Media Influence On Serial Killers

Much like African American serial killers, mobile serial killers have largely escaped the scope of media attention. Despite increasing urbanization reducing the need to travel to ensure anonymity, mobile killers are still prevalent in American society and comprise of up to one third of the serial killing population (McLellan, 2008). They represent a small proportion of the serial killer population, but they commit between 200- 300 murders annually. To put that figure in perspective, that is 1-2 percent of all homicides committed in the US in a single year (McLellan, 2008).
Long-haul truckers are a prevalent type of mobile serial killers, whose modus operandi is their legitimate transportation vehicle (McLellan, 2008). Their vehicle allows for them to kill in one state and live in another, ensuring their anonymity. The offender’s transportation vehicle is common and recognizable

The media does not report on African American serial killers as much as they should because the media does not want to be perceived as racist, and they do not wish to further stigmatize and already marginalized group. Additionally, the media does not report on long-haul trucker serial killers, not because they necessarily belong to a minority group within society but because their victims belong to a marginalized group within society. Moreover, long-haul truckers are rare in respect to the general serial killer population, and even more difficult to apprehend, which creates problems when trying to identify and report them to the media. The combination of all the above mentioned reasons is why the media has been able to shape the public’s perception of serial killers, and been able to perpetuate the stereotype that all serial killers are white