Case Study:

The Scott Peterson Trial:

Unlocking the Case with Forensic Toolkit

For over six months the nation followed the trial of Scott Peterson with intent eyes and heavily vested emotion. A man on trial for the murder of his wife, Laci, and unborn son, Connor, Scott had become a lightning rod of controversy as groups rallied around him or against him. The media attention and the national following that ensued was of such a magnitude that People magazine declared the Scott Peterson trial the Trial of the Year for 2004. It ended with Scott Peterson a convicted murderer awaiting his punishment on death row. While the trial focused on the age old themes of indelity and intrigue, it was driven by the technology of the twenty rst century. Some of the most damning evidence against Scott Peterson was not found in DNA samples or in the boat he used to dispose of his wifes body. Rather it was located in his cell phone records and on the hard drive of his computer. The data contained on the computer, especially, came to the forefront of the investigation as it became available. Lydell Wall, a detective with Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department and winner of the Timothy Fidel award, was brought into the case because of his expertise in the eld of computer forensics. As a computer forensic expert the tools he uses are just as vital as his knowledge of computers. Because of this, Wall chose to use AccessDatas Forensic Tool Kit (FTK) to unlock the secrets on Petersons computer. AccessDatas FTK has been a boon for law enforcement agencies across the nation. It is highly regarded for its exhaustive computer forensics examinations and its ease of use. Complete with customized lters that allow one to sift through thousands of emails quickly, it is the ideal tool

Lydell Wall, Detective, High-Tech Crimes Unit Stanislaus County Sherriffs Dept.
for an investigator interested in doing his job with accuracy and straightforwardness. In a case that had motive but little evidence to support intent it became a necessity to see what records lay within Petersons computer. In using AccessDatas FTK Wall was able to do just that. Lydell Wall said that he was impressed with the capabilities that FTK possessed; especially the superior email analysis and reporting capabilities.
It was in Scott Petersons emails and internet searches that the case for intent was nally found. Using FTK, Wall was able to restore deleted les of maps and ow charts found on Scotts computer of the area where Laci and Connors bodies were eventually discovered.

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Ca s e S t u d y :

The Scott Peterson Trial:

Unlocking the Case with Forensic Toolkit
ence r Evid ily e t u p as om Find C uickly and E Q

In using FTK to go through hundreds of Scotts emails Wall said, I have never gone through email with a tool that had such superior capabilities. I was able to forward the actual emails to the investigators as I found them. Not only that, but the exclusive reporting tool enabled me to load email sent and received on specic days saved me a lot of time and stress. Wall had been trained in Forensic Tool Kit at a three day seminar in San Jose by Jon Hansen and at an additional three day seminar by Keith Lockhart in Sacramento.. He was so taken with the product he purchased his own copy of FTK. AccessData worked closely with Wall as he used FTK to search Petersons computer les. It was a partnership that beneted both sides. I had a wonderful experience with AccessDatas Tech Support. It was tremendous, said Wall, They were extremely prompt about calling back when I had questions. Whatever I needed they were willing to help me, which speaks volumes about how they view their customers. There was even a time when a programmer worked with me over a weekend in order to work through an issue during the case. AccessData was also extremely responsive to suggestions I made concerning FTK. It was a truly unique experience.

Using AccessDatas FTK not only got results that would not have been had with other tools, it also saved me so much time! I spent eighteen months of my life on the Scott Peterson case and I felt that every moment I was using the Forensic Tool Kit was a moment used efciently. The reporting capabilities alone saved me untold amounts of time, said Wall. It was extremely important to be able to report and display the emails and records in a way that the jury and others could understand. Chronological order was absolutely vital. Using FTK, Wall was able to accomplish all that he needed to through reporting and he was able to do so with ease and order. The Scott Peterson case was one of the most important, high prole cases in the nation. Due to this Wall said there was an intense pressure to ensure accuracy. Because when it came down to it this case was about more than computer data, it was about peoples lives. I was so proud to have FTK to work with, as I had absolute condence in my tools. I realize how much it meant to Lacis family to nd the truth and I am grateful that I was able to use Forensic Tool Kit to give it to them.

AccessData is a registered trademark of AccessData Corp. Forensic Toolkit (FTK), is a trademark of AccessData. Copyright 2005-2006 AccessData Corp. All rights reserved.

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