The world's most jarring true crime gifts
the true crime that's worth your time
I hope you’ll join me in wishing Sarah the happiest of birthdays today. Her birthday, in fact, is what inspired this discussion thread (moved from Wednesday to mark the actual anniversary of her birth). When I searched “birthday in Slack earlier this month to remember which week I’d be covering Best Evidence so she could have it off, what I mainly found were horrible true crime gifts we jokingly promised to give each other. A thread was born!
There are the trend-kiting candles and sweatshirts that we’ve discussed here before, which I assume are often well-intentioned gifts that are frequently received with joy. (Is the message on the candle above from the giver or the recipient? IS THIS A THREAT?) Then there are the more specific gift shops at entities like “Alcatraz East” (I know, right?), where a magnet celebrating serial killers is sold next to a “thin blue line coin.” And for the real collector, there are spots like the simply-named True Crime Auction House, where an original, hand-signed poem said to be from the pen of the BTK killer can be yours for $350. Yay?
It’s true, the retail world sure is capitalizing on the true crime craze, which means that every holiday, folks like us run the risk of receiving a “If my house is dirty, it’s because I’m too busy watching true crime” bumper sticker (made this up, but bet something similar exists) from a passive aggressive relative. Or worse!
What’s the most jarring true crime gift you’ve seen out there/ironically contemplated? Have you ever gotten a true crime-related gift that alarmed, offended, or perplexed you? Let’s hear it! I promise not to get it for Sarah when her birthday rolls around again next year. — EB