TikTok is more than just a platform for people to show off their sweet dance moves. It also serves as a way to get crowd-sourced information that can literally solve crimes.
This is exactly what happened in Los Angeles after a man was convicted of murder for stabbing his ex-girlfriend. Police were able to crack the case after getting information from TikTok informants.
Earlier this summer, the son of TikTok influencer Ophelia Nichols was shot and killed at a gas station in Alabama. Nichols pleaded with her more than 7 million TikTok followers to help her solve the case. So far, we haven't seen any developments.
In February of 2021, 19-year-old Daisy De La O was stabbed to death near her family's apartment in Compton, California.
The East L.A. College student had recently broken up with her 25-year-old boyfriend, Victor Sosa, making him a prime suspect in the case.
Because there were basically no other suspects, law enforcement focused their investigative efforts solely on Sosa, who was nowhere to be found. However, thanks to the magic of TikTok, Sosa's face was displayed prominently on social media.
Daisy's friends and family members used the hashtag #justicefordaisy and shared images of Sosa far and wide. His run from justice came to an end when he was spotted working at a bar and nightclub in Rosarito, Mexico — just over the border from California.
With their suspect in custody, police now began the real work of building a case against him. He issued a plea of not guilty to first-degree murder and was held in jail.
After a long year, Daisy's family finally saw justice served when Sosa was found guilty of first-degree murder.
"I've waited one year and almost three months to hear those words," said Daisy's mom, Susana Salas. "But to hear them in court was something else, you know? Honestly, I see my daughter smiling in heaven. Finally, justice was served."
The big break in the case came when Sosa was identified in Rosarito, and this wouldn't have been possible without the TikTok campaign. From there, police took over and were able to use surveillance video to build a case against Sosa.
"Thank God for social media, honestly," said Salas. "I've heard so many stories of parents who are still waiting for the person to get caught. There's no one that's a suspect. And thank God I have that."
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