True crime has become a cultural phenomenon, with fans drawn to stories of unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and the pursuit of justice. While crime rates in the United States have declined, the public's appetite for true crime content has only grown, reaching new heights in recent years. From streaming platforms like Netflix, which recently released Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, to popular podcasts like Crime Junkie and My Favorite Murder, the genre is everywhere. It also appears on television, with shows like CBS News' 48 Hours, and even at events like CrimeCon, a yearly convention in Las Vegas that brings together fans and creators of true crime content. The genre's popularity is not new. It traces its roots back to the 1960s with Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, a groundbreaking book that chronicled the real-life murders of the Clutter family in Kansas. Jean Murley, a professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design who studies the true crime phenomenon, recalls being deeply affected by the book when she was a teenager. “I became fascinated with the drama and the fact that these stories were real and horrifying,” she said. One of the most famous unsolved cases is the 1892 hatchet murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Massachusetts, where Lizzie Borden was accused but never convicted. Murley, who was sitting in the very house where the murders occurred during an interview, noted that the case remains open and continues to capture public interest. Murley believes that true crime resonates with people because it deals with powerful emotions and high stakes, such as mortality and violence. These themes are explored in depth by podcasts like My Favorite Murder, hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. The show began as a casual hobby in a small Hollywood apartment, but it has since grown into a global phenomenon with over two billion downloads and its own podcast network. “We didn’t think anyone was listening,” Kilgariff said. “We were just talking to each other and a small group of like-minded people.” CrimeCon, the annual true crime convention, brings together fans and professionals, including journalists like Erin Moriarty, who covers 48 Hours and Sunday Morning. Moriarty expressed concern about the ethical implications of true crime, emphasizing the need to respect the real people affected by these cases. Some fans even use online sleuthing to try to solve cold cases, though Moriarty warned against the potential for harm, citing the Idaho case involving Bryan Kohberger. Meanwhile, the parents of Kaylee Goncalves, one of four University of Idaho students murdered in 2022, are using their grief to create the Murder Has a Name foundation, aiming to fund private investigations into unsolved murders. They hope to find justice for their daughter and others. Back at the Lizzie Borden House, now a bed and breakfast, Murley reflects on the true crime genre. She says she has found a way to engage with it without becoming desensitized or violent. “Most people are good,” she said. “Violence is unimaginable to the majority of people. If you can keep reminding yourself that these are real people, you can enjoy the genre without losing your humanity.”