Why manhunts like the one for Vicky White and Casey White fascinate us

The disappearance of Alabama corrections officer Vicky White and convict Casey White has grabbed the public's attention -- and a few factors play a part.

But there's something about watching a potential crime unfold live -- this month, it's the disappearance of Alabama corrections officer Vicky White and convict Casey White -- that scratches another, more urgent itch.

From the weeks-long search for Brian Laundrie after his fiancée Gabby Petito was found dead, to the hunt for White and White (no relation), audiences are fascinated by ongoing manhunts and fugitives evading capture. Hollywood has capitalized on this, too, with fictional fare like "The Fugitive," while true crime media has proven to be a lucrative and enduring venture for decades.