I'm guessing the computer accident happened because:
Searches had been conducted on it for property law and/or missing people, declaration of death, etc - even crime and forensic sites.
Or
Someone was afraid of what might have been said in emails etc.
There are more than a few pleas for help out there, from people who have spilt coke or soda on their laptops. Seems that coke is one of the worst, so it's interesting coke was the beverage involved in Stephanie's particular accident. I wouldn't be surprised if there are searches for 'help I've spilled liquid on my laptop' on her computer too.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110819193512AAyMYbt
I know we can't post what was said or anything, but did anybody manage to capture any interesting social media, before the inevitable deletions came? Especially any that talked about hunting, fishing, trailing, favored places, etc?
BBM
From what Dicentra said earlier, it sounds as if the laptop sat around at the repair shop for quite awhile before LE picked it up. I hope the work was done immediately, if coke is that bad.
I believe there was a post here that was deleted early on that talked about the laptop and the coke and what was on the laptop. I have some recollection of bunkers... Calling Dicentra! Also was it a couple of weeks before she disappeared, or more?
I've poured over what I can see of social media for people even remotely connected to Stephanie or POI and I don't recall anything you mentioned off hand. I will look again.
I'm going to make a separate post about a movie filmed in the Applegate that POI is promoting. There are some interesting locations shown.
Thanks for taking an interest zweibel.