Spanish police have arrested two people in connection with the death and disappearance of a man, following an unusual lead discovered on Google Street View. The arrest was triggered by an image captured by the Google Maps car, which appeared to show someone loading a large object, wrapped in a white cloth, into the trunk of a car.
The missing man, a 33-year-old originally from Cuba, was reported missing by a relative in November 2023 after receiving suspicious messages from his phone. These messages claimed the man had met a new partner, was moving away, and would be disposing of his phone. The relative grew suspicious and alerted the police.
The investigation led to the discovery of a Google Street View image taken in Tajueco, a small village in northern Spain. In the photo, a person is seen standing by a red car, placing a large white package into the trunk. Authorities said this image was one of several clues that helped them connect the case to the arrested suspects—a woman, the missing man’s former partner, and a man with whom she had been involved.
Police arrested the two in November and later found human remains in a nearby cemetery. Although the remains have not been officially identified, authorities believe they may belong to the missing man. Both suspects face charges of aggravated illegal detention, as well as involvement in the man’s death.
The missing man had been visiting the village of Tajueco to see his romantic partner when he disappeared. After the arrest, investigators focused on locating the man’s body, which led to the grim discovery of the remains on December 11. Forensic analysis is ongoing.
This case is not the first time Google Maps imagery has aided police investigations. In 2022, Google’s Street View helped authorities locate a fugitive in Spain. However, Google has faced criticism over privacy concerns due to its camera-equipped vehicles.
While the Google image played a role in the investigation, police have emphasized that it was only one of many factors that led to solving the case. The investigation into the disappearance and death of the man is still ongoing.
