Google Used to ID Hit-And-Run Victim

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Google Used to ID Hit-And-Run Victim

Posted by timothy on Saturday October 9, 2004 @07:53AM from the power-of-the-net dept.

jafiwam writes "Google has been used (according to CNN) to help identify a hit-and-run victim from 1993. Detective Pat Ditter used Google to identify victim David Glen Lewis, 39 who died after being hit by a car while out of town. An image involving a fairly unique pair of glasses was found on the Texas Department of Public Safety web site, and a similar image on the Doe Network (involved in unsolved cases). This was after Det. Ditter began working on unsolved cases utilizing Google as a tool in that process. Makes you wonder how it took law enforcement that long to think of this. Process servers, employers and significant others already use Google for theses purposes... why not cops?"

13 of 134 comments (clear)

They do use Google... by sgant · 2004-10-09 07:57 · Score: 5, Funny

But it's not a simple matter of typing in someones name and it comes up "he was killed in a hit-and-run , hit F5 to solve the case".

The cops USE Google, but they still have to be the ones that put 2 and 2 together to get a conclusion.

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1. Re:They do use Google... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-09 08:02 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Well, of course not, because "F5" is different depending on which web browser they use. And if they're using a Mac, it's a whole different process altogether ("drag the victim into the case-solved file").
2. Re: They do use Google... by Black+Parrot · 2004-10-09 08:09 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  > The cops USE Google, but they still have to be the ones that put 2 and 2 together to get a conclusion.
  
  That's what the psychic consultants are for.
  
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3. Re:They do use Google... by NetNifty · 2004-10-09 08:42 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  "The cops USE Google, but they still have to be the ones that put 2 and 2 together to get a conclusion."
  
  Sure about that?
  
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Comment removed by account_deleted · 2004-10-09 07:59 · Score: 5, Funny

Comment removed based on user account deletion
New Meaning by whiteranger99x · 2004-10-09 08:02 · Score: 4, Funny

I guess that puts a new meaning to Google's "Don't be evil" slogan. =)

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already been done by rdunnell · 2004-10-09 08:08 · Score: 2, Funny

I know that a couple CSI episodes and a couple NCIS episodes used a generic looking search engine page. I don't know whether or not they'd use Google unless someone paid them to but the concept's there.

Of course, the TV search engines can tell you a person's entire life history with only a first name and a hair color. They're pretty powerful, you know...
CSI: Google Geek by Cryofan · 2004-10-09 08:21 · Score: 4, Funny

The story of how one Google-obsessed computer geek solves crime after crime, all the while consuming vast quantities of pizzz, snacks, soda and coffee...

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New use by TheRaider · 2004-10-09 08:42 · Score: 2, Funny

New way of using Google to help the cops: Click me
Re:Sort of off topic... by jrumney · 2004-10-09 09:44 · Score: 4, Funny

But ever put your name in to a Google search?
Apparently some 14 year old girl on the other side of the world has the hots for me. I read it in her livejournal.
Google: bringing false hope to thirtysomething geeks since 1998.
After all, they paid for it by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-09 09:49 · Score: 5, Funny

Now if only the USPTO would google for prior art.
Sounds like the basis for a TV show by Sqwubbsy · 2004-10-09 13:09 · Score: 2, Funny

Google CSI Miami.
Google Cold Case.
or
NYPD Google.

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1. Re:Sounds like the basis for a TV show by ggvaidya · 2004-10-09 16:02 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  NYPD GOOG?