1. Digital Evidence in Violent crime John P. Abraham Professor UTPA

2. Role of Computers in Violent Crime Cybertrails – Communications between the victim and offender – George Huguely, lacrosse player took the computer from the victim, his girlfriend, Yeardly Love, to hide his communications with her. – In 2009 Korena Roberts targeted a victim, Heather Snively using a computer and arranged a meeting with her, then she proceeded to cut the baby out her womb. – Serial killer Maury Travis was tracked down using the IP addressed he used when accessing an online map.

3. Mobile devices May contain information about communications Audio and video recordings related an offense. Provide the location of victims and suspects at key times. – Joe O’Reilly claimed he was at work when his wife was killed. His cell phone location showed him traveling from work to the scene.

4. Personal computers Victim’s computer may contain a diary Received and sent emails Evidence of fantasies, criminal activity and secret relationships Chandra Levi had googled for Klingle Mansion in Rock Creek Park. Even though the murder is unsolved, her body was found in the remote area of the park.

5. Intent and Motive Offender’s computer or mobile device may disprove offender statements. Show his intent to commit a crime Uncover evidence of staging such as a fake suicide note. – William Guthrie was sent to prison partly on the basis of digiial evidence shooing online searches for ways to kill his wife and fabricate a suicide note.

6. Crime scene characteristics Primary and secondary crime scenes Primary is where the offense occurred Secondary may include where the victim was abducted, or clothes were discarded etc. Computers are treated as secondary crime scenes Offenders may use public computers such as library