The holiday lights were still twinkling in Boulder, Colorado when 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey’s body was discovered in her family’s basement on Dec. 26, 1996. The ensuing media storm would cement her case as one of America’s most notorious unsolved mysteries, spawning decades of television specials, documentaries and front-page headlines.
Meanwhile, in communities across America, other families were experiencing similar heartbreak: their children vanishing without a trace. Yet their stories rarely made it past local news — if they were covered at all.
The tale of two Americas
When Ramsey disappeared, America stopped in its tracks. Network news crews descended on Boulder. People rushed a cover story to print. The case dominated cable news for months, then years. The investigation into her death has reportedly cost upwards of $2 million, making it one of the most expensive cases in Colorado history.
That same year, 5-year-old Tineshia Jackson vanished from her neighborhood in New Orleans. Despite extensive searching by her family and local community, her story barely registered beyond the local news cycle. The investigation budget? A fraction of the Ramsey case.
This disparity represents a broader pattern in how media outlets choose which stories deserve national attention. While every missing child deserves equal attention and resources, the reality shows a troubling bias in coverage that continues to this day.
Beyond the headlines: The numbers tell the story
Recent data paints a stark picture: According to Black and Missing, 563,389 people were missing in 2023. Out of that, 40 percent were non-Hispanic people of color. Of the more than 162,755 children of color reported missing in 2023, precious few received sustained national media coverage. Meanwhile, cases involving young white victims – particularly those from middle or upper-class backgrounds – consistently dominate news cycles and true crime programming.
The phenomenon has become so widespread that researchers have given it a name: Missing White Woman Syndrome. This term describes the media’s disproportionate focus on white — often affluent — female victims, while similar cases involving people of color receive minimal attention.
The ripple effect of selective coverage
This disparity in media attention creates a devastating cycle. Limited coverage means fewer resources allocated to investigations. Fewer resources lead to fewer solved cases. Unsolved cases receive less follow-up coverage, perpetuating the notion that these disappearances are somehow less worthy of public concern.
Consider the case of Asha Degree, who walked out of her North Carolina home on a cold February morning in 2000 and vanished without a trace. Despite her family’s tireless advocacy, the national media largely ignored her disappearance. While her case remains open with the FBI, it has never received the kind of sustained attention that might help generate new leads.
The role of systemic bias
The issue extends beyond simple racism into more subtle forms of bias. News editors often make split-second decisions about which stories will “resonate” with their audience. These choices frequently reflect and reinforce existing societal prejudices about whose lives matter most.
When young Black children go missing, their cases are more likely to be classified as runaways rather than abductions, Black and Missing states. This classification often results in delayed investigations and reduced media coverage, even when evidence suggests foul play.
Breaking the cycle
Some media outlets have begun acknowledging this disparity and working to address it. Digital platforms and social media have also helped families of color amplify their stories, bypassing traditional media gatekeepers. However, significant work remains to be done.
The cases of Taranika Raymond and Kreneice Jones, both young Black girls who disappeared in the 1990s, remain unsolved. Their families continue to search for answers, largely without the benefit of national media attention or the resources that such exposure might bring.
The path forward
Creating equitable coverage requires systemic change within newsrooms and law enforcement agencies. This includes:
- Developing standardized protocols for covering missing persons cases, regardless of race or socioeconomic status
- Increasing diversity in newsroom leadership positions
- Establishing partnerships between media outlets and organizations that advocate for missing children of color
- Implementing regular audits of coverage patterns to identify and address disparities
- Providing resources and support for families navigating both the investigation process and media landscape
The cost of inequality
The human cost of this coverage disparity cannot be quantified. Behind every overlooked case is a family searching for answers, a community mourning loss and potentially vital evidence growing colder by the day.
While Ramsey’s case remains unsolved despite millions of dollars in resources and countless hours of media coverage, we must ask ourselves: How many other cases might be solved if given the same level of attention and investment?
The path to change begins with recognition, namely the acknowledgment that every missing child deserves equal attention, regardless of race, class or circumstance. Only then can we begin to address the systemic biases that have allowed some stories to dominate while others fade into obscurity.
The tragedy of JonBenét Ramsey deserved the attention it received. But so did Tineshia Jackson, Taranika Raymond, Kreneice Jones, and countless others whose names never made the national headlines. Their stories matter just as much — and it’s past time our media coverage reflected that truth.
