It’s just one more version of the efforts to “soften” the english language. George Carlin had a video on this topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h67k9eEw9AY
Similar to replacing letters with asterisks
“It’s just one more version of the efforts to “soften” the english language.”
Or could it be possible the term was used to show respect for the dead woman, who certainly did not deserve what she got?
Jesus told the self-righteous Pharisees that the tax-collectors and prostitutes would enter the Kingdom Of God before they would.