As quoted from the article:
Harum said investigators were able to get some cell phone data when Cowell was missing between Feb. 9 and when her body was found four days later because there was a threat of imminent danger.
I'm guessing this refers to immediate issue of search warrant(s).
When her body was found, that access situation changed and investigators sent out letters asking several cell phone companies to preserve data while the investigators pursued search warrants.
Search warrant(s) are specific as to case scope and detail. When MC was no longer 'missing' those SW's were no longer applicable to the situation. The only immediate course available to LE was to informally request to the carriers for them to preserve records while LE pursed obtaining new SWs applicable to the then-current status of the case.
Harum said he does not know when the records were purged, and he noted that some companies purge data on a regular basis.
I wonder ... who is it that 'purged' the records? I'll explain later ....
He said he also doesnt know which 12-hour period is missing or whether it was before or after she went missing.
Odd. LE absolutely knows what time frame is missing. How else could they know records were missing unless they compared record timestamps? They know.
Scott Charlston, a spokesman for Verizon, said he was not familiar with the case but would research the situation before making a comment.
During the mid-late-90's I was contracted to work at then-Bell Atlantic Mobile-now-Verizon Wireless along the East Coast corridor, and worked with Scott Charlston. Six degrees of separation, and all .. wow!
Anyway, SC should be able to provide an explanation of what occurred with the data handling at VzW ... but I wonder if the higher-ups will allow it? There's no telling how this case (MC investigation) may play but it's probable VzW will do what it has to do to avoid potential legal action, i.e.: 'lost' records and obstruction. Who knows.
Assuming it was VzW that 'purged' the records ... again, I'll explain later....
Harum said Verizon was the carrier for Cowells phone. Certaiin cell phone records of people who were associated with Cowell are also missing, he said. He did not know what periods were missing.
Huh? How is that different from me saying, "I don't know what I lost, but I know I lost it."
He said he found the missing data situation puzzling because Verizon was able to provide data for Cowells phone before and after the purged 12-hour period.
Extremely puzzling, indeed. So then ... he DOES know what period is missing?
Harum said the situation with Verizon is even more troubling because all data requested from two other phone carriers was available within a day of search warrants being served.
I'll now explain....
What if the records were, uhh, 'purged' not at/by VzW but after the fact ... perhaps sometime later from an already-provided evidence package?
After all, we do not yet know whom might be the perp. Why couldn't it be an 'authority' figure?
MOO MOO and MOO again, topped off with much speculation and conjecture.
