Suspected Murderer Exposed by Unsettling Google Street View Image

A Google Street View image played a pivotal role in the arrest of two suspected murderers in Spain, as reported by El País.

The image captured by a Google Maps car passing through Tajueco, a small, quiet town in the Soria province of northern Castile and León, revealed a man dressed in jeans, a blue jacket, and brown boots. The suspect was allegedly loading what appeared to be a body wrapped in a white plastic bag into the trunk of his vehicle.

“[H]e allegedly placed in his car trunk, in broad daylight, a bundle that police suspect could be the body of a man who went missing a year ago,” noted El País.

This incident occurred in October when a Google Maps car drove through Tajueco, a town the service had not visited for 15 years. The application allows users to virtually explore countless locations worldwide.

According to the U.K. Times, the victim was identified as 32-year-old Jorge Luis Perez.

One of the suspects is a Cuban woman who was previously married to both the victim and the second suspect. The male suspect, who resides in Tajueco, is now in custody along with the woman.

The victim’s body was discovered seven miles away in a cemetery in Andaluz, a village with a population of just 12 people. El País highlighted the tranquil nature of the area, describing Tajueco as a town where “nothing ever happens … And if it did, surely nobody would find out, one of the residents must have thought.”

Perez was reported missing in late 2023 by a concerned relative who became suspicious after receiving WhatsApp messages allegedly from the victim. The messages claimed he had met a woman, was leaving Soria, and would no longer use his phone. However, the relative suspected someone else was impersonating Perez and notified the National Police.

Google, maintaining its policy of not commenting on specific cases, reiterated that Street View does not provide real-time imagery. “The content is a few months to a few years old,” The Washington Post reported.

Street View, launched in 2007, offers 360-degree interactive images from cities and remote areas worldwide. The application uses various equipment, primarily cars equipped with panoramic cameras, to capture over 10 million miles of imagery globally.

“We drive and trek around the world to bring you imagery that enhances your experience and helps you discover the world around you,” Google explained on its website. In addition to its cars, the company utilizes specialized vehicles and a portable camera system, the Trekker, to access challenging locations.

This chilling discovery in Tajueco underscores how modern technology can unexpectedly aid law enforcement efforts, even in the most remote areas.