SPEAKERS

  In 2014, Detective Troy Hillman and an elite team helped solve the double murder of two women and uncovered the truth behind Arizona's serial killer, 'The Zombie Hunter’.

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  Now, he speaks out about his book ‘Chasing Down the Zombie Hunter’ and how his groundbreaking methods set the precedent for cold cases like The Golden State Killer. 

  In 2011, Phoenix police detective Clark Schwartzkopf was working with the cold case unit investigating The Zombie Hunter, also known as the Canal Murders. The team had over 600 persons of interest, and Clark dove into every single one of them. 

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Now, he speaks out about how his groundbreaking methods and DNA testing set the precedent for cold cases like The Golden State Killer.  

  It's been one of the most talked-about cases in recent history. How could a man from France con his way into the home of a family searching for their missing son, Nicholas Barclay?

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  Private Investigator Charlie Parker uncovered the truth of The Imposter and broke the news to Nicholas' family. He will dive into how he did it at BEYOND THE CRIME 2026.

   Pat Lopez's experience as a nationally recognized courtroom artist has allowed the viewer to see the unseen emotions and drama in many infamous cases, some of which have shaken up the United States. 

    For 38 years, her talent of anticipating, intuiting, and sketching in seconds has been illustrated in some of the most intense,
dramatic and historical U.S. trials to date, including the Oklahoma City Bombing Trial.

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

Her team of K-9s includes Echo and Wren.

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

  Echo is a 4-year-old Dutch Shepherd trained in Human Remains Detection. She is a member of Sandia Search Dogs and Colorado Forensic Canines teams. Eccho is currently certified through North American Police Dog Association (NAPWDA). Her favorite things are running, playing in the water, chasing a frisbee, and spending time with her person.

  Indy is a member of the Sandia Search Dogs team. She has put in countless hours searching for the missing, always hoping to help families find their loved ones. She loves working alongside her handler Mary Berry. 

  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.

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  Now, she is giving women the tools to fight back in a live demo at Beyond The Crime Convention.

  Co-founder of Fire Eyes Media, Jen Rivera dives into the mysterious case of Bethany Markowski - an 11 year old girl who went missing while on a visitation with her dad.

  Jen is a passionate journalist and podcast producer dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless and ensuring that their stories remain at the heart of every episode. Why is Jen so driven? Because she is a victim turned survivor, who regained her voice and is helping others to do the same.

   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 at a mall, and then she disappeared. A story that has so many holes. ​

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

   Co-founder of Fire Eyes Media, Jules Thorp, strives to uncover the truth behind small-town missing persons cases in her podcast ‘Missing in Hush Town’.

​   One such case is that of Bethany Markowski, who vanished when she was only 11 while on a court-ordered visit with her dad. He claims he dropped Bethany off at a mall, but surveillance cameras show no sign of Bethany. As an investigative podcaster, Jules has uncovered new information in the case that will leave the audience shocked.

  Vangie Randall-Shorty is the mother of Zachariah Juwaun Shorty, who was murdered in July 2020. A case with a lot of twists and turns, after his body was found in a remote field on the Navajo Nation.    Vangie is passionate about bringing her son's murderers to justice.

   Her heartache inspired her to organize several events for groups like MMIP and Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Coalition (MMDRC). Her mission is to continue being the voice for her son. ​

#MyMomisMyVoice. .

  Randall Plummer is on a mission to bring the killer of Zachariah Juwan Shorty to justice. His mission is personal because Randall has been in Zachariah's life since he was a child. 

  Zachariah Shorty was found fatally shot on July 25, 2020, on a dirt pathway in a field in Nenahnezad, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. The case remained unsolved for years before Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation made a recent breakthrough.

  Randall and Zachariah's mother poured every day into making sure those responsible were arrested.

  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. 

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  Vincent is working on a new documentary highlighting the infamous serial killing of the West Mesa Murder victims. He's passionate about the project because of a close connection to some families. 

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

​  Asif is working on a major project to highlight the infamous serial killing of the West Mesa Murder victims. The documentary will include interviews from the families left behind to the witness who found the first bone in the Albuquerque mesa.

  Esther has nearly 10 years of experience in true-crime podcasting.  She writes, produces, and edits Once Upon A Crime as a solo venture, and utilizes her background in psychology to create a unique and compelling podcast viewers can learn from and relate to. She's covered major cases to include Elizabeth Smart, celebrity stalker Mark David Chapman and historical cases. 

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At BEYOND THE CRIME Esther will dive into the case that changed 

her views on true crime and how she protects her mental health.

  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, and advocating for secondary victims, and serving as the attorney for 15 families of MMIWR victims.

​​  At BEYOND THE CRIME she will explain how not knowing different cultures and traditions can make it difficult for law enforcement to connect with victims and solve crimes. 

   Coach Liz Gravagne's passion is to help women feel empowered about their safety. She is the co-lead coach for the Women’s-Only program at Invictus. ​At Invictus, they believe that self-defense is more than a skill; it's a mindset. Through Jiu-Jitsu and practical self-defense classes, they offer women a powerful way to build physical strength and mental resilience.

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At BEYOND THE CRIME, Liz will encourage women to take their power back and debunk myths of some 'self-defense' techniques that could put you in harms way.

  Every 68 seconds, another assault occurs. Its an alarming statistic that Coach Meaghan Penning is working to change. She's doing this by empowering women with self-defense training that builds mental resilience. 

​  A professional MMA fighter and Jiu-Jitsu competitor, Coach Meaghan currently co-leads the Women’s Only Jiu-Jitsu program at Invictus. At BEYOND THE CRIME Coach Meaghan will bring her skills as a fighter to explain what will keep you safe and what won't.

  Marietta has spent the past three decades searching for her Aunt Esther and fighting for the truth. Esther vanished at the age of 17 from Chama, NM in 1984. The Friday night before Esther disappeared, her best friend told police that the teen had stopped by her home with a man they both knew. Esther said they were going camping. By Sunday, the man returned to town, but Esther wasn't with him. 

   There have been many twists, turns, and theories about what happened to Esther that night. Marietta is on a mission to expose the truth and bring her aunt back home. She will share her story at BEYOND THE CRIME.

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  Mary Lou Ortiz is on a mission to find her aunt, "Toni", who mysteriously vanished nearly 6 years ago. Antonia “Toni” Padilla was last seen by family on July 3, 2020 in her hometown of Silver City, NM. On that Friday, Toni's daughter dropped her off at a friend's house just after lunch and was supposed to call her for a ride. That call never came. 

  Her disappearance has left a family with a huge hole. Toni has two daughters and three grandchildren. The 58-year-old was also the caretaker of her mother and father. 

  Josh Hallmark is the executive producer of True Crime Bullsh**, Unsafe Spaces, The Pact, Our Americana, The Karen & Ellen Letters, and A Place for Strange Stories. But, he's not just a podcaster. He is also a survivor, which inspires him to approach his storytelling by focusing on the victims and the broader impacts of cases.

  At BEYOND THE CRIME Josh will dive deeper into a complex string of serial killings of gay men in the Tampa, Florida community for nearly a decade.  His investigation on Unsafe Spaces explores the murders that corrupt and exploit places that were meant to feel the safest. 

   Dr. Joni Johnston is a Forensic Psychologist, a private investigator, and a crime writer.  Dr. Johnston brings you the answers to these questions and more!  

  Serial killers haunt our dreams and inspire the terrifying villains of TV shows and horror movies. But how much do you really know about the minds behind the world's deadliest killers? What drives these murderers to kill and kill again? At BEYOND THE CRIME,  Forensic Psychologist Dr. Johnston brings you the answers to these questions and explains WHY WOMEN KILL.

  Nancy is armed with the right tools to help women and men become more confident in self-defense. She routinely studies up on the latest tools that help keep you safe and takes courses in safety awareness. 

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  At Beyond The Crime, Nancy will share unique safety strategies—not the same old tips everyone’s already heard, but fresh, practical approaches that go beyond the basics. One of her techniques could help you stay alive. 

  Amber is a granddaughter on a mission to find the killer who took her grandmother's life in 1957. That's right, an unsolved, chilling murder from the '50s. Barbara Ann Lemmons and her friend Dorothy Gibson were found shot to death off Highway 180 in Lea County, NM. Their bodies were discovered six miles away from their abandoned car, due to a flat tire.  A third victim, truck driver J.D. Cantrell had stopped to help the women, was shot eight times. 

   Decades later and the mystery surrounding the triple homicide still haunts their families. At Beyond The Crime, Amber will dive into HER investigation as she continues her fight for justice.

 Josephine is a retired detective, author, and nationally recognized victims’ advocate. She was a detective with Guam Police before moving stateside.  

  In 2016, Josephine’s life was forever changed when her daughter, Krystal Jaye Mitchell, was murdered in San Diego. The suspect fled the country. Josephine came out of retirement to pursue justice. Her tireless six-year investigation was instrumental in the capture of her daughter's murderer in El Salvador in 2022. The case was highlighted on the U.S. Marshals' Top 15 Most Wanted list.  During the pursuit, Josephine also helped rescue two missing girls and prevented a kidnapping in Belize. 

  Hope Hooton is a mother on a mission to bring awareness to the unthinkable act of children being killed by a parent, also known as filicide crimes. Her mission began after her children, Alec and Lydia, were killed by their father in May 2024. Their deaths sparked a fire in Hope, dedicating her life to family court reform in AZ and at the federal level - holding judges accountable and ensuring child safety always comes first. 

  Hope now shares her journey of loss, faith, and resilience on "Voices Against Filicide" Podcast. She advocates to raise awareness to prevent future tragedies..all in hopes of saving children.​

  Terra’s story is an incredible testament to bravery and resilience.

  At just 25 years old, Terra faced the notorious serial predator known as “Dirty” John Meehan head-on. In a terrifying moment of fight or flight, Terra fought back, taking his life before he took hers. Later, police would find a kidnapping kit in John's car.  But "Dirty" John wasn't a stranger, he was Terra's mom's estranged ex-husband. Her story of bravery has brought awareness to domestic violence and how the "victim" can become the SURVIVOR. 

   Terra's story's been featured in People magazine and Netflix.

  Brandi Morey-Pols said she sensed something was wrong before learning her  6-year-old son was tragically killed by his biological father, who then turned the gun on himself.  Before that court-ordered visit, Brandi had sought help from the courts, but her concerns were dismissed.

  She turned her grief into purpose by founding Rowan's Act in Michigan to reform Amber Alert laws, allowing faster alerts for endangered children, especially in custodial situations.  At BEYOND THE CRIME, you'll hear Brandi's story and her fight to save more children.

  Anthony Teran is on a mission to find the men who murdered his brother and nieces in the Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre in 1990. The armed robbery took place in February of 1990, when two gunmen entered the bowling alley before it opened on a Saturday morning. They shot seven people execution style, robbed the business' safe of about $5,000, and set the office on fire.

   Anthony Teran's brother, Steven, and his nieces, Paula and Valerie, were among those who were killed. Anthony's new mission is to make sure they are not forgotten and justice is served.

    Dr. Gibson has written 13 published books on various topics, including serial killers, the West Mesa murders, and the 1980 prison riot in Santa Fe, NM.

   In his book "Way Worse Than Attica: The 1980 Riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico," Dirk details the horrific conditions that forced officials to call in the State's National Guard. He discusses the correctional officers who were taken hostage, the inmate families, the media, and the difficult mission of the first responders. Dirk's book mentions the public prison tours, which include the possibility of paranormal activity after the riot that left 33 dead. The facility has also seen 103 executions.

  Heather Northcraft is cohost of the true crime podcast Like Mother Like Murder, which focuses on mom-related true crime stories to include mothers who have been victims and survivors of tragedies such as murder,
disappearance, and domestic abuse, as well as mothers who have committed crimes themselves.

    Recently, Heather and her cohost Rachel have been dedicating their efforts to raising awareness to cases of filicide and working closely with mothers who have lost their children at the hands of their biological fathers. Heather is also the co-founder of Momcast Productions.

  Robert Parmer is on a mission to expose the imperfections in the nation's justice system, one case at a time. Robert is the host of Broken System Podcast. His episodes dive into cases that on the surface level seem open and shut, but as Robert digs deeper he uncovers trials that may have sent the wrong man or woman to prison and a justice system that at times was flawed.

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  At BEYOND THE CRIME Robert will explain how he got into the true-crime podcasting world and what inspires him to continue.  

   Dorwin Thomas is on a mission to get law enforcement to find his twin brother and bring him home. Dorwin’s brother, Duane, went missing March 4, 2011 on the Navajo Nation near Red Mesa.

   Duane was heading to a dance in Kayenta with his girlfriend the night he vanished. One tip led police to a desolate part of the Arizona desert after the tipster told detectives Duane wasn’t alone that night. Duane’s family says some bones and cowboy boots were found in that area, but they’re still waiting to know if it is their brother and they’re still waiting for justice.

   Who could have hurt their brother?

  Geraldine Toya is fighting for answers and justice after her daughter, Shawna Toya, was found dead and left in her car on August 1, 2021. The police report indicates no foul play in Shawna's death. 

  But the family says that story doesn’t add up. Geraldine says her daughter left their home that night to get a money order and milk for her kids. After Shawna was found, the family also found empty grocery bags, a cell phone, and a wallet belonging to someone else left in her car.  Geraldine says they also found wounds on her body.  Why didn’t law enforcement conduct an autopsy? Geraldine wants answers.

  Vanessa Apachee's life flipped upside down on January 29, 2021. That was the day her brother Joey was found dead in his hometown of Steamboat, AZ. Joey had just celebrated his birthday. Detectives say Joey had been in a fight. A medical examiner classified the single father's death as a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head.   

  But that's not where his story ends. Joey's family found conflicting information in his case file, and they're stopping at nothing to find answers. 

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