Hashtag Homicide

In February 2014, 14-year-old Breck Bednar was lured to his death by an older boy he met online. Discover how virtual manipulation led to a real-life tragedy.

In August 2021, travel influencer Gabby Petito vanished during a trip with her fiance. Her online posts helped armchair detectives trace her final movements.

In April 2016, London police officer Gordon Semple was killed during a Grindr meetup, with texts and digital footprints guiding detectives through the case.

In October 2021, Ana Abulaban and Rayburn Cardenas Barron were killed by Ana's estranged husband, TikTok influencer Ali Abulaban.

In February 2021, Daisy De La O was killed by her ex-boyfriend, but a TikTok campaign launched by her friends mobilised online sleuths and led to his arrest.

In June 2017, Ellen Higginbottom sent a Snapchat before she was killed, sparking an online search that helped police identify and arrest her attacker.

In September 2023, Nik Bird was stalked and shot 17 times. The killer's digital confession and the toxic role of social media were central to the case.

In March 2023, a cyberstalker obsessed with Zohreh Sadeghi's podcast shot her and her husband, leaving a trail of digital threats.