SAR searches for cell phone

[Taminator]

Spicher told a Grand Jury on Friday that she, another girlfriend and Kyron’s stepmom, Terri Horman, each bought an untraceable cell phone the day the little boy vanished.

http://www.foxnewsinsider.com/2010/08/09/police-bump-up-search-for-kyron-horman/

Reported by Harris Faulkner from Fox News

Seems to me they have way too much information about what DeDe allegedly told a Grand Jury. How do they know this information? The Grand Jury testimony is supposed to be secret, so who is leaking this information? See, this is a big problem I have with MSM. If the information is speculative, they should state it as such. The facts are confusing enough in this case.

 

[Taminator]

So you think that these type of ATT gophone plan phones can be purchased at variety stores, how about at grocery stores:waitasec: I`m wondering about the 90 minute drive now and whether the drive was to do something other than help an earache. Hmmmmm JMO

Where I live they sell the phones at convenience stores as well.

 

[Jade2010]

Can someone explain to me why you would have to give A NAME when purchasing a Tracphone, etc? Are they talking about that they used false names when setting the phone up?

 

[jadejazzkayla]

1. The only kind of "untraceable" cell phone is the one where you buy minutes on a card....and there would be no reason to use a "fake name" since you don't need a name to get one!

2. If you get an AT&T cell phone, its usually with some type of plan....and then you must show your picture ID to get set up. Also, you must give proof of name and address. You could use a fake name and ID, I guess....but the number is traceable.

This story about the untraceable phones and a fake names makes absolutely no sense.

ita....i hate when store managers have their clerks ask customers for personal information...and if you ask them why they say. "cause my boss told me to". i just tell them that i don't give it out. I liked the poster who mentioned in another thread s/he gives out the white house number when asked for a phone number.

 

[sarx]

Can someone explain to me why you would have to give A NAME when purchasing a Tracphone, etc? Are they talking about that they used false names when setting the phone up?

Where did the info come from about giving false names? LE isn't going to leak that, I doubt any of the people involved would admit to that. I've purchased 3 different pay as you go in past years and none of them required a name, so I'm not sure.

 

[Taminator]

Can someone explain to me why you would have to give A NAME when purchasing a Tracphone, etc? Are they talking about that they used false names when setting the phone up?

Yeah, I'm confused about that as well. My hubby bought his phone at the Circle K (convenience store), didn't have to fill out anything as far as I know. The only thing I do know is he adds minutes via either internet or text message (not sure which), and that comes out of our checking acct.

 

[darlin gal]

Seems to me they have way too much information about what DeDe allegedly told a Grand Jury. How do they know this information? The Grand Jury testimony is supposed to be secret, so who is leaking this information? See, this is a big problem I have with MSM. If the information is speculative, they should state it as such. The facts are confusing enough in this case.

The proceedings are secret. The witnesses can talk about their testimony. They are not sworn to secrecy.


Why are grand jury proceedings secret?

• Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provide that the prosecutor, grand jurors, and the grand jury stenographer are prohibited from disclosing what happened before the grand jury, unless ordered to do so in a judicial proceeding. Secrecy was originally designed to protect the grand jurors from improper pressures. The modern justifications are to prevent the escape of people whose indictment may be contemplated, to ensure that the grand jury is free to deliberate without outside pressure, to prevent subornation of perjury or witness tampering prior to a subsequent trial, to encourage people with information about a crime to speak freely, and to protect the innocent accused from disclosure of the fact that he or she was under investigation.

Why can a grand jury witness talk about his or her testimony?

• In the federal courts, the witness is not sworn to secrecy, and may disclose whatever he or she wishes to whomever he or she wishes. The witness exemption was adopted in part because it was thought that requiring witness secrecy was unrealistic and unenforceable, and in part to allow the witness to rebut rumors concerning his or her testimony. There is a basic revulsion in the United States about secret testimony.
  
  
  
  
  http://www.abanet.org/media/faqjury.html

 

[Jade2010]

ita....i hate when store managers have their clerks ask customers for personal information...and if you ask them why they say. "cause my boss told me to". i just tell them that i don't give it out. I liked the poster who mentioned in another thread s/he gives out the white house number when asked for a phone number.

I always give them my area code with 867-5309. No one ever catches on or smiles.

 

[debs]

I always give them my area code with 867-5309. No one ever catches on or smiles.

Great. Now that song is going through my head.

 

[nosysw]

I always give them my area code with 867-5309. No one ever catches on or smiles.

jenny, jenny, lol!

 

[pghbrandi]

I always give them my area code with 867-5309. No one ever catches on or smiles.

:rolling:

 

[Jules71]

I always give them my area code with 867-5309. No one ever catches on or smiles.

I got it I got it - I got your number on the wall. :dance:

 

[Mamietwo]

1. The only kind of "untraceable" cell phone is the one where you buy minutes on a card....and there would be no reason to use a "fake name" since you don't need a name to get one!

2. If you get an AT&T cell phone, its usually with some type of plan....and then you must show your picture ID to get set up. Also, you must give proof of name and address. You could use a fake name and ID, I guess....but the number is traceable.

This story about the untraceable phones and a fake names makes absolutely no sense.

In 2001, I was moving back to CA from ID and before I left ID, I went to the local AT&T store in the mall and bought a phone, without a plan and without an address. Since I was moving back but didn't have a residence yet and would be staying in a hotel until I got one, I gave them my DL with pic and a credit card. In ID, your phone service wasn't with AT&T so couldn't buy a phone with a plan. Maybe things have changed now and they no longer offer a prepaid service but back then they did. I hate cell phones---lol.

 

[surrogatemom]

Yeah, I'm confused about that as well. My hubby bought his phone at the Circle K (convenience store), didn't have to fill out anything as far as I know. The only thing I do know is he adds minutes via either internet or text message (not sure which), and that comes out of our checking acct.

You'd have to give your name for that though, right? I used to have a pre-paid phone through Virgin Mobile. They had my name, as I had to give it in order for them to take money from my bank acct.

That said, I don't think the reason between AT&T and Verizon is the reason they went with AT&T. It does make sense, but it's not the sole reason in my mind, no. On that side of town, my Sprint phone gets pretty crappy service, yet my Brother in Law's AT&T phone gets full bars almost ALL of the time. :/ If I lived on that side of town, I may put more thought into AT&T service.

PS Why the need to find the phones? Can't LE just go/call AT&T or whatever cell store/service, and get them to dig and find the phone number and info of those phones? I mean, if they have the store they were bought at, the date they were purchased - it's only a few they'd have to dig through to find the phones that were bought for TH/her friends (or whatever). Even if a warrant were necessary, I'd like to think a judge would happily sign off on this.

 

[Betty P]

I always give them my area code with 867-5309. No one ever catches on or smiles.

Or you can give your area code plus 634-5789


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddf7z6gFNB4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddf7z6gFNB4[/ame]

 

[sarx]

You can pick up the refill cards everywhere for the go phone, meaning you aren't being tracked if you don't want to be.

 

[shefner]

2. If you get an AT&T cell phone, its usually with some type of plan....and then you must show your picture ID to get set up. Also, you must give proof of name and address. You could use a fake name and ID, I guess....but the number is traceable.

BBM

Not true. I live in Pdx and have an AT&T "prepaid" phone. I am and old fashioned type who doesn't like chatting on cell phones, so I use a cell mainly when I'm lost or late or have car trouble. For as little as a use a cell phone, the prepaid is much cheaper than a monthly plan. I can add minutes by either walking into an AT&T store (they are all over) and giving them cash (or credit card) or by calling a number and using my credit card. A relative purchased the phone for me because they were tired of not being able to get ahold of me.

I'm not speaking about the prepaid phones here. I mentioned that in item #1. With prepaid phones, even ATT prepaids, you do not always have to use a name to activate the phone. My son has one of these no-commitment phones. You can buy these anywhere....Walmart, Dollar General, etc.

If you enter an ATT store and purchase a phone that requires a plan, then you do have to show a picture ID, even if you're already a customer. My family has 5 iphones with ATT.

 

[shefner]

In 2001, I was moving back to CA from ID and before I left ID, I went to the local AT&T store in the mall and bought a phone, without a plan and without an address. Since I was moving back but didn't have a residence yet and would be staying in a hotel until I got one, I gave them my DL with pic and a credit card. In ID, your phone service wasn't with AT&T so couldn't buy a phone with a plan. Maybe things have changed now and they no longer offer a prepaid service but back then they did. I hate cell phones---lol.

I don't think I was very clear in my comments. Sorry about that. Yes, ATT does have a "disposable" cell phone. You can buy the cards with cash at many stores, like Walmart. To activate the phone, you don't have to give your name...only a number on the box. These phones are non-traceable...since they are not linked with a name and address.

If TH used this type of phone, then LE would need to find that phone to figure out the phone number, calls, etc. (I think....LOL)

 

[Melanie]

My question is why would someone dispose of a phone this way? The phone itself might not be able to reveal any more than what is obtainable through the carrier. But the method of disposal screams of someone (who doesn't understand how cell phones work) who thinks they are getting rid of evidence. Suspicious behavior for sure.

Suspicious for sure! We live in a rural area with no cell coverage. So we bought a disposable phone that you fill up with a card for times when we go "into town". I guess I could toss it and no one would be the wiser -- easy enough to do.

If she went this route, she could call anyone she wants, and unless LE can find the phone they're going to have a hard time tracking any calls.

MOO

Mel

 

[Melanie]

I don't think I was very clear in my comments. Sorry about that. Yes, ATT does have a "disposable" cell phone. You can buy the cards with cash at many stores, like Walmart. To activate the phone, you don't have to give your name...only a number on the box. These phones are non-traceable...since they are not linked with a name and address.

If TH used this type of phone, then LE would need to find that phone to figure out the phone number, calls, etc. (I think....LOL)

You are very correct. Simply go into any best buy store, pick out a phone, and matching service card, and viola. You don't give you DL, name, address - nada (just the code on the card). That's why you have to watch your kids a bit closer. Or in this case TH. Remember the days when kids would beg and beg for their own cell phone? Now they can buy them without a parent even noticing!

MOO