A forensic scientist has noted that cell phones have essentially turned into “crime scenes” for many everyday users, especially given their pivotal role in a number of significant criminal investigations over the past year.
In high-profile cases, like the University of Idaho murders and the murder of Anna Walsh by her husband Brian, both prosecutors and defense teams have increasingly depended on cell phone data to furnish evidence that, frankly, wasn’t available a decade ago.
Joseph Scott Morgan, a forensic scientist and professor at Jacksonville State University, explained that the average person might not fully grasp that their phone is constantly gathering data, meaning they carry a “crime scene” in their pocket at all times.
“People are so interconnected with this technology that it’s hard for them to envision life without it. They tend to hold on to it even when it may lead them astray, simply because of the vast amount of information stored there,” Morgan noted. “Most people definitely don’t realize that they have these miniature crime scenes on them wherever they go.”
According to Morgan, phones hold far more evidence than one might assume—things like search history, metadata, deleted conversations, GPS data, and timestamps.
“We can now find those digital breadcrumbs hidden in the data and begin to track them down,” he said. “And what’s crucial is that everything is time-stamped. This can seriously complicate someone’s attempt to create an alibi, for instance: ‘I wasn’t there’ or ‘I never thought about that.’ Well, we have the evidence right here from your phone.”
Here are three criminal cases from 2025 that significantly utilized cell phone data.
University of Idaho Murder Case:
Brian Koberger has pleaded guilty to the murder of four University of Idaho students on November 13, 2022.
FBI cell tower information reportedly indicates that Koberger’s phone pinged near the site of the murders, suggesting he was within 100 feet of the location multiple times during the late-night hours. These drives reportedly began in July 2022 and extended into mid-August 2022.
Additional reports stated that Koberger headed to the area following an invitation to a pool party in Moscow and revisited it several times in early October 2022.
FBI records supposedly show Koberger was within 100 meters of the King Road residence 23 times, including once on November 7. Notably, all of these visits happened after sunset.
Brian Walsh’s Murder of Anna:
Brian Walsh was convicted of murdering his wife Anna after she vanished on New Year’s Day 2023, receiving a life sentence plus 22 years in December.
A Massachusetts digital forensics expert testified during the trial that Walsh conducted several incriminating Google searches relating to body disposal and DNA concerns.
Some of his searches reportedly included:
- “The best way to dispose of body parts after a kill”
- “How long does DNA last?”
- “Is it possible to remove DNA from a knife?”
- “Period until the missing person is inherited”
Furthermore, Walsh’s wife had a lucrative life insurance policy worth $2.7 million, making him the beneficiary. However, court records also revealed that he faced nearly $500,000 in restitution from a federal lawsuit.
Karen Reed Case:
Karen Reed was acquitted of second-degree murder charges earlier this year in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. She was accused of hitting O’Keefe with her vehicle following a drunken dispute, leaving him to succumb to the elements.
During the trial, a witness recounted that Reed had directed her to search for terms related to hypothermia.
In a twist, defense counsel questioned the credibility of the witness, pointing out discrepancies in their account.
Despite the drama, it’s clear that cell phones are playing a crucial role in shaping legal outcomes and investigations today.
