
WLWT: Why is Gabby Petito's case garnering so much attention?
UC doctoral student comments on what makes the Petito case stand out over other missing persons
As Gabby Petito's homicide remains in the national spotlight, many other families are wondering why their cases aren’t as widely investigated; especially when the victim is a woman of color.
Nicole McKenna, a University of Cincinnati doctoral student researching trauma and gender-based violence against women, tells WLWT: While there is a disproportionate attention to young white girls compared to women of color, other factors apply to the visibilty of the Petito case including the victim’s social media presence, making the case easy to circulate and discuss on social media.
“There is all this physical material,” that the public ordinarily doesn’t have access to, said McKenna, a PhD candidate in UC's School of Criminal Justice.
Featured image at top: Dietrich von Diemar/Unsplash.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Ohio could soon make breast cancer screenings more affordable
May 9, 2025
The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Ann Brown was featured in Local 12 and Cincinnati Enquirer reports on a bill introduced by Rep. Jean Schmidt in the Ohio legislature that seeks to eliminate out of pocket medical expenses such as copays and deductibles associated with supplemental breast cancer screenings.
PHOTOS: 2025 DAAP Fashion Show
May 9, 2025
Over 900 people attended DAAPFASH25, a fashion show that highlights the collections of the fashion design Class of 2025. The show is now in its 72nd year.
Preparing students for artificial intelligence in education
May 8, 2025
Laurah Turner, PhD, associate dean for artificial intelligence and educational informatics at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine, recently joined the For The Love of EdTech podcast to discuss the usage of personalized learning and AI coaches to enhance educational experiences.