‘Long history of neglect’: why are missing Black people still less likely to be found?

Soledad O'Brien and the directors of an eye-opening new docuseries, Black and Missing, talk about how media and police bias still affects how missing people are covered and looked for

Gabby Petito's disappearance late last summer captured national media headlines and kicked off a well-oiled and coordinated manhunt, with tips pouring in through social media, that nevertheless ended in tragedy. After her remains were found, Petito's parents thanked law enforcement and the public for their assistance at a press conference. Joseph Petito also made a pointed statement. This same type of heightened awareness should be continued for everyone," he told the gathered media. It's on all of you, everyone that's in this room, to do that. If you don't do that for other people that are missing, that's a shame, because it's not just Gabby that deserves that."

That's coming from a grieving father," says Soledad O'Brien to the Guardian. The former CNN anchor and executive producer of the four-part HBO documentary series Black and Missing is vividly recalling the press conference on the phone. Imagine your own little girl goes missing and you have to chide the media to also look for people of color."