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‘Crime Unfiltered’ tour brings true-crime victims to Royal Oak to share behind-the-scenes stories – The Oakland Press.In an age when audiences follow criminal cases through podcasts, documentaries and social media, “Crime Unfiltered” offers direct access to the people whose lives have been profoundly impacted by the crimes that have dominated media headlines for years.Some of those people include John Ramsey, father of JonBenét Ramsey, the child beauty queen whose murder on Dec.25, 1996, remains unsolved; and Tara Petito and Nichole Schmidt, the mother and stepmother, respectively, of Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old traveling vlogger who was murdered — allegedly by her fiancé, Brian Christopher Laundrie, while they traveled cross-country in 2021.There is also the shocking cyberstalking case in the 2025 Netflix documentary, “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish,” which happened in Beal City; and the wrongful conviction of Sean Ellis, who was incarcerated for the 1993 killing of Boston police officer John J.Mulligan, which was chronicled in the 2020 Netflix documentary, “Trial 4.” Ellis’ case became one of the most widely known wrongful conviction battles in the nation after he spent more than two decades in prison.“When you spend 20 years in prison for something you didn’t do, it changes how you see everything,” Ellis said.“If my story helps people understand how easily the system can fail and why fighting for justice matters, then telling it is worth it.” The people involved in these infamous cases, as well as the “American Nightmare” case, will appear together onstage at “Crime Unfiltered” at 7 p.m.Friday, June 19, at the Royal Oak Music Theater.They will share their experiences in a live setting designed to take audiences far beyond the headlines.“Unknown Number” executive producer/broadcast journalist/true crime author Alysia Sofios, a Michigan State University alumna, produced “Crime Unfiltered.” “This is not a panel.Not a convention.It is a rare, unscripted look at what it means to live inside a story that touched the world,” explained Sofios.“What stands out about this group is the understanding they share.Each of them lived through something we all watched unfold in real time, and there’s a powerful sense of strength in the way they stand together.” Hosting this event is criminologist Nicky Ali Jackson, who is a leading voice in the national conversation on wrongful convictions.Jackson will discuss the investigations themselves and the toll of being a part of a case that becomes international news.“This tour gives audiences a rare opportunity to hear the humanity behind those headlines,” Jackson said.“It’s something you can only truly understand when you hear their voices directly.” This year marks the 30th anniversary of JonBenét’s murder.In the case of JonBenét, her parents, John and Patsy (who died in 2006), were accused of murdering her.Early on Dec.26, 1996, in Boulder, Colorado, Patsy called 911 to report JonBenét was missing upon discovering a handwritten ransom note, demanding $118,000 for her return.Even though the police came to their residence, they did not conduct a formal search of the Ramsey household.Several hours later, John discovered JonBenét in a wine cellar in the basement.An autopsy later revealed that the 6-year-old had suffered a fractured skull from a heavy blow and had been asphyxiated via a makeshift garrote tied around her neck.John and Patsy believe an intruder broke into their home and murdered their daughter.For years, the Boulder Police Department suspected John and Patsy of killing JonBenét.The authorities theorized that they staged a ransom note and the crime scene to cover up their daughter’s murder.John and Patsy came under fire from the media and became fodder for the tabloids.In 1999, a Colorado grand jury even voted to indict both parents on charges of child abuse resulting in death and being an accessory to a crime.However, then-Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to sign the indictment, citing insufficient evidence to take the case to trial.“Our justice system’s very fragile and has got some real flaws,” John said.“My goal is to try and fix it.That’s a huge task and I don’t pretend I can do that.But we need to bring visibility to the fact that it’s very fragile and, unfortunately, a lot of people have been unfairly criticized and, in some cases, convicted of a crime they didn’t commit.It’s too easy for that to happen, in my opinion.” Throughout it all, John and Patsy reiterated they were innocent.On July 9, 2008 – almost 12 years after JonBenét’s death – then-Boulder District Attorney Mary Lacy issued a letter stating that John and Patsy should no longer be considered suspects in their daughter’s murder.The decision was based on new DNA evidence collected from JonBenét’s clothing, which belonged to an unidentified male not part of the family.“My daughter was the most important thing in my life,” John said.“And the only way this chapter closes for my family is if we find who did this to her.” If you go “Crime Unfiltered” will be at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W.Fourth St., Royal Oak, at 7 p.m.Friday, June 19.Tickets range from $52 to $162.For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit crimeunfiltered.com.