Why would Thomas Markle Jr take the computers to an IT specialist or 3rd party to access the files ? Why wouldn’t he have taken these boxes to the police in the Philippines if he found boxes of images? All Thomas had to do is ask Ai what the best thing to do & instead contacted SUN news to come and take pictures. Once an IT specialist or any third party accesses a digital device without following strict forensic protocols, the chain of custody is compromised, and the devices are no longer considered "untouched" or pristine evidence. I asked Ai and Thomas could have known what to do without a doubt. In both legal and digital forensic contexts, this action creates significant vulnerabilities for the prosecution and opportunities for the defense: The Threat of Spoliation and Contamination •Altered Metadata: Simply turning on a computer, opening a folder, or viewing a file modifies metadata (such as "Last Accessed" or "Last Modified" dates). This makes it difficult for forensic investigators to prove when a file was actually placed on the system. •Accidental Alteration: Non-forensic software can automatically generate temporary files, alter system logs, or move data around, inadvertently changing the state of the evidence. Broken Chain of Custody •Proof of Integrity: In a legal proceeding, the state must prove that the evidence presented in court is in the exact same condition as it was when it was seized. •The "Tampering" Defense: Because an unauthorized third party had unmonitored access to the hard drives, the defense can strongly argue that the evidence was planted, altered, or fabricated during that window of time. Is It Still Admissible in Court? •It Is Seldom Thrown Out Automatically: The evidence is rarely completely banned from court just because a civilian looked at it first. •The Weight of Evidence Is Reduced: Instead of throwing it out, a judge or jury will often give the evidence much less "weight." The defense will use the IT specialist's access to create reasonable doubt about who originally put the files on the computer. •Forensic Analysis Can Still Help: Government forensic experts (like the FBI) will create an exact bit-by-bit copy (an "image") of the drive. They will try to look past the civilian's activity to find deeper artifact timelines—such as original download dates, internet history, and deleted file fragments—to determine if the illicit material existed before the IT person touched it If Thomas Markle is guilty, I am 100% behind full prosecution of the law.