Kyle Pavao

Kyle Pavao testified for the Commonwealth on Day 13 about his forensic examination of a Surface Pro computer image. A Massachusetts State Police sergeant formerly assigned to the cyber crime unit, he explained how browser records showed page visits and navigation types. He examined a forensic copy rather than the physical computer.

Pavao traced August 23, 2022 activity from Facebook and music searches to Tom Hall's Wikipedia page, then through hyperlinks to a suicide methods page at 9:45 AM and the Grafton Bridge page at 9:48 AM. He explained that the links required clicks, but could not determine how long the suicide methods page was accessed or who operated the computer. He also explained that Wayback Machine captures approximate historical webpage appearances. The court admitted archived copies of the suicide methods and Grafton Bridge pages as exhibits 233 and 234.

On cross-examination, Pavao agreed that the suicide-related page followed music browsing rather than a direct search for suicide methods. He said he had not encountered searches for ways to kill in his examination and confirmed searches concerning psychiatric overprescribing, medications, bipolar disorder, detox, mania, and ketamine. Those searches did not establish the user's identity. Kevin Reddington also questioned the report's omission of earlier CNBC and Gmail activity from its starting account; Pavao said his tool report contained the artifacts he had tagged as evidence.

On redirect, Pavao clarified that the browsing occurred in 2022, not 2023, and confirmed the 9:48 AM Grafton Bridge visit. He could not determine whether different people alternated using the computer. During redirect and recross, he did not confirm either attorney's suggested pediatric-appointment timing or travel details and said he lacked knowledge of the appointment and preparations for taking the child there.