cases that would have been prevented with today's technology

[zack007attack]

Many of us have probably seen plenty of cases that we believe would have been prevented if the technology we have today (such as cell phones, GPS systems, digital cameras, etc.) were in the hands of victims. Does anyone see how a specific piece of technology we have today in the 21st century would have prevented specific cases from happening that occured in the 90s, 80s, or earlier from happening? Here are some I see:

1) Dwayne McCorkendale: cell phone. He would have been able to call his wife from his truck, maybe using a hands free device, and might not have gotten out of the truck and close to whoever shot him in cold blood.
2) Dick Hansen: digital camera. His friend could have gotten pictures of the back of the shooters car that could have given them a license plate and lead them to the killer.
3) Kecksburg, Bentwaters UFOs. digital camera. The sighters could have gotten pictures and kept them hidden to disprove military coverups
4) Amelia Earhart. GPS. She could have seen how off course she was from Howland Island and corrected it in order to make it there.
5) Flight 19 bomber squad. GPS. They likely would not have gotten lost.

Can anyone think of any other technologies and cases?

[TracyLynnS]

Angela Hammond: cell phone (or even plain old 20th century phone).

She was abducted from a phone booth because she didn't have a phone in her house. If she had a cell phone or home phone, she wouldn't have needed to stop and use the phone booth.

Also, if she had a cell phone, and was still abducted, authorities could possibly "ping" her phone and triangulate her location using the cellular relay towers or maybe utilize a GPS feature on the phone.

[TracyLynnS]

Tommy Zigler: DNA and maybe a decent crime scene reconstructionist.

He was convicted of killing his wife and her parents in the 70s, partly because blood evidence was said to belong to one victim when about 30 years later, DNA leads us to believe it did not. It seems dirty politics may be playing a huge role in this case that could have been avoided if DNA was immediately available.

[MegtheEgg86]

I say Beverly McGowan. I think with the ridiculous amount of airport security today as well as better fraud monitering techniques and technology, Elaine Parent would've been caught years before she ever set foot in that apartment.

[MegtheEgg86]

Just thought of another one: Greg Adams. Had he been wearing the protective vest that most police officers are required to wear today, he might've survived Donald Eugene Webb's gunshots.

[TracyLynnS]

Maybe Judith Hyams. She could have gone to a knowledgeable doctor nowadays, and not ended up likely dead because of a back alley abortionist who didn't know what he was doing.

[TracyLynnS]

Kristi Krebs. A cell phone in 1993 may have helped the 22 year old mentally disturbed woman after her car became hopelessly stuck, and lost in the forest.

Leah Roberts. Same as Kristi Krebs, but she went missing in the forest in 2000. Lots of people had cell phones by then.

Tammy Leppert. Cell Phone. If her boyfriend really did drop her off on the side of the road in 1982, she could have called her family for a ride home.

As I was looking through some of the cases on the UM site, I really realized how many of the cases would never have happened if general common sense had been used. No need for technology. Just simple stuff like don't hitchhike, don't leave your kids unattended, etc.

[dynoguy88]

Another cell phone case. Ellen Fried - one of the several victims of the New Hampshire/Vermont serial killer in the 1980's. She was talking on a payphone with her sister who lived in California outside a market at 2:00 in the morning.

Unlike the Angela Hammond abduction, Ellen wasn't kidnapped during her phone conversation. However, she grew so concerned when a truck kept circling the parking lot over and over that she put the phone down so she could start her car. She then returned to the phone and talked with her sister for a few minutes before hanging up. This was one of those cases where a person was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She then was abducted, driven 10 miles, taken into the woods and stabbed to death.

Ellen lived in the country outside Claremont, NH in 1984. She didn't have a home phone so she'd drive into town whenever she wanted to call someone. A cell phone would have avoided her fate.

[MissFit29]

Michael Rosenblum - cell phone, if only for the possibility of gps tracking (I kind of doubt he would have answered any calls, because he was upset with his family and girlfriend).

[Oldschooler81]

Interesting thread, I've thought about this alot too. I think from today's perspective it's what makes some of the cases that much more creepy (or sad) considering there's much less chance of that happening. Especially anything with cellphones where people could've at least called 911. Each of the big technologies either didn't exist or hadn't really taken off in UM's glory days, like:

GPS - 2003/04 is when I think it got huge and installed in many new cars, although it was probably around before

cellphones - pretty big by the mid-late 90s (although car phones were around some years before that, my dad had one too), although not to the point of everyone having them until maybe '02/03

DNA testing - circa '94, but not commonplace until late 90s


3) Kathy Hobbs: cell phone. She wouldn't have had to use a payphone and might not have been abducted.

Wow, I didn't know Kathy used a payphone - did it go a little different than the segment showed it (she was walking out of the store when the guys grabbed her)? Another thing is, she could've also used it to call her friends at the apartment complex before she went alone to the store in the first place.

[Mastermind]

Great thread!

1. It should be noted though that right now and in the later years of UM, cell phones were very prominent and that hasn't stopped people from killing, kidnapping and doing all types of crimes. I would make the argument that all those cases would still happen regardless of technology.

2. Technology is a two way street. Remember that the criminals also have the same advantage of technological advancements. The killer also is aware of the advancements and can make changes in his behavior. The killer knows that people have cell phones, so that's the first thing he probably takes. This is the argument I use when people say that modern technology would have prevented the Jack the Ripper crimes. I say Jack the Ripper would have killed further away, spread his killings apart, wear gloves and dump the bodies.


Quote:
Originally Posted by zack007attack
3) Kathy Hobbs: cell phone. She wouldn't have had to use a payphone and might not have been abducted.

Wow, I didn't know Kathy used a payphone - did it go a little different than the segment showed it (she was walking out of the store when the guys grabbed her)? Another thing is, she could've also used it to call her friends at the apartment complex before she went alone to the store in the first place.

Well if the guys is hellbent on killing someone, Kathy may have just rolled the dice and opened the door for another unlucky victim to take her place.

If the guys is particular keen on killer her in particular, using a cell phone may have just delayed the attack. The attacker might find another way to get at Kathy.

[MissFit29]

I would argue that Dwayne McCorkendale would not have been murdered if he had a cell phone and had not stopped at the rest stop to make the phone call.

Also, the Blind River rest stop murders may have still occurred, but if Gord McAllister had a phone, he could have called the police from inside their motor home when that guy banged on the door - the killer may have been apprehended, at least.

[Apostapler]

Maybe OnStar could've saved Kristine Skubish? Although I think she died instantly.

[zack007attack]

I deleted that part. I ment to say Angela Hammond instead of Kathy Hobbs; sorry for the confusion.

[TracyLynnS]

Maybe OnStar could've saved Kristine Skubish? Although I think she died instantly.

Oh yeah. On Star could have definitely located the car and her son would have been found much sooner. Instead, I think he was found about 5 days after the crash, and was very dehydrated and nearing death.

Also, any case that has a police chase involved... I believe that the On Star people can remotely shut the car off, allowing the police to catch the escaping criminal. I'm not sure how much info the cops have to be able to give On Star so that they know exactly which car to shut down, tho.

[TracyLynnS]

And BTW, On Star creeps me out.

In 2005 and 2006, I did some temp work at a car dealership. Sometimes they had me working on paperwork and sometimes they had me prepping cars after they were dropped off by the factory.

When you first initiate the On Star system (as part of prepping the car), the automated voice comes on and says something like, "Thank you for purchasing your new 2005 Chevrolet Camaro in St. Clair Shores, Michigan". Then the recording gives you different commands to follow so that the GPS can track the car forever.

Creepy as heck, when you're sitting alone in the car and it starts talking to you, telling you what kind of car you're driving, and proving that it knows exactly where you are.

[alfiechat]

I just thought of another case that could have been helped with today's technology., actually, two of them.

Oliver Munson--if he'd had a cell phone, we might have been able to track his location.

and Wendy Camp, who when dropped off could have called for help if she'd had a cell phone as well.

[TracyLynnS]

Dave Bocks, the guy who was murdered in a nuclear plant in 1984... Possibly the murder could have been solved if the plant had security cameras placed throughout the facility.

Phillip Kramer. On Star. In 1995, he went missing in his van, which wasn't located for 4 years. His remains were located inside the van. If there had been an On Star type system, the van could possibly have been located fast enough for authorities to determine whether his manner of death was suicide, accident, or homicide.

Chaim Weiss. Killed at school in 1986. If survellance cameras had been placed in the dorm hallways they could have shown who entered and exited his room, and when.

Lizzie Borden. DNA, luminol. She was thought to have killed her father and stepmother in 1892, but the murders were never proven. Maybe dna or the use of luminol would have helped determine blood spatter patterns, evidence of cleaned up blood, traces of blood not visible to the eye, etc.

Son of Sam / David Berkowitz. Traffic cameras. He shot many victims in the 70s as they sat in cars parked along city streets. Traffic cameras may have helped identify him sooner.

[TracyLynnS]

Alfie, I thought of Wendy Camp, too. But I don't believe she was actually dropped off at the Walmart like Chad Noe's mom and grandmother said. I think she and the other two were lured to a pre planned murder.

[UMfan77]

In the Chad Mauer case, if the whole "drug dealing" scenario were true, if he had a cell phone and it had been found with his body, maybe the police could have the phone company provide a list of every call that was made or received. Maybe Chad would've contacted the killers shortly before meeting them in Chicago.

[mphs95]

Many of us have probably seen plenty of cases that we believe would have been prevented if the technology we have today (such as cell phones, GPS systems, digital cameras, etc.) were in the hands of victims. Does anyone see how a specific piece of technology we have today in the 21st century would have prevented specific cases from happening that occured in the 90s, 80s, or earlier from happening? Here are some I see:

1) Dwayne McCorkendale: cell phone. He would have been able to call his wife from his truck, maybe using a hands free device, and might not have gotten out of the truck and close to whoever shot him in cold blood.
2) Dick Hansen: digital camera. His friend could have gotten pictures of the back of the shooters car that could have given them a license plate and lead them to the killer.
3) Kecksburg, Bentwaters UFOs. digital camera. The sighters could have gotten pictures and kept them hidden to disprove military coverups
4) Amelia Earhart. GPS. She could have seen how off course she was from Howland Island and corrected it in order to make it there.
5) Flight 19 bomber squad. GPS. They likely would not have gotten lost.

Can anyone think of any other technologies and cases?

I have a few that come to mind:

1) Dick Hansen - Cell Phone. He and his friend could have either talked or at the least texted each other what to do next. Maybe they would have agreed to go to the cops or one could have called 911.

2) Angela Hammond - Cell Phone w/ Digital Camera. She could have talked to Rob anywhere w/ a cell. Push came to shove and she had to be in that lot by herself, she could have taken a pick of the truck at a moment the weirdo wasn't looking. If Rob had a phone, he could have taken a pick of the truck while chasing and/or call 911

3) Lisa Kimmel - Cell Phone. A phone while she was driving in the boonies could have saved her life.

4) Tara Calico - Cell Phone and/or GPS. If she had a cell phone on her during her bike ride, she might have been able to call for help. If her phone had GPS, even better.

5) Anita Showalter Reynolds - Cell Phone & GPS. IF she had a cell phone, she could have called for a tow truck for when she had "car trouble" and if she had GPS, she could have had directions to her destination.

6) Ellen Fried (NH Serial Killer) - Cell Phone. Calling her sister on a cell instead of stopping to chat on a pay phone where the NH Serial Killer could have spotted her.

Can anybody come up w more?

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Couple of notes on cell phones: killers such as those who got Wendy Camp and family would have to change their stories, and killers would also have one more piece of evidence to dispose of.

Cell phones wouldn't help in all cases, such as in remote areas with no service. That hiker who had to amputate his own arm said one wouldn't have helped him as he was stuck in the desert down between two rocks.

GPS absolutely solved the murder of nine-year-old Valiree Jackson in Spokane, Washington. Police secretly installed a device on her father's truck, which proved he buried her, dug up, and moved her body, when all the time he claimed she was missing.

And, of course, DNA solved the mystery of Anna Anderson and Anastasia. I suppose the Lindbergh baby was never featured on UM.

Onstar and GPS: do they work underwater? I didn't see the case but there was one where a young couple disappeared and years later the car was found in water. How about underground? The "Lil Miss" car was actually found buried.

Robert F. Kennedy and Scott Enyart: digital camera. Scott would have had the opportunity to view what images he captured and stay while the police copied them. Think they'd "accidentally" erase the memory card before returning it? There are ways to recover memory cards, too. Also wonder how long UFO coverups will survive in the digital era.

Michaela Garecht: store security camera, instead of relying on notoriously untrustworthy eyewitness accounts.

Internet: Just about any "Lost Loves" case. Has anyone kept track of any unsolved ones since solved due to the internet?

Jesse James Hollywood: bother the cell phone, why didn't the kid use a REGULAR PHONE while at the house? He wasn't being restrained, and it would have let his parents know where he was.

[Mastermind]

Dave Bocks, the guy who was murdered in a nuclear plant in 1984... Possibly the murder could have been solved if the plant had security cameras placed throughout the facility.

I think those security cameras would be found erased or missing by the people that did the crime.

And even then, i don't think the conspiracy involved would allow anyone to be arrested. There would be an excuse found not to investigate.

Robert F. Kennedy and Scott Enyart: digital camera. Scott would have had the opportunity to view what images he captured and stay while the police copied them. Think they'd "accidentally" erase the memory card before returning it? There are ways to recover memory cards, too. Also wonder how long UFO coverups will survive in the digital era.

It be even easier with photoshop and other ways to digitally alter photos.

Cell phones wouldn't help in all cases, such as in remote areas with no service. That hiker who had to amputate his own arm said one wouldn't have helped him as he was stuck in the desert down between two rocks.

Also your cell phone has to be charged too, and we all know that we always charge and take our cell phones with us, right? :D

Chaim Weiss. Killed at school in 1986. If survellance cameras had been placed in the dorm hallways they could have shown who entered and exited his room, and when.

I am by no means a Hassidic expert, but there may be a religous ordinance that may prohibit that.

[Mastermind]

Zodiac Killer

1. Simply having a fax machine, national database and email would have allowed information to flow easier from the 4 jurisdictions.

2. DNA would have allowed suspects to be cleared a lot quicker.

3. Z would have had a hard time mailing letters in like he did without getting caught.

[browneyes106]

Mastermind brought up an interesting point about techonology sometimes helping criminals. I read about a murder that happened in New Hampshire in 2005 in which a wealthy man set up a murder with three other men using disposable cell phones.

[MissFit29]

How many cases would have benefitted from Caller ID or *69? I'll be we would have found out the mystery behind "Judy Hyams is alive, and she lives in Omaha."

[Clockworkhigh]

Yeah Angela Hammond was abducted at least 10 years too early. In 1991 no one had a cell phone, but in 2001 and even today we all do.

Dick Hansen wouldn't have even had to get out of his car. He could have called the cops from his car on the highway and maybe lured the stalker to a police station.

Oh heck, the New Hampshire serial killer would have been hung by a tree after that attack on the pregnant woman if this were 2009. A cell phone would have nailed him while she followed him.

Something tells me Larry Gibson would be outsmarted by today's technology rather than 1991's. Don't know what exactly

Also Matthew Chase comes to mind. I know there was a blurred shot of the suspect, but if he were at all of those bank machines, you'd think more of them nowadays would have a hidden camera

And Rebecca Young's murder. The guy hiding in the fields would have witnessed the murder and called on his cell phone right away. Case closed, possibly. But it beats confessing to being a witness on a pay phone

[browneyes106]

I think some of the lost loves cases could have been solved by the people if they had the Internet years ago to look up info through various websites and google searches.

[Mastermind]

And Rebecca Young's murder. The guy hiding in the fields would have witnessed the murder and called on his cell phone right away. Case closed, possibly. But it beats confessing to being a witness on a pay phone

1. If he could afford to have one.

2. Also I think it was more fear than inconvenience that made him reluctant to call right away.

3. Keep in mind that the attackers could have also heard him talking on the phone and there would be another body next to Rebecca's.:(

Ultimtely what killed this case was the man's fear of coming forward. Fear that exists regardless of technological advances.


Dick Hansen wouldn't have even had to get out of his car. He could have called the cops from his car on the highway and maybe lured the stalker to a police station.

They could have lured the guy to a police station with or without the cell phones.

Also Matthew Chase comes to mind. I know there was a blurred shot of the suspect, but if he were at all of those bank machines, you'd think more of them nowadays would have a hidden camera

I'm gonna disagree on that one. Considering that the guy was behind him I don;t know that today's camera's would necessarily get a better picture.

Something tells me Larry Gibson would be outsmarted by today's technology rather than 1991's. Don't know what exactly

I don;t know if better technology would have solved that case any quicker. Ultimately it was holes in Larry Gibson's story that threw the suspicion on him.

BTW, you know people talk about cell phone cameras and what have you. Yet nobody admits that in order to take a perfect picture with one, your object has to be motionless, and your hand has to be steady. How many times have we taken cell phone pictures that come out blurry and have missed the object.

[TracyLynnS]

Onstar and GPS: do they work underwater? I didn't see the case but there was one where a young couple disappeared and years later the car was found in water. How about underground? The "Lil Miss" car was actually found buried.

Been looking through some of the old threads today.

It's been a long time since I've worked directly with an OnStar equipped vehicle. My guess is that the initial impact sustained by the car that the was found with the couple still inside (if the impact was strong enough to activate the system, rather than the car just rolling into the water) might have at least located the car sooner. Of course, it still would have been too late to save the lives.

They at least advertise that OnStar is better than cell phones in certain situations because they are automatically alerted when the car crashes, and you don't have to do anything to activate it for help to be sent.

I don't know if OnStar works underwater or underground though. I'm pretty sure that brand is specific to GM vehicles, but other manufacturers have equipped cars with their own versions of that kind of system since OnStar was introduced.

[WishfulDreamer]

1. If he could afford to have one.

2. Also I think it was more fear than inconvenience that made him reluctant to call right away.

3. Keep in mind that the attackers could have also heard him talking on the phone and there would be another body next to Rebecca's.:(

Ultimtely what killed this case was the man's fear of coming forward. Fear that exists regardless of technological advances.


He even had a GUN and didn't point it at the attackers or anything. He was that afraid. I used to get mad watching this case and think he sucked for not pointing the gun at the men and telling them to leave but then again against two scary men with bats, I don't know how much courage I would have.