SC - Paul Murdaugh, 22 and mom Margaret, 52, found shot to death, Islandton, 7 June 2021 #4

[Luna20]

BBM

Airplane mode does little to nothing in this situation. That information is there

What do you mean by “in this situation”?

 

[pizzaman12]

What do you mean by “in this situation”?

Sorry, I wasn't trying not to be rude in my reply.

People think that turning off a phone or turning it to airplane mode disables it's abilities, which simply isn't true

 

[Harikari]

>>> In another case I recently delved into on WS, I learned a lot about cell phones as evidence and also the data they can get from modern cars and trucks. I have an old car w/o GPS or those fancy setups on the dash so I assumed a lot of people following this case already knew the amount of information available to LE from our personal technology and haven't brought it up.

To answer your question specifically, yes, I think LE should be able to learn where AM was (and also MM and PM) at different times the night of the murder -- unless -- they had their phones in airplane mode.

Related to cars and trucks -- and this gave me some hope for this case -- apparently modern electronics can tell LE not only GPS kind of history but also which doors were opened (or tailgate), at what time. I think this detail is interesting because it hints at possibly the number of people who used the vehicle on a certain excursion, if items were loaded or unloaded from the cargo area, etc.

If I am wrong about his, please someone correct me.

I don't know how new a vehicle would have to be have these features, but my assumption is the Ms probably had late model passenger vehicles like the SUV. Can't say the same for trucks because a good pickup can last years. I used to have a 1989 F-150 that my sister is still driving.

I thought I read somewhere the cameras on the property -- at least around the storage buildings and kennels -- had been disabled the night of the murder but have nothing to confirm that.

JMO on all.

Thank you! I thought I must have missed something - but apparently not. It’s all So . This was certainly planned over a long time to cover up So many tracks.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Sorry, I wasn't trying not to be rude in my reply.

People think that turning off a phone or turning it to airplane mode disables it's abilities, which simply isn't true

I thought I understood in the Morphew case the airplane mode caused gaps in following the tracks of the accused killer so LE didn't have data on his hereabouts at certain times, which they would have preferred to have had. Being "off" did not cause gaps. But I am no expert on this!

[MassMan, Warwick, others, am I remembering this correctly?]

 

[pizzaman12]

I thought I understood in the Morphew case the airplane mode caused gaps in following the tracks of the accused killer so LE didn't have data on his hereabouts at certain times, which they would have preferred to have had. Being "off" did not cause gaps. But I am no expert on this!

[MassMan, Warwick, others, am I remembering this correctly?]

I'm in and out of following that case so I'm not sure of the particular times you're referencing. I know there were times the data was inconclusive due to poor cell coverage. There are other times when BM put his phone on airplane mode. I'm not saying airplane mode won't offer a disruption.

I could be wrong but my understanding is that airplane mode disables cellular services and wifi essentially disconnecting it from the cellular network. However, even with the phone in airplane mode and turned off, it could still be tracked via GPS

I'd have to go back and look but I also thought that airplane mode essentially hides that in "real time" and that once it hits any connection (wifi, cell, etc...) that location history would be fed to the OS, apps, etc...on your device so I'd be curious of what the FBI was able to extract.

Again, I could be wrong but my understanding is that simply turning on airplane mode and turning off your phone does not make you untraceable to agencies with plenty of resources

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Your full explanation certainly makes sense and is probably correct.

At any rate -- sounds like they would be able to track AM, MM, and PM the night and day of the murders -- if they have access to the appropriate technology. And that is good news!

 

[Harikari]

It’s beyond bizarre that anyone would apparently plan so well, and would want (maybe only) PM dead - but take his mother’s phone and throw it out of a car window. But, I Have to stop trying to figure any of this out because we have no information, and no option makes sense. Headbang!

 

[Betty P]

I'm just curious about what others think as we watch this begin to play out.

The system in that area has always done things it's own unique way. They make up their own rules, so to speak.

Does anyone think the prosecutors and investigators will change and present a case that's up front, open and honest about what really happened and who was responsible?

 

[cvaldez1975]

It’s beyond bizarre that anyone would apparently plan so well, and would want (maybe only) PM dead - but take his mother’s phone and throw it out of a car window. But, I Have to stop trying to figure any of this out because we have no information, and no option makes sense. Headbang!

i feel like the phone was done to throw off the cops. it seems hastily done

 

[pizzaman12]

Your full explanation certainly makes sense and is probably correct.

At any rate -- sounds like they would be able to track AM, MM, and PM the night and day of the murders -- if they have access to the appropriate technology. And that is good news!

I personally have no worries there. Phones store so much information coupled with your actual behaviors. Red flags are raised when those behaviors change. The FBI analyst noted Chad Daybell's text stood out not because of the content, but it was not consistent with his other texts.

I'd assume all these people drove late model cars. They now have a scary amount of information that is collected. I'm not just talking vehicle location devices as they've been around for ages. For example, the Mercedes Me provides so much info besides location, etc...It can tell you fluid levels, remote unlocking, tire pressure, fuel level, etc... on the app so I'm sure that information can be had by LEO. In my opinion, now and in the coming years, that will just give investigators even more information to work with and to paint a clearer picture in any case.

In my opinion, it's pretty crazy the amount of information we put out there, essentially detailing every second of every day while making a digital recording of it and quite frankly, no real way to control it.

 

[pizzaman12]

It’s beyond bizarre that anyone would apparently plan so well, and would want (maybe only) PM dead - but take his mother’s phone and throw it out of a car window. But, I Have to stop trying to figure any of this out because we have no information, and no option makes sense. Headbang!

The phone in general has me perplexed as well. That phone alone will provide information on when it got there, how fast it got there and the route it took. I can't remember how far down the road it was recovered.

You'd be better off leaving the phone at the crime scene. Why take the phone in the first place? They were certainly smart enough toss it at some point. Was it 2 people and the other person saying, "hey moron, they can track us by that phone. Throw it out"?

 

[MassGuy]

I'm just curious about what others think as we watch this begin to play out.

The system in that area has always done things it's own unique way. They make up their own rules, so to speak.

Does anyone think the prosecutors and investigators will change and present a case that's up front, open and honest about what really happened and who was responsible?

I do. The cat’s out of the bag, and it’s no longer possible to exert the type of influence that this family is used to exerting.

It’s one thing to influence a local investigation when no one is really watching, but everyone is watching now.

SLED is good at what they do, and now that the ball has been handed the attorney general’s office, corruption is a lot less likely.

 

[worm]

The phone in general has me perplexed as well. That phone alone will provide information on when it got there, how fast it got there and the route it took. I can't remember how far down the road it was recovered.

You'd be better off leaving the phone at the crime scene. Why take the phone in the first place? They were certainly smart enough toss it at some point. Was it 2 people and the other person saying, "hey moron, they can track us by that phone. Throw it out"?

The phone gets me too. I think the lady may have had it in her hand, like I’ve seen many people do while in their yard, and the suspects took it to make sure she couldn’t get help. Then, as you mention, the perps knew it would track and tossed it at least near the scene.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Well, it's late Friday afternoon, and while we received a very interesting development this week -- with Stone recusing himself -- no arrest came. I'm a little surprised since that recusal letter was actually dated over two weeks ago.

Maybe with next week commencing the last month for paid rewards from the tip line, any stragglers in the know will jump in with their tidbits and cinch up any doubts SLED is still holding!

 

[worm]

Well, it's late Friday afternoon, and while we received a very interesting development this week -- with Stone recusing himself -- no arrest came. I'm a little surprised since that recusal letter was actually dated over two weeks ago.

Maybe with next week commencing the last month for paid rewards from the tip line, any stragglers in the know will jump in with their tidbits and cinch up any doubts SLED is still holding!

I got too anxious from the “today’s SLED investigation” comment. Back to wait mode I guess.

 

[Harikari]

Well, it's late Friday afternoon, and while we received a very interesting development this week -- with Stone recusing himself -- no arrest came. I'm a little surprised since that recusal letter was actually dated over two weeks ago.

Maybe with next week commencing the last month for paid rewards from the tip line, any stragglers in the know will jump in with their tidbits and cinch up any doubts SLED is still holding!

If they Don’t know who, what, where, $100k is a strangely puny reward to get someone to come forward.

 

[Harikari]

Well, it's late Friday afternoon, and while we received a very interesting development this week -- with Stone recusing himself -- no arrest came. I'm a little surprised since that recusal letter was actually dated over two weeks ago.

Maybe with next week commencing the last month for paid rewards from the tip line, any stragglers in the know will jump in with their tidbits and cinch up any doubts SLED is still holding!

Ps: In the Morphew case they knew not only where and when the husband drove, but that he opened the Trunk/boot of the car 5 times And when it was opened.

Even knowing that it took them Months to arrest him.

No one could get anything from my 23 year old Subaru except that I’m too lazy to change the clock at daily savings time, and wipe up dog hair!

 

[Luna20]

Sorry, I wasn't trying not to be rude in my reply.

People think that turning off a phone or turning it to airplane mode disables it's abilities, which simply isn't true

I didn’t find your response to be rude. My question was why you referred to airplane mode in “this situation” as opposed to airplane mode in all situations. I was wondering what made this case different.

 

[sunshineray]

Stone has faced criticism for not immediately stepping away from the investigation due to his office’s ties to the Murdaugh family — a family that for more than eight decades held the elected position of solicitor for Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.

In late June, Stone responded to that criticism, saying, “there is no clear suspect in this case at this time. As such, speculation about the propriety of my office’s involvement is precisely that — speculation.”

Contacted Tuesday, Stone said he finally decided to “conflict” himself out of the investigation after consulting with University of South Carolina Law School Professor Gregory Adams. He said he has been in “constant consultation” with Adams since the double homicide.

https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article253743498.html

I guess the propriety of his involvement is not "speculation" any more, it's a clear problem. A professor of law agrees after not seeing a conflict since the victims were found.

What the heck happened on August 11th that changed everything. I'd say a bonafide suspect (s?) has been identified and there's a conflict attached to that suspect to the Solicitor.

Would anyone who donated to Solicitor Stone's career moves within the 14 District be considered a "conflict" or do you think it has to be a personal connection?

 

[Watts Bar]

The phone gets me too. I think the lady may have had it in her hand, like I’ve seen many people do while in their yard, and the suspects took it to make sure she couldn’t get help. Then, as you mention, the perps knew it would track and tossed it at least near the scene.

I have actually had a theory on MM’s phone for some time.
But in order for this theory to apply/ be possible, the killer(s) would have to have been hired to commit the murders - and hired by someone extremely close to MM.
Basically the theory is that the taking and discarding of MM’s phone was part of the plan and it had a specific purpose.
An app, such as Life 360, would show anyone in MM’s Life360 circle the location of her phone. There is no record created when someone checks the location of someone in their circle.
(For instance, in our family, our L360 apps are always running in the background. If I want to know where my husband is, I simply glance at his location. Neither my phone nor his phone will have any record of me checking his location. And of course, I’m not really seeing where my husband is, I’m seeing where his phone is.)
Upon leaving, MM’s phone may have been taken and used by the murderer(s) to communicate completion of the job to someone else through this sort of app. A message sent simply by the location change of MM’s phone, communicating “we’re gone”, and with no digital footprint.

Speculation/ theory
All my opinion only