By AXEL TURCIOS
As some of you may know, last Saturday morning the body of 18-year-old Tiffany Cabreja, was found at a construction site in the 28200 block of SW 144th Avenue in Homestead.
This is a typical local story, a homicide, that the news media would want to cover. Of course, the first clue that popped up was a surveillance video that showed a work truck passing by the scene where the body was dumped.
There were many questions that needed to be answered. However, how would a news reporter approach a victim’s family member in a case like this?
This scenario sounds a little bit disturbing for anyone and especially for reporters. Journalists need to find sensibility, humanity, respect and understanding deep inside, to seek the right way to interview someone who has very recently lost a loved one.
But why is it so hard to ask questions if you are a reporter, a professional who asks people questions every day?
As journalists, we must show compassion for those that might be affected adversely by any type of news coverage. In other words, step on that person’s shoes and think for one second about their sorrow.
Wednesday morning, Miguel Infante and Raquel Delgado, made headlines around South Florida. According to police, they were the main suspects in the murder of the teenage girl.
Investigators questioned the couple for hours, but ended up releasing both due to lack of evidence against them.
This is where the sense of sensibility comes back again; reporters must have to get a hold on any family member of the victim. In this case, the father who had already been interviewed by all local TV stations in Miami.
Would you really ask a father how he feels when what it seemed to be a final clue wasn’t it?
I don’t think we all have the nerve to step up and do it; it takes a lot more than courage. It takes caring and passion for what you love to report these types of stories.
What if the killer is located and this time it is the right person?
Friday was the day everyone was waiting for. 20-year-old Fernando Granados was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the Homestead girl’s death.
In his confession, Granados stated that he and an unidentified man went with the teen to a park where they smoked crack. Later, they ended up in a construction site where the two men strangled Cabreja.
Despite the fact that the pieces of this puzzle might be difficult to put together, a long investigation is still underway.
The media in this case should follow the story until it’s finished, sending sensitive human beings to obtain needed information gathered in a sensible manner.