PHOTO COURTESY OF INSIDER

The cast of “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile”

Anna Cox is a first-year English major from Paragould

True crime has always been something that has captured the public’s attention. Brutal events and catchy cutlines grab the eyes better than anything. 

With new movies and tv series coming out in recent years, the question of respect and how to properly tell the story of the victims has come up. With “Dahmer” and “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” people have wondered if the killers are being portrayed in a positive light. 

First, let’s talk about more recent news: the Idaho murders. The murders involved four victims: Ethan Chapin, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20. 

TikTok exploded with theories; however, a large number of people started targeting and harassing people who were close to the victims. They even went so far as to harass the boyfriend’s family, having no evidence that he was connected to the murders at all.

TikToker Ashley Guillard accused one of the professors at the students’ school, Rebecca Scofield, the history department chair. Scofield has since started legal action against Guillard with the preface of defamation. 

Guillard has continued to defend her claim that Scofield is guilty, her evidence being her tarot cards. Guillard was not in Idaho, she does not have access to the evidence that the police do and she does not know anything about Scofield. She is simply throwing darts in the dark.
These people are in mourning, being attacked and told they are the murderer of their loved ones. This is not okay. People with no evidence or information on the case have no right to start harassing a family. 

It is just disgusting for someone to act that way. I am all for theorizing and wondering how or what happened to lead to the tragic event. However, I am not for the persecution of seemingly innocent people. I am not defending murderers, I am defending the people who have no evidence against them and are only being targeted because of their relationship with the victim. 

Returning to the tv shows and movies: they are gross. The one regarding Jeffery Dahmer did not have the permission of the victims’ families yet made a show with their testimonies and their likeness anyways. It was inappropriate. If they had asked permission and talked with the victim’s family, then my opinion would be different. 

But they did not. Netflix did not take into account how their series would affect the victims’ families, and although Netflix did not legally have to, not contacting them ruins the show. It is another blow to the families that they simply did not need. 

“Extremely wicked, shockingly evil and vile” sparked controversy for its glorification of Ted Bundy, a prolific killer and rapist of at least 30 women. Critics believe it was too upbeat in its perspective, and although Bundy was thought of as attractive and charming, that does not mean that a studio should make that his sole characteristics. 

He was a sadistic killer and rapist. If you make a film and it comes off as glorifying him, the next words out of your mouth should be “I’m sorry”. 

Enjoying true crime is not a bad thing. It becomes bad when there is not a proper tribute to victims. It becomes bad when there is harassment. If you like true crime, don’t act like you have a criminology degree and can somehow solve a case with no evidence. 

It is okay to theorize with your friends or wonder why something tragic happened. It is not okay to start accusing, to start harassing, to forget all empathy and ethics regarding respect to the victims and their families. 

Categories: Opinion