A feature on the social media platform Snapchat played a pivotal role in solving a double murder case in Wisconsin.
Despite concerns about tracking features on social media apps, the Snapchat feature proved vital for those investigating this horrific crime.
This complex case started on July 7, 2021, when 23-year-old Chandler Halderson reported his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson, missing from their family residence.
Chandler claimed that his parents had gone to their family cabin for the 4th of July celebrations but failed to return to their home in Windsor.
Dane County Sheriff’s Detective Sabrina Sims explained to ABC News’ 20/20: “He mentioned they were maybe going to a casino. We learned that it’s out of character for them to go gambling, and that the Haldersons, especially Bart, were pretty frugal with money.”
Suspicions grew as investigators observed that the parents’ vehicles were still at the home, and the cabin showed no signs of recent use. The story did not add up.
A breakthrough came later in 2021 when a local resident noticed Halderson behaving suspiciously after reportedly seeing him backing his car into a wooded area in July of that year.
Sims recounted: “She watched him walking from the wooded area…and found that to be unusual.”
Following an official report, officers made a gruesome discovery of a male torso, later identified as Bart Halderson.
An autopsy revealed that Bart had been shot and subsequently dismembered, with a blade, bolt cutters, and scissors found in an oil drum.
Halderson was arrested for allegedly misleading investigators and was initially charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
Adding another twist to the investigation, the suspect’s girlfriend, Cathryn Mellender, provided police with evidence from her phone using the Snapchat app.
The ‘Snap Map’ feature, which shows your friends’ locations, revealed Halderson was at the Wisconsin River on July 3, 2021.
Officials subsequently searched the area, discovering more human remains, this time belonging to Krista.
Investigators cleared Mellender of any involvement in the murders, while Halderson faced eight charges, including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating corpses, and providing false information about missing persons.
Though he pleaded not guilty in a 2022 trial, Halderson was convicted of all eight charges by a jury and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
“I have to ensure the only time Mr Halderson comes back into the community is to have the privilege of a burial he denied his parents,” the judge remarked.