SAR searches for cell phone

[KellyConQueso]

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?

Depending on what type of phone or where you buy it - it is normal to ask for name/address info but you can tell them whatever you want - they don't verify it.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Ah, okay. I didn't hear that part. Makes sense, sort of. Except that if Terri already had AT & T then they wouldn't need to buy Terri a phone. Just the two friends would need a phone. Still a BS excuse, IMO.

Having been in a slightly similar situation (lost service dog), I can tell you that when you're actively engaged in a search, the need for different phone numbers multiplies.

My regular cell number went onto the fliers and business cards to act as a tip line. When the media picked up the story, that's the number that was publicised. It rang 5-10 times an hour, 24 hours a day.

Which made the second phone necessary. I got a bat phone to coordinate searchers with. A phone number they could call in and report their results, get new assignments, etc. A couple searchers got confused and gave this number out to the media (even though the public tip line was on all the materials). Oh well.

And then my loved ones discovered the need for yet another bat phone: this number was kept top secret, only my husband, my parents and my three best friends knew it. This was the "fuss at Grainne" line, to remind me to rest, to remind me to pick up something to eat, etc. It was also the "Grainne is about to lose it, please help" line.

I knew the search wouldn't last forever, so I didn't want to bother getting regular cells with ongoing plans. The bat phones were perfect for what we needed.

So it doesn't seem hinky to me that they needed more phones. The thing that is hinky to me is that they were keeping them secret from LE.

BTW, once my service dog was found, I topped up each of the bat phones with minutes and donated them to the local domestic violence shelter. They were much appreciated.

 

[KellyConQueso]

This is why it's important to find the phone:

a) there could be important forensic physical evidence on the phone (fingerprints, blood, etc)

b) having just the phone number but not the device they can tell that it called a phone number, sent a picture, or sent a text message but they cannot tell what the picture or text messages were so it's possible they can retrieve any sent or received pics or text messages from the phone even if sim/memory card/internal memory has been erased or removed.

c) there might be important digital evidence on the phone that was never transmitted to someone else - a picture taken by accident, a list, a google search (if internet enabled), a recording....

 

[Etilema]

See what Bruce McCain is saying now:

“They’re looking for physical evidence,” McCain said. “Either something physically associated with Kyron himself, any kind of tools or implements that may have been involved in his disappearance - criminally, and also possibly a discarded cell phone that they’d like to retrieve and gather all the data from that,” McCain said.
http://www.katu.com/news/local/100309979.html

He doesn't know they are looking for a phone. He's just speculating on various ideas about what they *might* be looking for, based on his experience.

 

[JustToSeeYouSmile]

Having been in a slightly similar situation (lost service dog), I can tell you that when you're actively engaged in a search, the need for different phone numbers multiplies.

My regular cell number went onto the fliers and business cards to act as a tip line. When the media picked up the story, that's the number that was publicised. It rang 5-10 times an hour, 24 hours a day.

Which made the second phone necessary. I got a bat phone to coordinate searchers with. A phone number they could call in and report their results, get new assignments, etc. A couple searchers got confused and gave this number out to the media (even though the public tip line was on all the materials). Oh well.

And then my loved ones discovered the need for yet another bat phone: this number was kept top secret, only my husband, my parents and my three best friends knew it. This was the "fuss at Grainne" line, to remind me to rest, to remind me to pick up something to eat, etc. It was also the "Grainne is about to lose it, please help" line.

I knew the search wouldn't last forever, so I didn't want to bother getting regular cells with ongoing plans. The bat phones were perfect for what we needed.

So it doesn't seem hinky to me that they needed more phones. The thing that is hinky to me is that they were keeping them secret from LE.

BTW, once my service dog was found, I topped up each of the bat phones with minutes and donated them to the local domestic violence shelter. They were much appreciated.

We have multiple bat phones as well for this purpose- as well as some numbers/phones for specific searches. And an additional bat phone that is the "don't-you-dare-ignore-me-even-while-on-a-search" phone. (Certain family, and extremely close friends only)

But I am having a hard time thinking that anyone who is not involved in some way, with a missing child... would feel the need to keep this from LE.

 

[Etilema]

Having been in a slightly similar situation (lost service dog), I can tell you that when you're actively engaged in a search, the need for different phone numbers multiplies.

My regular cell number went onto the fliers and business cards to act as a tip line. When the media picked up the story, that's the number that was publicised. It rang 5-10 times an hour, 24 hours a day.

Which made the second phone necessary. I got a bat phone to coordinate searchers with. A phone number they could call in and report their results, get new assignments, etc. A couple searchers got confused and gave this number out to the media (even though the public tip line was on all the materials). Oh well.

And then my loved ones discovered the need for yet another bat phone: this number was kept top secret, only my husband, my parents and my three best friends knew it. This was the "fuss at Grainne" line, to remind me to rest, to remind me to pick up something to eat, etc. It was also the "Grainne is about to lose it, please help" line.

I knew the search wouldn't last forever, so I didn't want to bother getting regular cells with ongoing plans. The bat phones were perfect for what we needed.

So it doesn't seem hinky to me that they needed more phones. The thing that is hinky to me is that they were keeping them secret from LE.

BTW, once my service dog was found, I topped up each of the bat phones with minutes and donated them to the local domestic violence shelter. They were much appreciated.

But they didn't say that they needed multiple phones in order to manage/control access. They said that they couldn't get reception on Verizon, so had to switch to AT&T. Well, that would make sense for the friends (who were said to have Verizon), but why wouldn't Terri already have a phone that got reception in her home?

 

[jadejazzkayla]

But they didn't say that they needed multiple phones in order to manage/control access. They said that they couldn't get reception on Verizon, so had to switch to AT&T. Well, that would make sense for the friends (who were said to have Verizon), but why wouldn't Terri already have a phone that got reception in her home?

if terri's phone was an att contract phone under kaine's name, its possible he had the phone shut off. just a thought.

 

[GrainneDhu]

But they didn't say that they needed multiple phones in order to manage/control access. They said that they couldn't get reception on Verizon, so had to switch to AT&T. Well, that would make sense for the friends (who were said to have Verizon), but why wouldn't Terri already have a phone that got reception in her home?

My guess, based on nothing at all, is that her phone had either been cut off or she suspected it was about to be cut off.

I'm beginning to wonder if this is a red herring. Maybe when TMH's friends asked "can we do anything?" she had a general sort of reply that included "and I guess I'm gonna need a new cell phone that the media doesn't know about." Voila, three friends or five friends or whatever, run out to buy her phones that the media doesn't know about.

 

[shorty42404]

In the words of Marvin Gaye.. "What's goin' on? What's goin' on?"
Sorry it was in my head :wink:

Praying for some BIG news today! And that it will lead to Kyron! raying:

See! God is answering prayer! I prayed for BIG NEWS today.. and we got big news! Praise God!!

"According to the latest reports, eyewitnesses have provided authorities with tips that indicate a second person was seen in the truck with Terri Horman the day Kyron vanished. Kyron Horman disappeared from the Skyline Elementary school on June 4, 2010 after attending a science fair with his stepmother Terri Horman."

This is being discussed in a couple other threads :smile: AND we can look forward to a presser on Wed that will hopefully give us more info:

"A press conference will be held August 11, 2010 to provide the public with the latest information regarding Kyron’s case, however, authorities have said they specifically do not release details regarding evidence to protect the integrity of the investigation."


http://www.examiner.com/x-32312-Amber-Alerts-Examiner~y2010m8d9-Amber-Alerts-and-missing-children-Second-person-seen-in-truck-with-Terri-Horman-day-Kyron-vanished

 

[freefallzzzz]

Snips from
http://www.katu.com/news/100161574.html

Story Published: Aug 6, 2010 at 4:53 PM PDT Story Updated: Aug 7, 2010 at 2:57 PM PDT

PORTLAND, Ore. – KATU now knows that friends purchased cell phones to communicate with the stepmother of missing Kyron Horman after the second grader disappeared two months ago.

The friend, who is not DeDe Spicher, went to the Lloyd Center and bought a prepaid cell phone at an electronic store. The friend now says she regrets using a fake name and that it was “stupid” and “spur of the moment.”

*In regards to "when" the phone(s) were purchased*
Just my opinion but I believe the account in the article above, as if she had purchased the phone on 6/4, I would think we would be WAY more closer to a person(s) being held in jail by now..

 

[BeanE]

Snips from
http://www.katu.com/news/100161574.html

Story Published: Aug 6, 2010 at 4:53 PM PDT Story Updated: Aug 7, 2010 at 2:57 PM PDT

PORTLAND, Ore. – KATU now knows that friends purchased cell phones to communicate with the stepmother of missing Kyron Horman after the second grader disappeared two months ago.

The friend, who is not DeDe Spicher, went to the Lloyd Center and bought a prepaid cell phone at an electronic store. The friend now says she regrets using a fake name and that it was “stupid” and “spur of the moment.”

*In regards to "when" the phone(s) were purchased*
Just my opinion but I believe the account in the article above, as if she had purchased the phone on 6/4, I would think we would be WAY more closer to a person(s) being held in jail by now..

Also in that article:

The phones were purchased after Kyron's father, Kaine Horman, moved out of the family's home.

Kaine moved out Saturday, June 26.