GPS helps convict killer

Attention, murderers: leave the GPS at home when you go on your killing sprees. Data from Eric Hanson's Garmin model helped prosecutors convict him for the homicide of his parents, sister and brother-in-law. Here's Mitch Stacy in an AP report:

Hanson's trial was among recent criminal cases around the country in which authorities used GPS navigation devices to help establish a defendant's whereabouts. Experts say such evidence will almost certainly become more common in court as GPS systems become more affordable and show up in more vehicles.

Other recent cases include a rapist who plead after a judge ruled GPS data from his car could be used against him, and an arsonist parked 100 yards from the house he torched: his own!

GPS Helps Prosecute Criminals [AP]

[#1 posted by mdhatter , August 30, 2008 4:36 PM]

Soon driving a beater with no GPS and not having a GOPS enabled phone (or just having no cell phone) will be suspicious.

My portable GPS has a recorded max speed of 331 mph. I'll never say how I did it - but I leave it there because I fully expect a police officer to check it someday.

[#2 posted by w000t , August 30, 2008 5:45 PM]

@mdhatter: "My portable GPS has a recorded max speed of 331 mph. I'll never say how I did it..."

Airplane would seem to be the obvious answer. I'm calling TSA and DHS.

[#3 posted by Ugly Canuck , August 30, 2008 11:37 PM]

Airplane or rocket car?

[#4 posted by Philbert , September 2, 2008 5:31 AM]

"and an arsonist parked 100 yards from the house he torched: his own!"

eh? So this guy was convicted for torching his own house because he parked out front? I'll remember to park a couple blocks away just in case someone torches my house.