David Freyman shares how collaboration helps put together the digital pieces of the Lauren Giddings murder. Learn how hashes of IP addresses, a seemingly innocuous USB drive, and a previously ignored digital camera reveal vital clues that bolster the case.Special Guest: Retired FBI SA David Freyman

Digital Forensics Techniques Mentioned in this Episode:

• MD5 Hashing: Used for verifying data integrity and identifying unique digital signatures.
• Epoch Time Conversion: A method for interpreting timestamps stored as a series of numbers.
• File Recovery Software: Utilized to recover deleted video files from a camera.

The Lauren Giddings case was still making headlines in 2025. Learn more at https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/macon/family-of-murdered-mercer-law-student-lauren-gidding-renew-search-body/93-9fda7367-e568-4c50-924e-8f4d1148631d

Explore the gripping Bobby Jo Stinnett case, where digital forensics helped prove premeditation. Discover how recovering internet history led to an IP Address that led to a killer and kidnapper.

Special Guest: Mark Johnson

Find Mark Johnson on the Computer Crime Chronicles at https://open.spotify.com/show/2EEWgr7sY07DzyimzdQnkt

Trigger Warning: Fetal Abduction by Maternal Evisceration is discussed. In this case, the baby does survive.

Episode Summary: In this episode, digital forensics expert Mark Johnson delves into the intricate digital investigation of the Bobby Jo Stinnett case. Mark examined a wide range of digital evidence, including emails, internet history, and cached web pages, to piece together a timeline of events. His analysis uncovered crucial details, such as the suspect's online searches for unassisted home births and emergency C-sections, and the manipulation of ultrasound images. By leveraging tools like EnCase and Internet Evidence Finder, Mark's expert review of digital footprints played a pivotal role in solving this rare and gruesome crime, demonstrating premeditation, and ultimately leading to the recovery of the kidnapped infant and justice for the victim.

Software Mentioned in this Episode:

• EnCase
• Internet Evidence Finder
• Wayback Machine
• Netscape Navigator
• Internet Explorer

We explore the need for human expertise in solving cybercrimes. We discuss forensic tool limitations, examiner competence, and evolving technology challenges in digital evidence analysis. We'll also share insights on effective forensic methodologies and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of tools in real cases we've worked. Please join Stacy Eldridge and Becky Passmore for this episode of Parsing the Truth: One Byte at a Time.

Digital Forensics Tools and Software Mentioned:

• Axiom
• SQLite Viewer
• Excel
• Celebrite UFED Reader
• Autopsy
• Fex Forensic

Takeaways

• Tools don't solve cases, people do.
• Digital forensic tools amplify expertise, not replace it.
• Understanding data structures is crucial for examiners.
• Networking and communication are key in digital forensics.
• Forensic tools are effective when data is stable and predictable.
• Examiner competence is critical for courtroom defensibility.
• Manual analysis provides precision, tool-assisted analysis offers feasibility.
• Forensic success depends on methodologies, not expensive tools.
• Tools assume metadata is intact, which isn't always the case.
• Expertise lives in the chair, not in the tool.
• Tools don't speak. People speak.