Prosecutors said Wednesday that technology and social media affected the Samantha Humphrey homicide investigation in a major way.

Samantha Humphrey’s on again/off again boyfriend, then 14, has been charged with second-degree murder in her death.

Investigators said they dealt with a locked and broken iPad and social media speculation during the long process.

Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said at a news conference that a break in the case came five months into the investigation, when detectives became aware of the existence of an iPad that could contain useful evidence.
The iPad was broken and protected by an unknown password, according to Carney. Investigators had to get after-market parts to rebuild the iPad and then use software to force entry.

“This procedure took more than a year to complete and was ultimately successful,” he said.

Carney said one thing that affected the investigation in a negative way was social media. At one point, someone had pointed the finger at eight different suspects.

“It was a giant distraction, and it caused law enforcement to go down rabbit holes.”

There was a reward for information about the case, and useful leads were generated by members of the public, Carney said.