Data from phone, Apple Watch help lead police to suspects in US woman’s death


The complaint said investigators were able to determine the location of the body in part by tracking information from her watch and phone. — Photo by Simon Daoudi on Unsplash

MARENGO, Iowa: Data from an iPhone and Apple Watch helped lead police to suspects after a woman’s body was found in an Iowa lake, authorities said.

Iowa County Sheriff Robert Rotter on Feb 20 identified the victim as 20-year-old Melody M. Hoffman of Marion, Iowa. Her body was discovered Sunday at the Amana Lily Lake.

A 23-year-old man who police say was in a relationship with Hoffman, and an 18-year-old man, were charged Feb 21 with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Hoffman’s body had stab and slash wounds, and a state medical examiner determined she had died by strangulation, according to a police complaint.

The complaint said investigators were able to determine the location of the body in part by tracking information from her watch and phone. Police learned that Hoffman was at Morgan Creek Park near Cedar Rapids on Feb 16. The complaint said information from her watch “recorded her heartbeat intensify before it either stopped or the device deactivated”.

Police found the Apple Watch with blood on it and other evidence in the trunk of the car belonging to the man she was involved with, the complaint said. He told police that he and another person used duct tape to bind Hoffman at the park and placed her in the trunk, then drove her to the pond, the complaint stated. – AP

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Two decades of Nintendo's top-selling DS console
ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode is coming to web browsers
Elon Musk blasts Australia's planned ban on social media for children
Bitcoin's wild ride toward $100,000
OpenAI considers taking on Google with browser, the Information reports
One tech tip: How to get started with Bluesky
FCC proposes fining Chinese video doorbell manufacturer after security concerns raised
Snap seeks to dismiss New Mexico lawsuit over child safety
Crypto industry jockeys for seats at Trump's promised council
Reddit back up after latest outage impacts thousands of users

Others Also Read