Digital Forensics Dispatch

Location and Financial Data Brought Forth in Murder Case

November 21, 2019

On November 14, 2019 the William Hargrove trial displayed electronic evidence during court testimony, as reported by the Corvallis Gazette-Times.   William Hargrove is being charged with the murder and identity theft of Anna Repkina, in addition to two counts of theft. Repkina met Hargrove online and then came to the U.S. from Russia. The two rented an apartment in Corvallis and reportedly had plans to get married. On April 17, 2017 Repkina was found dead on a logging road after being fatally shot.

The prosecution alleges that Hargrove murdered Repkina to appease his married lover, Michelle Chavez. The defense insists that Chavez killed Repkina, not Hargrove. Chavez has not been charged with any crime. The first witness in the trial was Rhiannon Demings, a forensic analyst for the Eugene Police Department, with special training in video evidence. Additionally, Detective Christopher Dale from the Denton County Sheriff’s Office testified to digital forensic evidence. Dale examined 36 electronic devices in the case, including cellphones from Hargrove and Chavez, and Hargrove’s computer. Financial records from Repkina’s bank accounts were also obtained.

Most of the testimony from Detective Dale was focused on financial records from the time frame of interest. Records show that there were transactions made from Repkina’s accounts on the day in question, video footage of the accused was also provided, some of which show Hargrove making transactions. Additionally Det. Dale examined cellphones for location data, which put Hargrove in the vicinity of a Chase Bank around the time a transaction was made. He also testified to the fact that location data from Chavez’s cellphone appears to place her at her mother’s house. The trial is ongoing.

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