THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505240004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
I am appalled at the handling of information by the police and media regarding the recent linkage of several murders to a possible serial killer.
Friends of mine are the parents of one of the victims listed in your paper. Since their son's funeral, they have heard nothing from the police handling the case. In fact, the police were so secretive that my friends had to get a clarification letter from the police to get their son's life-insurance policy paid.
Imagine this family's pain on reading the paper and listening to the news, wondering if the media are talking about their son, and then seeing his name listed. In the rush of covering a ``sensational'' story, no one, police, media or press, thought of letting the families of the victims know that information about their sons' deaths was being made public. It's as if they have to suffer through the trauma all over again.
Count me as one of the growing number of people disgusted with the manner in which news is reported today. No caring, just headlines that sell papers and stories that get ratings points.
PHYLLIS L. LANNIK
Portsmouth, May 16, 1995 by CNB