CrimeCon 2026

Join Investigation Discovery, the leader in true crime programming, for a compelling panel spotlighting the women who are redefining the genre through bold, survivor‑centric storytelling rooted in empathy, integrity, and journalistic rigor. Featuring some of the creative forces behind the network’s biggest and most talked‑about series, this dynamic conversation explores how ID continues to deliver programming that is informative, responsible, and deeply resonant. Equal parts revealing and inspiring, this can’t‑miss session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from the women shaping the future of true crime storytelling, including:
Holly Madison, host of Lethally Blonde, who amplifies voices often overlooked, exploring cases involving victims on the fringes of society
Journalist Elizabeth Chambers, who platforms powerful survivor stories while examining the complexity and lasting impact of traumatic relationships in Toxic
Legal analyst Beth Karas, a trusted authority who brings clarity and context to some of the most bizarre and intricate cases featured in The Curious Case of…
Pop culture commentator Simone Boyce, who unpacks the darker realities behind cultural moments, guiding viewers through each episode of Hollywood Demons

The conversation will be moderated by Emmy Award–winning journalist Paula Zahn, whose compassionate, measured approach has made On the Case with Paula Zahn Investigation Discovery’s longest‑running newsmagazine. With empathy and journalistic integrity at the forefront of her storytelling, Zahn brings a deeply informed and human lens to the discussion.

CrimeCon 2026's Expo Hall & Creator Row is presented by Tenderfoot TV!

Step into the heart of CrimeCon! The Expo Hall is your one-stop shop for exclusive merch, discovering content, and interactive experiences from leading brands and partners. Don’t miss Creator Row, where your favorite true crime content creators will be meeting fans, sharing their work, and connecting with the community.

Note that Creator Row remains open during all CrimeCon hours but creators may leave their tables for breaks so be sure to check back often.

Are people predictable? Does everyone have the capacity for extreme violence? Can a single conversation reveal who someone truly is? And when the worst has happened, how do you look a family in the eye and tell them their loved one is gone?

Step inside the world of homicide investigation with one of the most formidable minds in law enforcement. Joe Kenda, the force behind Homicide Hunter, joins powerhouse crime scene investigator Sheryl “Mac” McCollum for a raw, revealing conversation about violence, instinct, and the cases that never leave you.

Over his career, Kenda worked nearly 400 homicide cases with a closure rate that made him one of the most respected investigators in the country. Discover how he trains police recruits and young detectives to step away from their screens and back into the room — where eye contact, instinct, and face-to-face conversations can make or break a case. His mantra: “I don’t forgive and I don’t forget.”

Through decades of casework and hard-earned lessons, Kenda reveals how he approached homicides others couldn’t crack, what separates a good detective from a great one, and what a lifetime of murder investigations teaches us about human nature itself.

In this powerful, ground-breaking session, Joseph Scott Morgan - leading international forensic analyst, veteran death investigator and Jacksonville State University professor - breaks down the three critical levels of identifying the deceased: positive ID, unidentified remains, and speculative association. He takes a deep dive into what separates scientific certainty from educated guesswork - and what it truly takes to move a case from unknown to confirmed.

Then comes a revelation like no other: Working alongside David Mittelman, CEO of Othram - a cutting-edge forensic genetics lab at the forefront of modern cold case work - Morgan reveals how meticulous analysis and forensic genealogy of minute evidence is accomplishing the impossible: a positive ID in a never-before revealed case. It's a session you won't want to miss!

Law&Crime presents the 4th annual America’s Greatest Detective Award, a title awarded annually at the CrimeCon CLUE Awards to recognize the most complex investigative work done by teams or individuals working in or adjacent to law enforcement.

The role of a detective requires grit—but for women in a male-dominated field, it also demands a profound level of intentionality. In this session, this year’s official AGD nominees—an elite group of four detectives—offer an inside look at the cases, challenges, and realities behind their work.

They represent a new era where solving the case is only one part of the mission. These nominees are actively rewriting the rules of the industry by fostering collaborative environments where women work together to crack codes and solve crimes. From the tactical strategies used to break through institutional barriers to the essential work of helping female officers manage the high-stakes stress of the force, this conversation explores how these leaders use their success as a platform to teach, protect, and empower the next generation of female investigators.

Join Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, for a one-hour, high-voltage workshop where a brand-new television format is created—live. No notes. No safety net.

In real time, Zuiker will pull ideas straight from the audience and build them into a fully formed, pitch-ready unscripted crime series—right before your eyes. You’ll witness the instincts, structure, and creative discipline it takes to transform a raw idea into a timeless format that can sell to a major network or streamer. This isn’t theory. It’s the process—unfiltered.

A rare, behind-the-curtain look at how great formats are born… from the mind of someone who’s done it at the highest level.

A disturbing new threat is rapidly gaining ground online-- and it’s targeting children. “Nudify” apps use artificial intelligence to generate explicit images of real people, often without their knowledge or consent. For young victims, the impact is immediate and devastating, turning a single photo into a tool for harassment, sextortion and long-term trauma.

Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, is joined by survivor advocate Francesca Mani and her mother, Dorota Mani, who have helped lead the fight for stronger laws to combat this emerging form of abuse. Together, they’ll unpack how these platforms work, why they’re spreading so quickly, and the real-world consequences for victims and families. The conversation will also explore the challenges facing law enforcement and the urgent need for coordinated action from technology companies, policymakers, and the public.

As AI continues to evolve, so do the risks to children. The question is no longer whether this technology will be used to harm — it already is. The real question is: what are we going to do about it?

Can a brain scan predict criminal behavior? Can neuroscience help explain — or even predict — psychopathy?

Internationally renowned neuroscientist Dr. Kent Kiehl, one of the world’s leading psychopathy researchers, takes attendees inside the criminal mind. After scanning thousands of incarcerated offenders and building one of the largest forensic brain databases in the world, Dr. Kiehl has identified measurable differences in brain structure tied to psychopathic traits and violent behavior.

This session explores what brain scans can tell us about criminal behavior, whether violence can be predicted or prevented, and how this research is reshaping the justice system. Prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew about the nature of evil.

It wouldn’t be CrimeCon without Josh Mankiewicz. The legendary Dateline storyteller returns for another must-see conversation, joined by NBC News correspondent Ellison Barber, host of Netflix’s new true-crime video podcast Allegedly.

Together, they discuss their most unforgettable investigations and high-stakes interviews; offering a behind-the-scenes look at how today’s biggest true crime stories are reported, shaped, and told.

Would you interview a killer? For nearly 40 years, the correspondents of 48 HOURS have gone face-to-face with those accused - and in some cases convicted - of some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. What was it like? What moments stick with them years later?

At CrimeCon 2026, the 48 HOURS correspondents come together to share firsthand stories and hard-earned insights from a wide range of investigations, including cases from the Las Vegas area and across the country. They will talk about the care it takes to sit with survivors and honor their stories while still asking the questions that matter. They will also share what they have learned working alongside law enforcement when the only goal is truth and justice.

From unexpected twists and chilling encounters to breakthroughs sparked by one overlooked detail, this is a candid conversation about the cases you cannot forget and what the team learned while chasing the truth.

Have you ever watched a horror movie, screaming at the screen, as a creepy figure always catches up to the running victim? You keep yelling, “run faster!” But time and time again the movie never seems to disappoint, with the tormenter catching their tormented.

And have you ever watched a police interview, wondering why a suspect thinks they can talk their way out of something they got themselves into? Why do victims and witnesses trust the police to give important information that can solve a case? It all comes down to the interviewer - they must set that stage and get people talking.

In this eye-opening session, retired FBI agent Scott Duffey pulls back the curtain to teach you some of the tricks of the trade of law enforcement, revealing the basic steps of preparing for and entering The FBI Interview Room. Learn what it takes to execute a plan to get someone to talk - and possibly confess to a crime. You’ll learn what it takes to prepare for talking with a suspect who is on the opposite side of the fence. You’ll learn the skills it takes to prep as an FBI Interviewer and how they "set the scene." These basic FBI interview skills are vital in preparing for any professional interview and starting a conversation in your own home, with your own kids, making new friends, disarming neighborly disputes or fighting over parking spaces. They're important not only when it matters to obtain information about a crime, but for everyday life’s challenges.

It’s a must-see session, where you’ll learn how to read people, forge good relationships, and have the confidence to get through a job interview or any other every day conversation.

Veteran prosecutor Kelly Siegler and death investigator Barbara Butcher offer an inside look at their remarkable careers in the justice system, sharing how years of frontline experience ultimately led them to helm successful true crime series on Oxygen.

The panel will explore how Siegler and Butcher broke barriers as two of the few women in their respective fields, navigating the intense pressures of high-profile cases and how those experiences continue to inform their work today. Moderated by Daryn Carp.

Brian Entin spends the majority of his time traveling the country from crime scene to crime scene. He takes us behind the scenes with what is it like living on the road — working long hours tracking down leads, making sources, and meeting victims’ families. From the Kohberger case, to the Reiner murders, to two straight months in Arizona for Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance — Brian has the inside scoop.

Criminal trials focus on evidence, procedures and defendant's rights. But behind every case number are lives permanently altered. Sentencing is where that truth finally speaks.

That's when survivors and loved ones deliver Victim Impact Statements (VIS) - giving voice to the voiceless, voice to the victims and voice to everyone shattered by these unimaginable crimes. A VIS is grief given a language. It's trauma spoken aloud. A moment for survivors and loved ones to reclaim their voice and be heard.

In this powerful and emotional session, brave members of our community take the stage to share their own Victim Impact Statements. Some have been read in court; others have never been spoken aloud-- until now.

Moderated by Renee Williams of the National Center for Victims of Crime, this deeply moving session explores why a VIS matters - not only in the pursuit of justice but also on the long road toward healing.