Google Maps is more than just a tool for finding directions or checking out local restaurants. Over the years, it has proven invaluable for solving mysteries, uncovering crimes, and reuniting loved ones.
1. The Missing Car In The Pond
In 2019, a remarkable discovery was made when a former Florida resident spotted something unusual on Google Maps—what appeared to be a submerged car in a pond behind a housing development in Wellington. Upon investigation, authorities found the remains of William Moldt, who had been missing since 1997. Moldt, a 40-year-old man, was last seen leaving a nightclub and was presumed to have driven off the road into the water, where his vehicle remained hidden for over two decades.
2. The Spanish Murder
In a remarkable turn of events in 2023, a Google Maps Street View image caught the attention of authorities in the small Spanish village of Tajueco. The picture showed a man leaning over the trunk of a car, handling a large white bundle with a suspiciously human shape. This photograph became a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation of a Cuban national who had been reported missing a year earlier. The victim had been in a relationship with a local woman, whose ex-partner was identified as the man in the Google Maps image. The unexpected visual evidence provided by Google Maps led to the arrest of both individuals on charges related to the man’s disappearance and death.
3. Nancy Cooper
The disappearance of Nancy Cooper, a North Carolina mother of two, took a surprising turn when investigators used Google Maps to help solve the case. In 2008, Nancy was reported missing after failing to return from a morning jog in her Cary neighborhood. Suspicion soon fell on her husband, Brad Cooper, and authorities turned to digital evidence to build their case. A crucial breakthrough came when investigators discovered that Brad had searched Google Maps for a remote location where Nancy’s body was later found. This damning evidence, retrieved from his computer, was how they were able to convict him of her murder.
4. Jessica Runions and Kara Kopetsky
The cases of Jessica Runions and Kara Kopetsky, two young women who went missing nearly a decade apart in Missouri, were ultimately linked and solved with the help of Google Maps. Kara disappeared in 2007 and Jessica in 2016, with both cases frustrating investigators for years. However, a crucial breakthrough came when authorities used Google Maps to examine an area where Jessica’s burned-out vehicle had been discovered. Satellite imagery and mapping tools helped investigators locate human remains in a remote wooded area, later identified as belonging to Jessica and Kara. This discovery led to the arrest and conviction of Kylr Yust, a man connected to both victims.
5. The Hidden Cannabis Farm
In 2013, an Oregon resident named Curtis Croft was authorized to cultivate up to 30 cannabis plants for medical purposes. However, authorities became suspicious when they observed, via Google Earth satellite imagery, that Croft’s property in Grants Pass appeared to house a significantly larger cultivation operation. Upon conducting a raid, law enforcement discovered 94 cannabis plants on the premises, exceeding the legal limit by more than threefold. Croft was subsequently arrested on drug charges.
6. The Lost Hiker
In 2021, a lost hiker named Rene Compean was rescued from California’s Angeles National Forest thanks to an incredible use of Google Maps. Compean had ventured into the wilderness alone and became disoriented, unable to find his way back. With his phone battery dwindling, he sent a photo of his legs dangling over a steep canyon to a friend before losing the signal. Desperate to locate him, a concerned social media user analysed the photo and cross-referenced it with Google Maps and satellite images to identify key landmarks in the background. This information was passed to search and rescue teams, who pinpointed Compean’s location and brought him to safety.
7. Gioacchino Gammino
Gioacchino Gammino, a notorious Italian mafia boss, evaded capture for two decades after escaping Rome’s Rebibbia prison in 2002. Operating under the alias “Manuel,” he settled in Galapagar, Spain, where he managed a restaurant named “El Huerto de Manu.” His downfall came unexpectedly in 2021 when a Google Street View image captured a man resembling Gammino standing outside his restaurant. Authorities confirmed his identity through a Facebook page for a nearby eatery, “Cocina de Manu,” which featured Sicilian dishes and a photo of Gammino in chef’s attire. A scar on his chin further confirmed his identity.
8. The Secret North Korean Prison Camps
In 2017, satellite images from Google Maps helped expose the hidden existence of secret North Korean prison camps, long suspected but never officially confirmed by the regime. A group of human rights researchers used high-resolution satellite imagery to examine remote areas of North Korea and identified what appeared to be extensive, fortified facilities that matched descriptions of prison camps where political prisoners were believed to be detained. These camps were hidden in plain sight, surrounded by high walls, watchtowers, and security infrastructure, visible only through satellite technology. The discovery brought global attention to the issue of human rights abuses in North Korea, and the images provided crucial evidence to support claims of forced labor, abuse, and the systemic repression of dissent.
9. The Athol Kidnapping
In 2009, nine-year-old Natalie Maltais was abducted by her grandmother, Rose Maltais, from Athol, Massachusetts. The case took a pivotal turn when authorities utilized GPS tracking from Natalie’s cell phone, which indicated a location near Natural Bridge, Virginia. To narrow the search, Athol Police Officer Todd Neale enlisted the help of Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Lozier. Lozier used Google Street View to explore the area virtually, identifying a distinctive red-roofed motel—the Budget Inn—that matched the GPS coordinates. This discovery led to the rescue of Natalie and the arrest of Rose on kidnapping charges.
Sources:
Google Maps Car Snaps Vital Clue In Spanish Missing Person Case
Cannabis Farm Discovered By Police Using Google Maps
