Nude photos of Nashville mayor found on lover/bodyguard ‘s cell phone?

Photographs of a woman’s nude body were found on the cell phone of former Metro Nashville police Sgt. Rob Forrest, who had an acknowledged sexual affair with Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, reports The Tennessean, citing a TBI affidavit filed in seeking a court order mandating access to Barry’s personal cell phone.

The TBI obtained a search warrant and took possession of Barry’s phone Friday, the records show. The mayor and her attorney have refused to share the pass code to unlock it, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit cites explicit images of a woman’s body found on Forrest’s phone that appear to be taken while he was on out-of-town trips with the mayor.

Also on Forrest’s phone, subpoenaed by the TBI earlier this month, investigators have uncovered 260 deleted chats between that device and Barry’s phone number as well as 35 deleted call logs, the affidavit states.

Based on the photos and deleted chats they discovered on Forrest’s phone, the TBI says it has probable cause to seek evidence they believe could show a crime was committed. The affidavit cites state statutes for misconduct of public officials and employees and theft of property.

“A search of Megan Barry’s phone could reveal information that is crucial evidence for this case,” the affidavit reads. “In particular, data and information that has been deleted from Sgt. Forrest’s phone may still exist on Megan Barry’s phone.”

“The deleted chats and messages between Sgt. Forrest and Megan Barry, if recovered, could provide further evidence of their activities while Sgt. Forrest reported to be on duty.”

… In a written statement issued late Thursday, Barry said “the allegations of photos taken of myself are very troubling if true.” She said she’s not seen the photos in question, adding that if they are of me, “they were taken without my knowledge or permission and a complete invasion of privacy.”

… Barry has said that there was no personal engagement in the affair while Forrest was on duty.

But the affidavit cites nude and partially nude photos of a woman on Forrest’s phone taken during two trips, both to Washington, D.C.  Barry traveled to Washington on May 15-17, 2017, for an infrastructure conference, and Forrest was the only other city employee who went with her.

WTVF TV, meanwhile, reports obtaining surveillance video recordings showing Barry, escorted by Forrest in a police SUV, making several morning visits to the Nashville City Cemetery – but, instead of using the regular parking lot, they “head off to the back side of the cemetery alone.” A spokesman for the mayor says Barry views the cemetery as a “sacred place” where Barry intends to be buried and that she “finds it to be a peaceful place to start her day”… and “nothing inappropriate ever occurred while there.”