The US has a true crime obsession, and one 'state' rules them all, with a surprising celeb the focus
Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona is ranked #12 for states 'obsessed' with True Crime shows and podcasts, according to a survey conducted by Privacy Journal.
Washington, DC, ranks highest in interest across true crime topics, showing the strongest engagement with true crime categories. Among the most notorious true crimes in the District of Columbia are the Freeway Phantom murders (1971-1972) and the 2002 DC sniper attacks, during which two shooters killed 10 people in a series of targeted shootings.
At the opposite end, Georgia ranks the lowest in true crime interest across categories, including searches for infamous cases, murder mysteries, and true crime media. However, Georgia does show heightened interest in serial killers, particularly Jeffrey Dahmer, despite its overall lower engagement.
Celebrity deaths
Washington, DC, also leads in searching for celebrity-related true crime cases, with Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona following closely. The case of OJ Simpson dominates searches, particularly his 2024 death from prostate cancer, making it the most searched celebrity death in these states.
The death of actress Brittany Murphy ranks as the second most-searched in Arizona and Colorado, while Colorado also shows a high interest in John Lennon’s assassination.
The states least interested in celebrity death-related searches include Mississippi, South Dakota, Alaska, and West Virginia. Even so, OJ Simpson’s case remains a focal point across these states, underscoring the impact of his recent death in the public eye.
Serial killers
Top states for searches on infamous serial killers include Washington, DC, Washington state, Utah, Nevada, and Illinois, with Jeffrey Dahmer drawing the most attention in all but Utah. In Utah, Ted Bundy shares the spotlight, reflecting his connection to the region. Recent media, such as the Netflix series on Dahmer, likely fuels renewed interest in these cases.
At the lower end, Mississippi, Hawaii, Alaska, Arkansas, and Louisiana show minimal engagement with serial killer cases, though Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy still emerge as the most-searched figures.
Notorious murders
States leading in searches for famous murder cases include Washington, DC, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, and New York. The OJ Simpson case is the top search in all these states, with additional interest in the George Floyd murder, Scott Peterson, and Charles Manson cases. Connecticut, notably, shows a strong interest in the Jennifer Dulos case, a local case that captured national attention.
Georgia, Alaska, Mississippi, Hawaii, and South Dakota rank lowest in searches for famous murder cases, yet even here, OJ Simpson and Charles Manson are frequent searches, along with George Floyd.
Unsolved mysteries
Curiosity about unsolved mysteries is most intense in Washington, DC, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington. The disappearance of Amelia Earhart is the most searched unsolved case overall, though North Carolina shares equal interest in the disappearance of Asha Degree, a young girl who went missing in the state in 2000.
On the lower end, states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Hawaii, and New Mexico show less interest in unsolved cases. However, Mississippi’s top searches focus on Natalee Holloway, while Louisiana and Arkansas also see a strong focus on Holloway, a case tied to the southern US.
True crime movies and shows
Washington, DC, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Colorado are the top five states for true crime movies and shows, with 'Goodfellas' topping the list. 'American Nightmare' and 'The Act' also capture significant interest in these regions.
Conversely, Virginia, Mississippi, Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota show lower interest, with some variation in top searches. While Virginia favors 'Goodfellas', Mississippi and Alaska share a preference for 'The Act', and Hawaii sees a balance between 'Goodfellas' and 'American Nightmare'.
True crime podcasts
Washington, DC, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, and Minnesota rank highest in true crime podcasts and documentaries, with 'Serial Podcast' leading in DC and Vermont. New Hampshire favors 'Bear Brook', while Wyoming and Minnesota have an interest in 'Scamada'.
The lowest interest in true crime media comes from Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Florida. Georgia, in particular, shows the least engagement with this type of content across the board.