “During my testimony,” she said, “I looked over and a juror was asleep. We owe them more. We owe them a way to make the scene make sense.” Burroughs then demonstrated the amazing 3D crime scene scanning technology available through FARO with a simulated flyover of a real crime scene.
RAPID ROUND:
11:30 - NYPD “Cannibal Cop” Gil Valle spoke to a crowd with obvious mixed feelings about his culpability and criminal intent. I will note that the crowd was ultimately very respectful in their questions and largely open-minded to what Valle had to say. Applause to you, crowd!
11:40 - Bumped into Rodie Sanchez on the way to his meet & greet, drink in hand. Thanked him for the crawfish etouffee recipe he sent me and got a big hug (he’s a hugger! Who knew?!)
11:45 - Safe to say Lana Wood is not convinced by Robert Wagner’s version of the events surrounding the death of her sister, actress Natalie Wood. Not one bit. Lana’s strength and dedication to bringing real resolution to her sister’s case was apparent as she discussed the mysterious details of her sister’s death with CBS’s Erin Moriarty.
12:30 - Caught the Q&A portion of “True Crime Podcast Power Hour”, and it was very much a spiritual atmosphere in the room. The mutual squee-ing among AP Bio actress and true crime pod fan Lyric Lewis, plus the True Crime Obsessed and Crime Junkie hosts, was adorable and contagious. It’s so fun to see people enjoy each other’s company as much as this group did onstage.
12:45 - While y’all got a lunch break I found out that Max was back and wandering around Podcast Row. Here’s how that went:
RAPID ROUND:
11:30 - NYPD “Cannibal Cop” Gil Valle spoke to a crowd with obvious mixed feelings about his culpability and criminal intent. I will note that the crowd was ultimately very respectful in their questions and largely open-minded to what Valle had to say. Applause to you, crowd!
11:40 - Bumped into Rodie Sanchez on the way to his meet & greet, drink in hand. Thanked him for the crawfish etouffee recipe he sent me and got a big hug (he’s a hugger! Who knew?!)
11:45 - Safe to say Lana Wood is not convinced by Robert Wagner’s version of the events surrounding the death of her sister, actress Natalie Wood. Not one bit. Lana’s strength and dedication to bringing real resolution to her sister’s case was apparent as she discussed the mysterious details of her sister’s death with CBS’s Erin Moriarty.
12:30 - Caught the Q&A portion of “True Crime Podcast Power Hour”, and it was very much a spiritual atmosphere in the room. The mutual squee-ing among AP Bio actress and true crime pod fan Lyric Lewis, plus the True Crime Obsessed and Crime Junkie hosts, was adorable and contagious. It’s so fun to see people enjoy each other’s company as much as this group did onstage.
12:45 - While y’all got a lunch break I found out that Max was back and wandering around Podcast Row. Here’s how that went:
1:30
- Steve Spingola can’t stay in his seat. The Cold Justice
crew was characteristically enthusiastic during this high-energy session. Asked what it’s like to be on camera, Siegler explained how she approaches the local law enforcement to prepare them for the added element. “I tell the local law enforcement that the day one is always the most awkward day because we’re used to it, but they have mics and cameras on them while they’re trying to lay out the case in a way we can understand. I fully believe that the reason this [Cold Justice]
concept works is that for seven working days, that Sheriff or Chief has allowed two detectives to work nothing but this case with us. In the real world, cops don’t have the luxury of doing that.”
1:45 - I beat feet over to the Grand Ballroom to catch some witty banter between the Dateline correspondents. Did I catch it? Yes. Did I record it? No, because my phone died at the exact wrong moment. But I also heard the emotional moment when Josh Mankiewicz described covering a case in which his personal friend was involved. I don’t think we give the hosts enough credit for the emotional toll it must take to explore the worst that humanity has to offer. Hats off, Dateline crew. We appreciate you and all true crime hosts.
1:45 - I beat feet over to the Grand Ballroom to catch some witty banter between the Dateline correspondents. Did I catch it? Yes. Did I record it? No, because my phone died at the exact wrong moment. But I also heard the emotional moment when Josh Mankiewicz described covering a case in which his personal friend was involved. I don’t think we give the hosts enough credit for the emotional toll it must take to explore the worst that humanity has to offer. Hats off, Dateline crew. We appreciate you and all true crime hosts.
2:00
- I missed journalist Abby Ellin’s “Duped:
Why We Love Liars, Imposters, and Scammers,” and from what I hear, I’m really sad that I did. She’s a firecracker, and all reports indicate that her session, which was moderated by the lovely Ellen Killoran from CrimeOnline.com
was full of laughter, packed with information, and her strength was on full display. This is one I can’t wait to watch on-demand on CrimeCon Insider.
2:45 - Oxygen’s “The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes” was one of the most well-constructed sessions I’ve seen in three years of CrimeCon sessions. I was impressed that Oxygen managed to pack SO MUCH information into the mock crime scene that Holes used to explain how he investigates crimes. Holes explains complicated investigation concepts in easy-to-understand terms and is very personable & easygoing (which helped a lot when my phone went off in the first row during a moment of total silence. Sorry, Paul!)
2:45 - Oxygen’s “The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes” was one of the most well-constructed sessions I’ve seen in three years of CrimeCon sessions. I was impressed that Oxygen managed to pack SO MUCH information into the mock crime scene that Holes used to explain how he investigates crimes. Holes explains complicated investigation concepts in easy-to-understand terms and is very personable & easygoing (which helped a lot when my phone went off in the first row during a moment of total silence. Sorry, Paul!)
4:00
- Oh, man. This is the session I’d been waiting for. Let me tell you about my love for Chris Darden. Twenty-five years ago I watched him and the indelible Marcia Clark put the punches to OJ Simpson on television nearly every day. It sparked my interest in true crime. Twenty-five years later I’m working in my dream job and it’s partly due to the inspiring work they did during an obviously challenging (to put it mildly) trial.
This was a session everyone is still talking about. Darden’s characteristic energy and emotion were on full display, and amped up to about an eleven as he took the stage (looking super snazzy, if I may say). He kicked off his session with some good-natured humor: “When they told me there was a group of people with this interest in. . . um. . . murder? I said ‘I gotta see this. I gotta meet these people. These are my people.”
This was a session everyone is still talking about. Darden’s characteristic energy and emotion were on full display, and amped up to about an eleven as he took the stage (looking super snazzy, if I may say). He kicked off his session with some good-natured humor: “When they told me there was a group of people with this interest in. . . um. . . murder? I said ‘I gotta see this. I gotta meet these people. These are my people.”
Darden applauded the attendees’ effort to understand crime, investigation, and the criminal justice system before sharing a sweet moment with Tom Lange, his friend and a former detective in the Simpson case, from stage.
Darden gleefully threw shade at members of Simpson’s so-called “Dream Team” before shifting gears to focus on victims Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. “Imagine what they could have accomplished in these last 25 years,” he pondered.
After the powerful session I caught up with Mr. Darden and forgot that I’m a professional for a moment. All that stuff about why I love Chris Darden? Yeah, that fell out of my mouth in a torrential fangirl downpour as he signed a book for me. Somehow I hadn’t terrified him enough to make him sprint toward the door and he willingly took a few seconds to tell me about his first CrimeCon experience:
Darden gleefully threw shade at members of Simpson’s so-called “Dream Team” before shifting gears to focus on victims Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. “Imagine what they could have accomplished in these last 25 years,” he pondered.
After the powerful session I caught up with Mr. Darden and forgot that I’m a professional for a moment. All that stuff about why I love Chris Darden? Yeah, that fell out of my mouth in a torrential fangirl downpour as he signed a book for me. Somehow I hadn’t terrified him enough to make him sprint toward the door and he willingly took a few seconds to tell me about his first CrimeCon experience:
5:45-ish
- I ran back to my room to grab a beignet and a Dr. Pepper when a text came across my phone from one of my confidential informants in the Murder Squad
session: “BILLY AND PAUL NEED BOURBON.”
Look, don’t threaten me with a good time. My Darden-induced high was still running strong, and I’m from Kentucky; if someone asks for bourbon, they get bourbon. I took that dare and sent two glasses of the bar’s finest Woodford Reserve to Billy and Paul on stage. I didn’t see them for the rest of the night, but I bet they had a hell of a time wherever they were. Someone later sent me this picture of a very happy-looking Paul Holes:
Look, don’t threaten me with a good time. My Darden-induced high was still running strong, and I’m from Kentucky; if someone asks for bourbon, they get bourbon. I took that dare and sent two glasses of the bar’s finest Woodford Reserve to Billy and Paul on stage. I didn’t see them for the rest of the night, but I bet they had a hell of a time wherever they were. Someone later sent me this picture of a very happy-looking Paul Holes:
6:30pm
- With preparations for the VIP cocktail hour and dinner well underway, I turned my attention to helping my teammates on the CrimeCon crew distribute dinner tickets, field questions, and make the VIP experience a success.
I let out an involuntary “Oh noooo…” as CrimeCon Threepeat Offender Candace (who gave me permission to use her name) took the stage with mentalist Jason Suran. (You know how, in Harry Potter, every time there’s trouble at Hogwarts, it always involves Harry, Ron, and Hermione? Same concept: every time there’s a potentially embarrassing event at CrimeCon, it usually involves Candace and her sister, and odds are 10:1 that they've been drinking since 2:00.) Suran blew the audience away by accurately guessing intimate information about Candace before summoning Paul Holes to the stage and guessing his phone’s lock code.
I let out an involuntary “Oh noooo…” as CrimeCon Threepeat Offender Candace (who gave me permission to use her name) took the stage with mentalist Jason Suran. (You know how, in Harry Potter, every time there’s trouble at Hogwarts, it always involves Harry, Ron, and Hermione? Same concept: every time there’s a potentially embarrassing event at CrimeCon, it usually involves Candace and her sister, and odds are 10:1 that they've been drinking since 2:00.) Suran blew the audience away by accurately guessing intimate information about Candace before summoning Paul Holes to the stage and guessing his phone’s lock code.
10:30pm
- CrimeCon staff team meeting to discuss what a rousing success Day 2 had been, but also to painstakingly go person by person to talk about the complaints and compliments they’d heard from all of you. During this meeting it hit me again how lucky I am to work with this small team of smart and dedicated people who believe in the power of this event.
11:45pm - Took a lap through the Spirits bar and ran into Rodie Sanchez, who took my face in his hands, smushed my cheeks together and told me I’m beautiful so I could have ended the night right there and died happily. Instead I ventured on and met Larry Pollard and his wife, plus Justin and Aaron of Generation Why, and Art Roderick. I also stumbled upon Candace, her sister, and Jason Suran from the VIP dinner. Suran wowed our small group with tricks that I honestly cannot explain, and brought me to tears with a cold reading (I know it’s not real, but I WAS TIRED AND EMOTIONAL, OKAY?)
11:45pm - Took a lap through the Spirits bar and ran into Rodie Sanchez, who took my face in his hands, smushed my cheeks together and told me I’m beautiful so I could have ended the night right there and died happily. Instead I ventured on and met Larry Pollard and his wife, plus Justin and Aaron of Generation Why, and Art Roderick. I also stumbled upon Candace, her sister, and Jason Suran from the VIP dinner. Suran wowed our small group with tricks that I honestly cannot explain, and brought me to tears with a cold reading (I know it’s not real, but I WAS TIRED AND EMOTIONAL, OKAY?)
For three CrimeCons now, Sunday morning has brought mixed feelings. My feet and my aging knees are glad it’s almost over. My thumbs are swollen and achy from posting and typing on my phone. My brain is numb. But I scroll through Twitter and Instagram and see attendees’ posts -- how much fun you’re having, how much you’re learning, and what you’re looking forward to today, and it gets me on my feet, gets my head in the game, and I rally.
9:30 - And what better way to rally than by welcoming an actual legend to the Grand Ballroom? Just before Dr. Henry Lee took the stage to speak, I took a peek backstage to introduce myself. “We spoke on the phone a few months ago for your CrimeConfidential feature,” I bumbled. I could tell he had no idea who I was, but he was gracious enough to snap a quick selfie with me before going onstage.
9:30 - And what better way to rally than by welcoming an actual legend to the Grand Ballroom? Just before Dr. Henry Lee took the stage to speak, I took a peek backstage to introduce myself. “We spoke on the phone a few months ago for your CrimeConfidential feature,” I bumbled. I could tell he had no idea who I was, but he was gracious enough to snap a quick selfie with me before going onstage.
From my previous interactions with him I knew that Dr. Lee has a great sense of humor and it was on full display in the first half of his presentation. With his typical good nature, he discussed the changes he’s seen over fifty years in forensic science and touched on the changes he sees coming in the future. He peppered his presentation by handing autographed photos to audience members who answered questions, displayed enthusiasm, or who even just caught his eye.
10:15 - I dragged myself away from Dr. Lee’s amazing presentation (another I’ll be rewatching on CrimeCon Insider) to catch the Q&A portion of “Escaping NXIVM” with former member Barbara Bouchey and Uncover: Escaping NXIVM host Josh Bloch. Bouchey is one of the strongest women I’ve met and she did not back down from a question about why people were attracted to the cult in the first place. “Please understand: 17,000 people came through NXIVM,” she said. “16,000 of those wouldn’t tell you they joined a cult. Many people did get positive results from it, then moved on. But there was a small circle of women whom [NXIVM leader Keith] Raniere would boundary-test to see if they were susceptible to entering this inner circle.”
10:45 - Waiting for Dr. John White’s session “Serial Killers Among Us” to begin, I sat near this adorable couple and couldn’t help but snap a pic. We had a wonderful conversation about how positive and supportive the CrimeCon environment is and it pumped me up for the rest of the day! Thank you, ladies!
10:15 - I dragged myself away from Dr. Lee’s amazing presentation (another I’ll be rewatching on CrimeCon Insider) to catch the Q&A portion of “Escaping NXIVM” with former member Barbara Bouchey and Uncover: Escaping NXIVM host Josh Bloch. Bouchey is one of the strongest women I’ve met and she did not back down from a question about why people were attracted to the cult in the first place. “Please understand: 17,000 people came through NXIVM,” she said. “16,000 of those wouldn’t tell you they joined a cult. Many people did get positive results from it, then moved on. But there was a small circle of women whom [NXIVM leader Keith] Raniere would boundary-test to see if they were susceptible to entering this inner circle.”
10:45 - Waiting for Dr. John White’s session “Serial Killers Among Us” to begin, I sat near this adorable couple and couldn’t help but snap a pic. We had a wonderful conversation about how positive and supportive the CrimeCon environment is and it pumped me up for the rest of the day! Thank you, ladies!
Dr. White is a doll. He’s one of those speakers you want to invite to Thanksgiving dinner. He began his session in typical lighthearted manner, but the content turned dark very quickly. Dr. White explained the many different types of serial killers who live among us. “Sexual sadists are the most unspeakable, horrible people because they prolong your life so they can hear your screams.” Not a sound in the (packed) room except for the collective shudder that ran through the audience.
12:00
- I admit I was nervous walking into Crystal Miller’s session “Columbine: Marked for Life.” I was nervous because the Columbine shooting happened near the beginning of my true crime “phase” (as my mother still calls it), and it was the first time I remember feeling unsafe at school. It affected me deeply, and I kept newspaper clippings (pre-internet, people!) in a folder looking for a definitive answer not to “Why did this happen?” but “Can this happen to me?”
Miller is a phenomenal speaker. Half the room probably choked up as soon as she said “Good afternoon.” She set the stage immediately with a series of news clips from the days following the shooting, including clips of herself, crying and trembling as a reporter held a microphone to her tear-covered face.
Miller is a phenomenal speaker. Half the room probably choked up as soon as she said “Good afternoon.” She set the stage immediately with a series of news clips from the days following the shooting, including clips of herself, crying and trembling as a reporter held a microphone to her tear-covered face.
She described the events of the day in chilling detail; you definitely understood that she has lived that day over and over again for twenty years. She divulged that, on the morning of the shooting, she convinced her friend Seth to join her in the library to study for a test. “It was my fault we were in the library that day,” she said, and a lump formed in my throat. She described the pings and blasts and screams and crying that she heard when the shooters unleashed a hail of bullets in the library that day. She and her friend took cover under a desk. “Seth pulled me toward him and said ‘Crystal, I want you to know that I will take a bullet for you.’”
I wish I could tell you what happened after that, but I can’t. The lump in my throat and the pall in the air threatened to suffocate me and I had to leave the ballroom.
After the closing video (more tears) I sneaked into the CrimeCon Insider-only closed session, “Chase Darkness with Me” with the ever-stoic Billy Jensen. I arrived just in time for a truly pleasant surprise as Dr. Henry Lee took a couple of minutes to join Jensen on stage to share some of his experiences (and more jokes, obviously!) with Insiders.
Jensen took Insiders through the steps he took to leverage social media to find the killer of Marques Gaines in 2016. If you’ve heard him speak, you know his intensity can reverberate through a room like a tuning fork, and the audience was acutely tuned in. With a captivating mix of conviction, humor, and a few of his signature F-bombs, Jensen gave CrimeCon Insiders a phenomenal session that was definitely worth sticking around to see.
And just like that, CrimeCon 2019 was over. I took a seat on the first floor to catch my breath and took in my surroundings. I saw people heading home, hugging the new friends they had made. I saw people like me who sit on the couch and watch our “stories” on TV sharing ideas with the very experts we watch. I looked to my right to see Billy Jensen, now chatting with a fan, taking her ideas seriously, and offering legitimate information to help her better understand the topic at hand. I saw victims and survivors offer hugs to the attendees they’ve inspired. It was Dateline and Unsolved Mysteries and 20/20 and 48 Hours and Oxygen all wrapped into one -- and we were inside of it.
“This is unreal,” I said to my partner in crime. “Look around; we’re all living in a dream that none of us knew existed two years ago. And the best part is that we get to do it all again next year.”
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Now you know what I thought of CrimeCon 2019. We want to hear from you, too! Don’t forget to visit crimecon2019.sched.com and leave feedback on each session you attended (just click into the session and then look for the “Feedback Survey” link. Your feedback is an essential part of building the programming, content, and list of speakers that you want to see in Orlando!
I wish I could tell you what happened after that, but I can’t. The lump in my throat and the pall in the air threatened to suffocate me and I had to leave the ballroom.
After the closing video (more tears) I sneaked into the CrimeCon Insider-only closed session, “Chase Darkness with Me” with the ever-stoic Billy Jensen. I arrived just in time for a truly pleasant surprise as Dr. Henry Lee took a couple of minutes to join Jensen on stage to share some of his experiences (and more jokes, obviously!) with Insiders.
Jensen took Insiders through the steps he took to leverage social media to find the killer of Marques Gaines in 2016. If you’ve heard him speak, you know his intensity can reverberate through a room like a tuning fork, and the audience was acutely tuned in. With a captivating mix of conviction, humor, and a few of his signature F-bombs, Jensen gave CrimeCon Insiders a phenomenal session that was definitely worth sticking around to see.
And just like that, CrimeCon 2019 was over. I took a seat on the first floor to catch my breath and took in my surroundings. I saw people heading home, hugging the new friends they had made. I saw people like me who sit on the couch and watch our “stories” on TV sharing ideas with the very experts we watch. I looked to my right to see Billy Jensen, now chatting with a fan, taking her ideas seriously, and offering legitimate information to help her better understand the topic at hand. I saw victims and survivors offer hugs to the attendees they’ve inspired. It was Dateline and Unsolved Mysteries and 20/20 and 48 Hours and Oxygen all wrapped into one -- and we were inside of it.
“This is unreal,” I said to my partner in crime. “Look around; we’re all living in a dream that none of us knew existed two years ago. And the best part is that we get to do it all again next year.”
=====
Now you know what I thought of CrimeCon 2019. We want to hear from you, too! Don’t forget to visit crimecon2019.sched.com and leave feedback on each session you attended (just click into the session and then look for the “Feedback Survey” link. Your feedback is an essential part of building the programming, content, and list of speakers that you want to see in Orlando!
CrimeCon Returns to London on 7th and 8th June 2025: A Must-Attend Event for True Crime Enthusiasts
Exciting news for true crime aficionados – CrimeCon is making its much-anticipated return to London on 7th and 8th June 2025! As the biggest UK event for those with a passion for the true crime genre, this is an unmissable opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of crime, justice, and investigation, all set in the heart of the UK capital.
CrimeCon UK has built a reputation as the ultimate true crime experience, where enthusiasts, experts, educators and professionals come together to explore high-profile cases, delve into forensic science, and hear from those at the forefront of criminal investigation. 2025 promises to be the best event yet - being more captivating than ever before.
What to Expect at CrimeCon 2025
Building on the enormous success of past years, CrimeCon London 2025 will once again offer attendees exclusive access to leading criminal experts, investigative journalists, detectives, and true crime content creators. With a packed schedule of live panels, interactive discussions, and real-life case studies, this year's event is guaranteed to leave attendees with insights into some of the most talked-about cases and topical true crime themes. Not only this, CrimeCon UK puts victims and advocacy for justice at the heart of the event - making sure that CrimeCon is a platform for every story that needs to be told.
Here's a glimpse of what awaits attendees at CrimeCon 2025:
- Exclusive Interviews and Case Debriefs: Hear directly from those involved in some of the UK’s most intriguing and infamous criminal cases, hearing from those that were directly impacted by criminality.
- Meet Your Favorite True Crime Content Creators: The digital world has revolutionised the true crime genre, and CrimeCon will be bringing top content creators together to discuss their platforms, methods, and deep dives into unsolved mysteries.
- Interactive Exhibits and Forensic Workshops: Put your sleuthing skills to the test as you take part in immersive activities, which have, in the past, included forensic analysis and criminal profiling.
- Q&A Sessions with Experts: Get the chance to ask burning questions to investigators, criminologists, and legal professionals.
Who Should Attend?
Whether you're a die-hard true crime fan, a criminal justice professional, or just someone curious about the world of crime-solving, CrimeCon is perfect for you. The event brings together a diverse community of people who share a passion for exploring the darker side of humanity while discussing critical issues of justice and victim advocacy.
For those already familiar with popular crime podcasts, books, and documentaries, this is your chance to engage with the experts and learn more about the complexities behind these stories. CrimeCon offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
Secure Your Spot
Tickets for CrimeCon London 2025 are expected to sell out fast, so be sure to grab yours soon. Various ticket packages are be available, offering different levels of access, from basic admission to VIP and Platinum experiences, where you can enjoy perks such as exclusive sessions with speakers, early access to certain events and enhanced event benefits.
To find out more and to book your tickets, click here. Don't miss out on being part of the most thrilling true crime event of the year!
Now is your chance to ensure your favourite true crime content from 2023 is recognised in the TCAs!
VIEWERS' CHOICE: Whether it's your favourite series, documentary film or influencer - make sure you submit your thoughts on your favourite on-screen true crime content today! Remember - only content released in 2023 is eligible and will be counted.
LISTENERS' CHOICE: All True Crime podcasts (that released content that is available in the UK during 2023) are eligible to be nominated so be sure that your go-to true crime podcast is recognised!
READERS' CHOICE:
Which true crime book caught your attention in 2023? As long as it was first published last year then it's eligible to be nominated, so cast your vote today!
Voting is now open and closes on 31st March 2024.
Those with the most votes will be recognised and awarded at the True Crime Awards which is scheduled to take place on 25th April 2024.
THE BIG SCOTTISH BOOK CLUB
SERIES 5 EPISODE 2
AVAILABLE NOW
Damian Barr is joined by Shetland and Vera author Ann Cleeves to discuss her new novel, The Raging Storm. Lauren Lyle, star of the series Karen Pirie, reveals how she brings the Val McDermid character to life, and, on the 30th anniversary of Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh talks about the ITV crime series and his latest novel, The Long Knives. True crime podcasters (and our very own Nancy Baughen) rate Truman Capote classic In Cold Blood, and crime readers at the Shetland Noir Festival in Lerwick recommend their favourite reads.
If you'd like to catch up and watch this incredible episode of The Big Scottish Book Club, click here.
SERIES 5 EPISODE 2
AVAILABLE NOW
Damian Barr is joined by Shetland and Vera author Ann Cleeves to discuss her new novel, The Raging Storm. Lauren Lyle, star of the series Karen Pirie, reveals how she brings the Val McDermid character to life, and, on the 30th anniversary of Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh talks about the ITV crime series and his latest novel, The Long Knives. True crime podcasters (and our very own Nancy Baughen) rate Truman Capote classic In Cold Blood, and crime readers at the Shetland Noir Festival in Lerwick recommend their favourite reads.
If you'd like to catch up and watch this incredible episode of The Big Scottish Book Club, click here.
