A true crime club operating in the heart of Newcastle has grown to 1800 members, meeting every other Saturday at the Maldron Hotel to discuss unsolved criminal cases. The club, founded by Joccoaa Tyne Gray, a 34-year-old law student from Hexham, Northumberland, began during the COVID-19 pandemic when she started listening to true crime podcasts and sought a community to share her interest.
Club Origins and Growth
Joccoaa launched the club in 2022 using the Meet Up app. The first meeting had only four people, including herself. Over four years, the group expanded to 1800 members, with 20 to 30 attendees per session. She has hosted approximately 140 events since the club's inception.
“I was working alone quite a lot during the pandemic and listening to a lot of true crime podcasts. I came out of the pandemic and I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about it. I thought I don’t really have a sense of community,” Joccoaa said. “I put these meetings out for a true crime club and four years later we have over 1800 members. Every other Saturday we get 20 to 30 people who come along and have a chat with us.”
Meeting Format and Focus
The club operates like a book club. Members sign up, learn which unsolved case will be discussed, and gather at the hotel for a debate. Discussions primarily focus on cold cases, though paranormal cases have also been explored. Joccoaa emphasizes that the club avoids glorifying perpetrators and steers clear of recent UK cases to respect ongoing investigations.
“It’s like a little true crime book club. We are a really friendly bunch and I’m always there. For people that do find socialising difficult, it can take that scariness away,” she explained. “Sometimes true crime can get a bit of a bad reputation but ours is more about problem solving. It’s more of a debate. We don’t post it on the internet.”
The club is described as a safe, inclusive space, welcoming to queer and neurodiverse individuals. Members range from students and young professionals to empty nesters. “We have a lovely set of people who come together. We have students, young professionals and empty nesters - older ladies whose kids have flown the nest and they are now at a loss on a Saturday. You drop in and out when you feel like it,” Joccoaa added.
Notable Discussions and Events
The year kicked off with a discussion on Madeleine McCann, attracting around 30 people. Another popular session covered the Enfield Haunting, where members debated the existence of ghosts. Joccoaa also hosts occasional workshops and an annual True Crime Forum, where professionals educate members on various aspects of true crime. The next forum is scheduled for October 10 at the Maldron Hotel Newcastle.
Founder’s Journey
Joccoaa, who holds a degree in Photography from 2014, left her corporate real estate job in September to pursue a Master’s in Law and Human Rights at Teesside University. She credits an introductory criminal law course at Teesside’s Winter University for inspiring her career change. “It changed my life! I thought this is what I was meant to do. It was so fascinating to me,” she said. She aims to focus on human rights and eventually pursue a PhD.
Reflecting on the club’s impact, Joccoaa said, “It’s the best thing I have ever done! I have got a whole friendship group out of it. I see people from the club branch out and go out for coffee and cake together and make friends. It’s really nice.”
