After a 30 min recess...
KAITLING ARMSTRONG MURDER TRIAL
We're back. Next Witness: Michael Allen, United States Secret Service, 3.5 years experience. He is the lab manager for their forensics lab. He started training in digital forensics in 2009.
APD contacted Allen for assistance in recovering data from a locked iPhone 11. APD didn't have the right tools and software to access the data. The Secret Service has this capability and often assists local law enforcement, including testifying at criminal trials.
We are now looking at a forensics report the Secret Service generated using GrayKey software. The report shows that this iPhone 11 Pro belongs to Kaitlin Armstrong. Passcode: 0427.Allen says "brute force" was initiated on the phone, meaning approximately 100,000 four-digit number combos was used on the phone to get it to open. Once the passcode was recovered, all possible data was extracted.
Another document: Certification of Unlock by US Secret Service Forensics Lab. It is a sworn copy of the process Allen took to infiltrate the locked phone and extract the data. No further questions. Defense's turn.
Allen can't recall if pictures were taken of the phone or if it was just extracted. Allen says the extraction isn't physical. The phone is plugged into a data port and a program runs. Allen says APD didn't try to perform an extraction because they didn't have the tools needed.
Defense trying to test the expertise and credibility of the witness. Asking about his certifications, his procedures for extraction, whether he has experience of extracting from other technological devices. State objects over relevance, overruled.
No further questions. Witness dismissed.Next witness: Emir Perez, Deputy, US Marshals Service. On 5/18, Perez says APD contacted US Marshals for assistance searching for Armstrong around Austin.US Marshals then concentrated their efforts on Costa Rica. Perez flew there to help with immigration authorities to locate her.