How can digital forensics assist in missing persons [child] cases?

Digital forensics - the examination of cellphones, tablets and personal electronics in criminal, civil, domestic and missing persons investigations are dramatically changing the way cases are worked and solved. While technology has created new portals for predators searching for victims, it's also leaving telltale trails for forensic examiners.

It's the same technology that is used to track terrorists and to build cases against child pornographers, but increasingly it is becoming a factor in missing children's cases. Computer forensics technology has helped to locate a number of missing kids around the world.

The number of smartphones, tablets and personal devices examined by Rick Crouch & Associates has tripled in the past three years. In 2014, our forensic examiners searched 600 phones, computers and other devices in a wide array of cases at our various locations. It's now often the first piece of evidence investigators seek out.

With 90 percent of American adults now carrying a cellphone - 58 percent with a smartphone, according to the Pew Research Center - the devices have become the one constant in many people's lives - in their pocket or purse all day, on their bedside table at night. It's the alarm clock, home phone line, camera, chat forum, e-mail and social media terminal. Investigators use that almost constant phone activity to verify a suspect's or witness' statement and provide a log of a person's movements and activities. Smartphones can even be an eyewitness, recording a crime in progress.

"Electronic devices are just a treasure trove of information," said Rick Crouch. "The digital evidence is one of the first things we go to. They leave footprints all over the place: Who the missing persons [children] were last talking with, who they were tweeting with. They offer up a lot of clues about what has been happening in these peoples' lives in the past few hours and days."

"In the past it would take days or in some cases weeks to retrieve digital information from a computer. With new technology we can retrieve the same digital information on site within minutes or hours. This can make or break a case as those first few hours are key. At Rick Crouch & Associates we work with attorneys, private investigators and the general public in all types of criminal, civil, domestic and missing persons cases." added Rick Crouch.

Media Enquiries:Rick CrouchRick Crouch & Associates073 418-6996This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.