BLACK mobile logo

united states

At CrimeCon true crime obsessives come face-to-face with real loss

June 20, 2026

CrimeCon, an annual Las Vegas convention for true crime enthusiasts that began in 2017 with 800 attendees and has grown to 6,500 participants, brings together content creators, investigators, and families of crime victims. The event navigates a delicate balance between commercialization—featuring merchandise stores, celebrity meet-and-greets, and VIP packages costing over $1,600—and genuine victim advocacy through awareness campaigns and cold case promotion. While critics point to exploitation concerns within the broader true crime genre, organizers and attendees emphasize the convention's evolution toward centering victims' families and providing them platforms to share their stories with thousands of people.

Who is affected

  • Dr. Maggie Zingman, whose daughter Brittany Phillips was murdered in 2004 (unsolved case)
  • Greg Wallace, whose 23-year-old daughter Brittany vanished eight years ago
  • Joe Petito and family, parents of murdered daughter Gabby Petito
  • Kristi and Steve Goncalves, parents of University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves killed by Bryan Kohberger
  • Susan McConnell and community members connected to the unsolved murder of Missy Bevers
  • Nicole Earnest-Payte, sexual assault survivor attacked by the NorCal rapist
  • Three Jeffrey Epstein survivors
  • 6,500 CrimeCon attendees
  • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Black and Missing Foundation (advocacy organizations)

What action is being taken

  • Dr. Maggie Zingman is making trips across the country in a wrapped pink and purple vehicle promoting her daughter's case
  • The Petito family is operating a booth to promote their foundation supporting missing persons cases and domestic violence prevention
  • Susan McConnell is talking to podcasters about Missy Bevers' case
  • Greg Wallace is getting his daughter's name out globally through CrimeCon
  • The Goncalves family is raising money for DNA testing through their Murder Has a Name foundation
  • CrimeCon organizers are curating content to focus on victims rather than perpetrators

Why it matters

  • CrimeCon represents the intersection of America's decade-long true crime obsession with real victim advocacy, demonstrating how entertainment consumption can potentially serve practical purposes. The event provides families of crime victims access to thousands of engaged individuals, media personalities, and podcasters who can amplify unsolved cases that might otherwise receive no attention. It matters because it raises fundamental questions about ethical consumption of tragedy—whether commercialization necessarily equals exploitation, or if platforms that profit from crime can simultaneously advance legitimate advocacy goals. The event's growth from 800 to 6,500 attendees reflects the true crime genre's cultural influence and its predominantly female audience's complex motivations, ranging from morbid curiosity to genuine safety education and victim support.

What's next

  • CrimeCon 2026 is planned (referenced by welcoming arch at the event)
  • The Goncalves family is considering attending next year with a booth for their foundation
  • Event organizers are promoting a CrimeCon Cruise
  • Attendees are being urged to sign up for next year's event

Read full article from source: BBC

At CrimeCon true crime obsessives come face-to-face with real loss