FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark J. McLaughlin(818) 903-9587 / mjm@cf-intl.com

Social Media and Messages Are Key In Showing Charlottesville
Attacks Were Intentional, Says Expert Mark McLaughlin

Los Angeles, CA (August 14, 2017) It was reported that accused Charlottesville attacker James
Fields was scared for his life as the reason why he plowed his car into a crowd of anti-Nazi andKKK protesters last Saturday. According to analysis by Computer Forensics International, torefute that claim, prosecutors will need to show that he acted intentionally for a jury to convict
on the initial charges of second degree murder and malicious wounding. This applies toadditional federal charge of domestic terrorism, where a subject would have intended to
intimidate or coerce the public. And it's difficult to show someone acted intentionally, unlessthere were incriminating statements, a confession, or overwhelming circumstantial evidence.
That's why prosecutors will undoubtedly obtain search warrants to retrieve social media posts,
email and text messages, photos and video from any computers and mobile devices he may haveused. "Those sources of electronic evidence could clearly show he intended to injure any
protesters opposing his cause. And also reveal if he conspired with any others to injure thosepeople," said Mark McLaughlin of Computer Forensics International.
Investigators first need to know which social media sites are involved. Public Internet searches
could reveal clues to a subject's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram profile. But collecting hisdevices through search warrants, and then forensically examining them, is the best way to locate
specifics for sites visited. Investigators would then obtain search warrants for each online
account profile and have authenticated copies returned for further examination.
However, not all social media sites are alike when it comes to providing help to investigators.
Some will simply provide the profile information, while others have a history of not giving it up
without a fight. "A private message or post merely acknowledging his disdain for people who

oppose his views, or that he'll fight back at all costs, may be enough to show he acted willfully,"
says McLaughlin.
Aside from content, the location of where that communication was made would bolster aprosecutor's argument. When a user makes an online post, their IP address, or unique physicalInternet Protocol address, is captured and can be tied back to the general area where the user waswhen the post was made. And some sites will record the actual map coordinates of where thepost was made. "This is helpful because if the postings were made in the general vicinity of theincident, then it would show the crime was on his mind. Suffice it to say, electronic evidence willplay a pivotal role in this prosecution," McLaughlin added.
Over the last 21 years, McLaughlin has handled over 500 criminal, civil and internal
investigations, examined over 2,000 digital items and is also a 3rd year law student with the goalof practicing criminal law and civil rights. McLaughlin testifies in court as an expert and eventrains attorneys on how to enhance their case outcomes by using digital evidence.
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