One California man had to go through the stages of grief all over again after learning that Google was displaying his slain son’s body online as part of its Google Maps program.
According to local Fox affiliate KTVU-TV, Jose Barrera of Richmond, Calif. learned last week that the body of his son, Kevin, could be seen online through the feature’s aerial view mode. Fortunately, Google agreed Tuesday to take down the photo out of respect for him and his family.
“When I see this image, that’s still like that happened yesterday,” Barrera told the station. “And that brings me back to a lot of memories.”
The photo in question shows Kevin Barrera’s lifeless body on the ground next to a railroad track and surrounded by what appears to be a police cruiser and investigators. Barerra was found shot to death on a path near the railroad tracks that separate North Richmond from neighboring San Pablo on Aug. 15, 2009. The cause of his death remains unsolved.
A representative for Google had previously told the station that they do not normally change images used in Google Maps for personal reasons.
“Google has never accelerated the replacement of updated satellite imagery from our maps before, but given the circumstances we wanted to make an exception in this case,” Google Maps Vice President Brian McClendon said in an email. “We believe we can update this in eight days, and we’ve spoken to the family to let them know we’re working hard on the update.”
According to CBS News, Google attempts to update the images in its Maps feature regularly, with the majority of them being around one to three years old. The tech company also provides users with a street view function that gives people the opportunity to tour areas, based on images that are gathered by Google with cameras mounted on cars and other auto devices.
Because most requests made to Google to remove images from its mapping software are denied by the company, Barrera told the station that he planned to take further action against the company if it had denied his claim. His plans included formally complaining to the California-based company and lobby state lawmakers for their help in removing the images if need be.
“What’s the point to show those pictures to the people, you know — pictures of my dead son?” Barrera said. “This is really painful to the whole family.”
Other controversial images that can be viewed from Google Maps include that of a deceased 80-year-old Oregon grandmother reading on her porch and several murder scenes from around the world.
