“Homeless Killer”: An Analysis of the Media’s Portrayal of the Victims of a Serial Killer

ABSTRACT

Previous research has examined the newsworthiness of homicide victims and explored many characteristics of victims. To date, there is no research examining homeless homicide victims even though homeless individuals are more susceptible to being victims of violent crimes. This study examines the online media coverage of four homeless homicide victims murdered by a serial killer in 2012 to ascertain how housing status impacts media coverage. Specifically, this study explores through content analysis what kind of coverage homeless individuals receive and how they are portrayed. Findings suggest that housing status is a salient characteristic in the newsworthiness of victims.

Notes

¹ Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Huffington Post, Reuters, NY Daily News, The Daily Beast, International Business Times, Portland Press Herald, The Mirror, The Examiner, The Carmi Times, AZ Central, The OC Register, Yahoo! News, NBC Los Angeles, ABC News, MSNBC, CBS News, CNN, and Fox News.

² Raquel Estrada’s other son was initially arrested for these murders and Ocampo was never a suspect until he was captured for his other murders and DNA linked him to the Estrada crime scene.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy M. Donley

AMY M. DONLEY is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Central Florida. She is also the Associate Director of UCF’s Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her own research focuses on social inequalities, specifically homelessness, poverty, and food insecurity.

Marie C. Gualtieri

MARIE C. GUALTIERI is a Doctoral Student in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University. Her current research focuses on the experiences of food insecurity among seniors in the United States and the impact of food insecurity on health and well-being.