Hell, stuff like this has been going on for all of human "civilization" and before. If you don't believe me, well, just go look at ape tribes, especially ones under significant stress - rape, war, murder, child abuse, child murder - it's all old hat.

What has changed is our propensity to seek out dramatic news stories and blow them out of proportion, while ignoring lesser tragedies because they don't sell advertising...

"Child raped by total stranger!" - this would make the news.

"Thousands go to bed without proper nutrition!" - this would not.

And hence, our paranoia about the individual grows, without looking to the root causes. We trim at the branches of our tree, while ignoring evidence that the rot is in the roots...