Female Accused of Slaying Boyfriend Following Surveillance at a Bar Using an AirTag, Law Enforcement Declares
A woman from Indianapolis is under investigation for allegedly murdering her boyfriend in a shocking incident outside a pub. Reportedly, the suspect, 26-year-old Gaylyn Morris, was enraged by claims of infidelity and used an Apple AirTag to track her boyfriend's movements.
According to a witness, Morris entered the pub late at night and threatened another woman in her boyfriend's company, vowing to physically harm her. After being ejected from the pub, Morris is said to have struck her boyfriend, Andre Smith, multiple times with her car in the parking lot, even driving reverse over his body. Smith was declared dead at the scene.
Morris was arrested at the scene and reportedly confessed to striking Smith with her car under questioning. The vehicle, registered to Morris, was also recovered.
The potential for misuse of Apple's AirTag tracking device, while marketed as a convenient tool for locating lost items, has become a concern for security experts. Reports and anecdotes suggest that AirTags may have been surreptitiously placed in victim's pockets or bags, enabling stalkers to track their locations.
In response to these concerns, Apple has rolled out several features in iOS 14.5, including alerts for users when an AirTag has been detected in close proximity for an extended period, a chirping feature to help users locate missing AirTags, and an interoperable standard for tracking unknown devices across both Android and iOS platforms.
Apple also introduced the Safety Check feature, which enables users to quickly revoke access to their data and passwords in potentially abusive situations, making it easier for victims to cut ties and seek safety.
AirTag stalking by abusive partners is not a well-documented issue, but its potential for harm is undeniable. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, seek help from the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE(7233) or visit https://newbegin.org/find-help/.
References:[1] Indianapolis Star. (2022, February 24). Indianapolis woman charged in murder of man outside pub, police say. Retrieved from https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2022/02/24/indianapolis-woman-accused-killing-boyfriend-car-outside-pub/6603719001/[2] Ginsberg, J. (2021, April 20). How Apple and Google are adding new protections against AirTag stalking. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=410033[3] Apple. (n.d.). Safety Check. Retrieved from https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-safety-check-iphone/iph5a240cfa240b717
- The use of tech devices, such as Apple's AirTag, raises concerns about future misuse and privacy invasion, especially in cases of stalking.
- Smith's vehicle, registered to him, did not have any AirTag detector installed, which could have potentially alerted him to a stalker's tracking device.
- In light of these concerns, tech companies like Apple have introduced features to combat AirTag stalking, such as alerts, chirping, and an interoperable standard.
- To reset her Apple account after the unfortunate incident, Smith's family would need to navigate Apple's security protocols and possibly contact IT expert Smith to help them with the process.
