True crime is a booming industry. Many of the genre’s fans are now crossing the bridge from intrigued spectators to becoming involved in it themselves. There’s now a massive web sleuth community via platforms like Reddit and Facebook. Dedicated to solving murders and missing persons cases, these platforms discuss theories to explore and – for some people – become obsessed with.
According to Time magazine, 600,000 people go missing in the United States every year. This means that for amateur sleuths, there are countless cases out there to solve.
So, you’re probably here because you’re at least a little curious about what this internet sleuth craze is all about. Let’s dive into what being a web sleuth means today, how web sleuthing came about, and how you might use today’s technologies to become one yourself.
What is a Web Sleuth?
YourDictionary.com provides two options for definitions of a web sleuth, including:
“(1) A person who searches the Internet for information about a company, both positive and negative, to keep abreast of public opinion. All Internet facilities are used, including the Web, newsgroups, and chat rooms.”
And
“(2) A person who does any kind of detective work using the Internet.”
Let’s break it down: web sleuths rely on the power of the internet – coupled with their own prowess and dedication to mystery-solving – to dig deep into unsolved trenches and find information that might help uncover answers to meaningful questions. When it comes to true crime, those meaningful questions become especially spooky and turn into details about unsolved disappearances, and even murders.
How Did the First Web Sleuths Start?
One of the first known web sleuths, according to an article on Oxygen, was a man named Todd Matthews who did most of his self-directed investigative work in the 1980s, and ultimately successfully solved a missing woman’s case in late 1990. Back in the 80s, when Matthews first got his start as a citizen sleuth, he had to conduct investigations without the help of the internet.
Matthews would spend hours on end scouring library resources and databases, making phone calls and numerous site visits, which took an incredible amount of time over the years.
Eventually, Matthews cracked the code with the help of the internet and a blossoming online community. He created a website dedicated to the woman’s case, conducted research on his computer, and eventually located an online classifieds site, where he found a suspect match.
From there, Matthews was able to bring the missing woman’s family closure – and earned himself the title of one of the original trailblazing internet sleuth pioneers.
Matthews’s success was acknowledged by many, and professional law enforcement particularly noted the importance of his feat, as “in a time when the internet was not commonly used by the masses, [Matthews] recognized his obsession, and focused that energy in a positive direction.”
How Internet Sleuths Work Together
Not only do documentaries today follow true-crime stories, but they also explore the online enthusiasts who work against the clock to solve these mysteries themselves.
The crime doc They Called Him Mostly Harmless follows a web sleuth community as they crack the case of a mysterious hiker whose body was found in a tent in Florida. When discovered, his identity remained completely unknown, with nothing on him to identify him by. While out on the trail, he would introduce himself as “mostly harmless” to strangers, rather than giving his real name away.
But those internet sleuth groups online turned to some inventive solutions. In the “Mostly Harmless” case, a Facebook group worked with the company Othram to run a DNA analysis on the hiker. The group even raised the money for the analysis with crowdfunding.
With the DNA test showing that the hiker was likely from South Louisiana, they then spread the news via local Facebook groups in the area. When people from the area recognized his photos via a group, they contacted the local sheriff with his name: Vance John Rodriguez.
So, internet sleuth groups don’t just work together sharing information via social media platforms like Facebook. They can also collaborate with local law enforcement and professional detectives.
Social Media’s Impact on Web Sleuthing
Since the birth of websites like Facebook and Reddit, specialist groups have always swapped information. When it comes to criminal investigations, it’s no different. You can find thousands of groups online designed for users who want to discuss theories about a case, or share prized information.
Today, TikTok is now center stage when it comes to social media sleuthing. Take for example the case of Gabby Petito, as reported in The New York Times. When vlogger Gabrielle Petito went missing while traveling with her fiance Brian Laundrie, users shared missing person posters via TikTok, and some users posted regular videos analyzing the case.
Thanks to the social media hype, another couple who were making a series on YouTube about their travels started to pay attention. Eventually, they were alerted to the fact that Petito and Laundrie were in the same area as them earlier.
Combing over old footage, they eventually found the van Petito and Laundrie were traveling in, as well as its location. They alerted the FBI to the location and via “the power of social media” a search began for the missing woman in the area. Local law enforcement and the FBI then found Petito’s body nearby.
Social media sleuths can help a case, as we’ve seen above. But, as the University of Denver explains on their podcast, it can raise a lot of questions. When investigations go viral, it has a huge impact on the privacy of the victim’s family. They may even become targets of accusations themselves. What’s more, some cases might be seen as more important than others, especially if people can relate to the victim themselves.
There are some downsides to web sleuthing though, as we’ll explain in our next section.
The Downsides and Dangers of Being a Web Sleuth
As an amateur, trying to solve a crime can come with its dangers. As the Davis Political Review found, a flurry of speculation online from web sleuths can mean a spread of misinformation about a case. With four students murdered near the University of Idaho’s campus, law enforcement struggled to keep the narrative on social media under control.
During the University of Idaho case, local police had to set up a “Rumor Control” page on their website to control misinformation. One web sleuth even went as far as accusing an Idaho professor of the murder based on tarot readings. For people falsely accused of a crime, this can be dangerous if web sleuths start spreading their address and other personal information online – also known online as “doxing”.
So, if you still want to be a web sleuth, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Try not to rely too much on rumors and use the facts instead to aid your case. At worst, you could interfere with police efforts to solve a case. And remember: using databases and people search tools can aid you in your search for missing persons.
Still think you’re ready to start sleuthing? Our steps below can help you get started.
How to Become a Web Sleuth
Today, modern web sleuths can use the help of many advanced internet databases to help them crack unsolved cases and get to the bottom of long-lost mysteries.
When considering all the internet tools you might use, there are a few good-to-know practices and skills to make sure you have a handle on. In an article written for Time, true crime author Deborah Halber recommends taking the following five steps when using the internet to solve the trickiest of crimes:
- Search every digital corner. Focusing on a mystery’s location by taking a geographic approach helps set the cadence for checking sources for local reports and potential witnesses.
- Upgrade to Paid Search Tools. Services like Google News are a great start, but investing in digital sleuthing services like Spokeo helps you get access to tens of thousands of public records and industry-leading public data sources. Spokeo offers insightful tools like reverse address lookup, which helps you find out who lives (or used to live) at a property address that might be imperative to solving a case.
- Develop thick skin. Though well-intentioned, web sleuths can sometimes get a bad rap for their involvement. Consider creating a username that will protect your identity should things go awry.
- Leave squeamishness at the door. It’s no secret that when solving true crime, there will be images of the true crime that will be distressing. Make sure that you’re prepared to see some graphic visuals during your sleuthing, especially when exploring particularly mysterious – and horrific – crimes.
- Visualize it. Finally, Halber recommends making the most of photographs by thinking about how images translate to an actual person in question. Making notes of distinctive features like tattoos or scars will help web sleuths bridge the gap between the internet and the physical mystery itself.
How Spokeo Can Help
Once you’re prepared to embrace your knack for solving mysteries, using a tool like Spokeo will help ensure you leave no digital stone unturned. Spokeo offers a variety of services and features that organize billions of records to paint the picture of the story behind a name, address, or property in question.
You can also use Spokeo to gather insights on potential culprits: the platform gives web sleuths plenty of data about criminal records (for an additional fee), crime rates in neighborhoods, and safety statistics. Even the smallest digital detail can lead you to solve a decades-long mystery.
Ready to dive in? Check out the top 5 resources for web sleuths!
Lottie Brazier is a London-based copywriter and journalist covering business, tech, lifestyle, and culture. In her downtime, she loves to explore the world and new cuisines.