Sharon Lopatka’s husband didn’t think anything of it when she told him she was travelling out of state to visit friends. However, everything changed when he found what appeared to be a suicide note she had penned. When detectives got involved, their investigation would send them to the dark underbelly of the then-burgeoning internet.
Sources:
The Odessa American, 27 October, 1996 – “Email Message Leads Police to Grave”
The Sun, 23 August, 1995 – “Guide Offers Help”
Internet Assisted Suicide – The Story of Sharon Lopatka by Rachael Bell
The Sun, 29 October, 1996 – “Body in N.C. is MD Woman”
Austin American-Statesman, 30 October, 1996 – “Woman’s Emails”
The Charlotte Observer, 30 October, 1996 – “Woman Discussed Death”
The Charlotte Observer, 31 October, 1996 – “Accident Claimed in Death”
The Daily Mirror, 31 October, 1996 – “Dial Email for Murder”
The Herald Sun, 31 October, 1996 – “Woman May Have Suffered from Sexual Masochism”
Philadelphia Daily News, 31 October, 1996 – “User’s Killing Fuels More”
The Charlotte Observer, 3 November, 1996 – “Past Tells Little”
The News & Observer, 3 November, 1996 – “A Secret Sexual Life”
The Herald Sun, 6 February, 1997 – “Net Tryst Murder Suspect Indicted”
The Charlotte Observer, 11 March, 1997 – “Not Guilty Plea”
The Washington Times, 14 October, 1997 – “Accused Killer’s Former Wife”
The Charlotte Observer, 9 April, 1998 – “Caldwell Man Held in Murder”
The Charlotte Observer, 7 July, 1999 – “Internet Slaying”
The Charlotte Observer, 3 December, 1999 – “Trial Finally Set”
The Charlotte Observer, 28 January, 2000 – “Plea Deal Ends Chat Room”
The Herald Sun, 28 January, 2000 – “Man Sentenced in Death of Md Woman He Met on Internet”
The Charlotte Observer, 30 January, 2000 – “Plea Bargain a Muted End to Online Case”
Winston-Salem Journal, 19 February, 2002 – “Man Convicted”
