Page 12 - March 2021 TTI

The Digital Detective from Hell

A true story. The names have been changed.

by C.M. “Mike” Adams

Michael was a tall, handsome man with dark, together.
penetrating eyes. People felt comfortable in his
presence. Still, it was easy to see that he had been at war But once in Oklahoma, more things began to seem off.
with life. He didn’t smile or crack jokes. I could see the Michael noticed that his computer which had always
pain in his eyes, hear the anxiety in his voice. Michael been very fast slowed dramatically, sometimes even
sat down and began unfolding the story of the last few locking up. Occasionally, people asked him about
years. It was difficult to believe. emails sent but to which he never responded.

In 2016 Michael’s missionary parents returned from a Michael and Sonja were visiting her parents when
Bulgarian village to Austin. The final leg of their Michael was called away. Sonja was to follow the next
journey ended in tragedy when a tire blew. The van day, but two then three days passed without word from
rolled, killing both missionaries. Sonja. Then Deborah, Michael’s sister, called to tell him
she had learned that Sonja had withdrawn $30,000
At his parents’ funeral, Michael’s former high-school from the life insurance settlement account and
girlfriend Sonja approached to express her condolences. deposited it into her personal account. Confused,
Michael was relieved to find a familiar face. A few days Michael called Sonja. Sonja informed Michael she was
later, Michael called Sonja for a date which blossomed pregnant, wanted a divorce and sole custody of the
into marriage eleven months later. Michael was child.
searching for love and peace. What he found was far For the second time in 13 months, Michael crumpled
different. in shock and disbelief. All his adult life he had trusted
in God for assistance and guidance. Now, he slowly
Thirty days into their marriage, Michael noticed the slipped away from that strength and fell into the abyss
first “blip” on the RADAR. While he and Sonja were of alcohol. Life only became worse.
visiting her mother, Carman, Michael was invited to
join their cellular plan. With the promise of low rates, Divorce papers were filed, but he never received notices
more minutes and bonus points, Michael agreed and dates and requirements. By the time he was served, he
Carman and Sonja took his phone to the AT&T store. had missed an important court date and was listed as
“not responsive”. Michael’s monthly income was $5k,
A few days later Michael began noticing anomalies. but in his absence, Sonja told the judge it was $10k.
His cell phone began taking pictures on its own, then Michael was forced to pay twice as much child support
deleting them. Sonja seemed to have detailed for a child he had never even met.
information about Michael’s day-to-day activities.
When Michael received a text from an old girlfriend, Michael’s computer and cell phone problems increased.
Sonja mentioned her name that night and asked if He would regularly disable the geo-location services for
Michael had seen her. his phone, then days later find it re-enabled. It
happened so frequently he installed a “developer
After the death of his parents, Michael needed a fresh option” that used a blue dot on the screen to track
start. Together, he and Sonja moved to Oklahoma. He actions. For example, if he were to touch the web
planned to use the inheritance from his parents’ life browser application, a large blue dot would appear on
insurance to purchase a new home for their new life the web browser icon. Many times Michael watched the

10 | MARCH 2021 THE TEXAS INVESTIGATOR