Law Enforcements Uses Cell Towers & GPS to Help Investigate Suspicious Death

The technology that was being used the day a 23-year-olds body was discovered may be the same technology that is used to help solve the cause of her death. According to the Times-Standard, law enforcement officials investigating the murder of 23-year-old Michelle Ashlee Dickson are hoping cell phone data will help them determine where the Crescent City woman was murdered, the final step needed to clear up which agency has jurisdiction over the case.

”It is another piece of the puzzle and eventually all the pieces will come together,” said Del Norte County District Attorney Michael Riese.

While the primary suspect in the case, Josiah Miller of Arcata, has been arrested, prosecutors cannot charge Miller until it is determined where Dickson was fatally injured, or died.

Her body was found by several geocachers under an Oregon bridge on July 23. She reportedly met with Miller the evening of July 15, when she was last seen alive. See Cachers Make Gruesome Discovery to learn more about where her body was discovered.

Del Norte County Sheriff's investigator Tim Athey said cell phone call logs can tell investigators where calls were made from and who made them, while data from towers can help determine where the phone was located. Cell phones are constantly sending out signals to towers, he said.

”The phone continually tells towers where you are so you can get your voice mails,” Athey said.