Real Stories. Real Experts. One Unforgettable Weekend.
Gather – The Southern Oregon True Crime Summit provides a unique , in-person environment to discuss favorite cases, show support for victims’ families and survivors of crimes, helping to keep cold cases in the spotlight and advocating for justice. Turning an often solitary interest into a shared experience.
Learn – Dig deep into the real-world aspects of crime, moving beyond entertainment to education. The sessions will be led by top investigators, forensic experts, and legal professionals.
Investigate – call to action for cold cases and upload your DNA to see if you match cold cases – this is subject to change.
🏘️ Welcome to Historic Jacksonville
Nestled in the heart of the Rogue Valley, Jacksonville is a National Historic Landmark town where 19th-century gold-rush architecture, tree-lined streets, and small-town charm create the perfect backdrop for a weekend of intrigue and discovery.
The Southern Oregon True Crime summit will be held in the Ballroom at Bigham Knoll Campus (525 Bigham Knoll Dr) — a beautiful, historic venue that captures the spirit of Southern Oregon’s pioneer past.
🎙️ The Weekend Experience
The Southern Oregon True Crime Summit unfolds over two immersive days:
- Friday, May 15, 2026
Book signing with Lindsey Wade 1:00-3:30 PM@ Bigham Knoll
Macabre Podcast Listening Party 5:30-7:00 PM @ Remotion Winery, - Saturday, May 16, 2026
Main Event & Speaker Lineup in The Ballroom 9:00 AM – 6:15 @ Bigham Knoll School House
Malice in the Mist A Dark History of the PNW 6:30-8:00 PM @ Remotion Winery
Every presentation is scheduled one after the other — no overlapping sessions, no hard choices, and no missed moments. Just one continuous story told by the people who live this work every day.
📅 Day 1 – Friday, May 15, 2026
Author Events + Live Podcast Experience
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM — Lindsay Wade
Book Signing In My DNA @ Bigham Knoll
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM — Macabre Mixer
mingle with the hosts pre show @ Remotion Wine Tasting Room
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Live Podcast Recording
A special on-site episode from Macabre: A Dark History Podcast
at the beautiful Remotion Wine Tasting Room.
📅 Day 2 – Saturday, May 16
Main Event Schedule
📍 Bigham Knoll Campus – 525 Bigham Knoll Dr, Jacksonville, OR
🕙 9:00 AM – 6:15 PM
💵 Tickets: $84.00 per person
Speakers & Demonstrations
(The Ballroom)
🕘 9:00 AM — Introduction
Melynda Cordes
Welcome & opening remarks.
🕤 9:15 AM — Jackson County SART
“What Happens When You Dial That Number”
A powerful look at victim response, coordinated care, and evidence preservation.
🕥 9:30 AM — Officer Fuhrman, Jacksonville PD
Sexual Assault Awareness
Insights into community response and supporting victims with care and professionalism.
🕙 10:00 AM — Adam Knight
Former U.S. Secret Service
A rare perspective on threat assessment, undercover work, and federal investigations.
🕥 11:00 AM — Oregon Cold Case Collective + Crescent City PD Volunteer missing person k9 unit
Science, Search Dogs & Demonstration
A fascinating look at scent tracking, SAR dog capabilities, and collaborative cold-case work.
🍽️ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM — Lunch Break
Enjoy Jacksonville’s local cafés, restaurants & winery discounts for summit attendees. Click here to see local restaurants offering exclusive discounts for summit attendees when you show your event badge.
🕐 1:00 PM — Retired Lt. Col Carl Weitzel
Forensic Services Division
How modern forensic science turns evidence into answers.
🕜 1:30 PM — Sergeant Pearson Crescent City police department
Topic: What does a Cyber tip look like and how this approach helps us capture the monsters hidden among us?
🕝 2:30 PM — Cheif Griffin
Crescent City PD
A day in the life of a rural detective.
🕞 3:30 PM — Lt. DA Kirsten Snowden
Case Discussion: Christopher Lovrien
An inside look at prosecuting one of Oregon’s chilling homicide cases.
🕓 4:30 PM — Laura Brand
God is not Here Only Devils, author Laura Brand interviews with the inmates at San Quentin.
🕠 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM — Panel Discussion
An interactive Q&A with the day’s featured speakers.
🕠 6:30 PM – Malice in the MIst A Dark History of the PNW with Sarah Cailean at Remotion Wine Tasting Room (Add -on Event)
🌟 Event Notes
- Single-stage format, attend every presentation, no overlaps.
- The Southern Oregon True Crime Summit is an 18+ event due to the mature nature of the subject matter discussed.
- Add-on experiences at Remotion Wine Tasting Room are 21+ only.
- Doors open at 8:15 AM. Seating is first-come, first-served.
- Light refreshments will be available.
- Friday tours and local business discounts available exclusively to summit attendees.
- Please note: Speakers, topics, and schedule times are subject to change.
- All sales are final. Refunds will be issued only in the event of a cancellation by the event promoter.
💛 Giving Back
A portion of the proceeds from the Southern Oregon True Crime Summit will be donated to:
- Jackson County SART (Sexual Assault Response Team)
- Crescent City PD Volunteer missing person k9 unit
- Oregon Cold Case Collective
Your attendance not only supports education and awareness, it directly benefits the organizations that serve and protect our communities every day.