Iowa State professor to explore fascination with true crime in upcoming lecture

AMES, Iowa – Why are millions of Americans binge-watching shows about murder? Acclaimed criminologist, author and forensic consultant Matt DeLisi will unpack this question and more in his presentation, “Our Obsession with Murder: Why True Crime Is So Popular” at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The event is free and open to the public. 

Based on his latest book published in January, “True Crime America: The Functions of Our Murder Obsession,” DeLisi will examine the cultural, intellectual and political functions of true crime in the U.S. Drawing from his expertise — and his personal interest as a true crime fan — DeLisi will explore why the genre is one of the most successful and wide-ranging in American society.

“True crime is as much of a fixture in many people’s lives as the evening news or televised sports,” he said. 

A forensic consultant and distinguished professor of sociology and criminal justice at Iowa State, DeLisi has authored more than 500 scholarly publications and 35 books. He has provided testimony to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on criminal justice policy and regularly consults on capital murder and homicide cases in federal and state jurisdictions.

But after several decades of professional and academic work in the field, it was his 2023 book, "Ted Bundy and the Unsolved Murder Epidemic: The Dark Figure of Crime," that garnered the most attention. 

“The reaction was extraordinary compared to everything I’ve done in my career,” he said. “There’s something there, culturally, why true crime is so popular.”

DeLisi’s lecture will be the first in a series of true crime lectures at Iowa State. Tess Neal, associate professor and liberal arts and sciences dean’s professor, will present “Insanity Cases that Shaped Popular Culture” on Oct. 7, and Laurie Law, director of the University Honors Program will present “Solved? The Enduring Mystery of Jack the Ripper” on Oct. 27.

Amanda Knief, director of the Iowa State Lectures Program, noted the series is not about a particular crime or sensationalizing crime stories. The lectures take a deep dive into the research, science, and psychological and sociological implications. 

“We’re taking what researchers are doing on campus with true crime and trying to elevate that. If you’re not in that class or major, you might not have any idea how interesting or applicable their work is to the broader public,” Knief said. 

The University Book Store will be onsite selling two books written by DeLisi, "True Crime America: The Functions of Our Murder Obsession" and "Ted Bundy and the Unsolved Murder Epidemic: The Dark Figure of Crime," at the event.

A recording of the lecture will be available on the lecture program website approximately two business days after the event and will remain accessible for three weeks. 

The event is sponsored by the department of sociology and criminal justice and the committee on lectures, which is funded by student government.