True crime fans are gearing up to flock to Washington, DC for the annual “Death Becomes Us” True Crime Festival. This year attendees will once again have the opportunity to check some special items from Alcatraz East Crime Museum with a pop-up version of their spring temporary exhibit “Passion for Life: Nicole Brown Simpson.”
Murdered 25 years ago in June, Nicole Brown Simpson would have celebrated her 60th birthday on May 19, 2019. In her memory, Alcatraz East Crime Museum presented a temporary exhibit at their Pigeon Forge location May 19, 2019 – August 19, 2019. Now attendees of the festival have a chance to see some of the personal artifacts from that display in Washington, DC as part of the Death Becomes Us True Crime Festival on November 9-10, 2019 at Lisner Auditorium.
“It is important to have something at the festival that honors a significant anniversary of the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman” says festival director Jenn Tisdale. “I am so excited the museum is able to bring these artifacts to our audience!”
“Passion for Life” remembers Nicole as she was as a daughter, sister, and mother, and the devastating impact of domestic violence. Featuring items from the Brown family, Nicole’s sister Tanya Brown shares, “I’m thrilled there is an opportunity for the exhibit to travel so that it is introduced to another audience, while keeping domestic violence as part of the conversation.”
The pop-up exhibit will include such artifacts as a sweatshirt worn by Nicole on her last birthday, a favorite pair of her jeans, prayer/poem written by her that was found after her death and read at her funeral by Tanya, one silver earring (the other was left in her coffin), and photos from the Brown family photo album among other items.
“This event is a great opportunity for the true crime loving DC audience,” explains Rachael Penman, director of artifacts and exhibits at Alcatraz East Crime Museum. “It’s a chance to learn more, share your thoughts and theories, and meet some of your favorite crime investigation heroes.”
The festival is presented each year by Brightest Young Things and premiered in Washington, DC in 2018. This year will feature speakers such as Lt. Joe Kenda and Carl Marino of Homicide Hunter, Paul Holes and Billy Jensen, and Amanda Knox, who spent four years in prison in Italy for her conviction of murdering a fellow exchange student. She was later exonerated.
A festival ticket is required to view this special exhibit. Tickets to the festival are all general admission and prices vary by show. Tickets are on sale now. The festival will be held at the Lisner Auditorium, located at 730 21st Street NW in Washington, DC. For a full festival schedule and to purchase tickets, visit the site: www.deathbecomesus.com.
The museum is always adding to its collection and has a star-studded panel of experts who make up the Advisory Board, including those in law enforcement, collectors, a medical examiner, crime scene investigators, and others. The board includes Jim Willett, a retired prison warden, Anthony Rivera, a combat veteran and Navy SEAL chief, and Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., who is best known for the Casey Anthony trial. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.alcatrazeast.com.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum, TN – Nicole Brown Simpson Artifacts
