A nine year old girl, allegedly kidnapped by her grandmother, was found by investigators using a combination of Google Maps Street View and Satellite Technology.
Rose Maltais, 52, allegedly failed to return her granddaughter, Natalie Maltais, to the girl’s legal guardians in Athol, Massachusetts, according to the local newspaper the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.
The young girl was in possession of a mobile phone which was in use. The Investigators contacted the girl’s service provider and obtained the phones GPS coordinates.
Each time the phone was activated the service provider updated the investigators with the new coordinates. This allowed the investigators to track the progress of the pair.
When the pair appeared stationary the investigators used Google Street View to plot the coordinates and identify where they could be staying. There last location was close to a junction by a field. By Viewing online images of the area the investigators found a motel across from a field, they used Google to find the name of the hotel and called the Virginia Police.
Ms Maltais was arrested at the Budget Inn in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Yet again Google provides yet another invaluable service. Maybe Googles new tag line should be “Protect and Serve!”
