Digital Forensics Expertise & Technology (d/FEAT) Merges with BWI

Merger Makes It Easier for Clients to Utilize Digital Investigator

Berry-Waltz Investigations (BWI) is now a one-stop shop for comprehensive criminal defense services, providing high-tech digital forensics and crime scene investigation along with traditional fact and mitigation investigations. The company has updated its name to reflect its increased capabilities; it will now be called BWI Investigations – Forensics.

BWI has always had the best fact and crime scene investigators in the state, but its merger with Digital Forensics Expertise & Technology (d/FEAT) adds the state’s top digital investigator to BWI’s roster.

The two companies have long worked cooperatively together on cases as partners, but the merger makes it easier for clients to use the services of digital forensics investigator Kyne Marshall.

“We can now use all our investigative resources on any case, whereas before, you were having to deal with two separate companies and obtain funding to hire two companies,” BWI founder Rick Berry says. “It’s going to be more efficient and synergistic all the way around.”

Kyne Marshall, former d/FEAT president, joins BWI as a partner. He says the merger breaks down barriers that forced clients to go back to obtain separate court approval and additional funding to use his expertise when digital evidence was discovered in a case.

“It’s rare these days when a criminal case does not involve digital evidence,” Kyne says. “This merger truly benefits our clients because when they hire BWI, it’s like hiring three different types of experts at once. It’s a seamless way to get to the truth.”

Kyne’s expertise includes gathering digital evidence from smartphones, cell towers, cloud storage, and security cameras (among others), as well as analyzing audio and video evidence to verify their authenticity.

Kyne’s digital forensics work often aligns directly with BWI crime scene investigator Johnny Lawrence’s work. Johnny is a well-known, court-qualified expert in crime scene investigation and reconstruction as well as bloodstain pattern interpretation and analyses. Kyne and Johnny will form a new BWI division called BWI Forensics.

“BWI Forensics allows us to introduce 21st-century technology into all aspects of our investigations,” Rick Berry says.

“Combining digital forensics with crime scene reconstruction is only the beginning,” Rick says. “We are exploring other avenues as well that will allow BWI to provide the most comprehensive investigation possible.

“We are always seeking ways to improve our services to our clients and are excited about what the future holds.”

FAQs:

Question: What prompted the merger between BWI and d/FEAT?
Answer: BWI and d/FEAT have worked successfully together as partners on criminal defense investigations for years. We decided to merge to offer clients a one-stop shop for every possible type of investigative need an attorney or a family member might have in a case.

Question: How does the merger make it easier for clients?
Answer: BWI’s clients typically are attorneys who obtain court approval and funding to utilize BWI’s services. Now, when attorneys obtain funding to use BWI on their cases, digital forensics are automatically part of BWI’s service offerings and don’t require separate approval/funding. Clients will receive one invoice from BWI’s accounting department.

Question: When is the merger official?
Answer: Jan. 1, 2024.

Question: What types of services does BWI provide now that d/FEAT has merged with BWI?
Answer: BWI provides comprehensive:
• Fact investigations (review/analysis of documents; tracking down and interviewing witnesses; identifying missing discovery; background checks; investigations of facts provided by clients/witnesses; development of additional parties, including unknown witnesses);
• Crime scene reconstruction/analysis;
• Blood spatter analysis/interpretation;
• Digital forensics (audio/video analysis; computer/cell phone/cell tower data extraction; data recovery; cloud forensics; call detail records analysis; identification of missing discovery; and IT/tech support);
• Mitigation/sentencing investigations;
• Civil and domestic investigations; and
• Paralegal services.

Question: What will happen with ongoing cases that d/FEAT was handling separately prior to the merger?
Answer: d/FEAT’s ongoing court-funded cases will continue as is and will be invoiced by d/FEAT. Private ongoing d/FEAT cases will continue as is and be invoiced by BWI.

Question: How do I reach Kyne Marshall?
Answer: Kyne’s new email address is [email protected] and his phone number remains (615) 649-6211.

Question: How do I reach BWI?
Answer: Call (615) 646-0860 or fill out this form.