Mediaboss Marketing

By ALEXIS ZOTOS 6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Social media is now so integrated into our lives that it's playing a role in criminal investigations.

This weekend two people wanted in a homicide case posted a picture on their Facebook accounts with the words "last pic. Will love you till the end." Soon after, Pigeon Forge police found them at Wendy's on the Parkway.

Previous story:Man shot by police at Pigeon Forge Wendy's was wanted for questioning in Campbell Co. murder

Deputies in Whitley County, Kentucky say pictures posted on Facebook led them to a marijuana growing operation. The man seen posing in front of the plants in the photos was arrested along with his father.

Social media has become a powerful tool for many law enforcement agencies. The Knox County Sheriff's Office says it's changing the way they protect and serve.

We know if we put a suspect's picture up, we know we have all these eyeballs seeing it on Facebook, explained KCSO spokesperson Martha Dooley.

KCSO was one of the first law enforcement agencies in East Tennessee to get a website. Now through Twitter and Facebook, they reach thousands in an effort to get information out to the public as quickly as possible. Investigators are also using social media to gather information.

Investigations is about communication. Any way we can communicate with our witnesses, victims, suspects, any way we can communicate the better, explained Lt. Aaron Yarnell.

Lt. Yarnell says they use social media on a daily basis, using people's profiles to track down information and find people that can help further an investigation.

Read more:
Knoxville area law enforcement agencies using social media to fight crime