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personpersonMichael DillmoreMichael DillmoreTallahassee Police Department digital forensics investigator who testified as a witness in both the 2019 Garcia–Magbanua trial and the 2022 Magbanua retrial.← All People
Expert witness

Michael Dillmore

Courtroom still of Michael Dillmore.

Tallahassee Police Department digital forensics investigator who testified as a witness in both the 2019 Garcia–Magbanua trial and the 2022 Magbanua retrial.

AppearedGarcia–MagbanuaMagbanua Retrial
240 lines·9 proceedings·2 trials

About

Digital-forensics investigator Michael Dillmore testified about processing phone and iCloud data with FTK and Cellebrite and producing reports for use by case investigators. In the 2019 joint trial, he described Apple's search-warrant return for Charles Adelson's iCloud account, authenticated resulting materials, and explained that the software decoded and organized the data without adding or removing information. Cross-examination established that he generally left substantive analysis to investigators, had reviewed only some messages between Adelson and Katherine Magbanua, and had not seen Magbanua discuss involvement in a murder in those messages. When recalled, he addressed extracted communications and a phone number appearing under different names in Garcia's contacts and Adelson's iCloud information. At Magbanua's retrial, the defense called him to describe similar processing of Garcia's phone and Adelson's iCloud data, distinguish an extracted-data report from a photograph-based ZRT report, and explain why he could not identify who stood behind certain labels or messages.

Trial Record (9)

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

Processed and authenticated Apple iCloud material on Day 1, explaining the forensic reports and software used. When recalled on Day 8, Dillmore testified about extracted phone communications and contact information.

Day 1

DirectMichael Dillmore - DirectMichael DillmoreAnna Norris3highlights84lines spoken

Summary

Digital-forensics investigator Michael Dillmore authenticated Apple iCloud reports and extracted materials; the court overruled a hearsay objection to contact-entry testimony.

Highlights (3)

Quote“Digital forensics is basically the process of acquiring and then examining electronic data with the ultimate goal of preserving the -- any evidence in its original, original form.”— Michael DillmoreExplains the witness's role and the stated preservation purpose of the digital-forensics process.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossMichael Dillmore - CrossMichael DillmoreChristopher DeCoste4highlights63lines spoken

Summary

Dillmore described the limits of his iCloud-data review and said he generally left analysis to investigators; the court curtailed further questioning about Magbanua's own iCloud data.

Highlights (4)

Quote“I don't know for specific, but I believe I gave it back to Investigator Bennett, but I'm not positive of that.”— Michael DillmoreHe could not identify with certainty who received the extracted data.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
testimony highlightOn cross, Dillmore said he typically left analysis of the data to the investigator and agreed that the prosecutor had asked him to review only some messages between Charles Adelson and Katherine Magbanua; he said none of the messages he was asked to review involved Magbanua discussing involvement in a murder.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“Again, I don't typically go through and do the analysis of the data. I typically let the investigator do that.”— Michael DillmoreDillmore distinguished his technical extraction role from the substantive analysis of the data.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 8

DirectMichael Dillmore - DirectMichael DillmoreChristopher DeCoste2highlights37lines spoken

Summary

Dillmore confirmed phone-extraction and shared-contact records; the court allowed the initial questioning but barred speculation about whether messages were with Luis Rivera.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightDillmore said the same phone number appeared in Garcia's phone contacts and Charles Adelson's iCloud information under different saved names; he said it appeared to be a contact common to both.Open in transcript →
objectionThe court sustained Garcia's speculation objection when counsel asked Dillmore to identify communications with Luis Rivera based on message content.Open in transcript →
KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022Called by defense

Called by the defense on Day 7, Michael Dillmore described Cellebrite processing of Sigfredo Garcia's phone data and Charles Adelson's iCloud data, along with limits on identifying phone users and labels. The prosecution waived cross-examination.

Day 7

DirectMichael Dillmore - DirectMichael DillmoreChristopher DeCoste5highlights47lines spoken

Summary

Michael Dillmore explained the phone-data extractions and could not identify the people behind several phone-number labels.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightDillmore said he could not determine that Garcia was communicating with Luis Rivera because he did not know Rivera's phone number; he could say the messages included a contact identified as T and a message stating "This is Tato."Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“I cannot say that for certain. I do not know Luis Rivera's phone number.”— Michael DillmoreLimits the investigator's ability to attribute the messages to Luis Rivera.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Show all 5 highlights
testimony highlightDillmore testified that the same phone number appeared in Charles Adelson's iCloud data as "Ecofriendly Shop" and in Garcia's phone download as "Sully-mech," but he did not know who either label referred to or whether the number had been investigated.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶