SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the Always-clear-your-history-when-planning-crimes dept.
A woman's search history has been used by authorities to convict her of murder after her husband died. Natasha Darcy was found guilty of murdering partner Mathew Dunbar with her plans to inherit his $3.5 million farm exposed as she attempted to lie to police about her actions and intent. Key evidence was found in her search history which matched up to physical evidence found.
Natasha Darcy guilty of murdering partner Mathew Dunbar
Natasha Darcy has been found guilty of murdering her partner Mathew Dunbar by drugging him with a sedative cocktail blended in a Nutribullet and gassing him in his bed in a bid to inherit his $3.5 million farm.
In the months before Mr Dunbar was found dead, dozens of incriminating searches were recorded on Darcy's iPhone, among them: "How to commit murder."
A jury of 11 declared the 46-year-old mother guilty on Tuesday after deliberating since last Wednesday.
Mr Dunbar, 42, was a sheep farmer who lived and worked on his property Pandora on the outskirts of Walcha in northern NSW.
Darcy claimed she found her partner of three years in the early hours of August 2, 2017, with a plastic bag over his head that was hooked up to a helium cylinder. She rang triple-0 and he was declared dead at the scene.
The ram sedative acepromazine and medications temazepam, clonidine and seroquel were found in both Mr Dunbar's blood and a dirty blender cup and glass left in the dishwasher.
Darcy pointed to Mr Dunbar's finances, history of depression and suicidal ideation, "unclear sexual orientation" and a severe calf infection he suffered weeks before his death as reasons he might have killed himself.
But her search history told a different story, the jury heard during the 10-week trial in the NSW Supreme Court.
Same things goes for porn and your marriage.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Ingar on Tuesday June 15 2021, @01:13PM (1 child)
She did her web searches in dark mode.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday June 15 2021, @01:25PM
(Score: 5, Informative) by rigrig on Tuesday June 15 2021, @01:41PM (5 children)
No one remembers the singer.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by nitehawk214 on Tuesday June 15 2021, @03:43PM (4 children)
I had a feeling that "has been used by authorities to convict" in the summary was mostly bullshit. Search history has been used before, and there is always plenty of other evidence in a conviction.
In fact, I don't think they needed with the search history at all in this case.
A more accurate summary would be "search history was used as evidence in a trial." It would not be the first time, and hardly even be remarkable.
What might be remarkable is someone going to all this effort to kill someone and leave so much evidence behind.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:42PM (3 children)
and how stupid the husband was.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @10:48PM (2 children)
Stupid?
more likely naive and lonely.
Not many women out in remote farming communities.. The men tend to take what they can get.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 16 2021, @12:07AM
He may have had problems as well... if she would rather kill him than live with him, he was probably not the perfect guy.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 16 2021, @06:47AM
Wadda hell ye talking about? He was a sheep farmer, clearly it wasn't missing anything needed in this respect.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @01:43PM (18 children)
Do people not clear their browser history? Ever?
Or is this "history" not something a user can clear on their own?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday June 15 2021, @01:48PM (6 children)
I suspect that Google has your search history even if your browser does not.
I would point out something about social media: many of the 'participants' (to try to use a neutral non-charged word), on January 6, 2021, deleted all of their social media, some even deleted their entire accounts. Deleted all their photos. Yet the FBI was able to produce all of it as evidence.
I say that merely to observe that it may be more difficult to delete online activity than anyone may think.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:18PM (1 child)
The Wayback Machine https://archive.org/web/ [archive.org] is a public example of an archiver - you can be sure that LEAs the world over run scrapers on all available social media that produce similar archives, particularly on persons of interest, but I'd bet any agency with the budget just trawls and archives it all.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:53PM
Better yet, mandate that companies archive their stuff and have to produce it on demand by law enforcement. Hand off the work, maintain the power. Only problem is when the illusion of power fades there's nothing there!
(Score: 2) by turgid on Tuesday June 15 2021, @04:23PM (3 children)
GCHQ certainly has your search history. They apparently buy a lot of hard disks so it goes.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Tuesday June 15 2021, @05:46PM (2 children)
Maybe yours. Mine not. Apart from the fact that only a minority of searches actually were through Google, even for those few they probably can't assign all of them to one person. They probably can figure out that all those searches I did from work in the past decades were from the same person, though, due to a publicly visible unique IP address for that computer.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 4, Informative) by DannyB on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:00PM (1 child)
There is this thing: browser fingerprinting. [pixelprivacy.com] (not to be confused with browser finger painting.) In that link see: Canvas fingerprinting.
Browsers send in an astonishing amount of information. [avast.com] OS and version. Browser and version. JavaScript support or not. Screen size. Various tracking cookies maybe. And more.
As long as they can see what the server sees from your requests, it doesn't matter if a lot of different people are coming from the same IP address.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Wednesday June 16 2021, @04:05AM
Yes, I know browser fingerprinting. The vast majority of it requires JavaScript. And yes, having JavaScript disabled itself can be used as part of a fingerprint, but that is not very specific.
And for a long time, I had ben using standard Firefox, not exactly a fringe browser. And of course, once I switched browsers, as far as Google is concerned, I was a different person anyway (note that I don't have a Google account, so there's no way to identify me that way). Now currently I'm using a pretty non-standard browser (Waterfox), thus Google probably has a much easier time identifying me. But then, I very rarely use Google to search, so they still don't get much of a search history.
And my screen resolution is probably the most common one, 1920x1080.
Cookies? Well, that's another thing you can disable.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:04PM
In the days of Internet Explorer, extensive logging happened behind the scenes, that no "typical" or "non-techie" user was going to delete. You had to do an internet search, at the minimum, to even learn where to look for that data. Other browsers were much simpler, with options to empty cache, delete history, delete search history etc only buried a couple layers into the settings options.
A lot of people never do clear their histories though. They simply have no clue what those histories tell a suspicious person.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:18PM (3 children)
And now thanks to Soylent I have these terms in my browser history. Thanks a LOT guys.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:55PM (2 children)
Just avoid murdering people for a few months and you should be good to go again.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @04:57PM (1 child)
I can't promise that.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @08:42PM
Just claim your target is a nazi who brought it upon themselves by saying the "N word" and that any juror who votes "guilty" is a racist.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @04:17PM (4 children)
do you speak it??
(Score: 3, Informative) by DannyB on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:05PM (3 children)
A few messages above I mention browser fingerprinting. Incognito mode doesn't help that much.
In one of the links I provide (above), see Canvas fingerprinting. I can create a small canvas, draw some text in a specified font, size, etc. Capture all of the canvas pixels, hash them, then send that in to the server. Just that alone is a lot of information unique to your browser. Including your background color, particular fonts installed, details about how our browser and operating system render that text, etc. Completely independent of incognito modem.
And its more worser than you think.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by mrpg on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:52PM (2 children)
Right, incognito mode stops the browser from remembering things, but the servers still log all they want.
------------------
Brave Browser:
Private browsing stops Brave from saving browsing activity beyond the current session; however, you activity may still be visible to:
Certain websites you visit (this includes the ads and resources used on those sites)
The owner/Administrator of your network
Your internet service provider
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday June 15 2021, @08:34PM (1 child)
The "fingerprint" of your browser is enough for the server to realize "oh, it's that guy again".
Even if you're in incognito mode. There are enough things about your browser, your OS, your hardware to identify which browser it is (even if it is Anonymous Coward #67) without any cookies, even if multiple browsers come from the same IP address.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @10:51PM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:47PM
the dumb %$#^ used her iphone! Her, precious fucking iphone. if you use a normal smart phone OS (anything other than maybe graphene OS) to do anything that really requires privacy or security you're a dumb ass.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by looorg on Tuesday June 15 2021, @01:48PM (10 children)
Say no more ...
If you have to ask Google how to commit murder, then perhaps murder ain't for you. That said even tho I have not done murder etc I think my search history would be enough to convict me of various crimes. I'm one of those people that look up weird things online that gets mentioned in movies or TV-shows etc to see what it is or who that was or things of that nature. Research for work doesn't make this better as a lot of that includes criminal behavior, so not great either. So one would hope they had more then some dodgy search history to convict her on and it seems that they did otherwise I'm not sure what they did there for 10 weeks, I know Google logs a lot but even that seem a bit excessive.
So while your weird search history and p0rn habits might paint you as a bit of a wanker it shouldn't be enough to give you the chair.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:09PM (4 children)
Heh.... i remember having to look up golden showers: I'm probably on the CSIS pervert watch.
Yeah: RuPaul has caused me to do some searches so i can enjoy the show more, like murken and the like. Curiosity puts the cat in jail?
I don't spend any of my time on social media (unless SN is considered that): I'm curious about everything which is why i now use linux...found there IS something better than windows.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:21PM
I had to look up Dutch Steamer and now my internet's slow. Is the FBI listening to me masturbate?
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:25PM (2 children)
I remember back in the days of newsfeeds and encoded images, there was occasional "bad stuff" visible in the indexes and I felt a mild compulsion to get it - not because I wanted the bad stuff, but because I wanted to concretely prove to myself that I had the ability to do so if I chose... ultimately I left the "bad stuff" alone, and I suppose a handful of images downloaded for curiosity is different than a filing cabinet full of storage media filled with them, but certainly even the slightest evidence of contact with "bad stuff" seems to be enough to earn a conviction in the press, and I would assume a "jury of one's peers" would do much the same.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:30PM (1 child)
While that may be the case, in this case, the wife had been actively trying to kill him on more than one occasion.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday June 15 2021, @05:59PM
Yeah, in this case the backstory seems pretty damning even without computer evidence.
If I were judge in this case, I would instruct the jury that the computer evidence is not absolute proof that she was searching for these things, cannot be the sole basis for a finding of intent, but with the correlations to her otherwise proven real world actions it is admissible as part of the overall picture.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by rufty on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:37PM
"So, what did he search for?"
"Superconducting magnetics, stellerators, M-theory, space-time-topology, Einsten-Rosen bridge, traversable wormholes, Lament configuration and carpentry supplies."
"..."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by nitehawk214 on Tuesday June 15 2021, @03:52PM
The headline is pure clickbait. The article shows there was a fuckton of evidence such as shopping around to various veterinary clinics for acepromazine.
The first clinic even called the police to report it. Another one was like "sure, go ahead an have an entire bottle of an acepromazine, I am sure you will not be up to no good with it."
Which cops apparently did fuck-all about it, so you could say the guy should never have been killed in the first place.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:07PM
Ask Alexa instead. Or DDG.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:09PM (1 child)
Doesn't sheep farmer provide sufficient clarification?
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 16 2021, @02:28AM
Clearly the prosecutor needs to categorize this murder as a hate crime.
It is pride month after all and and violence will not be tolerated against the bestiality segment of the LGBT community.
(Score: 1) by js290 on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:30PM
are they still producing Forensics Files?
(Score: 1, Informative) by fakefuck39 on Tuesday June 15 2021, @02:51PM (6 children)
And same thing goes for video games and murder - I love to conquer galaxies myself. Same thing goes for TV habits and life - I love me some portals to fart worlds with my teenage grandfather. Wait, that was porn again.
How about you state the facts of the case and leave your "deep thoughts" in your autistic head where they belong.
The issue here is not this clear murderer married to a foreign version of a trumptard redneck getting caught. The issue is - did she think the tool she was using and paid for (iphone) was going to be used against her? We had a story many years ago. Highways were built, they needed funding, so they introduced tolls, which were supposed to go away after the road was paid for (gasoline taxes pay for maintenance). Instead they kept the tolls, started directing funds to other uses, and eventually introduced RF toll devices so you don't need to stop.
Cool device - pay like $20 and it replaces cash - no slowing down, no toll operator. Except they record the time you pass, and keep the data indefinitely. So now "the man" can retroactively calculate when you were speeding. There was a woman who (rightfully) lost custody of her kids. Her husband subpoenaed her toll pass data to court and showed that she constantly got home late in the evenings, leaving the kids alone in the house till supper time.
The use of the tech to find the guilty is not an issue. In the case of pussypass denied and murderpass denied, two lying thots got justice. The question is - when they bought the toll pass and the iphone, did they know this thing they owned and paid for was going to be used against them? Did they know the features of these things were to record data about them, which can be used against them? Well, the answer is they didn't care to know, and didn't think it would affect them, so they got what they deserved - on both counts.
What I find interesting is outside of esoteric tech forums, the real issue in these cases - and the only issue - is not even discussed or brought up. Heck, even on this "tech" forum, the only actual problem with the story, and a serious problem, is not even mentioned. The conspiracy hat on my head tells me it's a deep plot by big brother. My head under the hat however knows the people writing these stories are simply half way to being full-way retarded.
deep thought: Same things goes for your cartoon porn and your lack of ever having a marriage, because you are an ugly autistic incel, dear AC submitter of the story.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @03:03PM
By the time it gets to Putin levels, I think the pretense of having evidence is pretty much obsolete. So all that recording of your movements is at least evidence that "they" still need evidence to mess with your weed stash.
(Score: 3, Informative) by nitehawk214 on Tuesday June 15 2021, @03:59PM (1 child)
The woman wrote to a friend from within jail asking them to lie about her husbands "suicidal thoughts", offering $20,000. Did she not think the friend would report this or it be used as more evidence?
She also didn't wash the nutribullet that was filled with drug residue.
Lets say she wasn't overly aware of any information trails reaching the police. The search history thing is hardly even relevant.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by NateMich on Tuesday June 15 2021, @06:55PM
Essentially, she was really dumb.
From that thinking murder is a great way to make money, all the down way to the details of how she tried to go about it.
Dumb.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 15 2021, @11:14PM (2 children)
> an ugly autistic incel
Still a step up from being an ugly neurotypical with a truly fugly personality and a mail-order bride...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 16 2021, @12:32PM
> Still a step up from being an ugly neurotypical with a truly fugly personality and a mail-order bride...
Hans Reiser, is that you?
(Score: 1) by fakefuck39 on Wednesday June 16 2021, @05:16PM
sucks that you're ugly and had to resort to a mail-order bride - also sorry to hear you have a fugly personality. that and the autism - your life has got to be utter shit. on a good note, your pain is my entertainment.
(Score: 2) by JustNiz on Tuesday June 15 2021, @09:01PM
At some point you have to think how fucking stupid must he have been to not see what she was obviously trying to do.