Family members of murder victims say they’ve found a unique opportunity for support and advocacy at the annual convention of true crime fans.
Stacy Chapin, whose 20-year-old son, Ethan, was one of the four University of Idaho students brutally stabbed to death last November, was initially skeptical about attending CrimeCon, an annual event attended by thousands of true crime enthusiasts from around the world.
Dozens of panels in the three-day event included speakers analyzing headline-making cases — like the Idaho killings — as well as sessions from people involved in all facets of criminal investigations and court trials, interactive workshops, live podcast tapings, and eyewitness accounts.
In some of the ballrooms, the hush of the captivated crowd listening to investigators, crime analysts and forensic psychologists was broken by laughter at dark humor — many of the convention’s most popular speakers are natural entertainers.On other stages, people recounted the worst days of their lives and the unbearable grief that followed. In spite of the courage needed to be so vulnerable to thousands of people, many speakers said they felt they were in a safe space.