Latest / Five-Minute Crime / Episode 44- The Message in the AOL Chat: The Murder of Amy Boyer
Transcript
- Ronan Wolfe: This is Five-Minute Crime. I’m Ronan Wolfe. Today’s case takes us back to the early days of dial-up internet—when chat rooms were new, personal information was easy to find, and no one fully understood the danger of digital obsession. This is the story of Amy Boyer. Ronan Wolfe: Amy Boyer was 20 years old in 1999. She lived in New Hampshire and worked at an insurance company. To her friends, she was bright, kind, and moving forward with her life. What she didn’t know was that someone from her past had never stopped watching her. Ronan Wolfe: His name was Scott Moody. They had briefly attended high school together years earlier. But in Moody’s mind, Amy wasn’t a classmate—she was an obsession. Ronan Wolfe: Using AOL and early online search services, Moody began tracking her. He paid an online investigator to obtain her Social Security number. He accessed her employment information. He even created a website filled with violent fantasies about abducting and murdering her. Ronan Wolfe: On October 15, 1999, Moody drove to Amy’s workplace. He waited in the parking lot. When she stepped outside, he shot her multiple times. She died at the scene. Moments later, Moody turned the gun on himself. Ronan Wolfe: The investigation revealed how easily he had gathered her private information. At the time, there were few safeguards protecting personal data online. Amy’s mother later sued the data broker that sold Moody her Social Security number, arguing negligence in releasing sensitive information. Ronan Wolfe: The case became one of the first high-profile examples of internet-fueled stalking. It forced lawmakers and companies to reconsider how personal data was handled—and how dangerous digital access could become in the wrong hands. Ronan Wolfe: Amy Boyer’s life was stolen by someone who built a fantasy world behind a keyboard—and then stepped into reality. Ronan Wolfe: That’s all for this episode of Five-Minute Crime. Until next time—stay curious, stay sharp, and watch your back.