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True Crime
Of Stalking, Craigslist and Social Media — The Case of Natalie Bollinger
The internet tried to solve the crime, but were they right?
Someone was stalking Natalie Bollinger.
She feared for her life and filed a restraining order, so when she went missing soon after, everyone immediately pointed the finger at the man who’d been following her: Shawn Schwartz.
Was everything as clear cut as it seemed? In the world of true crime intersecting with modern technology, Facebook seemed a proper gauge for who was the culprit.
Unfortunately, Natalie Bollinger’s case is as bizarre as it is complicated.
Bollinger, 19, was an avid user of Facebook, using the platform as a personal diary. She often posted about daily life in Colorado, which included documenting her history with Schwartz. Writing on her timeline that he was sleeping behind her workplace and constantly harassing both her and loved ones, Bollinger filed a court order that would legally separate them from interacting. She published this post as part of her public plea, according to CBS Denver:
“He’s sent e-mails for over a year close to everyday, harassing me. Making numerous different accounts until I block him again. Threatening my family, telling me he’ll kill himself in front of me, and sending my friends and family threatening messages as well.”
Then, on December 28, 2017, Bollinger vanished. As she had accumulated a minor following on Facebook, people instantaneously jumped to conclusions about Schwartz, urging the police to take action through their own digital investigations.
Schwartz went live on Facebook multiple times to convey his emotions on the accusations. He repeatedly told those who attended the streams that the focus should be on finding Natalie rather than pointing fingers. Upon news outlets catching wind of the case, they interviewed Schwartz, who disclosed his point of view.
The man claimed that Bollinger was suicidal and suffering from substance abuse…
