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Ontario police will use text messages as new way to find killer

On Dec. 17, 2015, the body of Frederick “John” Hatch, 65, was found in Erin, Ontario and it was determined the senior had been murdered. Hatch had last been seen alive the day before in a Dollar Tree store on Merivale Road in Nepean, about five hours away from Erin. Hatch was known to hitchhike and it is believed he travelled from Nepean to Erin along Highway 7. Police offered a $50,000 reward for information and had travelled along the highway showing Hatch’s picture.

When these actions failed, the OPP decided to go high tech. Police went to court and obtained a production order from a judge. The order required cellphone companies to turn over the numbers of any cellphones that pinged a cell tower in the area of Merivale Road and West Hunt Club Road in Nepean on Dec. 16, 2015 between the hours of 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.

The cellphone companies handed over 7,500 telephone numbers of phones used in that area during the relevant time. Police say they did not ask for, nor did they receive the names of the telephone subscribers or any other information that would lead to their identities.

On Oct 27, police will send two text messages to each of these numbers, one in English and one in French. The messages will ask recipients to visit a website and answer a few questions. Visiting the website and answering the questions will be, according to police, strictly voluntary. Recipients of the messages will also be given a telephone number to call if they wish to speak with a homicide investigator.

Detective Superintendent Dave Truax, director of the OPP Criminal Investigative Services, said he hopes the message will reach people who may not even know about the murder but might be able to provide information that will help get a dangerous person off the streets. Detective Andy Raffay, of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, described the sending of text messages as an evolutionary step from the common practice of police going door-to-door in an attempt to get information.

CTV reports at least one criminal lawyer thinks there may be problems if police receive any evidence as a result of these text messages.

The OPP has also asked the media to publicize the fact text messages will go out on Oct. 27 so recipients will know they are legitimate.

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