
PRECEDENT: Kitty Genovese
Kitty Genovese has become infamous as the woman who was ignored by her neighbors as she was being murdered on March 13th, 1964. Much of her story has been embellished or misreported, though that’s not to say the truth isn’t horrific and her legacy lasting. Kitty’s case set the precedent for the 911 system we have in place and rely on to this day.

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Episode Info:
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Episode Source Material
- PBS Independent Lens: History of 911 – America’s emergency service, before and after Kitty Genovese, by Carolyn Abate.
- WNYC: An Iconic Murder Helped Create the 911 System, by Mythili Rao.
- History.com: Kitty Genovese, by History.com editors.
- Washington Post: Her shocking murder became the stuff of legend. But everyone got the story wrong. by Stephanie Merry.
- Biography.com: Kitty Genovese (1935–1964).
- Film Daily: NYC lady-killer Winston Moseley and his reign of terror, by Bianca Myrtil.
- NPR.org: What really happened the night Kitty Genovese was murdered?
- New Yorker: A call for help, by Nicholas Lemann.
- New York Times: 37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police.
- New York Times: Remembering Kitty Genovese, by Clyde Haberman.
- New York Times: How Many Witnessed the Murder of Kitty Genovese?
Suggested Episodes
WANTED: Justice for Rhys Pocan & MMIW Part 2
In 2021, we set out to cover the case of Rhys Pocan, a 35-year-old Indigenous woman who was murdered in Wisconsin in the ‘80s. In Part 2, we look into cases of two other female dismemberment victims in Wisconsin with striking similarities to Rhys Pocan’s.
WANTED: Justice for Rhys Pocan & MMIW Part 1
In 2021, we set out to cover the case of Rhys Pocan, a 35-year-old Indigenous woman who was murdered in Wisconsin in the ‘80s. But while we were in the field, we uncovered a disturbing pattern of murders with similarities to Rhys’ that were just too blatant to ignore. So, we spent the next three years working with local and federal law enforcement to try and get to the bottom of it.
WANTED: The Keddie Cabin Killer
A family’s brutal murder rocks a tiny California town and leaves behind too many unanswered questions.
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