The King of Diamonds | Rena Pederson | Tiny Talks Austin

Recorded on August 5th, 2025 at Assembly Hall in Austin, TX. Pullitzer prize finalist Rena Pederson shares her six-year quest to uncover the identity of the “King of Diamonds,” a jewel thief who terrorized Dallas high society for over a decade. Drawn in by the mystery as a young reporter in 1970, Rena returned to the case at age 70, interviewing over 100 people and digging through decades of forgotten leads. The thief struck while victims were home, targeting only the finest jewels—and leaving behind a trail of waffle footprints and psychological clues. Part true crime, part social history, Rena’s talk is a testament to curiosity, grit, and the thrill of solving a mystery, no matter how cold the case—or how long it takes. The King of Diamonds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/King-Diamonds-... Rena Pederson on the Web: https://renapederson.com/ Tiny Talks is a live event series in Austin, TX where Austin's most interesting people share their passions, pursuits and experiences through short, timed presentations. To learn more, visit https://tinytalks.com/ Tiny Talks on Instagram:   / tinytalks.atx   Tiny Talks on TikTok:   / tinytalksatx   Tiny Talks on Facebook:   / tinytalksatx