Tru Crime Day

On Friday, November 6th, 2026, Truman will be hosting a Tru Crime Day, packed with activities.

RSVP Encouraged: https://connect.truman.edu/register/TruCrime-Day-Nov26

Agenda

9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Virtual Cadaver Lab (30 minute slots – sign up is required above for this event) | MG 2077

Unlock the chilling secrets of the human body with Truman’s state-of-the-art virtual anatomy lab! Led by Professor Michelle Boyd, visitors will use virtual dissection tools to peel back layers of skin, slice open organs, saw through a skull, and more. In this truly “cutting-edge” educational tool, students dig through 3D cross-sections of a virtual cadaver to uncover crucial clues about a mysterious murder.

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.

Secrets of the Mafia with Sal Costa | VH 1000

Join Sal Costa for Secrets of the Mafia, a fascinating public lecture exploring the real history of organized crime and the Sicilian and Italian cultural context from which it emerged. This presentation examines the origins, structure, traditions, and enduring influence of the mafia, while highlighting its most powerful leaders and the secrets behind one of the world’s most infamous criminal organizations.

9:40 – 10:15 a.m.

• • Forensic Science in Focus with Dr. Brian Lamp | VH 1000

Join Dr. Brian Lamp for an engaging introduction to the role of forensic science in the criminal justice system. Explore how forensic evidence is collected, analyzed, and used in criminal investigations. The presentation will examine the strengths and limitations of forensic science, separating fact from fiction and addressing common myths and misconceptions often shaped by popular media. Whether you’re interested in science, law, or criminal investigations, this session offers a practical look at how forensic science contributes to the pursuit of justice.

• • True Crime in Young Adult Lit & Podcasts with Dr. Rebecca Dierking | Pickler Library, Villhard Innovation Lab

True Crime used to be an adult only genre, examining the worst of the worst:  serial killers, brutal acts, and heinous crimes.  However, with the rise of podcasts, true crime has opened to younger audiences, and, thus, true crime books and podcasts and other modes are looking at young adults relative to crime.  This session will overview some true crime literature focusing on adolescents and crime and the adolescent roots of adults perpetrating crime.

10:30 – 11:20 a.m.

• • The Real CSI: Missouri State Highway Crime Lab Team | MG 2001

Join Loraine Sperling-Jaiswar (Chemistry, 2022) of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory for a behind-the-scenes look at the science of crime solving. Drawing on her experience as a forensic scientist in the Trace Evidence Section, she will discuss how evidence such as hair, fibers, paint, and ignitable liquids is analyzed to support criminal investigations. The presentation will also provide an overview of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory and its various divisions, offering insight into the many ways forensic science serves law enforcement and the justice system.

• • The Future of Criminal Law: AI, Surveillance, and Innovation with Dr. Kat Albrecht | VH 1000

Criminal law is at a pivotal moment where technological innovation is moving faster than the law can respond. Cybersecurity, AI, and surveillance technologies pose interesting and novel problems for criminal law but also offer potentially innovative solutions. This talk considers some of the most interesting and difficult cases that the law has to offer.

11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Lunch Break! Pizza and Brownies in the SUB

12:30 – 1:20 p.m.

Keynote: Stacey Lannert, Journey Through the Justice System | VH 1000

1:35 – 2:20 p.m.

Constitutional Law in the Trenches: Attorney Panel | VH 1000

What does it mean to stand between the power of the state and the rights of an individual? Join public defenders Walter Stokely (’09, Theatre) and Carol Janson (’94, Sociology) for a conversation about law, justice, and advocacy on the front lines of the criminal justice system. Through stories from trial and appellate practice, they will explore the realities of defending individual rights, advocating for clients, and working to ensure fairness and due process for all.

2:30 – 3:15 p.m.

• • The Future of Criminal Law: AI, Surveillance, and Innovation with Dr. Kat Albrecht | VH 1000

Criminal law is at a pivotal moment where technological innovation is moving faster than the law can respond. Cybersecurity, AI, and surveillance technologies pose interesting and novel problems for criminal law but also offer potentially innovative solutions. This talk considers some of the most interesting and difficult cases that the law has to offer.

• • In the Mind of Serial Killers with Sal Costa | VH 1010

Peak into the minds of serial killers with Sal Costa, the legendary Truman State University professor. In this captivating session, Costa will unravel the psychology and history of notorious serial killers, exploring the strange behaviors and dark motives behind their crimes. With his decades of expertise, Costa brings a fascinating, thought-provoking look at this chilling topic.

Keynote: Journey Through the Justice System

Stacey Lannert brings a deeply personal and professional perspective to the American justice system. A survivor of childhood abuse, at age eighteen, Stacey was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

After serving eighteen years, her sentence was commuted by the Governor of Missouri in 2009, giving her the opportunity to rebuild her life and transform her experiences into a career devoted to justice and advocacy.

Today, Stacey is an accomplished attorney and nationally recognized advocate. She received the National Legal Aid & Defender Association’s 2019 New Leader in Advocacy Award and was appointed to the Governor’s Parole Task Force in 2025.

In “Journey Through the Justice System,” Stacey shares her story of survival, incarceration, transformation, and second chances, challenging audiences to consider how trauma, accountability, punishment, and redemption intersect.

Free Book Club – Thursday, November 5 | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Pickler Library Cafe

Redemption: A Story of Sisterhood, Survival, and Finding freedom Behind Bars by Stacey Lannert

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