Idaho murders victim’s mother makes emotional plea at CrimeCon – live

Thousands of true-crime enthusiasts, media personalities and survivors travelled to Orlando, Florida, to take part in CrimeCon 2023 this weekend.

The Independent was at the event which included talks with Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, the attorneys of Alex Murdaugh; and Kerri Rawson, the daughter of BTK serial killer Dennis Rader.

During one panel at the event, the mother of murdered University of Idaho student Ethan Chapin made an emotional plea to the crowd.

“But I just wanted you all to know that these were four of the greatest kids. And all the great things you read are legitimately true,” she said, before adding “don’t forget these kids”.

Also at the event, Ms Rawson spoke about the moment that she confronted her father over two cold cases that he is now being investigated over – years after he was convicted of 10 murders.

“If you haven’t done anything wrong, I’ll make sure to do everything I can to protect you. But if you did, I’ll come back and nail you to the wall,” Ms Rawson recounted telling him. “He’s been playing games for years, with me, and with you...”

CrimeCon festival

• Mom of Idaho murders victim Ethan Chapin tells audience to ‘never forget these kids’

• How to watch CrimeCon:

• Gabby Petito’s parents to attend CrimeCon

• What is CrimeCon?

True crime’s Super Bowl

Saturday 23 September 2023 13:30 , Bevan Hurley

Thousands of true crime fanatics - along with some of the biggest names in the popular genre - will converge in Orlandothis weekend for CrimeCon, a three-day conference focused on murder and mayhem and all things true crime.

It’s a unique opportunity to rub elbows with top investigators, forensic experts, and well-known true crime television and podcast personalities.

CrimeCon is an immersive, educational experience that gives attendees the chance to be citizen detectives by participating in crowd-solving and learning how to dig into a case properly without hindering the investigation.

It’s also a place where the true crime community can join forces to fight alongside the victims’ families and survivors of crime who are seeking justice.

What’s the lineup for today?

Saturday 23 September 2023 14:53 , Andrea Blanco

Early on Saturday, true crime enthusiasts will be able to attend several conferences on topics such as the American autopsy, blood patterns in a crime scene, and crime convictions.

Some of the speakers expected today are crime commentator Nancy Grace, NewsNation crime correspondent Brian Entin, Dateline journalist Josh Mankiewicz and the BTK killer’s daughter Karri Rawson.

Bryan Kohberger professor and forensic psychologist Dr Katherine Ramsland explains why she decided to study serial killers

Saturday 23 September 2023 16:13 , Andrea Blanco

NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin interviewed Dr Ramsland — famous for her expertise on criminal minds and for co-authoring a book with the BTK serial killer — at CrimeCon on Friday.

This year is the third time that Dr Ramsland, who also taught Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger at DeSales University, has attended CrimeCon.

When asked why she had decided to study serial killers, Dr Ramsland said that she hoped research about the criminal mind would help prevent tragedies in the future. The expert also said that her own family had experienced trauma stemming from violence.

“... we study these people in a way that helps us prevent future serial killers and that’s probably the most important part of the kind of work we do,” Dr Ramsland said. “My father’s mother was murdered ... and my great-grandfather on the other side of the family tried to poison everybody so he could run off with someone else and that didn’t work but there’s certainly violence in the background that trickled down to me.”

Father of missing geologist Daniel Robinson to appear at CrimeCon 2023

Saturday 23 September 2023 17:33 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Robinson, who graduated from College of Charleston with a degree in archaeology, disappeared on 23 June 2021 after seeming disoriented on a work site and ostensibly driving off into the desert with no explanation.

His behaviour had been slightly off in the weeks before his disappearance but there has been no sign of him since; the geologist’s car was recovered nearly a month after he vanished, along with his phone, wallet, keys and clothes he was last seen wearing.

“This weekend, I’ll be at @CrimeCon, spreading awareness about my missing son, Geologist Daniel Robinson. It’s been over 2 years and I’ve done everything a father can,” Robinson’s father David Robinson tweeted. “But the uphill battle continues. Please support and visit http://pleasehelpfinddaniel.com for ways to help.”

The schedule for today

Saturday 23 September 2023 18:15 , Andrea Blanco

The Independent’s Andrea Cavallier is on the ground at CrimeCon 2023.

Here’s the lineup for Saturday:

• 3pm - BTK new lead and case discussions with daughter Kerri Rawson

• 4.20pm - Inside the prosecution of Alex Murdaugh, hosted by CourtTV reporters

• 5.40pm - Murdaugh defence team to take the stage

We’ll be bringing you the latest updates.

Father of missing geologist Daniel Robinson travels to second CrimeCon to spead awareness about son’s disappearance

Saturday 23 September 2023 18:56 , Andrea Cavallier

David Robinson, the father of missing geologist Daniel Robinson, has a goal of handing out every one of his flyers at CrimeCon 2023 in Orlando this weekend to spread awareness of his son’s disappearance, Andrea Cavallier reports from Florida.

But his ultimate goal is to find his son. Daniel Robinson was last spotted on 23 June as he was leaving a worksite in the Arizona desert at Sun Valley Parkway and Cactus Road in Buckeye – 35 miles west of of Phoenix.

On 19 July, a rancher found Robinson’s busted vehicle – a 2017 Jeep Renegade – in a ravine three miles away. His keys, clothes, boots, and cellphone were also found. According to a crash report, the vehicle sped up just before the crash.

The case has been worked by Buckeye Police, but Mr Robinson said he wants his son’s case turned over to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office where it can get the attention it needs.

Mr Robinson has never given up the fight for his son, and hired a private investigator who he says uncovered new information in the case.

The investigator found that Daniel’s vehicle had 11 additional miles on it after the airbags had been deployed and had been cranked 46 times.

Gabby Petito’s mom in tears as she thanks CrimeCon fans for their support

Saturday 23 September 2023 19:19 , Andrea Cavallier

Gabby’s parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and her step-parents, Tara Petito and Jim Schmidt, took the stage at CrimeCon 2023 for a powerful session about domestic violence, “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” as they took the audience through what they went through since Gabby was killed.

It was Petito’s posts that inspired enormous interest in the case and were seized on by an army of online sleuths who joined the effort to help locate Petito when she was first declared missing. They pored over her Instagram posts, searching for any inconsistencies, clues or possible causes for concern.

While law enforcement was searching for Petito’s boyfriend Brian Laundrie in Florida on 19 September 2021, investigators announced they had located a body believed to be that of Petito in the eastern portion of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The discovery was aided by another travel YouTuber who spotted Petito’s van in a video they had been editing.

“It’s thanks to all of you that we found her,” Nichole Schmidt said on Saturday.

Parents of murder victims join CrimeCon 2023 to talk about their love one’s stories

Saturday 23 September 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco

Parents of the victims in high-profile cases have come together at CrimeCon, honouring the lives of their loved ones and sharing their journey through the unimaginable tragedies they’ve experienced.

Slain Gabby Petito’s mom Nichole Schmidt and missing Daniel Robinson’s father shared a selfie on Twitter.

“I could not be more honored,” Ms Schimidt captioned the image. “This guy @DavidRobinsonII @PleaseHelpFind4 he never stops!! We stand with you”

Ms Schmidt led efforts to hold Brian Laundrie and his family accountable after her daughter went missing before he was found dead by suicide. Meanwhile, Mr Robinson has advocated for more awareness for his son’s case and continues to do so more than two years after he vanished.

Kerri Rawson opens up about being notified of father’s murders

Saturday 23 September 2023 20:20 , Andrea Blanco

BTK killer Dennis Rader’s daughter Kerri Rawson is one of the speakers at CrimeCon 2023, which is taking place in Orlando this weekend.

Ms Rawson, a New York Times bestseller author who has previously spoken to The Independent about several high-profile crime cases, opened up about her journey of coming to terms with her father’s crimes and finding purpose in her work.

“18 years ago I didn’t think I would survive the night after being notified my dad was BTK,” Ms Rawson tweeted on Saturday. “9 years ago I started blasting out my heart to the world. Today, I speak with Joel Waldman @PodcastSTS & Laura Ingle @lauraingle about the current cold case investigations into my father.”

Kerri Rawson receives standing ovation as she takes stage at CrimeCon

Saturday 23 September 2023 20:41 , Andrea Cavallier

BTK killer’s daughter Kerri Rawson took the stage on Saturday to talk about her father.

The massive ballroom at the Orlando hotel was packed, with nearly every seat taken.

She recently announced that she’s been working with investigators in various states to help them take a fresh look at cases that could be connected to her father, according to her website.

On the Surviving the Survivor podcast, she said that be confronted her father for the first time in 18 years, visiting him twice in prison.

BTK killer’s daughter reveals what she discussed with her father in prison

Saturday 23 September 2023 21:29 , Andrea Cavallier

Kerri Rawson confronted her father Dennis Rader also known as BTK, after it was announced that he was being investigated in at least two cases years after he was convicted of 10 murders.

Ms Rawson, who is an advocate for victims and survivors, said she went in calm, then also pushed to talk about his crimes.

She said her father pushed her to talk about the Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger. They also discussed the two cases Rader is being of of, including Cynthia Kinney, who went missing 1976 from a laundromat.

Ms Rawson said she told her father, “I love you but this is out of my hands…”

“If you haven’t done anything wrong, I’ll make sure to do everything I can to protect you. But if you did, I’ll come back and nail you to the wall,” Ms Rawson said. “He’s been playing games for years, with me, and with you...”

Ms Rawson also called out true crime fans in the audience for writing letters to her father.

Special CrimeCon campaign raises nearly $9K for Gabby Petito Foundation

Saturday 23 September 2023 21:50 , Andrea Blanco

A special CrimeCon campaign for the Gabby Petito Foundation has raised nearly $9,000 halfway through the second full day of the three-day true crime event.

The foundation was created by Gabby’s parents and stepparents, Nichole and Jim Schmidt, and Joe and Tara Petito, to turn the family’s tragedy into purpose.

The purpose is to spread awareness of domestic violence’s warning signs and assist organisations that provide immediate, tangible help to survivors, according to the campaign.

The Gabby Petito Foundation is CrimeCon’s CLUE Award recipient for the event’s Crimefighter of the Year award.

Missing geologist Daniel Robinson’s family at CrimeCon 2023

Saturday 23 September 2023 22:20 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Robinson, who graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in archaeology, disappeared on 23 June 2021 after seeming disoriented on a work site and ostensibly driving off into the desert with no explanation.

His behaviour had been slightly off in the weeks before his disappearance but there has been no sign of him since; the geologist’s car was recovered nearly a month after he vanished, along with his phone, wallet, keys and clothes he was last seen wearing.

Mr Robinson’s sister and his father David Robinson have a table at the crime convention and are giving out flyers with information about the missing geologist’s case/

Dateline correspondent Josh Mankiewicz dubbed CrimeCon’s mayor

Saturday 23 September 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

The beloved journalist spoke at the panel, Beyond the Headlines: Examining the Aftermath of Carlee Russell’s Fake Disappearance. Curiously, attendees at the event have been referring to Mr Mankiewicz as “CrimeCon’s mayor.”

Ms Russell made headlines across the country after she disappeared on 13 July following a 911 in which she claimed she had seen a toddler walking on the side of an Alabama interstate. But by the time police arrived at the scene, neither Ms Russell nor the toddler were anywhere to be found.

Ms Russell’s story was later debunked by police and she was charged.

ICYMI: What does CrimeCon offer?

Sunday 24 September 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco

The three-day-long conference offers various panels, immersive experiences and the chance to rub elbows with the greatest minds in the true crime genre.

Special guests will speak on a variety of topics including forensics, criminology, victimology, DNA, and more. There are experts leading the sessions who are educated in their field and will provide the latest developments.

Investigators who have cracked decades-old cold cases reveal their secrets about their process. Families of victims and survivors of crime will share their stories, many seeking justice and the support of the true crime community.

Gabby’s parents and stepparents read aloud excerpts from people impacted by Gabby’s story

Sunday 24 September 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco

“Because of Gabby...” her mom Nichole Schmidt read through tears on Saturday.

The short excerpt went on to read from the survivor’s point of view that because of Gabby, she never went back inside the house where it turns out her partner had a gun to kill her.

Gabby’s mom added: “She’s a hero, saved so many lives. Even tho she’s not here anymore. She’s a hero.”

Key players in Alex Murdaugh’s murder conviction among speakers at CrimeCon 2023

Sunday 24 September 2023 02:00 , Andrea Blanco

Alex Murdaugh’s defence attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin spoke about the infamous South Carolina murder trial at CrimeCon in Orlando on Saturday.

The lawyers joined 20/20’s Eva Pilgrim for a “tell all” conversation about “the Southern crime saga that captivated the world.”

Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul earlier this year.

“This CrimeCon exclusive will give attendees an inside look at the defense strategies used by Murdaugh’s legal team and the decision to have Alex take the stand – which many cite as a pivotal moment in the trial,” a promotional blurb stated.

“The pair will share firsthand accounts of the unexpected twists, challenges they faced, reflections on their time with Alex Murdaugh, and what may be coming next.”

The attorneys filed a motion for a mistrial earlier this month alleging jury tampering in Murdaugh’s murder case and requesting a new trial.

What is CrimeCon?

Sunday 24 September 2023 03:00 , Andrea Blanco

CrimeCon is an immersive, weekend-long event with a jammed packed schedule of panels and sessions featuring guests from the true crime field including victims’ families, lawyers, journalists, advocates, podcasters and big players from within the criminal justice system.

“From the latest cases to the latest scientific techniques to the newest TV shows and docs to the best podcasts in the world. And from deep-dives into topics you didn’t even know existed to big ballroom sessions with personalities you watch every week—CrimeCon is the platform that delivers it all,” their website boasts.

Sponsored each year by Oxygen, the event was launched in 2017 by Red Seat Ventures after the firm noticed a “hole” in the true crime market, according to A&E. At the time, there was no convention that focused on the public’s growing fascination with true crime.

The first conference was held in Indianapolis in 2017 with a crowd of just 800, but has quickly grown into the thousands.

CrimeCon 2022, which was held in Las Vegas, attracted around 5,000 attendees.

Gabby Petito’s family makes 15,000 donation to Black & Missing Foundation at CrimeCon awards event

Sunday 24 September 2023 03:30 , Andrea Cavallier

Gabby Petito’s family accepted the Crime Fighter of the Year award on Saturday night for their foundation focused on helping domestic violence victims.

Presenting the award were Natalie Wilson and Derrica Wilson, co-founders of the Black & Missing Foundation.

The Petito family accepted the award then promptly acknowledged the disparities in the coverage of missing people of color.

They announced that they were donating a gift of $15,000 to the foundation.

A father’s plea for answers: Daniel Robinson’s loved ones bring awareness to his case two years after he went missing

Sunday 24 September 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco

David Robinson, the father of missing geologist Daniel Robinson, has a goal of handing out every one of his flyers at CrimeCon 2023 in Orlando this weekend to spread awareness of his son’s disappearance, Andrea Cavallier reports from Florida.

But his ultimate goal is to find his son. Daniel Robinson was last spotted on 23 June as he was leaving a worksite in the Arizona desert at Sun Valley Parkway and Cactus Road in Buckeye – 35 miles west of of Phoenix.

On 19 July, a rancher found Robinson’s busted vehicle – a 2017 Jeep Renegade – in a ravine three miles away. His keys, clothes, boots, and cell phone were also found. According to a crash report, the vehicle sped up just before the crash.

The case has been worked by Buckeye Police, but Mr Robinson said he wants his son’s case turned over to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office where it can get the attention it needs.

Mr Robinson has never given up the fight for his son, and hired a private investigator who he says uncovered new information in the case.

The investigator found that Daniel’s vehicle had 11 additional miles on it after the airbags had been deployed and had been cranked 46 times.

Special CrimeCon campaign raises nearly $9K for Gabby Petito Foundation

Sunday 24 September 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco

A special CrimeCon campaign for the Gabby Petito Foundation has raised nearly $9,000.

The foundation was created by Gabby’s parents and stepparents, Nichole and Jim Schmidt, and Joe and Tara Petito, to turn the family’s tragedy into purpose.

The purpose is to spread awareness of domestic violence’s warning signs and assist organisations that provide immediate, tangible help to survivors, according to the campaign.

The Gabby Petito Foundation is CrimeCon’s CLUE Award recipient for the event’s Crimefighter of the Year award.

Who will be at CrimeCon this year?

Sunday 24 September 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco

Attendees and special guests at the convention range from top experts in the field to notable news personalities to a plethora of true crime podcasters.

Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz, Cold Justice’s Kelly Siegler, and Nancy Grace are among the big names in attendance to discuss their years of work in the industry and insight into their most memorable cases.

On the second day of the conference, Gabby Petito’s parents participated in a panel to discuss their daughter’s life and the events that led to her tragic murder in 2021.

“Gabby’s parents and stepparents, Nichole and Jim Schmidt, and Joe and Tara Petito are changing the narrative and stigmas associated with domestic violence. Through the efforts of the Gabby Petito Foundation and the spirit of who Gabby was, the hope is to make sure this kind of tragedy never befalls another family,” the event description reads.

Another big story dominating the conference this year is the trial of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh. His attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlianand and the prosecutor Creighton Waters will be on hand for meet and greets.

Visit the CrimeCon website for a full list.

WATCH: Thousands attend CrimeCon in Orlando

Sunday 24 September 2023 10:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Thousands of true crime fanatics - along with some of the biggest names in the popular genre - have converged in Orlando this weekend for CrimeCon, a three-day conference focused on murder and mayhem and all things true crime.

It’s a unique opportunity to rub elbows with top investigators, forensic experts, and well-known true crime television and podcast personalities.

CrimeCon is an immersive, educational experience that gives attendees the chance to be citizen detectives by participating in crowd-solving and learning how to dig into a case properly without hindering the investigation.

Gabby Petito’s mother becomes emotional as she credits daughter’s solved case in part to true crime enthusiasts

Sunday 24 September 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco

Gabby’s parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and her step-parents, Tara Petito and Jim Schmidt, took the stage at CrimeCon 2023 for a powerful session about domestic violence, “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” as they took the audience through what they went through since Gabby was killed.

It was Petito’s posts that inspired enormous interest in the case and were seized on by an army of online sleuths who joined the effort to help locate Petito when she was first declared missing. They pored over her Instagram posts, searching for any inconsistencies, clues or possible causes for concern.

While law enforcement was searching for Petito’s boyfriend Brian Laundrie in Florida on 19 September 2021, investigators announced they had located a body believed to be that of Petito in the eastern portion of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The discovery was aided by another travel YouTuber who spotted Petito’s van in a video they had been editing.

“It’s thanks to all of you that we found her,” Nichole Schmidt said on Saturday.

Karri Rawson opens up about candid conversation with BTK serial killer father

Sunday 24 September 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco

Kerri Rawson confronted her father Dennis Rader also known as BTK, after it was announced that he was being investigated in at least two cases years after he was convicted of 10 murders.

Ms Rawson, who is an advocate for victims and survivors, said she went in calm, then also pushed to talk about his crimes.

She said her father pushed her to talk about the Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger. They also discussed the two cases Rader is being of of, including Cynthia Kinney, who went missing 1976 from a laundromat.

Ms Rawson said she told her father, “I love you but this is out of my hands…”

“If you haven’t done anything wrong, I’ll make sure to do everything I can to protect you. But if you did, I’ll come back and nail you to the wall,” Ms Rawson said. “He’s been playing games for years, with me, and with you...”

Ms Rawson also called out true crime fans in the audience for writing letters to her father.

Alex Murdaugh defence says family out of money for case as new suspect hinted

Sunday 24 September 2023 13:00 , Josh Marcus

Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh hinted at multiple new developments in the case of the disgraced South Carolina lawyer during their appearance Saturday at CrimeCon.

The lawyers said the Murdaugh family has run out of money to pay for the new murder trial that the attorneys are seeking, though Murdaugh’s defence has offered to pursue the case again for free.

Additionally, during a question and answer session at the conference, the Murdaugh attorneys said they don’t believe Alex killed Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, hinting that new information suggests a different suspect could’ve committed the crimes.

The lawyers said they are working on obtaining more evidence to support that claim.

Dr Katherine Ramsland delves into tragic family past and why she decided to study the criminal mind

Sunday 24 September 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco

NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin interviewed Dr Ramsland — famous for her expertise on criminal minds and for co-authoring a book with the BTK serial killer — at CrimeCon on Friday.

This year is the third time that Dr Ramsland, who also taught Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger at DeSales University, has attended CrimeCon.

When asked why she had decided to study serial killers, Dr Ramsland said that she hoped research about the criminal mind would help prevent tragedies in the future. The expert also said that her own family had experienced trauma stemming from violence.

“... we study these people in a way that helps us prevent future serial killers and that’s probably the most important part of the kind of work we do,” Dr Ramsland said. “My father’s mother was murdered ... and my great-grandfather on the other side of the family tried to poison everybody so he could run off with someone else and that didn’t work but there’s certainly violence in the background that trickled down to me.”

Dr Ramnsland told NewsNation that she won’t be able to discuss Mr Kohberger’s case until after his trial.

Alex Murdaugh prosecutor Creighton Waters draws large audience at CrimeCon

Sunday 24 September 2023 15:13 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Waters, the lead prosecutor in Murdaugh’s murder convictions, and his rock band The Sole Purpose performed during the event’s kickoff on Thursday.

The veteran prosecutor then took the stage as a speaker on Saturday.

“This was the scene in the vast auditorium at CrimeCon before SC prosecutor Creighton Waters spoke about the Murdaugh murder trial Saturday afternoon,” The State reporter John Munk tweeted. “...estimated 2,000 people hanging on every word.”

Here’s what’s happening on the last day of ComiCon 2023

Sunday 24 September 2023 16:09 , Andrea Cavallier

• 10.15am How A True Crime TV series gets made

• 11.30am K-9 Demo, Missing White Woman Syndrome: Asking the Hard Questions - with Nate Eaton, The Petito Family and missing Daniel Robinson’s father, David Robinson

• 12.45pm Secrets of a Defense Attorney - with Linda Kenney Baden, The Killer Clown: How DNA closed a decades-old cold case, Live Body Bags taping - Dismemberment and the Desecration of the dead, Life Imitating Art: How A Hollywood DNA Analyst was Hunted in a Real-World Decade of Terror

• 2pmA World Turned Upside Down: Tragedy, Triumph, and the Power of Healing - with Kerri Rawson, Tara German. The Murder of Christine Frank: How DNA & Detective Work Led to a Breakthrough After 17 Years

Aunt of Delphi murders victim Liberty German to speak at CrimeCon panel

Sunday 24 September 2023 17:30 , Andrea Blanco

Liberty German’s aunt will be speaking as part of the panel A World Turned Upside Down: Tragedy, Triumph, and the Power of Healing, which will take place at 2pm on Sunday.

“To close out CrimeCon 2023 we invite you to attend this very powerful session with several people whose worlds were involuntarily turned upside down,” the event description reads. “Though they are at different points in their journey, they share the tragic fact that someone else’s violent actions put each of them at the center of a true crime world they never asked to be in.”

Six years ago, Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, set off on a walk in their hometown of Delphi, Indiana – never to be seen alive again. Last October, a local man was arrested and charged with the teenagers’ 2017 murders.

Richard Allen, a 50-year-old married Delphi man, was taken into custody on 26 October and booked into Carroll County Jail.

He was later moved to a state facility for his own safety.

Murdaugh lawyer Dick Harpootlian floats explosive theory of new suspects in murders at CrimeCon

Sunday 24 September 2023 18:30 , Andrea Blanco

Alex Murdaugh’s defence attorneys revealed to a packed audience of true-crime fans that they’re optimistic the disgraced legal scion will get a new trial - but say there is no money left, so they’ll do it for free.

Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, appeared at CrimeCon in Orlando, Florida on Saturday. Creighton Waters, the prosecutor who put Murdaugh in prison, spoke in a separate panel.

The three-day event drew thousands of true-crime fans for a range of podcasters, TV personalities and victims’ families. Kerri Rawson, daughter of BTK killer Dennis Rader, spoke about her father being investigated for additional murders.

The Independent’s Andrea Cavallier reports:

Murdaugh lawyer Dick Harpootlian floats explosive theory of new suspects at CrimeCon

Kerri Rawson wears prison-like orange for ‘special convict’ in her life

Sunday 24 September 2023 19:53 , Andrea Blanco

On the final day of the event, the daughter of the BTK killer took to X to make a post referencing her serial killer father.

Ms Rawson posted a picture of herself wearing an orange shirt with text reading, “No touching,” on the front and, “I bite,” on the back.

“For the last day of Crime Con,” Ms Rawson wrote. “I’m going with prison orange in honor of the very special convict in my life.”

On Saturday, Ms Rawson revealed that she confronted her father Dennis Rader also known as BTK, after it was announced that he was being investigated in at least two cases years after he was convicted of 10 murders.

Ms Rawson, who is an advocate for victims and survivors, said she went in calm, then also pushed to talk about his crimes.

She said her father pushed her to talk about the Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger. They also discussed the two cases Rader is being of of, including Cynthia Kinney, who went missing 1976 from a laundromat.

Ms Rawson said she told her father, “I love you but this is out of my hands…”

“If you haven’t done anything wrong, I’ll make sure to do everything I can to protect you. But if you did, I’ll come back and nail you to the wall,” Ms Rawson said. “He’s been playing games for years, with me, and with you...”

Ms Rawson also called out true crime fans in the audience for writing letters to her father.

Ethan Chapin’s mother asks CrimeCon audience to keep alive memory of Idaho murders victim

Sunday 24 September 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

Stacy Chapin, the mother of Idaho murders victim Ethan Chapin, was the last person called on during a CrimeCon panel about the slayings.

“I just have one thing to say,” the woman told the packed room on Friday.

“I’m Stacy Chapin and I’m Ethan’s mom,” she said, choking back tears.

Joseph Scott Morgan, a veteran death investigator and forensics professor, was the solo speaker of the panel in which he took true crime fans on a journey through the crime scene at 1122 King Road.

He took questions at the end, the last one from Ms Chapin who received a gasp from the crowd when she identified herself.

“I actually did not sit through it [the panel],” she said, her voice breaking. “But I just wanted you all to know that these were four of the greatest kids. And all the great things you read are legitimately true.”

She went on to talk about her son Ethan, whom she called incredible, and said that he and the three other victims were in the prime of their lives.

“Don’t forget these kids.”

‘Prejudiced’ jury heard weeks of unnecessary evidence in Murdaugh case, defence claims

Monday 25 September 2023 00:00 , Josh Marcus

The jury in the murder conviction of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was “prejudiced” and given poor evidence before it reached a conclusion, Mr Murdaugh’s attorney claims.

“That jury had heard almost three weeks of evidence not related to the murder, but to the financial crimes, which he’s always admitted to,” attorney Dick Harpootlian told Fox News Digital at CrimeCon on Saturday. “But we believe it so prejudiced them that when we put the forensic evidence in, which is very, very strong for his innocence, acquittal, they didn’t hear it.”

Earlier this month, the Murdaugh team filed for a new trial, alleging jury tampering had taken place.

At CrimeCon, Murdaugh’s defence attorneys revealed there’s no family money left for a second murder trial, but offered to handle one anyway for free.

They also suggested they have identified a potential new suspect who could be linked to the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.

Alex Murdaugh defence says family out of money for case as new suspect hinted

01:30 , Andrea Blanco

Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh hinted at multiple new developments in the case of the disgraced South Carolina lawyer during their appearance Saturday at CrimeCon.

The lawyers said the Murdaugh family has run out of money to pay for the new murder trial that the attorneys are seeking, though Murdaugh’s defence has offered to pursue the case again for free.

Additionally, during a question and answer session at the conference, the Murdaugh attorneys said they don’t believe Alex killed Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, hinting that new information suggests a different suspect could’ve committed the crimes.

The lawyers said they are working on obtaining more evidence to support that claim.

ICYMI: What did CrimeCon offer?

03:00 , Andrea Blanco

The three-day-long conference offered various panels, immersive experiences and the chance to rub elbows with the greatest minds in the true crime genre.

Special guests spoke on a variety of topics including forensics, criminology, victimology, DNA, and more.

There were experts leading the sessions who are educated in their field and will provide the latest developments.

Investigators who have cracked decades-old cold cases revealed their secrets about their process and families of victims and survivors of crime shared their stories, many seeking justice and the support of the true crime community.

Dateline correspondent Josh Mankiewicz was dubbed CrimeCon’s mayor

04:30 , Andrea Blanco

The beloved journalist spoke at the panel, Beyond the Headlines: Examining the Aftermath of Carlee Russell’s Fake Disappearance. Curiously, attendees at the event have been referring to Mr Mankiewicz as “CrimeCon’s mayor.”

Ms Russell made headlines across the country after she disappeared on 13 July following a 911 in which she claimed she had seen a toddler walking on the side of an Alabama interstate. But by the time police arrived at the scene, neither Ms Russell nor the toddler were anywhere to be found.

Ms Russell’s story was later debunked by police and she was charged.

Daniel Robinson’s family handed flyers about missing geologist case at CrimeCon 2023

06:00 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Robinson, who graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in archaeology, disappeared on 23 June 2021 after seeming disoriented on a work site and ostensibly driving off into the desert with no explanation.

His behaviour had been slightly off in the weeks before his disappearance but there has been no sign of him since; the geologist’s car was recovered nearly a month after he vanished, along with his phone, wallet, keys and clothes he was last seen wearing.

Mr Robinson’s sister and his father David Robinson had a table at the crime convention and gave out flyers with information about the missing geologist’s case.

WATCH: Thousands attend CrimeCon in Orlando

07:30 , Andrea Blanco

Special CrimeCon campaign raises nearly $32K for Gabby Petito Foundation

09:00 , Andrea Blanco

A special CrimeCon campaign for the Gabby Petito Foundation raised more than $32,000.

The foundation was created by Gabby’s parents and stepparents, Nichole and Jim Schmidt, and Joe and Tara Petito, to turn the family’s tragedy into purpose.

The purpose is to spread awareness of domestic violence’s warning signs and assist organisations that provide immediate, tangible help to survivors, according to the campaign.

The Gabby Petito Foundation is CrimeCon’s CLUE Award recipient for the event’s Crimefighter of the Year award.

Gabby Petito’s mother credits daughter’s solved case in part to true crime enthusiasts

10:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Gabby’s parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and her step-parents, Tara Petito and Jim Schmidt, took the stage at CrimeCon 2023 for a powerful session about domestic violence, “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” as they took the audience through what they went through since Gabby was killed.

It was Petito’s posts that inspired enormous interest in the case and were seized on by an army of online sleuths who joined the effort to help locate Petito when she was first declared missing. They pored over her Instagram posts, searching for any inconsistencies, clues or possible causes for concern.

While law enforcement was searching for Petito’s boyfriend Brian Laundrie in Florida on 19 September 2021, investigators announced they had located a body believed to be that of Petito in the eastern portion of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The discovery was aided by another travel YouTuber who spotted Petito’s van in a video they had been editing.

“It’s thanks to all of you that we found her,” Nichole Schmidt said on Saturday.

This is why renowned forensic psychologist Dr Katherine Ramsland decided to study the criminal mind

11:00 , Andrea Blanco

NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin interviewed Dr Ramsland — famous for her expertise on criminal minds and for co-authoring a book with the BTK serial killer — at CrimeCon on Friday.

This year is the third time that Dr Ramsland, who also taught Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger at DeSales University, has attended CrimeCon.

When asked why she had decided to study serial killers, Dr Ramsland said that she hoped research about the criminal mind would help prevent tragedies in the future. The expert also said that her own family had experienced trauma stemming from violence.

“... we study these people in a way that helps us prevent future serial killers and that’s probably the most important part of the kind of work we do,” Dr Ramsland said. “My father’s mother was murdered ... and my great-grandfather on the other side of the family tried to poison everybody so he could run off with someone else and that didn’t work but there’s certainly violence in the background that trickled down to me.”

Dr Ramnsland told NewsNation that she won’t be able to discuss Mr Kohberger’s case until after his trial.

Alex Murdaugh prosecutor Creighton Waters draws large audience at CrimeCon

12:00 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Waters, the lead prosecutor in Murdaugh’s murder convictions, and his rock band The Sole Purpose performed during the event’s kickoff on Thursday.

The veteran prosecutor then took the stage as a speaker on Saturday.

“This was the scene in the vast auditorium at CrimeCon before SC prosecutor Creighton Waters spoke about the Murdaugh murder trial Saturday afternoon,” The State reporter John Munk tweeted. “...estimated 2,000 people hanging on every word.”

Murdaugh lawyer Dick Harpootlian floats explosive theory of new suspects in murders at CrimeCon

13:00 , Andrea Blanco

Alex Murdaugh’s defence attorneys revealed to a packed audience of true-crime fans that they’re optimistic the disgraced legal scion will get a new trial - but say there is no money left, so they’ll do it for free.

Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, appeared at CrimeCon in Orlando, Florida on Saturday. Creighton Waters, the prosecutor who put Murdaugh in prison, spoke in a separate panel.

The three-day event drew thousands of true-crime fans for a range of podcasters, TV personalities and victims’ families. Kerri Rawson, daughter of BTK killer Dennis Rader, spoke about her father being investigated for additional murders.

The Independent’s Andrea Cavallier reports:

Murdaugh lawyer Dick Harpootlian floats explosive theory of new suspects at CrimeCon

BTK killer’s daughter Kerri Rawson wears prison-like orange for ‘special convict’ in her life

14:00 , Andrea Blanco

On the final day of the event, the daughter of the BTK killer took to X to make a post referencing her serial killer father.

Ms Rawson posted a picture of herself wearing an orange shirt with text reading, “No touching,” on the front and, “I bite,” on the back.

“For the last day of Crime Con,” Ms Rawson wrote. “I’m going with prison orange in honor of the very special convict in my life.”

On Saturday, Ms Rawson revealed that she confronted her father Dennis Rader also known as BTK, after it was announced that he was being investigated in at least two cases years after he was convicted of 10 murders.

Ms Rawson, who is an advocate for victims and survivors, said she went in calm, then also pushed to talk about his crimes.

She said her father pushed her to talk about the Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger. They also discussed the two cases Rader is being of of, including Cynthia Kinney, who went missing 1976 from a laundromat.

Ms Rawson said she told her father, “I love you but this is out of my hands…”

“If you haven’t done anything wrong, I’ll make sure to do everything I can to protect you. But if you did, I’ll come back and nail you to the wall,” Ms Rawson said. “He’s been playing games for years, with me, and with you...”

Ms Rawson also called out true crime fans in the audience for writing letters to her father.

Kerri Rawson receives standing ovation as she takes stage at CrimeCon

15:50 , Andrea Blanco

BTK killer’s daughter Kerri Rawson took the stage on Saturday to talk about her father.

The massive ballroom at the Orlando hotel was packed, with nearly every seat taken.

She recently announced that she’s been working with investigators in various states to help them take a fresh look at cases that could be connected to her father, according to her website.

On the Surviving the Survivor podcast, she said that be confronted her father for the first time in 18 years, visiting him twice in prison.

BTK’s daughter slams true crime fans for writing to serial killer in prison

16:00 , Andrea Blanco

The daughter of notorious serial killer BTK has hit out at true crime fanatics for writing to her father in prison.

Kerri Rawson appeared on stage at CrimeCon over the weekend where she spoke out about life as the child of serial killer Dennis Rader and about her recent interactions with him behind bars.

The Independent’s Andrea Cavallier reports:

BTK’s daughter slams true crime fans for writing to serial killer in prison

Gabby Petito’s parents say daughter ‘saved so many lives’ by drawing attention to domestic violence

17:30 , Andrea Blanco

Gabby Petito’s family honoured her legacy at ComicCon 2023 by reading testimonies from people who have been impacted by her story.

Petito’s parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and her step-parents, Tara Petito and Jim Schmidt, took the stage at the three-day event for a powerful session about domestic violence on Saturday.

The family opened up about how their lives changed forever after Petito was murdered by her boyfriend Brian Laundrie during a cross-country road trip in August 2021.

Read more:

Gabby Petito’s parents say daughter ‘saved so many lives’

Mother of Idaho murders victim begs people not to forget slain students

19:30 , Andrea Blanco

The mother of University of Idaho murder victim Ethan Chapin made a surprise appearance at CrimeCon 2023 to beg the true crime community not to forget about the four slain students.

Stacy Chapin addressed the audience at the crime convention following a panel by Jacksonville State University professor Joseph Scott Morgan on Saturday.

During the session, titled The Idaho Murders: An Expert Forensic Analysis,” Mr Morgan delved into the quadruple stabbings that shocked the college town of Moscow in November 2022. The veteran death investigator was the solo speaker of the panel in which he took true crime fans on a journey through the killings of Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.

Read more:

Mother of Idaho murders victim begs people not to forget slain students