Google Translate^® Leads to Murder Arrest

It started with a text. On March 30, 2017, Anna Maciejewska's father received a message from her phone, wishing him a happy birthday — in Polish. But something was off. The grammar was clunky, unnatural. The message didn't read like it came from a native speaker. That single detail would set off a cascade of suspicions leading to an arrest nearly eight years later. Now, Allen Gould — Anna's husband — is facing charges including first-degree murder and tampering with evidence after police say he staged a birthday greeting using Google Translate^® to cover up her disappearance. It's a case that has shaken a quiet Pennsylvania suburb and captivated both investigators and the community for nearly a decade.

Anna Disappears, and the Story Begins to Unravel

Anna Maciejewska, a 43-year-old actuary and mother of a young son, was last seen on March 28, 2017. But her husband didn't report her missing until April 12 — two full weeks later.

That delay alone raised red flags. Then came the discovery that her last known communications had abruptly stopped. Her phone had been left at home, supposedly updating its software. Gould told police she left in a panic on April 10, but digital records from her car suggested it hadn't moved at all that day.

The inconsistencies piled up fast. Her blue Audi was eventually found in a residential parking lot two miles from their home — untouched, with her purse in the trunk. It wasn't the kind of disappearance that matched Anna's reliable habits, friends said.

The Text That Made Investigators Stop and Stare

One of the most chilling pieces of evidence came from that poorly written Polish text. Investigators determined the exact message had been run through Google Translate. And when they searched Gould's home, they found a printout of the same phrase — evidence, they said, that he was trying to stage proof of life.

For Anna's family, who knew her as a fluent speaker, the grammatical blunders were jarring. It was a red flag that couldn't be ignored — and the beginning of a wider unraveling.

A Marriage in Crisis Behind Closed Doors

Court records paint a picture of a marriage in deep trouble. Anna had reportedly been researching divorce for months. She enrolled in a "Divorce 101" class and confided in a support group about her fears that she might lose custody of her son if she left Gould. She described feeling trapped and unsupported, calling herself a shell of a person who walked on eggshells in her own home.

Friends told investigators that the couple frequently clashed — especially over parenting. Anna's internet history showed more than 150 searches about emotional abuse, narcissism, and how to navigate divorce from a controlling partner.

8 Years, No Body, and an Arrest

Despite a lack of physical evidence — Anna's body has never been found — prosecutors believe the mountain of circumstantial clues tells a clear story. Among them: Gould's decision to stop cooperating with police, hiring a criminal defense lawyer, and researching strangulation online. He even bought a second phone shortly after reporting Anna missing.

In 2017, investigators confronted Gould at his home with a search warrant. According to police, he showed no emotion when told they were investigating his wife's murder. He didn't deny the accusation or ask for details — he simply stood there silently.

That eerie calm stuck with investigators. But it would take nearly eight years of interviews, digital evidence, and community pressure before the arrest came on May 14, 2025. Gould, now 60, is being held without bail.

A Case Without a Body

Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe acknowledged the case is unusual. Very few homicide cases in the county have gone to trial without a body. But the DA insists the evidence is strong — pointing to the contradictions in Gould's statements and his apparent attempts to fabricate proof that Anna was alive.

The trial may prove to be an uphill battle, but prosecutors are confident. They plan to argue that Gould's "lies about her disappearance don't make sense" — and that only one conclusion fits, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, Gould's attorney claims his client has lived under a cloud of suspicion for years and now looks forward to finally having his day in court. He has not entered a formal plea.

A Community Still Grieving

For friends and family, the arrest is a bittersweet development. Ellen Lee, a former coworker and close friend of Anna's, said the news was a relief — but not the end.

Anna was described as intelligent, generous, and deeply devoted to her son. Her sudden disappearance left a void that hasn't healed. Her parents in Poland, who once feared the case would never be solved, are now watching from afar as the legal process begins to unfold.

For those who loved Anna, the questions haven't all been answered. But at least, after eight long years, someone is finally being asked to answer them.

References: He Allegedly Used Google Translate to Fake a Text From His Missing Wife — and It Raised Immediate Suspicions | Pennsylvania man arrested on suspicion of murder 8 years after wife vanished from Philly suburb