SPEAKERS

Keynote Speakers

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Tiller Russell is an acclaimed writer, director, and producer who continues to create character-driven films that cover different genres of the most riveting, complex, and unexpected stories. His story-telling allows the viewer to become immersed in lives of the stories he's sharing. He's established himself as one of the top documentary filmmakers with a long impressive resume.

Just to name some of his impressive works ... the three-part doc series

Waco: American Apocalypse which premiered at #1 on Netflix and remained in the Top 10 for 2 weeks; the larger-than-life thriller Silk Road that Tiller wrote and directed;

the highly acclaimed documentary series - The Last Narc which is streaming on Amazon Prime.

But, it is his critically acclaimed four-part doc series - Night Stalker: The Hunt For a Serial Killer, which sat in a top 10 spot on Netflix, that has garnered a bigger

true-crime following.

Tiller Russell
Night Stalker: The Hunt For A Serial Killer

At BEYOND THE CRIME Tiller will dive into the decisions he made while making the true-crime series about the serial killer who was behind the most terrifying spree of home invasions, where he tormented women, men and children.

Tiller says he approached the project with the highest regard for the survivors and victims. He has also expressed the important role filmmakers have in not glorifying Richard Ramirez -- instead portraying him as "the monster he became."

The Hunt for the West Mesa Murderer

Vincent McDaniel
Boneyard: Writer, Actor

Vincent E. McDaniel is an acclaimed actor, writer and producer. He has made his mark on the big screen and on several widely popular TV series to include a role in Better Call Saul and Walker. You might recognize Vincent for his roles in several movies, to include MR-9 Do or Die and Boneyard.

One of his recent projects is the critically acclaimed feature film Boneyard, which Vincent was a writer, producer and actor ...taking on the role of Sgt Graham.

Boneyard has become the launching ground for his new project -- A docuseries on the West Mesa Murder Case -- which will include interviews from many people impacted by the horrific crime to include family members of the victims.

Asif Akbar Boneyard: Director

Asif Akbar is a talented filmmaker, writer, producer, and acclaimed director. He has sat in a director's role for many accredited movies, to include the horror film Skeletons in the Closet, the action-packed movie The Commando and the accredited Boneyard.

Boneyard has now become the launching ground for a bigger project that Asif is working on to help bring in more tips for the

unsolved West Mesa Murder case. The docuseries will dive into the details of the case from investigators and family members. It will also have archival footage of the actual investigation.

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The West Mesa Murder case has haunted real-life detectives for 15 years. In 2009, the remains of 11 women and an unborn child were found in shallow graves in the desert on the West Mesa of Albuquerque.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Searching for Missing Sister, Anthonette Cayedito

Sadie Acevedo

Sadie is the younger sister of Anthonette Cayedito. Anthonette was only 9 when vanished from her Gallup, NM, home in the middle of the night, while her sisters slept nearby.

New information could mean Anthonette was trafficked.

Sadie is on a mission to find her sister, and is determined to make sure cases like these do not get forgotten.

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Searching for Missing Daughter

Jonnie Jo Carter

Jonnie is the mother of Bethany Markowksi. Bethany vanished when she was 11, while on a court-ordered visit with her dad. Her dad claims he dropped Bethany off a mall, and then she disappeared. A story that has many holes.

Jonnie is on mission to keep her last promise to her daughter, that she would come back home. She runs the Bethany Markowski project to help families of the missing.

Searching for Missing Sister

Amber Brooks

Amber is the sister of Elizabeth Brooks Hernandez, who went missing in 2017 while pregnant with her third baby. Amber was the last family member to see Elizabeth, after the soon-to-be mom of three left with her then-boyfriend for the night.

Amber's new mission is to find her sister and hold the person responsible for her disappearance accountable.

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True Consequences

Eric Carter Landin, Podcaster

Eric Carter-Landin is a dedicated advocate, co-founder of AdvocacyCon, founder of Angels' Voices Silenced No More, the host of True Consequences. He passionately fights for justice, including advocating for his baby brother Jacob Landin, who died in the care of their mother's then-boyfriend. Its been more

than 30 years since he last saw his brother, but he's not giving

up on ... Justice For Jacob.

Ice Cold Case

Madison McGhee, Podcaster

In 2002, Madison McGhee's father, John McGhee was shot and killed in his Ohio home. Driven by her desire to find justice she began her own investigation into his murder that remains unsolved to this day. You can join her quest for justice, closure and answers, as she stops at nothing to answer this question: Who Killed J.C. McGhee?

Juris Deranged

Brittany Schafer, Defense Attorney

Brittany is a criminal defense lawyer from New Mexico, who now lives in Denver, CO. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2015. After years of practicing law, she now shares her stories on her true crime podcast.

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Vanished: The Tara Calico Story

Melinda Esquibel, Filmmaker

Melinda Esquibel is a filmmaker turned investigator. As a friend and former classmate of Tara Calico, she felt compelled to investigate Tara's disappearance after a 2008 article where the Valencia County Sheriff stated "he knew the boys ... that committed the crime and parents that helped cover it up." This lead to an unexpected journey into the past, that she highlights in a documentary.

Sandia Search Dogs Team

Dayna Dominguez, Cadaver K-9 Handler

Dayna Domniguez is a certified handler with the all volunteer Sandia Search Dogs Team. They respond to calls across New Mexico, to help families of the missing find their loved ones and find closure to the agonizing question of ... Where are they? Her dedication to helping others is unmeasurable.

Her team of K-9s include ...November, Echo and Wren.

Sandia Search Dogs Team

November

November is a member of the Sandia Search Dogs team. She has worked numerous cases, in search for the missing. Her mission is to help families find their loved ones, when all hope seems lost. She loves working alongside her handler Dayna.

November will be demonstrating

her work for the BEYOND THE CRIME audience.

Sandia Search Dogs Team

Mary Berry

Mary Berry is a certified handler of the all-volunteer Sandia Search Dogs Team. Mary founded SSD in 1999. She has dedicated more than two decades of her life to helping find those who are lost, injured or missing.

Her passion to help others is unmeasurable.

Her team of K-9s have included JC, Dusty, Jaguar, & Taz.

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MMIWR

Darlene Gomez, Attorney (Indian Law)

Darlene is tirelessly passionate about giving a voice to the voiceless through her pro bono work. She has been a fierce advocate for primary and secondary victims of the MMIWR crisis since 2001 and spends much of her time organizing rallies, mentoring and advocating for secondary victims, preparing and distributing press releases, and serving as the attorney for 15 families of MMIWR victims.

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Women Against Crime

Trish Hoffman, Self Defense Demo

Many women have dealt with stalking or violent assault. Retired APD Lieutenant Trish Hoffman was no different. More than 20 years ago an ex-boyfriend stalked her for over a year. After he threatened to kill her, she packed her car and fled to Albuquerque.

Now, she is giving women the tools to fight back.

Searching for Missing Daughter, Pepita Redhair

Anita King (MMIWR)

Anita King is the mother of Pepita Redhair, who went missing

in March of 2020. Pepita was a UNM student before she vanished from Albuquerque, NM. Her bizarre disappearance has haunted her mom -- who is now on a mission to find her daughter and bring those responsible to Justice.

Anita will join the MMIWR panel to talk about Pepita and

other cases like hers.

Searching for Missing Brother, Calvin Martinez

Becky Martinez (MMIWR)

Becky Martinez is the sister of Calvin Martinez. Calvin went missing in May 2019. after he called his mother from a truck stop in Albuquerque, NM to tell her happy Mother's Day.

Calvin was a husband and father of two.

His mysterious vanishing has sent his sister on a mission to find her brother and bring him home.

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Sister of Murdered Woman, Dione Thomas

Karen Watson (MMIWR)

Karen is the younger sister of Dione Thomas. Dione was found dead in a Gallup, NM hotel in 2015. Detectives instantly documented her death as being suspicious, after seeing blood on Dione's forehead and blood in her left eye.

Karen is on a mission to find out what happened to her sister

and to ensure the culprit faces justice.

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A Hateful Homicide (Crimes against the LGBTQ+)

Mallery Jenna Robinson

Mallery is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and host of A Hateful Homicide. Mallery dives deep into the horrific cases of hate crimes against her community. She goes a step further and advocates for awareness, representation, and change.

Her goal is to enlighten the world to empathize with members of the LGBTQ+ community and stop the hate.

Searching for Missing Brother, Christopher Abeyta

Denise Alves

Denise was 15 years old when her baby brother Christopher Abeyta vanished from their Colorado home in the middle of the night. Since that heartstopping night, Denise has spent countless hours investigating his bizarre disappearance.

Who could have taken baby Christopher and why?

Denise's mission is to find her brother and bring him home.

Mother to Murdered Woman, Julie

Eleanor Griego

Eleanor Griego's daughter, Julie Nieto, was one of the West Mesa Murder victims found buried in a mass grave in Albuquerque, NM, in 2009. She says her daughter was the light of the family's life. Julie left behind three sons, whom Eleanor is now raising.

The case has led detectives to believe a serial killer is responsible for the horrific crime.

Brother to Murdered Woman, Victoria Chavez

Levi Saiz

Levi Ambrosio Saiz is the younger brother of Victoria Ann Grace Chavez. Victoria was one of 11 women and an unborn child found buried in a mass grave in Albuquerque, NM, in 2009.

Levi was the last family member to have contact with Victoria. He continues searching for answers and justice for the women of the West Mesa Murder Case. His mission is to ensure his sister is not forgotten.

Mother to baby Jacob Landin

Brenda Crawford

Brenda Crawford is passionately fighting for justice after the death of her son Jacob Landin, who died on April 9th 1987.

Brenda hopes to help others who have lost their loved ones know that they are not alone. She does so through the advocacy group - Angels Voices Silenced No More.