BONUS SERIES: Levittown Episode 3 | The Hunter
Summary
This episode of *Levittown* follows a New Zealand detective and private investigator as they track down a serial online harasser who targeted over a dozen women for nearly a decade. By using open-source intelligence and reverse image searches, the team identifies the perpetrator, who had been posting non-consensual images and deepfakes on a specific website. The story highlights the victims’ struggles with police inaction and the emotional toll of sustained digital abuse, culminating in the suspect’s arrest and seven-year prison sentence.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: ChatGPT Work, Cincinnati Insurance, Comcast
Series context and content warnings
Discovery of the same website in New Zealand
Introduction to Detective Doug Nuku and his background
The first victim's story of online harassment
Doug's initial investigation and 'hunter' mindset
Tracing the sender and legal boundaries
Introduction of private investigator Will Wallace
Identifying the harassment website via reverse image search
Using open-source intelligence to track the harasser
Sponsors: Bloomberg Tech Minute, Comcast, MasterCard, Edward Jones
Lucy's story: High school harassment and fake Tinder account
Lucy's failed attempts to report to police in 2015
Escalation of abuse: Photos and threats over five years
Impact on Lucy's life and fear of being followed
Second police visit and lack of digital literacy
Police contact Lucy in 2020; 12 other victims identified
Sponsors: Bloomberg Tech Minute, Comcast, MasterCard, Edward Jones
Tracking the suspect's digital footprint and IP address
Arrest of Finn Cotton and Lucy's reaction
Will's focus on the website and deepfake imagery
Legal challenges in New York and show credits
Sponsors: Delta, Asana, 4imprint, Cincinnati Insurance
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