Man convicted in killing after being ID’d through Snapchat

LAS VEGAS  — A man has been convicted of murder in a drug-related robbery killing in Las Vegas after initially being identified as a suspect because a friend of the victim thought to check and preserve a Snapchat message.

Jurors on Thursday convicted 25-year-old Montrell Russum of murder, robbery and conspiracy in the 2018 killing of 25-year-old Martell Williams.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Williams was found dead by a friend, Brandon Boisclar, who said he immediately wondered with whom Williams had last been in contact.

Bosclair said he saved a Snapchat message on Williams’ phone, and detectives then used the message to identify Russum.

Snapchat messages typically can be seen for only a brief period of time.

Detectives also used cell tower records to identify two other suspects. They await trial.