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

At CrimeCon true crime obsessives come face-to-face with real loss 7 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Sheila Flynn Las Vegas, Nevada CrimeCon and RenownedPhotos The clamour of the crowd is constant in a Las Vegas convention hall. Podcasters rub shoulders with prosecutors, and attendees - wearing T-shirts emblazoned with slogans like "True Crime And Wine" or "I'm Only Here For An Alibi" - carry conference-provided bags stamped with "unsolved crime is a choice". Amongst rows of booths, one woman stands apart, staring stoically ahead as people pass by pictures of her murdered daughter. They are all here for CrimeCon, an annual gathering of true-crime enthusiasts, content creators, investigators, advocates, survivors and victims' relatives. Dr Maggie Zingman says that while the event can feel "commercial", it's worth it to get her daughter's story out there But for many - including stoic mom Dr Maggie Zingman - their reasons for being here are deeply personal. In 2004, the trauma psychologist's daughter, Brittany Phillips, was murdered, and her case has never been solved. Zingman has refused to give up her search for answers, making more than two-dozen trips across the country in a wrapped pink and purple vehicle loudly telling the world about her child's case. CrimeCon is one of her stops. Zingman recognises the event's inherent contradictions, as it tries to build an audience - and turn a profit - from real-life tragedies. "It's a balance," Zingman says. "I wouldn't get 8,000 people learning about my story if it wasn't here." CrimeCon and RenownedPhotos Fox News bought Red Seat Ventures, which puts on CrimeCon, in 2025 For more than a decade, America has been gripped by a true crime obsession. Experts point to game-changing podcasts like 2014's Serial and docuseries like The Jinx and Making a Murderer, which both came out in 2015, as early examples that helped fuel the craze. And CrimeCon has grown alongside the true-crime genre. The inaugural event in 2017 drew just 800, but attendance jumped to 2,400 the following year, according to co-founder Kevin Balfe. This year, 6,500 people attended, with some paying more than $1,600 for a VIP experience. But as the genre has grown, so has the criticism. Many note how much of the content has focused on the perpetrators - not the victims - of the crimes, and the inherent exploitation that comes from profiting from other people's misfortune. It is a fine line to walk, and those who have been coming to CrimeCon for years say the event endeavours to do things right. CrimeCon and RenownedPhotos Many charities have booths at CrimeCon to advocate for victims' rights and public safety Wearing T-shirts proclaiming "Victim exploitation does not equal victim advocacy", the parents of Gabby Petito have their own booth to promote their foundation, which supports missing persons cases and domestic violence prevention. Their daughter made national headlines when she was murdered by her boyfriend during a