Australia police using Google maps missed location of body

[Elainera]

A missing Australian's body could have been found 18 months earlier if searchers had not relied on incorrect Google Maps data, a coroner has said.

Darrell Simon, 46, was last seen in November 2014 at his partner's house about 80km (50 miles) west of Brisbane.

Search crews scoured Mr Simon's nearby rural property at the time, but his remains were not found there until May 2016. His death was ruled a suicide.

A printed map used by police showed incorrect boundaries on the property.

It meant that search volunteers covered only about half of Mr Simon's property in Laidley Creek West, said Queensland deputy state coroner John Lock.

His remains were ultimately discovered by the property's subsequent owners, following a period of drought and the clearing of vegetation.

Australian police Google Maps blunder 'missed location of body'

 

[MsFacetious]

Why would they ONLY be searching to his property line to begin with? That seems odd. I think the real question should be why was their search scope so narrow? If they had been searching a specific radius instead, they would have found him no matter who's property he was on. I realize there are legalities there but generally landowners are going to consent to a search like this.

 

[Bohemian]

Fair dinkum

 

[aust amateur slueth]

Why would they ONLY be searching to his property line to begin with? That seems odd. I think the real question should be why was their search scope so narrow? If they had been searching a specific radius instead, they would have found him no matter who's property he was on. I realize there are legalities there but generally landowners are going to consent to a search like this.

I’d guess because it was large acreage, maybe the direction he left from and they may well have requested other nearby landowners to check their properties.