Vanishing Without Headlines: The Women Media Ignores
- Danika Joy Fornear
- May 7
- 5 min read
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are reported missing in the United States. But not all disappearances are treated equally. If you’re a young white woman, your case might dominate national headlines. If you’re Black, Indigenous, or Latina—your story likely disappears before you do.
This phenomenon, dubbed “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” plays out across the country and is devastatingly clear in Florida. It’s not just media bias—it’s systemic racism, gender bias, and a culture that still sees whiteness as the default worth saving.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Between 2018 and 2023, over 123,000 women were reported missing in Florida. Nearly 45% of them were Black—despite Black residents making up just 17% of the state’s population.
Across the country, about 40% of all missing persons are people of color, but they make up only around 13% of the population. This racial disparity in missing persons reports is staggering—and yet, media coverage doesn’t match the scale or urgency.
According to the Black and Missing Foundation, thousands of Black and brown people go missing every year without receiving even a fraction of the media attention that cases involving white victims receive. When these women disappear, they are more likely to be labeled as runaways, tied to criminal activity, or simply forgotten by law enforcement and the press.
Why the Silence?
It’s not just oversight—it’s baked-in systemic bias.
Police departments often dismiss missing women of color as runaways. This classification deprioritizes their cases and blocks Amber Alerts and media alerts from being issued. Many law enforcement agencies don’t have culturally competent officers or protocols, and they lack trust within marginalized communities, which discourages families from even reporting disappearances.
The media, meanwhile, operates with its own internal bias—unconsciously or not—about which victims are “relatable” or “sympathetic.” The result? White women become national tragedies, while Black and brown women are written off as statistics.
As Natalie Wilson of the Black and Missing Foundation explains, “Race is clearly an underlying factor in the disparity in these missing person cases, as well as the media coverage.”
Real Women. Real Florida Families.
Paola Miranda-Rosa, a 31-year-old Puerto Rican woman, disappeared in late 2021 in Orange County. Her car was found in a state park, but the investigation stalled quickly. Her mother—who speaks only Spanish—struggled to communicate with police, who had no Spanish speakers on duty when the report was filed.
Dieula Jean Pierre, a 25-year-old Haitian woman with a history of mental illness, vanished from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport in January 2024. She spoke only Haitian Creole. Despite a public plea from the sheriff’s office, there has been little media follow-up or pressure to find her.
Carmen Carrera, a 29-year-old Latina woman, went missing in Orlando in late 2024. Her body was eventually found in Georgia, but only after local deputies tracked her ex-boyfriend across state lines. Her case received virtually no coverage outside of police bulletins.
These are just a few of the Florida women whose names never made the evening news—but their families are still searching, still waiting, still grieving without justice.
Advocates Are Pushing Back
Community-led organizations are refusing to let these women be forgotten.
The Black and Missing Foundation is working to elevate cases that the media ignores. Groups like LULAC are calling attention to missing Latina women and girls, demanding better data and more investigative resources.
Even in Tallahassee, lawmakers are acknowledging the crisis. A new bill—SB 146—proposes the creation of a Task Force on Missing and Murdered African-American Women, citing the disproportionate rates and systemic neglect these cases receive.
Advocates are also demanding real changes in police procedure—better classification systems, culturally competent investigations, and full cooperation across jurisdictions.
What You Can Do
Share the stories of missing women of color. Follow and boost organizations like the Black and Missing Foundation.
Call your legislators and support bills like Florida’s SB 146.
Pressure your local media to cover these stories. Ask why they covered Gabby Petito but not Dieula Jean Pierre.
Support families with fundraising, translation services, and organizing when law enforcement fails them.
When we stay silent, the system continues as is. When we raise hell, we make them look.
Sources:
• NPR: Why some missing persons cases get more attention than others
• Black and Missing Foundation: Statistics & Press
• Florida Senate: Bill SB 146 on Missing Black Women Task Force
• CBS News: Coverage of missing persons in the U.S.
• Refinery29: The Invisible Crisis of Missing Latinas
• NBC Miami: Dieula Jean Pierre case
• Orlando Sentinel: Paola Miranda-Rosa disappearance
Why the Silence?
It’s not just oversight—it’s baked-in systemic bias.
Police departments often dismiss missing women of color as runaways. This classification deprioritizes their cases and blocks Amber Alerts and media alerts from being issued. Many law enforcement agencies don’t have culturally competent officers or protocols, and they lack trust within marginalized communities, which discourages families from even reporting disappearances.
The media, meanwhile, operates with its own internal bias—unconsciously or not—about which victims are “relatable” or “sympathetic.” The result? White women become national tragedies, while Black and brown women are written off as statistics.
As Natalie Wilson of the Black and Missing Foundation explains, “Race is clearly an underlying factor in the disparity in these missing person cases, as well as the media coverage.”
Real Women. Real Florida Families.
Paola Miranda-Rosa, a 31-year-old Puerto Rican woman, disappeared in late 2021 in Orange County. Her car was found in a state park, but the investigation stalled quickly. Her mother—who speaks only Spanish—struggled to communicate with police, who had no Spanish speakers on duty when the report was filed.
Dieula Jean Pierre, a 25-year-old Haitian woman with a history of mental illness, vanished from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport in January 2024. She spoke only Haitian Creole. Despite a public plea from the sheriff’s office, there has been little media follow-up or pressure to find her.
Carmen Carrera, a 29-year-old Latina woman, went missing in Orlando in late 2024. Her body was eventually found in Georgia, but only after local deputies tracked her ex-boyfriend across state lines. Her case received virtually no coverage outside of police bulletins.
These are just a few of the Florida women whose names never made the evening news—but their families are still searching, still waiting, still grieving without justice.
Advocates Are Pushing Back
Community-led organizations are refusing to let these women be forgotten.
The Black and Missing Foundation is working to elevate cases that the media ignores. Groups like LULAC are calling attention to missing Latina women and girls, demanding better data and more investigative resources.
Even in Tallahassee, lawmakers are acknowledging the crisis. A new bill—SB 146—proposes the creation of a Task Force on Missing and Murdered African-American Women, citing the disproportionate rates and systemic neglect these cases receive.
Advocates are also demanding real changes in police procedure—better classification systems, culturally competent investigations, and full cooperation across jurisdictions.
What You Can Do
• Share the stories of missing women of color. Follow and boost organizations like the Black and Missing Foundation.
• Call your legislators and support bills like Florida’s SB 146.
• Pressure your local media to cover these stories. Ask why they covered Gabby Petito but not Dieula Jean Pierre.
• Support families with fundraising, translation services, and organizing when law enforcement fails them.
When we stay silent, the system continues as is. When we raise hell, we make them look.
Sources:
• NPR: Why some missing persons cases get more attention than others
• Black and Missing Foundation: Statistics & Press
• Florida Senate: Bill SB 146 on Missing Black Women Task Force
• CBS News: Coverage of missing persons in the U.S.
• Refinery29: The Invisible Crisis of Missing Latinas
• NBC Miami: Dieula Jean Pierre case
• Orlando Sentinel: Paola Miranda-Rosa disappearance
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