We are used to fan conventions, where pop culture fans get together to share their favorite franchise, whether it's Star Trek, The Walking Dead, horror movies, or comic books in general. But what happens at a true crime convention? The seventh annual CrimeCon took place this summer in Nashville. There were authors at the con, signing their books. There were vendors catering to any desire a true crime fan might have. There were TV and podcast hosts that are popular among the community. But the most valuable tickets were for presentations and speeches from relatives of true crime victims or perpetrators. The parents and stepparents of Gabby Petito, who was murdered in 2021, were there. John Ramsey, father of JonBenét Ramsey, was there for this third con, despite being 80 years old. Kerri Rawson, whose father was the BTK killer, was there. Why would these people put themselves through this?
None of the crime relatives are paid to be at CrimeCon. They were already celebrities before the con was founded. While some have embraced their status, they share plenty of other reasons to attend. Some are victim's advocates. Some are selling books. Some go to network with others in the same situation. Some go hoping to keep an unsolved murder in the spotlight, or to spark interest in a case that has gone cold. Some go because telling their story is cathartic, even years later. But it still seems weird to have people clamoring for your autograph because a loved one was the victim of a horrific murder. Read about CrimeCon and its headline speakers at Slate. -via Damn Interesting