Imagine you are a digital forensics investigator who is approached to work on the case involving Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of murdering four University of Idaho students last November. As part of the investigation you are given a cell phone belonging to Kohberger and IoT devices belonging to the victims. The prosecution would like for you to locate evidence that places Kohberger at the scene of the crime.
As the investigator, you will be going through each of the nine steps mentioned above. Please consider and describe in detail the relationship of each step to the case. Among your discussion points should be an explanation of why each step is important to this case, things that need to be done during each step, and how each step will be successfully completed before moving on to the next. In your paper, each step should be organized as its own section.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Digital Forensics Investigation: Bryan Kohberger Murder Case
Step 1: Identification
In this step, the investigator identifies and documents the digital devices involved in the case, including Bryan Kohberger’s cell phone and IoT devices belonging to the victims. The importance of this step lies in establishing a clear inventory of the electronic evidence that will be analyzed throughout the investigation. To successfully complete this step, the investigator must ensure proper chain of custody protocols are followed, labeling each device with unique identifiers, and recording details such as make, model, and serial numbers.
Step 2: Preservation
Preservation involves securing and safeguarding the digital evidence to prevent tampering or alteration. Given the sensitive nature of the case, preserving data integrity is critical to ensuring the admissibility of evidence in court. During this step, forensic tools are used to create forensic images of the devices, maintaining the original state of the data without modification. Verification of the integrity of the digital copies is essential before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Collection
The collection phase focuses on gathering relevant data from the preserved devices that may contain evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to the crime scene. This includes extracting text messages, call logs, location data, and other information from Kohberger’s cell phone, as well as analyzing IoT device data for any connections to the victims’ locations. Proper documentation of the collection process and techniques used is crucial for maintaining the chain of custody and ensuring the validity of the evidence.
Step 4: Examination
During the examination phase, the investigator analyzes the collected data to identify any incriminating evidence that may place Kohberger at the scene of the crime. This includes examining communication records, GPS data, internet history, and any other digital artifacts that provide insights into Kohberger’s whereabouts and activities. Advanced forensic tools and techniques are employed to uncover hidden or deleted information that could be relevant to the case.
Step 5: Analysis
In the analysis stage, the investigator interprets the findings from the examination phase to draw conclusions about Kohberger’s involvement in the crime. By correlating timestamps, locations, and communication patterns from the digital evidence, patterns or anomalies that may link Kohberger to the crime scene can be identified. Data visualization tools and timeline analysis play a crucial role in piecing together a cohesive narrative based on the digital evidence.
Step 6: Documentation
Documentation is key to summarizing the findings of the investigation in a clear and concise manner. The investigator must create detailed reports outlining the methodologies, tools used, evidence collected, analysis results, and conclusions reached during the investigation. Documenting each step ensures transparency, reproducibility, and accountability in presenting digital evidence in court.
Step 7: Presentation
The presentation phase involves preparing and presenting the findings from the investigation in a format that is understandable to non-technical stakeholders such as law enforcement officials and jurors. Visual aids, charts, timelines, and expert testimony may be utilized to communicate complex technical information effectively. The goal is to present a compelling case that supports the prosecution’s argument regarding Kohberger’s presence at the crime scene.
Step 8: Review
The review step involves conducting a thorough quality check of all documentation, reports, and presentation materials to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with forensic standards. Peer reviews or independent audits may be conducted to validate the findings and methodologies employed during the investigation. Any discrepancies or errors identified during this stage must be addressed before proceeding further.
Step 9: Closure
Closure signifies the conclusion of the investigation process, where all evidence has been analyzed, documented, and presented effectively. The investigator prepares for court proceedings by organizing all case materials, coordinating with legal counsel, and providing expert testimony as needed. The successful completion of this step marks the culmination of the digital forensics investigation into Bryan Kohberger’s alleged involvement in the murder case.
In conclusion, each step in the digital forensics investigation plays a crucial role in uncovering evidence that may link Bryan Kohberger to the crime scene. By following a systematic approach that adheres to forensic best practices and standards, investigators can effectively analyze digital evidence to support law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in building a strong case against the accused individual.
