Fugitive tracked down through WOW

By Oli Welsh Published 4 January, 2010

Blizzard helps with manhunt.

Indiana newspaper The Kokomo Perspective (thanks, RPS) reports that a local Sherriff's Department successfully tracked down a fugitive from justice through his World of Warcraft account, with Blizzard's co-operation.

Alfred Hightower, wanted on drug-dealing charges, had had a warrant out for his arrest since 2007, but had skipped the US for Canada. Sources said he was addicted to "some warlock and witches game".

Deputy Sherriff Matt Roberson, a former player himself, identified the game as WOW. Suspecting that Hightower wouldn't have given up his account, he contacted Blizzard with a subpoena, expecting to be ignored. But after a few months, the California developer sent Roberson Hightower's IP address, account information and history, billing address, online screen name and preferred server - even though it wasn't compelled to by law.

"They were very cooperative. It was nice that they were that willing to provide information," said the deputy Sherriff.

Roberson got a longitude and latitude from the IP address, typed it into Google Earth for a street address ("It works wonders. It uses longitude and latitude. Boom!") and contacted US Marshals with the information. They in turn got the Canadian Mounties involved, and Hightower was deported from Canada and arrested once over the US border.

Moral of the story: if you're on the lam, it's probably best to leave your WOW character behind along with your credit cards.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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