From Azeroth to Canada: Tracking down a fugitive in World of Warcraft
If you thought you could hide online, think again. Alfred "Rastlynn" Hightower just found out that when you're playing World of Warcraft, you can't hide from the law.
Hightower was wanted in Howard County, Indiana for two charges of dealing a controlled substance and for dealing marijuana, but had fled the country to Canada. Howard County sheriffs had enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals to track down the suspect, and were working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to extradite him. However, they had to locate him first.
Through investigation, Sheriff's Deparment Deputy Matt Robertson and Sheriff's Major Steve Rogers found that Hightower was fond of an online game that sounded very much like World of Warcraft. Robertson prepared and sent a subpoena to Blizzard Entertainment, not expecting a response as Blizzard is in California where Howard County has no jurisdiction -- the subpoena was nothing more than a kindly worded request in the eyes of the law.
Blizzard, three months later, sent over a package of information that included Hightower's IP address, surprising and stunning the Sheriff's Department. This new information allowed Robertson and Rogers to trace and pinpoint Hightower's location in Canada.
Hightower is currently being extradited to the US to face criminal charges. For the full story, check out the Kokomo Perspective.
[Thanks for the tip, Tim!]
