Expert witness

Marcia Rodriguez

Retired Tallahassee Police Department digital forensic investigator who testified in both trials about the Cellebrite extraction of Wendi Adelson's iPhone 4.

AppearedGarcia–Magbanua Magbanua Retrial

66 lines·9 proceedings·1 mention·2 trials

About

Marcia Rodriguez, a retired Tallahassee Police Department digital-forensics investigator serving as a reserve officer, testified about using Cellebrite to extract data from Wendi Adelson's iPhone without altering the device's contents. She authenticated extraction reports and identified selected contact, call-log, voice-mail, and report materials offered as exhibits. In the 2019 trial, the court excluded the broader extraction report after a hearsay objection but admitted selected extracts, and cross-examination addressed safeguards against manipulation or alteration of transferred digital material. At Katherine Magbanua's 2022 retrial, Rodriguez identified sampled report pages that were admitted after defense review and no objection. Her cross-examination was deferred while she reviewed proposed report materials from Sigfredo Garcia's phone and remained available to return.

Trial Record (9)

GMGarcia–MagbanuaSep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019Called by prosecution

Digital-forensics investigator Marcia Rodriguez testified about extracting data from Wendi Adelson's iPhone with Cellebrite and authenticating her report. Cross-examination addressed protecting transferred digital material from manipulation or alteration.

Day 1

Sep 26, 2019

DirectMarcia Rodriguez - DirectMarcia RodriguezAnna Norris2highlights40lines spoken

Summary

Rodriguez authenticated a Cellebrite extraction from wendi Adelson's phone; the court excluded the full report but admitted selected contact, call-log, and voice-mail extracts over objection.

Highlights (2)

evidence eventRodriguez authenticated the Cellebrite report she created from wendi Adelson's iPhone and explained that the extraction did not alter the device.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“So one of the things that we do is we make sure that we don't alter the device that we get. we try and keep it in the state that it's originally found in.”— Marcia RodriguezRodriguez explained the preservation purpose of the forensic extraction.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

sidebarPhone Contacts and Call LogsDuring Marcia Rodriguez - Direct

Summary

The parties disputed hearsay concerns over phone contacts and logs, including entries connected to Daniel Markel and calls on the date of the homicide.

CrossMarcia Rodriguez - CrossMarcia RodriguezSaam Zangeneh1highlight4lines spoken

Summary

Rodriguez agreed that transferred digital material should not be manipulated or altered; the court kept her under sequestration.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightOn cross-examination, Rodriguez confirmed that original photographs, videos, and other data should not be manipulated or altered during transfer.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

sidebarOriginal Bus Footage

Summary

The prosecutor sought to recall Mr. Brown to introduce the original bus footage after concerns were raised about alterations to the admitted disk.

KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022Called by prosecution

Marcia Rodriguez testified about a Cellebrite extraction from an Apple iPhone 4 and identified report pages that the court admitted as exhibits. Her cross-examination was deferred while she reviewed proposed report materials from another phone.

Day 2

May 19, 2022

ProceduralPre-jury logistics — admissibility of prior trial testimony deferredMentioned

Summary

Judge Wheeler deferred any ruling on prior-trial testimony until the issue was presented and objected to.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectMarcia Rodriguez - DirectMarcia RodriguezGeorgia Cappleman2highlights16lines spoken

Summary

Rodriguez authenticated Cellebrite report excerpts from a phone purportedly owned by Wendi Adelson, and the court admitted State's Exhibits 55 through 58.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightRodriguez described her digital-forensics duties and the Cellebrite process used to extract data from phones without changing the phone's contents.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“So, when investigators or officers need assistance with trying to obtain evidence off digital devices -- cellphones, computers, tablets, those types of things -- they would bring those items to us that work in that position to assist them in trying to collect the evidence off of it.”— Marcia RodriguezExplains Rodriguez's digital-forensics function and the purpose of her evidence collection work.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossMarcia Rodriguez - CrossMarcia RodriguezChristopher DeCoste2highlights5lines spoken

Summary

Cross-examination was postponed until Rodriguez could review documents tied to a proposed phone-download report before being recalled.

Highlights (2)

evidence eventAt sidebar, the parties discussed using Rodriguez to authenticate a ZRT report containing a download of Sigfredo Garcia's phone, including communications with Luis Rivera.Open in transcript →

procedural actionJudge Wheeler deferred cross-examination until after the break so Rodriguez could review documents and be recalled without disrupting her planned travel.Open in transcript →

sidebarPhone Download AuthenticationDuring Marcia Rodriguez - Cross

Summary

Counsel discussed authenticating a phone-download report and postponing cross-examination so the witness could review the relevant documents.

Cross WaivedMarcia Rodriguez - Cross (Waived)Marcia RodriguezChristopher DeCoste