Uncovering Forgotten Women in True Crime History

When we think about true crime, the spotlight often shines brightest on notorious male figures or high-profile victims whose cases dominated headlines. But behind that glare lies a quieter, often overlooked reality: countless women whose stories were pushed aside, misrepresented, or erased from the record entirely.

Exploring the lives of these women isn’t just about telling forgotten stories—it’s about restoring dignity, reclaiming narratives, and asking deeper questions about the biases that shape what we remember and what we forget.

The Media’s Blind Spots

Throughout much of the 20th century, crime reporting was shaped by cultural biases that decided whose stories “mattered.” Victims who were women of color, working-class, or living outside major cities were often ignored. Even when covered, reporting leaned heavily on stereotypes—depicting some women as “fallen” or “troubled” instead of human beings deserving justice.

This selective storytelling created a pattern where certain cases were immortalized while others quietly faded into obscurity.

Case Studies: Forgotten Stories

1. Fannie Adams (1870s, England)

One of the earliest documented cases of a child victim in modern crime history, her brutal murder shocked Victorian society. Yet while her name once became synonymous with “Sweet Fanny Adams,” the humanity of the young girl herself was largely lost to a phrase rather than remembered with the gravity her story deserved.

2. Alberta Jones (1960s, Kentucky, USA)

A pioneering Black attorney and civil rights activist, Jones was found dead under suspicious circumstances in 1965. Despite her significance, her case never received the full attention it deserved. Her story reflects both racial and gendered blind spots in true crime memory.

3. Reyna Marroquín (1969, New York, USA)

Her disappearance went unnoticed for decades until her remains were discovered in 1999 inside a barrel. A Salvadoran immigrant, Reyna’s story reminds us how immigrant women often vanished without systemic urgency to find them.

Why These Stories Matter

Uncovering these forgotten women isn’t just about history—it forces us to ask tough questions:

• Why do some victims become household names while others disappear into footnotes?

• How do race, class, and gender shape whose stories are preserved?

• What responsibility do we, as readers and writers of true crime, have in amplifying silenced voices?

Moving Toward Justice in Storytelling

Today, there’s a growing movement in the true crime community to bring these forgotten stories forward. Writers, podcasters, and bloggers are working to highlight women who didn’t receive justice in their lifetimes. By telling their stories fully—without sensationalism—we reclaim something that was lost: their humanity.