Why are people fixated on the Jennifer Dulos case?

On By Fred McNultyIn Videos

Over the past month or so, coverage of the Jennifer Dulos case has been extensive to say the least, but it is far from the first publicized true crime story to capture the public’s attention. However, why do so many people find these cases so fascinating? Is this sort of “dark entertainment” problematic?

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Citations: 

#1: Mongelli, Lorena, and Kate Sheehy. “Jennifer Dulos’ Husband, His Gal Pal Dumped Bloody Items Along Highway: Court Docs.” New York Post, 3 June 2019, nypost.com/2019/06/03/jennifer-dulos-husband-his-gal-pal-dumped-bloody-items-along-highway-court-docs/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#2: Pomrenze, Yon, et al. “Couple Arrested in Case of Missing Connecticut Mom Arraigned.” CNN, 4 June 2019, http://www.cnn.com/2019/06/03/us/jennifer-dulos-connecticut-missing-mother-monday/index.html. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#3: “Search for Missing Connecticut Mother of 5 Takes New Turn.” CBS News, 31 May 2019, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jennifer-dulos-new-canaan-connecticut-mother-still-missing-after-one-week-today-2019-05-31/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#4: Backus, Lisa, et al. “Jennifer Dulos Search Returns to Former Farmington Home.” Stamford Advocate, http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Jennifer-Dulos-case-Girlfriend-of-Fotis-Dulos-13955833.php. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#5: Chung, Maya. “Where Is Jennifer Dulos? Mystery Surrounds Mother of 5’s Disappearance Amid Divorce.” Inside Edition, 30 May 2019, http://www.insideedition.com/where-jennifer-dulos-mystery-surrounds-mother-5s-disappearance-amid-divorce-53307. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#6: Chakraborty, Barnini. “Blood, Other Evidence Found at Home of Missing Connecticut Mom Jennifer Dulos, Report Says.” Fox News, 31 May 2019, http://www.foxnews.com/us/connecticut-missing-mom-blood-evidence-home. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#7: “‘We Will Not Rest Until We Find Jennifer’: Website Created To Help Authorities In Search For Missing Conn. Mom.” CBS New York, 10 June 2019, newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/06/10/find-jennifer-dulos-website-created/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#8: “Video: Police Return to Fotis Dulos Search Amid Search for Jennifer.” WFSB, 7 June 2019, http://www.wfsb.com/video-police-return-to-fotis-dulos-search-amid-search-for/video_b6934ff5-3a38-5e8b-ac75-9ae47283514d.html. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#9: Spillane, Matt. “Jennifer Dulos Case Sheds Light on Bitter Divorce, Custody Battles.” USA Today, 3 June 2019, http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2019/06/03/jennifer-dulos-divorce-custody-battles/1327569001/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#10: ”The End of Evangelion – Sohryu Asuka Langley Vs Eva Series 60fps FI – Sub ESP & ENG.” YouTube, 8 Jan. 2016, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AY27gLWhtM.

#11: “Follow the Damn Train CJ, but Its in 4k.” YouTube, 6 Apr. 2019, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwupLHfUtHg.

#12: “Kill Bill Vol 1 – The Whole Bloody Fight Scene.” YouTube, 8 Sept. 2017, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8trTO5mJYsg.

#13: “Jennifer Dulos, Fotis Dulos, Michelle Troconis, Connecticut Case Discussion.” Facebook, 29 May 2019, www.facebook.com/groups/419597531955786/about/.

#14: “The man arrested in connection with his estranged wife’s disappearance headed out for a morning jog.” Facebook, WFSB – Channel 3 Eyewitness News, 12 June 2019, http://www.facebook.com/WFSB3/videos/vb.53108014196/2472949736058079/?type=2&theater.

#15: Smith, Paige. “This Is Your Brain On True Crime Stories.” The Huffington Post, 5 Apr. 2018, http://www.huffpost.com/entry/psychological-reasons-you-love-true-crime-stories_n_5ac39559e4b09712fec4b143.

#16: “Most Americans Still See Crime Up Over Last Year.” Gallup.com, 21 Nov. 2014, news.gallup.com/poll/179546/americans-crime-last-year.aspx.

#17: Vicary, Amanda M., and R. Chris Fraley. “Captured by True Crime: Why Are Women Drawn to Tales of Rape, Murder, and Serial Killers?” SAGE Journals, 1 Jan. 2010, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1948550609355486?journalCode=sppa.

#18: “Why Are We So Fascinated with True Crime Stories?” Health Enews, 12 Jan. 2016, http://www.ahchealthenews.com/2016/01/12/why-are-we-so-fascinated-with-true-crime-stories/.

#19: Bond, Michael. “Why Are We Eternally Fascinated by Serial Killers?” BBC, 31 Mar. 2016, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160331-why-are-we-eternally-fascinated-by-serial-killers.

#20: Palmieri, Lea. “A Psychiatrist Explains What Your True Crime Obsession REALLY Says About You.” Decider, 8 Sept. 2016, decider.com/2016/09/08/psychiatrist-explains-true-crime-obsession/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#21: Boorsma, Megan. “The Whole Truth: The Implications of America’s True Crime Obsession.” Elon University, http://www.elon.edu/e/CmsFile/GetFile?FileID=948. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#22: Mattiuzzi, Paul G. “Why Are We So Fascinated with Murder?” Everyday Psychology, 24 May 2011, http://www.everydaypsychology.com/2011/05/why-are-we-so-fascinated-with-murder.html#.W6hLpWRKj-k. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#23: Nastasi, Alison. “Why Are People Obsessed with True Crime?” Hopes&Fears, 10 Dec. 2015, http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/now/question/216997-why-are-people-obsessed-with-true-crime. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#24: Abbott, Megan. “Why Do We – Women in Particular – Love True Crime Books?” Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2018, http://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-megan-abbott-true-crime-20180614-story.html. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#25: McCarthy, Erin. “12 Reasons We Love True Crime, According to the Experts.” Mental Floss, 10 Oct. 2018, mentalfloss.com/article/559256/why-we-love-true-crime. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#26: “The Psychology Behind America’s Crime Obsession.” NPR, 23 Jan. 2009, http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=99803591. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#27: McCarthy, Erin. “7 Investigation Discovery Personalities on Why People Love True Crime.” Mental Floss, 22 May 2017, mentalfloss.com/article/501134/7-investigation-discovery-personalities-why-people-love-true-crime. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#28: Bonn, Scott. “Why We Are Drawn to True Crime Shows.” Time, 8 Jan. 2016, time.com/4172673/true-crime-allure/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#29: Sederstrom, Jill. “‘I Am Not Charles Manson’: New Details About Heated Divorce Battle Between Fotis Dulos And His Missing Wife Jennifer.” Oxygen Official Site, 10 July 2019, http://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/i-am-not-charles-manson-fotis-dulos-said-divorce-proceedings-before-jennifer-dulos-vanished. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#30: Globe, Intel. “Who is Fotis Dulos (Jennifer Farber Dulos Ex Husband) Bio, Wiki, Age, Kids, Divorce.” Glob Intel, 31 May 2019, globintel.com/usa/fotis-dulos-wiki/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

#31: Song in video: Lee Roosevere. “”Allude”.