<p>In the crime news literature, exploration of thematic coverage evolution over time and across news sequences appears as a substantial research gap. Furthermore, with existing crime news research emanating predominantly from the United States, France poses as a strong international alternative for a qualitative study investigating thematic coverage in crime-related media. Using standard content analysis with iterative coding, 52 news reports covering six violent high-profile cases occurring between January and June 2024 have been studied. Reports were collected from two television channels (BFMTV and France Info) and one radio station (Europe 1). Thematic coverage time was calculated and tracked across initial and subsequent follow-up reports to identify evolution patterns. Five broad themes (<i>Case Information, Victim Information, Offender Information, Justice Procedure,</i> and <i>Context</i>), each following a unique evolution pattern over time, have been identified. Typically, the narrative arc emphasized preliminary facts about the case (<i>Case Information</i>) before shifting drastically and almost exclusively to <i>Offender Information</i> and <i>Justice Procedure</i>. Differences in thematic coverage patterns across media were linked to ownership (private vs. state) and reporting models (sensationalist vs. comprehensive). Implications for portrayed criminal reality and potential threats to the French ideals of free, (politically) independent, and pluralist media are discussed.</p>