Americans turn to the popular media, especially television, to keep them up-to-date on breaking news. The media often serve a valuable public service in this way because they distribute information on Amber Alerts and other situations where cooperation of the public can help, such as avoiding areas where a large fire is in progress or a highway blocked by an accident. However, we also have examples of situations where the media got so involved in an incident that they affected events involving crimes. .

             One such incident happened in Florida in 1955 when Cheryl Ann Barnes left home on January 3 but never showed up at her high school (Barney et. al., 1996). Cheryl's grandparents contacted the media to draw more attention to the search for Cheryl. They worked with the media effectively and provided them with things like videotape of Cheryl singing in her church choir. Cheryl's grandparents believed the girl had been kidnapped, and encouraged the media to keep this scenario in the public eye although the sheriff's department believed there were other possibilities. For instance, over the period of time Cheryl was missing, she used her ATM card several times. She attended church in Pennsylvania and spoke with the minister there.

             On January 18, Cheryl was found sitting in some snow in New York city, unable to make sense, dressed oddly, talking about being molested, and with amnesia. She entered a psychiatric hospital there as a "Jane Doe" because she did not remember who she was (Barney et. al., 1996). In spite of the fact that Cheryl's story suggested that a crime may have been committed, Florida media got involved once she was identified. They flew her family to New York City, where Cheryl was regaining her memory. She recognized family members, and the hospital staff believed that her amnesia had been caused by psychological trauma (Barney et. al., 1996). .

             Media over-involvement continued, arranging for Cheryl to be returned home to her small town in a helicopter.