Jurors hear cell phone analysis in Wood murder trial

Two witnesses with backgrounds in analyzing cellphone data testified how one device belonging to murder suspect Danielle Wood allegedly was in use with another phone investigators believe she used in attempt to dupe law enforcement officers.

Wood, 56, of Thompson Falls, is on trial for the May 2, 2018 murder of Matt LaFriniere of Thompson Falls.

Tuesday’s testimony in the Sanders County Courtroom was offered by two men with a company called ZetX that maps cell data.

Sy Ray, who retired from the law enforcement field to found ZetX, and former Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden Mike Fegely, who retired from the department to go to work with Ray, were tasked with trying to build a timeline prosecutors said showed a Tracfone was in use while Wood’s personal phone was being used.

Wood defense attorney Keenan Gallagher challenged some of what Ray said, but the witness tried to answer it.

“I can’t say whose possession these phones are in at the time, but I can say these phones are consistently together,” Ray said. “I can’t say who activated the phone, either.”

Fegely testified to how he was given raw phone data and then built a presentation for the trial.

“I was given a phone belonging to Wood and a Tracfone. When the Tracfone is active, Danielle’s phone is active, nearly identical in location,” Fegely said. “The first day we saw the Tracfone become active was April 19, 2018. Danielle’s phone was also active and then it was used to call an 800 number.

“When I called the 800 number, it’s the Tracfone main number where people call to activate a phone or add minutes,” Fegely said.

Fegely also said it was unusual for ZetX to get data where both phones’ data overlap.

“Every time these phones are active they are together in terms of distance from a tower,” he said.

Fegely said he used Google location data and wireless tower data to show the movement of Wood’s phone from Thompson Falls to Missoula to Hamilton on April 19 between 5 and 9 p.m.

“Then, Danielle’s phone made a call to the Tracfone customer service line at 10:36 p.m. The Tracfone then appeared on the network and both phones were tracked together between Missoula in the North Reserve area to 105 Eddy Street in Thompson Falls at about 1:12 a.m. April 20.”

Fegely said the next activity from the Tracfone after April 20 was May 2.

Gallagher challenged the time records Fegely used for some of the records of text messages.

Fegely said he made some mistakes when preparing his presentation and neglected to add one hour because the records showed Pacific Standard Time.

District Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher admonished state attorney Ole Olson for not sharing the change with the defense and also read the jury one of their instructions, which includes they are the sole judges of the credibility of a witness, their testimony and character.

Fegely said his mistake didn’t alter his analysis of the timeline.

After lunch, Fegely continued with his analysis of the timeline involving both phones.

Also, surveillance video from a business between Wood’s home and LaFriniere’s residence showed a vehicle such as the one owned by Wood driving past it at 7:34 p.m.

Fegely also testified records showed Wood’s phone was in the vicinity of LaFriniere’s home between 7:38 and 7:50 p.m.

When Gallagher cross-examined Fegely, he said he couldn’t say who activated the Tracfone, or if the Tracfone and Wood’s phone were carried by the same person or if the vehicle had stopped to pick up anyone or drop another person off on April 18.

Gallagher also asked Fegely about text messages that came from the Tracfone on April 21.

“I don’t have firsthand knowledge of them, but I don’t dispute them. I was only asked to include the four text messages which were in my report,” Fegely said.

Testimony continues at 9 a.m. Wednesday.