Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base
Military Defense Investigation Authority Publication
Authority Publication No. DI-147
Using Case Maps, Relationship Charts, and Demonstrative Timelines to Expose Evidentiary Gaps
Independent Military Defense Investigations
Supporting Attorneys, Service Members, and Families
Publication Date: August 24, 2026
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Executive Summary
Case maps and relationship charts in military investigations can expose evidentiary gaps when events, people, devices, accounts, locations, and claimed relationships are source-coded and tested against chronology.
Complex military investigations often involve multiple people, devices, accounts, locations, statements, and records. A relationship or sequence that appears persuasive in a narrative summary may look very different when it is placed on a source-linked case map or timeline.
DI-147 explains how investigators can use case maps, relationship charts, and demonstrative timelines to expose conflicts, missing periods, unsupported relationships, attribution limits, and alternative paths without converting assumptions into facts.
The publication emphasizes source coding, relationship basis and confidence levels, version history, direct links to underlying evidence, and preservation of original material separately from working demonstratives. Its practical example shows an apparent relationship disappearing when dates reveal that the shared contact did not know one person until after the alleged event.
The purpose is to use visual organization as an investigative test—making both supporting evidence and evidentiary gaps easier for counsel to see and verify.
DI-147 explains how source-linked case maps, relationship charts, and demonstrative timelines can reveal evidentiary gaps, missing periods, unsupported connections, and alternative paths while preserving a traceable link to original evidence.
Who Should Read This Publication?
Military Defense Counsel
Use source-linked visual tools to evaluate chronology, relationships, evidentiary gaps, alternative paths, attribution issues, and whether a demonstrative accurately reflects the underlying evidence.
Defense Investigators
Build case maps and timelines from original sources, document relationship basis and confidence, preserve conflicts and gaps, maintain version history, and keep demonstratives separate from original evidence.
Service Members
Understand why an apparent relationship or timeline in a government summary may need to be reconstructed and tested against dates and original source material.
Experts and Litigation Support Personnel
Use complete underlying materials and source links when assisting with demonstratives so visual organization does not introduce unsupported assumptions or hide limitations.
Families
Understand how visual case mapping can help a defense team organize complicated evidence and identify missing or unsupported links that may be difficult to recognize in narrative reports.
Companion Video
This companion video expands on the investigative concepts presented in this Authority Publication through additional explanation, practical examples, and professional investigative insight.
About Michael West
The investigative guidance presented throughout these Authority Publications is based upon decades of professional experience conducting military, federal, criminal, civil, and private investigations. The principles discussed in these publications are drawn from real investigative work involving complex cases, witness development, evidence analysis, and factual case preparation.
Michael West has served as a Special Agent with the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and the Department of Defense Inspector General, conducted federal background investigations, and spent decades working as a licensed private investigator supporting attorneys, businesses, service members, and private clients. Throughout his career, his work has focused on identifying facts, locating witnesses, analyzing evidence, and strengthening the factual foundation of legal cases through independent investigation.
The Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base was created to share that investigative experience in a practical, understandable format. Its purpose is to help attorneys, service members, and families better understand the investigative process, ask more informed questions, and recognize opportunities where independent investigation may strengthen the defense.
Important Information
This Authority Publication is provided for educational and informational purposes and is intended to help readers better understand military defense investigations and the investigative process. It is based upon professional investigative experience and is designed to provide practical investigative insight rather than legal advice.
Every military case is unique. The investigative strategies, factual issues, and legal considerations applicable to one case may not apply to another. Readers should consult with a qualified attorney regarding legal rights, legal strategy, and decisions involving their individual circumstances.
Nothing contained in this publication should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship or an investigator-client relationship. References to investigative techniques, procedures, or case examples are provided solely to illustrate investigative principles and should not be considered legal guidance.
Effective military defense is strengthened by informed legal representation supported by thorough factual investigation. The purpose of these Authority Publications is to help readers better understand that investigative process so they can communicate more effectively with qualified legal counsel and make informed decisions throughout the military justice process.