True crime has become one of the biggest genres in American media, laying bare the most brutal, opaque and spine-chilling sides of the human experience. The Capital Region has an infamous place in the annuls of the nation’s real-life horror stories. From torture cabins secluded in the woods to Sacramento’s Victorian “murder house” on F Street, the area has kept storytellers busy with mind-numbing cases for the better part of four decades. 

On November 7^th at 6:30 p.m., ENLIGHTENMENT will host a salon-type discussion about why the true crime genre feels so powerful in Sacramento, as well as why the subject matter currently has such a hold on the national psyche. 

The event, which takes place Downtown at Ruhstaller BSMT, will be conducted in a speakeasy-type environment that harkens back to the Prohibition-era days before the term “serial killer” entered the American lexicon. All three speakers featured on the couch that night are current or former professional crime journalists in Northern California – and all three have been deeply involved in unraveling the deeds of notorious murderers in the region. 

Scott Thomas Anderson, writer and producer of the true crime podcast “Trace of the Devastation,” will discuss how that project was born from his own childhood connection to the serial killers, Leonard Lake and Charles Ng. 

Dakota Morlan, former crime reporter for The Calaveras Enterprise, will talk about her how her one-on-one interview with maniacal killer Karl Karlson – and her first-hand coverage of his trial – led to Morlan making appearances on “Dateline NBC” and “California True Crime podcast.”

Steve Martarano, former crime journalist for The Sacramento Union, will take audience members back to the moment when he was the first reporter on-scene for what turned into discovering the unforgettable “Murder House” on F Street.  

Ruhstaller BSMT has a variety of beers on tap, as well as kombucha, wine and sparkling water. Light snacks will be available, but please feel free to BYO food.

ENLIGHTENMENT is a European salon-style event that holds informal cocktail conversations in Ruhstaller’s basement taproom. Its get-togethers highlight local personalities involved in interesting endeavors, along with experts knowledgeable about local, state, national or global issues. The idea is to bring the community together for dialogs over drinks in a relaxing environment. Ruhstaller’s BSMT is located 726 K Street in Downtown Sacramento. For free registration and info, click here.