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personpersonKate ButlerKate ButlerForensic document examiner with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.← All People
Expert witnessFlorida Department of Law Enforcement

Kate Butler

Courtroom still of Kate Butler.

Forensic document examiner with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

AppearedDonna Adelson
35 lines·4 proceedings

About

Kate Butler, an FDLE forensic document examiner, testified on Day 6 about her qualifications, handwriting-comparison method, and conclusion levels. The State used State's Exhibits 59 and 62 and a demonstrative chart during her examination.

Butler said she considered all available handwriting characteristics, although the chart displayed only selected similarities. She concluded that the purported known Donna Adelson writing and the questioned handwriting had the same writer, describing identification as the highest conclusion level in her reporting.

The defense waived cross-examination and stated that it did not contest its client's authorship of the document. The court struck that comment, instructed jurors to consider evidence from the witness stand, and released Butler.

Trial Record (4)

DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025Called by prosecution

Kate Butler, an FDLE document examiner, testified on Day 6 about her handwriting-comparison method and concluded that the purported known Donna Adelson writing and the questioned handwriting had the same writer.

Day 6

DirectKate Butler - DirectKate ButlerGeorgia Cappleman5highlights33lines spoken

Summary

FDLE handwriting examiner Kate Butler identified Donna Adelson's purported known writing as the source of the questioned handwriting in State's Exhibit 62.

Highlights (5)

evidence eventButler explained that she compared the questioned writing in State's Exhibit 62 with writing from State's Exhibit 59 and illustrated selected similarities with a demonstrative chart.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“At the end of the complete side-by-side examination of all of the questioned handwriting with all of the known handwriting, I then evaluate all of the observed characteristics and then I make a conclusion as to the authorship.”— Kate ButlerButler summarized the process she said she used to reach an authorship conclusion.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Show all 5 highlights
Quote“I identified the known writing purportedly written by Donna Adelson as to be the writer of the questioned handwriting.”— Kate ButlerButler stated her ultimate handwriting-identification opinion.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶