10 Times Pop Culture Solved Real Life Crimes

5. The Doe Network Lets People Solver Murders From Their Computers

The internet has given rise to a new kind of private detective. Much apart from the classic gumshoe who deals with dicey situations and equally dangerous dames in the Raymond Chandler mould, this contemporary breed never has to leave the comfort of their own home.

Serial inspired a whole host of armchair detectives to start investigating its central crime, but that was the tip of the iceberg. Reddit has come under fire for its users taking it upon themselves to solve crimes before official law enforcement can, most notably accusing innocent people of the recent Boston bombings and putting them in danger (whilst also messing with the official investigation).

All of which has served to give armchair detectives a bad name. But then there's The Doe Network, an online repository of missing person cases which to date lays claim to 67 successful identity resolutions, with its volunteers working with law enforcement to connect potential murder victims with unidentified bodies.

That's not just popular culture inspiring the solving of crimes, but the populace doing it themselves.