The Murder Scene The railroad station where Genovese parked her car lies at the end of the sidewalk. Along the sidewalk are entrances to shops as well as stairways leading to apartments above the shops. After Genovese staggered to the entrance of her apartment, her attacker returned and stabbed her to death. Later investigations suggested that there may have been fewer than 38 witnesses, and that some of those witnesses could not have seen the attacks from their windows (Manning & others, 2007, 2008). Nevertheless, the essential story is true: Many people heard Genovese’s screams, yet no one stepped forward to help (Brock, 2008).

Edward Hausner/The New York Times Pictures/Redux