Executive Summary
- Arash Ghaemi developed “CrimeOwl,” an AI tool designed to generate leads for cold cases, inspired by his mother’s 2007 disappearance.
- Shaida Ghaemi went missing from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, 18 years ago; police currently suspect no foul play.
- Wheat Ridge Police declined to use the AI tool on the case, citing concerns over evidence security and potential legal bias.
- The software analyzes case files to map relationships and timelines, reportedly identifying suspects in minutes during testing.
Arash Ghaemi has developed an artificial intelligence program named “CrimeOwl” to assist in solving cold cases, a project driven by the 18-year disappearance of his mother, Shaida Ghaemi, from Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The developer recently presented the technology to the Wheat Ridge Police Department, hoping to utilize the software to uncover new leads in the long-standing investigation.
According to Ghaemi, the tool is designed to ingest case files and automatically generate maps of individuals connected to a missing person, including family, friends, and associates. The AI creates a chronological timeline of events leading up to a disappearance and identifies geographic locations relevant to the investigation. Ghaemi, who is also developing AI applications for other industries, claims that during a test run on a solved Florida cold case, the program successfully identified the perpetrator within 30 minutes—a process that typically requires weeks of human analysis.
Shaida Ghaemi was last seen on September 9, 2007, at the American Motel in Wheat Ridge, where she was living with her boyfriend, Jude Peters. Wheat Ridge Police spokesman Alex Rose confirmed that while investigators found drops of blood in the motel room, Peters explained at the time that it was menstrual blood. Rose stated that there is currently “no clear indication of foul play” and that Peters is not considered a person of interest. The case remains classified as a missing person investigation.
Despite Ghaemi’s request to apply CrimeOwl to his mother’s case files, the Wheat Ridge Police Department declined to release the records. Rose explained that the tool is considered too unproven for active official use, citing concerns over evidence security and chain of custody. Police officials also noted that defense attorneys could argue bias in court, given that the AI platform was built by the son of the missing woman.
Ghaemi acknowledged the financial and legal hurdles facing his startup but emphasized his commitment to the mission. He expressed a willingness to accept the legal risks associated with using the tool if it could provide answers regarding his mother’s fate. While the department has not adopted the software, Rose stated the meeting was part of an effort to provide professional insight to help the tool potentially become viable for agencies in the future.
Investigative Technology Standards
The introduction of private AI tools into criminal investigations presents a complex challenge for law enforcement agencies balancing innovation with procedural integrity. While platforms like CrimeOwl offer the potential to rapidly process vast amounts of data—a critical asset in resource-strained cold case units—they must undergo rigorous vetting to ensure chain-of-custody protocols are maintained. The refusal by Wheat Ridge Police highlights the judicial necessity for software neutrality and security; evidence derived from uncertified third-party algorithms faces significant scrutiny in court, potentially jeopardizing future prosecutions.
