In a notable case from 2017, nine-year-old Kayla Unbehaun was abducted from South Elgin, Illinois. The investigation, initially led by local law enforcement, sought to locate both Kayla and her mother, Heather Unbehaun, who was named as the primary suspect. Over several years, authorities traced the pair’s whereabouts to various locations, including Georgia, before an intriguing lead emerged that directed them to Oregon. This information was obtained from a Cybercheck report provided by Global Intelligence, which, while promising, lacked supporting evidence necessary for actionable search warrants.
Fast forward to 2023, Kayla was finally reunited with her father after a dedicated employee at a consignment store in Asheville, North Carolina, recognized Heather Unbehaun from a photo featured in a Netflix episode of Unsolved Mysteries. This recognition was pivotal, as it led investigators to discover that the mother and child had, until recently, been residing in Oregon, validating the earlier Cybercheck report.
Despite the breakthrough, Sergeant Dan Eichholz from the South Elgin Police Department expressed frustrations with Cybercheck’s findings. He noted that while the technology provided leads, it often fell short of delivering the necessary evidence to initiate legal actions, underscoring the challenges law enforcement faces in verifying such data. The ongoing case against Heather Unbehaun reflects the complexities inherent in child abduction investigations.
The adoption of Cybercheck technology by law enforcement agencies across the United States has sparked discussions within the legal community about its efficacy. Prosecutors like Borden from Midland County became aware of Cybercheck primarily through its use by local law enforcement. Borden remarked on the novelty of the technology, expressing interest in exploring its potential, while also acknowledging relief that it was not a necessary component in his successful conviction.
Sales representatives from Global Intelligence have been proactive in promoting Cybercheck, often offering free case assessments to law enforcement agencies to demonstrate its capabilities. This marketing strategy has raised questions regarding the substantiating evidence needed to justify the claims being made about Cybercheck’s effectiveness in real investigations.
Initial excitement surrounding Cybercheck was evident among investigators, particularly those within the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who sought to leverage the technology for cold cases. However, as related inquiries progressed, skepticism began to surface regarding the actual outputs generated by Cybercheck. Gessner from the Summit County Prosecutor’s office stated that while they engaged with Global Intelligence, their approach has shifted toward seeking alternative open-source locating solutions, driven by the desire to uncover credible leads in their cases.
In analyzing the potential vulnerabilities associated with the reliance on technologies like Cybercheck, business owners should remain cognizant of the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Techniques such as initial access, persistence, and reconnaissance are highly relevant, highlighting the potential risks of utilizing unverified technological solutions in sensitive investigations. The ongoing scrutiny and evaluation of such technologies are crucial to ensure that law enforcement agencies are equipped with reliable and verifiable tools in the continuous fight against crime.
