Southern Oregon True Crime Summit
ON MAY 15 & 16, the public is invited to attend the Southern Oregon True Crime Summit at the Bigham Knoll Campus, founded and produced by local Melynda Cordes. The event features professionals and experienced voices in forensic science, investigative journalism, law enforcement, victim advocacy, and ethical true crime media. This 2-day informational summit will focus on forensic investigation, missing persons cases, cold cases, victim advocacy, and responsible storytelling. Cordes notes, “The event includes expert-led panels, keynote talks, and immersive experiences, including a podcast listening party and a True Crime Lecture, designed for the general public, professionals, students, and true crime audience, not just academics.”
The main event features a book signing by Lindsay Wade in the ballroom at Bigham Knoll, (525 Bigham Knoll Drive). A Macabre Podcast listening party and True Crime Trivia, Malice in the Mist, will be hosted at Remotion Wine Tasting Room, 105 W. Main Street in Jacksonville.
The summit was created to encourage thoughtful discussion, public awareness, and community connection around real cases and real people, while offering approachable insight into how investigations, advocacy, and the media intersect in the real world. Cordes expects guests to attend from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, and the broader Pacific Northwest. The event is structured to be accessible and engaging for a wide audience, including true crime listeners, community members, students, and professionals alike.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local and regional organizations, including Jackson County SART, Crescent City PD Search and Rescue K9 Unit/Cadaver Dogs and the Oregon Cold Case Collective. Please find all the event details, speaker announcements, and registration information at https://southernoregontruecrime.com/.
