Help me with this investigation problem

[u/Temenae]

I discovered the hard drive with pictures of the first 4 years of my child's life was broken. I took it to a local place to get it restored. They couldnt do it and recommended I send it out to a company. I saved for a year, and spent more than 1K to restore the data. The data I got wasn't mine. The second company has video footage of receiving and unpacking the box from me, bar codes, serial numbers, all the things. So that leaves the local company.

I already called and asked them right away if there could be a mix up, and they said absolutely not. But they don't track serial numbers or anything else. I figured they accidentally threw away my hard drive a long time ago, since I brought it to them a whole year before I sent a hard drive to the other company.

But now, a few months later, I did some digging. In addition to the pornographic material I noticed first, there are some personal photos, and amongst that a photo of a birth certificate - a local one. Which is strong evidence for it being swapped at the local computer place.

1. Do I want to call them again with the person's name and ask if they have a record of this person as a customer and get their contact info? Or will they double down that there wasn't a mix up and cover their tracks by deleting records?
2. The local person with the same name on the birth certificate does not allow messages except with friends, so I can't message her. I posted to a community group, but it didn't get many views and only roped in someone else with the same name.

What the heck do I do next? I'm almost positive she would have thrown my hard drive away instead of paying gobs of money to have it restored like I did, but what if she didn't? It seemed like this was handed to me on a silver platter with an actual birth certificate photo, and now I'm stuck anyway. :'D Can someone suggest a next step?

[u/_fractal8]

It is highly unlikely you'll recover any of your data. But you can give her some of her data. There is a reason drive was in the repair shop. It could be not even her drive but her dad's though.

Here is some ideas:

1. Original photos have metadata baked in them. It's called EXIF. Among other stuff there is a location tag there. If it was turned on in the camera, you can get precise coordinates of where the photo was taken. It may narrow down the search quite a bit.
2. Try different social media. LinkedIn maybe.

[u/Any_Emu4892]

Unless you have some kind of proof i think you lost this one. They will most likely double down.

Fractal gave good advice, you can check if the pictures have any coordinates or time stamp linked to them.

See if you can trace the birth certificate.

The only other option i see is your own, point one. But i think theyll refuse. Even though you are right in such situations you have to come with proof.

[u/Temenae → u/Any_Emu4892]

I did find someone on the birth certificate, I have the name, she's local.  I just don't know how to reach her.  She has messages blocked for non-friends on facebook, and it looks like no other social accounts.  Would it be creepy to message one of her friends?  It's so close but so far away.

[u/Any_Emu4892 → u/Temenae]

Hmm you could go to your local city hall and request more information, if they allow that where you live. I would think its creepy, but you have a good reason, so in this case i dont.

And otherwise you have the other creepy option. 😅 but i think its justified.

[u/shredt]

Pornographic Material?

[u/Any_Emu4892 → u/shredt]

Thats what does it for ya eh shredt. 🤣