Unpacking Missing White Woman Syndrome
When renowned journalist Gwen Iffel first said the phrase “missing white women syndrome” in 2004, she was giving name to something missing persons advocates had been pointing out, that missing people of color got far less media coverage than missing white women. Their stories were not getting the featured or featured as intensely when they did make the news. Though other factors make come into play such as socioeconomic status, gender, and age, race and ethnicity is, by far, the major determining factor in media coverage.
In this episode, we dive into what missing white woman syndrome is and what evidence there is to support Iffel’s term. You can find the sources we used below in terms of studies that have done and we urge scholars in fields that study crime, media coverage, DEI, and more to continue to study this issue.
We also look at nine specific cases of what are believed to be unidentified black women. These cases cover the 1930s through the early 2000s. Each are marked by a lack publicly available information. Some, like in the case of Victim #8 in the Cleveland Torso Murders, are cases where white victims of the same killer received more press coverage. Some, like in the cases of Peaches or Cherries, only had their cases substantially moved forward and covered by media once they were loosely linked to a serial killer. Some, like in the case of the unhoused woman found in Washington State, died from natural causes and likely weren’t considered “newsworthy” at all.
While we look at each of these women in this episode, we also acknowledge that including nine women in once episode where we typically cover one creates a situation where we participate in media coverage that doesn’t give each the depth and breadth of coverage they deserve. We hope this episode, though, about the issue of missing white woman syndrome is a jumping off point to cover their stories more in-depth in the future as more information becomes available either publicly or through information requests.
In this episode, we did mention two podcast episodes that listeners could go to for more information on the cases we talked about. The first is an episode produced by Fruitloops that talks about the serial killer who recorded his attacks of several women. The second is an episode done by the team at The Fall Line who did an episode on the Glynn County Jane Doe.
You can check below for a full list of women whose stories we covered or mentioned in this episode.
People and Cases Mentioned in this Episode:
Natalee Holloway (missing person, solved murder)
Stephany Flores Ramirez (solved murder)
Gabby Petito (murder case, suspect deceased)
Lauren Cho (solved missing person case)
Victim #8 (unidentified woman case and unsolved murder)
Florence Polillo (unsolved murder)
Madison County Jane Doe (unidentified woman case)
Unidentified Woman in Cranbury Township (unidentified woman case, unsolved murder)
Unidentified Woman in Lake Ray Hubbard (unidentified woman case, unsolved murder)
Unidentified Woman in Baltimore (unidentified woman case, unsolved murder)
Lattingtown Jane Doe (unidentified woman case, covered in Episode 1)
Peaches Jane Doe (unidentified woman case, unsolved murder)
Maureen Brainard-Barnes (murder case, suspect arrested)
Amber Costello (murder case, suspect arrested)
Megan Waterman (murder case, suspect arrested)
Melissa Bathelmay (murder case)
Baby Doe (unidentified child case, unsolved murder)
Valerie Mack (unsolved murder case)
Glynn County Doe (unidentified woman case, unsolved murder)
Cherries Jane Doe (unidentified woman case, unsolved murder)
Lakewood Washington Jane Doe (unidentified woman case)
Guest reader
Wendy Williams and Beth Williams
Wendy Williams and Beth Williams are hosts of the award-winning true crime podcast Fruitloops. Fruitloops was born out of their desire to create a podcast with diverse voices covering diverse stories. You can listen to Wendy and Beth on Fruitlioops, now with over 200 episodes, wherever you get your podcasts including on the Killer Podcasts network of podcasts.
Sources
Episode 17: Missing White Woman Syndrome
In addition to the information from the Wauwatosa Police Department’s file on Nahida, sources include:“Missing White Woman Syndrome: The Media Bias Against Missing People of Color .” Episode. Consider This. NPR, June 8, 2023.
Neely, Cheryl L. “AN UNEASY ALLIANCE: The Symbiotic Relationship between the Media and Law Enforcement.” In You’re Dead—So What?: Media, Police, and the Invisibility of Black Women as Victims of Homicide, 39–56. Michigan State University Press, 2015. https://doi.org/10.14321/jj.5501045.8.
Peebles, Ciara. "Victim blame of missing people based on race and media framing." (2021).
Rosner, Helen. “The Long American History of ‘Missing White Women Syndrome.’” The New Yorker, October 8, 2021.
Slakoff, Danielle C., and Henry F. Fradella. "Media messages surrounding missing women and girls: The" missing white woman syndrome" and other factors that influence newsworthiness." Criminology, Crim. Just. L & Soc'y 20 (2019): 80.
Sommers, Zach. "Missing white woman syndrome: An empirical analysis of race and gender disparities in online news coverage of missing persons." J. Crim. L. & Criminology 106 (2016): 275.
Victim #8
“Admits Fighting Torso Victim.” The Cincinnatti Post, July 7, 1939.
“Case of ‘Mad Butcher’ baffles Cleveland Police for Two years.” Springfield News-Sun, October 29, 1937.
DeMarco, Laura ."Cleveland's infamous Torso Murders: 80 years later, the fascination endures (vintage photos)". Cleveland.com. Cleveland, Ohio: Advance Local Media. October 13, 2018.
“‘Mad Butcher’ blamed in two more murders.” The Circleville Herald, August 17, 1938.
“‘Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run” still a mystery after 10 years.” Springfield News-Sun, September 27, 1945.
“‘Mad Butcher’ strikes again, 9th torso victim found.” The News-Journal, June 7, 1937.
“Man admits 1 Torso murder, but denies 12.” Evansville Press, July 8, 1939.
“Three victims feared added by Mad Butcher; Torso toll may reach 14.” Troy Daily News, August 17, 1938.
“Torso Murder in Cleveland 9th in 2 years.” The Cincinnati Post, June 7, 1937.
Madison County Jane Doe
Bowen, Jennifer A. “Man charged with killings of 3 women.” The Belleville News-Democrat, June 14, 2002.
“Police aim to identify three murder victims.” Kenosha News, September 12, 2006.
“Police say murder suspect’s death in jail won’t stop probe.” Southern Illinoisan, June 12, 2002.
“Killer may have struck as many as 18 women.” Southern Illinoisan, June 25, 2002.
“Letters, Internet trail were Travis’ downfall.” The Belleville News-Democrat, June 15, 2002.
Simon, Stephanie. “Virtual trail led to serial killer suspect.” The Los Angeles Times, June 17, 2002.
Smith, Bill. “Man finds news about niece hard to handle.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 26, 2002.
Smith, Bill, Tim O’Neil and Bill Bryan. “Serial killings mystery is slow to unravel.” St Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2002.
“Slayings near Travis’ travels, homes probed.” The Belleville News-Democrat, June 15, 2002.
Stern, Eric. “County will hold hearing into suicide by inmate.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 26, 2002.
Cranbury Township Jane Doe
“Body found near turnpike.” The Record, March 1, 1977.
“Identity of victim unknown.” The Central New Jersey Home News, March 2, 1977
“Murder victim’s identity sought.” Asbury Park, March 29, 1977.
“State police investigate apparent shouting death.” The Central New Jersey Home News, March 1, 1977.
Lake Ray Hubbard Jane Doe
“253UFTX.” The Doe Network, updated June 31, 2018. Accessed December 15, 2023.
Baltimore Jane Doe
“Police say woman found dead had been stabbed.” The Baltimore Sun, August 21, 2002.
“Police seeking identity of east-side stabbing victim.” The Baltimore Sun, August 27, 2002
Peaches Jane Doe
Balsamo, Michael. “DNA find reignites serial killer case.” Democrat and Chronicle, December 16, 2016.
Bolger, Timothy. “Is the FBI close to identifying the murder victim known as Peaches?” Long Island Press, October 11, 2022.
Bolger, Timothy. “Unidentified murder victim dubbed ‘Peaches’ linked to Gilgo Beach Killing.” Long Island Press, December 13, 2016.
O’Keefe, Michael and Anthony M. Destefano. “Gilgo ID search widens.” Newsday, October 11, 2022.
Thomas, Katie and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson. “Body parts found in state park.” Newsday, June 29, 1997.
Glynn County Jane Doe
“109UFGA.” The Doe Network. Updated August 24, 2020. Accessed December 15, 2023.
“The Glynn County Jane Doe: Near the Florida Line.” The Fall Line, 2021.
Cherries Jane Doe
Fitz Gibbon, Jorge. “Clothes found with woman’s torso.” The Journal News, March 6, 2007.
Kerngold, Leslie. “Cops hope TV show helps solve slaying.” The Journal News, May 25, 2007.
Kerngold, Leslie. “Unidentified torso was found in Wal-Mart Suitcase.” The Journal News, March 16, 2007.
Kerngold, Leslie and Jorge Fitz Gibbon. “Village seeks help in torso ID.” The Journal News, March 14, 2007.
Kengold, Leslie and Shawn Cohen. “L.I. legs officially linked to torso case.” The Journal News, March 30, 2007.
Murphy, Mary. “NY cold case investigator seeks info from Gilgo task force.” Pix, August 9, 2023.
Olding, Rachel. “‘Cherries Doe’ tattoo revealed in New York cold case that may be tied to Gilgo Beach serial killer.” Daily Beast, February 14, 2020.
Reisman, Phil. “Tattooed Torso has film-like ring.” The Journal News, March 13, 2007.
Lakewood, Washington Jane Doe
“921UFWA.” The Doe Network. Updated February 20, 2019. Accessed Dec 15, 2023.
“Body not found, search called off.” The Sheboygan Press, February 2, 1984.
“Nahida Ahmed Khatib.” The Charley Project, date accessed: September 20, 2023, https://charleyproject.org/case/nahida-ahmed-khatib.
“Nahida Ahmed Khatib.” The Doe Network, date accessed: September 20, 2023, https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2616dfwi.html.
Johnson, Annysa. “Test finds no match between piece of skull and long-missing Tosa woman.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, January 1, 2009.
Stingl, Jim. “Found human skull remains a mystery.” Green Bay Press-Gazette, March 2, 2018.
“Wauwatosa police: skull could be missing woman.” The Daily Tribune, June 19, 2008.
“Wauwatosa will pay for search for body.” The Sheboygan Press, February 3, 1984.
“Wife missing; man divorced.” The Daily Tribune, December 8, 1977.
Wisconsin, Milwaukee Petitions for Naturalization, 1848-1991; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-996N-N9FQ?cc=2174939&wc=36P7-JWG%3A1018485701
“Woman declared dead,” The Reporter, October 23, 1984.Boodman, Sandra G. “The way of Many.” Washington Post, October 13, 1981.
Bowman, Nancy et al. “Jane Doe no more: Miami County Sheriff ID’s cold case victim 37 years later.” Dayton Daily News, April 11, 2018.
Bryant, Vaughn M., and Gretchen D. Jones. "Forensic palynology: Current status of a rarely used technique in the United States of America." Forensic Science International 163, no. 3 (2006): 183-197.
Daood, Amar, Eraldo Ribeiro, and Mark Bush. "Pollen recognition using a multi-layer hierarchical classifier." In 2016 23rd International Conference on Pattern Recognition (ICPR), pp. 3091-3096. IEEE, 2016.
Ehleringer, James R., Lesley A. Chesson, Luciano O. Valenzuela, Brett J. Tipple, and Luiz A. Martinelli. "Stable isotopes trace the truth: from adulterated foods to crime scenes." Elements 11, no. 4 (2015): 259-264
Granja, R. (2023). Citizen science at the roots and as the future of forensic genetic genealogy. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 25(3), 250–261.
Hollenhorst, John. “Utah firm makes breakthrough in 1981 Ohio murder case.” KSL.com, July 6, 2016.
“Homicide possible in death.” Troy Daily News, April 24, 1981.
Hunt, Amber. “King’s 1981 death near Dayton still baffling.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, July 12, 2020.
“Identity of murder victim still sought.” Sidney Daily News, April 29, 1981.
“Investigators seeking dead woman’s identity.” Troy Daily News, April 25, 1981.
Jouvenal, Justin. “The unlikely crime-fighter solving decades-old murders? A genealogist.” The Bradenton Herald, July 20, 2018.
Kennett, Debbie. “Using genetic genealogy in missing persons cases and to develop suspect leads in violent crime.” Forensic Science International, 301, 107-117.
Mullen, Shannon. “Who was Buckskin Girl? New evidence may provide clues.” El Paso Times, May 1, 2016.
“Ohio cold case develops new timeline, puts murder victim in Arkansas two weeks before death.” Fox16, April 10, 2019.
“Picture brings calls concerning identity of homicide victim.” Dayton Daily News, May 11, 1981.
Vallieu, Melody. “‘Buckskin Girl’ identified.” The Lima News, April 16, 2018.
Wilson, Kristen. “Arkansas woman identified as victim in 37-year-old Ohio case.” ABC7, April 11, 2018.
“With ‘buckskin girl’s’ ID< investigation intensifies into unsolved homicide. Dayton Daily News, May 9, 2018.
“The Way International Miniseries, Part 1.” The Cult Vault (podcast), Sept 22, 2023. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-272-the-way-international-miniseries-part-1/id1514656568?i=1000628086505
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