re: Allison Rice murder investigation

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Since they know exactly the time the shooting happened because of the spotter, can they use that to investigate locations of mobile devices? I know they aren't supposed to track people but...don't they?

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I've seen this posted a couple times and want to address it as someone who has done it.

First, you have to write search warrants to every single cell company. It's a bunch.

In that you put the location of the crime and a time frame, along with the PC, which amounts to "We're out of fricking other options" as it is considered, legally, a huge invasion of privacy due to the blanket nature of the information requested.

Then you have to hope all the following occur:

You get those records back in a quick time fashion. Reality: it could be months for some of these half arse cell companies.

The cell towers are all in close proximity to the location. Otherwise you're going to get thousands upon thousands of numbers.

The perp or perps had a cell phone on them.

The perp or perps were registered to that number and it wasn't a prepaid phone or under another person's name.

By some miracle, you are able to narrow alllllll that down to a good suspect. Without additional evidence, it's worthless.

All that to say it can be done, should be done if necessary, but in no realm is it magic or anything other than a last ditch hail mary attempt.

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