Finding a Dead Body on Google Maps | Super Users

Jerry Nyman works for the School District of Palm Beach County and his job regularly involves using Google Maps to check bus routes. Whilst undertaking a routine search in 2019, Jerry thought he could see a car in one of the man made lakes within a residential community in Florida.

Alongside his ex-girlfriend Erika, Jerry began investigating, and within two days the car was removed from the lake. Jerry was able to help solve a missing persons case that had been active for over 20 years.

We spoke to Jerry and Erika, as they recounted their story.

In Super Users, we go down an internet rabbit hole to hear from people whose lives have become defined by their online presence.

Watch more from this series:

Posing as an Old Lady to Expose Online Scammers

I’m the Leader of the Biggest Cult on TikTok

Solving a 30-Year-Old Murder Mystery Using the Internet

The Hackers Searching for Missing Children

The Gamer Who Flew “Killer Drones” for the US Army


About VICE:
The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE.

Connect with VICE:

The VICE YouTube Network:

[toogle]

He has a very sweet job. Makes sure kids have a safe walk to school. That’s lovely.

[ruzzelladrian]

That's really sad. Just being there for 22 years without anyone knowing you're there.

[sweepthelegjohnny]

It’s crazy to think that my entire life, that guy has been sitting in that car in that lake.

[AudreyBradford]

you can only imagine the kind of closure the family got right after they were notified.

[komradekupkek]

Imagined accidentally solving a case only to be called stalker by some random keyboard warrior expert🤣🤣

[nickclements]

Netflix could probably make a 10 episode documentry out of this 😝

[enlightenedchipmunk]

The guy wasn’t stalking her. He’s familiar enough with Google to know that the images are not a live feed, and he probably just used her house as a reference point since he is familiar with the area. And even if he did just randomly look at her house for personal reasons, I don’t think that qualifies as stalking.

[sirabrix]

His explanation for looking at his ex’s house seems pretty legit tbh. She said they’re still friends. Don’t think that would be the case if he was as weird as y’all are making him out to be lmao

[indecisive.]

I think it's odd people are calling him a stalker for looking up his ex-gf's house. He said they remained in touch, and he knew her house was nearby to the school he was supposed to serve as a bus driver. It's completely normal to try to use relative locations that you know about when looking up something on Google Maps. I do it myself. I don't think it's weird

[OfficalMrBlue]

Glad the family found closure, thanks to this man.

[pigidly]

A lot of back story to cover you were checking out your ex girlfriend house on Google maps.

[wack]

imagine doing your job of making kids having a safe path from home to school just to get called a stalker by some 14 year old

[TheRealJamesie]

Man: Do ya'll see this car in the lake?
Everyone: *Goes to the lake at night time* "Nope can't see it"

[FingeringThings]

Imagine how many people and cars are like this dude but we never found them

[Juwlz]

This is insanely cool.

Before my grandpa died, he would look at other countries on google maps. He also found these city cams, you can watch cities all over the world and just people watch.

There was one in Thailand, on a busy bar street. My grandpa wanted to show me it. He points to this girl, he goes "isnt that something, she comes to this exact corner every night at the same time, dressed all fancy, I think she must help tourists because these men will come up to her and they will leave together for a little bit and then she always comes back by herself"

🙄🤦🤦I googled the area and I was like "oh great. So do I tell my adorably innocent 85 year old grandpa that hes been watching a hooker"😂😂

[Jay_hendy]

When you accidentally solve a missing persons case by stalking your ex

[bornbrit]

“I found a dead body using Google maps” . Googles new advertising campaign

[bamababii]

Yall he wasn't stalking her. He literally just explained why he was on Google maps. Yall are sad and pathetic.

[stangarone]

*everyone starts searching Google Maps

[lumpyknuckle]

He literally was just doing his ACTUAL paid job while also u ncovering something crazy and y'all say he's a STALKER!?