CrimeCon 2026 Day One in Las Vegas
Clues, Cold Cases, and a 90s Dance Party!
words and pics by Staci Layne Wilson
Las Vegas has hosted its share of spectacles, but CrimeCon 2026-now in full swing at Caesars Palace-brings a different kind of drama to the Strip. GoLive.vegas was on the case from the moment the doors opened Friday, and Day One delivered.
The day kicked off with some genuine celebrity sightings. We crossed paths with Vinnie Politan and Cody Thomas from Court TV, and caught a glimpse of the one and only Joe Kenda-a man whose steely detective stare could make even an innocent bystander feel vaguely guilty. Forensic genealogist and podcast favorite Tad DiBiase held the room with a talk that reminded everyone why cold case work is equal parts science, obsession, and sheer stubbornness.
The ballroom sessions were the real headliners. Legendary FBI profiler John Douglas (the man who helped define criminal profiling and inspired the fictional characters of a certain Netflix hit) sat down with Jesse Weber for "Profiling the Profiler," a conversation that was as riveting as advertised. Meanwhile, forensic investigator Paul Holes took the stage for "Hunting the Bogeyman," diving deep into the NorCal Rapist case and the story of the first known survivor.
Vegas locals had plenty to chew on, too. Sessions spotlighted two of the city's most haunting unsolved stories: the 1998 death of casino heir Ted Binion and the 2008 cold case of James "Buffalo Jim" Barrier. Because if you're going to talk crime in Las Vegas, you might as well go local.
Investigation Discovery brought its creator community out in force for Creator Row, including a live Crime Weekly taping and panel discussions covering everything from the Murdaugh family saga to the Laken Riley case. NewsNation's Jesse Weber Live grabbed exclusive interviews with former Colombo crime family member Michael Franzese and Lethally Blonde host Holly Madison. An afternoon panel on DNA and AI explored how organizations like Othram are deploying forensic genetic genealogy and artificial intelligence to crack cases that have gone cold for decades (arguably the most forward-looking conversation of the day).
Before after all that darkness, everyone kicked off the Con on Thursday night at a 90s-themed throwback dance party. Nothing says "true crime convention" quite like unwinding to Ace of Base.
Day One is in the books, but the investigation is far from over. CrimeCon 2026 runs through Sunday, May 31, and day passes are still available at CrimeCon.com for anyone who wants to join the fun with two full days still ahead.
