For the past month, it's been nearly impossible to turn on the TV or go online without seeing reports about the disappearance-turned-murder of Gabby Petito. The constant coverage on news networks and social media has brought attention to the phenomenon: "Missing White Woman Syndrome."
It's a phrase used to describe the media's and community's extensive attention of white, upper-middle-class women and girls, like Petito, compared to missing Indigenous women or people of color. Much is the case with the disappearance of 19-year-old Larry Stackhouse Jr., who has been missing since 2005.
In the almost 16 years since he vanished, the unanswered questions continue to haunt his parents, Larry and Lorraine.
"This case should have been resolved years ago," said his father, Larry Stackhouse Sr. "Each and every day, we think about this case."
Stackhouse Jr. became one of thousands of Black men missing in the U.S., on December 2, 2005, while heading out to watch a basketball game at Christian Brothers Academy
"There's a big disparity amongst African-American cases vs. Caucasian cases," added Stackhouse Sr.
According to the Black and Missing Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about missing people of color, there were over 540,000 people reported missing last year. Of those, nearly 40% were people of color.
"There's a system racism within the system that needs to be corrected," he said.
The constant coverage of Gabby Petito's disappearance and search, people are asking why people of color don't receive the same attention when they go missing.
"Each life has value. And no matter what color you are, they should treat each kid the same," Stackhouse Sr. added.
Besides the lack of media attention, the Stackhouse's allege that there was never enough help from law enforcement. Larry's father believes Syracuse Police don't have enough time or officers to help solve his son's cold case.
"I spoke to one of the sergeants there and they did not work on the case because of the shortage of the police department," stated Stackhouse.
The Stackhouse family mourns with Petito's parents and are glad the attention helped reveal clues and discovered Petito's body. All Larry and Lorraine want is fairness, which they believe, would have brought justice and a closed case.
"And that's what's so frustrating when we see others receiving that assistance. We just know that if we received help in the same way. Fifteen years later, we'd have answers," explained Lorraine Stackhouse, Larry's mother.
If one thing's certain, these parents refuse to give up.
"We are on this case every single day and we will resolve it," agreed both parents.
Spectrum News 1 contacted Syracuse Police to see if their Cold Case Division really is faced with a staffing shortage, or if cold case tips were still being looked into; however, they haven't returned our messages yet.
If you have any information about Larry Stackhouse Jr.'s disappearance, call Syracuse Police at (315) 442-5222.