An image captured by a Google Street View vehicle in the province of Soria, northern Spain, has played a crucial role in helping authorities solve a missing-person case. The image showed a man loading a white bag into the trunk of a car in the hamlet of Tajueco. According to the National Police, this image, along with other evidence, led them to arrest a woman and a man who were identified as the partners of the missing man. The two suspects were detained in two different locations in Soria last month.
Following their arrests, investigators discovered human remains that are believed to belong to the missing man. The police have not released the names of the suspects or the victim. The suspects are being charged with aggravated illegal detention and will face additional charges in connection with the disappearance and death of the victim.
The discovery of the Google Street View image was among the various clues that helped the investigators crack the case. The missing man was reported missing in November 2023 after his relative received suspicious messages claiming that he had met a woman and moved away. The relative became suspicious and alerted the National Police, leading to the investigation. The police obtained authorization to search the suspects' homes and visually inspect their cars, which eventually led to the discovery of the human remains.
This is not the first time that Google Maps has assisted in solving criminal cases. In 2022, Italian authorities used Google Maps and Street View to locate and arrest a convicted murderer who was on Italy's most wanted list. However, the use of Google Street View and the company's camera-equipped cars has also raised privacy concerns and faced backlash from some individuals.
