CrimeCon 2019

Special Agent Jeff Rinek was known within the FBI as someone who was particularly adept at getting criminals to confess: from murderers to terrorists to hardcore child predators. He is perhaps best known for getting a serial killer named Cary Stayner to confess in extraordinary detail to the murders of four women and girls in Northern California: a string of sexually-motivated killings known as the Yosemite Murders, one of the cases outlined in his recent book In the Name of the Children. The confession was all the more remarkable in that Rinek's FBI superiors had wrongfully arrested others for Stayner's crimes, leaving him free and clear to kill again.

Rinek will play excerpts from the confession and show crime scene photos of the evidence the killer led them to, allowing the audience to follow along minute by tension-filled minute, as the process of obtaining a confession unfolds before their eyes. Amateur sleuths and true-crime aficionados will be amazed by the astonishing amount of detail and self-reflection Rinek was able to elicit from Stayner about the evolution of a serial killer, getting him to talk about the impulses that drove him, the twisted and very specific fantasy that took root inside him at an early age, the evolution from fantasy into a concrete kidnap and murder plan, the steps he followed to make it a reality, and the study and preparation he took to try to avoid getting caught. The presentation will illustrate Rinek's unorthodox and humanistic approach to interviewing suspects, an approach with which he has had much success despite it being the almost polar opposite of the Reid Technique taught and used in most law enforcement agencies. Rinek will also describe how fraught with peril the interrogation process can be and how he managed to overcome the seemingly impossible-to-navigate terms Stayner demanded in exchange for confessing.

Behind “The Staircase” with David Rudolf
After Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her Durham, NC home in 2001 her husband, Michael, was arrested and charged with her murder. What’s followed is 18 years of dramatic twists and turns that no one could have seen coming.

The subject of a documentary (The Staircase, which originally aired in 2004 as a French series of a different title, was updated in 2013, then again in 2018 when it was picked up by Netflix and gained wide attention), the legal case is extraordinarily compelling and has spawned countless theories, not to mention endless dinner table fights around the country.

David Rudolf, who acted as Peterson’s defense attorney in the original trial, and has been on an international tour discussing the case, will take attendees behind the cameras, through the key evidence, and inside the story that has compelled true crime fans everywhere.
(If you have a question for Mr. Rudolf please email it to us in advance at: questions@crimecon.com using subject: Staircase).

Note: “The Owl Theory,” which supposes that Kathleen’s death may have been caused by a bird of prey, will be discussed in greater depth by the theory’s founder, attorney Larry Pollard at 4:15p on Friday in Breakout 1.

Don’t know the Peterson case? Catch up HERE.

On January 15, 1947, the tortured, bisected body of a 22-year-old woman was discovered in a vacant lot in Los Angeles. Arguably America’s most famous unsolved murder, Professor Anne Redding uses her 30-plus years of experience researching this case to separate fact from fiction by focusing on the Victimology of Elizabeth Short (a.k.a., The Black Dahlia) and analysis of Erotophonophilia (lust murder).

Drawing from official, original documents, the trappings of “whodunit” are set aside for a factual account of the life and tragic death of Ms. Short.

Nancy Moyer disappeared in 2009 from a small town just south of Seattle, WA. Even though authorities established a list of suspects and a well-documented timeline leading up to her disappearance, the case remains unsolved.

Join retired US Marshal Art Roderick, investigator Maurice Godwin, Thurston County Detective Mickey Hamilton, Hide and Seek podcast host James Baysinger, and members of Nancy's family to examine the tangled web of evidence in this emotional session.

ANNOUNCEMENT: We are thrilled to announce that this case has been selected for our new CrimeCon: Crowdsolve weekend, happening October 18-20. Over the weekend attendees will take a deep-dive into the case and work with investigators and experts to help generate new leads and theories. Whether or not you are interested in attending Crowdsolve, please consider sitting in on this session to get a great 101 introduction on this compelling case.

What would you do if someone you knew or loved wanted you dead? 

Oxygen’s new series Murder for Hire gives true crime fans a look inside the dark world of contract killings, showcasing some of the most fascinating murder for hire cases ever caught on tape. In this panel of real people who were involved in an actual undercover sting you will hear from intended victim and survivor Meghan Verikas, Houston Police Detective Javier Duran along with Harris County Assistant District Attorneys Samantha Knecht and Cameron Calligan, who will all share their first-hand experiences on a double murder for hire scheme that sent shock waves through Houston, TX.

The panel will be moderated by Adam Kassen, executive producer for Murder for Hire.

UPDATE: Due to an unforeseen emergency Saad Chaudry will no longer be able to attend this panel.

The recent HBO documentary The Case Against Adnan Syed, three years in the making, brought new light and new evidence to the case originally featured in the Serial podcast, but came two days after the highest court in Maryland reinstated Syed's conviction, thereby denying him a new trial.

In this can't-miss session Susan and Rabia discuss making the docuseries, new evidence in the case and what it could mean, the evidence that may still be out there, the shocking appellate court decision, and the fight that's still ahead.

Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski was purportedly responsible for over 200 murders over his life, both as a Mafia contract killer and as a ruthless, unforgiving man who killed for any perceived slight. By filtering Richard's childhood through the Violentization Process, it is possible to see how his violent identity as an adult was created by his exposure to abuse and violent role models growing up. Here, Professor Wellman presents a road map for understanding and predicting how killers are made, not born.

"The Owl Theory," as it's become known, is about as controversial as whether you heard "Yanny" or "Laurel" on that audio recording. But to those who believe it, there is no better explanation for what happened to Kathleen Peterson.

Attorney Larry Pollard is the person credited with developing the theory and bringing it to the public's attention. Now, at CrimeCon, Pollard will explain why he's convinced this is the answer and will  answer all of your questions about how it fits in with the rest of the evidence in the fascinating case featured in the documentary The Staircase. 

See video of Mr. Pollard briefly discussing the theory HERE. 

In 1964 the partial remains of two black teenagers -- Charles Moore and Henry Dee -- were pulled from a backwater of the Mississippi River. They'd been brutally murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. But the case went unsolved for decades.

Join David Ridgen, the host of the hit CBC Podcast Someone Knows Something, in conversation with Charles' brother, Thomas Moore, as they discuss their journey, returning to Mississippi 40 years later to discover the truth, confront the Klansmen involved, and finally find justice.

The 25th anniversary of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman mean it's a good time to go back to the beginning.

This session, brought to attendees by the National Law Enforcement Museum, you'll hear unique tales from the beginning of the OJ Simpson investigation and get answers to your questions about the so-called Trial of the Century.

Tom Lange, retired LAPD detective and a lead investigator in the case, will share his thoughts on the discrepancies in the case and in the miniseries The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Tom’s first hand accounts as a seasoned detective will provide a fresh, new, and interesting look into the case. The session will be moderated by former U.S. Marshal Arthur Roderick.

The jury finds the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree. The judge sentences him to death. But what if the defendant is actually innocent and was set up to take the rap?  

Get a first person perspective of life on death row and the ramifications of capital punishment in this candid discussion of the fallibility of the ultimate criminal penalty, with  former death row convict Nathson Fields, noted documentarian and Death Row Stories executive producer Brad Hebert, and veteran defense attorney Joey Jackson.

Fields’ case will also be the focus of an upcoming episode of the HLN Original Series Death Row Stories airing June 30.

CrimeCon superstar speaker Dr. Kimberlie Massnick will  focus her presentation this year on another sexual sadist, "Classified Ad Rapist" and serial killer: Bobby Joe Long,  who murdered at least eight women in Florida, and his victims.

Dr. Massnick has been communicating with Long for the past year and was recently was notified that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Long's death warrant, with an execution date set for May 23, 2019.

Over the past year Long has asked Dr. Massnick to visit so that he could buy her a chipotle-bacon cheeseburger from commissary. He's also requested pictures of her posed in various outfits, specific positions and wearing red lipstick…none of which she ever sent.

Dr. Massnick believes that Long wanted her to recreate images that mimicked his victims. His requests were clear indicators of his need to continually victimize women. His greatest request was for her to someday attend his execution. And although it's long overdue for his victims and their families, Dr. Massnick had no idea that "someday" would possibly come prior to CrimeCon.

Leading up to CrimeCon, Dr. Massnick will release four episodes of her podcast dedicated to the victims of Bobby Joe Long. Her CC presentation will focus on her correspondence with Long and the rollercoaster of thoughts and feelings that she has, and will continue to experience, in the final 29 days of her interactions with this convicted serial killer.

Debra Newell, Terra Newell, and Laura Richards take you behind the scenes of how Debra's dream man became her worst nightmare.

However gripping and terrifying you found Bravo's thriller series Dirty John, it's nothing compared to the real-life story that inspired the show and podcast. This could happen to anyone, come learn the lessons and spot the warning signs.

Read more about Debra, Terra, and Laura in issue 3 of CrimeConfidential!

Meet Rodie Sanchez, learn how he survived 30+ years in law enforcement, how it affected his personal life, and how he came to be in the show the Killing Fields.

You'll hear inside stories from the show and the Eugenie Boisfontaine case that has consumed Rodie for so many years.

Gil Valle rose to infamy in October 2012 and became known to the world as the NYPD "Cannibal Cop" after he was arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap, cook, and eat women. These "plans" were formulated on a fetish website between people who never communicated in real life, and it was later found that these were not real plans at all.

Valle has since been exonerated, but his case remains in the forefront of a debate over the First Amendment, Internet privacy, and "thought crimes." When, if ever, does a thought without any real action cross the line into criminal behavior and when are the civil rights of an American citizen violated?

If you are interested in a deep-dive into a complex legal issue that will only get more commonplace in the years ahead then please bring your (respectful) questions and join in the conversation.

Ed. Note: If you are interested in getting up to date on the case and issues prior to the Con consider watching the HBO doc Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop.

Abducted in Plain Sight was one of the most watched true crime films on Netflix this year. It not only caused lots of frustration from viewers with how the story unfolded, but it also sparked necessary conversations about a of important topics.

This session, which features Jan Broberg (the young girl featured in the story) and director Skye Borgman, will include clips from the film and an open Q&A with the audience. Broberg and Borgman will dive deeper into the topics of grooming an entire family, and how most perpetrators are people that we know, love and trust. The two will look at how an abuser often diverts attention from their actions in order to continue their behavior and will also talk about forgiveness and what it really takes to heal, find happiness, and move forward.

Read more about Skye & Jan at CrimeCon on page 6 in Issue 4 of CrimeConfidential.

Prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Chris Darden will mark the 25th anniversary of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman with a presentation that reminds us that history is the only true teacher.

Lessons from the O.J. trial persevered for Mr. Darden well after the verdict and he’s spent years applying them to all manner of cases, including those currently in the news, like the murder of Nipsey Hussle.

Now, at CrimeCon 2019, Mr. Darden will reveal the ten most important things he learned through the OJ experience, as well as how they’ve influenced his over two decades of defense work since the verdict.

If you have questions for Mr. Darden please submit them to us at: questions@crimecon.com, subject: Darden.

HLN's Susan Hendricks moderates what is sure to be an emotional discussion with family members of two young girls who were murdered in Delphi, Indiana in early 2017. Recent developments in the case—including a new sketch of the suspect—have the families, the community, and law enforcement hopeful that the killer will soon be brought to justice.

Sgt. Kim Riley from the Indiana State Police will join family members Mike Patty, Kelsi German, and Diane & Eric Erskin for this panel.

Reginald Adams was wrongly convicted, twice, by New Orleans police and prosecutors for a murder he did not commit. When Innocence Project New Orleans reviewed his case it became clear he had been framed. With the help of pro-bono counsel, Mike Magner, they developed a complete picture of what was done to Reginald and relatively quickly won his complete exoneration. Olivia Grey Pritchard, through her dedicated online blog, had independently begun advocating for Reginald.

This interactive panel will hear from Reginald about the experience through two trials, 34 years of wrongful imprisonment, and the challenges since. Emily and Mike will discuss the process of reviewing and successfully pressing Reginald’s case to the New Orleans District Attorney. Olivia will discuss – from a lay-advocate’s perspective – the efforts that she and her mother had undertaken on Reginald’s behalf and how they worked with the IPNO lawyers after Reginald had counsel. Emily and Mike will address wrongful convictions more generally and the review process that IPNO and similar organizations undertake on old cases of potentially innocent prisoners. The panel will then address the systemic causes – beyond specific evidence-based mistakes--of tragedies like that which befell Reginald Adams and what we can all do to prevent wrongful convictions. There will be plenty of time for audience questions and discussion.

Join Art Roderick for a history of the June 1962 escape from U.S. Penitentiary Alcatraz and the ensuing FBI and U.S. Marshals investigation. You'll learn about the reasons behind the escape, the theories of what happened to the three escapees, and see photos of actual evidence and video and photos of Alcatraz itself.

Roderick will talk about the outcomes of some of the more recent leads in the case (as recent as May 2019), that have been investigated by the U.S. Marshals and U.S. Marshals, Assistant Director (retired) Arthur Roderick. Roderick will also discuss the next steps in the investigation and have time for audience Q & A. Read more about Art and his session on pg.14 in issue 4 of CrimeConfidential.

Former high ranking NXIVM member and whistleblower Barbara Bouchey joins host and co-producer of CBC podcasts Uncover: Escaping NXIVM. They'll give attendees an inside perspective on the trial of NXIVM leaders, including its founder Keith Raniere, the challenges of leaving an alleged cult, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the investigative podcast series. Read more about Josh, Barbara, and NXIVM in issue 4 of CrimeConfidential on pg.12. 

Hell in the Heartland: What Happened to Ashley and Lauria? – A 20 Year Old Cold Case Gets Hot

Twenty years ago, on the night before New Year’s Eve in the small town of Welch Oklahoma, a fire ripped through Ashley Freeman’s family home where her best friend Lauria Bible was visiting. Four people were in the house that night but only two bodies – Ashley’s parents – were found. It’s soon discovered that the parents died of gunshot wounds prior to the fire and that the teenage girls were missing, presumably taken by the perpetrator. When the case goes cold, enter crime author and investigator Jax Miller and former police investigator Sarah Cailean. Be a witness to this evolving case as Jax and Sarah walk through their intrepid research, reveal the many strange theories that have emerged and a truth that proves to be even more incredible.

Jax and Sarah are also featured in the HLN Original Series Hell in the Heartland: What Happened to Ashley and Lauria? airing Sundays at 9pm ET on HLN (CNN Headline News).

Jax Miller and Sarah Cailean are Hell in the Heartland hosts and executive producers. Lorene Bible and Lisa Brodrick are the mother and cousin of Lauria, respectively, and moderator Joey Jackson is a CNN/HLN legal analyst.

In 2008, a young pregnant mother, Kadie Major, and her 10-month-old daughter, River Lynn, were found dead alongside a remote section of railroad tracks in Moncks Corner, S.C. Kadie’s death was quickly ruled a suicide, but Kadie’s mother, Vicky Hall, never believed it. She embarked on her own 10-year investigation, collecting evidence and speaking to witnesses. She claims enforcement ignored her… until 48 Hours producers Liza Finley and Ryan N. Smith started an investigation of their own….

48 Hours’ investigation helped fuel a second look at the case which led to a breakthrough. The newly elected Sheriff publically stated that Kadie Major did not commit suicide. He also declared Kadie’s husband, Aaron Major, a suspect. The investigation is still ongoing. Aaron Major has not been charged with any crime.

Come hear Peter talk about this gripping case with Kadie’s mother, Vicky Hall, and private investigator Jessica Sanders.