PSA: Commentary on a kidnapper who had a Gamertag |
Ó
For all whatever vitriol came out after we posted that entire "risk of porn on your networked console" article, sometimes we forget there are things that are much worse. Gamertag Radio comments on a recent story of a child kidnapper, and how Gamertagpics.com found that he owns a Gamertag on Xbox Live (and also a Gamertagpics account).People often criticize social networks like MySpace as potential targets for stalkers, child abusers, and kidnappers, but people also forget that Xbox Live, along with PlayStation Network and WiiConnect24, are social networks, too.
The temperature in the room went down five degrees as I wrote that.
The kidnapper, Michael Devlin of St. Louis, became the primary suspect of the kidnapping of a 13-year old kid. When police arrived to search Devlin's apartment, they were shocked to find another boy, now fifteen, who was declared missing four years ago by his family. Gamertagpics found that it was the fifteen year old's pic that was used as the pic for the Gamertag of the 41-year old Devlin.
Before some unkind commenter/s decides to post wild and wholly untrue theories of his own about this, we must gravely note what the police have analyzed all data pertaining to this situation, as based on a CNN report. Apprently, Devlin's prior rap sheet only showed traffic violations, and none of his co-workers noticed anything odd about his behavior.
On the other hand, why, in those four years, the second child did not attempt to escape or inform the authorities of his abduction, experts point to many factors, including fear of the kidnapper, and that kidnappers often attempt to convince their victims that they're the real parents or that their real parents aren't coming for them. Devlin's landlord mentioned that he identified that second child as his son when moving in.
Both children are reunited with their families. Devlin has no comment to the press regarding this incident.
There is no mention by CNN, or Gamertag Radio, or Gamertagpics, about Xbox Live or Gamertagpics being used by Devlin to "scout" for potential targets (as other social networking sites have been used). And you know that Microsoft, GT Radio, and Gamertagpics take their security precautions seriously. So should gamers. You can always trust the devious to find ways to abuse gaming networks to their own ends. Maybe not in this case, but perhaps in the future...
This writer is posting this link for the US Justice Department's AMBER Alert, both as a public service to the community, and as an eternal reminder that we are meant to enjoy the innocence of our childhood - not have it shattered.
47 Jumps PSP homebrew - PSP live TV v0.3
39 Jumps PSP homebrew - PSP Live TV v0.4
19 Jumps PSP homebrew - QMixer v1.0
17 Jumps Buy two, get one free at Best Buy
13 Jumps Atlus now mass-recruiting debuggers
Contact Us:
The QJ.net Network |
 |
| Site | Feed |
| QJ.NET | RSS |
| Nintendo DS | RSS |
| PlayStation 3 | RSS |
| PSP Updates | RSS |
| Wii | RSS |
| Xbox 360 | RSS |
| MMORPG | RSS |
| Personal Computer Games | RSS |
| iPhone - iPod Touch | RSS |
| QJ.NET Forums | RSS |
Add QJ.NET
User Favorites - December
User Favorites - December
Categories
Archives
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
Comments [refresh]
Im from kansas city. It would be nice to know what this *****ing guys gamertag was.
It turns out that Devlin is not only the owner of Xbox Live gamertag appropriately named “DevilDevlin”, but had also registered an account on Gamertagpics.com. Gamertagpics.com is a popular social networking site for Xbox Live members. While 41 year old Michael Devlin was the owner of the profile on Gamertagpics, the profile features a picture Shawn Hornbeck which appears to have been taken outside Devlin’s apartment. The profile on Gamertagpics was registered in 2005 and has been inactive for 232 days, but DevilDevlin was last seen online playing Saint’s Row on 1/13/2007 according to his gamercard.
I saw this on CBS news with Katie C. and it showed his gamertagpics.com profile and picture on there.
he probably think he is listed as missing so he try posting his pic under devlin's profile.