A few weeks ago we discussed an apparent murder where the victim was found beneath a mattress in a Salt Lake City motel. Police have charged Thomas Kumalac with murder and obstruction of justice, first- and second-degree felonies, respectively. First-degree felonies are punishable by five years to life in prison, while second-degree felonies carry a penalty of one year to fifteen years in prison.
Photo: Asthma Helper
Police were given some transcripts of Facebook conversations that Kumalac’s girlfriend had with her estranged husband. The transcripts included details of Kumalac’s alleged involvement with the murder. If law enforcement has enough evidence, they can obtain search warrants that grant them access to people’s Facebook, or other social media page.
With today’s technology, people can stay in touch with friends and family from anywhere in the world simply by using their smartphones to text, tweet and blog. You should take into account, however, that these methods of conversing are not the least bit private. Anything you send out for friends to read or see can also be accessed by many other people, some strangers and, as in Kumulac’s case, even law enforcement.
When it comes to using social media, you may want to be careful about who you allow to access your personal information. While the average person is not going to commit a crime and then discuss it on Facebook, many people post pictures of their children and even discuss vacation plans, times when their home will be unoccupied.
Think about you and your family’s safety and welfare and be cautious about giving too many details to people who might use the information for their own gain—and to your detriment. Social media can be a great way to share your life with others, but keep what should be private to yourself.
