Case Study: How Digital Forensics Helped Resolve a High‑Conflict Custody Dispute

Background

When David Turner and Emily Turner filed for divorce in early 2024, a heated custody battle over their two young children quickly emerged. David’s legal team grew concerned about Emily’s fitness as a parent and needed reliable, court‑admissible evidence to support their case. 

 

Because much of Emily’s daily activity occurred online or on personal devices, the team turned to Digital4nx Group to uncover the truth behind her behavior.

The Challenge

David’s attorneys needed to examine Emily’s:

  • Smartphone
  • Laptop
  • Social media accounts
  • Browsing history
  • Messaging platforms

The goal: determine whether any electronic evidence showed behavior that could affect her parental fitness — such as substance abuse, neglect, risky conduct, or attempts to hide concerning activity.

They also needed to determine whether Emily had engaged in efforts to destroy or conceal evidence.

The Digital Forensics Strategy

 

🔍 Forensic Imaging of Devices

A digital forensics expert began by creating forensic copies of Emily’s smartphone and laptop to preserve the data in a court‑defensible manner. Using advanced tools, the analyst conducted targeted searches for keywords including:

  • “drugs”
  • “alcohol”
  • “party”
  • “childcare”
  • “hurt”
  • “cover up”

Metadata was examined to determine:

  • When files were created or deleted
  • Who accessed them
  • What apps were used
  • Whether any data‑wiping tools were installed

📱 Social Media & Messaging Review

The expert then accessed Emily’s social media activity:

  • Posts
  • Comments
  • Direct messages
  • Photos and videos
  • Stories and auto‑delete content

Metadata provided key insights — such as timestamps, geolocation, and engagement data.

The investigation uncovered late‑night posts showing partying while the children were reportedly in her care, direct messages referencing drug use, and photos depicting reckless behavior.

🌐 Browser History & Online Activity

Further analysis of Emily’s online activity revealed:

  • Searches for how to hide substance use
  • Queries about clearing location data
  • Visits to forums discussing co‑parenting manipulation
  • Attempts to learn how to “beat” alcohol monitoring tools

This provided compelling circumstantial evidence of intentional concealment.

Results

The forensic investigation produced a detailed, credible record demonstrating:

  • Repeated drug and alcohol use
  • Neglectful behavior toward the children
  • Attempts to hide harmful conduct
  • Possible endangerment of the children’s wellbeing

The evidence significantly strengthened David’s case. During mediation, Emily’s legal team conceded that certain findings could not be disputed.  Ultimately, the court granted David primary custody, citing digital evidence that clearly reflected what was happening behind closed doors.

Conclusion

This case highlights the powerful role of digital forensics in modern family law. In a world where most activity leaves a digital footprint, electronic evidence can:

  • Reveal hidden behavior
  • Expose attempts to conceal misconduct
  • Provide objective clarity in emotionally charged cases

For David Turner, digital forensics didn’t just support his legal strategy — it helped ensure his children were placed in a safe, stable, and healthy environment.