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What just happened? We’re currently living in an era where almost anything can be connected to the internet and be used to track you. While this may be off-putting to some consumers who wish to maintain their privacy, the FBI showed how the tracking could be used in a good way.
On August 3, 2022, a Virginia family reported that their 15-year-old daughter had gone missing. Court documents surrounding the case were publicized by local news channel ABC15, though the outlet chose not to identify the child to ensure her privacy. Based on the family’s description of their daughter as a “homebody”, authorities quickly began viewing the situation as something malicious rather than a common runaway case.
Initial search efforts by both authorities and countless citizens proved fruitless, with zero clues as to where the child could be. Unbeknownst to the search groups, she was already over 2,000 miles away in an Arizona apartment, having been abducted by 28-year-old Ethan Roberts. The girl had been chatting online with Roberts, who eventually manipulated her into leaving her home with him.
Unfortunately, neither the girl’s parents nor the authorities had any knowledge of the chats. With no clues found while searching all of Virginia, the search efforts were now at a complete dead end. That was until one of the abducted child’s friends contacted authorities with an unexpected clue: the girl’s Nintendo Switch console had unexpectedly appeared online.
Edwards had allowed the child to bring along her Nintendo Switch, which went unnoticed by all parties. While at the apartment, Edwards eventually let her connect her Switch to the Wi-Fi so she could “watch YouTube and download a game.” However, unknown to Edwards, launching a Switch game while connected online will alert any friends who are also logged in, an attempt by Nintendo to encourage gameplay between friends.
Due to this, authorities enlisted the help of the FBI, hoping to find a way to track the Nintendo Switch. On August 14, 2022, after eleven terrifying days for the child, the FBI managed to find Edwards’ apartment complex, arresting Edwards and rescuing the abducted child safely.
Former Arizona Department of Public Safety director Frank Milstead commented on the case. Milstead stated, “Everything’s connected to Wi-Fi to LTE (long-term evolution devices),” Milstead said. “A cell phone, an iPad, a watch, whatever it is – you can use those things to locate people.”
While some may be weary of all the electronic devices we have tracking our every move, it is refreshing to see an occasion where it was used for a good cause. Thankfully, the case also had a happy ending, as in April 2023, Edwards agreed to a plea deal and was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his various crimes.
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