GPS Tracking Identifies Murder Suspect

Finding evidence to support a murder charge isn’t always an easy thing to do. But thanks to GPS tracking, one suspected murderer may be closer to getting the conviction he deserves. Saskatoon resident David Woods was recently charged with murdering his wife Dorothy. Dorothy’s body was found on January 4, 2012 just off the highway near Blackstrap Lake. In Woods’ trial, a technological crime specialist testified that GPS tracking data was a vital part of the case.

How GPS Tracking Tracked Down a Murderer

Special Const. Trevor Haugen testified that in late November of 2011, he placed GPS tracking devices on two vehicles belonging to David Woods. Dorothy Woods had been missing since November 12. But it wasn’t until January 2, 2012 that the GPS tracking devices showed David Woods’ truck heading toward Blackstrap Lake. The truck travelled out of the city and back with no stops. Just two days later, Dorothy’s body was discovered along the same route travelled by Woods’ truck.

Without GPS tracking, it’s unlikely that police would have been able to monitor Woods’ movements closely over the course of the two months between the time Dorothy went missing and when her body was found.

Legal Use of GPS Tracking in Crime-Solving

In the U.S., privacy laws prevent police officers from placing a GPS tracking device on a suspect’s car without a warrant. The Supreme Court weighed in on the issue, unanimously ruling that tracking a person without his knowledge is equivalent to unlawful search, and that such tracking must be accompanied by a warrant.

Canadian law makes similar provisions, requiring law enforcement officers to get a tracking warrant in order to place a tracking device on a person’s vehicle. Provisions for obtaining the warrant include:

• Sixty Day Period—Once issued, the tracking warrant remains in effect for sixty days. 


• Review of Need—At the end of the sixty-day period, a judge must review the warrant to determine whether it is still needed and whether the tracking device can still be used legally.


• Demonstration of Effectiveness—Police must demonstrate a strong likelihood of evidence pertinent to the case being gained from the tracker in order for the warrant to be obtained. 

How GPS Tracking Makes a Difference in Law Enforcement

GPS tracking has been used in a wide variety of ways to assist law enforcement with tracking down and prosecuting suspected criminals. What started as a sometimes questionable practice of tracking down suspects without their knowledge has, with the warrant ruling, become a useful tool for helping officers collect evidence in an investigation. Some of the ways GPS tracking has assisted police include:

Drug dealer investigations	Police can place a tracking device on the vehicle of a suspected drug dealer, sometimes leading them to the drop-off point or uncovering an entire drug operation
Domestic violence cases	In cases of extreme danger, convicted offenders may be required to wear a tracking ankle bracelet. This allows victims to receive an alert if the offender crosses a boundary or violates a restraining order.
Vehicle theft	“Bait vehicles” equipped with GPS tracking and left in high-theft areas can lead officers to theft rings and chop shops.
Murder investigations	A suspect in a murder case may be observed with a tracking device to determine whether he makes any unusual trips that might point to his guilt.

Of course, there are many other instances in which GPS tracking can assist law enforcement officers as well. When used appropriately, the devices can help cash-strapped departments expand their observation ability without using up extra man-hours. They can also increase the length of time that a subject can be observed, since the device is on duty twenty-four hours a day for lengthy periods of time.

Is David Woods Guilty of Murder?

When the RCMP issued a statement about the discovery of an adult female body on January 2^nd, David Woods got into his truck and drove south to a secondary road off of the highway. Without stopping, he immediately turned around and drove straight back home. Two days later, police discovered Dorothy Woods’ body off that same stretch of road. Was David Woods checking to see whether her body had been discovered and perhaps moved? Was he demonstrating his guilt by driving to the scene? The trial is still in progress, so it remains to be seen whether a jury will find him guilty of first-degree murder. However, it seems clear that the data obtained from the GPS tracking device will play an instrumental role in the trial. Without it, police would never have known about Woods’ trip to the Blackstrap Lake area, and may not have recovered the body of Dorothy Woods. Thanks to GPS tracking, an essential piece of evidence was uncovered, allowing a trial to take place. Ultimately, it is up to the jury to decide how justice may best be served.

GPS Tracking Identifies Murder Suspect