3 Teens Almost Got Away With Murder. Then Police Found Their Google Searches

3 Teens Almost Got Away With Murder. Then Police Found Their Google Searches

An arson attack in Colorado had detectives stumped. The way they solved the case could put everyone at risk.

Reverse Keyword Search Warrant To Google Solves Colorado Arson Case That Killed Family

In a chilling case that underscores the double-edged nature of technology, a tragic arson attack in Colorado has revealed both the power and the peril of digital tools like Apple’s Find My iPhone feature, as well as the unprecedented reach of law enforcement into personal data. This story, first detailed by WIRED, chronicles how three teenagers, driven by a misguided quest for revenge over a stolen iPhone, ended up committing a heinous crime tha…

Denver Detectives Crack Deadly Arson Case Using Teens' Google Search Histories

Three teenagers nearly escaped prosecution for a 2020 house fire that killed five people until Denver police discovered a novel investigative technique: requesting Google search histories for specific terms. Kevin Bui, Gavin Seymour, and Dillon Siebert had burned down a house in Green Valley Ranch, ...

In August 2020, an arson attack occurred at Green Valley Farm in Denver, killing a family of five. Police identified three teenage suspects, Kevin Bui, Gavin Seymour, and Dillon Siebert, by analyzing Google search records. They had searched the crime scene address and house floor plans several times. The case was caused by Bui mistakenly targeting innocent immigrants.