'How did you catch me?' Hard work and MySpace (Newark Murders)

star ledger ^ | August 19, 2007 | JONATHAN SCHUPPE

[Coleus]

The manhunt's final chapter went by in a flash: no time for meals, no time for a hotel, no time for a shower. And certainly no time for sleep. When it ended early yesterday at an apartment complex in a Washington, D.C., suburb, alleged murderer Rodolfo Godinez turned to the Newark cop who had been tracking him for 60 straight hours and starting asking questions.

"How did you catch me? Someone told on me?" Godinez asked Detective Rasheen Peppers. "You must be very smart." Peppers, 34, smiled wryly yesterday afternoon, recounting the story from his home in Essex County. A half-hour earlier, he'd kissed his wife and kids hello and taken a hot shower. In an hourlong interview, he sat down to explain how he helped find Godinez and Godinez's 16-year-old half brother Alexander Alfaro -- both alleged members of a Latino street gang called MS-13 who were wanted in the Aug. 4 execution-style slaying of three college students in a city schoolyard.

"Those deaths were tragic. That was our motivation to keep going," Peppers said. "To me, those kids died at the hands of the devil." Sitting on Peppers' dining room table was the black IBM ThinkPad laptop where his search for the suspects began Wednesday night.

On MySpace.

After being called into the case by Newark homicide detectives, Peppers typed the suspects' names into the social-networking Web site. Nothing came up under Godinez, but Alfaro's profile was packed with clues: the boy's nickname ("Smokey"), an MS-13 clique (Guanacos Little Cycos Salvatruchos),

[Publius6961]

Great story!
Read the whole thing...

[em2vn]

It wasn’t very smart of the police officers to say anything about how they found the fugitives. Just a stupid thing to do.

[Coleus]

the police are now tipping off the criminals by divulging this information and since the criminal can’t talk to the reporters you know the quote about myspace came from the Newark police spokesman.

[khnyny]

My first thought too. Not a good move.

[goodnesswins]

I’m with you....NOT smart of the police to reveal all this. Couldn’t they just let the “devil” WONDER?????

[Publius6961]

Well, looking at the bright side, the bad guys will never be able to communicate as freely as they used to; they will be wondering forever if the "other guy" is the real thing.
Sounds like there should be a permanent undercover presence in all these "my Space" type places.

If it works for catching perverts...

[John123]

I think this story is really a PR piece. It helps the mayor cover his ass.

And anyway, this is all coming out during the trial so it isn't as big of a deal as some posters seem to think it is...

Another point is never underestimate the stupidity of criminals. In spite of a proliferation of forensic science TV shows, I personally don't think the dirt bags have learned anything from it...

[Wingy]

Another point is never underestimate the stupidity of criminals.

How many "To Catch a Predater" shows do we have to watch before the bad guys get the message that if you're chatting with a hot 13 year old, it's probably a badge wearing 45 year old that you find waiting for you.

[sionnsar]

How many "To Catch a Predater" shows do we have to watch before the bad guys get the message that if you're chatting with a hot 13 year old, it's probably a badge wearing 45 year old that you find waiting for you.

[amchugh]

Doesn’t it all come out in discovery anyway? Also, any time I overestimate the intelligence of the criminal element, I’m always reminded by some news article about how dumb they are (in general). The smart ones already know to keep a low low profile.

[bvw]

Right — if they are smart they ain’t criminal. At least 99.997% of criminals are dumb clucks, craving the same fame and be-with-it-ness of the non-criminal, just doing so in the never-think-about-it fashion that will keep the perps bragging on the internet as longs as there is an internet.

[BigIsleGal]

Loose Lips Sink Ships...

[amchugh]

I just realized John123 said it first (and better). Don’t know how I missed that the first time.

[CaptainK]

Not to worry. As my sister’s DA friend told her “ It’s almost impossible to commit the perfect crime if you can’t shut up, and most criminals have the need to share their secret with someone.”

[boop]

“ It’s almost impossible to commit the perfect crime if you can’t shut up, and most criminals have the need to share their secret with someone.”

I remember Batman telling this to Robin: "The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime".

[CaptainK]

I wonder if the citizens of Newark (and their elected officials) will learn to love the police more and love the criminal illegals less?

[goodnesswins]

Yes, I thought about that “discovery”.....but, any little thing to help us would be my motto.

[stinkerpot65]

Press isn’t saying much about the MS-13 angle.

[Coleus]

Press isn’t saying much about the MS-13 angle. >>

I don’t think the police know for sure yet. anyone can say anything about themselves on a FR homepage or a myspace account. It doesn’t mean it’s true.