True Crime Club-1
True Crime Club Conference

April 20, 2024, 8:30
Cape Girardeau, MO

Register today

real-life stories of triumph, tragedy, heartbreak and heroism

TRUE CRIME CLUB represents real life stories of the genre of true crime.  This is a day (or sometimes two) created for the true crime fan.  TRUE CRIME CLUB will share stories of the oldest of cases to those occurring now.  We will discuss stories of heartbreak, stories of the missing, stories of the unidentified, and stories of heroism.  We will discuss the psychology behind such cases.  We are here to educate the many with unsolved crimes and tell how you may help.  We will discuss the sometimes-indescribable acts to the court system.  We will discuss how science is rapidly advancing in helping to solve many crimes.  Our desire is creating awareness and showing respect to the victims.  TRUE CRIME CLUB will be at a city near you to help promote and get the word out on many unsolved cases.

True Crime Conference Speakers

Betty
Alexander

View Bio

Brittany
Philips

View Bio

K-9
Thor

View Bio

Oak Ridge
Man

View Bio

Betty Alexander
Brittany Philips
K-9 Thor
Oak Ridge Man
THE MURDER OF
MISCHELLE LAWLESS

View Bio

BETTY FRIZZELL
AND CONNIE GODWIN

View Bio

Missing
People

View Bio

Mischelle Lawless
BETTY FRIZZELL AND CONNIE GODWIN
Missing People

The fifth-year anniversary of the date Betty Alexander, age 69 at the time, mysteriously vanished from Sullivan, MO is quickly approaching.  Betty’s daughter, Tonya, will be sharing the timeline of events shortly before her disappearance and what has happened since.  There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Betty and conviction of the person(s) involved.  One new lead could change the direction of this case.  Let’s create new awareness for Betty and bring her home.

In Tulsa, OK, September 2004, Brittany Phillips was found raped and murdered in the apartment she had occupied only a few months.  Brittany was an 18-year-old college student, a very bright girl. She had received a full chemistry scholarship to Eckerd College in Florida.  She attended that college for about a year but then decided to return home and was at the time attending Tulsa Community College with her brother and mother living in the general area.  The hunt for the killer of Brittany continues to this day.  He could be anywhere.  Dr. Maggie Zingman, Brittany’s mother, will not give up till justice is found for Brittany. Since 2007, Maggie has driven a van wrapped with photos of Brittany across all 48 states and over 300,000 miles, “her Caravan to Catch a Killer”.  There have been several twists and turns in this case.  Maggie will be bringing her Caravan to Cape as she spreads awareness and seeks the missing piece to the puzzle.

It is fascinating to watch a police K-9 in action.  Learn what is involved in thelengthy and extensive training of a police dog along with its handler, the areas of duties they are trained to do, and the bond between an officer and his K-9.  A police K-9 is a very valuable asset to the department and community they serve.  

Cape Girardeau Police Department’s K-9 Thor and his partner/handler Cpt Spencer will be joining True Crime Club Conference to tell what it takes to become a Police K-9, provide a demonstration, and answer your questions.  

I always called him Oak Ridge Man.  And wondered for four decades who he was.  I would visit his page on NamUS website often (this website will be discussed at the conference) hoping another clue about him had been added, anything at all.  There was so very little to go on to figure out his identity.  His remains had been found in an area of woods by Interstate 55 near Oak Ridge, MO; some in 1981 and more in 1988.  With my True Crime Club – Cape Girardeau group, I discussed him often.  We theorized.  I carried a red folder with me in my bag for years in case I thought of something.  Well, I did.  Find out the identity of who I called for decades Oak Ridge Man and how he ended up in those woods.  

If you live in Southeast Missouri, you very well may be familiar with this case. Join the host, Laura, as we review the tragic murder of 19-year-old Mischelle Lawless in 1992. The case has received well deserved new attention, but you probably have only heard of one, maybe two possible suspects. We will be discussing each possible suspect; there are several. Some with a little evidence, some with more.
Join in the discussion April 20th in Cape Girardeau, MO. Ticket information below.
You may recall Betty Frizzell from the last True Crime Club Conference in Cape. At that conference, Betty discussed the murder case involving her sister Victoria Smith from Poplar Bluff, MO. Victoria’s story was featured in an episode of “I am a Killer” on Netflix at the time. Betty joined us in discussing why she thinks perhaps another person committed the terrible crime.
Betty is a career law enforcement officer and author of "If you can't quit cryin' you can't come here anymore", story of her sister's murder conviction. Betty served as a Deputy Sheriff in both the Lincoln and Ripley County (MO) Sheriff’s Departments and a police officer in Louisiana, Missouri before becoming Chief of Police for Winfield, MO. Frizzell has taught criminal justice courses and police as a professor and CTE teacher. She holds an M.F.A in Writing and an M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration. Her doctorate work is in Psychology. She served as a member of the Citizens Advisory Board for the State of Missouri Department of Corrections: Probation and Parole Division and was honored as the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2001. Also, she was honored as a Starfish award winner from Seattle Children's Hospital and received an award of recognition from the State of WA Department of Health and Social Services in 2016. She is a speaker for NAMI-Missouri and Law Enforcement Action Partnership. Frizzell currently resides in Seattle, Washington, but remains closely connected to Missouri.
Connie Godwin
 
Joining Betty will be Connie Godwin. Connie’s son, Edward Goodwin, was killed by two former friends in 2015. His body was found in a pond in Poplar Bluff two years later. Partial remains were removed and used to identify her son. But not all her son’s remains were removed. Connie will tell of a mother’s determination to bring all her son’s remains home.
 
Together, they will be discussing missing person investigations. How they are handled. What family can do.
 

As of today, there are 638 adults and 680 juveniles reported missing in the state of Missouri. We will discuss several of these individuals, especially those local to Southeast Missouri.

Presenting world class speakers in one venue.

Located directly off I-55 and adjoining the Cape Girardeau Conference Center, the Drury Plaza Hotel Cape Girardeau Conference Center is the perfect location for the True Crime Conference.

True Crime is so much more than murder

This genre is rich with real-life stories of triumph and tragedy; heartbreak and heroism. It runs the gamut from the criminal mind, to the criminal act, to the criminal justice system leaping into action. It’s about psychology, victimology, and methodology. It covers seemingly unrelated disciplines as wide-ranging as science, art, and history. And it’s always changing, evolving, and mirroring what is happening in society at large.

 

Register Today