In the age of the internet, everyone has direct access to different media outlets and social platforms that can turn any small thing into a major issue that everyone is talking about. That said, sometimes, the outcry is rightly justified, and much debate and virality are attributed to something in a dark nature-true crime. There is not only a fascination with telling these stories, but there has been a greater need for everyone to continue spreading the details of these cases like wildfire because of uproar on justice and the desire for a fair conclusion. As strangers from opposite sides of the globe either unite or oppose each other on views, criminal cases can be some of the most talked-about topics on the internet.
These days, it’s important to get a good criminal lawyer who can find justice for you, especially in an age where every detail can easily be sensationalized, and everyone starts creating their own theories. Reaching out to the right resources is important for cases to truly find their best outcome. Here are some of the biggest cases in recent history that have made their way across the world wide web and have been cemented in history:
- The murder of Breonna Taylor
A tragedy that just happened in 2020, the Breonna Taylor case has sparked much outcry throughout the internet as celebrities, online personalities, activists, and normal netizens alike call for justice in one of the more glaring atrocities have been done toward African-Americans. Much of the outrage follows hot on the heels of the Black Lives Matter movement, as the young woman’s demise marks another unjustified death of a black person. Memorials continue to be erected in her honor, and her name has become a symbol for demanding justice and racial equality, protecting black lives from unnecessary death.
Shot in her own home as she was just having a quiet night, the medical worker was raided by police officers mistakenly. As her birthday came and she was no longer around to celebrate it, the hashtag “SayHerName”made the rounds on social media, remembering her and countless others while demanding action against the officers that took her down.Reports show that there was no ambulance on standby during their raid, against standard regulations. Causing even more anger from the community, the case has since resulted in the officers coming off free of charges on murder and manslaughter.
- The Watts family murders
In August 2018, this murder case went viral as the horrific details came to light online that a man named Chris Watts was being accused of murdering his family. At the time, he denied these accusations. Still, much speculation already circulated his case, and netizens wereshocked and appalled to find out that the victims included his two young daughters and his pregnant wife. What made the case gain even more traction was a recent documentary that covered it and showed his changing story throughout the years.
More attention was brought back in 2020 as he was finally charged with first-degree murder. The media has been a major reason this case has seen much engagement online, and social media went wild on trying to pin down the details of the case and figure out why he did such a horrific crime. Since then, countless podcasts, shows, and documentary series have covered the case to its conclusion.
- The Central Park Five
While the previous two cases gained their viral status because of the victims and the perpetrators’ horrible actions, this one saw attention in recent media online because those who went to prison became falsely accused. In 1989, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, five young boys of Hispanic and African-American descent, were tried for assault, robbery, rape, and attempted murder. They were charged as guilty, four of them served in prison for 6 to 7 years, and the eldest teen was sentenced as an adult, doing time for 13 years. Despite their pleas of innocence, their appeals were consistently denied.
In 2002, the actual perpetrator confessed, confirming the Five’s innocence from the crime,and they were all freed with their charges withdrawn. At this point, however, they had all done their time and been wrongfully vilified by the public. This injustice not only cost years in the lives of innocent young boys because of discrimination, but it also robbed the victim, Trisha Meili, of getting her due justice for the one that committed these atrocities toward her. Though more than 30 teenagers were rioting on Central Park that night, the Central Park Five gained the most attention. They made their rounds again online in 2019 when acclaimed director Ava DuVernay released her viral Netflix series on the case, “When They See Us.”
Criminal law has many twists and turns, and some of these shocking displays of injustice and horror show just how important it is for people to continue demanding what’s right and supporting those who protect their freedom in court.