Toronto police are using the popularity of American podcast ‘Serial’ to generate more leads in an unsolved murder case.
The weekly podcast, which in just one season has managed to become the most-downloaded podcast in the world, re-examines the circumstances surrounding the real-life murder of an 18-year-old Baltimore-area high school student. The podcast has prompted some members of the public to come forward with new information about the case.
Toronto homicide detectives took notice of the series and are experimenting with its format.
In an effort to draw attention to the unsolved murder of 24-year-old Mike Pimentel, Toronto police have launched a ‘Serial’ style Twitter campaign, releasing one clue from the case each week.
On Jan. 1, 2012, police say Pimentel had just left a New Year’s party at a nightclub on the CNE grounds when he was stabbed to death at around 3 a.m.
Investigators say they believe he had been separated from his friends and was involved in some sort of altercation with a group of unknown suspects when the fatal incident occurred.
With the blessing of Pimentel’s family, Homicide detectives have been releasing photographs of car keys, a hair extension, high heels and a blurry image of a woman believed to be connected to the case.
Det. Jeff Tavares told CP24 Thursday that followers have provided police with some information on the items.
"People are able to tell us that those shoes were a model from two (or) three years ago from a specific store in the GTA," Tavares said.
The next clue will be released Saturday.
"This definitely has been a very positive experience so far. So we’ll see on the release of the next two clues how the investigation furthers."
Toronto police frequently use social media to draw out new information on cases by posting video surveillance footage and images on YouTube and on Twitter.
Whether it is for solving a case or crime prevention, police departments appear to be harnessing the power of social media to get the attention of the masses.
Local law enforcement officials have even been known to use humour to attract attention on social media.
“Did you or someone you know lose a 1 kg brick of hashish? Hawkesbury OPP has it, looking for the owner,” read a recent tweet from one of the Ontario Provincial Police’s Twitter accounts.
In September, York Regional Police tested out its comedic chops on social media by tweeting out a funny “Frosh Week Expense List,” where the department reminded students just how much activities like “hotboxing the bathroom” could cost them if they’re caught.
