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AI meets true crime
In late November 1987, Nashville police got a call about a revolting stench on Charlotte Avenue. What they found under a dirt-floor crawl space shocked even the most hardened crime scene veterans: two decomposing bodies, buried and forgotten beneath a broken-down home.
The address traced back to James Shaffer, a convicted rapist already serving time for kidnapping and assault. He admitted to killing the two women, claiming they had stolen from him. He gave only partial names, that is, Sheila and “Little Bit.”
There were no IDs, no missing persons reports, no fingerprints, no next of kin. The case went cold and stayed cold for nearly four decades. Even with a confession, no names meant no entries in the national database and no justice for the families.
🧬 DNA, AI and the internet: A cold case dream team
Today, powerful DNA technology, smart internet sleuthing and a little help from artificial intelligence are rewriting the story. Across the country, old cases are being cracked wide open by combining classic detective work with modern tools like genetic genealogy and AI.
Here’s the process: Police first try CODIS, the FBI’s DNA database. If there’s no match, and often there isn’t, they move to public genealogy sites like GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA.
Genealogists then build sprawling family trees from shared DNA, and detectives dig through old records. AI now joins the hunt, scanning decades of police reports, obituaries, social media posts and even mug shots to spot connections people might miss.
Some systems can even predict likely identities by studying migration patterns, regional matches and known associates.
👀 The break in the case
In January 2025, police exhumed one of the women for a better DNA sample. Around the same time, a woman in Elgin, Illinois, saw a forensic composite of “Little Bit” on the news. It looked like her mom, Sheila Cummings, who had been missing since the ’80s.
She called the police, provided her own DNA, and boom, the match was made.
The second woman is still unknown. Her DNA is in the system, and AI is combing every digital corner for a lead. It feels like only a matter of time.
Shine on, scrub star
✨ Cleaning isn’t glamorous, but the right tools turn “ugh, chores” into “ahh, tidy.”
- ⌨️ Oddly satisfying: Press this gooey gel (42% off) into your keyboard or car vents and watch dust vanish.
- 🙈 Dirt can’t hide: From baseboards to ceilings, tackle every tight spot with a long-handled wall mop (5% off).
- 🧽 An internet fave: Scrub Daddy’s kitchen sponges (10% off, five-pack) have 4.8 stars and 81,000+ fans.
- 🫧 Gentle but mighty: Safe for all colors, this nontoxic spray (29% off) protects leather, faux and even vinyl.
- ♻️ No more messy rolls: A stackable trash bag dispenser (15% off) keeps ’em neat and ready to grab.
🛒 Your cart upgrade: If you love these picks, tap here for more essentials. Then, pop over to my Amazon storefront for more all-stars.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The new scams that know you by name
Ever get a text that feels … a little too real? You know the ones: “Your account has been locked. Click here to verify.” Most of us roll our eyes and delete them.
But the new generation of scams? They’re scarier and a whole lot smarter.
📄 Let Gemini read your Docs: You can now listen to your Docs and even customize the voice and playback speed. Just go to Tools > Audio > Listen to this tab. FYI: It only works for English documents on desktop and is limited to Workspace business, enterprise, education, AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
🚗 Primed to drive: Live within 75 miles of Dallas, Houston, LA or Seattle? You can now shop Hertz’s used rental cars on Amazon Autos. That means more variety instead of only Hyundais. Just pick it up at a Hertz lot within three days. They’ll soon expand to 45 cities, because let’s be real, Amazon won’t stop until you can buy everything from them.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Bundles are making a comeback
The cord-cutting revolution gave us freedom from bloated cable bundles. Now streaming companies are quietly putting the pieces back together. Are we heading right back to where we started?
148%
The spike in impersonation scams over just one year. Scammers are getting better and multiplying. Just last year, fake voices, cloned execs and AI chatbots helped criminals drain nearly $3 billion from victims. The crazy part? It only takes three seconds to clone your voice.
😟 Break down tough tasks with AI: Next time you feel overwhelmed by a project, try this prompt with a chatbot: “I want to [goal], but I’m not sure where to start. Can you lay out the steps and suggest which to do first?” Or: “I want to [goal], but I’m a beginner. Can you explain the steps in simple terms?”
Is Bluetooth dangerous?
Think your Bluetooth earbuds or car connection are safe? Think again. Leaving Bluetooth on all the time can let hackers sneak in and listen to your calls or take control. Here’s what you need to know to stay protected.
🧬 Eyes before flys: Biometric e-gates are here. Soon, you can scan your face at six airports (ATL, SEA, DCA and more), so you can skip human interaction and plunge straight into security, assuming you’ve paid for Clear and aren’t a criminal. It’s Clear’s way of prepping for the 2026 World Cup, or the singularity, whichever comes first.
Genius hacks for under $25
💰 No need to spend a fortune. Just a few small upgrades with big payoffs.
- 💻 Work smarter, not hunched: This laptop stand (36% off) keeps you from twisting into a human pretzel.
- 💡 Dim the distractions: Block those pesky blinking lights with these LED blackout stickers (20% off).
- 💊 Dose of organization: Perfect for travel, this daily pill organizer (10% off) fits everything from meds to fish oil tablets.
- 🚛 Moving made easy: These reusable bags ($26, six-pack) with handles and zippers can haul up to 65 lbs.
- 🫧 Small bathroom? No prob. A floating shelf (33% off) adds two tiers of storage right above your toilet.
⚡ Blink and you’ll miss it: Amazon’s lightning deals are live today but gone in minutes. Snag your faves, and check out my storefront for more good stuff.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Are schools spying on your kids at home?
Your kid might be under 24/7 school surveillance, even at home. George, your AI host, breaks down how student safety tools like GoGuardian and Gaggle track everything from late-night YouTube binges to unsent messages. Plus: a $750 PayPal password dump, biometric TSA fast lanes, Steph Curry’s AI jump shot coach, and five cool science experiments hiding in your phone.
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
T-Mobile caught creeping: T-Mobile got slammed with a $92M fine for selling real-time location data without consent. Their legal defense? Basically “We did it, but like, who’s counting?” Judges were not amused. The FCC calls it a massive privacy failure. Verizon and AT&T (pending cases for $104.2M in fines) better start sweating, this was just round one.
🍏 Set default apps on Mac: There’s no single place to change all defaults, so you’ll need to do them one by one. For your browser: Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock, and scroll down to Default web browser. For email: Open the Mail app, click Mail (top left corner of screen) > Settings > General > Default email reader.
We got scammed out of $200K
Bill and his wife thought they were investing in crypto. Instead, they got wiped out. Then, how AI could take down Google Chrome. Plus, Silicon Valley’s obsession with “super smart” babies, the secret world of spy radio, and crypto’s path to your 401(k).
Power plays
👩💻 Life runs on tech. Here’s the gear that’ll keep you connected.
- 🤖 Upgrading your Android? Save $250 on the slim, lightning-fast Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (20% off).
- ⌚ Band together: These elastic nylon Apple Watch bands (15% off, three-pack) feel comfy from work to the gym.
- 📱 Twist of genius: Scroll hand-free or film your next viral overhead video with a gooseneck phone holder (10% off).
- 🔋 Fast fuel: This portable charger (10% off) can power up to four gadgets at once. Bonus: built-in wall plug.
- 🔊 Big sound, small box: Over 35,000 shoppers gave this waterproof Bluetooth speaker (15% off) 4.6 stars.
🎉 Labor Day came early: Why wait? Click this secret link for the first steals. Then, swing by my Amazon page to shop smarter, not harder.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📺 Block the binge: Netflix loves to autoplay the next episode, but you can turn this off. On desktop, click your account picture and select Manage Profiles. Choose Your Profile, go to Playback settings and toggle off Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices. Now hit Save at the bottom.
🤖 Clickbait’s best friend is a fool: Be careful what you believe on the Motley Fool site. Roadzen’s shares nosedived 10% after Motley Fool’s “friendly Foolish AI,” JesterAI, hallucinated a massive 50% earnings miss in an article. Other sites reposted their AI-written article. “Friendly Foolish AI” sounds like a Tinder bio and a lawsuit waiting.