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'Unknown Social Network' Hook-up Implicated in Phoenix Murder

by Matthew Zuras on May 1, 2010 at 11:00 AM

Readers, we frequently caution that the Internet can be a dangerous place. Malware's one thing, but sometimes real blood is shed. With social networks growing exponentially, it seems unfortunately inevitable that any such meeting place will eventually be abused by people with ulterior intentions. Remember the Craigslist murders of last year, which made casual encounters suddenly terrifying.

54-year-old Phoenix, AZ resident Mark G. Woodland was discovered by police Sunday evening, apparently beaten and stabbed to death, after his roommate had found that their apartment had been ransacked for valuables. Woodland allegedly met his murderer online and told his roommate to give him some privacy in the apartment with his expected date; police arrested Tommy Reed, 19, and charged him with second-degree murder after tracking down his phone. Apparently, the device was reportedly used to make the date between the two. Police said that Reed later admitted to the murder.

Initial reports swirling around the Internet named Grindr, the popular GPS-enabled app for finding nearby gay men, as the social network involved. But the Phoenix Police Department released a statement shortly afterward asking that journalists report that an "unknown social network" connected the victim and the murder suspect.

While it's a little odd that the network's name is being kept under wraps, we don't think it's really germane to the crime itself. You can blame technology all you want, but it comes down to the desperation of an individual who is willing to violently take advantage of another. No app, website or cell phone can negate the fact that some will resort to chicanery, robbery and murder. Users need to be wary when meeting up alone with a stranger -- and a can of pepper spray in your back pocket couldn't hurt, either. [From: Towleroad]

Tags: grindr, mark g. woodland, MarkG.Woodland, murder, phoenix, SocialNetworking, tommy reed, TommyReed, top

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