No investigation or eyewitnesses — based only on her word, the detective never interviewed Edward, collected evidence, verified his phone number, and closed the case within hours after seeing Edward's criminal history and not knowing it was judicially exempted. 

Unverified digital evidence — Four-year-old Facebook screenshots appeared days before trial, were never authenticated, and contained no deletion or timestamp forensic logs.

Ineffective assistance of counsel — failed to request a continuance for forensic analysis, failed to object to inadmissible prior-history evidence, failed to impeach key witnesses, and failed to investigate and present evidence pointing to a highly likely alternate suspect: her left-handed roommate of five years, who had a documented history of violence and whom she had previously lied to police about in order to protect him while he was on probation. Edward was prevented from testifying because of these trial errors from his trial counsel. ​​

Appeal contradiction — the State’s appellate brief said the Facebook messages did not need forensic authentication because they were not central to conviction, yet the 7th Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction stating they were central and substantial to the guilty verdict. If they were central to guilt, they need forensic authentication.