An Austin, Texas, police officer claims that if you turn off your phone or it is not connected to a network, then that might strongly suggest you’re a “victim of a crime or you’re probably committing one.”

This statement was made during a tenuous investigation into the murder of a popular up and coming cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson earlier this year, when in January her killer, Kaitlin Armstrong, was convicted and sentenced to 90 years in prison.

A summation of the criminal investigation

Though the murder made national headwaves, one of the lead investigators involved in the case from day one, Detective Jonathan Riley made an intriguing statement in a lengthy report/interview with CBS News.

When compiling the evidence and piecing together the string of events to determine who the murderer was, how, when, and why it was committed; apparently one of the tip-offs was the murderer lied about her phone’s battery dying the night Armstrong carried out the murder. However, this was found not to be true and that the phone was deliberately turned off.

This was a red flag for the detectives when this was discovered. But Det. Riley took it a step further by making the statement that in this day and age if someone turns off their phone or takes it off of a network, then it most likely means that person is a victim of a crime or is a criminal themselves.

The statement was made during an interview with CBS’ reporter Johnathan Viglotti during an episode of CBS’ 48 Hours. Their interaction is as follows:


Strickland told investigators he kept Wilson’s phone number under an alias in his contacts, and on that evening after he’d been out with Wilson at the pool, he texted Armstrong that he’d been out running an errand and that his phone had died. That was not true.

Investigators say, there were other clues pointing toward Armstrong.

Det. Jonathan Riley: … on the night of the murder, Kaitlin Armstrong’s phone was not connected to a cell network.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Not connected?

Det. Jonathan Riley: Correct. So, whether she powered it off, whether she put in an airplane mode, uh, there’s some something happened [sic] that her phone was not communicating with any cellphone towers.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Do you think this was on purpose?

Det. Jonathan Riley: Absolutely … in this day and age, if your phone is off and not connected to a network, you’re either the victim of a crime or you’re probably committing one.

Jonathan Vigliotti: A silent phone speaks louder in some cases than actions.

Det. Jonathan Riley: Oh, absolutely.

Watch this part of the interview at 16:35

AUTHOR COMMENTARY

So, apparently, we’re suspected of being potential criminals or under duress, if, God forbid, we turn our phones off. That’s how insane everything has gotten these days. You have no autonomy, you have no personal privacy anymore; everything is being watched and hijacked and snooped on. But we’re the criminals? Right…

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! […] [23] Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

SEE: Edward Snowden Warns The NSA Is ’Just Days From Taking Over The Internet’ With The Signing Of The FISA Act


[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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34 Comments

  • What a ridiculous statement. So . . . if you keep your phone off until you want to use it, you’re suspect of . . . what exactly? What does he think of people who don’t even have one?

      • They never were. They are all cookie cutter programmed copies who use the same statements in the same situations with no variation. they are now chosen for their lack of the ability to think and reason and to simply “follow orders”. In essence they are human terminators

  • Leaving your phone at home or “forgetting” to bring your phone with you.
    Might be a real crime with high consequence to soon then…

    • I NEVER take my phone with me. Does anyone know that your phone movements are tracked and your data is sold? Does anyone know how long your phone will hold a charge if left on? This “expert” is an idiot.

  • I no longer own a cell phone. I have a work phone, which when I leave work, it stays at work. This world would be a much better place without them. Of course, prophecy must be fulfilled. Choose for yourself individually to not have one. If everyone you know has one, fine, let them be filled with their own devices. As for me, I choose the fear of the Lord!

    • I use a flip phone. I keep my smart phone in a Faraday bag unless i am using it. It goes off and on all day long. That should confuse brain dead cops

  • 95% of the time my cell phone battery is dead and just sits there, not in use. I guess HaHaHa I’m devising a plan to take over something or do some crime LOLOLOLOL; actually I am studying God’s word, which is a “crime” to the world and full of “hate speech” and I ain’t gona stop.

    May be , just may be some of us want to be left alone and not involved with the world anymore than we has ta, that statement was a “stupid is as stupid does moment”

  • I managed to lose two cell phones over time so I stopped purchasing them. I barely even use my regular phone. I notice this detective works in Austin. Looks like the insanity of that liberal city has rubbed off on him. I’ve gotten strange looks when I say I do not have a cell phone, but I don’t think people think I’m committing a crime. They think how can she survive without one? Well, I’ve lived most of my life when those things were not around and that’s one less health hazard I have to contend with. I wonder how old this detective is……..16 years old, maybe?

  • So possessing a Faraday phone bag must indicate you are a felon? Rather like drug paraphernalia…

    • Sooner or later, some state legislators will enact a law based on this POS excuse for a cop

  • Bwahahahaha………..turning off your phone means NOTHING,,,,,they still track you, listen to you and some phones even have the cameras still function when off…..why do you think the batteries are now NOT REMOVABLE!!

    • Exactly

      How many phones when your powered off can you say the magic words? Hey Siri or something, and the phone responds?

      Alexa, siri, your ‘smart tv’

      All send mini packets of data, even when not in use. All of them listen, and who knows when the next mandatory update, you must accept doesn’t also include a series of keywords to listen for?

      Have a conversation in your room, and you say certain words and phrases, and while the device may not power on, it may start transmitting what you’re saying

  • I often leave mine at home. Folks my age spent decades untethered, so we don’t panic when that happens.
    I always turn it off at church. Normally, I do the same at a concert or movie.
    I once forgot at my aunts funeral, which was embarrassing. I remember to do it now at anything like that.
    Wonder what crime I’d be committing?

  • *Austin,tx obviously dosent check the I.Q. of it’s hires. this is in the top 10 if not the top 5 stupidest statements of 2024. Many reason to turn phone off. As stated above 1.) sitting in church 2.)Being in an important meeting ; with your boss , an important client etc,etc . 3.)Realizing your ph. is going dead and not having your charger with you and turning it off to conserve pwn.4) Hunting and not wanting to scare off all game in the area.5.) Sitting in a theater and not wanting to disturb the rest of the audience. Just a few reasons off the top of my head, I’m sure given time I could produce more. lol a lazy cop wanting others to do their thinking for them. Austin must be desperate, scraping the bottom of the barrel

    • Yes, Rick there’s plenty more reasons for phone off…

      At the gas station petroleum station turned off phone…at the airport
      When you board plane the air hostess tells passengers to turn off phone and also at hospital if there is sensitive electronic equipment you’ll probably be told to turn off smartphone because it might interfere with the sensitive equipment. Loads of reasons really for turning it off.
      Have a Blessed day

  • Hmm, you actually scared me into an idea. I think I”m going to start turning my phone off. I just realize why. You want to TRACK us 24/7!

    • Yes, you got it, they want to track you 24/7. Your tracking is already collected and sold by third parties, your phone is a spy.

  • Last time I checked, what I do, or don’t do with my phone, or even if I have a phone is none of anyone else’s business, especially “color of law,” corporate fictions that masquerade as “authorities.” The statement exemplifies the level of gall, arrogance, nerve and mental illness that some people exist in. Think about it? How does a sane mind equate a phone that is off with crime victims or criminal activity? That is asinine, and delusional on its face. This guy carries a gun? Wow. I don’t want to know what a porch light off means to him?

  • There are times when you are REQUIRED To TURN OFF YOUR PHONE such as

    At the hospital near sensitive electrical equipment where a smartphone might interfere with the equipment, turn off phone at the Gas station petroleum station, at the airport in certain areas and on the aeroplane you’ll be told to turn off your phone by the air hostess…

    And quite a few anxiety therapists, with nervous overwhelmed overworked patients will tell patients will tell you to “digitally detox” by turning off your phone as constant distraction can have negative effects on your body and mental wellness

    So this assumption that turning off the phone makes you a criminal is IGNORANT, UNEDUCATED and without reasoning…well, what do you expect from this generation of digitally obsessed “can’t spend a single second without me phone!!!”
    Generation….oh how I miss the pre Internet days sometimes…

    Oh….of course we all know why they want us all with a cellphone on us 24/7 it’s all about the control….Winston from 1984 book thought he had it bad….well welcome to 2024!!!

    The cameras and microphones outnumber the population of Earth….vastly outnumber us…even the smart refrigerator and smart coffee pot and robot vacuum “talk to each other apparently….

    Do you like the new technology? I think it has positive things like without the Internet we wouldn’t be able to communicate and everything is instant, if you want to find something it’s just a quick search, I remember having to spend many hours at library in the 1980s looking up things…all those things took forever…now it’s just a few clicks away online…so I do like certain aspects of this new technology…
    But all the increased surveillance, data to unknown companies and erosion of our privacy control non stop is worrying because it’s all encompassing and digital currency, social credit scores will be the final nail in the coffin of personal freedom and the rise of the beast systems

    I miss speaking to a human being instead of automatic voice at the surgery, and most business these days it’s always a horrid robot voice…. and the wretched robot voice mishearing what you said…ugh!!!! Totally frustrating!!!!!

    “Hello! Thank you for your patience! Currently Number 16 in the phone line…why don’t you book your appointment online?” You visit the website only to be told to telephone….round and round in circles….hate it! so exasperated and extremely frustrating isn’t it?!!

    So there’s good and bad with 21st technology
    Apologies for rambling on
    Have a Blessed day

  • I meant communication instantly…that would really really surprise our great grandparents generation, as they only had paper letters, telegram and telephone
    Although-get-this!!!! The mail service postal service was more reliable in the WW1 and WW2 – than here in the 21St century!!!!!

    Yes even with a war on and air shelters, people “got things done” and everything was made to last and everyone helped each other…the great blitz spirits of England

    How did we get from people taking great care of their appearance and spending hours polishing shoes and taking great care on clothes, to here in 2024 pee pants… hard to believe they’ve sold out already…what is wrong with this generation?!!!!
    I think a Victorian time-travelling would die of shock if they visited 2024!

    We live in a dystopian science fiction novel that what the world seems like at times
    “Surely that can’t be true!” We cry at some absurd stupid news, only to find out it’s real…it’s reality… so bizarre…

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