Three people missing since the beginning of August — from two recent high-profile missing person cases in northern California — have all been found.A body, likely that of missing 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, according to investigators, was found Sunday. The bodies of the missing Yuba City couple, Juan Zavala and Janette Pantoja, were found last week.In both cases, the missing people's cell phones pinged near the areas where their bodies were eventually found.Along with air and ground searches, surveillance video, and talking to witnesses, information investigators get from pinging mobile devices can be a key part of a law enforcement agency's search for someone who’s missing."It is one of the primary tools that law enforcement does use today," said Jim Cook of Premier Cellular Mapping & Analytics.Cook's expertise is based on years of interpreting information that comes back to investigators when a wireless carrier pings a mobile device.Cook, who was not involved with the searches for Rodni or Zavala and Pantoja, said getting data from the cell phones of missing people starts with investigators following an exigency protocol.They must prove they need cell phone data because someone's life or safety are at extreme risk.Then the agency requests the wireless carrier to ping or send a signal to the device associated with the missing person."Based upon the device being 'on,' it will yield a location via GPS with what they call a degree of accuracy," Cook explained. "That degree of accuracy could be three meters, it could be 500 meters, or it can even be unknown."Investigators also receive the antenna or the cell site that the phone connected to, which according to Cook, helps them know where to focus their search."The more pings, or the more connections, the better the values for law enforcement," said Cook.However, time is of the essence, as battery strength fades, according to Cook."The first few hours… are probably the most critical in trying to establish that location of where that device was, when it was last on," he said.Investigators need and use as many pieces of information as they can obtain from mobile devices to help find missing people."They can look back, within roughly about a 48-hour period, the history of that device, based upon its data connections, its text messages, as well as its calls," Cook said.Given their prevalence, mobile devices can be of great help in tracking the locations of lost individuals, according to Cook. But as advanced as they are, he reminds people of the limitations with ping capabilities – suggesting people bring a backup power source if they're planning to spend time outdoors. The pings don't work unless the device has power.He also said it's a good idea to have a device-tracking app installed and turned on, on your phone. That information can also help investigators zero in on your location if you're lost.Another suggestion is to send a text to loved ones, if possible, if you end up lost or hurt. Text messages are more likely to go through than a call, Cook said – especially in remote areas.
Three people missing since the beginning of August — from two recent high-profile missing person cases in northern California — have all been found.
A body, likely that of missing 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, according to investigators, was found Sunday. The bodies of the missing Yuba City couple, Juan Zavala and Janette Pantoja, were found last week.
In both cases, the missing people's cell phones pinged near the areas where their bodies were eventually found.
Along with air and ground searches, surveillance video, and talking to witnesses, information investigators get from pinging mobile devices can be a key part of a law enforcement agency's search for someone who’s missing.
"It is one of the primary tools that law enforcement does use today," said Jim Cook of Premier Cellular Mapping & Analytics.
Cook's expertise is based on years of interpreting information that comes back to investigators when a wireless carrier pings a mobile device.
Cook, who was not involved with the searches for Rodni or Zavala and Pantoja, said getting data from the cell phones of missing people starts with investigators following an exigency protocol.
They must prove they need cell phone data because someone's life or safety are at extreme risk.
Then the agency requests the wireless carrier to ping or send a signal to the device associated with the missing person.
"Based upon the device being 'on,' it will yield a location via GPS with what they call a degree of accuracy," Cook explained. "That degree of accuracy could be three meters, it could be 500 meters, or it can even be unknown."
Investigators also receive the antenna or the cell site that the phone connected to, which according to Cook, helps them know where to focus their search.
"The more pings, or the more connections, the better the values for law enforcement," said Cook.
However, time is of the essence, as battery strength fades, according to Cook.
"The first few hours… are probably the most critical in trying to establish that location of where that device was, when it was last on," he said.
Investigators need and use as many pieces of information as they can obtain from mobile devices to help find missing people.
"They can look back, within roughly about a 48-hour period, the history of that device, based upon its data connections, its text messages, as well as its calls," Cook said.
Given their prevalence, mobile devices can be of great help in tracking the locations of lost individuals, according to Cook. But as advanced as they are, he reminds people of the limitations with ping capabilities – suggesting people bring a backup power source if they're planning to spend time outdoors. The pings don't work unless the device has power.
He also said it's a good idea to have a device-tracking app installed and turned on, on your phone. That information can also help investigators zero in on your location if you're lost.
Another suggestion is to send a text to loved ones, if possible, if you end up lost or hurt. Text messages are more likely to go through than a call, Cook said – especially in remote areas.
